Thelma Part 42

The whole household was pervaded with an affectionate eagerness to please her, though, perhaps, the one most dazzled by her entrancing smile and sweet consideration for his comfort was Edward Neville, Sir Philip's private secretary and librarian,--a meek, mild-featured man of some five and forty years old, whose stooping shoulders, grizzled hair, and weak eyes gave him an appearance of much greater age. Thelma was particularly kind to Neville, having heard his history from her husband.

It was brief and sad. He had married a pretty young girl whom he had found earning a bare subsistence as a singer in provincial music-halls,--loving her, he had pitied her unprotected state, and had rescued her from the life she led--but after six months of comparative happiness, she had suddenly deserted him, leaving no clue as to where or why she had gone. His grief for her loss, weighed heavily upon his mind--he brooded incessantly upon it--and though his profession was that of a music master and organist, he grew so abstracted and inattentive to the claims of the few pupils he had, that they fell away from him one by one--and, after a bit, he lost his post as organist to the village church as well. This smote him deeply, for he was pa.s.sionately fond of music, and was, moreover, a fine player,--and it was at this stage of his misfortunes that he met by chance Bruce-Errington. Philip, just then, was almost broken-hearted--his father and mother had died suddenly within a week of one another,--and he, finding the blank desolation of his home unbearable, was anxious to travel abroad for a time, so soon as he could find some responsible person in whose hands to leave the charge of the Manor, with its invaluable books and pictures, during his absence.

Hearing Neville's history through a mutual friend, he decided, with his usual characteristic impulse, that here was the very man for him--a gentleman by birth, rumored to be an excellent scholar,--and he at once offered him the post he had in view,--that of private secretary at a salary of 200 pounds per annum. The astonished Neville could not at first believe in his good fortune, and began to stammer forth his grat.i.tude with trembling lips and moistening eyes,--but Errington cut him short by declaring the whole thing settled, and desiring him to enter on his duties at once. He was forthwith installed in his position,--a highly enviable one for a man of his dreamy and meditative turn of mind. To him, literature and music were precious as air and light, he handled the rare volumes on the Errington book-shelves with lingering tenderness, and often pored over some difficult ma.n.u.script, or dusty folio till long past midnight, almost forgetful of his griefs in the enchantment thus engendered. Nor did he lack his supreme comforter, music,--there was a fine organ at the lower end of the long library, and seated at his beloved instrument, he wiled away many an hour,--steeping his soul in the divine and solemn melodies of Palestrina and Pergolesi, till the cruel sorrow that had darkened his life seemed nothing but a bad dream, and the face of his wife as he had first known it, fair, trustful, and plaintive, floated before his eyes unchanged, and arousing in him the old foolish throbbing emotions of rapture and pa.s.sion that had gladdened the bygone days.

He never lost the hope of meeting her again, and from time to time he renewed his search for her, though all uselessly--he studied the daily papers with an almost morbid anxiety lest he should see the notice of her death--and he would even await each post with a heart beating more rapidly than usual, in case there should be some letter from her, imploring forgiveness, explaining everything, and summoning him once more to her side. He found a true and keenly sympathizing friend in Sir Philip, to whom he became profoundly attached,--to satisfy his wishes, to forward his interests, to attend to his affairs with punctilious exact.i.tude--all this gave Neville the supremest happiness. He felt some slight doubt and anxiety, when he first received the sudden announcement of his patron's marriage,--but all forebodings as to the character and disposition of the new Lady Bruce-Errington fled like mist before suns.h.i.+ne, when he saw Thelma's fair face and felt her friendly hand-clasp.

Every morning on her way to the breakfast-room, she would look in at the door of his little study, which adjoined the library, and he learned to watch for the first glimmer of her dress, and to listen for her bright "Good morning, Mr. Neville!" with a sensation of the keenest pleasure.

It was a sort of benediction on the whole day. A proud man was he when she asked him to give her lessons on the organ,--and never did he forget the first time he heard her sing. He was playing an exquisite "Ave Maria," by Stradella, and she, standing by her husband's side was listening, when she suddenly exclaimed--

"Why, we used to sing that at Arles!"--and her rich, round voice pealed forth clear, solemn, and sweet, following with pure steadiness the sustained notes of the organ. Neville's heart thrilled,--he heard her with a sort of breathless wonder and rapture, and when she ceased, it seemed as though heaven had closed upon him.

"One cannot praise such a voice as that!" he said. "It would be a kind of sacrilege. It is divine!"

After this, many were the pleasant musical evenings they all pa.s.sed together in the grand old library, and,--as Mrs. Rush-Marvelle had so indignantly told her husband,--no visitors were invited to the Manor during that winter. Errington was perfectly happy--he wanted no one but his wife, and the idea of entertaining a party of guests who would most certainly interfere with his domestic enjoyment, seemed almost abhorrent to him. The county-people called,--but missed seeing Thelma, for during the daytime she was always out with her husband taking long walks and rambling excursions to the different places hallowed by Shakespeare's presence,--and when she, instructed by Sir Philip, called on the county-people, they also seemed to be never at home.

And so, as yet, she had made no acquaintances, and now that she had been married eight months and had come to London, the same old story repeated itself. People called on her in the afternoon just at the time when she went out driving,--when she returned their visits, she, in her turn, found them absent. She did not as yet understand the mystery of having "a day" on which to receive visitors in shoals--a day on which to drink unlimited tea, talk plat.i.tudes, and utterly bored and exhausted at the end thereof--in fact, she did not see the necessity of knowing many people,--her husband was all-sufficient for her,--to be in his society was all she cared for. She left her card at different houses because he told her to do so, but this social duty amused her immensely.

"It is like a game!" she declared, laughing, "some one comes and leaves these little cards which explain who _they_ are, on _me_,--then I go and leave _my_ little cards and yours, explaining who _we_ are on that some one--and we keep on doing this, yet we never see each other by any chance! It is so droll!"

Errington did not feel called upon to explain what was really the fact,--namely, that none of the ladies who had left cards on his wife had given her the option of their "at home" day on which to call,--he did not think it necessary to tell her what he knew very well, that his "set," both in county and town, had resolved to "snub" her in every petty fas.h.i.+on they could devise,--that he had already received several invitations which, as they did not include her, he had left unanswered,--and that the only house to which she had as yet been really asked in proper form was that of Lady Winsleigh. He was more amused than vexed at the resolute stand made by the so-called "leaders" of society against her, knowing as he did, most thoroughly, how she must conquer them all in the end. She had been seen nowhere as yet but in the Park, and Philip had good reason to be contented with the excitement her presence had created there,--but he was a little astonished at Lady Winsleigh's being the first to extend a formal welcome to his unknown bride. Her behavior seemed to him a little suspicious,--for he certainly could not disguise from himself that she had at one time been most violently and recklessly in love with him. He recollected one or two most painful scenes he had had with her, in which he had endeavored to recall her to a sense of the duty she owed to her husband,--and his face often flushed with vexation when he thought of her wild and wicked abandonment of despair, her tears, her pa.s.sion, and distracted, dishonoring words. Yet she was the very woman who now came forward in the very front of society to receive his wife!--he could not quite understand it. After all, he was a man,--and the sundry artful tricks and wiles of fas.h.i.+onable ladies were, naturally, beyond him. Thelma had never met Lady Winsleigh--not even for a pa.s.sing glance in the Park,--and when she received the invitation for the grand reception at Winsleigh House, she accepted it, because her husband wished her so to do, not that she herself antic.i.p.ated any particular pleasure from it.

When the day came round at last she scarcely thought of it, till at the close of their pleasant breakfast _tete-a-tete_ described at the commencement of this chapter, Philip suddenly said,--"By-the-by, Thelma, I have sent to the bank for the Errington diamonds. They'll be here presently. I want you to wear them to-night."

Thelma looked puzzled and inquiring. "To-night? What is it that we do? I forget! Oh! now I know--it is to go to Lady Winsleigh. What will it be like, Philip?"

"Well, there'll be heaps of people all cramming and crowding up the stairs and down them again,--you'll see all those women who have called on you, and you'll be introduced to them,--I dare say there'll be some bad music and an indigestible supper--and--and--that's all!"

She laughed and shook her head reproachfully. "I cannot believe you, my naughty boy!" she said, rising from her seat, and kneeling beside him with arms round his neck, and soft eyes gazing lovingly into his. "You are nearly as bad as that very bad Mr. Lorimer, who will always see strange vexations in everything! I am quite sure Lady Winsleigh will not have crowds up and down her stairs,--that would be bad taste. And if she has music, it will be good--and she would not give her friends a supper to make them ill."

Philip did not answer. He was studying every delicate tint in his wife's dazzling complexion and seemed absorbed.

"Wear that one gown you got from Worth," he said abruptly. "I like it--it suits you."

"Of course I will wear it if you wish," she answered, laughing still.

"But why? What does it matter? You want me to be something very splendid in dress to-night?"

Philip drew a deep breath. "I want you to eclipse every woman in the room!" he said with remarkable emphasis.

She grew rather pensive. "I do not think that would be pleasant," she said gravely. "Besides, it is impossible. And it would be wrong to wish me to make every one else dissatisfied with themselves. That is not like you, my Philip!"

He touched with tender fingers the great glistening coil of hair that was twisted up at the top of her graceful head.

"Ah, darling! You don't know what a world it is, and what very queer people there are in it! Never mind! . . . don't bother yourself about it. You'll have a good bird's-eye view of society tonight, and you shall tell me afterwards how you like it. I shall be curious to know what you think of Lady Winsleigh."

"She is beautiful, is she not?"

"Well, she is considered so by most of her acquaintances, and by herself," he returned with a smile.

"I do like to see very pretty faces," said Thelma warmly; "it is as if one looked at pictures. Since I have been in London I have seen so many of them--it is quite pleasant. Yet none of these lovely ladies seem to me as if they were really happy or strong in health."

"Half of them have got nervous diseases and all sorts of things wrong with them from over-much tea and tight lacing," replied Errington, "and the few who _are_ tolerably healthy are too bouncing by half, going in for hunting and such-like amus.e.m.e.nts till they grow blowsy and fat, and coa.r.s.e as tom-boys or grooms. They can never hit the _juste milieu_.

Well!" and he rose from the breakfast-table. "I'll go and see Neville and attend to business. We'll drive out this afternoon for some fresh air, and afterwards you must rest, my pet--for you'll find an 'at home'

more tiring than climbing a mountain in Norway."

He kissed, and left her to her usual occupations, of which she had many, for she had taken great pains to learn all the details of the work in the Errington Establishment,--in fact, she went every morning to the little room where Mistress Parton, the housekeeper, received her with much respect and affection, and duly instructed her on every point of the domestic management and daily expenditure, so that she was thoroughly acquainted with everything that went on.

She had very orderly quiet ways of her own, and though thoughtful for the comfort and well-being of the lowest servant in her household she very firmly checked all extravagance and waste, yet in such a gentle, un.o.btrusive manner that her control was scarcely felt--though her husband at once recognized it in the gradually decreasing weekly expenses, while to all appearance, things were the same as ever. She had plenty of clear, good common sense,--she saw no reason why she should waste her husband's wealth simply because it was abundant,--so that under her mild sway, Sir Philip found himself getting richer without any trouble on his own part. His house a.s.sumed an air of lighter and more tasteful elegance,--flowers, always arranged by Thelma herself, adorned the rooms,--birds filled the great conservatory with their delicious warblings, and gradually that strange fairy sweet fabric known as "Home"

rose smilingly around him. Formerly he had much disliked his stately town mansion--he had thought it dull and cold--almost gloomy,--but now he considered it charming, and wondered he had missed so many of its good points before.

And when the evening for Lady Winsleigh's "crush" came,--he looked regretfully round the lovely luxurious drawing-room with its bright fire, deep easy chairs, books, and grand piano, and wished he and his wife could remain at home in peace. He glanced at his watch--it was ten o'clock. There was no hurry--he had not the least intention of arriving at Winsleigh House too early. He knew what the effect of Thelma's entrance would be--and he smiled as he thought of it. He was waiting for her now,--he himself was ready in full evening dress--and remarkably handsome he looked. He walked up and down restlessly for a minute or so,--then taking up a volume of Keats, he threw himself into an easy chair and soon became absorbed. His eyes were still on the printed page, when a light touch on his shoulder startled him,--a soft, half-laughing voice inquired--"Philip! Do I please you?"

He sprang up and faced her,--but for a moment could not speak. The perfection of her beauty had never ceased to arouse his wonder and pa.s.sionate admiration,--but on this night, as she stood before him, arrayed in a simple, trailing robe of ivory-tinted velvet, with his family diamonds flas.h.i.+ng in a tiara of light on her hair, glistening against the whiteness of her throat and rounded arms, she looked angelically lovely--so radiant, so royal, and withal so innocently happy, that, wistfully gazing at her, and thinking of the social clique into which she was about to make her entry, he wondered vaguely whether he was not wrong to take so pure and fair a creature among the false glitter and reckless hypocrisy of modern fas.h.i.+on and folly. And so he stood silent, till Thelma grew anxious.

"Ah, you are not satisfied!" she said plaintively. "I am not as you wis.h.!.+ There is something wrong."

He drew her closely into his arms, kissing her with an almost pathetic tenderness.

"Thelma, my love, my sweet one!" and his strong voice trembled. "You do not know--how should you? what I think of you! Satisfied? Pleased? Good Heavens--what little words those are to express my feelings! I can tell you how you look, for nothing can ever make _you_ vain. You are beautiful! . . . you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and you look your very best tonight. But you are more than beautiful--you are good and pure and true, while society is--But why should I destroy your illusions? Only, my wife,--we have been all in all to each other,--and now I have a foolish feeling as if things were going to be different--as if we should not be so much together--and I wish--I wish to G.o.d I could keep you all to myself without anybody's interference!"

She looked at him in wonder, though she smiled.

"But you have changed, my boy, since the morning," she said. "Then you did wish me to be particular in dress,--and to wear your jewels, for this Lady Winsleigh. Now your eyes are sad, and you seem as if you would rather not go at all. Well, is it not easy to remain at home? I will take off these fine things, and we will sit together and read. Shall it be so?"

He laughed. "I believe you would do it if I asked you!" he said.

"But, of course! I am quite happy alone with you. I care nothing for this party,--what is it to me if you do not wish to go?"

He kissed her again. "Thelma, don't spoil me too much! If you let me have my own way to such an extent, who knows what an awful domestic tyrant I may become! No, dear--we must go tonight--there's no help for it. You see we've accepted the invitation, and it's no use being churlish. Besides, after all"--he gazed at her admiringly--"I want them to see my Norwegian rose! Come along! The carriage is waiting."

They pa.s.sed out into the hall, where Britta was in attendance with a long cloak of pale-blue plush lined with white fur, in which she tenderly enveloped her beloved "Froken," her rosy face beaming with affectionate adoration as she glanced from the fair diamond-crowned head down to the point of a small pearl-embroidered shoe that peeped beneath the edge of the rich, sheeny white robe, and saw that nothing was lacking to the most perfect toilette that ever woman wore.

"Good-night, Britta!" said Thelma kindly. "You must not sit up for me.

You will be tired."

Britta smiled--it was evident she meant to out.w.a.tch the stars, if necessary, rather than allow her mistress to be unattended on her return. But she said nothing--she waited at the door while Philip a.s.sisted his wife into the carriage--and still stood musingly under the wide portico, after they had driven away.

"Hadn't you better come in, Miss Britta?" said the butler respectfully,--he had a great regard for her ladys.h.i.+p's little maid.

Britta, recalled to herself, started, turned, and re-entered the hall.

"There will be many fine folks there to-night, I suppose?" she asked.

The butler rubbed his nose perplexedly. "Fine folks at Winsleigh House?

Well, as far as clothes go, I dare say there will. But there'll be no one like her ladys.h.i.+p--no one!" And he shook his grey head emphatically.

"Of course not!" said Britta, with a sort of triumphant defiance. "We know that very well, Morris! There's no one like her ladys.h.i.+p anywhere in the wide world! But I tell you what--I think a great many people will be jealous of her."

Morris smiled. "You may take your oath of that, Miss Britta," he said with placid conviction. "Jealous! Jealous isn't the word for it! Why,"

and he surveyed Britta's youthful countenance with fatherly interest, "you're only a child as it were, and you don't know the world much. Now, I've been five and twenty years in this family, and I knew Sir Philip's mother, the Lady _Eulalie_--he named his yacht after her. Ah! she was a sweet creature--she came from Austria, and she was as dark as her present ladys.h.i.+p is fair. Wherever she went, I tell you, the women were ready to cry for spite and envy of her good looks--and they would say anything against her they could invent. That's the way they go on sometimes in society, you know."