Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

many months, and told his mother that some time next year he should again drop anchor at Holly Lodge. She was always glad to see him, and every one felt his visit had done them good. When he was gone, they were left to get on again as best they might.

Eleanor had written to her brother from Mrs Hervey's, and had heard from him more than once; his letters, and those from Redleigh, were the greatest pleasures of her life; and though not yet all that could be wished, she had still advanced nearer to the spirit of those who wrote than at one time ever seemed likely. It was Christmas again, and nearly the year since she came, and she sometimes reflected whether she should leave, but the promise to Adela had been her safeguard; she was learning patience and self-discipline, even if but slowly, and she resolved not to stir unless others wished it. Mrs Hervey had of late been unusually irritable, and Eleanor felt, often with more sadness and self-reproach than it would have caused her some months sooner, how little she fulfilled what was required of her. They were both rejoiced when, at the end of December, Mr Hervey wrote to say he was to have a holiday of three weeks for the New Year, and should come with his wife in January to Holly Lodge. A visit from her sons was always one of the mother's greatest treats, and Eleanor looked forward with pleasure to the meeting with her kind friends.

CHAPTER XV.

The Rights of a Woman.

A servant by this clause,

Makes drudgery divine.

Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws,

Makes that, and th' action fine.

-HERBERT.

MR and Mrs Hervey's visit to Holly Lodge was

delayed beyond the time that had first been settled; it was not till February that they were able to leave Redleigh. Adela looked anxiously to the report they might bring back, as it was difficult to judge how things were really going on from letters. The first few days of their arrival, the pleasure all parties felt at meeting prevented the introduction of any disagreeable topics; but in the sunshine, Mr Hervey detected symptoms of its being only a temporary calm; and though Eleanor said nothing, there was more depression about her than he remembered having formerly observed.

Before long, however, Mrs Hervey poured forth

her complaints, in many instances perfectly just ones, to her son. It was evident that in the midst of much irritation and unreasonableness, she had still real cause of complaint. Her wishes were constantly neglected, and, above all, the housekeeping and the accounts were alway in a state of confusion. She had, she said, had patience for a long time, because Alfred had asked her, but Miss Harcourt was much too self-willed to mend, and was not at all the right sort of person to have sent her, as she always suspected. True, she was the perfect lady, clever, and agreeable when she pleased; but of what value was that if she could not make herself of use in the common affairs of life? The good lady waxed warm as she detailed her grievances; and, making every allowance for a disposition at all times inclined to be over exacting, there still remained such a balance of truth against Miss Harcourt, that her son, whilst endeavouring to smooth down the speaker's wrath a little, began to fear he had, as she said, not found the proper person for her companion. He communicated what had passed to his wife, and requested she would see what she could do, by offering Miss Harcourt a little friendly advice. But gentle Mrs Hervey, who would have made every effort herself, always shrank from trying to teach others, and wanted courage to make the attempt. Matters, therefore, wore rather a gloomy aspect. The most promising thing being, in Mr

Hervey's opinion, that though Eleanor looked dejected, she made no efforts at all on her side to complain of his mother. On the contrary, when she did speak of her, it was generally to mention some kindness she had received. An incident connected with one of the domestic storms, which arose whilst he was with them, confirmed him in the belief that the case was far from hopeless, and that there was a work going on in Eleanor, which was sure in due time to produce its effects, and which a little kind help might hasten and confirm.

The winter had been very unlike that in which Eleanor had first come to Holly Lodge. There had been little snow, but much mild and wet weather, and in the month of February, high winds, which were unusual so early in the year. One day in particular, there blew a storm which resembled an equinoctial gale, and Mrs Hervey, gazing from the window into the garden, perceived that a little rose which had been set against the house, but had not attained much growth, was completely torn from its support, and was lying nearly flat on the earth, exposed to all the force of the wind that was blowing. Eleanor was the only person in the room, and calling her to the window, Mrs Hervey pointed out the plant, with a half request that she would kindly take a nail or two, and fasten it securely against further damage, as the gardener was away, and it would be in pieces before his return. Eleanor looked in the direction

required, but with the sight rose a fractious sense of the wind that must be encountered, and that she had not undertaken to do gardener's work, which she chose to consider gave right on her side, as she replied hastily, "She had never nailed up a plant in her life, and did not know how or where to find the tools to do it with; it was certainly only a man's work." Mrs Hervey was annoyed. "It was very vexatious," she said, "that the gardener had asked leave to go home that week to see his father, who was ill; but for her bad rheumatism she would have done it herself; as it was, she could not lift her arm." "There was no hurry," Eleanor said; "those kind of common roses were very hardy; it would not be hurt by waiting another day, and Simmons was coming back in the evening," with which words she left the room to avoid further discussion on the subject.

Mrs Hervey gazed wistfully at her plant thus left to its fate; it was very small and delicate, and when an hour after the wind went down a little, and heavy rain came on, it was getting each minute more and more bruised, and buried in the wet earth. Her son found her when he came in, of no placid mood, as she angrily complained of her new grievance; and he promised as soon as the rain was over to set it all right himself, being · better able to face the weather than a lady. There seemed, however, little chance of its clearing. The

« ElőzőTovább »