 CHAPTER 50 This, then, is what you have to say, cried my lady Philippa in a tone of little gratitude, and perhaps not purely free from wrath. This is what has happened, while you did nothing." "'Madame, I assure you,' Mr. Jelly-Course replied, that no one point has been neglected, and truly I am bold enough, though you may not perceive it, to take a little credit to myself for the skill and activity of my proceedings. I have a most conceited man against me, no member at all of our honoured profession, but rather inclined to make light of us, a gentleman, if one may so describe him. Of the name of Mordax, who lives in a den below a bridge in York, and has very long harassed the law by a sort of cheap-jack-slapped-dash-low-minded style of doing things, jobbing, I may call it, cheap and nasty-jobbing. Not at all the proper thing, from a correct point of view. A catch-penny fellow, that is a proper name for him, I was trying to think of it half the way from Middleton. And now, in your eloquence, you have hit upon it, I can easily understand that such a style of business would not meet with your approbation. But Mr. Jelly-Course, he seems to me to have proved himself considerably more active in his way, however objectionable it may be, than you, as our agent, have shown yourself." A cheerful, expressive, and innocent face of Mr. Jelly-Course protested now. By nature he was almost as honest as Jeffrey Mordax himself could be, and in spite of a very long professional career the original element was there, and must be charged for. I cannot recall to my memory, he said, any instance of neglect on my part, but if that impression is upon your mind it would be better for you to change your legal advisers at an early opportunity, such has been the frequent practice, madam, of your family, and but for that none of this trouble could exist. I must beg you either to withdraw the charge of negligence, which I understand you to have brought, or else to appoint some gentleman of greater activity to conduct your business. With the haughtiness of her headstrong race Miss Mordax had failed as yet to comprehend that a lawyer could be a gentleman, and even now that idea scarcely broke upon her, until she looked hard at Mr. Jelly-Course, but he, having cast aside all deference for the moment, met her stern gaze with such courteous indifference and poise of self-composure that she suddenly remembered that his grandfather had been the master of a pack of foxhounds. I have made no charge of negligence, you are hasty and misunderstand me," she answered after waiting for him to begin again as if he were a rash aggressor. It is possible that you desire to abandon our case, and conceive a front where none is meant whatever. God forbid, Mr. Jelly-Course exclaimed, with his legal state of mind returning, a finer case never came into my court of law. There is a course axiom, not without some truth, that possession is nine points of the law. We have possession. What is even more important, we have the hostile instrument in our possession. You mean that unfortunate and unjust deed of a bygone time that was so wickedly concealed dishonest transaction from first to last? Madam, the law is not to blame for that, nor even the lawyers, but the clients who kept changing them, but for that your admirable father must have known that the will he dictated to me was waste paper, at least as regards the main part of these domain. What monstrous injustice, a positive premium upon filial depravity! You regard things professionally, I suppose, but surely it must have struck you as a flagrant dishonesty, a base in wicked crime, that a document so vile should be allowed even to exist? Miss Yordis had spoken with unusual heat, and the lawyer looked at her with an air of mild inquiry. Was it possible that she suggested to him the destruction of the wicked instrument? Ladies had done queer things within his knowledge, but this lady showed herself too cautious for that. I know what my father would have done in such a case, she continued with her tranquil smile recovered. He would just have ridden up to the solicitor's office, demanded the implement of robbery, brought it home, and set it upon the whole fire, in the presence of the whole of his family and household. But now we live in such a strictly lawful age that no crime can be stopped if only perpetrated legally. And you say that Mr. Moor, something more sharp, I think it was, knows of that iniquitous production? Madam, we cannot be certain. But I have reason to suspect that Mr. Moor Dax has got wind of that unfortunate deed of appointment. Supposing that he has, and that he means to use his knowledge, he cannot force the document from your possession, can he? Not without an order. But by filing affidavit after issue of writ-injectiment, they may compel us to produce and allow a tested copy to be taken. Then the law is disgraceful to the last degree, and it is useless to own anything. That deed is in your charge as our attorney, I suppose, sir. I know of the right, madam. We have twelve chest-fulls, any one or all of which I am bound to render up to your order. Our confidence in you is unshaken, but without shaking it we might order home any particular chest for inspection. Most certainly, madam, by giving us receipt for it, for antiquarian uses and others such a thing is by no means irregular. And the oldest of all the deeds are in that box, charters from the crown, grants from corporations, records of assay by arms, warrants that even I cannot decipher. A very learned gentleman is likely soon to visit us, a man of modern family who spends his whole time in seeking out the stories of older ones. No family in Yorkshire is comparable to ours in the interest of its annals. That is a truth beyond all denial, madam. The character of your ancient race has always been a marked one, and always honorable, Mr. Jelly-Course. Undeviating principle has distinguished all my ancestors. Nothing has ever been allowed to stand between them and their view of right. You could not have put it more clearly, Mr. Zioris. Their own view of right has been their guiding star throughout, and they never have failed to act accordingly. Alas, of how very few others can we say it, but being of a very good old family yourself, you are able to appreciate such conduct. You would like me perhaps to sign the order for that box of ancient cartulleries? Is not that the proper word for them? And it might be as well to state why they happen to be granted, for purposes of family history. Madam, I will at once prepare a memorandum for your signature and your sisters. The mind of Mr. Jelly-Course was much relieved, although the relief was not untempered with misgivings. He sat down immediately at an ancient writing-table and prepared a short order for delivery to their trusty servant, Jordus, of a certain box with the letter C upon it, and containing title-deeds of Scargate Hall Estate. I think it might be simpler not to put it so precisely, my Lady Philippa suggested, but merely to say a box containing the oldest of the title-deeds is required for an impending antiquarian research. Mr. Jelly-Course made the amendment, and then with the prudence of long practice added, the order should be in your handwriting, madam, will it give you too much trouble just to copy it? How can it signify if it bears our signatures? His client asked, with a smile at such a trifle, however she sat down and copied it upon another sheet of paper. Then Mr. Jelly-Course, beautifully bowing, drew near to take possession of his own handwriting, but the lady, with a bow of even greater elegance, lifted the cover of the standing desk and therein placed both manuscripts, and the lawyer perceived that he could say nothing. How delightful it is to be quit of business! the hostess now looked hospitable. We need not recur to this matter, I do hope. That paper, whatever it is, will be signed by both of us, and handed over to you in your legal headquarters tomorrow. We must have the pleasure of sending you home in the morning, Mr. Jelly-Course. We have bought a very wonderful vehicle, invented for such roads as ours, and to supersede the jumping-car. It is warranted to traverse any place a horse can travel with luxurious ease to the passengers, and safety of no common description. Shortus will drive you, your horse can trot behind, and you can send back by it whatever there may be. Mr. Jelly-Course detested new inventions and objected most strongly to any experiment made in his own body. Where he would rather die than plead his time of life in bar. And his faith in the dog-man was unlimited. And now the gentle Mrs. Carnaby, who had gracefully taken flight from the horrid business, returned in an evening-dress, and with a sweetly smiling countenance, and very nearly turned the Jelly-Coursey in head, snowy as it was, with soft attentions and delicious deference. I was treated like a prince, he said next day when delivered safe at home and resting among his rather dingy household-gods. There never could have been a more absurd idea than that notion of yours about my being put into wet sheets, Diana, why I even had my nightcap warmed, and a young woman came with a blush upon her face and a question whether I would be pleased to sleep in a gross of napple stockings. Ah, to my mind after all, it proves what I have always said, that there is nothing like old blood, nothing like old blood for being made a fool of, his wife replied with a coarseness which made him shiver after Mrs. Carnaby. They know what they are about, I'll lay up any. Some roguery, no doubt, that they seek to lead you into. That is what their nightcaps and stockings mean. How low it is to make a foreground of them! Hush, my dear, I cannot bear such want of charity, and what is even worse, you expose me to an action at law with heavy damages. The lawyer had sundry little qualms of conscience which were deepened by his wife's sagacious words, and suddenly it struck him that the new fangled vehicle which had brought him home so quietly from Scargate had shown a strange inability to stand still for more than two minutes at his side door. So much had he been hurried by the apparent straits of his charioteer that he ran out with Box C without ever stopping to make an inventory of its contents, as he intended to do, or even looking whether the all-important deed was there. In fact, he had scarcely time to seal up the key in a separate package, hand it to Jordus, and take the order, now become a receipt from the horny fist of the dog-man. Before Marmaduke rendered more dashing by snow-drift was a way like a thunderbolt, if such a thing there be, and if it has four legs. How could I have helped doing as I have done? he whispered to himself uncomfortably. Here are two ladies of high position, and they send a joint order for their property. By the by I will just have to look at that order, now that there is no horse to jump over me. Upon going to the day-file he found the order right transcribed from his own amended copy, and bearing two signatures, as it should do. But it struck him that the words Eliza Carnaby were written too boldly for that lady's hand, and the more he looked at them the more he was convinced of it. There was no concern of his, for it was not his duty, under the circumstances of the case to verify her signature, but this conviction drove him to an uncomfortable conclusion. This Yordus intends to destroy that deed without her sister's knowledge. She shows that her sister's nerve is weaker, and she does not like to involve her in the job, a very brave sisterly feeling, no doubt, and much the wiser course if she means to do it. It is a bold stroke, and well worthy of a Yordus, but I hope, with all my heart, that she never can have thought of it, and she kept that order in my handwriting to make it look as if the suggestion came from me, and I am as innocent as any lamb is of the frauds that shall come to be written on his skin. The duty of attorney to our client prevents me from opening my lips upon the matter. But she is a deep woman, and a bold one, too. May the Lord direct things aright. I shall retire, and let Robert have the practice. As soon as Brown's bankruptcy has worn out, captious creditors, it is the Lord alone that doeth all things well. Mr. Jellicorps knew that he had done his best, and, though doubtful in the turn which things had taken, with some exclusion of his agency he felt, though his conscience told him not to feel it, that here was one true source of joy, that impudent, dashing, unprofessional man who was always poking his vile, unarticled nose into legal business, that fellow of the name of Mordax now would have no locus-standy left. At least a hundred and fifty firms of good standing in the country detested that man, and even a judge would import a skin-atula juris into any measure which relieved the country of him. Thus he heard a knock. CHAPTER 51 STAND AND DELIVER The day was not far worn as yet, in May-month having come at last, the day would stand a good deal of wear, with Jordus burning to exhibit the wonders of the new machine, which had been bought upon his advice, and with Marmaduke conscious of the new gloss on his coat all previous times had been beaten, as the sporting writers put it, that is to say all previous times of the journey from Scargate to Middleton for any man who sat on wheels. A rider would take a shorter cut and have many other advantages, but for a driver the time had been the quickest upon record. The Sir Jelly-course, exalting in his safety, had imprinted the chase salute upon his good wife's cheek at ten minutes after one o'clock, when the clerks in the office, with laudable promptitude, not expecting him as yet, had unanimously cast down pen and be taken hand and foot toward knife and fork, instead of blaming them, this good lawyer went upon the same road himself, with a great advantage that the road to his dinner lay through his own kitchen. At dinner-time he had much to tell and many large helps to receive, of interest and of admiration especially from his pet-child Emily, who forgot herself so largely as to lick her spoon while gazing. And after dinner he was not without reasons for letting perhaps a little of the time slip by. Therefore by the time he had described all dangers discharged his duty to all comforts, and held a little confidential talk with his wife and himself above recorded, the clock had made its way to half-past three. Mrs. Jelly-course and Emily were gone forth to pay visits. The clerks shut away in their own room were busy scratching up a lovely case for Nisi Prius. The cook had thrown the sifted cinders on the kitchen fire and was gone with the maids to exchange just a few constitutional words with the gardener. While the whole house was drowsy with that by-time when the light and shadow seemed to mix together and far away sounds take a faint two and fro as if they were the pendulum of silence. That is Emily's knock, impatient child. Come back for her mother's gloves or something. All the people around her must go and let her in. With these words and a little placid frown because the soft nap was appending on his eyelids and yet they were always glad to open on his favorite, the worthy lawyer rose and took a pinch of snuff to rouse himself, but before he could get to the door a louder and more impatient rap almost made him jump. What a hurry you are in, my dear. You should really try to learn some little patience. While he was speaking you opened the door and behold there was no little girl but a tall and stately gentleman and horseman's dress and a strong commanding aspect. What is your pleasure, sir? The lawyer asked while his heart began to flutter for exactly such a visitor had caused him scare of his life when stronger by a quarter of a century than now. My pleasure, or rather my business, is with Mr. Jelly-Course, the lawyer. Then, sir, you have come to the right man for it. My name is Jelly-Course and greatly at your service. Allow me the honor of inviting you within. My name is Yordus, Sir Duncan Yordus, said the stranger when seated in the lawyer's private room. My father, Philip Yordus, was a client of yours, and of other legal gentlemen before he came to you. Upon the day of his death in the year 1777 you prepared his will which you have since found to be of no effect, except as regards his personal estate, and about one eighth part of the reality. Of the bulk of the land, including Scargate Hall, he could not dispose for the simple reason that it had been strictly entailed by a deed executed by my grandfather and his wife in 1751. Under that entail I take in fee, for it could not have been barred without me, and I never concurred in any disentailing deed, and my father never knew that such was needful. Excuse me, sir Duncan, but you seem to be wonderfully apt with the terms of our profession. I could scarcely be otherwise. After all that I have had to do with law in India, our first object is to apply our own laws, and our second to spread our religion. But no more of that. Do you admit the truth of a matter so stated that you cannot fail to grasp it? Sir Duncan Yordos, as he put this question, fixed large unwavering and piercing eyes against which no spectacles were any shelter, upon the mild, amiable, and generally speaking very honest, orbs of sight, which had lighted the path of the elder gentlemen to good repute and competence. But who may turn a lawyer's hand from the heaven-sped legal plow? Am I to understand, sir Duncan Yordos, that your visit to me is of an amicable nature, and intended without prejudice to other interests, to ascertain, so far as may be compatible with professional rules, how far my clients are acquainted with documents alleged or imagined to be in existence, and how far their conduct might be guided by desire to afford every reasonable facility? You are to understand simply this, that as the proper owner of Scargate Hall, and the main part of the estates held with it, I require you to sign a memorandum that you hold all the title deeds on my behalf, and to deliver at once to me that entailing instrument of 1751, under which I make my claim. You speak, sir, as if you had already brought your action and entered verdict. Legal process may be dispensed with in barbarous countries, but not here. The title deeds in other papers of Scargate Hall were placed in my custody neither by you, nor on your behalf, sir. I hold them on behalf of those at present in possession, and until I receive due instructions from them, or a final order from a court of law, I should be guilty of a breach of trust if I parted with the dogs here of them. You distinctly refuse my requirements and defy me to enforce them? No, sir Duncan, I do nothing more than declare what my view of my duty is, and decline in any way to depart from it. Upon that score I have nothing more to say. I did not expect you to give up the deeds, though in barbarous countries, as you call them, we have preemptory ways. I will say more than that, Mr. Jelly-course. I will say that I respect you for clinging to what you must know better than anybody else to be the weaker side. The lawyer bowed his very best bow, what was bound to enter protest against the calm assumption of the claimant. Let us leave that question, sir Duncan said. The time would fail us to discuss that now, but one thing I surely may insist upon, as the proper heir of my grandfather, I may desire you to produce for my inspection that deed in pursuance of this marriage settlement, which has for so many years lain concealed. With pleasure I will do so, sir Duncan Yordes, presuming that any such deed exists, upon the production of an order from the court either of king's bench or of common pleas. In that case you would be obliged to produce it and would earn no thanks of mine, but I ask you to lay aside the legal aspect, for no action is pending, and perhaps never will be. I ask you as a valued advisor of the family and a trustworthy friend to its interests, as a gentleman in fact rather than a mere lawyer, to do a wise and amicable thing. You cannot in any way injure your case if a law case is to come of it, because we know all about the deed already. We even have an abstract of it as clear as you yourself could make, and we have discovered that one of the witnesses is still alive. I have come to you myself in preference to employing a lawyer, because I hope if you meet me frankly, to put things in train for a friendly and fair settlement. I am not a young man. I have been disappointed of any one to succeed me, and I wish to settle my affairs in this country and return to India, which suits me better and where I am more useful. My sisters have not behaved kindly to me, but that I must try to forgive and forget. I have thought matters over, and am quite prepared to offer very liberal terms, in short to leave them in possession of Scargate, upon certain conditions and in a certain manner. Really, Sir Duncan," Mr. Jellicors exclaimed, "'Allow me to offer you a pinch of snuff.' "'You are pleased with it?' "'Yes, it is of quite superior quality. It saved the life of an admirable fellow, a henchman of your family. In fact, poor Jordus, the power of this snuff alone supported him from freezing. At another time I may be highly interested in that matter," Visitor replied, without meaning to be rude, but knowing that the man of law was making passes to gain time, "'Just at present I must ask you to say yes or no. If you wish me to set my offer plainly before you, and so relieve the property of the cost of a hopeless struggle, for I have taken the opinion of the first real property council of the age, you will, as a token of good faith and of common sense, produce for my inspection that deed poll of November 15th, 1751." Poor Mr. Jellicors was desperately driven. He looked round the room to seek for any interruption. He went to the window and pretended to see another visitor knocking at the door, but no help came. He must face it out himself, and Sir Duncan, with his quiet resolution, looked more stern than his violent father. "'I think that before we proceed any further,' said the lawyer at last, sitting down and taking up a pen and trying what the nib was like, "'We really should understand a little where we are already. My own desire to avoid litigation is very strong, almost unprofessionally so, though the first thing consulted by all of us naturally is the pocket of our client. Whether it will hold out, I suppose,' Sir Duncan Yordis departed from his dignity in saying this and was sorry as soon as he had said it, "'That is the vulgar impression about us, which it is our duty to disdain, but without losing time upon that question let me ask, what shall I put down as your proposition, Sir? There is nothing to put down. That is just the point. I do not come here with any formal proposition. If that had been my object I would have brought a lawyer. What I say is that I have the right to see that deed. It forms no part of my sister's title deeds, but even destroys their title. It belongs to me, it is my property, and only through fraud it is now in your hands. Of course we can easily breast it from you, and must do so if you defy me. It rests with you to take that risk, but I prefer to cut things short. I pledge myself to two things. First, to leave the document in your possession, and next, to offer fair and even handsome terms when you have met me thus fairly. Why should you object? For we know all about it, never mind how?' Those last three words decided the issue. Even worse than the fear of breach of trust was the fear of treason in the office, and the lawyer's only chance of getting clue to that was to keep on terms with this Sir Duncan Yordis. There had been no treason whatever in the office. Neither had anything come out through the proctorial firm in York or Sir Walter Carnby's, solicitors. But a note among long-headed Duncombe's papers had got into the hands of Mordax. Of that, however, Mr. Jelly-Course had no idea. Sir Duncan Yordis, I will meet you as you come,' he said with his good fresh-colored face as honest as the sun when the clouds roll off. It is an unusual step on my part, and perhaps irregular. But rather than destroy the prospect of a friendly compromise, I will strain a point and candidly admit that there is an instrument open to interpretation which might or might not be in your favour. That I knew long ago, and more than that, my demand is to see it and to satisfy myself. Under the circumstances I am half inclined to think that I should be disposed to allow you that privilege if the document were in my possession. Now, Mr. Jelly-Course—Sir Duncan answered, showing his temper in his eyes alone. How much longer will you trifle with me? Where is that deed? A Sir Jelly-Course drew forth his watch, took off his spectacles, and dusted them carefully with a soft yellow handkerchief, then restored them to their double sphere of usefulness, and perused with some diligence the time of day. By the law which compels a man to sneeze when another man sets the example, Sir Duncan also drew forth his watch. I am trying to make my reply as accurate, said the lawyer, beginning to enjoy the position as a man, though not quite as a lawyer, as accurate as your candour and confidence really deserve, Sir Duncan. The box containing that document to which you attach so much importance, whether duly or otherwise is not for me to say until counsel's opinion has been taken on our side, considering the powers of the horse that box should be about stormy gap by this time. A quarter to four by me, what does your watch say, Sir? The deed has been sent for post-haste, has it, and you know for what purpose. You must draw a distinction between the deed and the box containing it, Sir Duncan, or, to put it more accurately, betwixt that deed and its casual accompaniments. It happens to be among very old charters which happen to be wanted for certain excellent antiquarian purposes. Such things are not in my line, I must confess, although so deeply interesting. What a very learned adman seems to have expressed rubbish. Excuse me, but you are most provoking. You know as well as I do that robbery is intended. You allow yourself to be made a party to it. This was a simple truth, and the lawyer, being by some strange inversion of professional excellence, honest at the bottom, was deeply pained at having such words used as to, for, about, or in any wise concerning him. I think, Sir Duncan, that you will be sorry, he answered with much dignity. For employing such language it cannot be resented. Your father was a violent man, and we all expect violence of your family. There is no time to go into that question now. If I have wronged you, I will beg your pardon. A very few hours will prove how that is. How, and by whom, have you sent the box? Mr. Jelly-Course answered, rather stiffly, that his clients had sent a trusty servant with a light vehicle to fetch the box, and that now he must be halfway toward home. I shall overtake him, said Sir Duncan with a smile. I have a good horse, and I know the shortcuts. Gloves without wheels go a yard to a foot upon such rocky collar-work. Without another word, except good-bye, Sir Duncan Yordis left the house, walked rapidly to the inn, and cut short the dinner his good horse was standing up to. In a very few minutes he was on T's bridge, with his face toward the home of his ancestors. It may be supposed that neither his thoughts nor those of the lawyer were very cheerful. Mr. Jelly-Course was deeply anxious as to the conflict which must ensue, and as to the figure his fair frame might cut, if a strange transaction should be exposed and culminated by evil tongues. In these elderly days, and with all experience, he had laid himself open, not legally, perhaps, but morally, to the heavy charge of convivance at a felonious act, and even some contribution toward it. He told himself vainly that he could not help it, that the documents were in his charge only until he was ordered to give them up, and that it was no concern of his to anticipate what might become of them. His position had truly been difficult, but still he might have escaped from it with clearer conscience. His duty was to cast away drawing-room manners and warn Miss Yordis that the document she hated so was not her own to deal with, but belonged, in equity at least, to those who were entitled under it, and that to take advantage of her wrongful possession and destroy the foe was a crime, and more than that a shabby one. The former point might not have stopped her, but the latter would have done so without fail, for her pride was equal to her daring. But poor Mr. Jellicorps had felt the power of a will more resolute than his own, and of grand surroundings and exalted style and his desire to please had confused and thereby overcome his perception of the right. But now these reflections were all too late, and the weary brain found comfort only in the shelter of its nightgap. If a little slip had brought a very good man to unhappiness, how much harder was it for Sir Duncan Yordis, who had committed no offense at all? No Yordis had ever cared at tittle for Taddle, to use their own expression, but deeper mischief than Taddle must ensue unless great luck prevented it. The brother knew well that his sister inherited much of the reckless self-will which had made the name almost a byword, and which had been master of his own life until large experience of the world, and the sense of responsible power curbed it. He had little affection for that sister left, for she had used him cruelly, and even now was embittering the injury, but he still had some tender feeling for the other who had always been his favorite. And though cut off by his father's act from due headship of the family, he was deeply grieved in this more enlightened age to expose their uncivilized turbulence. Therefore he spurred his willing horse against the hill, and upped the many winding ruggedness of the road, hoping at every turn to describe the distance the vehicle carrying that very plaguesome box. If his son had been there he might have told him on the ridge of Stormy Gap, which commanded high and low, rough and smooth, dark and light for miles ahead, that Yordis was taking the final turn by the furthest gleam of the water mist, once the stone road labored up to Scargate. But Sir Duncan's eyes, though as keen as an eagle's while young, had now seen too much of the sun to make out that gray atom gliding in the sunset haze. Upon the whole it was a lucky thing that he could not overtake the car, for Yordis would never have yielded his trust while any life was in him, and Sir Duncan having no knowledge of him, except as a boy of all work about the place might have been tempted to use the sword, without which no horsemen then rode there, or failing that a struggle between two equally resolute men must have followed, with none at hand to part them. When the horsemen came to the foot of the long street pole leading up to the stronghold of his race, he just caught a glimpse of the car turning in at the entrance of the courtyard. They have half an hour's start of me! He thought as he drew up behind a rock that the house might not describe him. If I ride up in full view, I hurry the mischief. Philippe will welcome me with the embers of my title. She must not suspect that the matter is so urgent. Nobody shall know that I am coming. For many reasons I had better try the private road below the scarf. CHAPTER 52 THE SCARF Jorders, without suspicion of persuad, had allowed no grasp to grow under the feet of Mama Duke on the homeward way. His orders were to use all speed to do as he had done at the lawyer's private door, and then without paving his horse to drive back, reserving the north's back of very humpy halting place. There is no such man at the present time of day to carry out strict orders, as the dogman was, and the chance of there being such a one again diminishes by very proper process. Mama Duke as a horse was of equal quality, reasoning not about his orders but about the way to do them. There were no special emergency now, so far as my Lady Philippa knew, but the manner of her mind was to leave no space between a resolution and its execution. This is the way to go up in the world or else to go down abruptly, and to her the latter would have been far better than to hold between two opinions. Her plan had been shaped and set last night, and like all great ideas was the simplest of the simple, and Chaudice, who had inklings of its own, though never admitted to confidence, knew how to carry out the outer path. When the taboo comes, she said to Veldrum, as soon as her long sight showed her the trusty Chaudice beginning the home accent, it is to be taken first out of the car, and to my sister sitting the other thing Chaudice will see too. I may be going for a little walk, but you will at once carry up the taboo. Mrs. Carnaby's appetite is delicate. The Butler had his own opinion upon the entrusting subject, but in her presence it must be his own. Any attempt at enlargement of a mind by exchange of sentiment, such as Mrs. Carnaby permitted and enjoyed, would have sent him flying down the hill. Pursued by square-toed men, prepared to add elasticity to velocity. Therefore, Veldrum made a leg in silence and retreated. While his mistress prepared for her intended exploit, she had her beaver hat and mantel ready by the shrubbery door, as a little quiet posthum of her own was called. And in the heavy standing desk or secretary of her private room, she had stored a flat basket or frail of stout flanks with a heavy cloth weight inside it. Much better to drown the rigid thing than burn it, she had been saying to herself, especially at this time of year, when fires are weak and telltale, and parchment makes such a nasty smell, Elisa might come in and suspect it, but the scarf is a trusty confidant. Mistress Yorda's, while sure that her sister, having even more than herself at stake, would approve and even applaud her scheme, was equally sure that it must be kept from her for both its own sake and for hers, and the sooner it was done, the less the chance of disturbing poor Elisa's mind. The scarf is a deep pool supposed to have no bottom, except perhaps in the very powers of the earth. Upon one of the wildest headwaters of the tees, a strong mountain torrent from a desolate driving springs, forthwith great ferocity, and sooner than put out with any more stabs from the rugged earth, cast itself on air. For a hundred and twenty feet, the water is bright in the novelty and the power of itself, striking out freaks of eccentric flashes and even little sunbows in fine weather. But the triumph is brief, and a heavy retribution created by its violence awaits below. From the tossing turmoil of the fall, two white volumes roll away, with a clash of waves between them, and sweeping round the craggy basin meet like a snowy wreath below, and rush back in coiling eddies faked with pomp, all the middle is dark deep water, looking on the watch for something to suck down. What better duty or more pious could a hole like this perform than that of soiling up a lawyer, or if no such morsel offered than at least a lawyer's deeds? Minya Sheep had been there engulfed and never saluted by her lambs again, and although a lawyer by no means is a sheep except in his clothing and his eyes perhaps, yet his doings appear upon the skin thereof, and enhance its value more than drugs of tire, and it is to be feared that some fleece clans will not feel the horror which they ought to feel at the mod pursuit by Mistress Yorda's in the delivery of her act and deed. She came down the dell from the private ground of Skarget with a resilient face and a step of strength, the clock away that should know time no more as well embossed in the old deep hole, and all stretched firmly in the tough crown trail whose candles would help for a long strong cast. Starving crags and a ridge of jagged scores shut down the sunset while a thicket of dwarf oak and a never absent bramble apron the yellow dugs of shale with brown. In the middle was the car drone of the torrent called the Skar, the sheer trap rock which is green in the sunlight like black night flung around it, while a snowy wreath of mist like foam exhaling, circling round the basin steep or horde over the chasm. Mistress Yorda's had very staunch nerves, but still for reasons of her own. She disliked this place and never came near it for pleasure's sake. Although in dry summers when the springs were low the fury of sea passed into grandeur and even beauty, but a Yorda's long ago gone to answer for it had flung a man who plagued him with the law into this hole. And what was more disheartening, although of less importance a favorite maid of this lady upon the exile of her sweetheart, leading that his feet were upside down to her and that this hole went right through the earth had jumped into it in a lonely moment instead of taking lessons in geography. Philippa Yorda's was as brave as would be, but now her heart began to creep as coolly as the shadows crept for now she was out of sight of home and out of hearing of any sound except the rolling of the force. The hall was half a mile away behind a shoulder of feet ripped through and it took no sight of this torrent until it came a quiet river by the downward road. I must be getting cold, Mistress Yorda's thought. Or else this path is much rougher than it used to be. Why seems to be getting quite dangerous? It is too bad of Yorda's not to see two things better. My father used to ride this way sometimes. But now how could our horse get along here now? There used to be a brittle road from the ground of Skagi to a fort below the force and northward then towards the tees. Or by keeping downstream and then poring it again might hit upon the middleton road. Near the rock that worn the public of the bloodhounds this brittle road kept a great distance from the cliffs overhanging the perilous calf and the only way down to a view of the fall was a scrambling track over rocks and trunks unworthy to be called a path. The lady with the bag had no choice left but to follow this track or else ban her intention. For a moment she was sorry that she had not been satisfied with some less troublesome destruction of a foe even at the risk of chance suspicions. But having thus begun it she would not turn back and be angry with her idle fears when she came to think of them. With hereditary scorn of second thought she cast away doubt and went down the steep and stood on the brow of sheer rub to recover her breath and strength for a long bold past. The creek beneath her feet was trembling with the power of flood below and the white mist from the deep moved slowly shrouding now and now revealing the black gulf and its slippery walls for the last few months. Miss Euras had taken very little exercise and seldom tasted the open air therefore the tumult and the terror of the place. The fading of the sky and darkening of the earth got hold of her more than they should have done. With the frail in her right hand poised upon three fingers the fourth had been broken in her childhood. She planted the sole of her left foot on the brink and swung herself for the new full cast. A strong throw was needful to reach the black water that never gave up anything. The bag were dropped in the foaming race it might be carried back to the heel of the fall. She was proud of her bodily strength which was almost equal to that of a muscular man and her long arms wailed with the vigor of the throw. But just when the weight should have been delivered and flown with the hiss into the bottomless abyss. A loose flag of the handle twisted on a broken finger instead of being freed the fall fell back and struck her in the chest and threw her back for the clock weight was heavy one. Her balance was lost her feet flew up and she fell upon her back and the smooth beaver clock began sliding upon the sleepy rock. Horrible death was pulling at her. Not a stick nor a stone was in reach of her hands and the perilous cracks echoed one long shriek above all the roar of waterfall. She strove to turn over and grasp the ground but only felt herself going faster. Her bright boots were flashing against the white mist a picture in her mind forever. Her body was following inch by inch with elbow and shoulder and even hair coil. She strove to prolong the descent into death but the descent increased its speed and the sky itself was sliding. Just when the balance was inclining downward and the plunge hanging on her hair's breath powerful hands fell upon her shoulder a greeting of a drag against the grain was the last thing she was conscious of and Sir Duncan Yorda's having made a strong pull at the imminent risk of his life threw back his weight on the heaths of his boots and they helped him. His long Indian spurs which had no rover held their hold like a falcon's hind talon and he drew back the lady without knowing who she was having leaped from his horse at her despairing scream. From his knowledge of the place he concluded that it was some person seeking suicide but recoiling from the sight of death and without another thought he risked his life to save. Brithless himself for the transit of years and of curry powder had not improved his lungs. He laboured at the helpless form and laid it at last in a place of safety. What a weight the lady is was his first idea it cannot be want of food that has driven her nor of money either her clock would fetch a thousand rupees in Calcutta and a bag full of something precious also. But judged by the way she clings to it poor thing can I get any water for her? There used to be a spring here where the wood cocks came is it safe to leave her certainly not with a head like that she might even have a proper seat. Allow me madam I will not steal it it is only for a cushion. The lady however though still in a stopper kept her fingers clench upon the handle of the bag and without using violence he could not move them. Then the stitching of the frail gave way and Sir Duncan inspired a roll of parchment suddenly a lady opened large dark eyes which wandered a little and then as he raised her head met his and turned away. Philippa he said and she faintly answered yes. Being humbled and chickened by her deadly terror and casely sure of safety yet for the roar and the chasm were in sight and hearing still. Philippa are you better never mind what you were thinking of all shall be right about that Philippa what is land in comparison with life look up at home. Don't be afraid to look surely you know your only brother I am Duncan who ran away and has lived for years in India. I used to be very kind to you when we were children and why should I alter from it now. I remember when you tumbled in the part down there and your knee was bleeding I tied it out with a dog leave and my hand got cheap and you remember it was from last time to be sure I do. She said looking up with cheerfulness and you carried me all the way home almost Eliza was shitfully jealous that she always was. I knew not much better but now we are getting on in life and we need not have much to do with one another still we may try not to kill one another by trumpery squabbles about property. Stay where you are for a moment sister you shall see the end of that. Sir Duncan took the bag with the deed inside it to turn in three steps to the brilliant shelf and with one strong hurt sent forth the load which cleft the white mist and sank forever in the waves of whirlpool. No one can prosecute me for that he said returning with a sign. Though Mordax may be much aggrieved now Philippa although I cannot carry you well from the Edetian style has made to you I can help you home my dear and then on upon my business. Pride and self-esteem of Miss Yorda's had never been so crushed with she put both hands upon her brother's shoulders and burst into a flood of tears. End of Chapter 52 Scarf. Recording by Ayesha 17. Chapter 53 of Mary Annerley. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Kay Hand. Mary Annerley by Richard Dodridge Blackmore. Chapter 53 Butts Rebutted. Sir Duncan Yordas was a man of impulse as almost every man must be who sways the wills of other men. But he had not acted upon mere impulse in casting away his claim to Scargate. He knew that he could never live in that bleak spot after all his years in India. He disliked the place through his father's harshness. He did not care that any son of his, who had lain under charge of a foul crime, and fled instead of meeting it, should become a Yordas of Scargate Hall. Although that description by no means involved any very strict equity of conduct. And besides these reasons he had another which will appear very shortly. But whatever the secondary motives were it was a large and generous act. When Mrs. Carnaby saw her brother she was sure that he was come to turn her out, and went through a series of states of mind natural to an adoring mother with a frail imagination of an appetite, as she poetically described it. She was not very swift of apprehension, although so promptly alive to anything tender, refined, and succulent. Having too strong a sense of duty to be guilty of any generosity she could not believe, either then or thereafter, that her brother had cast away anything at all except a mere shred of a lawsuit. And without any heed of chronology, because, as she justly inquired, what two clocks are alike, she was certain that if he did anything at all to drive off those horrible lawyers from the house there was no credit to do to anyone but Pet. It was the noble way Pet looked to him. Pet, being introduced to his uncle after dinner when he came home from fishing, certainly did look nobly at him, if a long stare is noble. Then he went up to him with a large and liberal sniff, and an affable inquiry, as a little dog goes up to a big one. Sir Duncan was amused, having heard already some little particulars about this youth whose nature he was able to enter into as none but a Yordis could rightly do. However, he was bound to make the best of him and did so, discovering not only room for improvement, but some hope of that room being occupied. The boy has been shockingly spoiled, he said to his sister Philip about that evening. Also he is dreadfully ignorant. None of us are very great at scholarship and never have much occasion for it. But things are becoming very different now. Everybody is beginning to be expected to know everything. Very likely, as soon as I am no more wanted, I shall be voted a blockhead. Luckily the wars keep people from being too choice when their pick goes every minute. And this may stop the fuss that comes from Scotland mainly about universal distribution, or some big words, of education. Pet, as you call him, is a very clever fellow, with much more shape of words about him than ever I was blessed with. In spelling I saw that he was my master, and so I tried him with geography, and all he knew of India was that it takes its name from India rubber. Now I call that very clever of him, said Miss Yordis, for I really might have forgotten even that. But the fatal defect in his education has been the want of what you grow, chiefly in West India perhaps, the cane. Duncan, the sugar cane. I've read all about it. You ain't tell me nothing. You suck it, you smoke it, and you beat your children with it. Well, said Sir Duncan, who was not quite sure in the face of such authority, I just remember, but perhaps they do in some parts, because the country is so large. But it is not the ignorance of pets I care for, such a fault is natural and unavoidable, and who is there to pick holes in it. The boy knows a great deal more than I did at his age because he is so much younger. But, Philippa, unless you do something with him, he will never be a gentleman. Duncan, you are hard. You have seen so much. The more we see, the softer we become. The one thing we harden against is lying, the seed, the root, and the substance of all vileness. I am sorry to say your pet is a liar. He does not always tell the truth, I know. But bear in mind, Duncan, that his mother did not insist, and in fact she does not herself always. I know it. I am aggrieved that it should come from our side. I never cared for his father much, because he went against me. But this I will say for him, Lance Carnaby would sooner cut his tongue out that put it to a lie. When I am at home my dealings are with fellows who could not speak the truth if they tried for dear life, simply through want of practice. They are like your lower class of horse-dealers, but with infinitely more intelligence. It is late to teach poor pets the first of all lessons, and for me to stop to do it is impossible. But will you try to say further disgrace to a scape-grace family, but not a mean one? I feel it as much as you do, perhaps more, Miss Yordis answered, forgetting altogether about the deed-box and her antiquary. You need not tell me how very sad it is, but how can it be cured? His mother is his mother. She would never part with him, and her health is delicate. Stronger than either yours or mine, unless she takes too much nourishment. Philippa her will is mere petulance. For her own good we must set it aside. And if you agree with me, it can be done. He must go into a marching regiment at once, order it abroad with five shillings in his pocket, earn his pay, and live upon it. This patched-up peace will never last six months. The war must be fought out till France goes down or England. I can get him a commission, and I know the Colonel, a man of my own sort, who sees things done instead of talking. It would be the making of lands a lot. He has plenty of courage, but it has been milched. At Oxford or Cambridge he would do no good, but simply be ruined by having his own way. Under my friend Colonel Thacker he will have a hard time of it and tell no lies. Thus it was settled. There was a fearful outcry, hysterics of an elegant order, and weepings enough to produce summer spate in the teas. But the only result was the ordering of the tailor, the hosier, the bootmaker, and the scissors grinder to put a new edge upon Squire Philip's razors that pets might practice shaving. Cold-blooded cruelty, savage homicide, cannibalism is kinder, said poor Mrs. Carnaby, when she saw the razors. But pet insisted upon having them, made lather, and practiced with the backs till he began to understand them. He promises well, I have great hopes of him, Sir Duncan said to himself. He has pride, and no proud boy can long be a liar. I will go and consult my dear old friend Bart. Mr. Bart, who was still of good bodily strength, but becoming less resolute in mind than of your, was delighted to see his old friend again, and these two men, having warm, proud hearts, preserved each other from self-contempt by looking away through the long hand clasp. For each of them was, to the other, almost the only man really respected in the world. Betwixt them such a thing as concealment could not be. The difference in their present position was a thing to laugh at. Sir Duncan looked up to Bart as being the maker of his character, and Bart admired Sir Duncan as a newer and wiser addition of himself. They dispatched the past in a cheery talk, for the face of each was enough to show that it might have been troubulous, as all past is, but had slid into quiet satisfaction now, and a gentle flow of experience. Then they began to speak of present matters and the residue of time before them, and among other things Sir Duncan Yordis spoke of his nephew Lancelot. Lancelot Yordis Carnaby, said Bart with the smile of a grey beard at young love's dream, has done us the honor to fall in love, for ever and ever, with our little inseam. And the worst of it is that she likes him. What an excellent idea, his old friend answered. I was sure there was something of that sort going on. Now, betwixt love and war, we shall make a man of pet. As shortly as possible he told Mr. Bart what his plan about his nephew was, and how he had carried it against maternal, and now must carry it against maiden, love. If Lancelot had any good stuff in him, any vertebrate embryo of honesty, to be put among men, and upon his metal, with a guardian angel in the distance of sweet home, would establish all the man in him and stint the beast. Mr. Bart, though he hated hard fighting, admitted that for weak people it was needful, and was only too happy so to cut the knot of his own home entanglements with the ruthless sword. For a man of liberal education, and much experience in spending money, who could put a new bottom to his own saucepan, is not the one to feel any despair of his fellow creature's mending. Then arose the question, who should bell the cat, or rather, who should lead the cats to the belling? Pet must be taken, under strong duress, to the altar, as his poor mother said and shrieked, whereas he was to shed his darling blood. His heart was in his mouth when his uniform came, and he gave his sacred honor to fly straight as an arrow to the port where his regiment was getting into boots. But Sir Duncan shook his grizzled head. Somebody must see him into it, he said. Not a lady. No, no, my dear Eliza. I cannot go myself, but it must be a man of rigidity, a stern agent. Oh, I know, how stupid of me! You mean poor dear Mr. Jellicourse, suggested Mrs. Carnaby with a short, hot sob. But, Duncan, he has not the heart for it. For anything honest and loyal and good, kind people may trust him with their lives. But to tyranny, rapine, and manslaughter he could never lend his fine, honorable face. I mean a man of a very different caste, a man who knows what time is worth, a man who is going to be married on a Sunday that he may not lose the day. He has to take three days holiday because the lady is an heiress. Otherwise he might get off with one. But he hopes to be at work again on Wednesday, and we will have him here post-haste from York on Thursday. It will be the very job to suit him, a gentleman of Roman ancestry, and of the name of Mordax. My heart was broken already, and now I could feel the port pieces flying into my brain. Oh, why did I ever have a babe for monsters of the name of Mordax to devour? Mordax was only too glad to come. On the very day after their union, Palpurnia, likewise of Roman descent, had exhibited symptoms of a strong will of her own. Mordax had temporized during their courtship, but now she was his and must learn the great fact. He behaved very well and made no attempt at reasoning, which would have been a fatal course, but promptly donned cloak, boots, and spurs while his horse was being saddled and then set off with his eyes fixed firmly upon business. A crow could scarcely make less than fifty miles from York to Scargate, and the Factor's trusty roadster had to make up his mind to seventy. So great, however, is sometimes the centrifugal force of Hyman, that upon the third day Mr. Mordax was there, vigorous, vehement, and fit for any business. When he heard what it was, it liked him well, for he bore a fine grudge against Lancelot for setting the dogs of him three years ago, when he came, as an agent for adjoining property, to the house of Yordus, and when Mr. Jellicourse scorned to meet an illegal meddler with illegal matters. If Mordax had any fault, any must have had some, in spite of his resolute conviction to the contrary. It was that he did not altogether scorn revenge. Lives their man or even woman capable of describing how the miseries, the hardships, the afflictions beyond groaning, which, like electric hail, came down upon the sacred head of Pet, he was in the grasp of three strong men. His uncle, Mr. Bart, worst of all, that Mordax, escape was impossible, lamentation met with laughter, and passion led to punishment. Even Stern, Monder, was sorry for him, although he despised him for feeling it. The only beam of light, the only spark of pleasure, was his royal uniform, and to know that Incy's laugh thereat was hollow, and would melt away to weeping when he was out of sight, together with the sulky curiosity of Monder, kept him up a little in this time of bitter sacrifice. Enough that he went off at last in the claws of that Roman Hippogriff, as Mrs. Carnaby savagely called poor Mordax, and the visitor's flag hung half-mast high, and Saracen and the other dogs made a howling dirge with such fine hearts, as the poor mother said between her sobs, that they got their dinners upon china plates. Sir Duncan had left before this, and was back under Dr. Uprown's hospitable roof. He had made up his mind to put his fortune, or rather his own value, to the test, in a place of deep interest to him now, the heart of the fair genetta. He knew that, according to popular view, he was much too old for this young lady, but for popular view he cared not one do it, if her own had the courage and the will to go against it. For years he had sternly resisted all temptation of second marriage, toward which shrewd mothers and nice maidens had labored in vain to lead him. But the bitter disappointment about his son, and that long illness, and the tender nursing, added to the tenderness of his own sides from lying upon them with a hard, dry cough, had opened some parts of his constitution to matrimonial propensities. Ms. Uprown was of a playful nature, and he eased everybody she cared about, and although Sir Duncan was a great hero to her, she treated him sometimes as if he were her doll. Being a grave man he liked to this, within the bounds of good taste and manners, and the young lady always knew where to stop. From being amused with her he began to like her, and from liking her he went on to miss her, and from missing her to wanting her was no long step. However Sir Duncan was not at all inclined to make a fool of himself herein. He liked the lady very much, and saw that she would suit him, and help him well in the life to which he was thinking of returning. For within the last fortnight a very high post at Calcutta had been offered to him by the powers in Leddenhall Street, upon condition of sailing at once, and forgoing the residue of his leave. If matters had been to his liking in England he certainly would have declined it, but after his sad disappointment, and the serious blow to his health, he resolved to accept it, and set forth speedily. The time was an interlude of the war, and ships need not wait for convoy. This had induced him to take his Yorkshire affairs, which Mordak had been forced to interment during his Derbyshire campaign, into his own hands, and speed the issue as above related. And part of his plan was to quit all claim to present possession of Scargate, that if the young lady should accept his suit it might not in any way be for the sake of the landed interest. As it happened he had gone much further than this, and cast away his claim entirely to save his sister from disgrace and the family property from lawyers. And now having sought Dr. Uprown's leave, which used to be thought the proper thing to do, he asked Janetta whether she would have him, and she said, no, but he might have her. Upon this he begged permission to set the many drawbacks before her, and she nodded her head and told him to begin. I am of Yorkshire family, but I am sorry to say that their temper is bad and they must have their own way too much. But that suits me, and I understand it, because I must have my own way too. But I have parted with my inheritance, and have no place in this country now. But I am very glad of that, because I shall be able to go about. But India is a dreadfully hot country. Many creatures tease you, and you get tired of almost everything. But that will make it all the more refreshing not to be tired of you perhaps. But I have a son as old as you, or older. But you scarcely suppose that I can help that. But my hair is growing gray, and I have great crow's feet, and everyone will begin to say. But I don't believe a word of it, and I won't have it. And I don't care a pin's head what all the world says put together, so long as you don't belong to it. After Sir Duncan's marriage, when he and his bride were in London, with the ladies' parents come to help in the misery of outfit, a little boy ran through a field of wheat early in the afternoon and hid himself in a black thorn hedge to see what was going on at an early. Nothing escaped him, for his eyes were sharp, being of true tannish print. He saw Captain Anurnley trudding up the hill with the pipe in his mouth to the peeing field, where three or four men were enjoying the air without any of the greedy gulps produced by too great exertion of the muscles. Then he saw the mistress of the house throw white a lattice and shake out a cloth for the birds, who skipped down the hatch by the dozen instantly. And he saw Mary with the basket and a wooden measure going round the corner of the house and clucking four the pows to rally from their scratching places. These came zealously, with the speed of leg and wing, from straw, rick, threshing floor, double hedge or mixon, and following their tails, the boy slipped through the rick yard and tossed a note to Mary with a truly flamburine delivery. Although it was only a small size boy, no other in the hire of the coat fish, a brighter rose flew into Mary's cheeks. Then the master cock of all the yard could show up on comb or wattle. Contemptious of two pens which Mary fell for, the boy disappeared like a rabbit, and the fowls came and helped themselves to the tail-wheat while the mistress was thinking of a letter. It was short and sweet, at least in promise, being no more than these few words. Darling, the dyke were first we met an hour after sunset. Mary never doubted that her duty was to go and at the time appointed she was there with firm knowledge of her own mind being now a loving and reasonable woman. It was just a year since she had saved the life of Robin, and patience and loneliness and opposition had enlarged and ennobled her true and simple heart. No lord in the land need have looked for a purer, sweeter example of medianhood than this daughter of a Yorkshire farmer was, in a simple dress and with the dignity of love. The glen was beginning to bestow itself with a want of light instead of shadows and bushy places thickened with the imperceptible growth of night. Mary went on with excitement deepening while sunset deepened into dusk and the color of her clear face flushed and faded under the anxious touch of love as the tint of a delicate fingernail with any pressure varies but not very long was she left in doubt. How long have you been and where have you been and how much longer will you be among many other words and doings she insisted chiefly on these points. I'm a true blue as you may see and a warrant officer already he said with his old way of smiling at himself. When the war begins again as it must please god before many weeks are over I shall very soon get my commission and go up. I'm quite fit already to command a brigade. Mary was astonished at his modest tea. She thought that he ought to be an admiral at least and so she told him however he knew better you must bear in mind he replied with a kindly desire to spare her feelings that until a change for the better comes I am under disadvantages not only as an outlaw which has been upon the whole of comfort but as a suspected criminal with warrant against him and reward upon him. Of course I am innocent and everybody knows it or at least I hope so except the one who should have known it best. I'm the person who should know it best of all his true love answered with some jealousy explain yourself Robin if you please. No Robin so please you but Mr Jane's plight captain of the four top then Cork's wane of the barge and now master's mate of HM ship of the line belazel but the one who should have trusted me next to my own love is my father Sir Duncan Yorders. How you are talking you have such a reckless way a warrant officer and an Iran criminal and your father Sir Duncan Yorders that very strange gentlemen who could never get one or Robin you always did talk nonsense when whenever I would let you but you should not try to make my head go round every word of it is true the young sailor answered applying a prompt remedy for vertigo it had been clearly proved to his knowledge long before the great fact was who shaved to me that I am the only son of Sir Duncan Yorders or at any rate his only son for the present the discovery gratified him so little that he took speedy measures to supplant me the very rich gentleman from India said marry that married miss up round lately and her dress was all made upon diamonds they say as bright as the tune in the morning but then you will have to give me a problem you must give up me clasping her hand she looked up at him with courage keeping down all signs of tears she felt that her heart would not hold out long and yet she was prouder than to turn away speak she said it's better to speak plainly you know that it must be so do I why Robin Lyeth asked calmly being well contented to prolong her doubts that he might get the benefit thereafter because you belong to great people and I am just a farmer's daughter and no more and quite satisfied to remain so such things never answer a little while ago you were above me want you while I was nobody's son and only a cast away with the nickname that has nothing to do with it we must take things exactly as we find them at the time and you took me as you found me at the time only that made me out so much better marry I am not worthy of you what has both to do with it and so far as that goes yours is better though mine may seem the brighter in every other way you are above me you are good and I am wicked you are pure and I am careless you are sweet and I am violent in truth alone I can never be with you and I must be a pitiful scoundrel marry if I did not even try to do that after all that you have done for me but said marry with the lovely eyes gleaming with the glistening shade of tears I like you very much to do it but not exactly as a duty Robin you look at me like that and you talk of duty duty duty this is my duty I should like to be discharging it forever and a day I did not come here for ideas of this kind said marry the lips as red as pirate and thine berries free trade was bad enough but the Royal Navy worst it seems now rob India be sensible and tell me what I am to do to listen to me and then say whether I deserve what my father has done to me he came back from India as you must understand with no other object in life that I can hear of for he had any quantity of money then to find out me his only child and the child of only wife he ever could put a width for 20 years he had believed me to be drowned when the ship he sent me home in to be educated was supposed to have found her with all hands but something made him fancy that I might have escaped and as he could not leave India then he employed a gentleman of York named Mordax to hunt out all about it Mordax who seems to be a wonderful man and most kind hearted to everybody as poor widow Carroway sees of him with tears and as he testifies of himself he said to work and find out in no time at all about me and my errands and my crawling from the cave that will bear my name this say and more things than I have time to tell he pointed a meeting with Sir Duncan Yordes here at Tamborow and would have brought me to him and everything might have been quite happy but in the meanwhile that horrible murder of poor Carroway came to pass and I was obliged to go into hiding as no one knows better than you my dear my father as I suppose must call him being bound as it seems that they all are to fall out with their children took a hasty turn against me at once Mordax whom I saw last week trusting myself to his honour tells me that Sir Duncan would have cared two pence about my pre-trade work and so on or even about my having killed the officer in fair conflict Carroway is used to that but he never will forgive me upsconding and leaving my fellows as he puts it to bear the brunt he says that I am a dastard and a skulk and unworthy to bear the name of Yordes what a wicked and natural man he must be cried man he deserves to have no children no I am told that he is a very good man but stiff-necked and is dainful he regards me with scorn because he knows no better he may know our laws but he knows nothing of our ways to suppose that my men were in any danger if I had been caught while this tower was on a gibbit on the cliff would have been set up even before my trial such is the reward of eminence but no Yorkshire jury would turn around in the box with those poor fellows before them not guilty my lord who was on their tongues before he had finished charging them oh I am so glad they have been acquitted and you were there to see it to be sure I was in the court as Harry Ombilay's father Mr Montag's caught it up and it told on the jury more than could have been expected even the judge piped his eyes as he looked at me for they say he has scapegrace son and Harry was the only one of all the six in danger according to the turn of the evidence my poor eyes have scarcely come round yet from the quantity of sobbing that I had to do and the horrible glare of my goggles and then I had a clutch that I stumped with as I tried so that all the court could hear me and whenever I did it all the women sighed too and even the hardest hearts were moved Mr Montag says that it was capital oh but Robin how shocking though you make me laugh if the verdict had been otherwise oh what then well then Harry Ombilay had a paper in his hand done in printing letters by myself because he is a very tidy scholar and signed by me though which he was to read before receiving something saying that Robbie Lythe himself was in Yorktown and would surrender to that court upon condition that mercy should be warranted to the prisoners and you would have given yourself up and without consulting me about it bad I admit Robin answered with a smile but not half so bad as it to give up you which you calmly propose to us now my dear however there is no need for any trouble now except that I am forced to keep out of sight until other evidence is procured Montag's has taken to me like a better father mainly from his paramount love of justice and of daring illandry as he calls it so it was and 10 times more heroic self-devotion is a much more proper term now don't said Robin if you make me blush you make yes what I shall do to hide it carry the war into the sweet land of enemy but truly my darling there was very little danger and I am up for a much better joke this time my August Roman father who has cast me off sails as a very great Indian gun in a ship of line from Spithead early in September the belazel is being paid off now and I have my certificate as well as lots of money next to his last every sailor loves us free and mine instead of emptying shall fill the locker with this disgusting piece on and no chance of prize money and plenty in their pockets for a good spell assure blue jackets will be scarce when Sir Duncan orders sails if I can get a decent birth as a petty officer off I go for Calcutta and watch like the sweet little cherub that sits up aloft for the safety of my dear papa and mama as the French men are teaching us to call them what do you think of such filial devotion it would be a great deal more than he deserves marry answer with sweet simplicity but what could you do if you found out who you are not the smallest fear of that my dear I have never had the honor of an introduction my new stepmother who might have been my sweetheart if I had not seen somebody 100 times as good a thousand times as gentle and a million times as lovely oh Robin do leave off such very dreadful stories I saw her in the church and she looked beautiful fine feathers make fine birds however she is well enough in her way and I love her father but for all that she has no business to be my stepmother and of course it was only the money that did it she has a little temper of her own I can assure you and I wish Sir Duncan joy of her when they get among mosquitoes but as I was going to say the only risk of my being caught is from her sharp eyes even of that there is not much danger for we common sailors need not go within heel of those grandies unless it comes to boardwalk and even if Miss Janeta I beg her pardon lady your task should chance to recognize me I'm sure she would never tell her husband no no she would be too jealous and for 50 other reasons she is very cunning let me tell you well cried Mary with the smile of wisdom I hope that I may never live to be a stepmother the way those poor things get abused you'd have more principle I should hope than to marry anybody after me however I have told you nearly all my news and a few minutes I must be off only two things more in the first place Mordax has taken a very great fancy to me and has turned against my father he had widow caraway and I had a long talk after the trial and we all agreed that the murder was committed by a villain called John Cadman a snake and a skulk whom I know well as one of caraway's own men among other things they chance to say that Cadman's gun was missing and the poor widow can swear to it I asked if anyone had searched for it and Mordax said no it would be hopeless I told them that if I were only free to show myself and choose my time I would lay my life on finding it if thrown away as it most likely was in some part of that unlucky cave Mordax caught at this idea and asked me a number of questions and took down my answers for no one else knows the cave as I do I would run all risk myself and be there to do it if time suited but only certain tides will serve even with the best of weather and there may be no such tide for months I mean tide, weather and clear water combined as they must be for the job therefore I am not to wait but go about my other business and leave this to Mordax who loves to be captain of everything Mr. Mordax thought of a diving bell and some great American inventions but nothing of the kind can be used there nor even grappling irons the thing must not be heard of even until it has been accomplished whatever is done must be done by a man who can swim and dive as I can and who knows the place almost as well I have told him where to find the man when the opportunity comes for it and I have shown my better father Robin Cox fraud the likely spot so now I have nothing more to do with that how wonderfully you can throw off cares his sweetheart answered softly but I shall be miserable till I know what happens will they let me be there because I understand so much about tides and I can hold my tongue that you have shown right when my marry but your own sense will tell you that you could not be there now one thing more here is a ring not worthy although it is the real stuff to go up in your precious hand yet allow me to put it on no not there upon your wedding finger now do you know what that is for for me I suppose she answered blushing with pleasure and admiration but it is too good too beautiful too costly not half good enough though to tell you the truth it cannot be matched easily any more than you can but I know where to get those things now promise me to wear it when you think of me and the one habit will confirm the other but the more important part is this and the last thing for me to say to you your father still hates my name I fear tell him every word I have told you and perhaps it will bring him halfway round sooner or later he must come around and the only way to do it is to work him slowly when he sees in how many ways I have been wrong and how beautifully I have born it all he will begin to say to himself now this young man may be improving but he will never say he have no need of it I should rather think not you conceded Robin or whatever else I am to call you now but I bargain for one thing whatever may happen I shall never call you anything less but Robin it suits you and you look well with it your task indeed or whatever it may be no bargain is valid without a seal etc etc in the old but ever vivid way they went on until they were forced to part at the very lips of the house itself after longing lingeries the air of the fields was sweet with summer fragrance and the breath of night the world was ripe with soft repose whose dreams were hope and happiness and the heaven spread some gentle stars to show mankind the way to it then a noble perfume strew it the ambient air with strong prisons as the farmer in his shirt sleeves came with the clay pipe and grumbled wherever is a marry all this time end of chapter 54 true love recording by aisha 17 chapter 55 of mary annerley this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Kay Hand mary annerley by Richard Dodridge Blackmore chapter 55 Nicholas the Fish 500 years ago there was a great Italian swimmer even greater than our captain web in so much as he had with the wags of the age unjustly ascribed to our hero that is to say web toes and fingers this capable man could if history be true not only swim for a week without ceasing reassuring solid nature now and then by gulp of live fish but could also expand his chest so considerably that it held enough air for a day's consumption fortified thus he explored cherubidus and all the laparic whirlpools and could have found cadmonds gun anywhere if it had only been there but at last the sea had it to revenge upon him through the cruel insistence of his king no man so amphibious has since arisen through the unfathomed tide of time but a swimmer and diver of great repute was now living not far from teesmouth that is to say he lived there whenever the state of the weather or the time of the year stranded him in dry misery those who have never come across a man of this description might suppose that he was happy and content at home with his wife and growing family assuaging the brine in the delightful manner commended by hero to leander but alas it was not so at all the temper of the man was very slow to move as generally happens with deep-chested men and a little girl might lead him with her finger on the shore and he liked to try to smell landflowers which in his opinion were but weeds but if a man cannot control his heart in the very middle of his system how can he hope to command his skin that unscientific frontier of his frame Nicholas the fish as his neighbors whenever by coming ashore he had such treasures contemptuously called him was endowed from his birth with a peculiar skin and by exercise had improved it its virtue was excessive thickness such as a rider should pray for protected also by powerful hairiness largely admired by those with whom it is restricted to the head unhappily for Nicholas the preemptory poses of nature struck a line with him and this was his line of flotation from perpetual usage this was drawn obliquely indeed but as definitely as it is upon a ship of uniform displacement a yacht for instance or a man of war below that line scarcely anything could hurt him but above it he was most sensitive unless he were continually wedded and the flies and the gnats and many other plagues of England with one accord pitched upon him and pitched into him during his short dry intervals with a bracing sense of saline draft also the sun and the wind and even the moon took advantage of him when unwedded this made his dry periods a purgatory to him and no sooner did he hear from Mr. Mordax of a promising job underwater then he drew breath enough for a tenth fathom dive and bursting from long despair made a great slap at the flies beneath his collarbone the sound was like a drum which two men strike and his wife who was devoted to him hastened home from the adjoining parish with a sad presentiment of parting and this was speedily verified for the champion swimmer and diver set forth that very day for Bempton Warren where he was to have a private meeting with the general factor now it was a great mistake to think as many people at this time did both in Yorkshire and Derbyshire that the gulf of cannubial cares had swallowed the great roman hero Mordax unarmed and even without his gallant road-search to support him he had leaped into that curtain lake and had fought a good fight at the bottom of it the details are highly interesting and the chronicle might be useful but alas there is no space left for it it is enough and a great thing too to say that he emerged triumphant reduced his wife into very good condition and obtained the doomastry of her estates and lordship of the household refreshed and recruited by the home campaign and having now a double base for future operations York with the Foss of Ausa in the east and Pretoria Tin Hill, Derbyshire westward Mordax returned with a smack of lip more dry than an amontil adissimo to the strict embrace of business so far as the needs of the body were concerned he might have done handsomely without any business but having no flesh fit to weigh against his mind he gave preference to the latter now the essence of his nature was to take strong views not hastily if he could help it nor through narrow aspect of prejudice but with power of insight right or wrong and stern fixity thereafter he had kept his opinion about Sir Duncan Yordis much longer than usual pending being struck with the fame of the man and his manner and generous impulsive nature all these he still admired but felt that the mind was far too hasty and to put it in his own strong way Sir Duncan whatever he might be in India had been but a fool in England why had he cast away his claim on Scargate and foiled the factor's own pet scheme for a great triumph over the lawyers and why condemn his only son when found with such skill and at heavy expense without even hearing both sides of the tale last but not least what induced him to marry when amply old enough to know better a girl who might be well enough in her way but had no family estate to bring was shrewdly suspected of cutting tongue and had more than once been anything but polite to Jeffrey Mordex although this gentleman was not a lawyer and indeed bore a tyrannous hate against that gentle and most precious class he shared the solicitors just abhorrent of the word farewell when addressed to him by any one of good substance he resolved that his attentions should not cease though undervalued for the moment but should be continued to the son and heir whose remainder in tale subsisted still though it might be hard to substantiate and when his cousin Lancelot should come into possession he might find a certain factor to grapple him Mr. Mordex hated Lancelot and had carried out his banishment within Ten's enjoyment holding him as in a wrench hammer all the way silencing his squeaks with another turn of the screw and as eager to crack him as if he were a nut the first that turns auburn in September this being the condition of so powerful a mind facts very speedily shaped themselves there too as they do when the power of an eminent orator lays hold of them and crushes them and they cannot even squeak or even as a still more eminent bus driver when the street is blocked and there seems to be no room for his own thumb yet with a gentle whistle and a wink solves the jostling stir and bulk makes obstructive traffic slide like an eddy obsequious beside him and behind and comes forth as the first of an orderly procession toward the public house of his true love now if anything beyond his own conviction were wanted to set this great agent upon action soon it was found in York summer assizes and the sudden inrush of evidence which no matter how a case has been prepared gets pent up always for the bar and bench then Robin Lythe came with a gallant dash and offered himself as a sacrifice if needful which proved both his courage and his common sense and waiting till due occasion demanded him Mordax was charmed with this young man not only for proving his own judgment right but also for possessing a quickness of decision akin to his own and backing up his own ideas with vigor thus renewed by many interests and motives the general and generous factor kept his appointment in Bempton Warren since the distressing but upon the whole desirable decease of that poor Rickon Gould the lonely hut in which he breathed his last had not been by any means a popular resort there were said to be things heard seen and felt even in the brightest summer day which commended the spot to the creatures that fear mankind but not their specters the very last of all to approach it now would have been the two rollicking Tars who had trodden their wooden legged watch around it Nicholas the fish was superstitious also as it behooved him well to be but having heard nothing of the story of the place and perceiving no gnats in the neighborhood he thankfully took it for his short dry spells Mr. Mordax meant him and the two men were deeply impressed with one another the diver admired the sharp, terse, style and definite expression of the factor while the factor enjoyed the large, ponderous role in suggestive reservations of the diver for this was a man who had met great beings and faced mighty wonders in deep places and he thought of them more than he liked to say because he had to get his living nothing could be settled to a nicety between them not even asked pounds, shillings, and pence for the nature of the job depended wholly upon the behavior of the weather and the weather must be not only at its best but also setting meekly in the right direction at the right moment of big spring tide the diver was afraid that he might ask too little and the factor disliked the risk of offering too much and possibly spoiling thereby a noble nature but each of them realized, to some extent, the honesty of the other and neither of them meant to be unreasonable give and take is what I say, said the short man with monstrous chest looking up at the tall man with a Roman nose live and let live, ah that's it Mr. Mordax would have said right you are if that elegant expression had been in vogue but as that brilliance had not yet risen he was content to say just so then he added, here you have everything you want Madam Precious will send you twice a day to the stone at the bottom of the lane a gallon of beer and victuals in proportion your duty is to watch the tides and weather keep your boat going and let me know and here I am in half an hour Calpurnia Mordax was in her duty now and took her autumn holiday at Flamborough and though widow Precious felt her heart go pit to pat at the first sight of another Mrs. Mordax she made up her mind with a gulp not to let this cash go to the Thornwick as a woman she sighed but as a landlady she smiled and had visions of hoisting a flag on her roof when Mordax, like a victorious general conqueror of this Danish town went forth for his evening stroll to see his subjects and be saluted a handsome young sailor came up from the cliffs and begged to have a few quiet words with him say on my lad all my words are quiet replied the general factor then this young man up and told his tale which was all in the well-trodden track of mankind he had run away to sea full of glorious dreams valor adventure heroism rivers of paradise and lands of heaven instead of that he had been hit upon the head and in places of deeper tenderness frequently roasted and frozen yet more often basted with brine when he had no skin left scorched with thirst and devoured by creatures whose appetites grew dainty when his own was ravening excellent youth Mr. Mordax said your tale might move a heart of flint all who know me have but one opinion I am benevolence itself but my balance is low at my bankers I want no money sir the sailor answered simply offering benevolence itself a pipe full of tobacco from an ancient bit of bladder I have not got a farthing but I am with good people who would never take it if I hadn't and that makes everything square between us I might have a hat full of money if I chose but I find myself better without it and my constitution braces up if I only chose to walk a league southwest there would be bonfires burning but I vowed I would go home a captain and I will ha! cried Mr. Mordax with his usual quickness now knowing all about everybody you are Mr. John Annerley the son of the famous Captain Annerley Jack Annerley sir till better times and better they never will be till I make them but not a word to anyone about me if you please it would break my mother's heart for she duff looked down upon people without asking to hear that Robin Coxcroft was supporting of me but bless you I shall pay him soon a penny for a guinea truth which struggles through the throng of men to get out and have a little breath sometimes now and then succeeds by accident or the stupid misplacement of a word a penny for a guinea was as much as Robin Coxcroft was ever likely to see for his outlay upon this very fine young fellow Jack Annerley accepted the situation with a large philosophy of a sailor and all he wanted from Mr. Mordax was leave to be present at the diving job this he obtained as he promised to be useful and a fourth ore was likely to be needed it was about an hour before noon of a beautifully soft September day when little Sam Precious the same boy that carried Robin Lythe's note to Mary came up to Mr. Mordax with a bit of plated rushes the side tail of Nicholas the fish who was happy enough not to know his alphabet the factor immediately put on his hat girded himself with his riding sword and pistol belt and told his good wife that business might take him away for some hours then he hastened to Robin Coxcroft's house after sending the hosteler on his own horse with a letter to Bridlington Coast Guard Station as he had arranged with poor caraways successor the flamborough fishermen were out at sea and without any fuss Robin's boat was launched and manned by that veteran himself together with old Joe and Bob who had long been chewing the quid of expectation and at the bow ore Jack Annerley their orders were to slip quietly round and wait in the dove coat till the diver came Mordax saw them on their way and then he strode up the deserted path and struck away toward a northern cove where the diver's little boat was housed there he found Nicholas the fish spread out in all his glory like a polypota wash or basking turtle or a well-fed calf of Proteus laid on his back where the wavelets broke and beaded a silver fringe upon the golden ruff of sand he gave his body to soft lullaby and his mind to perfect holiday his breadth and the spring of fresh air inside it kept him gently up and down and his calm enjoyment was enriched by the baffled wrath of his enemies for flies of innumerable sorts and sizes held a hopeless buzz above him being put upon their metal to get at him and perishing sweetly in the vain attempt with a grunt of reluctance he awoke to business swam for his boat and embarking Mr. Mordax pulled him across the placid bay to the cave where his forces were assembled let there be no mistake about it the factor shouted from the mermaid's shelf having promised his calpurnia to keep upon dry land whenever the water permitted him our friend the great diver will first ascertain whether the thing which we seek is here if so he will leave it where it is until the arrival of the preventive boat you all understand that we wish to put the matter so that even a lawyer cannot pick any hole in evidence like no links until I tell you now Nicholas the fish go down at once without a word the diver plunged having taken something between his teeth which he would not let the others see the watery floor of the cavern was as smooth as a mill pond in July he plunged so neatly that he made no splash nothing but a flicker of reflection on the roof and a lapping murmur round the sides gave token that a big man was gone into the deep for several minutes no one spoke but every eye was strained upon the glassy dimness and every ear intent for the first break of sound to hoop I got him cried old robin indignant at this outrage by a stranger to his caves god never mad munn to pre until ain works old joe and bob grunted approbation and mordax himself was beginning to believe that some dark whirlpool or coil of tangles had drowned the poor diver when a very gentle noise like a dab chick playing beneath the bridge came from the darkest corner Nicholas was there inhaling air not in greedy gulps and gasps like a man who has had no practice but leisurely encouraging his lungs with little doses as a doctor gives soup to a starved boat crew being hailed by loud voices he answered not for his nature was by no means talkative but presently with very little breach of water he swam to the middle and asked for his pipe have you found the gun cried mordax whose loftiest feelings had subsided in a quarter of a minute to the business level Nicholas made no reply until the fire of his pipe was established while he stood in the water quite as if he were on land supporting himself by nothing more than a gentle movement of his feet while the glow of the touch paper lit his round face and yellow leather skull cap in Corsa has he said at last blowing a roll of smoke along the gleaming surface over to young little corner and you can put your hand upon it in a moment the reply was a nod and another roll of smoke as marble now then joe and bob the son of joe do what i told you while master coxcroft and our nimble young friend get the links already the torches were fixed on the rocky shelf as they had been upon that fatal night but they were not lit until joe and his son sent forth in the smaller boat to watch came back with the news that the preventive gig was around the point and approaching swiftly with a lady in the stern whose dress was black right cried mr. mordax with a brisk voice ringing under the ponderous brows of rock men i brought you to receive a lesson you shall see what comes of murder light the torches Nicholas go under with the exception of your nose or whatever it is you breathe with when i lift my hand go down and do as i have ordered you the cavern was lit with a flare of fire the dark still water heaved with it when the coast guard boat came gliding in the crew in white jerseys look like ghosts flitting into some magic scene only the officer darkly clad and standing up with the tiller lines in hand and the figure of a woman sitting in the stern relieved their spectral whiteness commander hardlock and men of the coast guard shouted mr. mordax when the wash of ripples and the drip of oars and the creek of wood gave silence the black crime committed upon this spot shall no longer go unpunished the ocean itself has yielded its dark secret to the perseverance of mankind and the humble but not unskillful efforts which it has been my privilege to conduct a good man was slain here in cold blood slain a man of remarkable capacity and zeal gallantry discipline at every noble quality and the father of a very large family the villain who slew him would have slain six other harmless men by perjury if an enlightened english jury had been fools enough to believe him now i will show you what to believe i am not eloquent i am not a man of words my motto is strict business and business with me is a power not a name i lift my hand you wait for half a minute and then from the depths of this abyss arises the gun used in the murder the men understood about half of this being honest fellows in the main and desiring time to put heads together about the meaning but one there was who knew too well that his treacherous sin had found him out he strove to look like the rest but felt that his eyes obeyed heart more than brain and then the widow who had watched him closely through her black veil lifted it and fixed her eyes on his deadly terror seized him and he wished that he had shot himself stand up men the commander shouted until we see the end of this the crime has been laid upon our force we score in the charge of such treachery stand up men and face like innocent men whatever can be shown against you the men stood up in the light of the torches fell upon their faces all were pale with fear and wonder but one was white as death itself calling up his dogged courage and that bitterness of malice which had made him do the deed and never yet repent of it he stood as firmly as the rest but differed from them in three things his face wore a smile he watched one place only and his breath made a noise while theirs was held then from the water without a word or sign of any hand that moved it a long gun rose before john cadman and the butt was offered to his hand he stood with his arms at his sides and could not lift them to do anything neither could he speak nor make defense but stood like an image that is fastened by the feet hands me that cried the officer sharply but instead of obeying the man stared malignantly and then plunged over the gun into the depth not so however did he cheat the hangman nicolas caught him as a water dog catches a worn out glove and gave him to anyone that would have him strap him tight the captain cried and the men found relief in doing it at the next jail delivery he was tried and the jury did their duty his execution restored good will and revived that faith injustice which subsists upon so little food end of chapter 55