That Stick

C >> Charlotte M. Yonge >> That Stick

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Constance begged again and again to run on the messages, but she would
not allow it, and when the girl looked grieved, and said she was tiring
herself to death, Lady Adela said--

'My dear, sitting still would be worse for her. However it may turn out,
fatigue will be best for her.'

'Surely it can't mean anything else!' cried Constance.

'I don't see how it can. Your uncle weighs his words too much to raise
false hopes.'

So, dark as it was by the time the train was expected, Adela promoted the
ordering a carriage, and went herself with the trembling Mary to the
station, not without restoratives in her bag, in case of, she knew not
what. Not a word was spoken, but hands were clasped and hearts were
uplifted in an agony of supplication, as the two sat in the dark on the
drive to the station. Of course they were too soon, but the driver
manoeuvred so as to give them a full view of the exit--and then came that
minute of indescribable suspense when the sounds of arrival were heard,
and figures began to issue from the platform.

It was not long--thanks to freedom from luggage--before there came into
full light a well-known form, with a little half-awake boy holding his
hand.

Then Adela quietly let herself out of the brougham, and in another moment
her clasping hand and swimming eyes had marked her greeting. She pointed
to the open door and the white face in it, and in one moment more a pair
of arms had closed upon Michael, and with a dreamy murmur, 'Mam-mam,
mam-ma,' the curly head was on her bosom, the precious weight on her lap,
her husband by her side, the door had closed on them, they were driving
away.

'Oh! is it real? Is he well?'

'Perfectly well! Only sleepy. Strong, grown, well cared for.'

'My boy, my boy,' and she felt him all over, gazed at the rosy face
whenever a tantalising flash of lamplight permitted, then kissed and
kissed, till the boy awoke more fully, with another 'Mamma! Mamma,'
putting his hand to feel for her chain, as if to identify her. Then with
a coo of content, 'Mite has papa and mamma,' and he seemed under the
necessity of feeling them both.

Only at their own door did those happy people even recollect Lady Adela,
with shame and dismay, which did not last long, for she came on them,
laughing with pleasure, and saying it was just what she had intended,
while Mite was recognising his Amy and his Conny, and being nearly
devoured by them.

He still was rather confused by the strange house. 'It's not home,' he
said, staring round, and blinking at the lights; 'and where's my big
horse?'

'You shall soon go home to the big horse--and Nurse Eden, poor nurse
shall come to you, my own.'

To which Michael responded, holding out a plump leg and foot for
admiration. 'I can do mine own socks and bootses now, and wash mine own
hands and face.'

Nevertheless, he was quite sleepy enough to be very happy and content to
be carried off to his mother's bedroom, where he sat enthroned on her
lap, Constance feeding him with bread and milk, while Amice held the
bowl, and the maid, almost equally blissful, hovered round, and there
again he sat with the two admiring girls one at each foot, disrobing him,
as best they might.

Nearly asleep at last, he knelt at his mother's knee with the murmured
prayer, but woke just enough to say, 'Mite needn't say "make papa
better," nor "bring Mite home."'

'No, indeed, my boy. Say Thank God for all His mercy.'

He repeated it and added of himself, 'Bless nursey, and let Tommy and Fan
have papas and mammas again. Amen.'

He was nodding again by that time, but he held his mother's hand fast
with 'Don't go, Mam!' Nor did she. She had asked no questions. To be
alone with her boy and Him, whom she thanked with her whole soul, was
enough for her at present.

CHAPTER XLI
THE CANADIAN NORTHMOOR

It was not till Lord Northmoor began to answer in detail the questions
that were showered on him as he ate his late dinner, that he fully
realised the history of his recovered son even to himself. 'Liverpool
Workhouse,' and 'all owing to Herbert,' were his first replies, and he
had eaten his soup before Adela and Constance had discovered the
connection between the two; nay, they were still more bewildered when
Constance asked, 'Then Herbert found him there?'

'Herbert? Oh no, good fellow. He is in Canada, he went after him
there.'

'To Canada?'

'Yes; that woman, the nursery girl Hall, kidnapped the child, Herbert
followed her there, and found he had been dropped at Liverpool.'

Then on further inquiries, Frank became sensible that he must guard the
secret of Ida's part in the transaction. He hoped to conceal it from
all, except his wife, for it was hardly injustice to the Jones pair in
another hemisphere to let their revenge bear the whole blame. Indeed, he
did not himself know that it was Ida's passion or Rose's mention of
having seen Michael's face that had roused Herbert's suspicion.

He had heard Herbert's account of his adventures in the letter to Rose
with mere impatience to come to what related to his son, and it had made
no impression on his mind; but when he took out his own much briefer
letter, the address at Northmoor, and the sentences that followed, the
brief explanation where to seek for Michael suggested much.

'I doubt whether I could ever have got the rascal to speak out if it had
not been for Captain Alder, with whose brother-in-law, Mr. Forman, I had
the luck to meet on the way. They were some of the first settlers here,
and have a splendid farm, export no end of wheat and ice, and have a
share in the steam company. I am working out my board here for them till
you are good enough to send me my quarter's allowance, deducting the 25
pounds that Miss Rollstone helped me to, as there was no one else to whom
I could apply. I should like to stay here for good and all, and they
would take me for a farming-pupil for less than you have been giving to
my crammers, all in vain, I am afraid. The life would suit me much
better; they let me live with the family, and they are thorough right
sort of people, religious, and all that--and Alder seemed to take an
interest in me from the time he made out who I was, and, indeed, the
place is named after our Northmoor, where he says he spent his happiest
days. If you can pacify my mother, and if you would consent, I am sure I
could do much better here than at home, and soon be quite off your
hands.'

For the present, Lord Northmoor, who could only feel that he owed more
than he could express to his nephew, sent the youth a bill such as to
cover his expenses, with permission, so far as he himself was concerned,
to remain with these new friends, at least until there was another letter
and time to consider this proposal.

At the same time, he wrote to Rose Rollstone, not only the particulars of
Michael's history, but a request for those details about Herbert's
friends to which he had scarcely listened when she read them. He sent
likewise a paragraph to several newspapers, explaining that the
Honourable M. K. Morton, whose 'watery grave' had been duly recorded, had
in fact been only abducted by a former maid-servant, and bestowed in
Liverpool Workhouse, where he had been discovered by the generous
exertions of his cousin, Herbert Morton, Esquire. It was hoped that this
would obviate all suspicion of Ida, who was reported as still so unwell
that her mother was anxious to carry her abroad at once to try the effect
of change of scene. Upon which Frank consulted Mr. Hailes, as to whether
the prosperity that had begun to flow in upon Northmoor would justify him
in at once taking the house at Westhaven off her hands, and making it a
thank-offering as a parsonage for the district of St. James. This
break-up seemed considerably to lessen her reluctance to the idea of
Herbert's remaining in Canada, as in effect, neither she nor Ida felt
inclined as yet to encounter his indignation, or to let him hear what
Westhaven said. There would be no strong opposition on her part, except
the tears which he would not see; and she was too anxious to carry Ida
away to think of much besides.

Frank had, however, made up his mind that he could not let the son of his
only brother, the youth whom he had regarded almost as a son, and who had
lost so much by the discovery of the child, drift away into expatriation,
without being personally satisfied as to these new companions. This was
ostensible reason enough for a resolution to go out himself to the
transatlantic Northmoor to make arrangements for his nephew. Moreover,
he was bent on doing so before the return of Mrs. Bury and Bertha, from
whom the names of Alder and Northmoor were withheld in the joyful
letters.

From Mr. Hailes he obtained full confirmation of what he had heard from
Lady Adela--a story which the old gentleman's loyalty had withheld as
mere gossip--about the young people who had been very dear to him.

He confessed that poor Arthur Morton had a bad set about him--indeed, his
father's tastes had involved him in the kind of thing, and Lady Adela had
been almost a child when married to him by relations who were much to
blame. Captain Alder had belonged to the set, but had always seemed too
good for them, and as if thrown among them from association. There was
no doubt that he and Bertha were much in love, but there was sure to be
strong opposition from her father, and even her brother had shown
symptoms of thinking his friend had no business to aspire to his sister's
hand. Moreover, it appeared afterwards that the Captain was heavily in
debt to Arthur Morton. It was under these circumstances that the
accident occurred. Bertha had mistrusted the horse's eye and ear, and
implored her brother not to venture on driving it, and had been bantered
good-humouredly on her unusual fears. At the first shock, the untamed
girl had spoken bitter words, making Captain Alder accountable for the
accident. What they were, neither Mr. Hailes nor any one else exactly
knew, but they had cut deep.

When, on poor Arthur's recovery of consciousness, there was an endeavour
to find Captain Alder, he had left the army; and though somewhat later
the full amount of the debt was paid, it was conveyed in a manner that
made the sender not easily traceable, and as it came just when Arthur was
again past communication, and sinking fast, no great effort was made to
seek one who was better forgotten.

It had not then been known how Bertha's life would be wrecked by that
sense of injustice and cruelty--nor what a hold the love of that man had
taken on her; but like Lady Adela, Mr. Hailes averred that she had never
been the same since that minute of stormy grief and accusation; and that
he believed that, whatever might come of it, the being able to confess
her wrongs, and to know the fate of her lover, was the only thing that
could restore the balance of her spirits or heal the sore.

From his own former employer, Mr. Burford, Frank procured that other link
which floated in his memory when Lady Adela spoke. The name had come
into Mr. Burford's office because he had been engaged on the part of one
of his clients in purchasing an estate of the Alder family, at a time
which corresponded with Arthur Morton's death, and the payment of the
debt. There was a second instalment of the price which had to be paid to
a Quebec bank.

This was all that could be learnt; but it confirmed Lord Northmoor's
impression that it would be right to see him, and as far as explanation
could go, to repair the injustice which had stung him so deeply. A
letter could not do what an interview could, and Herbert's plans were
quite sufficient cause for a journey to Winnipeg.

Of course it was a wrench to leave his wife and newly-recovered son; but
he had made up his mind that it was right, both as an act of justice to
an injured man, incumbent upon him as head of the family, and likewise as
needful in his capacity of guardian to Herbert, while the possibility of
bringing healing to Bertha also urged him.

However, Frank said little of all this, only quite simply, as if he were
going to ride to the petty sessions at Colbeam, mentioned that he thought
it right to go out to Canada to see about his nephew.

And as soon as he had brought the party home, and seen his boy once more
in his own nursery, he set forth, leaving Mary to talk and wonder with
Lady Adela over the possible consequences.

CHAPTER XLII
HUMBLE PIE

Bertha had just arrived from her tour, having rushed home on the tidings
of a quarrel between the doctors and the lady nurses of her pet hospital;
and she had immediately dashed down to Northmoor to secure her cousin as
one of the supporters. She sat by Lady Adela's fire, very much
disconcerted at hearing that he was not come home yet, though expected
every day.

'What should he have gone off to Canada for? He might have been
contented to stay at home, after having lost all this time by his
illness. Oh, yes, I know that sounds ungrateful, when it was all in the
cause of my little Cea. I shall be thankful to him all my life, but all
the same, he ought to be at home when he is wanted, and I wonder he liked
to fly off just when he had got his dear little boy back again.'

'He did not like it, but thought it his duty.'

'Duty--what, to Herbert? Certainly the boy has come out very well in
this matter, considering that the finding Mite was to his own detriment;
but probably he has found his vocation as a colonist. Still Northmoor
might have let him find that for himself.'

'Do you know where the home he found is, Bertha?'

'Somewhere about Lake Winnipeg, isn't it?'

'Yes; and the name is Northmoor.'

'Named by Herbert, eh? Or didn't John Tulse go out? Did he name the
place in loyalty to us?'

'Not John Tulse, but one who told Herbert that his happiest days were
spent here.'

'Adela, you mean something. Don't tantalise me. Is it Fred Alder? And
was he kind to the boy for old sake's sake, because he bore the old name?
Did he think he was your Mike?'

Bertha was leaning forward now, devouring Adela with her eyes.

'He was much puzzled to understand who Herbert was, but he gave him great
help. The man could hardly have been made to speak if he had not brought
him to his bearings. Herbert has been living with him and his
brother-in-law ever since, and is going to remain as a farming-pupil.'

'Married of course to a nasal Yankee?'

'No.'

There was a pause. Bertha drew herself back in her chair, Adela busied
herself with the tea-cups. Presently came the question--

'Did Northmoor know?'

'Yes, he did.'

'And was that the reason of his going out?'

'Herbert was one motive, but I do not think he would have gone if there
had not been another reason.'

'You did not ask him?' she said hotly.

'Certainly not.'

'I don't want any one to interfere,' said Bertha, in a suddenly changed
mood, 'especially not such a stick as that. He might have let it alone.'

'And if you heard that Captain Alder was--'

'A repentant prodigal, eh? A sober-minded, sponsible, easy-going, steady
money-making Canadian,' interrupted Bertha vehemently, 'such as approved
himself to his Lordship's jog-trot mind. Well, what then?'

'Oh, Birdie, perverse child as ever.'

'And so you actually despatched my Lord to eat humble pie in my name.
You might have waited to see what I thought of the process.'

Bertha jumped up, as if to go and take off her hat, but just at that
moment some figures crossed the twilight window, and in another second
Adela had sprung into the hall, meeting Mary and Frank, whom she beckoned
into the dining-room.

Bertha had followed as far as the room door, when, in the porch, she
beheld a tall large form, and bearded countenance. One moment more and
those two were shut into the drawing-room.

Mary, Frank, and Adela stood together over the dining-room fire, all
smiles and welcome.

'Doesn't he look well?' was Mary's cry, as she displayed her husband.

'Better than ever. Nothing like bracing air. Oh! I am glad you brought
_him_' indicating the other room, 'down at once; she might have had a
naughty fit, and tormented herself and everybody.'

'You think it will be all right?' said Frank anxiously. 'It was a
venture, but when he heard that she was at the Dower House, there was no
holding him. He thinks she has as much to forgive as he has.'

'You wrote something of that--though the actual misery and accident were
no fault of his, poor fellow, and yet--yet all that self-acted and
re-acted on one another, and did each other harm,' said Adela.

'Yes,' said Frank; 'harm that he only fully understood gradually, after
he had burst away from it all in the shock, and was living a very
different life with his little sister, and afterwards with her husband, a
thoroughly good man.'

'To whom you have trusted your nephew?'

'Entirely. Herbert is very happy there, much more so than ever before,
useful and able to follow his natural bent.'

'I am very glad he will do well there.'

A sudden interruption here came on them in the shape of Amice, who had
not been guarded against. She flew into the room in a fright,
exclaiming--

'Mamma, mamma, there's a strange man like a black bear in the
drawing-room, and he has got his arm round Aunt Bertha's waist.'

'Oh!' as she perceived Lord Northmoor.

'A Canadian bear I have just brought home, eh, Amy?' said he, exhilarated
into fun for once, while Lady Adela indulged in a quiet smile at the
manner of partaking of humble pie.

Amice had, however, broken up the _tete-a-tete_, and all were soon
together again, Lady Adela greeting Captain Alder as an old friend, and
he, in the restraint of good breeding, betraying none of his feeling at
the contrast between the girlish wife and the faded widow, although
perhaps in very truth Adela Morton was a happier, certainly a more
peaceful woman now than in those days.

All must spend the evening together. Where? The Northmoors carried the
day, Adela and Bertha must come up to dinner, yes, and Amice too. It was
fine moonlight and the Captain would stay and escort them.

Meantime Lord and Lady Northmoor revelled in a moonlight walk together
exactly as they had done seven years before as a bride and bridegroom,
but with that further ingredient in joy before them--that nightly romp
with their Mite, to which Frank had been looking forward all through his
voyage. Their Mite all the happier because his Tom and Fanny were at the
keeper's lodge, and allowed to play with him in the garden, and on the
heath.

Six weeks later, Lord Northmoor acted as father at Bertha's wedding, a
quiet one, with Constance and Amice as bridesmaids, with, as
supernumerary, little Boadicea, who was to share the new Canadian home.

Michael was there in the glory of his first knickerbockers, and Mrs. Bury
was there, and her last words ere the bride came down dressed for the
journey were, 'How about "that stick," my dear?'

'Ah! sticks are sometimes made of good material.'

'There is a tree that groweth by the Water Side,' said Adela.

CHAPTER XLIII
THE STAFF

Five years later almost all the members of the Morton family were met
once more at Westhaven.

Ida was slowly dying. She had always been more or less delicate, and she
had never entirely recovered the effect of the distress she had brought
upon herself by that foolish crime towards her little cousin. Her mother
had joined Miss Gattoni, and they had roamed about the Continent in the
various resorts of seekers of health and of pleasure, hoping to distract
her mind and restore her strength and spirits. For a time this sometimes
seemed to succeed, and she certainly became prettier; but disappointment
always ensued; a little over-exertion or excitement was sure to bring on
illness, and there were even more painful causes for her collapses. Her
uncle's care had not been entirely able to prevent the publication of
such a sensational story, known, as it was, to most people at Westhaven;
in fact, he was only able to reach the more respectable papers; and the
society to which Miss Gattoni introduced them was just that which
revelled in the society papers. So every now and then whispers would go
about that Miss Morton was the heroine--or rather the villain--of the
piece, and these were sure ultimately to reach Miss Gattoni. And at
Genoa they had actually been at the same _table-d'hote_ with Tom Brady's
sister--nay, they had seen the _Morna_ in the harbour.

Gradually each summer brought less renovation; each winter, wherever
spent, brought Ida lower, till at length she was ill enough for her
mother thankfully to reply to Constance's entreaty to come out to them at
Biarritz.

Constance had grown to be in her vacation more and more the child of the
house at Northmoor, and since her college career had ended with credit
externally, and benefit inwardly, she had become her aunt's right hand,
besides teaching Amice music and beginning Michael's Latin; but it was
plain that her duty lay in helping to nurse her sister, and her uncle
escorted her. They were greatly shocked at the change in the once
brilliant girl, and her broken, dejected manner, apparently incapable of
taking interest in anything. She would scarcely admit her uncle at
first, but when she discovered that even Constance was in perfect
ignorance of her part in the loss of Michael, she was overcome with the
humiliation of intense gratitude, and the sense of a wonderful
forgiveness and forbearance.

He never exactly knew what he had said to her; but for the two days that
he was able to remain, she wished for him to sit with her as much as
possible, though often in silence; and she let him bring her the English
chaplain.

No one expected her to live through the spring, but with it came another
partial revival, and therewith a vehement desire to see Westhaven again.
It was as if her uncle had extracted the venom of the sting of remorse,
and when that had become repentance, the old affection for the home of
her childhood was free to revive. Good Mr. Rollstone was dead, but his
wife and daughter kept on the lodging-house, and were affectionately glad
to welcome their old friends. Herbert, who had been happily farming for
two years on his own account, on an estate that his uncle had purchased
for him, came for the first time on a visit from the Dominion--tall,
broad, bearded, handsome, and manly, above all, in his courtesy and
gentleness to the sick sister who valued his strong and tender help more
than any other care. Mary came with her husband and boy from Northmoor
for the farewell. When Ida tearfully asked her forgiveness, the injury
was so entirely past that it was not hard to say, in the spirit of
Joseph--

'Oh, my poor child, do not think of that! No one has suffered from it so
much as you have. It really did Michael no harm at all, only making a
little man of him; and as to Herbert, his going out was the best thing in
the world for him, dear, noble, generous fellow. And after all, Ida,'
she added, presently, 'I do believe you had rather be as you are now than
the girl you were then?'

'Oh, Aunt Mary, it is what Uncle Frank and you are--that--makes one
feel--'

Ida could say no more. She once saw Michael's bright boyish face awed
into pity, and had the kiss that sealed her earthly pardon, unconscious
as he was of the evil she had attempted. There was the pledge of higher
pardon, before her uncle and aunt left her to those nearer who could
minister to her as she went down to the River ever flowing.

Before that time, however, Herbert had made known to Rose one of his
great reasons for settling in Canada, namely, that he meant to take her
back with him. He had told his uncle long ago, and Mrs. Alder was quite
ready and eager to welcome her as a cousin. Even Mr. Rollstone could
hardly have objected under these circumstances, and Rose only doubted
about leaving her mother. It presently appeared, however, that Mrs.
Morton wished to remain with Mrs. Rollstone. Westhaven was more to her
than any other place, and her vanity had so entirely departed that she
could best take comfort in her good old friend's congenial society.
Constance offered to remain and obtain some daily governess or high
school employment there; but it was to her relief that she found that the
two old ladies did not wish it. There was a sense that her tastes and
habits were so unlike theirs that they would always feel her to be like
company and be on their best behaviour, and decidedly her mother would
not 'stand in her light,' and would be best contented with visits from
her and to Northmoor.

So, after the quietest of weddings in the beautiful St. James's Church,
Herbert and Rose went out to be welcomed at Winnipeg, and Constance
returned with her uncle to be a daughter to Aunt Mary--till such time as
she was sought by the young Vicar of Northmoor.

THE END.

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