In two weeks more he could leave his easy-chair and crawl about the room; and by that time he was all eagerness to commence his operations for the future.
"I must have some cards printed, Jane," he cried, one morning. "'Mr. Halliburton, Professor of Classics and Mathematics, late of King's Col—'—or should it be simply 'Edgar Halliburton?'" he broke off, to deliberate. "I wonder what the custom may be, down here?"
"I think you should wait until you are stronger, before you order your cards," was Jane's reply.
"But I can be getting things in train, Jane. I have been—how many weeks is it now?"
"Eleven."
"To be sure. It was June when we came; it is now September. I have been obliged to neglect the boys' lessons, too!"
"They have been very good and quiet; have gone on with their lessons themselves. If we have trouble in other ways, we have a blessing1 in our children, Edgar. They are thoroughly2 loving and dutiful."
"I don't know the ordinary terms of the neighbourhood," he resumed, after an interval3 of silence. "And—I wonder if people will want references? Jane"—after another silence—"you must put your things on, and go to Mrs. Dare's."
"To Mrs. Dare's!" she echoed. "Now? I don't know her."
"Never mind about not knowing her," he eagerly continued. "She is my cousin. You must ask whether they will allow themselves to be referred to. Peach will allow it also, I am quite certain. Do go, Jane."
Invalids4 in the weak state of Mr. Halliburton are apt to be restlessly impatient when the mind is set upon any plan or project. Jane found that it would vex5 him much if she declined to go to Mrs. Dare, and she prepared for the visit. Patience directed her to their residence.
It was situated6 at the opposite end of Helstonleigh. A handsome house, inclosed in a high wall, and bearing the imposing7 title of "Pomeranian Knoll8." Jane entered the iron gates, walked round the carriage drive that inclosed the lawn, and rang the house bell. A showy footman in light blue livery, with a bunch of cords on his shoulder, answered it.
"Can I see Mrs. Dare?"
"What name, ma'am?"
Jane gave in one of her visiting cards, wondering whether that was not too grand a proceeding9, considering the errand upon which she had come. She was shown into an elegant room, to the presence of Mrs. Dare. That lady was in a costly10 morning dress, with chains, rings, bracelets11, and other glittering jewellery about her: as she had worn the evening you saw her beside Mr. Cooper's death-bed.
"Mrs. Halliburton?" she was repeating in doubt, when Jane entered, her eyes strained on the card. "What Mrs. Halliburton?" she added, not very civilly, turning her eyes upon Jane.
Jane explained. The wife of Edgar Halliburton, Mrs. Dare's cousin.
Mrs. Dare's presence of mind wholly forsook13 her. She grew deathly white; she caught at a chair for support; she was utterly14 unable to speak or to conceal15 her agitation16. Jane could only look at her in amazement17, wondering whether she was seized with sudden illness.
A few moments and she recovered herself. She took a seat, motioned Jane to another, and asked, as she might have asked of any stranger, what her business might be. Jane explained it, somewhat at length.
Mrs. Dare's surprise was great. She could not or would not understand; and her face flushed a deep red, and again grew deadly pale. "Edgar Halliburton come to live in Helstonleigh!" she repeated. "And you say you are his wife?"
"I am his wife," was the reply of Jane, spoken with quiet dignity.
"What is it that you say he has in view, in coming here?"
"I beg your pardon; I thought I had explained." And Jane went over the ground again—why he had been obliged to leave London, and his reasons for settling in Helstonleigh.
"You could not have come to a worse place," said Mrs. Dare, who appeared to be annoyed almost beyond repression19. "Masters of all sorts are so plentiful20 here that they tread on each other's heels."
Discouraging news! And Jane's heart beat fast on hearing it. "My husband thought you and Mr. Dare would kindly21 interest yourselves for him. He knows that Mr. Peach will——"
"No," interrupted Mrs. Dare, in decisive tones. "For Edgar Halliburton's own sake I must decline to recommend him; or, indeed, to interfere22 at all. It would only encourage fallacious hopes. Masters are here in abundance—I speak of private masters; they don't find half enough to do. Schools are also plentiful. The best thing will be to go to some place where there is a better opening, and not to settle himself here at all!"
"But we have already settled here," replied Jane.
A thought suddenly struck Mrs. Dare. "It can never be Edgar who has taken Mr. Ashley's cottage in the London Road? I remember the name was said to be Halliburton."
"The same. It was let to us by Mr. Dare's clerk."
Mrs. Dare sat biting her lips. That she was grievously annoyed was evident, but in deference23 to good manners, which were partially24 returning to her, she strove to repress its signs. "I presume your husband is poor, Mrs. Halliburton?"
"We are very poor."
"It is generally the case with teachers, as I have observed. Well, I can only give one answer to your application—that we must decline all interference. I hope Edgar will not think of applying again to us upon the subject."
Jane rose. Mrs. Dare remained seated. And yet she prided herself upon her good breeding!
"I had forgotten a question which my husband particularly desired me to ask," Jane said, turning back, as she was moving to the door. "Edgar saw by the papers that his uncle, Mr. Cooper, died the beginning of the year. Did he remember him on his death-bed, so far as to send a message of reconciliation25?"
Strange to say, the countenance26 of Mrs. Dare again changed; now to a burning heat, now to a livid pallor. She hesitated in her answer.
"Yes," she said at length. "Mr. Cooper so far relented as to send him his forgiveness. 'Tell my nephew Edgar, if you ever see him, that I am sorry for my harshness; that I would treat him differently were the time to come over again.' I do not remember the precise words; but they were to that effect. There is no doubt that he would have wished to be reconciled; but time did not allow it. I should have written to Edgar of this, had I been acquainted with his address."
"A letter addressed to King's College would always have found him. But he will be glad to hear this. He also bade me ask how Mr. Cooper's money was left—if you would kindly give him the information."
Mrs. Dare bent27 her head. She was busy playing with her bracelet12. "The will was proved in Doctors' Commons. Edgar Halliburton may see it by paying a shilling there."
It was not a gracious answer, and Jane paused. "He cannot go to Doctors' Commons; he is not in London," she gently said.
Mrs. Dare raised her head. A look, speaking plainly of defiance28, had settled itself on her features. "It was left to me; the whole of it, except a few trifling29 legacies30 to his servants. What could Edgar Halliburton expect?"
"I am sure that he did not expect anything," observed Jane. "Though I believe a hope has sometimes crossed his mind that Mr. Cooper might at the last relent, and remember him."
"Nay," said Mrs. Dare, "he had behaved too disobediently for that. First, in opposing his uncle's wishes that he should enter into business; secondly31, in his marriage."
"In his marriage!" echoed Jane, a flush rising to her own face.
"It was so. Mr. Cooper was exceedingly exasperated32 when he heard that Edgar had married. He looked upon the marriage, I believe, as undesirable33 for him in a pecuniary34 point of view. You must pardon my speaking of this to you personally. You appear to wish for the truth."
"It is true that I had no money," she said. "But I am the daughter of a clergyman, and was reared a gentlewoman!"
"I suppose my uncle thought Edgar Halliburton should have married a fortune. However all that is past and gone, and it will do no good to recall it. I am sorry that you should have been so ill-advised for your own interests as to fix on this place to come to."
Mrs. Dare rose. She had sat all this time; Jane had stood. "Tell Edgar, from me, that I am sorry to hear of his illness. Tell him there is no possible chance of success for him in Helstonleigh; no opening whatever! When I say that I hope he will speedily remove to some place less overdone36 with masters, I speak only in his own interest!"
She rang the bell as she spoke18, and gave Jane the tips of two of her fingers. The footman held open the hall door, and bowed her out. Jane went down the gravel37 sweep, determined38 never again to trouble Mrs. Dare.
"Joseph!" cried Mrs. Dare, sharply.
"Ma'am?"
"Should that lady ever call again, I am not at home, remember!"
"Very well, ma'am," was the man's reply.
Mrs. Dare did not stay to hear it. She had flown upstairs to her room in trepidation39. There she attired40 herself hastily and went out, bending her steps towards Mr. Dare's office. It was situated at the end of the town; and the door displayed a brass41 plate: "Mr. Dare, Solicitor42."
Mrs. Dare entered the outer room. "Is Mr. Dare alone?" she asked of the clerks.
"No, ma'am. Mr. Ashley is with him."
Chafing43 at the answer, for she was in a mood of great impatience44, of inward tremor45, Mrs. Dare waited for a few minutes. Mr. Ashley came out. A man of nearly forty years, rather above the middle height, with a fresh complexion46, dark eyes, and well-formed features. A benevolent-looking, good man. His wife was a cousin of Mr. Dare's.
Mr. Dare was seated at his table in his own room when his wife came in. She had turned again of an ashy paleness, and she dropped into a chair near to him.
"What is the matter?" he asked in astonishment47. "Are you ill?"
Mr. Dare rose. He was about to get her some water, or to call for it, but she caught his arm. "Stay, and hear me! Stay! Anthony, those Halliburtons have come to Helstonleigh. Come to live here!"
Mr. Dare's mouth opened. "What Halliburtons?" he presently asked.
"They. He has come here to settle. He wants to teach; and his wife has been with me, asking us to be referees49. Of course I put the stopper upon that. The idea of our having poor relations in the town who get their living by teaching!"
A very disagreeable idea indeed; for those who were playing first fiddle50 in the place, and expected to play it still. But not for that did the man and wife stand gazing at each other; and the naturally bold look on Mr. Dare's face had faded considerably51 just then.
"She asked about the will," said Mrs. Dare, dropping her voice to a whisper, and looking round with a shiver. "I thought I should have died with fear."
Mr. Dare rallied his courage. Any little reminiscence that may have momentarily disturbed his equanimity52 he shook off, and was his own bold self again.
"Nonsense, Julia! What is there to fear? The will is proved and acted upon. Whatever the old man may have uttered to us in his death ramblings was heard by ourselves alone. If any one had heard it, I should not much care. A will's a will all the world over; and to act against it would be illegal."
"Anthony, we must get them out of Helstonleigh. For more reasons than one we must get them out. They are in that house of Mr. Ashley's."
He looked surprised. "They! Ay, to be sure: the name in the books is Halliburton. It never occurred to me that it could be they. I wonder if they are poor?"
"Very poor, the wife said."
"Just so," said Mr. Dare, with a pleasant smile. "I'll not ask for the rent this quarter, but let it go on a bit. We may get them out, Mrs. Dare."
You need not be told that Anthony Dare and his wife had omitted to act upon Mr. Cooper's dying injunction. At the time they did really intend to fulfil it; they were not thieves or forgers. But Edgar Halliburton was not present to remind them of his claims: and, when the money came to be realised, to be in their own hands, there it was suffered to remain. Waiting for him, of course; they did not know precisely54 where to find him, and did not take any trouble to inquire. Very tempting55 and useful they found the money. A large portion of their own share went in paying back debts, for they lived at an extravagant56 rate; and—and in short they had intrenched upon that other share, and could not now have paid it over had they been ever so willing to do so. No wonder that Mrs. Dare had felt as one in mortal fear when she met Jane Halliburton face to face!
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1
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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2
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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8
knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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9
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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11
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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12
bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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13
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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16
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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17
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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19
repression
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| n.镇压，抑制，抑压 | |
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20
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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21
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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22
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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30
legacies
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| n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症 | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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34
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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35
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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36
overdone
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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37
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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40
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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42
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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43
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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44
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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45
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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46
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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47
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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48
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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49
referees
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| n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人 | |
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50
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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51
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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52
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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53
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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54
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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55
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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56
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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