The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-10-03 00:00:00

On,
A SECRET FOR YEARS

CHAPTER XIX.
THE DIARY (continiued).
APefi 2n4.—1 have been too feverish and ill at ease
for the last three days to write you further particulars
°I that night. The doctor forbade me to leave my
room for two days at least, and until this morning I
have not seen Mr. Ingestre. How to account to Ross
and Cleland for my bandaged arm I knew not, until
!found that Maxall had forestalled me, and told Ross
4 )3ad slipped down and sprained it. Maxall came,
"Without leave, into my room the next morning, and
Attempted to draw from me my impression of what I
had seen, the reason of Mr. Ingestre being there, and
now much he told me afterwards. My answers
roused his temper, and baffled his curiosity com-
pletely.
He replied impertinently at last, and I ordered him
out of the room. He refused to go until I had satis-
fied him on those points he wished to know. I
threatened him that I would complain to his guardian
tt his behaviour, and he had the audacity to make a
13,Peeth which—which sent the blood with a burning
teat into my cheeks, and then back again, with a cruel
Pain, upon my heart.
• "You feel that, then, Miss Wa,ce ?"
" Yes ; I feel at my heart's core your utter base-
ties s and contemptibility! Mr. Maxall, for the future
You need assume no disguise With me. I know you
thoroughly, and your miserable villany is no secret to
tne.”

, " Oh ! that explains all I want to know. Ingestre
nes taken you into his confidence, and Cleland, too.
Very well, Miss Wace; you and I will do battle on
'equal terms for the future, for we know exactly on
What ground we stand."
And with this he walked off.
Cleland's dislike to him is increasing to something
beyond control; she will not leave my side if she can
help it, feeling certain that he will not look, speak, or
-stand near her there. I have felt her hand tremble in
Mine when he comes into the room, and seen her nut-
brown cheeks turn white at the sound of his voice in
the distance.
Since her father's illness she has altered greatly;
er high spirits are strangely subdued, and she shows
little pleasure in the pursuits which formerly yielded
her such wild delight. Ross notices the same thing,
And says he supposes Cle thinks she is getting a
Woman.
This morning we all met at the breakfast table, and
Ir. Ingestre was wise enough to content himself with
brief inquiry after my arm. He was moody, cross,
Rnd snappish; scolded Cle, talked at Ross, but let
kaxall get off scot-free. I came in for my share; his
coffee had been shockingly made the last three morns
ings ; wouldn't dine at home, knowing what dinners
33aight be expected ; thought I need scarcely shut
tuyself up just because Dr. Daw said so, and a great
cleal more to the same purpose.
Several times I caught Maxall's eyes directed towards
lale with a look of fiendish amusement, as if he per-
teived the annoyance, and enjoyed it beyond measure.
And then he would be most officious in his attention
to his guardian, waiting upon his capricious moods
'With a solicitude perfectly odious, considering that he
ltflew so well our thorough acquaintance with his
4thameless hypocrisy.
This shamelessness is one of the most marked traits
la his character. You may convict hira of a lie in his
Very face, and ten minutes after he will tell you
Another, and smilingly expect your belief. You may
-accuse him of some detestable trick, tax him with some
Audacious piece of villany, and yet his absence of
I,larae is such, and his vanity so monstrous, that he
speak, act, and behave tcwards you immediately
'After as if he delighted in your very best opinion. I
!cnfess his character is beyond my comprehension,
▪ the more I see of him the more I despair of ever
t Ming much good in it. There must be some hidden
aWay somewhere, I suppose; but if so it is concealed
VerY deep bejow the surface.
I Was heartily glad when breakfast was over, and
iwzr. Ingestre marched off with his letters to the study,
'eaving Maxall and Ross to wrangle. without inter-
over the training of a young setter the first-
Puled gentleman has appropriated to himself from a
,itter belonging to Cleland. They were getting very
Vann and rather personal over the discussion ; so,
les •
-ving Cle to watch matters and report to me if any
,i4,sturbance was likely to take place, I left the room
give my orders in the servants' hall for the day.
passing the study door the handle turned, and
Ingestre came out. He asked if he could speak to
• for a few moments. I looked at the hall clock-
-4 Was, a quarter to ten.
" It is late; can I go into the housekeeper's room
4rSt, sir P—cook is expecting me."
She can wait, I can't. Come in now, Miss Wace,
44 You please."
I went in and lie locked the door after me, and put
the k •
key his pocket. I could see that he was in a
erY intemperate mood: calm enough to look at, but
"st boiling heat below the surface; and I expected a
rce outbreak of some kind poured upon me for an
-"-euco unconsciously given, a slight passed, or a word
?tit of season, with unexpected politeness, however,
Ile handed me a seat, and taking one himself exactly
°PPosite, cam oionced in this fashion:
suppos Miss Wace, you wish me to believe that
°l.l have no •:osity to learn anything more con-
• fling that ‘. _air on the lake the other night. You
h•
me to be gulled by that very questionless and
nquisitive manner you bear; but as I know you
burning with curiosity to learn all about it, you
ll I will tell you."
Mr. Ingestre,' I returned, more nettled at this
Zudress than I care to say, "I did not enter your
:Ilse to pry into its secrets, but to do my duty in as
:raightforward a manner as I can. What occurred
411 Wednesday night is no affair of mine, nor have I
e slightest desire to make it so. Your concern is
•Vith t
,4 hose engaged in it; I was a mere looker-on, and
14811 re you I shall make it my business to forget what
1184 W, as well as what I heard, as soon as possible;
erefore, I must decline your offer to refresh my
47u:tory here, as well as for the future. If this were
You had to communicate, perhaps you will kindly
OW me to leave you now."
tle threw himself back in his chair, folded his arms,
'd stared at me in utter amazement.
▪ And you can talk to me like that, when you pre-
'erred having your arm broken to my worthless head
ttthag split, eh P—speak in that tone, and look with
cse haughty eyes, Miss Wace. Catherine! you belie
'olarsslf 19
Mr. Ingestre! What I did for you I would have
e,`"413 for the meanest creature! My arm is not broken
44er—ridiculous, merely wounded."
you told me it was not even that. You
criaed the thanks I should have poured at your feet.
4,? 1,1 deceived me. You told an infamous falsehood,
u then shut yourself up for three days to suffer
5(41,1* agony unnoticed and alone. Do you think
,Ittco behaviour as that demands no abuse from me,
therine ?''
ot4Y retort was fierce; but words fell like a shower
hesaud upon him in his wild, headstrong mood. What
a said it would be a waste of time to repeat: he was
and abusive one moment, apologetic the next,
441,.. evidently deeply grieved at the pain I had volun-
cllY suffered for his sake.
D,,1• believe he had been drinking the night before, for
told me he was going to the Agricultural dinner
s.ft%ewmoor, and hinted what was likely to happen
toll°1:1 this plea I overlooked his strange conduct, and
oe tellted myself with telling him that if the like
.I.4.red again I s'iould leave his house.
je attempted to freeze me by one of his haughtiest
114 " at this unexpected piece of defiance; but find-
'Was in no way discomposed by his loftiness, he
op:1 ,1Y unlocked the door, bowed deeply, and held it
tr,2l for me to pass through, which I did gladly
; for I do not relish these encounters with Mr.
Jestre. I am humiliated too deeply in my own
Jee to endure them often.
a,heleland evidently knows nothing of Mrs. Faunce's
oecarance here, and as long as she remains ignorant
o4t, my doubts and fears are at rest: for her sake
-of do I dread the sight of that woman. The idea
to_their intimacy and companionship is unbearable,
t: Cleland is at an age now when every impression
04° receives is indelibly marked, good or bad; and
taA,glance at the face of that strange person is
cient to reveal the associations it would carry 1
Ith it
'aalile girl knows nothing, because she informed me,
lvt44 great glee, that she fancied papa had thrashed
._
at last, as both his eyes were green, and his
c blue. It must have been papa, she declared,
htteciallse Maxall refused to say who had done it; and
OD, any one else committed such a shocking assault
lks his beauty, there would have been no peaceuntil
„guardian had amply avenged it.
Ile whines like a baby when he wants anything,'
taor Vound up with. Ross knocked him down this
Patclling as a termination to the argument, begged his
lie Wtl, and picked him up again Instantly ; " because
.fsle a? so small, you know, for Ross to touch," said
4toz'ag'Ving me an account of it. "After you went,
'44,1 got waxy, called Max a fool and a blackamoor,
tloß:Sked what the dickens he knew about English
baow. When he came from a land which only grew
1118 5 like him. Then Maxall turned as white as
cliaitellew face would let him, and said ho thought he
11 Li, to know something about English dogs, since
1,1%.Z1c1 had a confounded young puppy under his
for a long time—meaning Ross, you know,
„
nak°4lY laughed, and called it a good 'un.
Qtoy -4 didn't -relish the laughing, so he gave
4kthetit stronger dose, and said something bad
ietaedli„a_Pa. I couldn't understand it, but Ross
to, and out went his fist, and down went the
feelltenak, like a stuck pig. Ross soon put him on
goo,„"gain, though. I would have let him lay there
and been only too glad if he never got
9117411 see, Miss Ingestre's expressions are iCar—celY
kbt,t qesbcl
_la their vigour yet; but I insist on the for-
litNallletking—frequently the privilege of flinging
ZgAtiAarros round my neck, and bestowing an
NiZrae ,a,c'llg—every time I hear a slang phrase or a
_4-14%1 Jfessicn, and this has in a small degree
v./3ra improvement.
Nyvtid of`4. -The events of the last week have been
kb ho_all interest ly time is entirely engrossed
"'scheming duties and Cleland's education:

ar.d since I have given her lessons in music after
dinner, I see little or nothing of the three other mem-
bers of the family.
Ross studies hard in the evening, and frequently
late into the night; Mr. Ingestre goes out—that is to
say, if he dines at home; and Maxall, I believe, shuts
himself in his bedroom smoking cigarettes as fast as
Domingo—who sits cross-legged at his feet—can
make them.

The attachment between these two is unaccount-
able. Domingo evidently adores the ground the
creole treads on, and no amount of cuffing bestowed
on his round, woolly head muses him to breathe a
word in his tyrant's disfavour. The black's nature
is an open, honest one enough ; but at a wcrd from
Maxall he will be treacherous, deceitful, a liar, and a
spy. This I have proved.
Yesterday was Sunday, and Mr. Ingestre, for the
first time, accompanied his daughti.r and myself to
church. He has hitherto made a point of strolling
in some time during the Litany, holding his book up-
side down, lounging over the cushions in front, and
sleeping during the sermon.
Considering he is in his own church, surrounded
chiefly by his own tenants, this behaviour, putting
aside its mockery of God, is utterly disgraceful as an
example to those who naturally look up to him as the
head of their little kingdom.
He is "the Squire," and for ten miles round that
meant the cynosure of all eyes—one whose words will
be repeated from mouth to mouth, whose acts will be
canvassed, opinions quoted, advice sought. More,
much more, than I can tell, is the responsibility holler-
ing on him in his position as lord of the manor; and
more than I care to say is the utter recklessness and
contempt with which he appears to regard it. At
times I could fancy his conduct a species of defiance,
directed against himself first, and tellected, by neces-
sity, upon others.
Perhaps it is because I knew him and his highly
principled nature so well years since that I strive to
make excuses for what I see now—the moral wreck
and ruin he has become. I behold the black scot
which taints the whole. I remember that a first
deadly sin against God and his own conscience has
been the foulness which, uncleansed by repentance,
has blighted the fair promise of his young life. What
he was—and what he is! Hard, hard to reconcile the
two!

_ _
At times—yes, at times, I confess a treacherous
softness will plead for him; will insist that the rank
weeds have not been self-planted, are not deeply
rooted—with care and tenderness may be yet eradi-
cated. Fallacy of fallacies! The wild growth of
those same rank weeds pleases him ; he delights in
their luxuriance; he is a hardened and shameless
sinner, and knows nothing like sorrow for his sins—
sins of commission as well as of omission.
And all this has arisen out of my censure upon his
behaviour at church—his listlessness, his inattention,
the affectation or reality of sleeping during Mr.
Dawson's excellent discourse. Yesterday there was
ncne of this. He was attentive and devout, in ap-
pearance until the sermon commenced, and then I
saw him lift his eyes suddenly to the tablet recording
his wife's death, and then folding his arms, he seemed
to forget there was anything else in the world
beyond.
From my seat in one corner of Cie square pew I
command a full view of Mr. Ingestre's face, without
his necessarily being aware that Ido so. If it was
wrong, I humbly regret the sin which compelled me
then to watch and ponder on his face at that time—
and so entirely. Ah, I learnt then that something
more than the usual tale of heart-broken sorrow was
written with ineffaceable lines upon that tablet. No
widowed husband ever regarded his dead wife's name
with such fierce revengeful spite, such eyes of deep,
intolerant ire, such lips of scorn, such an expression
of undying hate. He looked like some bitterly re-
vengeful and deeply injured man brought suddenly to
bay, with an enemy beyond the reach of his rage.
And then, in the midst of this horrible watch upon
the dead woman's name, he turned the red fire of his
eyes on me—but only for one instant, and they were
fixed again.
What association connected in his mind his dead
wife with my presence there? It is impossible to
say; but something of the kind there was, for that
keen, half-doubting look betrayed it.
In coming out he sent Maxall and Ross home,
and invited Cleland and myself to walk with him as
far as Westwood Farm, about a mile from .Redfern
Bottom.

Ross remonstrated in rather energetic terms. He
did not like being treated in such cavalier fashion;
but, at a whisper from Maxall, he went without
another word. _

Cleland looked remarkably uneasy, and kept very
fast hold of my arm, while Mr. Ingestre marched on a
few steps in advance.
Turning round some time after, I saw Maxall
and Ross standing on the brow of the hill watching
us.
Cleland's conscious cheeks told me she knew what
it meant, and I could guess.
It was not until we had left the park, and were in
the lane leading to the village, that Mr. Ingestre
slackened his pace, and walked in a line with us.
Then his daughter commenced fretfully upbraiding
him with the long, dusty walk he was giving us before
luncheon.
"Why need you go to Westwood? It's a nasty,
broken-down old place; and Gillet and his wife are
always tipsy. They won't have the politeness to offer
us anything in the shape of refreshments—they never
do. I wish you hadn't chosen such a nasty, dirty
.farmhouse as that to take Miss Wace to see. Bury
Court is much better; and Mr. Ash's cider is so
good."
"If you don't like it, don't come. You can go
home again." .
"Oh! if my company is not wanted, of course I
can."
"Just as you please, young lady; it is a matter of
indifference to me."
"But it is not to me, sir! I shall go back." She
turned round—l followed, of course.
Why, you are not coming ?"
'lf you go, I go too."
'Papa didn't bargain for that, I fancy. I mean—
he'll think it very•rude of you not to walk with him
when he asked you."
"He will think the same of you."
"Let her do as she pleases, Miss Waco. Don't wait
luncheon for me. I shall probably walk round by
Keighly, and shall be late."
Then Mr. Ingestre walked on, and we had to beat a
retreat, looking rather foolish, I must confess, as well
as feeling so; bfor I had certainly no idea that we
should be taken at our word in that fashion.
Cleland's temper was in a dangerous state the whole
of the day after. She quarrelled with Ross, insulted
me, fought with the under-housemaid, and finally at
luncheon flung the contents of her plate in Domingo's
face, because in stooping to place a dish on the table,
some tag of his livery caught in her hair.
For this last offence I ordered her to her room,
locked her up, and allowed her to remain there the
rest of the day "in limbo," as Ross styled it.
He, too, was very tiresome, and had aggravated
Cleland's bad humours by the mischievous good
temper he affected to regard them with; and after I
had disposed of her, he must needs invite Maxall to a
sparring match in the study where I sat, dreading
every moment that their playful blows would become
downright earnest ones.
And then, after keeping dinner back an hour be-
yond time, I found Mr. Ingestre return in the very
worst of moods, sullen and fault finding.
I endured that weary repast, I sat out the miserable
dessert, and then hurried away to my own room,
heartily sick of them all. Their fierce, uncertain
tempers—their unceasing demands upon me for for-
bearance, gentleness, forethought, and aid, wear me
to death; and I suffer here of a complaint I have never
known before—namely, weak nerves.
At eight o'clock I knew I must encounter another
scene with Miss Ingestre, and find her either bitterly
repentant or insolently defiant.
It was the latter, as I expected from her temper
throughout the day. She rudely refused to ask my
forgiveness, apologise to Domingo, or go to bed; so
at last, worn out with her insolence, I removed tho
lamp, and left her to take her night's rest
.in the
dark.
• • (To be continued.)