The Lady of the Forest: A Story for Girls Page 18

  CHAPTER XVIII.--THE MARMADUKES.

  The Marmadukes were not at all a puny family; on the contrary, they wereall rather above the ordinary size. Mr. Marmaduke was extremely broadand red and stout; Mrs. Marmaduke was an angular and bony-framed woman,with aquiline features and a figure which towered above all the otherladies present; the lady's-maid took after her mistress in stature andbecame Newbolt's detestation on the spot; the pug dog was so large thathe could scarcely be considered thoroughbred; and the parrot was afull-grown bird and the shrillest of its species. The four youngMarmadukes took after their parents and were extremely well developed.The eldest girl was thirteen; her name was Clementina; she had a veryfat face and a large appetite. The boys, named Dick and Will, weresturdy specimens; and Abigail, or Abby, the youngest of the group, wasconsiderably spoiled and put on many airs, which made her insufferableto Kitty and Phil.

  The Marmadukes arrived in a body, and without any efforts on their ownparts or the smallest desire that way on the part of the old ladies theytook Avonsyde by storm. They seemed to fill the whole house and topervade the grounds, and to make their presence felt wherever theyturned. They entertained themselves and suggested what places theyshould go to see, and announced the hours at which they would like bestto dine and what times they would wish the Avonsyde carriage to be inattendance. Miss Griselda was petrified at what she was pleased to termthe manners of the great Babylon. Miss Katharine received several snubsat the style of friends she kept, and only the fact that they weredistantly connected with the Lovels, and that their visit must terminatewithin ten days, prevented Miss Griselda from being positively rude tosuch unwelcome inmates.

  "Phil," said Rachel on the second morning after the arrival of thisobnoxious household, "if Clementina thinks she is going to get the upperhand of me any more she is finely mistaken. What do I care for herKensington Gardens and that pony she rides in the Row! I don't supposeshe knows how to ride--not really; for I asked her yesterday if she couldride barebacked, and she stared at me, and turned up her lip, and saidin such a mincing voice, 'We don't do that kind of thing in London.'Phil, I hate her; I really do! I don't know how I'm to endure her forthe next week. She walks about with me and is so condescending to me;and I can't endure it--no, I can't! Oh, I wish I could do something tohumble her!"

  "Poor Rachel!" said Phil in his sweet, pitying voice, and a tender,beautiful light which is born of sympathy filled his eyes. "I knowClementina is not your sort, Rachel," he said, "and I only wish shewould talk to me and leave you alone."

  Rachel laughed and leaned her hand affectionately on Phil's shoulder.

  "I don't wish that," she said. "I don't want to ease myself by adding toyour burdens; you have quite enough with Dick and Will. You must hatethem just as much as I hate Clementina."

  "Oh, I don't hate them at all," said Phil. "They are not my sort; theyare not the style of boys I like best, but I get on all right with them;and as to hating, I never hated any one in all my life."

  "Well, I have," said Rachel. "And the one I hate most now in all theworld is Clementina Marmaduke! Oh, here they are, all coming to meet us;and doesn't poor Kitty look bored to death?"

  Phil glanced wistfully from one sister to another, and then he ran up toClementina and began to chat to her in a very eager and animated voice.He was evidently suggesting something which pleased her, for she smiledand nodded her head several times. Phil said, "I'll bring them to you ina moment or two," and ran off.

  "What have you asked Phil to do?" asked Rachel angrily. "He's not astrong boy--at least, not very strong, and he mustn't be sent racingabout."

  "Oh, then, if he's not strong he won't ever get Avonsyde," returnedClementina. "How disappointed his mother will be. I thought Phil wasvery strong."

  "You know nothing about it," said Rachel, getting redder and more angry."You have no right to talk about our private affairs; they are nothingto you."

  "I only know what my mamma tells me," said Clementina, "and I don'tchoose to be lectured by you, Miss Rachel."

  Here Will and Dick came eagerly forward, squared their shoulders, andsaid:

  "Go it, girls! Give it to her back, Rachel. She's never happy exceptwhen she's quarreling."

  A torrent of angry words was bubbling up to Rachel's lips, but here Philcame panting up, holding a great spray of lovely scarlet berries in hishand.

  "Here!" he said, presenting it to Clementina. "That is the very last,and I had to climb a good tall tree to get it. Let me twine it roundyour hat the way Gabrielle used to wear it. Here, just one twist--doesn'tit look jolly?"

  The effect on Clementina's dark brown beaver hat was magical, and theeffect on her temper was even more soothing--she smiled and becamegood-tempered at once. Rachel's angry words were never spoken, andsunshine being restored the children began to discuss their plans forthe day.

  Miss Griselda had given a certain amount of freedom to all the youngfolk, and under supervision--that is, in the company of Robert, thegroom--they might visit any part of the forest not too far away. When theeager question was asked now, "What shall we do with ourselves?" Philreplied instantly, "Let's go into the forest. Let's visit Rufus' Stone."

  Rachel's eyes danced at this, and she looked eagerly and expectantly ather little cousin.

  "You have none of you seen the Stone," proceeded Phil. "There aresplendid trees for climbing round there, and on a fine day like this itwill be jolly. We can take our lunch out, and I'll show you lots ofnests, Will."

  "I'll go on one condition," said Rachel--"that we ride. Let's have ourponies. It is too horrid to be cooped up in a wagonette."

  "Oh, we'd all much rather ride!" exclaimed the Marmaduke children.

  "Bob can drive the pony-cart to the Stone," proceeded Rachel, "and meetus there with our luncheon things. That will do quite well, for as thereare such a lot of us we won't want a groom to ride as well. We knowevery inch of the road from here to the Stone--don't we, Phil?"

  "Yes," answered Phil softly.

  "Well, that's splendid," said Clementina, who felt that her berries werevery becoming and who imagined that Rachel was looking at themenviously. "But have you got horses enough to mount us all?"

  "We've got ponies," said Rachel. "Rough forest ponies; jolly creatures!You shall have Brownie, as you're such a good rider; he's nice andspirited--isn't he, Phil?"

  "Yes," replied Phil. "But I think Clementina would have a jollier timewith Surefoot; he goes so easily. I think he's the dearest pony in theworld."

  "But he's your own pony, Phil. You surely are not going to give up yourown pony?"

  Phil laughed.

  "I'm not going to give him up," he said; "only I think I'd like to rideBrownie this morning."

  Rachel scarcely knew why she felt ashamed at these words; she certainlyhad no intention of offering her horse to Clementina.

  "What queer ways Phil has," she thought to herself. And then she saw asoftened look in Clementina's eyes and her heart gave a sharp littleprick.

  Half an hour later the riding party set out, and for a time all wentsmoothly. Rachel was trying to curb her impatience; Clementina amusedherself by being condescending to Philip; and Dick, Will, Kitty, andAbby rode amicably together. But the party was ill-assorted, and peacewas not likely long to reign. Surefoot was an extremely nice pony, andClementina rode well in front, and after a time began to give herselfairs, and to arrange her fresh and very becoming habit, as if she wereriding in the Row. Surefoot was gentle, but he was also fresh; and whenClementina touched him once or twice with her riding-whip, he shookhimself indignantly and even broke into a canter against her will.

  "You must not touch Surefoot with a whip," sang out Rachel. "He does notneed it and it is an insult to him."

  Clementina laughed scornfully.

  "All horses need the whip now and then," she said; "it freshens them upand acts as a stimulant. You don't suppose, Rachel, that I don't know? Irather think there are very few girls who know more about riding than Ido. Why, I have had lessons from Cap
tain Delacourt since I canremember."

  "Is Captain Delacourt your riding-master?" asked Rachel in anexasperating voice. "If so, he can't be at all a good one; for a reallygood riding-master would never counsel any girl to use the whip to awilling horse."

  "Did your riding-master give you that piece of information?" inquiredClementina in a voice which she considered full of withering sarcasm. "Ishould like to know his name, in order that I might avoid him."

  Rachel laughed.

  "My riding-master was Robert," she said, "and as he is my aunt'sservant, you cannot get lessons from him even if you wish to. You neednot sneer at him, Clementina, for there never was a better rider thanRobert, and he has taught me nearly everything he knows himself. Thereisn't any horse I couldn't sit, and it would take a very clever horseindeed to throw me."

  Clementina smiled most provokingly, and raising her whip gave gentlelittle Surefoot a couple of sharp strokes. The little horse quiveredindignantly, and Rachel glanced at Phil, who was riding behind onBrownie.

  "Oh, Phil," she called out, "Clementina is so unkind to your horse. Itis well for you, Clementina, that you are on Surefoot's back. He is sosweet-tempered he won't resent even cruelty very much; but if you daredto whip my horse, Ruby, you would have good reason to repent of yourrashness."

  Rachel was riding on a red-coated pony, a half-tamed creature withpromises of great beauty and power by and by, but at present somewhatrough and with a wild, untamed gleam in his eyes. Clementina glanced allover Ruby, but did not deign another remark. She was forming a plan inher mind. By hook or by crook she would ride Ruby home and show to theastonished Rachel what Captain Delacourt's pupil was capable of.

  The children presently reached their destination, where Bob and thelight cart of refreshments awaited them. The day was very balmy andspringlike, and the most fastidious could not but be pleased and themost ill-tempered could not fail for a time, at least, to show the sunnyside of life. The children made merry. Rachel and Clementina forgottheir disputes in the delights of preparing salads and cutting up pies;Phil, the Marmaduke boys, and Abby went off on a foraging expedition;and Kitty swung herself into the low-growing branch of a great oak tree,and lazily closing her eyes sang softly to herself.

  The picnic dinner turned out a grand success; and then Clementina, whowas fond of music and who had discovered that Kitty had a particularlysweet voice, called her to her and said that they might try and get upsome glees, which would sound delightfully romantic in the middle of theforest. The children sat round in a circle, Clementina now quite in herelement and feeling herself absolute mistress of the occasion.

  Suddenly Phil got up and strolled away. No one noticed him but Rachel,who sat on thorns for a few minutes; then, when the singing was at itsheight, she slipped round the oak tree, flew down the glade, and reachedthe little boy as he was entering a thick wood which lay to the right.

  "Phil! Phil! you are going to see her?"

  "Oh, don't, Rachel--don't follow me now! If we are both missed they willcome to look for us, and then the lady's house will be discovered andshe will have to go away. She said if her house was discovered she wouldhave to go away, and oh, Rachel, if you love her--and you say you loveher--that would be treating her cruelly!"

  "The children won't miss us," said Rachel, whose breath came fast andwhose cheeks were brightly colored. "The children are all singing asloudly as they can and they are perfectly happy, and Robert is eatinghis dinner. I won't go in, Phil; no, of course I won't go in, for Ipromised, and I would not break my word, to her of all people. But if Imight stay at a little distance, and if I might just peep round a treeand see her, for she may come to talk to you, Phil. Oh, Phil, don'tprevent me! I will not show myself, but I might see without being seen."

  Rachel was trembling, and yet there was a bold, almost defiant look onher face; she looked so like Rupert that Phil's whole heart was drawn toher.

  "You must do what you wish, of course," he said. "Do you see that giantoak tree at the top of the glade? You can stand there and you can peepyour head well round. See, let's come to it. See, Rachel, you have asplendid view of the cottage from here. Now I will go and try if I canget any tidings of Gabrielle's tankard. Good-by, Rachel. Remember yourpromise not to come any nearer."

  Phil ran lightly away, and Rachel saw him go into the littlerose-covered porch of the cottage.

  He raised the tiny knocker, and in a moment or two Nancy White answeredhis summons.

  "Is the lady--the lady of the forest in, Nancy?" asked the little boy.

  "The lady! Bless my heart, if this ain't Master Phil Lovel! Well, mydear little gentleman, and what may you want?"

  "I want the lady. Can I see her? Perhaps she would come out to walk withme for a little, for I want to talk to her on a most important thing."

  "Bless you, my dear, the lady ain't at home, and if she were she don'tgo taking walks at anybody's bidding. She's particular and retiring inher ways, the lady is, and when she's at home she keeps at home."

  "I'm sorry she's not at home to-day," said Phil, leaning against theporch and getting back his breath slowly. "It's a great disappointment,for I find it very difficult to come so far, and what I wanted to saywas really important. Good-by, Nancy. Give my love to the lady when yousee her."

  "Don't go yet, Master Philip. You're looking very white. I hope you'requite strong, sir."

  "Yes, I'm a strong boy," said Phil in a slow voice.

  "You wouldn't like to come in and rest for a bit, little master? Maybe Icould do what you want as well as my missus."

  "Maybe you could," said Phil, his eyes brightening. "I never thought ofthat. No, I won't come in, thank you, Nancy. Nancy, do you remember theday I was nearly lost in the bog?"

  "Of course I do, my dear little man; and a sorry pickle you was when mymissus brought you home!"

  "Had I anything in my hand when I was brought into the house, Nancy?Please think hard. Had I anything rather important in my hand?"

  "You had a bit of a brier clutched tight in one hand. I remember that,my dear."

  "Oh, but what I mean was something quite different--what I mean was alarge silver drinking-mug. I cannot remember anything about it since Igot lost in the bog, and I am afraid it must have gone right down intothe bog. But I thought it just possible that I might have brought ithere. You did not see it, did you, Nancy?"

  "Well, my dear, is it likely? Whatever else we may be in this house, weain't thieves."

  Phil looked distressed.

  "I did not mean that," he said--"I did not mean that. I just thought Imight have left it and that I would come and ask. Mother is in greattrouble about the mug; it means a great lot to mother, and it was verycareless of me to bring it into the forest. I am sorry you did not seeit, Nancy."

  "And so am I, Master Lovel, if it's a-worrying of you, dear. But there,the grandest silver can that ever was made ain't worth fretting about. Iexpect it must have slipped into the bog, dear."

  "Good-by, Nancy," said Phil in a sorrowful, polite little voice, and hewent slowly back to where Rachel watched behind the oak tree.