A Dinner Of Herbs (67 page)

much mischief caused in the world by one person transposing another’s thoughts through their own

individual channels.” He spread out his hands now and on a lighter tone said, “I had the idea a few years

ago when I was nineteen that the world needed changing, and that I could do it by starting a kind of

school and calling it The Academy of Reason and in it teaching nothing that couldn’t be proved. But after

talking it over with an old scholar, who laughingly said, “ Do that, it’ll get rid of God,” I recognized my

thinking was merely part of the growing pains of youth. Yet there are always germs left over from the

thoughts of youth, good germs.... Why are you smiling like that?”

“I like to hear you talk. It’s so different from what I’ve been used to: Was there too much cinnamon in

the cake? Next week all the downstairs curtains must be washed. I must hurry up and

finish the tapestry

for that chair, it’s almost threadbare. That’s inside the house, and much much more.

Outside: The

number of sheep going to market. Should they send them into Hexham or Newcastle?

Weighing up the

cost of paying a drover to drive them into the city against taking them in themselves to Hex—ham. That

problem comes up every year.

Should they extend the herd? It would mean buying more land. And the latest excitement is starting a

turkey farm. Strangely, I haven’t minded it up till now, although I did look forward to Hugh coming

home and hearing his tales of the city and its doings. And now, having said all that, I. 1

feel ashamed,

because we’ve all been brought up in a wonderful home life, and I’m ashamed that I

should now look

upon it as tedium. Yet, since the day I first stepped into this cottage my way of thinking and looking at

things has changed. “

“Mine too. But do you know what you have just described appears to me as the ideal life, and a pattern

I’d like to follow from now on. And I’d like nothing better at this moment than to ride back with you and

talk about the everyday things that you’ve just described with your men

folk. “ He paused; then, his voice low, he said, “ It’s got to come.

Sooner or later, it’s got to come. “

“But not yet, not yet. You have no idea of the feeling.”

“I have. I can imagine it.”

She screwed up her eyes for a moment and brought her teeth tight down on her lower lip in a voiceless

denial of his statement, and he persisted, “Believe me, Kate, I know exactly how your

father will react.”

“You don’t!” Her voice was loud now.

“You don’t, Ben. His hate of the Bannamans does not lie under the surface, it’s there on top for all to

see. The whole countryside knows how he feels, and he still talks about it to anyone who will listen. The

agony of the four days in that barn seared....”

“Don’t. Don’t.” He had placed his hand gently over her mouth.

“It’s a kind of torture to me to think about that. Anyway, for the time being, they need know nothing

about my identity. I am that fella from the Americas.” He smiled.

“That’s how one gentleman in the Allendale Hotel addressed me the other day.

“You the fella from the Americas?” he said. Well, that’s all I am for the time being, so take me down

soon to meet them . please Kate. “

“Give me another week or so.”

“But why, my dear? What do you hope to accomplish in that time? My name will still be

Hamilton

then.”

“I’ll ... I’ll break the ice. I’ll start talking about you, singing your praises, expounding your virtues.”

“Oh, my! Then we are doomed to failure. Anyway, you’ve got to take into account their

reaction when

they find out I’ve bought this house.”

“Yes, I’ve thought ofjhat. Have you told Charles?”

“Only yesterday.”

“What was his reaction?”

“Amazement. He said it’s a bad house and he only wished I had consulted him before

taking the step.”

“And he’s right.”

“Well, I’ll promise you one thing. If I ever feel I can’t cleanse it, I’ll burn it down. But in the back of my

mind I can see it as a thriving farm once more, something like your father’s. I passed your home

yesterday.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t.”

“Why? Everybody knows I am gathering details of the villages and hamlets around here.

Look.” He

pointed to the shelf. One part held what looked like a ledger and a small stack of papers, and he said,

“I’m putting it all together, it makes quite a history.”

“You’re writing about the Bannamans?”

“Yes, all about the Bannamans. And the Fountains. You see, my grandmother’s name

was Fountain. I

took a coach ride last week to her birthplace, almost on the borders of Scotland. I found the house

where she was born, but there was no living relation left. Another family had apparently lived there for

thirty years. Anyway’—He now took her face between his hands and ended softly, “ It’ll be something

to pass down to our children. “

He was greatly perturbed when he saw the tears spurt from her eyes as she made a sound that was

almost a groan before falling against him.

When she returned the yard was empty, and as she led her horse to the stables, she

noticed there was

no one in the byres either. It wasn’t until she had unsaddled the animal and rubbed him down that the

unusual quiet of the yard caught her attention, for there was always one or the other of the men to be

seen somewhere about. It was as she was going to the grain store for feed that she saw Terry. He was

coming from the barn, and she said, “Where’s everyone?”

He thumbed towards the house, saying, “Indoors. Lads have got their boots off.”

The lads had their boots off. That meant, for some reason or other, there was a meeting other than in

the kitchen, because none of them was allowed through into the house with his working

boots on, except

her father.

She looked towards the kitchen door. And yes, there they were, three pairs of boots lying haphazardly

near the foot-scraper.

What now? It couldn’t be a visitor, for there was no sign of a horse or carriage. Had they found out?

She felt a cold sweat on her brow as Terry said, “Mr. Bentley come. His horse was in a lather. I put it

in the bottom stable.” He thumbed again. And she smiled at him now in relief, saying,

“Oh, I must go

and see what it’s all about then.”

“I could tell you from here.”

“You could?”

There was a broad grin on Terry’s face as he emitted one word, “Courtin’.”

She nicked her hand at him, returned his smile, then saying, “See to Ranger’s feed, will you?” she

walked quickly across the yard.

Courting? That meant he had come to see her father to ask for Florrie’s hand. Oh, she

was pleased,

pleased for Florrie.

As she entered the kitchen she heard the hubbub in the hall, and when she went to open the far door she

paused at the sound of high laughter and the chatter of voices.

The family were all gathered in the hall and they did not notice her entry, for they were looking through

the open door. But when Mary Ellen caught sight of her, she cried, “Oh! here’s Kate.

Kate, come and

hear the good news.”

She was at the front door now looking with the rest of them to where Florrie and Charles Bentley were

walking sedately side by side across the gravel led drive, making their way to the yard and the stables.

It was Hal who turned to her, saying, “Well, what do you think of that? He came and

asked me for her

hand.” He put his head back and laughed.

“All right and proper. Well, she’s set, and well at that.

Twill be you next,” he said, bringing Maggie a wallop on the buttocks.

“But who’ll come for your hand, Richard Taggart or Barney Pilkton?”

Before Maggie could answer, Gabriel said, “No, Dad;

it’ll be Daffy Tun, and his twelve cats. It’s said he’s looking for a wife. The fourth is it, or the fifth? “

He turned and ran as Maggie made a dive for him. And in the hubbub as they made their

way towards

the kitchen, Hal’s voice rose above the rest, saying, “Engagement party in the barn?

We’re having no

such do in the barn, ‘tis here in the house it’ll be held. Do you hear what I say, Mrs.

Roystan?”

“I heard, Mr. Roystan, and I’ll remind you that we can get twice as many in the barn as in the

sitting-room, dining-room, and hall combined.”

“Who wants twice as many? ... Hello, there, lass.” It was as if he had just noticed Kate, but his next

words, as he held open the door for her, denied the assumption, for with an enquiry in his voice he said,

“Enjoy your ride, lass?”

“Yes, Dad, I enjoyed it very much.”

He let the door swing behind him before continuing, “Aye, well, that’s what rides are for I suppose.

Well now, let’s all get back to work, for if I’ve got to pay for a wedding, it’s got to be earned

somehow.”

“Oh, Hal.” Mary Ellen shook her head at him, and he, shaking his head back at her and

mimicking her

voice, said, “Oh Mary Ellen.” Then he went out, accompanied by his sons, and they were all laughing.

Mary Ellen now placed her hands on the table and let out a long drawn sigh and, looking towards the

delph rack, as if into space, she said softly, “Isn’t it lovely for her, to get a man like Charles?”

“Because he’s related to Lord Redman?”

“No, miss, not because of that.” She had turned sharply on Maggie now.

“But at the same time it’s nothing to be despised or sneered about.”

“I wasn’t sneering.”

“But you were pretty near it. Anyway, when we’re on, it’s about time you were making

your mind up

who you’re going to settle with. I hope it isn’t Barney Pilkton, ‘cos his mouth will

swallow his: head one

of these days.”

“Perhaps you would have me marry Daffy Tun just to get rid of me?”

“Don’t be silly, girl.”

“I’m not being silly, Mam. But I feel the odd man out hereabouts.” She now turned her

infuriated gaze

on Kate.

“I’m apparently of no interest to anybody. I haven’t been discovered by a famous father, nor do I

possess a secret friend up in the hills.”

“Maggief Mary Ellen’s voice was a yell, but Kate put in quietly, “ It’s all right. It’s all right. “ And

returning Maggie’s look now, she said, “ We can’t all be blessed with good looks, so

whoever doles out

the compensations has had me in mind lately. “ And with this she left the kitchen, closing the door none

too gently behind her.

Mary Ellen, leaning across the table, now cried at her daughter, “She wasn’t blessed with good looks,

but you are. But what you’re not blessed with, Maggie Roystan, is a kindly disposition, and I’m tellin’

you, it’ll bring you no good. And when I’m on, I’ll tell you this, that neither of those fellows you’re

tipping the wink at will provide you with much more than shoe leather. Have sense, girl.

If you’re going

to cock your hat, cock it at somebody worthwhile. There, that’s out. I should have made it plain

toyouafore.”

“Yes, you should, Mam, and I would have known where I stood. But I know now. You

never have

cared for me like you have for the others.

It’s been Kate this, Kate that, or dear Florrie, gentle Florrie. But I’ve never heard you say a word in my

praise. “

“No, because you were too keen to praise yourself.”

“You don’t like me, do you?”

“Oh, girl, girl.” Mary Ellen’s voice softened and, now going swiftly round the table, she held out her

arms. But Maggie would have none of it. She almost slapped her mother’s hands away

saying, “I don’t

want any of your left-overs, Mam. I can take care of me self You see to your dear Kate and give her

your blessing when she trots over the hills to her fancy man.”

The slap that caught her fully across the face almost knocked her back towards the settle, and there was

a dead silence between them for a moment, until Maggie, holding her head to the side,

one hand covering

her cheek and the tears now running down her face, turned and fled from the kitchen,

leaving Mary Ellen,

her arms tight about herself, her fingers clawing at her oxters, muttering, “My God! My God!”

She did not recognize that she was suffering no recrimination for striking her daughter but was agonizing

over the fact that anyone should think Kate had a fancy man. But if Maggie could say

this, others would

think it, because her regular journeys up into the hills wouldn’t have gone unnoticed: there were eyes

behind hedges and dry stone walls. She would have to speak to Kate. Yes, she would, and firmly.

But before Mary Ellen spoke to Kate, she spoke to Hal.

“I’m worried,” she said.

“Our Kate’ll get her name up if she’s not careful.”

“Get her name up? What about?”

“I had words with our Maggie this afternoon. She’s turned against Kate of late. I don’t know why.

Well, yes, I do. Tis this American fellow.

I saw she had her eye on him that first day in the hotel dining room, and now she’s

calling him Kate’s

fancy man. “

“What?”

“That’s what she’s saying. That’s what she said, Kate’s going over the hills to see her fancy man. Now

if she’s saying that, there’ll be others who’ll have seen her out on her rides and going in the same

direction.

“Tisn’t right that she should go off visiting him. He should be coming here and visiting her if he thinks so