Black Sheep (21 page)

“Oh, Oliver, you are repeating what Mama says! How can you be so stuffy? Next you will be saying that Fanny ought to wait meekly until her guardian bestows her on a man of
his
choice!”

“I shan’t say anything of the sort. But I’ll tell you this, Lavvy: if Calverleigh had made
you
the object of his havey-cavey attentions I’d knock his teeth down his throat!”

Startled, and rather impressed, she said: “Good gracious! Would you?
Well!
”

“Try to, at all events,” he said, laughing. “It’s what any man would do.”

She did not look to be entirely convinced. He put his arm round her, and gave her a brotherly hug. “It isn’t for me to interfere: I haven’t the right. But you’ll be a poor friend to Fanny if you don’t make a push to persuade her not to throw her cap over
the windmill. That’s the way to return by Weeping Cross.” He had said no more, and how much of what he had said was repeated to Fanny he had no means of knowing, because he was wary of betraying to his sister that he took far more than a neutral interest in the affair, and so would not ask her. Between himself and Fanny it was never discussed, and much as he longed to beg her not to throw herself away on a court-card who, in his view, was an ugly customer if ever he saw one, it did not come within his province to meddle in the affairs of a girl who would never be more to him than an unattainable dream, or within his code of honour to cry rope upon a fellow behind his back. Given the flimsiest of excuses—if only he had been even remotely related to Fanny!—he would speedily have cut the fellow’s comb for him; for although he was not yet in high force he had no doubt of his ability to draw the elegant Mr Stacy Calverleigh’s cork, besides darkening both his daylights, before tipping him a settler. His hands clenched themselves instinctively into two bunches of purposeful fives as he allowed his fancy to dwell for a moment on the pleasing vision of a regular set-to with Stacy. He was innately chivalrous, but he would have no compunction whatsoever in milling down this sneaking rascal, who, if he had ever come to handy-blows in his life (which Mr Grayshott doubted) was certainly no match for one whose science, and punishing left, had won fame for him in the annals of his school and college. But only for a moment did the vision endure: even the excuse of rivalry was denied him. Mr Grayshott, setting out for India in high hope, and eager determination to prove himself worthy of his uncle’s trust, had been defeated by his constitution, and saw himself as a failure. Mr Balking had told him not to tease himself about the future, and not to take it so much to heart that his health had broken down. “For how could you help it? I wish I’d never sent you to Calcutta—except that the experience you’ve gained will stand you in good stead. I’ve a place for you in the London house, but time enough to talk of that when you’re on your pins again.”

Mr Balking had been kindness itself, but Oliver, his spirits as much as his gaunt frame worn down by recurrent fever, foresaw that he was destined to become a clerk in the counting-house from which lowly position he was unlikely to rise for many dreary years. He had set no store by Uncle Leonard’s assurances that he was very well satisfied with his work in Calcutta: that was the sort of thing that an affectionate uncle might be expected to say. He had reached Bath in a state of deep depression, but as his health improved so did his spirits, and he began to think that it might not be so very long before he worked his way up to a position of trust. When he was able to look back dispassionately over the two years he had spent in India, he thought that perhaps his uncle really was satisfied with his progress there. He had found his work of absorbing interest, and knew that he had a talent for business. In fact, if he had been a windy-wallets, boasting of his every small success, he would have said that he had done pretty well in the Calcutta house. As he was a diffident, and rather reticent young man, he maintained a strict silence on the subject, and waited, in gradually increasing hopefulness, for the day when his doctor should pronounce him well enough to apply himself once more to business.

But his optimism did not lead him to the length of supposing that the Wendovers would ever consider him to be an eligible husband for Fanny. Older than his years, he recognized in Fanny’s passionate attachment to Stacy a schoolgirl’s brief, violent infatuation. He was reminded of the throes into which Lavinia, at the age of fifteen, had been cast when she fell suddenly, and inexplicably, in love with one of the visiting professors at Miss Timble’s Seminary. It had made her remarkably tiresome for several weeks, but there had been no harm in it, her passion being unrequited, and the professor a respectable man, with a wife, and five children, to all of whom he was devoted. Neither Oliver nor Mrs Grayshott had set any store by the event; Oliver thought that he would have set as little by Fanny’s present bewitchment
had
she but lost her foolish heart to a man of character. As it was, he was pretty sure that she had walked into a snare set for her by a handsome fortune-hunter, and he was extremely uneasy. Something Lavinia had let slip from her tongue, and hastily retracted, had given rise in his mind to the incredible suspicion that a runaway marriage was in contemplation. He found that his mother shared this suspicion, and was only partly reassured when he learned that she had warned Miss Abigail Wendover of possible danger. Miss Abigail was no fool, but he felt that the situation demanded a man’s hand. Failing her brother, who did not seem to be one on whom Miss Abigail placed any reliance, the obvious man to intervene was Mr Miles Calverleigh. But Miles showed no disposition to do so, or even to take any interest in his nephew’s activities. That did not surprise Oliver: he had not spent several weeks in Mr Calverleigh’s company without discovering that he never did take any interest in persons he didn’t like. It was inconceivable that a man of his cut could like Stacy, and useless to suppose that regard for the good name of his family would impel him to exert himself to preserve it: he had no such regard. On the other hand, there could be no doubt that he liked Miss Abigail Wendover very much indeed. Oliver, naturally precluded from discussing Stacy with Stacy’s uncle, could only hope that his tendre for her would move him to come to her assistance. He was a strange man, so cold, and yet so kind; there was no understanding him, but one thing was sure: if he did befriend one, there were no Emits to the help he would, in his unconcerned way, extend. It was possible, of course, that Miss Abigail, like himself, would feel all the awkwardness of broaching the matter to him. Oliver thought that perhaps his mother might prevail upon her to overcome such scruples, and decided to nudge her into making the attempt.

During the drive to Wells he realized, as quickly as her aunt, that Fanny was doing her best to hide some inward care under a mask of gaiety. His heart went out to her, the sweet, silly baby that she was. He felt almost sick with the longing to gather her into his arms; but that desire must be repressed: not only did his circumstances make it impossible for him to declare himself, but
Fanny did not want his love, but only his friendship. She had said once, when his mother had reproved him for calling her by her name: “Oh, but I begged him to do so, ma’am! Because Lavvy and I have always been like sisters, so Oliver must be my brother!”

Half a loaf was better than no bread: he didn’t know who had been responsible for that silly proverb, only that he must have been a cod’s head. It wasn’t better; when the lovely, darling girl you would have given your soul to possess invited you to be her brother it was infinitely worse.

But if a brother was what Fanny wanted, a brother she should have; and perhaps, adopting that distasteful role, he might, at least, be admitted into her confidence, and be granted the opportunity to offer her wiser counsel than she would get from his foolish sister.

So when they had stayed for some time in the chapel in the north aisle of the Cathedral, where the famous clock had been placed, and had watched the little knights endlessly tilting at each other across the barrier which surmounted it, he detained Fanny, as she was preparing to follow her aunt and Mr Calverleigh to another part of the Cathedral, and suggested that they might go and sit down outside for a while. She agreed readily to this, causing his heart to melt by looking up at him in quick anxiety, and saying: “Yes, to be sure we’ll do that, if you wouldn’t liefer go back to the Swan? There’s nothing so fatiguing as Cathedrals! You are tired already, aren’t you?”

“No, I promise you I’m not—or only a very little!” he answered. “I think I might be, however, if I were obliged to go all over this place, because that would mean standing to gaze at tombs, and screens, and windows! I don’t know why it should be so, but standing is a thing I can’t yet do, though I am beginning to walk with the best of you.”

“Well, you shan’t stand. If it is not too chilly for you, we’ll go and sit by the moat round the Palace, and watch the swans. And if my aunt should ask you what you think of the figures on the West Front you may say that you’ve never seen anything truly exquisite. That wouldn’t be a fib, do you think?”

His eyes were full of tender amusement; he said gravely: “No, just
suggestio falsi!
Ought I to see them?”

“Good gracious, no! There are tiers and tiers of them!”

“In that case, I’m ready to tell any number of fibs—even a real bouncer!”

She laughed, and then fell silent for a minute or two. He made no attempt to break into her abstraction, but presently she seemed
to recall herself, and embarked on some light, everyday chit-chat, rather in the manner of a hostess trying to entertain a difficult guest. It was plainly an effort, and he stopped her, saying involuntarily: “Ah, don’t, Fanny!”

Startled, she looked quickly up at him, a question in her big eyes. “Don’t?”

“Don’t think yourself obliged to make conversation! That’s not treating me as though I were your brother!”

“Oh—!” She blushed, and turned her head away.

“Is something troubling you?” he asked gently.

“No—oh, no! Of course not! Look, there are two of the swans! If only we had brought some bread to throw to them! I do think swans are the most beautiful birds in the world, don’t you? Or do you prefer peacocks?”

“No,” he replied baldly, leading her to a conveniently placed bench. Sitting down beside her, he said: “What is it, Fanny? Don’t say you’re not blue-devilled! That
would
be a bouncer—almost a
plumper!
”

She gave a nervous little laugh. “It’s nothing. Well, nothing very much! Just that I’m at outs with Abby—at least, not precisely at outs with her, but—” She paused, and her eyes darkened. “I thought—But people—grown-up people—” she said, betraying her youth, “don’t
understand!
.
They don’t care for anything but consequence, and propriety, and respectability, and—and eligibility, and whenever you wish to do anything
they
don’t wish you to do, they say you are far too young, and will soon forget about it!”

“Yes, and also that one day you will thank them for it!” he
agreed sympathetically. “And the worst of it is that, in general they are right!”

“Not always!”

“No, but odiously often!”

“
When you are as old as I am
—!” said Fanny, in bitter mimicry.

“Don’t tell me that Miss Abigail has ever uttered those abominable words!”

“No. No, she hasn’t done that, but she doesn’t enter into my feelings, and I thought she would! I never
dreamed
she would be just like my uncle! Worldly, and—and prejudiced, and not thinking it signifies if you are unhappy, as long as you don’t do anything your horrid uncle doesn’t approve of!” She added, with strong indignation: “And she doesn’t even
like
him!”

He said nothing for a few moments, but sat frowning ahead at the embattled wall beyond the moat. Fanny, pulling a handkerchief out of her reticule, defiantly blew her nose. Oliver drew a resolute breath, and said, picking his words with care: “If someone who is very dear to you—as you are to Miss Abigail—seems to be set on taking what you believe to be a false step, you must try to prevent it, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, but I am not taking a false step!” said Fanny. “And I am not too young to know my own mind! I have always known it! And I won’t let them ruin my life, even if I have to do something
desperate!
”

“Don’t!” he said. “How could you be happy if you did what must pretty well break Miss Abigail’s heart? Forgive me, Fanny, but I fancy I know what the trouble is, and I wish there was something I could do to help you.” He paused. “Have you ever met my uncle? Not, I’m thankful to say, at all like
your
uncle! He’s very kind, and very wise, and he once told me never to make important decisions hastily—not to do what couldn’t be undone until I was perfectly sure that I should never
wish
to undo it.”

“Of course not!” said Fanny simply. She got up. “Are you rested? Would you care to stroll about the town for a little while ? I don’t think it
is
warm enough here, do you? We’ll go through
the Dean’s Eye into Sadler Street: I expect you will like to see that.’

Her confidences were at an end; and since she had so unmistakably drawn to the blinds against prying eyes there was nothing for him to do but to acquiesce. He won a laugh from her by saying that while he placed himself unreservedly in her hands he could not help feeling that they ran a grave risk of being dapped into prison for such irreverence; and expressed great relief when she explained that the Dean’s Eye was merely an old gateway. This mild joke did much to restore her to ease; he set himself thereafter to divert her, and succeeded well enough to make her say, when they joined their elders at the Swan, to partake of an early dinner there before driving back to Bath, that she had spent a charming afternoon. A little nervously, she added: “And you won’t regard anything I said, will you? It was all nonsense! I daresay you know how it is when one falls into a fit of the dismals: one says things one doesn’t mean.”