Mistress of Mellyn (27 page)

Sir Thomas was not forgotten. I heard his name mentioned often during the next few weeks. Mrs. Polgrey shook her head significantly when the Treslyns were mentioned, but her eyes were sharp and full of warning.

Daisy and Kitty were less discreet. When they brought my water in the mornings they would linger. I was a little cunning, I think. I longed

to know what people were saying but I did n not want to ask, yet I managed to draw them out without, I hoped, seeming to do so.

It was true they did not need a lot of encouragement.

” I saw Lady Treslyn yesterday,” Daisy told me, one morning. ” Her didn’t look like a widow, in spite of the weeds.”

” Oh? In what way?”

” Don’tee ask me. Miss. She was quite pale and not smiling, but I could see something in her face … if you do get my meaning.”

” I’m afraid I don’t.”

” Kit were with me. She said the same. Like as though she were waiting and content because she wouldn’t have to wait long. A year though.

Seems a long time to me. “

” A year? What for?” I asked, although I knew very well what for.

Daisy looked at me and giggled.

“” Twon’t do for them to be seeing too much of each other for a bit, will it, Miss. After all, him dying here. almost on our doorstep.

“Twould seem as though they’d almost willed him to it.”

” Oh, Daisy, that’s absurd. How could anybody?”

” Well, that’s what you can’t say till you know, ‘twould seem.”

The conversation was getting dangerous. I dismissed her with ” I must hurry. I see I’m rather late.”

When she had gone, I thought: So there is talk about them. They are saying he was willed to die.

As long as that’s all they say, that won’t do much harm.

I wondered how careful they were being. I remembered hearing Phillida say that people in love behaved like ostriches. They buried their heads in the sand and thought, because they saw no one, no one saw them.

But they were not two inexperienced lovers.

No, I thought bitterly, it is clear that both are very experienced.

They knew the people among whom they lived. They would be careful.

It was later that day, when I was in the woods, that I heard the sound of horses’ hoofs walking nearby and then I heard Lady Treslyn say : ” Connan. Oh, Connan! ” They had met then . and to meet as near the house as this was surely foolish.

In the woods their voices carried. The trees hid me, but snatches of their conversation came to me.

“Linda! You shouldn’t have come.”

” I know … I know….” Her voice fell and I could not hear the rest.

” To send that message …” That was Connan. I could hear him more clearly than her, perhaps because I knew his voice so well. ” Your messenger will have been seen by some of the servants. You know how they gossip.”

” I know, but …”

“When did this come … ?”

” This morning. I had to show it to you right away.”

” It’s the first?”

” No, there was one two days ago. That’s why I had to see you, Connan.

No matter what . I’m frightened. “

” It’s mischief,” he said. ” Ignore it. Forget it.”

” Read it,” she cried. ” Read it.”

There was a short silence. Then Connan spoke. ” I see. There’s only one thing to be done….”

The horses had begun to move. In a few seconds they might come past the spot where I was. I hurried away through the trees.

I was very uneasy.

That day Connan left Mount Mellyn.

” Called away to Penzance,” Mrs. Polgrey told me. ” He said he was unsure how long he would be away.”

I wondered if his sudden departure had anything to do with the disquieting news which Lady Treslyn had brought to him that morning in the woods.

Several days passed. Alvean and I resumed our lessons and Gilly too came to the schoolroom.

I would give Gilly some small task while I worked with Alvean, such as trying to make letters in a tray of sand, or on a slate, or counting beads on an abacus. She was contented to do this and I believed that she was happy in my company, that from me she drew a certain comfort which had its roots in security. She had trusted Alice and she was transferring that trust to me.

Alvean had rebelled at first but I had pointed out the need to be kind to those less fortunate than ourselves, and at length I had worked on her sympathy so that she accepted Gilly’s presence, although a little sullenly. But I had noticed that now and then she would throw a glance at the child, and I was sure that at least she was very interested in her.

Connan had been away a week and it was a cold February morning when Mrs. Polgrey came into the schoolroom. I was very surprised to see her, for she rarely interrupted lessons; she was holding two letters in her hand and I could see that she was excited.

She made no excuses for her intrusion and said: “I have heard from the Master. He wants you to take Miss Alvean down to Penzance at once.

Here is a letter for you. No doubt he explains more fully in that.

”

She handed me the letter and I was afraid that she would see that my hand shook a little as I opened it.

My dear Miss Leigh, I read, I will be here for a few weeks, I think, and I am sure you will agree that it would be very desirable for Alvean to join me here. I do not think she should miss her lessons, so I am asking you to bring her and be prepared to stay for a week or so.

Perhaps you could be ready to leave tomorrow. Get Billy Trehay to drive you to the station for the 2. 30 train. Connan TreMellyn I knew that the colour had rushed to my face. I hoped I had not betrayed the extreme joy which took possession of me.

I said: ” Alvean, we are to join your father tomorrow.”

Alvean leapt up and threw herself into my arms, a most unusual display, but it moved me deeply to realise how much she cared for him.

This helped me to regain my own composure. I said:

” That is for tomorrow. To-day we will continue with our lessons.”

” But, Miss, there’s our packing to do.”

” We have this afternoon for that,” I said primly. ” Now, let us return to our work.”

I turned to Mrs. Polgrey.

“Yes,” I said, “Mr. TreMellyn wishes me to take Alvean to him.”

She nodded. I could see that she thought it very strange, and this was because he had never before shown such interest in the child.

” And you’re leaving tomorrow.”

” Yes. Billy Trehay is to be given instructions to drive us to the station in time for the 2.30 train.”

She nodded.

When she had gone I sat down in a daze. I could not concentrate more than Alvean could. It was some time before I remembered GiUy. She was looking at me with that blank expression in her eyes which I had dreamed of banishing.

Gilly understood more than one realised.

She knew that we were going away and that she would be left behind.

I could scarcely wait to begin my packing. Alvean and I had luncheon together in the schoolroom but neither of us was interested in’ food, and immediately after the meal we went to our rooms to do the packing.

I had very little to pack. My grey and mauve dresses were dean, for which I was thankful, and I would wear my grey merino. It was not very becoming but it would be too difficult to pack.

I took out the green silk dress which I had worn at the Christmas ball. Should I take it? Why not? I had rarely possessed anything so becoming, and who knew, there might be an occasion when I could wear it.

I took out my comb and shawl, stuck the comb in my hair and let the shawl fall negligently about my shoulders.

I thought of the Christmas ball—that moment when Peter had taken my hand and had drawn me into the Furry Dance. I heard the tune in my

head and began to dance, for the n moment really feeling I was in the ballroom and that it was Christmas night again.

I had not heard Gilly come in, and I was startled to see her standing watching me. Really, the child did move too silently about the house.

I stopped dancing, flushing with embarrassment to have been caught in such silly behaviour. Gilly was regarding me solemnly.

She looked at the bag on my bed and the folded clothes beside it, and immediately my pleasure left me for I understood that Gilly was going to be very unhappy if we went away.

I stooped down and put my arms about her. ” It’ll only be for a little while, Gilly.”

She screwed her eyes up tightly and would not look at me.

” Gilly,” I said, ” listen. We’ll soon be back, you know.”

She shook her head and I saw tears squeeze themselves out of her eyes.

” Then,” I went on, ” we’ll have our lessons. You shall draw me more letters in the sand, and soon you will be writing your name.”

But I could see that she refused to be comforted.

She tore herself from me and ran to the bed and began pulling the things out of my trunk.

” No, Gilly, no,” I said. I lifted her up in my arms and went to a chair. I sat for a while rocking her. I went on: ” I’m coming back, you know, Gilly. In less than no time I’ll be here. It will seem as though I’ve never been away.”

She spoke then: “You won’t come back. She … She …”

” Yes, Gilly, yes?”

“She … went.”

For the moment I forgot even the fact that I was going to Connan, because I was certain now that Gilly knew something, and what she knew might throw some light on the mystery of Alice.

” Gilly,” I said, ” did she say goodbye to you before she went?”

Gilly shook her head vehemently, and I thought she was going to burst into tears.

” Gilly,” I pleaded, ” try to talk to me, try to tell me…. Did you see her go?”

Gilly threw herself at me and buried her face against my bodice. I held her tenderly for a moment, then withdrew myself and looked into her face; but her eyes were tightly shut.

She ran back to the bed and again started to pull the things out of my trunk.

” No….” she cried. ” No … no….”

Swiftly I went to her. ” Look, Gilly,” I said, ” I’m coming back. I’ll only be away a short time.”

” She stayed away!”

We were back at that point where we started. I did not believe I could discover anything more from her at this stage.

She lifted her little face to mine and all the blankness had gone from the eyes; they were tragic.

I saw in that moment how much my care of her had meant to her, and that it was impossible to make her understand that if I went away it was not for ever. Alice had been kind to her and Alice had gone. Her experiences had taught her that that was the way of life.

A few days . a week in the life of Gilly . would be like a year to most of us. I knew then that I could not leave Gilly behind.

Then I asked myself what Connan would say if I arrived with both children.

I believed that I could adequately explain my reasons. However, I was not going to leave Gilly behind. I could let Mrs. Polgrey know that the master expected the two children;

she would be pleased; she trusted Gilly with me, and she had been the first to admit that the child had improved since I had tried to help her.

” Gilly,” I said. ” I’m going away for a few days. Alvean and you are coming with me.” I kissed her upturned face. And I repeated because she looked so bewildered: ” You are coming with me. You’ll like that, won’t you.”

It was still some seconds before she understood, and then she shut her eyes tightly and lowered her head; I saw she smiled. That moved me more than any words could have done.

n I felt I was ready to brave Connan’s displeasure to bring such happiness to this poor child.

The next morning we set out early, and the whole household turned out to see us go. I sat in the carriage with a child on either side of me, and Billy Trehay in TreMellyn’s livery sat jauntily in the driver’s seat talking to the horses.

Mrs. Polgrey stood, her arms folded across her bosom, and her eyes were on GiUy. It was dear that she was delighted to see her little granddaughter riding with myself and Alvean.

Tapperty stood with his daughters on either side of him;

and their twinkling eyes, all so much alike, were full of speculation.

I did not care. I felt so lightheaded as we drove off that it was all I could do to prevent myself breaking into song.

It was a bright sunny morning and there was a slight frost in the air which sparkled on the grass, and the thin layer of ice on the ponds and streams.

We rattled along at a good speed over the rough roads. The children were in high spirits; Alvean chattered a good deal, and GiUy sat contentedly beside me. I noticed that she clutched my skirt with one hand, and the gesture filled me with tenderness for her. I was deeply aware of my responsibility towards this child.

Billy was talkative, and when we passed a grave at a crossroads, he uttered a prayer for the poor lost soul who was buried there.

” Not that the soul will rest, me dears. A person who meets death that way never rests.

“Tis the same if they meet death any way violent like. They can’t stay buried underground. They walks.”

” What nonsense!” I said sharply.

” Them that knows no better call wisdom nonsense,” retorted Billy, piqued.

” It seems to me that many people have too lively imaginations.”

The children’s eyes I noticed were fixed on my face.

” Why,” I said quickly as we passed a cob cottage with !

What’s that over them? “

” Tis black crepe,” said Billy. ” It means death in the family. Bees would take it terrible hard if they weren’t told of the death and helped to share in the mourning.”

I was glad when we arrived in the station.

We were met at Penzance by a carriage and then began the journey to Penlandstow. It was growing dark when we turned into a drive and I saw a house loom up before us. There was a man in the porch with a lantern who called out: ” They be here. Run and tell master. He did say to let him know the minute they did come.”

We were a little stiff and both children were half-asleep. I helped them down and as I turned, I saw Connan standing beside me. I could not see him very dearly in the dim light but I did know that he was very pleased to see me. He took my hand and pressed it warmly.