Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones (9781101614631) (47 page)

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On the nineteenth of March I received a Visit from Lt. Simmins, whose Regiment had been posted to Abingdon, and who had arranged that he might stay at Shirelands for the Night before rejoining his Commanding Officer for the remainder of the Journey upon the Morning. It had been raining hard all Daye, so I had expected that our Guest might be thereby delayed, and it was after six before he arrived, which by our country Standards was very late for Dinner. My Father, unable to tolerate the Delay, had dined already and retired, but Jane, Erasmus, Katherine, and My Self patiently awaited Simmins’ Arrival in the front drawing Room, whose Window had a good View of the Driveway. As the hallway Clock chimed the quarter-Houre, Katherine, who had been sitting on the Sill, cried out that she could see a Rider approaching, and a short Time later Mr Simmins was introduced.

I had not set Eyes on Lt. Simmins since our last Meeting in London, upon which Occasion I had not been intirely My Self. Simmins, however, gave no Indication of remembering this. He looked to me to be in that enviable State of being in Possession of both Happiness and Health; Life in the Army was plainly suited to his Constitution and his Temperament. Still short in Stature—tho’ taller than Erasmus—and cursed with the Hesitancy that afflicted his Speech, he had grown as lean and muscular as a Monkey, and carried himself with a swordsman’s Grace. He had evidently ridden thro’ the Weather; his scarlet Frock was wet, and his white horsehair Wigg, in the Places where it had not been under his Hat, had begun to curl out of its proper Shape. The overall Impression, I thought, was more that of Rapscallion than of disciplined military Man. I was glad.

Introducing Simmins to my Wife, I was briefly surprized to discover that they were already known to each other.

“But, Sir,” Katherine reminded me, gently, “you, yourself, charged Mr Simmins with the Duty of watching over me when he was posted to Weymouth.”

I shot a questioning Glance toward Erasmus. “Did I?”

“Which Duty,” Simmins said, “I di-scharged most f-aithfully, until Miss M-ontague made it impossible by her D-isappearence.”

Katherine smiled at this Admission, and Simmins, shyly, smiled back. They reminded me of Children engaged upon a Conspiracy.

“I charged you with a Letter,” I said, suddenly remembering. “But that was all.”

“You must f-orgive me, Mr H-art,” said Simmins. “I exceeded your O-rders. I thought Miss Montague, as she was then, to be in grave Need of a Fr-iend.”

“And I was, and a Friend you were, Sir,” Katherine said. “My only Complaint is that you hid from me exactly how ill Mr Hart had become; for if I had known, I should have fled the sooner.”

Simmins’ Gaze flickered from Katherine to Erasmus, and then to me. “I-ndeed,” he said. “I am s-orry for that D-eception. It seemed for the B-est, at the T-ime.”

“Enough of this Palaver,” I said, putting mine Arm amicably about Simmins’ slender Shoulders and giving him a bracing Shake. “I take it, Mr Simmins, that you would prefer to change your Cloathing before Dinner. You are very dampe.”

“Indeed, I will,” Simmins said. He made no Effort, however, to leave, and his Eyes flickered, hesitantly, toward Jane, whom I had neglected, in my Confusion, to introduce.

My Sister made an impatient Noise. “My Brother is exceeding rude,” she said. “I pray you will forgive our rustick Manners, Mr Simmins. You and I remember each other well, I am sure, from our Childhoods. My Name is Mrs James Barnaby.”

Simmins, somewhat taken aback, as indeed we all were, by my Sister’s uncharacteristic Forwardness, bowed respectfully, and then made a swift Exit.

“Why should I not?” said Jane loudly after we were alone again. “I remember him from Yeares ago; and I am a married Woman, who may speak to whom she please. Do not you agree, Mr Glass?”

“Indeed, Madam,” Erasmus said, quite evenly, yet in a Tone that bespoke no small Irritation at being thus addresst. “I am in no Position to opine; as I have said before, there is a considerable Difference between our Stations, which would make any Comment I might make impertinent in the extream.”

Jane tossed her Head; a Gesture she might have caught from Katherine. “Impertinent?” she said. “I think not, as I have expressly requested it.”

To mine Amazement, this Statement produced, upon the Visage of Erasmus Glass, a Glare so fierce he might have been the Sunne itself. “I repeat,” he said: “It could only be impertinent, and improper for me to comment.”

“Do you not think Mr Simmins is handsome?” Jane said to my Wife.

Katherine’s Eyes widened. “I do not find him especially handsome,” she said. “Tho’ he is not unpleasing of Countenance.”

“I think that he is, indeed, very handsome,” Jane said. She turned, yet again, toward Erasmus. “Mr Glass, will you express any Opinion upon that?”

“Excuse me,” Erasmus said, stiffly. “I have some Business I must conclude before Dinner.” He bowed shortly, and left the Room.

“La,” said my Sister. “I care not. Wherefore should I care aught for Mr Simmins, or for Mr Glass either, and his Opinions!” She rose abruptly from her Chair. “I must dress,” she said, and whirling
rapidly about, she left the drawing Room in a rose satined Flurry.

I turned, not comprehending, to Katherine. “What in Heaven?”

“Is’t not evident?” Katherine sighed. “Mrs Barnaby is desperately unhappy.”

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Over Dinner Simmins entertained us with Anecdotes of army Life, and we were a chearful Party, despite the prickling Rancour that hung in the Aire like impending Lightning betwixt Erasmus and Jane.

Seeing Simmins again, after so many Months, was most pleasing; and yet at the same Time quite unsettling, for my Mind would not refrain from casting its Eye of Memory back upon that fragmented Evening of our last Encounter; and with every Recollection mine Heart sank lower in my Chest. Had I struck Simmins? I thought that I had; but he said naught upon the Matter and my Recollection was so unsure that had I not known that I had been ill, I should have dismisst it as a mere Dream.

After some while the Conversation turned to London, and Simmins, Eyes sparkling in the Candlelight, disclosed that he was, in one Month’s Time, to return thither to be made Captain. This Newes we all agreed to be most exciting, and my Sister ordered at once the Opening of a fourth Bottle of Burgundy, that it might properly be celebrated.

The Notion that little Simmins might become a Captain, with Authority over those Officers who ranked beneath him, struck me as more than passing strange. I could not repel the Thought that, should I desire it, I could command that he kneel before my Feet, and he would instantly obey. I possesst, I knew, no legitimate Power
over Lt. Simmins; but the Conviction persisted, and with every subtile Twitch of Simmins’ Lips, every careless Shrug of his Shoulder, it strengthened.

James opened the Bottle and we toasted Simmins’ Promotion with a good Will. Simmins accepted our Congratulations with a broad Smile and an heated Cheek, and then turned the Subject at once from himself by asking after my Father. “I am glad,” he said, “to hear of the Squire’s returning H-ealth. Tell me, what is his View upon Mr P-elham’s Bill? Is it that it shall be p-assed, or no?”

“Egad,” I said. “I know nothing of it—our Father’s political Affiliations and Interests are a thing of which Mrs Barnaby and I have little Intelligence.”

“Oh!” Simmins’ furry Eyebrows lifted in Surprize. “That amazes me, Sir, for Mr Hart’s N-ame is well r-espected among those of Mr P-elham’s P-arty.”

“Which Newes,” I said, “astonishes me the more; but as I consider it, I do recall my Father having mentioned Mr Pelham’s Name in mine Hearing.”

“The Bill in Question,” Simmins said, speaking with great Care, “is to do with granting Nationality to the resident J-ews.”

“Why! I have heard of it!” exclaimed my Sister. “Mr Barnaby hath a strong Opinion against it, and hath spoke up about it often.”

“He is n-ot alone,” Simmins responded. “C-aptain K-eane says that there is such violent O-pposition, especially in the Sh-ires, he doubts that it will get thro’. But had I any P-olitics, I would s-upport it. With all due Respect to your Husband, Mrs Barnaby, I believe that there is little Ch-ance the J-ews will all c-onvert to our Ch-ristian R-eligion; and Britain hath enough D-iff-iculty in m-aintaining her C-olonies abroad, without su-ffering a f-oreign C-ommunity to persevere within her Sh-ores.”

“The Bill hath been much talked of,” Erasmus said. “For my Part, Mr Simmins, I agree with you; but I think for Reasons of Justice rather than the national Expediency, which you cite.”

“Mr Glass is intirely right,” said Jane. “I have never agreed with Mr Barnaby. I find his Opinions distasteful, and his strong Avowal of them provoking of Offense.”

“Can it be,” I said, “that everyone hath heard of Mr Pelham’s Bill but I?”

“I had not heard of it,” said Katherine at once.

“You have had m-ore i-mportant th-ings to think of, Mr H-art,” said Simmins, his shy Smile returning once more to play about his Lips.

He meant my Work, and recent Marriage; but nevertheless, my lamentable Ignorance of the Jew Bill, the Controversy in which it was mired, and most of all my Father’s Interest in its Proposal, made me feel sharply vexed at My Self; and to imagine that both he, and my Mother’s Ghost, must be sore disappointed in me.

“Our Mother,” I said suddenly, “was of the Jewish Faith, and were it not for the Fact that we were christened, my Sister and I would have been subject to all the Restrictions those People commonly languish under. I am unsurprised at my Father’s Connexion with it.”

“Fie, Brother!” Jane exclaimed, her Features reddening. “Our Mother was a Christian, Aunt hath always said so.”

“Fie yourself, Jane, she was not. Aunt Barnaby is telling Lies. Our Mother never converted. You may succeed in pretending she was English, having, as you do, our Father’s Countenance; but all the Whitelead in the World cannot alter the Fact that I spent my Boyhood running from those Fellows who would have cracked mine Head and thrown me in the River to see how well I would
float. I shall be delighted if the Bill is passed.” I thought suddenly of Mr Henry Fielding, and of how as we had first entered into the City of London he had spoken of his Ambition to see Society improved, and improved at a Depth more profound than that of mere Landscaping, by the Enforcement of just, incorrupt, Laws. “These petty Tyrants,” I said, “who pull a Child by the Ears because they reckon him insufficient English for their Liking must be held accountable. There is no Reason whatsoever why our Country should privilege one Religious Sing-song over another, when all are errant Nonsense.”

My Companions stared at me, astonished by mine Outburst, Indeed, I was surprized My Self, for never before had I thought such things mattered to me one Whit.

In that Instant I made the Resolution that, upon the morrow Morning, once Lt. Simmins had gone on his Way, I would betake me not to mine Experiments, but to my Father’s Library and thoroughly acquaint My Self with him. I would read all the Works of those Thinkers who had convinced him in his Atheism, and presumably in his Politicks; I would find him in Philosophy as I had found my Mother in a Poem, and then, when I knew him neither as Father nor Patient, but as an intelligent, feeling Man, I would at last know My Self able to address him, without secret Fear that if I spoke to him he would turn his Eyes from me, and send me sorrowing away.

Simmins went early to Bed, as he had to be up at Dawn to join his Commanding Officers at Highworth. The Ladies having retired before eleven, his Departure left me alone with a preoccupied Erasmus, and mine own Thoughts, which echoed around mine Head with an increasing Loudness and Intensity.

Over the Course of the Evening, my Suspicion that Simmins
would obey me, even against his own Inclination, had hardened with every Glass into a Certainty; and my Yearning to prove my Certainty against Fact pricked me beyond Endurance. I made My Self believe that mine Urge had neither to do with Pain, nor Lust, nor Beauty; nor had it anything in common with that rare Species of Love that I shared so willingly with Katherine. The Desire seemed to me instead to represent the ineluctable Consequence of our Beginning; a Progression of our Friendship that was as proper as it was inevitable; and, this Time, I knew neither Guilt nor Terrour at its Promptings.

I thought hard upon what I might ask Simmins do, and for a long while no Inspiration was forthcoming. I had not the least Desire to whip him, and no Chores to set; and I could not see how he, with his Lack of scientific Training, might be of any Use to me in my Researches.

Then the shocking Possibility occurred to me that he might be of some Purpose as a live Human Subject for Experimentation; much as Polly Smith had been, whom I had tortured in the Name of scientific Investigation. Perhaps, I thought, I might be able to use Simmins to determine something of the Experience of Paralysis in a Subject who was still capable of describing its Progress, as my Father, with his more general Sickness, could not aid me any more effectively than my Rats. The Notion, that my Phantasy might become real, troubled me deeply; I thrust it forcefully away.

Finally, as the Clock struck one, and Erasmus, draining the last Drops of his Burgundy, rose to his Feet and bade me a firm Good Night, into my Mind came creeping the unwelcome Memory of Lady B.——, and Annie; and I understood at last what Service I must require of Lt. Simmins; for truly I knew no one else to whom I might have trusted it.

After Erasmus had gone, I picked up the Light from the Table, and made my way quietly, tho’ I was somewhat unsteady upon my Feet, to my Study, and thence to the guest Chamber in which Simmins had settled himself to sleep, and I knocked, hard, thrice, upon the Door.

The Night cracked open. I jumped back. Out of the chasm’d Silence came an irrational Impulse to fling My Self against the vibrating Wood, as if I might thereby muffle the Intrusion, and undo everything that I had done, or that I might yet do. Nonsense, I thought. I am not about to harm him.

There was no immediate Answer, but after three Minutes, or thereabouts, I heard Footsteps upon the Boards beyond the Door, and Fingers scrabbling at the Latch, and then the Door swung inwards, and open. Lt. Simmins stood blinking in white night-Shirt and yellow taper-Light.