The Jalna Saga – Deluxe Edition: All Sixteen Books of the Enduring Classic Series & The Biography of Mazo de la Roche (528 page)

Alayne interrupted fiercely, “Don’t speak of that girl as innocent. Nothing will convince me that she hasn’t gloated all these months over the trouble she was making. From the hour she entered this house she hated me. I’ve seen it in her eyes a thousand times.”

“Now you’re talking rubbish. She was a baby of less than three when she came to Jalna. How could she hate you?”

“She did. I could feel it.”

He answered angrily, “You could feel it, for the simple reason that you disliked her because she was Eden’s child. You’ve never been just to her.”

Colour flooded Alayne’s white face. “what did I do that was unjust? Tell me one thing.”

“I can’t put my finger on any one thing,” he answered impatiently. “But your dislike was there.”

“Just as her hate for me was there.”

“Roma does
not
hate you. She hates no one.”

“Well — I hate her!”

“Because she’s Eden’s child.”

“why must you go on repeating that!” Her voice broke hysterically.

He got up and moved restlessly about the room. Then he said more calmly, “Let’s be reasonable. Eden is dead. Roma cannot help being his child. She is ours now — to care for —”

“She’s not mine to care for! I won’t have her in the house. Not a day longer.”

“Alayne!” His brown eyes widened in astonishment.

“I mean it. I won’t see her growing up with our children. She is full of deceit. It’s her second nature. You can’t make me believe she hasn’t revelled in her power over us. I will not have her instilling her perversion into Adeline and Archer.”

“Just what do you mean?” he demanded.

“Let her go to your sister. I repeat, I will not have her here. I couldn’t breathe the air she breathes. If you had lost your reason — it would be her fault. If I had lost mine —”

He came and looked down on her. “You’re too ready to brood on the past, Alayne. Think of the future. It is bright, if only you will let it be so. There’s nothing I want so much as to forget what has happened — if you’d let me. When I was coming home, with Finch and Roma, I thought I’d never been happier in my life. I had found the lost money. I knew there was no crick in my brain. I was ready to wipe everything else off the slate. Let me tell you something. I was talking to Mr. Fennel this afternoon and he persuaded me to go into the church with him and we knelt on the chancel steps and he prayed that everything would be made clear and, inside half an hour, it was. What do you think of that?” He smiled half-apologetically, half with the air of one trying to take a child’s mind off its troubles.

Alayne said, “And I suppose you and Mr. Fennel believe that divine guidance led you to the very spot where Roma was.”

“why not?”

“And I suppose you think she should be rewarded for what she has done. Oh, Renny, we’re too different! We can’t feel the same about anything.”

“We can feel the same about our relief, can’t we? Upon my soul — I think you might try.”

She stretched out her hand, caught his and kissed it. “I shall be as happy as you, if you will send Roma away. But I will never leave my room while she is under this roof. My nerves won’t stand it.” She buried her face in the pillow. Hoarse sobs tore her throat.

“Very well,” he said resignedly. “I will ask Meg to take her for a while.” He went to the door.

“Forever, I tell you! I won’t have her here.”

He went down the stairs and met Wragge in the hall. “I thought, sir,” Wragge said, “I’d better lay the tea in the library, as there seems to be a conference going on in the drawing-room. Everything is ready, sir.”

“Right. We’ll be there directly.” He went into the drawing-room and closed the door behind him. Wragge at once applied his ear to the keyhole.

Finch had told Wakefield what had happened. The two were standing in a corner together. Maurice and Patience were together by a window, their young faces embarrassed yet inquisitive. The two uncles, Meg and Piers, were in a group about Roma who stood pale and composed, looking from one face to another as they questioned her.

“It seems clear,” Ernest said, “that the child thought she was doing a benevolent thing.”

“You know,” Meg added, “it is just the sort of thing Eden might have done, half mischievous and half kindhearted. I think Roma is very like dear Eden.”

Piers said, with a grin, “If Eden ever had got his hands on those notes, he’d never have parted with them.”

Wakefield flushed and called out from where he stood:

“That’s a lie. Eden was the most generous chap I’ve ever known.”

“Good for you,” Finch said, under his breath.

“I never saw any signs of generosity in him,” said Piers.

Wakefield retorted with heat, “That is because you shut your eyes to all the good in him. I can never forget how he gave me the last money he ever earned.”

“He knew he had no further use for it,” said Piers.

“I am glad,” Ernest said, “that Wakefield shows a spirit of gratitude. It is all too rare. On my part, I never forget a benefit given.”

All eyes now turned to Renny, standing just inside the door.

“How is she?” asked Nicholas. “Feeling better?”

“She’s pretty well upset.”

“No wonder. Poor girl, she’s been feeling wretched.”

Meg exclaimed, “But why, in the name of Heaven, can’t she stop feeling wretched! People who go on hugging their emotions to them are beyond me. Why can’t she rejoice with the rest of us that the mystery is solved? I feel ten years younger. Why should Alayne make a scene?”

“She’s at the end of her tether,” said Piers. “No one knows better than I do what she has been through.”

“Well, I must say that sounds queer to me,” returned his sister. “As though you could know better than Renny, when he was the cause of it all.”

“That is just why I know better. I saw it from the outside.”

“whether you see things from the inside or the outside, you always know better than anyone else,” she smiled ironically.

“whatever happens,” said Piers, “you see things strictly from your own point of view. Other people’s don’t exist for you.”

They stared at each other truculently, their fine clear eyes prominent. By the window their two children stood looking on, Patience hotly partisan for her mother, burning to say something on her side; Maurice embarrassed, yet faintly amused.

Renny spoke, with his hand on the doorknob. “Rags has laid tea in the library. We’d better go.”

Ernest drew back. “In the library! I am afraid that won’t suit me. Already I have a slight cold. I don’t like to leave the fire. I don’t think there is a fire in the library. I’m sure there isn’t. Will you please see, Renny?”

Renny strode across the hall. Returning to the doorway he said, “No, there’s none.”

“Then I can’t go. Never mind. Never mind. It doesn’t signify.”

“what has happened to you, Uncle Ernest?” asked Piers. “No one is generally more keen for their tea than you.”

“I found Alayne’s weeping very upsetting.”

“All the more reason for taking your tea.”

Meg exclaimed, “Poor old dear! I’ll carry your tea to you here. I’ll bring my own as well. We shall have ours by the fire together — away from all dissension.”

“I want my tea by the fire,” said Nicholas.

“You have no cold.” Ernest regarded him with mild asperity. “Just now you were complaining of the heat.”

“I want my tea by the fire.”

“We’ll carry it all in here,” said Renny. “Come along, Mooey and Patience. Get busy.”

They sprang to help. Roma gave a little laugh of pleasure and ran after them. Meg settled down to be waited on. Piers looked thoughtfully after Roma. He said:

“That’s the strangest kid I’ve ever known. She doesn’t realize in the least the enormity of what she has done. I think she’s about six in her mind.”

“You’re wrong,” said Finch. “Her mentality is nearer sixteen.”

“I agree with Finch,” Meg said. “Roma is a very intelligent child. She grows more like Eden in her looks. I shan’t be surprised if she becomes a poet.”

Piers blew out his cheeks. “whatever she may become, she is a little troublemaker now. She has nearly wrecked Renny’s life — to say nothing of Alayne’s.”

“That is all over, thank God,” said Ernest. “when the tea comes in, Renny must tell us all that happened from the very beginning. One’s mind gets a little confused with all the talk.”

Maurice and Patience appeared, carrying two trays. The one on which sat the stout silver teapot with a silver robin perched on its lid, was placed in front of Meg. She said with a happy smile, “How natural it is for me to be pouring tea at Jalna again. Tea always is a pleasant ceremony to me and I have a theory that it never should be poured except by one who really relishes it. Alayne doesn’t even like tea. She drinks one cup but I’ve heard her say many a time that she could very well do without it.”

Renny asked, “Roma, where is Adeline?”

“With Wright in the stable. There’s a little foal.”

Renny put a cup of tea and a plate with bread and butter and a small cake on it into her hands. He said, “Take them and run away somewhere. We want to talk.” He opened the door for her and she passed under his arm with a docile glance up at him. He closed the door after her, came back and stood by the fire.

Nicholas had swallowed the first cup of tea and now, wiping his moustache with an appreciative “Ha!” he said:

“Good idea to put the child out. Now we can talk. Renny, I can’t tell you how glad I am. Many a time I thought you would lose your wits. Now we know you’re sound. Come and give me your hand.”

Renny came and shook the shapely old hand. His lip trembled. For a moment he felt unmanned. “I’ve worried a lot,” he said.

Ernest, not to be outdone by his brother, said, “Some of the Courts were not quite right in the head. My mother had a young brother, Timothy —”

Piers interrupted, “This affair has been enough to send anyone bughouse. That kid is not to be let off scot-free. Something must be done about her.”

“That is what I want to talk about,” said Renny. “Alayne refuses to let her live on at Jalna.”

“what?” exclaimed Nicholas, his hand cupping his ear. “what’s that you say?”

“I say that Alayne cannot bear the thought of being in the same house with Roma. Alayne’s nerves are at breaking point, poor girl.”

“whose house is it, I should like to know?” asked Meg. “Yours or hers? Roma has never been any trouble to Alayne. Roma would never be a trouble to anyone.”

“Oh, yeah?” said Piers. “what about
this
affair?”

“She meant only good. You could see that in her little face.”

“Alayne won’t have her here,” said Renny. “She says she will not leave her room while Roma is under the roof.”

“This is a pretty to-do,” said Nicholas.

“She’ll get over that feeling,” Ernest added. “A night’s sleep does wonders in calming one down.”

“She won’t calm down,” Renny said, “till Roma goes. Meggie, I am wondering if you will take Roma — for a time at least.”

Meg’s face fell. “Take a child into my house, when I have all my own work to do! Oh, I’m afraid it would be too much for me.”

Piers quoted, laughing, “Roma would never be a trouble to anyone.”

“If you feel like that,” retorted his sister, “take her yourself.”

“We have no room for her. You have two extra bedrooms.”

“As to the work,” said Renny. “Roma makes her own bed. And doesn’t Patience help you?”

Patience, who did most of the work, now said, “I think we could manage very well, Mummy.”

“wherever she goes,” said Renny, “I shall expect to pay for her keep.”

“I’m not thinking of cost,” said Meg. “Such a thought never entered my head. But to please you — to help make things smooth for you — I’ll take her. I know how Alayne is when she’s roused. Roma shall come with me this very evening.”

“Thank you, Meggie.” He gave her a warm look.

“It’s nothing,” she declared. “It’s nothing to what I would do for you. You know, Renny, I feel that every one of us should do everything possible to make up to you for all you’ve been through.”

“I’m afraid I have put you all through a good deal,” he said ruefully.

Finch said, “Tell them about Mr. Fennel’s part in finding the bank notes, Renny.”

Briefly Renny repeated what had happened, not at all embarrassed by this suppliant picture of himself, but eager to give credit where credit was due.

“Well — I’ll be damned!” said Nicholas.

“It is remarkable,” declared Ernest, “and shows what efficacy there may be in prayer, even in these days. Does the Rector know of the sequel?”

“Not yet. I’m going to phone him directly.”

“He is such a dear,” said Meg. “I’m sure that, if anybody’s prayers would be listened to, his would.”

Wakefield said, “I’ve known stranger things than that in the war.”

“You say,” said Nicholas, “that you got straight up from your knees and went and found Roma with the kettle?”

“Yes.”

“where is the money?” asked Piers.

“I picked it up,” said Meg. “It was on the floor. Here you are, Renny.” She offered him the roll of bank notes.

“Thanks.” He stuffed them into his pocket. Then he exclaimed, “By George, how am I to explain this to Clapperton? I don’t want to tell him that Roma took the money.”

Meg ordered a fresh pot of tea and they settled down to discuss, with fervour and many interruptions by Nicholas, this new complication.

THE CHILDREN

R
AGS MOVED WITH
great agility from the door but still Roma knew he had been listening. She had caught him at it before, and he had caught her at it. Now they gave each other a wary glance. He remarked:

“So you’ve been sent from the room, Miss. That was a good idea, for little pitchers ’ave long ears. Ever ’eard that saying?”

“It’s a wonder yours aren’t a mile long,” she returned composedly.

He turned to her abruptly. “Has that there money been found?”

“You know it has.”

“And who found it, may I ask?”

“I did.”

He came close, his face alight with curiosity. “Let me in on the whole thing, Miss Roma, and you’ll not be sorry.”

She stood balancing her cup and saucer. “I’m not allowed to tell,” she said. “Please don’t bother me.”