Tom Hungerford: A STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 November 1872, Page 9

Tom Hungerford: A STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

By William Baldwin-.

Chapter Xl.'-*-Miss Tours..

"You're wanted, Bertha." Nelly Fitzherbert was the speaker, and the words were spoken by her on the same morning that the events • narrated, in the previous chapter occurred, as she entered the room where her sister wasf busily employed" removing the breakfast things. ■ " There's a woman at the door waiting to see you about the servant's place " she continued by way of explanation. " Such a serious dapperlooking little woman," nodding her. head towards the passage ; and she pursed, up her mouth, and folded her hands in front of her, and assumed a quaker-like staidneas, as her elder sis--ter passed out with a smile to the progpsed interview* She certainly did look serious and dapper, Bertha thought, as she led the woman into an adjoining room, and glanced her over hastily. Not unprepossessing, although peculiar looking. She was a crisp Ripston pippin-faced little woman, with very inquisitive grey eyes, very sharp features, and very jerky manners.

Just at first, however, these characteristics of Rebecca Tonks outward appearance, were unnoticed by Bertha, who was too much intent on the cool impudence of the woman to notice anything else. No mistake, she wa,s a cool hand ; very quiet, but so thoroughly free and easy. When she got into the room, she stood there for a3uiiisute pausing coolly to look about her ; and then, after carefully laying her little black bag and parasol on the chair, she walked deliberately across to the arm, chair .and possessed herself of it ; and, altogether, she deported herself with such easy freedom, that Bertha's breath was taken away for the moment, and she stood still in speechless astonishment.

sTou and I would have thought nothing of all this ; we know better ; but we must remember that Miss Fitzherbert was as yet a stranger to our ways of life, and hugged closely to herself her old world notions and prejudices. She had a great deal to learn, and a great deal to unlearn. All her life long you see, she had been girt around with those surroundings that make the ways of life pleasant ways. .Her household duties had been duties of love, -so far as the affections of those who moved* about her, and did her bidding were concerned, for they were soft, aud smooth, aud deferential in their words, and in their ways, and in theit manners. But she had to unlearn all this now. Rebecca Tonks was giving her her first lesson. We are taught, indeed, that soft words, and smooth ways, and deferential manners, are the offspring of luxury, effeminacy, and decay, and that these qualities attain their greatest growth in the old. worn out countries of tho east, but gradually grow smaller and smaller as liberty, following in the wake of the sun, moves westward, and that finally they' disappear altogether from view in the great rolling prairies of America. Well, yes ; there's very little softness or politeness ' in the prairie?. But lam inclined myself ,to think that liberty is not a whit the better or the fairer, for the absence of those old world accompaniments. But whatever you or I may think about the matter, we have just seen what Bertha. Eitzherbert's thoughts were, and it is with her we are now more especially concerned.

" May I ask," she said, looking her visitor all over, and endeavoring, as far as in her lay, to throw a world of sarcasm into her tono and manner, " who have I the honor to address?"

" Rebecca Tonks. I was christened Rebecca ; they sometimes calls me Beckjf for shortness like." The words we're uttered with perfect composure, the speaker heaving a little sigh of relief as she finished.

.All that sarcasm of Bertha's was evidently thrown away upon the woman, and Bertha knew it, and we may be perfectly sure the knowledge added nothing to her amiability of mind. Just for the moment, indeed, she felt very much inclinedto order her out of the house there and' then; bjit supposing she were to act on this inclination of hers, what then? She knew well enough how scarce female servants were in the colony, and how' difficult a matter it was .to get one " even at the best of times ; but just then they were scarcer than ever, and it was ahnost impossible to get-one at all, for love or money. Then she thought of the discomforts her family were being 'put to, owing to this scarcity- of servauts, and, she saw at once, that these discoxnforts might be prolonged indefinitely, if she were to.drive this Rebecca Tonks away from "her door. • " Better bear with the impertinence than that," she said to herself, but, at the same time, she mentally resolved she would, if possible, teach Miss Rebecca a lesson, she was not likely to forget in a hurry, as to the' respect that was due to herself,

"Now that I -know your name Miss Tonks, perhaps you would.be good enough to' let "me' know your business ?"'

"That ? s coining' to the, point. I likes to see people coming to, the point

at once. Come to the point nnd walk uprightly, Rebecca • Tonka, Them's my father's last ChrisfciaTflike words to me when I was leaving home four years ago come next December, and I always has 'em afore me day aud night, I has." She became really animated at last, for the first tUner. during the interview. " When I heard last night you wanted a female, I said, now Rebecca, come to the point at once, and act uprightly, which I did, for I made up a parcel of something to eat, and prepared mysalf over night, so as to start by daybreak next morning."

" You heard I wanted a servant, and came to ask for the place - t is that it ?" asked Bertha.

Rebecca Tonks nodded her head in reply. " And is it usual for servants out here, to sit down in arm chairs without being asked, for in the country I come from, it would be thought a piece of impertinent liberty, for which they, would be turned out of doors."

She was provoked well nigh beyond all endurance, and conveyed that lesson she had mentally promised herself she would teach Rebecca in the quick sharp tones of an angry woman.

For a minute the woman seemed provoked too. Her restless grey eyes became fixed and steady for a moment as they looked into Bertha's, and flashed out upon her sharp angry glances. But this gleam of anger was very transient, and, passed away just as quickly as it came, leaving the face calm but pitiful.

" Well, yes ; we makes ourselves comfortable when we can," was the reply, in the tones which a mother might . have used in speaking to a wilful child, " which aint often in this heathen land. But I see you're new to the ways of the country. Oh ! you've a great deal to learn," and she shook her head compassionately. " Hear am I now, as has the blessing of knowing what moral and Christianlike parents ia as has a warned me to corns to the point and walk uprightly ; how can I walk uprightly as hasn't been inside a, Christianlike church, or heard aC hristianlike minister for twelve long months ? " .And she looked enquiringly into Bertha's face, and paused, as if waiting for the solution of a problem" that she knew could not be solved. Look at me ; look at me well, for you have never before in your life seeu such a woman. I try to be good, and I am good, though I have none of those opportunities which fall to the lot of other women, and have been deprived of those lights that guide them in the way of goodness. Come, now ; how do you account for it ; answer me thab, if you can, but you cannot ? This was what Rebecca's pause and look seemed to convey.

But for a moment or two the pause was unfilled, for Bertha's thoughts were busy about other things just then. She saw that this woman was an oddity in her way, and now, for the first time, it flashed across her mind that the impertinence of Rebecca Tonks manner, which had so angered her, was unintentional on the woinans part; was, in fact, nothing more or less than a specimen of the free and easy style that obtained in colonial life. She was new to the ways of the country, and had a great deal to learn, so Rebecca Tonks had told her, and in telling her so, Rebecca was no doubt right. Yes ; she had a great deal to learn, no doubt. The learning might not be a very pleasant process, would not be ao, indeed, if this, her first lesson, was, a fair sample of what was to follow. But what then ?

She had not come out to the colony with any high-flown romantic notions ; on the contrary, indeed, her brother's, letters had made it perfectly clear to her, that in touring to Otago, she would find herself surrounded with difficulties of every description, subjected to annoyances of every kind ; but she had resolved within herself that noue of these things should come between her and her duty. And, now, how was she carrying out this resolution ? Why, by giving way to her pride, and her prejudice, and her temper, on the very first opportunity. She mentally resolved- she would be more careful for the future, and that, meantime, she would bear herself more lowly towards this, woman. Such were the thoughts that passed through Bertha Fitzherbert's mind, and it was in a much more humble voice than heretofore that she replied, filling in that pause of Rebecca's. " It's no doubt a very sad thing not to be able to go to church every Sunday ; but I suppose you've been living in the country." ' — " I have been living in the country. I've been living out at the. Taieri these last twelve months ; but it ain't a fit place for a Christian female to live in, and I left it. Now, what's your terms ? " The womau was certainly very provoking, and seemed bent, Bertha thought, on trying her patience to the very uttermost; but strong in. her good resolutions, she determined she would not again suffer herself to.be provoked. "The ordinary rate of wages, fifty pounds a-year."- " Any men folk in the house ?. " asked Rebecca. " My fathers and brothers ; no one else." " I can?t abide men folk," added Miss Tonks, "imperent rampageous creatures that they a be. Don't you' contort .with men folk."'

provoked,

The grave seriousnesn of Miss Tonks's face, and the earnestness of her manner, aa she tendered this advice, was too umch for Bertha's gravity. "Do they trouble you so very much then," she asked, laughing aloud.

"Do they trouble me," repeated Miaa Tonks in a heightened tone of voice ; " I'd like to see 'em." And she glared fiercely around the room, as if in search ot one of those devouring "enemies of her sex, with whom to do instant battle there and then. " Leastwise," she added, correcting herself, as her woman's vanity got the better of her, " they be imperent enough and rampageous enough to try ; but I'm a virtuous female as comes to the point, and I tell's sich like I'll have none of their rampaging ways with me. Many of a family ? " she asked, resuming her enquiries.

" Five."

" Fifty pounds a-year ; no men folk; five of a family,", repeated Rebecca Tonks slowly, telling off each particular categorically on her fingers, and looking sideways the while, in a wise deliberative sort of way, somathing after the manner of an Australian magpie, as he asks you who you are, and then turns his eyes up blinkirigly at the sun, to all appearance unconscious of your v presence. *' Sundays to myself ? " and .the forefinger of the right hand rested on the fourth finger of the left, as she paused waiting for an answer.

" You can go to church, of course, on . Sunday- mornings, and have the whole of the evenings to yourself." Miss Tonks shook her head.

" I must have the whole Sunday to myself," she said, " for njy religious exercises. I've a voice inside of me as is a ticking like a clock day and night, and it'll soon commence a striking if I go on a living a misspent life, as is a flying in the face of them blessed words of my father's, come "

" Very well ; very well," said Bertha, interrupting the coming words, and anxious to bring the interview to a close as soon as possible. But Rebeccii Tonks was not to be interrupted in • that way. " Come to the point and walk uprightly," she repeated in a more measured tone of voice than usual, concluding her unfinished sentence. " Sundays to myself for my religious exercises, and Thursday evenings for spiritual comforts," and the forefinger passed on from the fourth to the fifth finger. * " Spiritual comforts ! What do you mean ? " Wo must admit Miss Fitzherbert was being very sorelj tried, and we caunot wonder if she asked the question sharply, angrily.

Miss Tonks paused for a minute, pulling herself together for the coming effort, like an old hunter before taking a fence he intuitively understands will tax all his powers to get over safely. "Spiritual comforts — leastways what I calls spiritual comforts," she answered, slowly, "is the talking with a spiritual friend Cbristianlike words a Thursday night, over a nice strong cup of tea. When you gets a number of sich' Christianlike men and women together of an over their cups of tea, is what I calls a spiritual tea party. But we aint got- no spiritual tea parties out here, and so has to put up with spiritual comforts." " Is that all you want?" "That's all as I knows on." " Then I suppose I may look upon the tiling as settled," said Bertha.

" To a may look upon the thing as settled," assented Miss Tonka, as she roso from the arm chair. " you'll see me here to-morrow, and you'll find we'll get on better as we come to know each other better," she added, as she walked across the room and possessed herself of her little black leather bag and parasol. Then she opened the door, and, shaking her head slowly, remarked, " You've a groat deal to learn: Good day," and passed out, much to Bertha's relief. " Well, Bertha, have you engaged her ? " asked Nelly, as her elder sister returned to the room. " Yes," was the rejoinder , " but she's the most provoking woman I ever came across* in the whole course of my life ; " and then she described the interview. " What fun ! " said Nelly, roaring with laughter. " But I daresay she'll behave herself better when she's been with us a short time." About eight o'clock that evening Tom Hungerford dropped in- according to promise. "It was very kind of you to think •of Henry for that Gold Receivership," said Colonel Fitzljerbert, when the usual salutations had been gone through. "I'm selfish enough to hope he's going to accept it." "He has accepted it. I met Colonel Dixon to-day in the street, and ventured to speak to him about the matter, taking the liberty of mentionintj your name as a friond of my son's. He was kind enough to say he would do w'lat he couLd for him, and this evening Henry received au official letter of appointment." " And is he to have a gold-laced cap, and a gorgeous uniform, Mr.. llun«'erfmvl?" asked Nelly; " for if so he'll. be perfectly unbearable. Goodness* knows he's conceited enough as it is." "What!" exclaimed het brother, who had entered the room a short time before, assuming a lookof horror as he. spoke., " debase a free and mdependent colonist with auch badges xif. slavery as

that. No, Miss ; I should think not, indead."

Then, over their tea, "Rebecca Tonks and her eccentricities gave them something to talk about, and after tea the Colonel proposed a rubber of whist. Colonel Fitzherbert, I may tell you, was great at whist. Whist, he was wont to say, was a splendid game, a noble game, when well played and properly understood. He was a good player himself, and loved his rubber dearly — bo dearly, indeed, that he willingly sat down to double dummy all the evening, when nothing better offered ; and. I don't know any greater proof of a man's love of whist than that. He never by any chance made a mistake himself in his play, and when a partner of his so sinned, he never by any chance forgot to tell him of his misdeeds — managing that telling, however, in a quiet, jocular kind of way that left nothing in the way of a sting behind. On this occasion Nelly and Tom Hungerford played against the Colonel and his son.

"We threw away a trick there, Henry. I'm afraid you've something or another weighing on your mind to night. Perhaps this new promotion" of yours is too much for you, and that that's the reason why you threw away your thirteenth trump, on my ten of hearts, when it was best card out."

" It's the gold laced cap and the gorgeous uniform, papa ; that's what he's thinking of," said Nelly.

" A misdeal, by Jove," exclaimed her father, "just count the cards Nelly. Well," he continued, after the cards had been counted, and found correct, " I have'nt done such a thing as that for many a year."

"I'm afraid you're none of you fit toplay to-night," put in the daughter. " I must very soon calj you to account too, Mr Hungerford, if we go on much longer," and she threw an arch merry glance across the table at Tom as she' spoke, which sank deep down into \\va heart, and remained there for many a day after.

In the course of the evening, before Tom left, the subject of O'Neil and Nicholson's run was referred to and" discussed."

" I saw O'Neil tins afternoon," observed Tom, "and ho said they felt disposed to sell if they could get teu thousand pounds for the place ; but I think myself they'd take nine thousand for it, on the usual terms, and I'm quite certain its worth that."

Then, before separating, it was agreed between them that Colonel Eitzherbert and Henry should accompany Tom the following day, as far as Waitahuna, and leaving him there, proceed on to look at this station of O'Neil and Nicholson's.