CHAPTER VIII.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2212, 11 September 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER VIII.

"DISCORD AT DYKE." ' It is all very well, John, but it is not fair to keep your wife in total ignorance of everything,' exclaimed Mrs Fossdyke upon, the evening of her husband's return, as they sat in the drawingf-roonl at Dyke indulging in a tete-a-tclc after Miss Hyde, pleading a bad headache, had retired to bed. 'You go away, I don't know where, and refuse to tell me anything about your proceedings when you return.' 1 You know very well, Mary, I never ■discuss business subjects with you, nor very much with anyone else. I have played my. hand alone all my life.' ' But remember it was my money grave you your firbt real start in life, and I do trust ' * You're entitled to remind me of it for the remainder of my existence. Listen to what I say. I never did and never menn to talk over my affairs with you. I got you to understand that once, and you were quite content and never troubled your head. We were excellent friends in those days. Now, that meddling mis-ohief-monger, old Totterdell, has poisoned your understanding-, and you're simply an incarnation of suspicion. The doddering old idiot has been to my office while I was away questioning my clerks about some of my business. You don't suppose I mean to stand that ; of course, my people were much too well trained to tell him anything, but the next time he cornea here I shall tell him to go, and if he can't take that as a bint, and he is not good at taking hints, I "hall kick him down the front door steps and see if he comprehends that.' •John, you couldn't! My godfather! How dare you talk bo? He is an old man, too, recollect. All Bauniborough would cry shame on you. ' ' Don't you believe it ? Tottordoll has made himself so obnoxious of late from his porpctual inquisitiveness and gossiping that I think Baumborough is more likely to express astonishment thatl hadn't done it long before ; but he is as you say an old man, and therefore safe from anything 1 of that sort. Still, mark me, I'll have him about Dyke no more, and the sooner you mako that clear to his understanding the better : if you don't I shall, and it' will bo probably a little more coarsely conveyed to him.' i « I'll not have my relatives debarred my

house,' retorted Mrs Fussdyke with a stamp of her foot, and an angry toss of her head ; • more mine than yours, I've little doubt, if we oould only look into how it was paid for.' ' I'm not going to argue with an angry woman.' 'I never was calmer in my life,' screamed Mrs Fossdyke, ' if there is any loss of temper it is on your side, I'm sorry to any, John ; talk about kicking 1 relatives down the front door steps, indeed.' ' Ho is not a relative, and I've told you I'm not going to kick him.' ' I detest nagging, it's unmanly ; now perhaps Mr Fossdyke, you will explain to me all about Miss Hyde.' ' I've told you already that there is nothing to explain further than has been explained. Bessie can go whence she oame if it is your wish, in fact no doubt will if, prompted by your imbecilo godfather, you make things unpleasant to her.' 1 1 don't. It is you who make things unpleasant by half confidences and abuse of my relations," and Mrs Fossdyke sniffed defiantly. 4As I told you before, he in not a rolation.' ' Oh, no, perhnps not in the eye of the law, but I should hope there are moral principles which guide us in reference to the ties of kinship.' 'If you'd some moral principles that guided you in the paths of common-flense, Mary, it would bo a comfort,' retorted Jahn Fossdyke, angrily. 1 1 may be a fool, quite as big a fool as my unfortunate godfather ; but I'm not an idiot, either, John,' retorted Mrs Fosadyke, now perfectly whito with linger. 'Again I ask you who is Miss I Hyde?' And now it began to dawn on John FossdyUo that he was likely to get the worst of the quarrel, fur he was very fond indeed of Bessie, loving her as his own daughter, which she was not, whatever suspicions might have arisen in the bruin of Town Councillor Totterdell, or the wife of his bosom, but ho foresaw that Mrs Fossdyke's joalonsy was aroused concerning the girl, and that it would probably overwhelm tho regard in which .she had held her. The calling her ostentatiously Miss Hyde, instead of the more endearing Bessie, was (significant of the browing of the tempest, and in his heart the town clerk muttered maledictions against Totterdell, and inquisitive, heavy if low. 1 Well, Mr Fos-dyke," resumed the lady lighting her bedroom candle, with na little paiade, I ask you ouco more. Who is Miw* Hyde ? \Yau had better fisk her, Mary ? 'Oh you needn't think I haven't done that, but she declines to tell anything about herself. Says her father is dead, and her mother is .still alive, but she refused to say anything further. You can tell me something about her mother, I make very httlo doubt.' 'Go to bed, woman,' rejoined her husband, sternly. " Yon little know what you are talking about. If ever you gain the knowledge you crave, it may be the wor.-e for you. Go to bed, I say, and check the scurrilous tongue of yours ? For a few moments Mrs Fossdyke was awed by her husband's manner, then recovering herself she exclaimed "It is quite evident you do know all about her. 1 have only to say 1 must refuse to tolerate a young persou whose antecedents are involved in such questionable myhtery any longer under my roof. 1 'It isn't your roof,' thundered John Fosadyke, now thoroughly aroused, " and it in for me to say who shall shelter beneath it. I hogin to comprehend how men are incensed to raise their hand against a woman, and how a century ago a country .squire might have recourse to the stiirup leather.' The lady became aware of a look in the face of her lord she had never seen before, and thousrh a high -spirited woman, Bhe shrank before it, and ier.i i-d without even hurling that Parthian gibp so loved of her sex. John Fossdyke knew that this wax but, a barren victory. He might decree wh »t he pleased, yet if hia wife chose she could easily make Bessie's further residence at Dyke impossible. Not ouly as mistress of the house could she make Bessie's position intolerable, but if she discountenanced her, and sad markedly that Miss Hyde was a portegee of her husband's, and lived with them not because she (Mrs Fossdyke) wished it, but because Mr Fossdyko ordered it, there would b© a pretty wagging of tongues m Bautnborough, and Be^ie was like to have little character left, poor girl, before many weeks were over. Ho could picture it all—Bessie's astonishment at the first rebuff, her agony at finding herself shunned by those who once made so much of her, while Mrs Fossdyke posed as; a cross between an outraged woman and a Christian martyr, and finally the town clerk cursed the wife of his bo>ora as he thought of what she might be capable in her wrath. And yet sho was by no means a badhearted woman nor yet a bad-tempered one, a little wearing it maybe at times on the subject of; her family and the dower she had brought her husband ; her present unhealthy state of mind bad been brought about slowly but entirely by Mr Totterdell. His inquudtiveness and conjecture had first routed suspicion in her mind. She had gradually brooded over things, stimulated all the time of her godfather's perpetual questions and speculations, till she had constructed a very pretty little romance for herself, to wit that Bessie Hyde was John Fossdyke's illegitimate child, and that her mother was still liviug somewhere under his protection. No wonder the good lady's temper grew a little crisp at her assumed discovery. That Mi>ss Hyde seemed dull and out of spiritß John Fossdyke thought only natural. She had welcomed him warmly, but somewhat sadly on his arrival, and had, as beforesaid, pleaded headache and retired early. That Mrs Fossdyke had commenced making Dyke impossible to her way evident to the town clerk, but in this he did his wife injustice ; further than severe cross-ex-amination as to her birth and parents Bessie had no cau^o to complain. The mistress of Dyko kopt all her wrath for her husband. But Bessie had her troubles. She had promif-ed to give Philip iSoames an answer to that question ho had asked in the cricket field in three days. The throe days had elapsed and tho answer had been given, and Bessie was aore at heart she had given it. She had told him she could not be his wife without telling him her secret, and she had told him she could not make up her mind for that. Philip had pleaded his best, and the girl loved him very dearly. 'Listen, my darling,' he had said, (t I'll not believe that you ever committed any ill ; only tell mo that you came to me with no stain upon your name, and that no one can point the finger of scorn at you, and I'll ask for no more. Keep this terrible bugbear to your.self as long- as you list, and one day we shall laugh at it together, believe me." But Bessie had hung her head and declined to give the desired assurance, and Philip Soamcs had taken her in his arms, pressed his lip? solemnly on her brow, and walked sadly away into the night ; and Bessie had gone up to her room, had a great cry, and wondered if she could have felt more miserable if she hod confided that woful secret to her lover. He mipht have declined to take her, as. indeed, she had compelled him to do now ; but he would have pitied her, and Bes&ie felt proudly that, think what he

might, her story would never have pasaed Philip Soatnes' lips ; then she thought she would consult Mr Fossdyke when he came back. Why had he not been at home, that she might have consulted him during those three days. It was too late now. Like the sped arrow, the word spoken never comes back, aud she had said Philip Soatnes nay, and received his farewell kias. She must leave Dyke, she thought. She could not endtiro to meet her lover constantly, and he knowing there was a story of shame connected with her. She would feel now as if all Baumliorough knew it. While the altercation was going on in the drawingroom between John Fossdyke and his wife, Bessie had in the quiet of her chamber made up her mind as to what she would do. She would confide to Mr Fossdyke all that had passed between her and Philip Soatnes, and then she would quit Dyke and look out lor anothpr situation. That she should ever be as happy as she had been at Dyke was not likely, but she would prefer anything to going back to live with her aunt. Thanks to John Fossdyka's liberality she had money in hand to maintain herself easily for the next few months, and surply before that time expired she would have found something to do. Now the Town Clerk was just as desirous of a private conference with Bessie as she was with him, and afler breakfast the next morning he, perfectly regardless of his wife's snort of indignation at the proposal, said, quietly, "Come into the garden for ten minutes, Bessie j I have something to say to you.' 1 And I to you, Mr Fossdyke," replied the girl, as she stepped out of the window on to the pleaaaunce. • Which of us shall commence ?' asked the Town Clerk, as, having gained the roaery, they seated themselves on a bench. ' I think I had better listen to yon first,' replied Miss Hyde. • Very good. What I have to nay is soon said. You will Relieve me when I tell you how sincerely sorry I am to have to say it, but I see no alternative. I think Bessie, you must leave Dyke. Mrs Foaslrlyke has been so worked upon by that' miserable old fool Totterdell, that |he has constructed a mystery in her mind about you which makes your further stay here impossible for me. What the exact maggot she has in her brain may be I really don't know, but from her present temper I fancy you also 1 would find remaining with her equally i impracticable. Has she been making things unpleasant to you a 9 yet ?' 'No, indeed ; further than sho has manifested great curiosity about my antecedents,' replied Bessie, hanging her head, ' she has been kind as ever.' ' And now what is it that you have got to say to me?' asked John Fossdyke. ' That for a reason of my own I also think it is best I should leave Dyke. Mr Fossdyke,' contiuued the girl earnestly, while the blood surged to her temples, ' you know all about me, and I only know how good you have been to me. Since you have been away Mr Soames has asked :ne to marry him." 1 My dear child, I am delighted to hear it. He's not only a good match from a ' worldly point of view, but there's not a finer, more straightforward young fellow anywhere within hail of Baumborough ; nny girl might be proud to have won his love. 1 ' But— but,' replied Bessie, as the tears gatheied in her eyes, ' you know I could not say yes. 1 ' Good heavens ! girl, you don't mean to say you have said no to the best parti in the neighbourhood V I How could Ido otherwise, unless I had the courage to tell him my luckless history? You know, Mr Foasdyke, I could not do that,' I 1 am not at all clear about that. You have been twitted with your birth by an acidulated puritanical aunt, from the moment yon grrw old enough to understand it. I also have recommended you to keep silence on the subject, aud pointed out that it would always be against your getting any such situation, not, I trust, as you hold here, but as you meant seeking when I suggested your comiug to us, and then your sweet cousins, no doubt, were always casting it in your teeth. Now, answer me these two questions. How much did you tell Philip Soames, for, ot course, you told him something, and do you think he loves you in genuine earnest?' • I told him,' replied Bessie, 'my real position here, that I was never relation nor adopted daughter of youra, whatever Baumborough might thiuk, but simply Mrs FosBdyke's paid companion.' • Ha I and what did he say to that V 1 That it made no difference — that he was ready to take me for myself, but I told him that it could never be.' ' There, Bessie my dear, I don't quite agree with you. If you like Philip Soames well enough, I think it will be. I don't imagine your antecedents will, from my'knowledgeof his character, have much weight with him. You are quite right, he must know your whole story first, and if — as I believe him — he again asks you to marry him, your fate will be in your own hands. It will be my business to let SoamfS know your secret.' ' I really am tired of all this mystery,' exclaimed the voice of Mrs Foasdyke, who, attended by Mr Totterdell, had advanced noiselessly over the soft turf and caught her husband's concluding words, ' If there is a secret connected with Miss Hyde, then I claim to be informed of it at once. I should fancy I am a much more proper person to be entrusted with it than Mr Soames.' As for Mr Totterdell, his face depicted the most lively curiosity, while his ears were evidently literally agape for intelligence. ' Who did he say she was, Mary V he asked breathlessly, glancing at Bessie. Buc John Fossdyke rose in his wrath, with that look on his face that his wife had never witnessed till the previous night. 4 Who Miss Hyde is matters little to yon, as from thus time I trust you will abstain from ever darkening my doorstep again ; your mischievous tongue and insatiable curiosity have already caused plenty of unpleasantness in Baumborough. You occupy yourself prying into my private affairs, and I tolerate that from no man. Go, and let me see no more of you at Dyke.' •Yes, sir, I shall go,' retorted Mr Totterdell, • and I shall not return ; but if 3'ou think, John Fossdyke, your losing your temper is going to stop people talking you are very much mistaken. I assure you all Baumborough are waiting to know who Miss Hyde is,' and with this parting salvo the old gentleman took his departure. 'As for you, Mary,' continued John Fossdyke, stornly, ' you need not trouble yourself no more about secret or myteries; Bessie will leave us in about a week. I have just arranged it with her ;' and so saying, he turned abruptly and walked back to the house A* for Mrs Fossdyko, instead of, as might have been expected, pouring forth the vials of her wrath upon Miss Hyde's head, she sat down upon the bench and indulged in a good cry at tho idea of her departure — even going; so far, in her penitence, as to admit that had it not been for her godfather she would never even have dreampt of there being any mystery about Bessie.