no one could be in a more terrible state of complete collapse than poor mr. lorrimer. the blow he had most dreaded had overtaken him. he had been as plucky an english gentleman as ever walked. as true-hearted and affectionate a husband and father, as kind and considerate a landlord—as honourable as man could be in all his dealings—a keen sportsman, a lover of horses—in short, an ideal squire of the old school; but the towers had been his backbone; now that circumstances for which he was scarcely to blame deprived him of the home of his fathers, he found himself unable to stand up against the blow. he had made a gallant fight up to the last moment, but when he saw plainly that the tide had set in dead against him, he ceased to fight and allowed himself to drift. he made up his mind that his last memory of the towers should be that evening when the old ball-room was full of light and movement, and when two little fairy-like figures had flitted across the lawn to greet him. that fairy and that brownie had comforted him on that night of keen desolation, and their memory lingered with him still. he lived in cheap lodgings near his club, ate what was put before him, read nothing, moped away the long hours, and was fast reaching a stage when serious breakdown of some sort or other was imminent. he desired all letters to be sent to him to the carlton, and not only refused [pg 263]to allow his wife to come to him, but would not let her know where he was lodging. he promised, however, to join his family when the move from the towers had been made.
on the day when antonia met him, he was feeling more wretched even than usual. he had never hitherto been a weak or undecided man, but now he was completely limp—there was no other word to describe his condition. antonia's firmness compelled him to obey her, and he found himself against his will in nora's company. nora was not his favourite child; she was not like molly to him, nor like nell and boris, still she was one of his children, and his heart throbbed with a great wave of pain when he saw her.
"my poor little girl," he said, kissing her tenderly, "my poor dear little girl. i have been a bad father to you, my little nora."
"oh, no, no, father," said nora, sobbing now, and much overcome. "no, no, dear, darling father; i'm so delighted, so delighted to see you again."
the squire sat down on the sofa near nora, and putting his arm round her, drew her pretty head to rest on his breast.
"so you are staying in town," he said, "quite close to me; and how—how are the others, my dear?"
"quite well," replied nora "only fretting about you."
"about me? they needn't do that—i'm not worth it. you're sure your mother is quite well, nora?"
"yes."
"and molly?"
"yes, quite well."
"and the young 'uns, nell and boris?"
"oh, they're well, only nell frets a good bit."
[pg 264]
"poor child, poor child; bless her, she's a loving little soul. i suppose guy is awfully cut up, eh, nonie?"
"oh, father, indeed he's not. guy is too much of a man—he's splendid, he is, really. i wish you'd go back again, father, that's all they want. it's you they want, not the towers—you are more to them than the towers."
"you're a good child to say so," said the squire; "but i can't go back at present. when i think of that place going out of the family, i feel like an unfaithful steward. it was committed to me to keep and to hand on intact to my boy, and i've lost him his inheritance. you none of you know what it means; but i can't go back—not at present."
"may i write and tell mother where you are?"
"no; she writes to me to the carlton—i'm all right; don't you worry about me, pet."
"you don't look all right—you look very ill."
"see here, nora, don't you write home and tell them that—promise."
the squire's manner grew quite fierce. he looked at nora out of his bloodshot eyes. "promise," he said. "i won't have it done—do you hear?"
"no, father, of course i won't if it vexes you."
"it does, my child, it does," the squire's manner became tenderer than ever. "i'm worried and in trouble at present, and i am best alone; i am best all by myself for a bit. god knows, i suppose i shall pull round after a bit, and face you all—that poor boy whom i've ruined, and the rest of you—but i must get time—that's only reasonable—i must get time. now i'm off; i'm glad to see you looking well, nora."
"but you'll come and see me again, father; you [pg 265]promise, do promise that you'll come and see me again."
"yes, my child, if you wish it."
"to-morrow; promise you'll come to-morrow. antonia made me write to ask you to come to lunch, and i sent the letter to the carlton. will you come to lunch to-morrow?"
"no; i can't do that, but i'll look in some day. good-bye, nora, good-bye, my pet."
the squire put his arms again round nora, kissed her on her lips and brow, and left the house.
antonia, who was trying to keep her mother quiet in the dismal dining-room, heard him slam the hall door after him, and rushed to the window to watch him down the street.
mrs. bernard temple went and peeped over her daughter's shoulder.
"i am glad he has gone," she said. "it's so trying to be turned out of one's drawing-room. he's very seedy about his clothes, but he has an aristocratic walk. i suppose i may go back now, antonia, to finish my cup of tea."
"oh, yes, mother, all in good time. what does tea signify when you see a man broken with an awful grief of that sort? why, he looks like a captive lion. mother, cant you get enthusiastic on the subject? can't you try?"
"i'm sure, my dear, i have tried, but i cannot really see that it will injure the lorrimers for me to finish my tea. with all i am undergoing on my own account at present—but of course, antonia, you have no sympathy for your mother."
"oh, yes, i have when you need it, but you don't just now; you are perfectly happy. however, [pg 266]you must of course have your tea, and i won't worry you any more after you have sent off the telegram."
"the telegram! oh, you erratic, perverse child; what next?"
"you have to telegraph to sir john, mother, to beg of him to come here immediately. things have gone much farther with squire lorrimer than i had the least idea of. he must be put out of his pain as quickly as possible or something bad will happen. we must get my new father that is to be on the spot to-night, and if you don't telegraph for him i shall myself take the next train to nortonbury, and tackle him on the subject. i don't in the least mind which it is, but one or other must be done directly."
"antonia, you quite terrify me. sir john will be seriously angry."
"what of that. let him be angry."
"but i assure you, my dear, he is not a man to be trifled with."
"oh, i'll manage him, mother, if you're nervous."
"i really think you must. i have not the courage to make or meddle in this matter; in short, i wash my hands of it."
antonia clapped hers.
"hurrah!" she said. "i can manage much better all by myself. all i ask you now, dear, good mother, is to trust me. be sure that nothing whatever will happen to injure you, and simply give me leave to say, when i am telegraphing, that you would like to see sir john."
"well, naturally, i always like to see him, dear, devoted fellow."
"that's all right. now you shall go back to your [pg 267]tea, and i'll be as mum as a mouse for the rest of the day."
mrs. bernard temple left the room, relieved at any sort of truce with her troublesome daughter. antonia addressed the telegraph form to ... sir john thornton, the grange, nortonbury, and filled in the following words:—
"mother wants to see you without fail this evening. take next train. important. antonia. reply paid."
the words went hard with the enthusiastic girl, for her precious eight shillings were nearly exhausted, and she knew that she must deny herself some sadly-needed cobalt if she sent that telegram.
"never mind," she said, as she let herself out of the house, and rushed off to the nearest post-office. "you must do without that background of blue sky which i so wanted for your picture, marie antoinette. it is odd, but i never did think that i would allow art to suffer in the cause of an ugly duckling."
antonia sent off her telegram and watched anxiously for the reply. it came in the course of an hour and a half, and was addressed to her mother.
"expect me by the train which reaches waterloo at nine o'clock,"
wired the gallant sir john.
"there, now, antonia," said mrs. bernard temple, "you have only yourself to blame. what is to be done? we shall be at the theatre at nine o'clock."
"nothing could possibly be better, mother; i shan't go. i shall wait here for sir john; we'll have a nice quiet time."
"my dear, i'm afraid he'll be terribly offended."
"no, mother, he won't; at least, not with you. [pg 268]now, do go the theatre and be happy. take annie and nora, and let them enjoy themselves. i promise you that you shall have serene skies on your return. can't you trust me? did you ever find me fail you yet when i promised you anything?"
"no, i never did, you queer, queer creature."
mrs. bernard temple was restored to good humour. dinner passed off pleasantly, and immediately afterwards a cab conveyed three of the party to the lyceum.
antonia had donned her rusty brown velveteen dress, and sat with her hands folded in front of her in a deep armchair.
her black hair was combed high over her forehead; her eyes were bright. anxiety had brought a slight colour into her cheeks; she looked almost handsome.
at about twenty minutes past nine a cab was heard to stop at the door, and a moment later sir john thornton was ushered into the drawing-room.
"how do you do?" he said, in a stiff voice, to antonia. "where is your mother? her telegram has startled me a good deal."
"it was my telegram," said antonia, in a calm voice.
"well, that does not matter. will you have the goodness to inform your mother that i am here?"
"i can't very well at the present moment, for she is enjoying herself at the lyceum."
sir john's face grew scarlet. he drew himself up to his stiffest attitude, and compressed his lips firmly together.
"perhaps you feel annoyed," said antonia, "and [pg 269]i don't think i am surprised. will you sit down and let me explain matters?"
"pray do nothing of the kind. i can wait until mrs. bernard temple comes home. when is the play likely to be over?"
"i expect mother and annie and nora back about half-past eleven. it is now half-past nine. have you had dinner?"
"no."
"will you come downstairs, and let me give you something to eat?"
"no, thank you. as your mother is not at home, i shall dine at my club, and come back later on."
"no, you won't," said antonia.
she started up, and placed herself between sir john and the door. he felt himself groaning inwardly. was that awful girl mad? what did her strange telegram mean? and why, if mrs. bernard temple sent for him in a hurry, had she not the civility to wait at home to see him? this was really taking matters with a free-and-easy hand with a vengeance. the proud sir john had never felt more thoroughly angry in his life. he stalked up to antonia now, and endeavoured to pass her, but she dodged him successfully.
"i know you are a gentleman," she said; "and a gentleman always listens to what a lady has got to say, even when he is angry with her. i'm an awful personage in your eyes, but if you will listen to me to-night, i will promise to be as good and unobtrusive as girl can be in the future. i'll even wear ordinary dresses when i come to visit you, and i won't talk of my sacred art when you are in the room. there, can girl promise more?—can she?"
[pg 270]
"will you have the goodness to let me pass?" said sir john.
"i will in a moment or two. you shall go and dine at your club after you have heard why i sent for you."
"why you sent for me?" exclaimed sir john.
"oh, yes; it was all my doing."
"but the message certainly came in your mother's name."
"yes, because you would not have come otherwise. it was i, antonia, who really sent for you. you have come up to town in this violent hurry on my account. now, will you come down to eat a very nice little dinner which has been prepared, and which the cook is waiting to send upstairs, and let me talk to you while you are enjoying it? or will you listen to me here, and then go afterwards to your club? you must do one or other, unless you are rude enough to take me by main force and move me away from the door."
sir john thornton might be very angry, but he was the pink of propriety, and the idea of lifting the bony antonia from the neighbourhood of the door was too repellent even to be thought of for a moment.
"you have got me into a trap," he said, "and i am deeply offended. your mother must explain the position of affairs to me when she chooses to return home. i suppose i must listen to you, whether i wish it or not. i only beg of you to be brief."
"now you are delightful," said antonia. "won't you sit down?"
"i prefer to stand."
[pg 271]
"well, i'll sit, if you don't mind, for i've a good deal to say."
"i must again beg of you to be brief."
"very well; i'll put it into a few words, but they'll be strong, i promise you."
sir john made no response. he folded his arms and looked down at antonia. his face looked very cold and satirical; his lips were so tightly shut as to appear like a straight line. antonia's face, all enthusiasm and fire, gazed up at him.
"can i melt that iceberg?" she said inwardly. "now for the tug of war."
"this is the heart and kernel of my reason for wishing to see you," she said. "i have taken up the cause of the lorrimers. the lorrimers are leaving the towers because squire lorrimer has got into money difficulties. i don't know how, and i don't know why. he is obliged to sell the beautiful and noble home of his ancestors to clear himself of these difficulties. the children are all sorry to go—molly loses the freshness of her youth when she leaves the towers; guy loses his rightful inheritance; the younger children are embittered by an unnatural feud which i need not trouble you about, but which will sour their characters; nell is not strong, and simple grief may shorten her days; and the squire, the squire himself is so cut up, so heart-broken, that he cannot bring himself to say good-bye to the old place. he is in town, here, close to us; he is hiding somewhere near us because his proud old heart is broken. his hair is white ... his head is bowed and his eyes are dim."
"what does all this mean?" interrupted sir john.
"what does it mean?" exclaimed antonia, [pg 272]springing like a young lioness from her chair. "it means that you are to come to the rescue. why should all that family be made wretched? and why should the towers go to strangers when you can put things right? take your money out of the bank, or wherever you have placed it—it will be the finest deed you ever did in your life—and buy back the towers and give it to squire lorrimer and to guy for their own place again. yours is the talent buried in the ground. take it out and save the squire, and you'll be so happy you won't know yourself. why, you'll be all on fire and alive with gladness. there, that's what i telegraphed to you for; you know now. you'll do it ... of course you'll do it. i have spoken now. you know what i want."
antonia sank down into her chair again. she was trembling visibly through all her slender figure. sir john gazed at her in amazement. her eyes met his fully, and then her heart gave a leap in her breast. he was not angry. she guessed then that she had won her cause.
"you certainly are a queer girl," he said, sitting down near her. "you amaze me. i never heard of a girl who would take up a thing in this way ... and the lorrimers are not even your friends. oh, no! i am not angry ... not now. hester frets morning, noon, and night, at the thought of parting with molly; but hester never thought of this. it is fine of you—quite impossible, of course; but i always admire real bravery when i see it."
"never mind praising me," said antonia; "tell me why you call it impossible."
"my dear young lady, do you think for a single moment squire lorrimer would accept a gift of this [pg 273]sort from me? do you think the towers would be of the least value to him won back in such a way? noblesse oblige would prevent his accepting such an offer."
"i have thought of all that," said antonia. "i guessed that there would be a good deal of pride to overcome. fortunately i am not bothered with noblesse oblige; but i guessed that you county people would worry over it. we art lovers never think of it; we rise above it; we go back to the old, old, old, times, when those who loved each other had all things in common."
"as long as we live in the world," said sir john, "the men of the world must adhere to its usages. it is not the custom for one man to present another with the sort of gift you propose that i should favour squire lorrimer with."
"then you must not give it in the form of a gift. you must go to your solicitor and consult him about the matter. i happen to know that susy drummond hates the towers, so i am quite sure that mr. drummond would be very glad to be out of his bargain. the squire wants a certain sum of money; you must lend it to him on very easy terms. oh! of course you know how to manage! you must make it possible for him to stay at the towers whatever happens. oh! i know you'll do it! i know you'll be clever enough and kind enough to do it. you'll think of a way, and in all the world no man will ever have a more faithful daughter than i'll be to you. dear me! how dead tired i am! are you going out to your club to dinner? if so, i'll go to bed."
