Still Martyn, on his way homewards, based many hopes
on the return of Mr. Fordyce; but all that ensued
was, three weeks later, a note regretting the not
having been able to call, and inviting the whole
party to a great school-feast on the anniversary of
the dedication of the first of the numerous new churches
of Beachharbour. There was no want of cordiality
on that occasion, but time was lacking for anything
beyond greetings and fleeting exchanges of words.
Parson Frank tried to talk to Martyn, bemoaned the
not seeing more of him, declared his intentions of
coming to the farm, began an invitation, but was
called off a hundred ways; and Anne was rushing about
with all the children of the place, gentle and simple,
on her hands. Whenever Martyn tried to help
her, he was called off some other way, and engaged
at last in the hopeless task of teaching cricket where
these fisher boys had never heard of it.
That was all he saw of our old friends, and he was
much hurt by such ingratitude. So were we all,
and though we soon acquitted the head of the family
of more than the forgetfulness of over occupation,
the soreness at his wife’s coldness was not
so soon passed over. Yet from her own point
of view, poor woman, she might be excused for a panic
lest her second daughter might go the way of the first.
CHAPTER XXXVII—OUTWARD BOUND
’As slow our ship her foamy track
Against the wind was cleaving,
Her trembling pennant still looked back
To the dear isle ’twas leaving.
So loath we part from all we love,
From all the links that bind us,
So turn our hearts as on we rove
To those we’ve left behind
us.’
T. Moore.
The first time I saw Clarence’s menage was in
that same summer of poor Martyn’s repulse.
My father had come in for a small property in his
original county of Shropshire, and this led to his
setting forth with my mother to make necessary arrangements,
and then to pay visits to old friends; leaving Emily
and me to be guests to our brother at Clifton.
We told them it was their harvest honeymoon, and it
was funny to see how they enjoyed the scheme when
they had once made up their minds to it, and our
share in the project was equally new and charming,
for Emily and I, though both some way on in our twenties,
were still in many respects home children, nor had
I ever been out on a visit on my own account.
The yellow chariot began by conveying Emily and
me to our destination.
Copyrights
Chantry House from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
