To which Emily replied with a shiver that nothing
would induce her to go through it again, and indeed
she hoped the spirit would rest since the discovery
had been made.
’And then?’—one of us said,
and there was a silence, and another futile attempt
to read the will.
‘I shall take it to London and see what an expert
can do with it,’ said Clarence. ’I
have heard of wonderful decipherings in the Record
Office; but you will remember that even if it can be
made out, it will hardly invalidate our possession
after a hundred and thirty years.’
‘Clarence!’ cried Emily in a horrified
voice; and I asked if the date were not later than
that by which we inherited.
‘Three years,’ Clarence said, ’yes;
but as things stand, it is absolutely impossible
for me to make restitution at present.’
‘On account of the burthens on the estate?’
I said.
‘Oh, but we could give up,’ said Emily.
‘I dare say!’ said Clarence, smiling;
’but to say nothing of poor Selina, my mother
would hardly see it in the same light, nor should
I deal rightly, even if I could make any alterations;
I doubt whether my father would have held himself
bound—certainly not while no one can read
this document.’
‘It would simply outrage his legal mind,’
said Martyn.
‘Then what is to be done? Is the injustice
to be perpetual?’ asked Emily.
‘This is what I have thought of,’ said
Clarence. ’We must leave matters as they
are till I can realise enough either to pay off all
these bequests, or to offer Mr. Fordyce the value
of the estate.’
‘It is not the whole,’ I said.
’Not the Wattlesea part. This means Chantry
House and the three farms in the village. 10,000
pounds would cover it.’
‘Is it possible?’ asked Emily.
‘Yes,’ returned Clarence, ’God helping
me. You know our concern is bringing in good
returns, and Mr. Castleford will put me in the way
of doing more with my available capital.’
‘We will save so as to help you!’ added
Emily. At which he smiled.
’Her eyes as stars of twilight fair,
Like twilight too, her dusky hair,
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn,
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.’
Wordsworth.
Clarence went to London according to his determination,
and as he had for some time been urgent that I should
try some newly-invented mechanical appliances, he
took me with him, this being the last expedition
of the ancient yellow chariot. One of his objects
was that I should see St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge,
which was then the most distinguished church of our
school of thought, and where there was to be some
special preaching. The Castlefords had a seat
there, and I was settled there in good time, looking
at the few bits of stained glass then in the east
window, when, as the clergy came in from the vestry,
I beheld a familiar face, and recognised the fine
countenance and bearing of our dear old friend Frank
Fordyce.
