No More Learning

The catastrophe approached consummation with the inevitableness of a Greek tragedy. Lucian waxed gloomier and gloomier; Sprats endeavoured, agonis- ingly, to put things on a better footing; Haidee, now thoroughly enjoying herself, tried hard to make the other boy also jealous. But the other boy was too full of the joy of life to be jealous of anything; he gambolled about like a young elephant, and nearly as gracefully; it was quite evident that he loved horseplay and believed that girls were as much inclined to it as boys. At any other time Sprats would have fallen in with his mood and frolicked with him to his heart's content; on this occasion she was afraid of Lucian, who now looked more like a young Greek god than ever. The
lightning was already playing about his eyes; thunder sat on his brows.
screaming,
LUCIAN THE DREAMER
7^
At last the storm burst. Haidee wanted to shoot with bow and arrow at a target; she despatched the two youngsters into the great hall of the Castle to fetch the materials for archery. Dickie went off capering and
whistling; Lucian followed in sombre silence. And inside the vaulted hall, mystic with the gloom of the past, and romantic with suits of armour, tattered ban- ners, guns, pikes, bows, and the rest of it, the smoulder- ing fires of Lucian' s wrath burst out. Master Richard Feversham found himself confronted by a figure which typified Wrath, and Indignation, and Retribution.
' Cad yourself ! ' retorted Dickie. ' Who are you talking to? '
' You are a cad! ' said Lucian.
' I am talking to you,' answered Lucian, stem and cold as a stone figure of Justice. ' I say you are a
cad—a cad ! grossly
You have insulted a
and I will punish you. ' —
Dickie's eyes grew round he wondered if the other
fellow had suddenly gone off his head, and if he'd better call for help and a strait waistcoat.
' Grossly insulted —a young lady! ' he said, pucker- ing up his face with honest amazement. ' What the dickens do you mean? You must be jolly well dotty! *
' You have insulted Miss Brinklow,' said Lucian. ' You forced your unwelcome attentions upon her all the afternoon, though she showed you plainly that they
were distasteful to her, and you were finally rude and brutal to her —beast! '
' Good Lord! ' exclaimed Dickie, now
amazed, * I never forced any attention on her—we were only larking. Rude? Brutal? Good heavens! —I only kissed her behind the hedge, and I've kissed her many a time before ! '
Lucian became insane with wrath,
* Liar! ' he hissed. ' Liar! '
Master Richard Feversham straightened himself,
mentally as well as physically. He bunched up his
young lady,
thoroughly
Bo LUCIAN THE DREAMER
fists and advanced upon Lucian with an air that was
thoroughly British.
' Look here,' he said, * I don't know who the devil
you are, you outrageous ass, but if you call me a liar
again, I'll hit you! '
' Liar! ' said Lucian, ' Liar! '
Dickie's left fist, clenched very artistically, shot out like a small battering-ram, and landed with a beautiful plunk on Lucian' s cheek, between the jaw and the bone. He staggered back.
' I kept off your nose on purpose,' said Dickie, ' but, by the Lord, I'll land you one there and spoil your pretty eyes for you if you don't beg my pardon. '
'Pardon! ' Lucian 's voice sounded hollow and strange. ' Pardon! ' He swore a strange Italian oath that made Dickie creep. * Pardon! —of you? I will kill you —beast and liar! '
He sprang to the wall as he spoke, tore down a couple of light rapiers which hung there, and threw one at his enemy's feet.
' Defend yourself! ' he said. ' I shall kill you. ' Dickie recoiled. He would have faced anybody twice his size with fists as weapons, or advanced on a
battery with a smiling face, but he had no taste for encountering an apparent lunatic armed with a weapon of which he himself did not know the use. Besides, there was murder in Lucian 's eye—he seemed to mean business.
* Look here, I say, you chap '
! exclaimed Dickie, ' put that thing down. One of us'11 be getting stuck, you know, if you go dancing about with it like that.
I'll fight you as long as you Hke if you'll put up your fists, but I'm not a fool. Put it down, I say. '
' Coward! ' said Lucian. ' Defend yourself! '
He made at Dickie with fierce intent, and the latter was obliged to pick up the other rapier and fall into some sort of a defensive position.
' Of all the silly games,' he said, ' this is '
But Lucian was already attacking him with set teeth,
there will be a row !
LUCIAN THE DREAMER 8i
glaring eyes, and a resolute demeanour. There was a rapid clashing of blades; then Dickie drew in his breath sharply, and his weapon dropped to the ground. He looked at a wound in the back of his hand from which the blood was flowing rather freely.
' I knew you'd go and do it with your silliness! ' he said. ' Now there'll be a mess on the carpet and we shall be found out. Here—wipe up that blood with your handkerchief while I tie mine round my hand. We . . . Hello, here they all are, of course ! Now
I say, you chap, swear it was all a lark —do }'ou hear? '
Lucian heard but gave no sign. He still gripped his rapier and stared fixedly at Haidee and Sprats, who had run to the hall on hearing the clash of steel and now stood gazing at the scene with dilated
eyes. Behind them, gaunt, grey, and somewhat amused and cynical, stood the earl. He looked from one lad to the
other and came forward.
' I heard warlike sounds,' he said, peering at the
combatants through glasses balanced on the bridge of the famous Simonstower nose, ' and now I see warlike sights. Blood, eh? And what may this mean? '
' It's all nothing, sir,' said Dickie in suspicious haste, ' absolutely nothing. We were larking about with
these two old swords, and the other
scratched my hand, that's all, sir—'pon my word. '
' Does the other chap's version correspond? ' in- quired the earl, looking keenly at Lucian's flushed face.
' Eh, other chap? '
Lucian faced him boldly.
' No, sir,' he answered; ' what he says is not true, though he means honourably. I meant to punish him —to kill him. '
' A candid admission,' said the earl, toying with his glasses. ' You appear to have effected some part of your purpose. And his offence? '
' He ' Lucian paused. The two girls, fascin- ated at the sight of the rapiers, the combatants, and the
chap's point
F
82 LUCIAN THE DREAMER
blood, had drawn near and were staring from one boy's face to the other's; Lucian hesitated 'at sight of them.
' Come! ' said the earl sharply. His offence? '
' He insulted Miss Brinklow,' said Lucian gravely. ' I told him I should punish him. Then he told Hes— about her. I said I would kill him. A man who hes
about a woman merits death. ' * 'A very excellent apothegm,' said the earl.
Sprats, my dear, draw that chair for me—thank you. Now,' he continued, taking a seat and sticking out his gouty leg, ' let me have a clear notion of this delicate ques-
tion. Feversham, your version, if you please. '
' I—I—you see, it's all one awfully rotten misunder-
sir,' said Dickie, very ill at ease. ' I—I— don't like saying things about anybody, but I think Damerel's got sunstroke or something —he's jolly dotty, or carries on as if he were. You see, he called me a cad, and said I was rude and brutal to Haidee, just because I—well, because I kissed her behind the laurel hedge when we were larking in the garden, and I said it was nothing and I'd kissed her many a time before, and he said I was a liar, and then—well, then I hit
him. '
* I see,' said the earl, ' and of course there was then
much stainless honour to be satisfied. And how was it that gentlemen of such advanced age resorted to steel instead of fists? '
standing,
The boys made no reply: Lucian still stared at the earl; Dickie professed to be busy with his impromptu bandage. Sprats went round to him and tied the knot.
' I think I understand,' said the earl. * Well, I
suppose honour is satisfied? '
He looked quizzingly at Lucian. Lucian returned
the gaze with another, dark, sombre, and determined.
' He is still a liar ! ' he said.
' I'm not a liar! ' exclaimed
as eggs are eggs I'll hit you again, and on the nose this time, if you say I am,' and he squared up to his foe
Dickie, ' and as sure
LUCIAN THE DREAMER 83
The earl smiled. asked, looking at Lucian.
utterly regardless of the earl's presence.
' Why is he a liar? ' he
' He Ues when he says that—that
'
Lucian looked, almost entreatingly, at Haidee. She had stolen up to the earl's chair and leaned against its high back, taking in every detail of the scene with
choked and
eager glances. As Lucian's eyes met hers, she smiled; a dimple showed in the corner of her mouth.
' I understand,' said the earl. He twisted himself round and looked at Haidee. ' I think,' he said, ' this is one of those cases in which one may be excused if one appeals to the lady. It would seem, young lady, that Mr. Feversham, while abstaining, like a gentle- man, from boasting of it '
to, you know. '
' I say that Mr. Feversham, like a gentleman, does
not boast of but pleads that you have indulged him with the privileges of lover. His word has been ques- tioned—his honour at stake. Have you so indulged it, may one ask? '
Haidee assumed the airs of the coquette who must
fain make admissions.
—suppose so,' she breathed, with smile which
included everybody.
Very good,' said the earl. It may be that Mr.
Damerel has had reason to believe that he alone was
' Oh, I say, sir! ' burst out Dickie; ' I—didn't mean
Eh? '
Boys are so silly said Haidee. And Lucian
so serious and old-fashioned. And all boys like to kiss me. What fuss to make about nothing
entitled to those privileges.
understand your position and your mean- ing, my dear,' said the earl. have heard similar sentiments from other ladies. ' He turned to Lucian.
Well? ' he said, with sharp, humorous glance. Lucian had turned very pale, but dark flush still clouded his forehead. He put aside his rapier, which
until then he had held tightly, and he turned to Dickie.
quite
a
! '
'
I' a
'
I* ' 'I'
a
it, is a
!
'
is
'
a
84
LUCIAN THE DREAMER
' I beg your pardon,' he said; * I was wrong—quite wrong. I offer you my sincere apologies. I have behaved ill — I am sorry. '
Dickie looked uncomfortable and shuffled about.
' Oh, rot! ' he said, holding out his bandaged hand.
' It's all right, old chap. I don't mind at all now that you know I'm not a liar. I—I'm awfully sorry, too. I didn't know you were spoons on Haidee, you know— I'm a bit dense about things. Never mind, I shan't think any more of and besides, girls aren't worth— at least, mean—oh, hang don't let's say any more about the beastly affair! '
Lucian pressed his hand. He turned, looked at the
An hour later Sprats, tracking him down with the unerring sagacity of her sex, found him in haunt sacred to themselves, stretched full length on the grass, with his face buried in his arms. She sat down beside
earl, and made him low and ceremonious
Simonstower rose from his seat and returned with equal ceremony. Without glance in Haidee's direc- tion Lucian strode from the hall—he had
Sprats. He had, indeed, forgotten everything—the world had fallen in pieces.
him and put her arm round his neck and drew him to her. He burst into dry, bitter sobs.
Oh, Sprats! ' he said. It's all over—aU over. believed in her . . and now shall never beUeve in anybody again
bow. Lord forgotten
! '
.
a it,
I
'
'
a
it,
a I
it
I
IX
That night, when the last echoes of the village street had died away, and the purple and grey of the summer twilight was dissolving into the deep blue and gold of night, Sprats knelt at the open window of her bedroom, staring out upon the valley with eyes that saw nothing. She was thinking and wondering, and for the first time
in her Hfe she wished that a mother's heart and a mother's arms were at hand—she wanted to hear the beating love of the one and feel the protecting strength of the other.
CHAPTER
had come to her that afternoon as she strove to comfort Lucian. The episode of the duel;
Lucian's white face and burning eyes as he bowed to the cynical, pohte old nobleman and strode out of the hall with the dignity and grace of a great prince; the agony which had exhausted itself in her own arms; the resolution with which he had at last choked everj^hing down, and had risen up and shaken himself as if he were a dog that throws off the last drop of water; —all these things had opened the door into a new world for the girl who had seen them. She had been Lucian's other self; his constant companion, his faithful mentor, for three years; it was not until now that she began to realise him. She saw now that he was no ordinary human being, and that as long as he lived he would
never be amenable to ordinary rules. He was now a child in years, and he had the heart of a man; soon he would be a man, and he would still be a child. He would be a child all his life—self-willed, obstinate, proud, generous, wayward; he would sin as a child sins, and suffer as a child suffers; and there would always be something of wonder in him that either sin or suffering should come to him. When she felt his head within her protecting and consoling arm, Sprats recognised
85
Something
86 LUCIAN THE DREAMER
the weakness and helplessness which lay in Lucian's soul—he was the child that has fallen and runs to its mother for consolation. She recognised, too, that hers
was the stronger nature, the more robust character, and that the strange, mysterious Something that ordains all things, had brought her life and Lucian's together so that she might give help where help was needed. All their lives — all through the strange mystic To Come into which her eyes were trying to look as she stared out into the splendour of the summer night—she and Lucian were to be as they had been that evening; her breast the harbour of his soul. He might drift away; he might suffer shipwreck; but he must come home at last, and whether he came early or late his place must be ready for him.
This was knowledge —this was calm certainty: it changed the child into the woman. She knelt down at the window to say her prayers, still staring out into the night, and now she saw the stars and the deep blue of the sky, and she heard the murmur of the river in the valley. Her prayers took no form of words, and were all the deeper for it; underneath their wordless aspiration ran the solemn undercurrent of the new-bom knowledge that she loved Lucian with a love that would last till death.
CHAPTER X
Within twelve months Lucian's recollections of the perfidious Haidee were nebulous and indistinct. He had taken the muse for mistress and wooed her with such constant persistency that he had no time to think of anything else. He used up much manuscript paper and made large demands upon Sprats and his Aunt Judith, the only persons to whom he condescended to show his productions, and he was alike miserable and happy. Whenever he wrote a new poem he was filled with ela- tion, and for at least twenty-four hours glowed with admiration of his own powers; then set in a period of uncertainty, followed by one of doubt and another of gloom—the lines which had sounded so fine that they almost brought tears to his eyes seemed banal and weak, and were not infrequently cast into the fire, where his once-cherished copies of the Haidee sonnets had long since preceded them. Miss Judith nearly shed tears when these sacrifices were made, and more than once implored him tenderly to spare his offspring, but with no result, for no human monster is so savage as the poet who turns against his own fancies. It was due to her, however, that one of Lucian's earhest efforts was spared. Knowing his propensity for tearing and rending his chil- dren, she surreptitiously obtained his manuscript upon one occasion and made a fair copy of a sentimental story written in imitation of Lara, which had greatly moved her, and it was not until many years afterwards that Lucian was confronted and put to shame by the sight of it.
At the age of eighteen Lucian celebrated his birthday by burning every manuscript he had, and announcing that he would write no more verses imtil he was at least twenty-one. But chancing to hear a pathetic story of rural life which appealed powerfully to his imagination,
88 LUCIAN THE DREAMER
he began to write again; and after a time, during which he was unusually morose and abstracted, he presented himself to Sprats with a bundle of manuscript. He handed it over to her with something of shypess.
' I want you to read it—carefully,' he said.
* Of course,' she answered. ' But is it to share the fate of all the rest, Lucian? You made a clean sweep of everything, didn't you? '
' That stuff ! ' he said, with fine contempt. ' I should
But this
think so ! '
he paused, plunged his hands into his pockets, and strode up and down the room— ' this is—well, it's different. Sprats! —I believe it's
good. '
* I wish you'd let my father read it,' she said. ' Do,
Lucian. '
' Perhaps,' he answered. ' But you first —I want to
know what you think. I can trust you. '
Sprats read the poem that evening, and as she read
she marvelled. Lucian had done himself justice at last. The poem was full of the true country life; there was no false ring in it; he had realised the pathos of the story he had to tell; it was a moving performance, full of the spirit of poetry from the first line to the last. She was proud, glad, full of satisfaction. Without waiting to ask Lucian's permission, she placed the manuscript in the vicar's hands and begged him to read it. He car- ried it away to his study; Sprats sat up later than usual to hear his verdict. She occupied herself with no work, but with thoughts that had a little of the day-dream glamour in them. She was trying to map out Lucian's future for him. He ought to be protected and shielded from the world, wrapped in an environment that would help him to produce the best that was in him; the ordi- nary cares of Hfe ought never to come near him. He had a gift, and the world would be the richer if the gift were poured out lavishly to his fellow-creatures; but he must be treated tenderly and skilfully if the gift was to be poured out at all. Sprats, country girl though she was, knew something of the harshnesses of Ufe; she knew.
LUCIAN THE DREAMER
89
too, that Lucian's nature was the sort that would rebel at a crumpled rose-leaf. He was still, and always would be, a child that feels rather than understands. —
The vicar came back to her with the manuscript it was then nearly midnight, but he was too much excited to wonder that Sprats should still be downstairs. He came tapping the manuscript with his fingers — his face wore a delighted and highly important expression.
' My dear,' he said, ' this is a considerable perfor- mance. I am amazed, pleased, gratified, proud. The boy is a genius—he will make a great name for himself. Yes — it is good. It is sound work. It is so charmingly free from mere rhetoric—there is a restraint, a chaste- ness which one does not often find in the work of a young writer. And it is classical in form and style. I am proud of Lucian. You see now the result of only reading and studying the best masters. He is perhaps a little imitative—that is natural; it will wear away. Did you not notice a touch of Wordsworth, eh! —I was reminded of Michael. He will be a new Wordsworth — a Wordsworth with more passion and richer imagery. He has the true eye for nature —I do not know when I have been so pleased as with the bits of colour that I find here. Oh, it is certainly a remarkable perfor-
mance. '
' Father,'' said Sprats, ' don't you think it might be
published ?
Mr. Chilverstone considered the proposition gravely.
' I feel sure it would meet with great approbation if it were,' he said. ' I have no doubt whatever that the best critics would recognise its merit and its undoubted promise. — I wonder if Lucian would allow the earl to read it? his lordship is a fine judge of classic poetry, and though I beheve he cherishes a contempt for modern verse, he cannot fail to be struck by this poem the truth of its setting must appeal to him. '
' I will speak to Lucian,' said Sprats.
She persuaded Lucian to submit his work to Lord
Simonstower next day;—the old nobleman read, re-read.
90
LUCIAN THE DREAMER
and was secretly struck by the beauty and strength of the boy's performance. He sent for Lucian and con- gratulated him warmly. Later on in the day he walked into the vicar's study.
' Chilverstone, ' he said, ' what is to be done with that boy Damerel? He will make a great name if due care is taken of him at the critical moment. How old is
he now—nearly nineteen? I think he should go to Oxford. '
' That,' said the vicar, ' is precisely my own opinion. '
' It would do him all the good in the world,' continued the earl. ' It is a thing that should be pushed through. I think I have heard that the boy has some money? I knew his father, Cyprian Damerel. He was a man who earned a good deal, but I should say he spent it. Still, I have always understood that he left money in Simpson Pepperdine's hands for the boy. '
Mr. Chilverstone observed that he had always been so 'informed, though he did not know by whom.
Simpson Pepperdine should be approached,' said Lord Simonstower. ' I have a good mind to talk to him myself. '
' If your lordship would have the kindness to do so,'
said the vicar, ' it would be a most excellent Pepperdine is an estimable man, and very proud indeed of Lucian —I am sure he would be induced to give his consent. '
* I will see him to-morrow,' said the earl.
But before the morrow dawned an event had taken place in the history of the Pepperdine family which involved far-reaching consequences. While the earl and the vicar were in consultation over their friendly plans for Lucian 's benefit, Mr. Pepperdine was
travelling homewards from Oakborough, whither he had proceeded
in the morning in reference to a letter which caused him no Httle anxiety and perturbation. It was fortunate that he had a compartment all to himself in the train, for he groaned and sighed at frequent intervals, and manifested many signs of great mental distress. When he left
thing.
LUCIAN THE DREAMER 91
Wellsby station he walked with slow and heavy steps along the road to Mr. Trippett's farm, where, as usual, he had left his horse and trap. Mrs. Trippett, chancing to look out of the parlour window, saw him approaching the house and noticed the drag in his step. He walked, she said, discussing the matter later on with her husband, as if he had suddenly become an old man. She hastened to the door to admit him; Mr. Pepperdine gazed at her with a lack-lustre eye. '
Mr. Pepperdine made an effort to pull himself together. He walked in, sat down in the parlour, and
breathed heavily. ma'am,' he said. ' I'm a bit ' It's a very hot day,
overdone. ' water,' said ' You must have a drop of brandy and
Mrs. Trippett, and bustled into the kitchen for water and to the sideboard for brandy. ' Take a taste while
' Mercy upon us, Mr. Pepperdine !
Trippett, ' you do look badly. Aren't you feeling well? '
at his glass and nodded his head in acknowledgment of her thoughtfulness.
like to see him. ' that the master was in the fold, Mrs. Trippett replied
and she would let him know that Mr. Pepperdine was
Mr. Pepperdine sipped
' Thank you kindly,' said he.
'I
were feeHng a bit badly like. Is the master anywhere about? I would
husband, and hinted to him that his old friend did not seem at all well —she was sure there was something wrong with him. Mr. Trippett hastened into the house and found Mr.
Pepperdine pacing the room and sighing dismally.
* Now then ! ' said Mr. Trippett, 'whose face was always cheery even in times of trouble, th' owd woman says
you don't seem so chirpy like. Is it th' sun, or what? —get another taste o' brandy down your throttle, lad. '
Mr. Pepperdine sat down again and shook his head.
' John,' he said, gazing earnestly at his friend. ' I'm
there. She went herself to fetch her
exclaimed Mrs.
fresh,' she said, handing him a liberal mixture.
it's
' It'll revive you. '
92
LUCIAN THE DREAMER
in sore trouble—real bad trouble. I doubt I'm a ruined
man. '
* Nay, for sure ! ' exclaimed Mr. Trippett.
*
What's
it all about, like? '
* It's all on account of a damned rascal! ' answered
Mr. Pepperdine, with a burst of indignation. 'Ah! — there's a pretty to-do in Oakborough this day, John. You haven't heard nothing about Bransby? '
' What, the lawyer? '
' Ah, lawyer and rogue and the Lord knows what! '
Mr. Pepperdine, groaning with wrath and ' He's gone and cleared himself off, and he's
repHed
misery.
naught but a swindler. They do say there that it's a hundred thousand pound job. '
Mr. Trippett whistled.
' I alius understood 'at he were such a well-to-do,
upright sort o' man,' he said. ' He'd a gre't reppyta- tion, any road. '
' Ay, and seems' to have traded on it! ' said Mr. Pep- perdine bitterly. He's been a smooth-tongued 'un, he has. He's done me, he has so—dang me if I ever trust the likes of him again ! '
Then he told his story. The absconded Mr. Bransby, an astute gentleman who had established a reputation for probity by scrupulous observance of the convention- alities dear to the society of a market town and had never missed attendance at his parish church, had sud- denly vanished into the Ewigkeit, leaving a few widows and orphans, several tradespeople, and a large number of unsuspecting and confiding clients, to mourn, not his loss, but his knavery. Simpson Pepperdine had been an easy victim. Some years previously he had consented to act as trustee for a neighbour's family—Mr. Bransby was his co-trustee. Simpson had left everything in Mr. Bransby' s hands —it now turned out that Mr. Bransby had converted everything to his own uses, leaving his careless coadjutor responsible. But this was not all. Simpson, who had made money by breeding shorthorns, had from time to time placed considerable sums in the
LUCIAN THE DREAMER 93
lawyer's hands for investment, and had trusted him entirely as to their nature. He had received good in- terest, and had never troubled either to ask for or inspect the securities. It had now been revealed to him that there had never been any securities —^his money had gone into Mr. Bransby's own coffers. Simpson Pepperdine, in short, was a ruined man.
Mr. Trippett was genuinely disturbed by this news.
and easy-going friend had been to blame in respect to his laxity and carelessness. But he himself had had some slight deahngs with Mr. and he knew the plausibility and suaveness
He felt that his good-natured
Bransby,
manner.
' It's a fair cropper! ' he exclaimed. ' I could ha'
' So he were,' answered Mr. Pepperdine, uncommon well—out of fools like me. '
of that gentleman's
trusted that Bransby like the Bank of England. I alius understood he were doing uncommon well. ' '
* I hope,' said Mr. Trippett, mentioning the subject
with some shyness, ' I hope the gals' money isn't lost,
an' all? ' Mr. ' What, Keziah and Judith? Nay, nay,' replied
Pepperdine. ' It isn't. What bit they have—matter of five hundred pound each, may be—is safe enough. '
' Nor the lad's, either,' said Mr. Trippett.
'The lad's? ' said Mr. Pepperdine questioningly. ' Oh, Lucian? Oh—ay—of course, he's all right. '
Mr. Trippett went over to the sideboard, produced the
whisky decanter, mixed himself a glass, Hghted his pipe,
and proceeded to think hard.
' Well,' he said, after some time, ' I know what I
should do if I were i' your case, Simpson.