I knew it would grieve you, she said.
And what is your own feeling? Do you rejoice in the change as a sign of progress?
Indeed, no. I am very, very sorry to have our beautiful valley so spoilt. It is only
Hubert eyed her with sudden sharpness of scrutiny; the look seemed to check her words.
Only what? he asked. You find compensations?
My brother wont hear of such regrets, she continued with a little embarrassment He insists on the good that will be done by the change.
From such a proprietor as I should have been to a man of Mr. Mutimers activity. To be sure, that is one point of view.
Adela blushed.
That is not my meaning, Mr. Eldon, as you know. I was speaking of the change without regard to who brings it about. And I was not giving my own opinion; Alfreds is always on the side of the working people; he seems to forget everybody else in his zeal for their interests. And then, the works are going to be quite a new kind of undertaking. You have heard of Mr. Mutimers plans of course?
I have an idea of them.
You think them mistaken?
No. I would rather say they dont interest me. That seems to disappoint you, Miss Waltham. Probably you are interested in them?
At the sound of her own name thus formally interjected, Adela just raised her eyes from their reflective gaze on the near landscape; then she became yet more thoughtful.
Yes, I think I am, she replied, with deliberation. The principle seems a just one. Devotion to a really unselfish cause is rare, I am afraid.
You have met Mr. Mutimer?
Once. My brother made his acquaintance, and he called on us.
Did he explain his scheme to you in detail?
Not himself. Alfred has told me all about it. He, of course, is delighted with it; he has joined what he calls the Union.
Are you going to join? Hubert asked, smiling.
I? I doubt whether they would have me.
She laughed silverly, her throat tremulous, like that of a bird that sings. How significant the laugh was! the music of how pure a freshet of life!
All the members, I presume, said Hubert, are to be speedily enriched from the Wanley Mines and Iron Works?
It was jokingly uttered, but Adela replied with some earnestness, as if to remove a false impression.
Oh, that is quite a mistake. Mr. Eldon. There is no question of anyone being enriched, least of all Mr. Mutimer himself. The workmen will receive just payment, not mere starvation wages, but whatever profit there is will be devoted to the propaganda.
Propaganda! Starvation wages! Ah, I see you have gone deeply into these matters. How strangely that word sounds on your lipspropaganda!
Adela reddened.
Why strangely, Mr. Eldon?
One associates it with such very different speakers; it has such a terrible canting sound. I hope you will not get into the habit of using itfor your own sake.
I am not likely to use it much. I suppose I have heard it so often from Alfred lately. Please dont think, she added rather hastily, that I have become a Socialist. Indeed, I dislike the name; I find it implies so many things that I could never approve of.
Her way of speaking the last sentence would have amused a dispassionate critic, it was so distinctively the tone of Puritan maidenhood. From lips like Adelas it is delicious to hear such moral babbling. Oh, the gravity of conviction in a white-souled English girl of eighteen! Do you not hear her say those words: things that I could never approve of?
As her companion did not immediately reply, she again raised the field-glass to her eyes and swept the prospect.
Can you see your brother on the road? Hubert inquired.
No, not yet. There is a trap driving this way. Why, Alfred sitting in it! Oh, it is Mr. Mutimers trap I see. He must have met Alfred at the station and have given him a ride.
Evidently they are great friends, commented Eldon.
Adela did not reply. After gazing a little longer, she said
He will be home before I can get there.
She screwed up the glasses and turned as if to take leave. But Hubert prepared to walk by her side, and together they reached the lane.
Now I am going to run down the hill, Adela said, laughing. I cant ask you to join in such childishness, and I suppose you are not going this way, either?
No, I am walking back to the Manor, the other replied soberly. We had better say good-bye. On Monday we shall leave Wanley, my mother and I.
On Monday?
The girl became graver.
But only to go to Agworth? she added.
I shall not remain at Agworth. I am going to London.
Toto study?
Something or other, I dont quite know what. Good-bye!
Wont you come to say good-bye to usto mother?
Shall you be at home to-morrow afternoon, about four oclock say?
Oh, yes; the very time.
Then I will come to say good-bye.
In that case we neednt say it now, need we? It is only good afternoon.
She began to walk down the lane.
I thought you were going to run, cried Hubert.
She looked back, and her silver laugh made chorus with the joyous refrain of a yellow-hammer, piping behind the hedge. Till the turn of the road she continued walking, then Hubert had a glimpse of white folds waving in the act of flight, and she was beyond his vision.
CHAPTER VIII
Adela reached the house door at the very moment that Mutimers trap drove up. She had run nearly all the way down the hill, and her soberer pace during the last ten minutes had not quite reduced the flush in her cheeks. Mutimer raised his hat with much aplomb before he had pulled up his horse, and his look stayed on her whilst Alfred Waltham was descending and taking leave.
I was lucky enough to overtake your brother in Agworth, he said.
Ah, you have deprived him of what he calls his constitutional, laughed Adela.
Have I? Well, it isnt often Im here over Saturday, so he can generally feel safe.
The hat was again aired, and Richard drove away to the Wheatsheaf Inn, where he kept his horse at present.
Brother and sister went together into the parlour, where Mrs. Waltham immediately joined them, having descended from an upper room.
So Mr. Mutimer drove you home! she exclaimed, with the interest which provincial ladies, lacking scope for their energies, will display in very small incidents.
Yes. By the way, Ive asked him to come and have dinner with us to-morrow. He hadnt any special reason for going to town, and was uncertain whether to do so or not, so I thought I might as well have him here.
Mr. Alfred always spoke in a somewhat emphatic first person singular when domestic arrangements were under, discussion; occasionally the habit led to a passing unpleasantness of tone between himself and Mrs. Waltham. In the present instance, however, nothing of the kind was to be feared; his mother smiled very graciously.
Im glad you thought of it, she said. It would have been very lonely for him in his lodgings.
Neither of the two happened to be regarding Adela, or they would have seen a look of dismay flit across her countenance and pass into one of annoyance. When the talk had gone on for a few minutes Adela interposed a question.
Will Mr. Mutimer stay for tea also, do you think, Alfred?
Oh, of course; why shouldnt he?
It is the country habit; Adela might have known what answer she would receive. She got out of the difficulty by means of a little disingenuousness.