Delphi Complete Works of the Brontes Charlotte, Emily, Anne Brontë (Illustrated) (273 page)

“0 fatherf” exclaimed lord Charles “Arthur will always make hardships if he has not them ready at hand. ever since he has been here (that is 3 hours) I have not observed a single smile on his countenance & after tiring myself to no purpose with trying to make him speak I was forced to open the window & amuse myself by talking to every person who passed in the court below . at last that resource failed me for no living creature showed its head & therefore shutting the sash I sat down again remained silent for half an hour & then finding that hypochondriasm was fast approaching upon me I got up smelt at every flower & perfume in the appartment danced shook the orange branches sung merry songs, stamped, raged, wept, mimicked Arthur, screamed smiled became hysterical fainted & at last finding all my efforts fruitless to provoke him to utter the smallest monosyllable I flung myself exhausted on a seat & remained staring franticly at Arthur till you entred when to my inexpressible joy I saw him rise & open his lips to welcome you.f The Duke of Wellington remained for about an hour at the Horse- gaurds & then returned to Downing Street where he found a bundle of official documents awaiting his arrival, these he imediately sat down to decipher & at this employment I shall for the present leave him.

C Bronte May the 8th 1830

THIRD VOLUME OF THE TALES of the ISLANDERS

I began this volume on Monday May the third 1830 & finished it on Saturday May the 8 1830

C Bronte
    
1830

May the 8.

FOURTH VOLUME OF TALES OF THE ISLANDERS

CHAPTER ONE

One fine atumnal evening the duke of Wellington was on his way from LONDON to Strathfeildsay. he had just passed through the village & had entred a narrow bridle-path leading to the park gate, here he dismounted from his horse & leading old Blanco-White by the reins proceeded at a leisurely pace onwards. It was as I have said a fine evening in autumn: the air was warm & breezeless, the sky covered with high light clouds except where here & there a few pale soft blue streaks apeared on the hazy horizon, the sun had just set. the snails where crawling forth from the hedge side to enjoy that refreshing dampness which imediately preceedes dusk at this period of the year, scarcely a leaf fell from the oaks & hawthorns bordring the path, for the dark hue of their foliage had hardly begun to mellow with the waning seasonf. The only sounds audible were the noise of an occasional Lady-clock*9 humming by & the trickle of a rill as it flowed invisibly down an ancient Cart rut (now unused) hid by dock leaves wild vetch grass & other hedge plants with witch the road was completely overgrown. A hill rising on one hand concealed from view the Hall with its extensive parks pleasure grounds gardens woods &c situated in a broad & delightful valley sloping far down on the other side.

As the Duke walked quietly forward he suddenly heard a murmuring sound like the voices of several people conversing in an under tone, a little in advance of him. He stopped & listened but was unable to understand what they said, at a few paces farther on a turn in the path brought in sight the figures of 3 old women seated on a green bank under a holly knitting with the utmost rapidity & keeping their tongues in constant motion all the while, stretched in a lounging posture beside them lay little king languidly gathring the violets & cuckoo-meat which grew around, at the Dukes approach he started up as likewise did the old women, they courtesied & he bowed much after the fashion of a Dip-Tail’0 on a stone. He then after a sharp peal of laughter from his companions addressed the Duke thus.

“Well Duke of Wellington here are three freinds of mine whom I wish to introduce to you.” “they lived for some time as washerwomen in the family of the late Sir Robert Peel Bart’1 who respected them so much that in his will he remembered them each for twenty guineas. After his death however the present Bart, turnened them away together with several other antiquated but faithful servants of his deceased parent, to make room for the modern trash of fopish varlets that now constitute every gentlemans establishment, thus they are now cast on the wide world without shelter or home & if you would consent to take them into your service it would be conferring a great obligation on me as well as them.”

“I am not much accustomed to engage servants” replied his Grace, “but you may take them to my house-keeper & if their characters will bear the old lady’s scrutiny I have no objection.”

“Very well that’s right Duke of Wellington” replied little King, much pleased.

the Duke then remounted his horse & proceeded at a smart trot onward wishing to escape from the company of his new acquaintance, they however stuck close to him & continued by his side talking & laughing & trying to draw him into conversation incessantly, in a short time they turned the hill & going rapidly down a long inclined lane, entered the vast wood which forms a boundary to one side of Strath- feildsay Park - after threading the puzzling mazes of the labyrinth which leads to Seringapatans 0rderly-Man’s Jack Off A11 Trades’ & Game Keeper’s cottages they stop at the door of Seringapatans and the Duke stooping his head to avoid the huge thick branches waving around, lifted the latchet. Seringapatan instantly sprang out & bowing low without waiting for his masters orders flung open the park gate. His grace then bent aside & whispered something in the old-mans ear, commanding him to detain little king & his comrades until he reached the hall. Seringapatan bowed again lower than before & the Duke, tickling Blanco’s flanks galloped swiftly off.

“If you please will you step into my Kitchin a minute & rest you?” said Seringapatan.

they thanked him & without further ceremony walked in. it was a small apartment neatly white-washed. an oaken dresser furnished with the brightest pewter & deIf-ware covered one end; above it was suspended a highly polished musket & sword . several ancient books were carefully piled on a black oak kist. two substantial armchairs stood at each end of a hot, blazing fire & opposite the window seat, a number of stout 3 legged stools were ranged in a row. the floor & hearth were as clean & white as scouring could make them. Mrs Left Seringapatan sat mending her husband stockings by a round deal table. She was clad in a dark green stuff gown with snow- white cap & apron & looked as sedate as if she had be en 60 instead of 25.

When little King & the old women entred she rose & begged them to be seated : they complied . after chatting awhile she got up again & went out but in a short time returned with a plateful of rich current cake & a bottle of perry.” these dainties she invited her guest’s to partake of which they did of course & then prepared to depart. Seringapatan knowing that by this time his Master had arived at his seat opened the door & permitted them to go. they pursued their way up the park without stopping for night was fast coming on & the moon pouring her light on the long groves & alleys which in dark obscure lines stretched far over the undulating prospect was climbing the mild atumnal heaven’s amid freckled downy clouds & dimly visible stars.

It happened that Lord Charles Wellesley had that day been taking one of his wild rambles over his fathers domains & he was now returning home-wards, at a distance he saw the three old women with their conductor, being fond of company he made haste to overtake them but as he approached his volatile mind changed & he determined to walk close behind & remain a concealed listener to their conversation promising himself much amusement from the scheme, in this however he was deceived for voluble as they had been while in Seringapatan’s Cottage they now became perfectly silent.

in about a quater of an hour they reached the deep rapid stream which runs through the grounds. its banks are shaded by willows & larches & the long rays of moonlight trembling through the high boughs fell with sweet serenity on the turbulent waves prouducing a soothing contrast to their impetuous & dark ridges following each other in quick succesion down the waters, a grassy mole extending to the opposite bank formed a kind of natural bridge & over this lord Charles supposed they would go so he halted a while to observe them, they however to his astonishment glided noiselessly to the midst of the river & there turning three times round amidst the shivered fragments of brilliant light in which the moon was reflected were swallowed up in a whirlpool of raging surges & foam, he stood a moment powerless with horror, then springing over the mound dashed through the trees on the other side & gaining the open path beheld little King & the three old women walking whole & sound a few yards before him. more surprised than before he viewed them in silence for an instant & then concluded that they were other fairies whom little King had broughft with him to this earth, he strove to satisfy himself with this conjecture but notwithstanding his endeavours he still felt an uneasy vague & by no means pleasant sensation when he looked at their little sharp faces & heard the shrill disagreeable tones of their voicefs (for they were now chatting away as merrily as before) for which he was unable to account.

at length they arrived at the mansion, little King knocked at the Great Gate the folding-doors rolled back and a blaze of red light burst forth illuminating the grand flight of broad sculptured steps & the dark avenue for a great distance off. a huge fire was burning in the wide hall chimney & every branch of the brass lustre bore a flame . The servants were gathered together at superf: GameKeeper sat at the head of the table, Jack 0f All Tfrades officated as waiter & 0rderly-Man as vice president. Peels of laughter rose every instant to the lofty roof & the oaken rafters trembled, little King & his companions entered. the doors were shut again & lord Charles was left to the darkness & solitude of night which formed a wide difference to the revels he had just caught a glimpse of. after a moments thought he cleared the steps with a bound & springing along the path came to a door in the wall which he opened with a key he took from his pocket & then entred a small green plain delightfully planted with many beautiful shrubs & trees & watred by a fountain in the midst, this he presently crossed & ascending a high flight of balustraded marble steps reached a terrace that led to an arched glass door, he opened this also & a small elegantly furnished room became apparent which was his own & his brothers private appartment.

Arthur was sitting by the fire with his head resting on his hand lost in deep abstraction, the moment lord Wellesley entred he started up exclaiming “0 Charles I have been listening & wishing for you a long time & now I am rejoiced at your arrival - come sit down & let us have our usual pleasant converzazione before retiring to rest.f Charles met his brothers welcome with equal cordiality &, flinging himself on the warm persian rug began to relate his adventures of that day, in which employment I must for the present leave him & return to little King and the 3 old women.

After Supper was over he requested leave to speak with the housekeeper & was informed by one of the maids that she had withdrawn for the night & they dared not now disturb her but that to-morrow he might procure an interview for himself & freinds. this answer by no means pleased the Dames who were begining in a loud shrill cadence to express their dissatisfaction, when Old-Man-Cockney coming in they together with the servants were driven off to-bed.

The next morning they rose with the sun & were only prevented from breaking in upon Mrs Daura Dovelike’s rest by a chamber-maid who met them at the door & warned them of the consequence of their intrusion namely instant dismission without an audience. It was with difficulty they were persuaded to wait till nine-o.clock so great was their anxiety to have the affair of engagement settled, at that time Mrs Daura sent word that she was ready to receive them. On proceeding to her apartment they found her seated at breakfast in an arm chair with her feet on a cushonied foot-stool, her stiff figure was invested in an old fashioned bustling black silk gown with cap & ruff starched to the consistence of buck-ram.” as kind Fortune would have it she happened this morning to be in good temper so after bidding them sit down & asking a few questions she agreed to take them before her lady the Duchess of Wellington .

When they had passed through a long corridor gallery & anti- chamber they came to her private sitting-room, it was ornamented after a most splendid but nevertheless simple & unostentatious stylef. The Duchess was engaged at her usual charitable employment of working for the poor.’4 She was attired in a rich robe of dark crimson velvet almost entirely unadorned except one bright diamond which fastend the belt, the redundant tresses of her fine brown hair were confined in a silken net over which gracefully waved a single white ostrich feather, her face & figure were extremely beautiful & her large hazel eyes beamed with expression, but the principal charm about her was the gentleness & sweetness ever visible in her countenance, it seemed and it was impossible for her to storm & frown or even be angry for if any thing wrong was comitted by her servants or dependants she only looked greived & sad & not dark or lowering.

When they entred the Duke was also in the room conversing with his lady & the housekeeper on seeing him courtesied respectfully & was going away when he called her back & quitting the appartment left them to transact business without being under the embarrasment of his awe-inspiring-minister-general-& clerk-confusing prescence. after a short conversation it was settled that the 3 old Dames should act for one month on trial as washer-women & laundry-maids & that if during the prescribed time they behaved well they should then be taken into permanent service at wages of 10 guineas per-anumn each, when this was fixed they left her ladyships equally delighted with the mild condescension of her manner the enchanting benignity of her smiles & the unexpected success of their application.

The next day they commenced the performnance of the duties of their office which they continued for some weeks to execute with equal punctuality dilligence & sobriety but not without many qarrels among themselves often ending in ferocious fights where tooth nail feet & hands were employed with equal fury, in these fracas little King (who always continued with them) was observed to be exceedingly active inciting them by every means in his power to maul & mangle each other in the most horrible way. this circumstance however was not much wondered at as his constant disposition to all kinds of mischeif was well knowfn & he was considered by every member of the house of Strathfeildsay not excepting the Duke himself more as an evil brownie than a legitamate fairy.’