Revenants (14)

The obligations of fatherhood

Down! said Miranda in peremptory tones. Sandy therefore carefully lowered his daughter – a thriving creature of nearly two years – to the soft grass of the little park at Yeomans, so that she might frolic there.

He and Hannah smiled at one another with fond parental pride, however unusually it had come about.

You do not, he enquired, purpose having another orphan yourself?

Hannah laughed. Oh, I fancy I have done my share to contribute to their numbers! And 'tis pleasing that we have these additions to our numbers – Ellen’s darling Theo, and now pretty little Hari – but I do not think we should have too many more.

She sighed. Though –

Though?

You may have noticed that Flora is not quite her usual self –

Indeed he had – the normally energetic and ebullient Flora Ferraby seemed drooping and positively melancholic – O, he said, is she – ?

Hannah sighed again and said, would that it were the happy matter of an addition, but they were in the greatest apprehension of a subtraction from their number.

Pray, Hannah, do not be so mysterious – is there some trouble – one of the children poorly –

No, no, all are well. But – I am surprized you have not heard somewhat of the matter – did you not know that Jimmy O’Callaghan is returned to England from Ireland –

Sandy frowned. At this juncture? I would have supposed he would have remained there –

Why, he has not said a great deal about the matter – purposes go to America to raise support for the Cause there – I may be undue suspicious of some falling out among comrades – wishes visit his mother in her convent afore she takes her vows – would be all entire his own business, but that he suddenly takes the notion that he is a father and has a son that he is minded to take unto him –

Sandy frowned, and pushed his spectacles up his nose and cleared his throat and said, could not recall precisely, but did not have any recollection that Mr O’Callaghan had paid any attention to the fruit of his loins this while –

Hannah gave a loud snort. Departed for Dublin afore Flora even lay in, 'tis the first he has seen of little Jamie. But is now come around to years when is no longer a puling infant, a fine little fellow that has begun upon his letters and numbers – no, Miranda, no, put that down, though the French, 'tis give out, eat snails, I do not think they consume the shells, they are by no means edible. She went over to extract the snail shell from Miranda’s hand.

I think, she went on thoughtfully, he takes some concern that we do not bring Jamie up in the Church –

It was Sandy’s turn to snort, and mutter about superstition. He then scowled and said, but he can have no legal claim, surely?

Indeed not. For if, under the law, fathers have no responsibilities towards their by-blows, neither do they have any rights in them. But here is Flora wondering is she under any moral obligation in the matter, does Jimmy come around to feeling the obligations of fatherhood.

Sandy groaned, and sat down upon a fallen tree-trunk, having made sure it was clean of lichen afore doing so. What does Clorinda say to the matter?

Hannah heaved a profound sigh. Has it not come to your attention that Flora is somewhat at outs with her Tiger at present?

What?

Why, Hannah responded, Flora was out of Town and away from Yeomans these several months, doing excellent work speaking to societies and institutes &C about the country, and had not known about certain recent developments, that came to her as somewhat of a shock. O, Miranda, indeed that is a pretty flower! Do you go give it to your Papa for his buttonhole.

When this exceedingly charming operation had been concluded, Sandy remarked crossly that Clorinda had been very silent upon the matter!

Perchance she hopes that upon reflexion Flora will come round. But sure she was in considerable indignation and I am in some concern that she may go confront Leda.

That, said Sandy severely, would be very ill-advized.

Quite so. But this does not get us forrader on what we might do about this access of paternal feeling on Jimmy’s part. I daresay he might show fine and fatherly –

But from her frowning expression Sandy could see that she doubted that Jimmy O’Callaghan had any notion of what the care of a young boy-child might involve.

– but I cannot like the thought of taking Jamie from all he knows and those he loves – Johnny that is his closest companion, his dear elder sister Kate, Verrie that is like unto a beloved granddam to him, as well as Flora and myself, and he comes about to an affection for Ellen.

Sandy sighed. I daresay, he offered, that I may come across Mr O’Callaghan in some of the sets I frequent – indeed, the good Father O’Donaghue is still in life, and we remain on fine quarrelling terms over a monthly game of chess – and may find occasion to convoke with him about this sudden urge to parenthood of his.

Hannah groaned and said, had no doubt he would listen more readily to a man than one he supposed moved by soft womanly emotions – and perhaps she made too much of it but had some feeling that was one of those considered her Flora’s shadow –

The wretch! No, Miranda, I do not mean you, no, you are a very fine girl indeed. He picked her up and she cried wombatts! and nuzzled him in the appropriate fashion as Hannah smiled.

Perchance we should go join the company for tea, she said.

They strolled out of the park, with Miranda being occasional distracted by the sight of a rabbit or a squirrel or some bird or other, and across the gardens.

Oh, murmured Hannah, we have company. For there was a lady with Mrs Veriker looking very piercing at the rockery –

Lady Diana Beaufoyle, I apprehend.

Very like. I daresay she has brought little Henrietta to be admired – and also, I fancy, to glean Betty’s wisdom in the matter of babies, as well as have some agreeable botanical convocation with Verrie.

This was indeed the case. They greeted her, and admired baby Henrietta, that was indeed a very pretty child, but then, her parents were universally acknowledged quite the handsomest pair. Rollo, said Di, remained in Town – a deal of matters on hand concerning sanitary reform – but they were very shortly taking up residence at Norleigh Hall, a Mulcaster estate that had until very lately been as 'twere a grace and favour residence for an elderly relative.

Hertfordshire – very convenient for Town – also close to that town where Essie has been advizing 'em upon their municipal museum – a good enlightened council – the estate small but agreeable – house in good repair – gardens somewhat neglected, in hopes of having Julius come look 'em over – they must come visit once they had settled in. Indeed, had hoped to persuade Flora to come advize upon how they might improve village education in the locality.

Beatrice! cried Kate, as Beatrice, feeling herself neglected and overlooked, came tug upon Sandy’s trouser-leg. Sandy stooped to pick her up. Sure she had a considerable look of Gervase!

Surely – had he survived this while – Gervase would have not shown so long indifferent to his child! And while Josh Ferraby was out of the country a good deal about his zoological explorations, when he was on his native shores one might observe that he came visit Yeomans considerable frequent and was not a stranger to little Johnny. Sallington took a deal of interest in his daughter with Flora. And had he himself not made careful provision for his admired Miranda?

He smiled doatingly at the child in Hannah’s arms, that was looking somewhat jealous at Beatrice.