Unhistoric Acts (15)

Came into an exceeding admiration for Bella

Sybil Vernall had had some nervous qualms at the prospect of this stay on Mrs Penkarding – Belinda’s – horse-farm over the summer, whilst her guardian would be so took up with going to and fro to Malvern to oversee his patients there, and Agate, her maid, was called away on family business. Sure Belinda was a woman that she fancied Uncle John would consider entirely first-rate – a horsewoman without peer and so skilled in the doctoring of nags that her services were regularly called upon by their neighbours. And no missish fuss. Spoke straight to men quite as if she was one herself.

Then Vicky Jupp had become quite her best friend. Still, there were these other two: Vicky’s sister Gertie, and her friend Bella, that went to some very select girls’ school – Vicky wrinkled her nose and said, was not sure 'twould suit her, o, 'Sina – that is my elder sister, Thomasina, now goes be brought on to become partner in Mamzelle Bridgette in due course, liked it very much and had very great friends there, and similarly with Gertie, but – mayhap did you come, Syb, would be bearable?

Sybil had observed that for all they lived over the livery stables that Vicky’s father owned, along with two more in very good districts, the Jupp family was in an exceeding prosperous way. Besides enjoying the patronage of Lady Bexbury, that must count for a good deal. She was not sure that her stepbrother, Dr Asterley, though in a good way of practice, was quite so well off, and she only had a very little portion to her own name. So she smiled and shrugged and said would think on’t.

And now she came into an exceeding admiration for Bella, Gertie’s friend. Quite the wildest creature – the ring-leader in all mischief – Sybil had not been given to mischief and pranks but found herself joining in pillow-fights and all sorts that she would never have expected. But she was also very eager to hear Sybil’s tales of India –

Indeed she had a deal of those! And there were all Uncle John’s exploits, and his remarks upon horsemanship, and that he was now fighting the Sikhs, that he considered worthy opponents, would that we had such fine fighting men in our own forces.

All the various festivals there were – as they sat on the paddock fence and Sybil discoursed of these to Bella, up came the stable terrier Tomsie, that she had been a little nervous of at first, from all her mother’s warnings about staying away from dogs in Calcutta for fear they were mad, but had been entirely reassured by Belinda and found him a fine amiable creature. Slipped off the fence to pat his head and make endearments, falling into the old phrases of her ayah Tisya’s.

Oh, cried Bella, do you speak the language?

Sybil looked up. Why, I learnt Bengali from Tisya as well as common what they call kitchen Hindustani. Am somewhat out of practice but I daresay I could make myself understood in the bazaar still.

Bella looked thoughtful, and was about to say something, when Gertie and Vicky came bouncing out of the house door, waving and crying that 'twas high time the two of ‘em went change for this visit to Mr Offerton’s fine stables to see his racers.

Mr Offerton was Belinda’s next neighbour, an old friend that had known Captain Penkarding and still sighed for the fine trainer he had been. An amiable old fellow with florid looks and thinning hair, that on their arrival quite immediate began discoursing to Belinda of some little trouble one of his nags was having that he wished to open to her skills.

Really, Terence, said Belinda, I understand your concern for your cattle, but let me make introductions first – you have already met Bella and the Jupp girls, but I must make Miss Vernall known to you, came but quite lately from Calcutta, is the ward of Dr Asterley –

Asterley? cried Offerton, have some acquaintance with him, excellent fellow – and then fell silent as he shook Sybil’s hand. She could not imagine how her guardian, that was not at all a racing man, came to know Mr Offerton but she dared say there were other conditions under which men encountered one another – mayhap Mr Offerton was even a patient?

It was a fine day out – the magnificent sight of his race-horses at their training – Vicky sighing that ladies were not permitted to be jockeys – the very good tea that was laid on for 'em in a somewhat dusty parlour – one might see that it was very much a bachelor household. Though, thought Sybil, here was her stepbrother a bachelor and very strict about cleanliness and orderliness.

She smoothed down her frock as she sat down on the sopha beside Vicky, for she felt exceeding well-dressed the day. Had become somewhat apparent lately that she was outgrowing her clothes, and while had proved possible to let down her riding-habits, her other dresses made more of a difficulty. But Vicky and Gertie had looked at one another, and at her, and said, Ma had told 'em that sure while they were on holiday – as if they were not exceeding occupied! – they might find time to stitch some dresses from the fine pieces 'Sina had brought home to 'em –

That, had said Gertie, is our sister Thomasina, at Mamzelle Bridgette, there is always lengths left over at the end of the Season, and Cousin Maurice lets her have 'em as a perquisite.

Says, added Vicky, that she fancies calling herself Madame Thomasine when she becomes a crack modiste in her own right.

Anyway, went on Gertie, I fancy we could make up a frock or so for you, 'twould not be the least trouble.

So they had been about that, and Sybil herself had also turned her hand to the matter, for Mama had made sure she had a grasp of the arts of the needle, though entire naught to the skills of Sophy’s daughters!

Very gratifying, and also a great relief to her spirits when Belinda came to where they were breakfasting after their morning stint in the stables, with a letter in her hand, saying that Bella’s mama purposed come take tea while breaking her journey the day after tomorrow. Bella looked pleased at this intelligence.

Sybil had expected her to be a somewhat older lady – did not Bella have some several older brothers? And a married sister? – but here was a lady with no grey in her rich brown hair and a face barely lined, and the most amiable of expressions as she greeted Belinda and Bella and the Jupp sisters, and had Sybil introduced to her.

Made very agreeable over the tea-cups, and then afterwards, said she would wish walk a little with Bella and Miss Vernall –

Sybil felt a little daunted. While Bella’s mama was dressed entirely suitable for traveling one could observe the very fine quality, and when they stepped out, Sybil observed that the carriage in which she had arrived bore a crest upon it, that looked a little familiar – was it not the same one that was painted upon the sign of the tavern next to Jupp’s Livery Stables, the Beaufoyle Arms? Sybil gulped.

Bella linked her arm into Sybil’s and said, hoped she had not made herself obnoxious, but had writ to dear Mama that Sybil knew Bengali – Mama, she went on, is a great scholar of the languages of the East – Sybil glanced at Bella’s mother, that did not look in the least as she expected such a one to look –

Indeed so, she said, I am give out in Society as that sad blue-stocking. She laughed a little. But it lately perchances that I have been studying Bengali, as Bi – my husband and I, have been in correspondence with several of those that are involved in this Brahmo movement of reform. And two of their number are at present in this country, and come visit us shortly at Qualling. While I confide they speak an excellent English, I feel 'twould be civil to be able to speak a little to 'em in their own tongue. But while I have gained a reading understanding I have not had the benefit of an instructor in speaking it. Have you no other invitations upon hand after your sojourn here, might you come stay with us for a little at Qualling?

Oh, cried Bella, clasping Sybil’s hand, O, Syb, do! 'twould be the primest fun to show you the place.

Sybil swallowed and said, she should have to ask her guardian – her stepbrother, Dr Asterley –

One hears him very well-spoke-of, said Bella’s mother, and of course I shall write to him myself.

It was only when she received her guardian’s almost ecstatic letter of permission to accept the invitation to Qualling that Sybil came about to understand that Bella was the daughter of a Duke and her mother a Duchess.