Unhistoric Acts (31)

Are you busy, Mama?

Was not often, thought Viola, Duchess of Mulcaster, that her recreation came to be of use to her husband’s interests! Oh, she did not neglect the duties of her position – not in the least – but it was regarded as somewhat of an eccentricity in Her Grace that she devoted herself to the study of Oriental languages in such spare hours as she might command. Had ever had somewhat of a gift for languages in general – and had been moved to study Turkish many years ago when a visitor from the Ottoman Empire had spoke of the poetry in that tongue, and essayed to translate, but remarked that one did not thus receive the full music thus. And thence to Arabic and Persian – and Sanskrit – and other living languages of the Indies –

So it fell out that Biffle took this new interest of his in how matters went in India, and considered that one might wish to canvass the opinions of the governed as well as the Hon Company officials, so invited to Qualling two Bengali gentlemen that were part of this reforming movement among the more educated Hindus. And not only had Viola been giving some time to the study of the Bengali language, she discovered that one of the young girls enjoying a horsey holiday under the benign supervision of Belinda Penkarding, as she was known, although she had been the wife of the late spurious Marquess of Bexbury, had been born and brought up in Calcutta with a Bengali ayah and had a spoken facility in the tongue.

Viola had therefore invited her to Qualling for a stay in the capacity of a tutor. Although she heard that Mr Chatterji and Mr Banerji were fluent in English, she was like to suppose that it would be a compliment to 'em to at least make civil in their own language. Had turned out exceeding well: one might see that they appreciated the attempt to speak their own Bengali – although Viola suspected that her accent was perhaps a little less refined than their own – rather than the common Hindustani in which Company servants were wont to address the natives irrespective of their actual tongues.

Had spoken of the very fine literature in the language, and Viola now turned her attention to the small volume of poetry that they had presented her, with a view to essaying translations that dear Agnes Lucas might, mayhap, endeavour to transform into English verses. 'Twas a skill Viola lacked, but there had been a productive collaboration 'twixt the pair of 'em since her first attempts in Turkish.

The door to her parlour opened a crack and her son Gillie looked in. Are you busy, Mama?

She looked up and smiled. Never too busy for you! And sure I have not yet conveyed to you how very charmed Dodo lately expressed herself at your conversing with her husband in Polish. She declares that her dear Casimir was enchanted at speaking with one so fluent in his native tongue –

Lord Gilbert blushed a little and said, that was gratifying, but sure Polish had presented relatively little difficulty. Now, Hungarian was entirely fiendish, but Sir Vernon confided that it would serve exceedingly to have some understanding of it – 'twas even worse than Bohemian.

He sat down in one of the easy chairs and said a little hesitantly that there were other skills that Sir Vernon thought it advizable for him to learn – Papa had spoke to him a little of the matter –

My dear Gillie, your father has mentioned to me that Sir Vernon has long been about secret matters in the service of the state and that this patronage of his imports that he brings you on in that.

Gillie looked relieved. Only, he said, fancy there might be stories bruited about – he has some notion that when I am finally sent abroad it would benefit was there some tale that I was one of these young men sent into the foreign service to gain polish but with a hint that there were reasons why I should be sent out of the country.

Viola began to grin. La, Gillie, quite the soberest of my children, am I to surmize that you are to create for yourself somewhat of a wild reputation?

Gillie nodded. Viola sprang up to kiss him on the forehead. Why, my love, we shall quite understand – and I daresay there will be those shake their heads and remark that your father was a sad wild fellow in his youth, before he was sent to Constantinople – blood will out –

Gillie, reluctantly, began to grin himself. So I do not wish for you to fret do you hear reports of my being seen in gaming hells and in the company of fast women &C.

Viola sighed, and said 'twas quite a Haroun al Raschid proceeding.

Gillie nodded, and said, his mind was now more at rest on the matter, stood, went to kiss his mother, and left the room.

Dear Gillie, thought Viola – after Cathy, her favourite of the children. One understood from the occasional hint dearest Clorinda had let drop that Sir Vernon’s diplomatic exterior concealed a life of perilous adventures in the service of the nation.

She turned back to the Bengali poems.

A very little while later the door opened again and burst in Bella.

Viola put down her pen and wondered what Bella’s taking was about this time.

Mama, said Bella, here is Sybil, the most amiable girl, is she not? – indeed she is, Viola agreed – and is obliged to live with that stuffy guardian of hers that has notions about diet so that they eat very dull meals every day, and goes do lessons with Leah and Inez’s prig of a governess –

I am sure Miss Hazelgrove is all that can be desired, murmured Viola, for she could not suppose that the Merretts and the Amberts wished their daughters to grow up uneducated.

O, mayhap! cried Bella, but would it not be the primest thing did she come to the Miss Barnards’? Especial as Vicky Jupp will be going this next term and they are sound friends already.

Viola folded her hands on the desk before her. It was very pleasing to see Bella taking such a concern for her friends, but indeed, there were practicalities to the matter.

Why, I daresay, she said, but while I apprehend that her stepbrother Dr Asterley has a very good practice, I am not sure that he is in a position to pay the fees at the Miss Barnards.

Bella frowned a little and said, was there not scholarships?

Indeed there are, but I am like to suppose that they will all have been awarded for the forthcoming year. And, by the bye, where is Miss Vernall at the moment?

O, Steenie was rowing on the lake, and I prevailed upon him to take her in the boat, so she is well occupied.

Viola picked up her pen and fiddled with it for a moment. However, she said, we are really most exceeding grateful to Miss Vernall – sure I still have a number of questions to put to her now I am engaged in this translation from the Bengali – and it comes to me that it might be a means whereby we could show our gratitude –

Oh, Mama, you are entirely the best Mama, that is a first-rate notion!

Viola had no doubt that it would likely benefit Miss Vernall to be among the company of friendly young girls of her own age, rather than residing with a busy physician that, however dutiful towards her, must be considerable preoccupied. One would have to put it exceeding tactful, but she confided he might see the educational advantages, as well as the benefits of making friends.

Well, I will talk it over with your Papa, but it seems answerable to me – but do not go blurting the plan to her just yet, for we must also obtain her guardian’s consent.

Bella threw her arms around her mother.