Growing Good (10)

Seasonal Celebration (1)

Julia, Dowager Duchess of Humpleforth, kissed her beautiful son Hari, that was now almost coming about of years to be breeched and his lovely black locks shorn, and said she was sure she did not have to mind him to be good.

Mildred Veriker smiled and said, o, they are all give to a little childish mischief from time to time, save perchance for Kate, that goes be the sober big sister, but 'tis no real naughtiness.

Betty Higgins, ruler of the Yeomans nursery, came down the stairs saying, now, Master Hari, what say you to a nice bowl of bread and milk, and mayhap a bedtime story?

Hari kissed Julia, and gave Betty his hand, and they proceeded up the staircase towards the nursery.

Mildred looked at Julia, whose fine eyelashes showed a little damp. The Dowager Duchess gave a sigh. O, indeed it is the best place for him here – so very healthy a situation – that paragon Betty Higgins – brothers and sisters to play with –

She gave Mildred her enchanting wistful smile. Sure I greatly miss my own brothers and sisters in Bombay! But I am able to do a deal for them – advance their interests – make business connexions – &C.

And it was quite the kindest thing of you to get your brother to send me those seeds and cuttings – I shall have a most enjoyable time in the hothouses seeing may I persuade 'em to come on in this country – and whether they may be planted out –

O, said Julia, might there be an essay by the renowned Mrs Veriker on the topic my brother would consider himself amply recompensed!

Poo-poo, said Mildred, nonetheless gratified. For she did take a little pride – and Flora and Hannah would go exhort her that was by no means personal vanity but showing what their sex was capable of – in her reputation as a botanist. The late Mr Veriker had been much older than her – had certain troubles of health – occasional a little testy – and very poor at managing his financial affairs, leaving her somewhat in straits at his death – but had ever, very fine in him, acknowledged her as a colleague and a partner in scientific endeavour. One saw far too many ladies whose efforts were subsumed into their husbands’ attainments!

Julia sighed, and said, would be quite the family party at Maraston Towers – all demonstrating congeniality – all my stepchildren and their families – quite the most tedious thing – now entirely concede that I was exceptional dutiful to old Humple and conduct myself with propriety in widowhood, though somewhat of enviousness over the generous portion my father settled on me –

She leant over to kiss Verrie’s cheek. You are entirely the best of honorary grandmothers to those children, she said, as the footman came to say her carriage was ready.

Mildred turned away as the door closed on a bitter draught, and made her way to the parlour. Where the flower-garden of the other children was playing about the floor with dear Leda Hacker – Hannah and Flora sitting close together on the sopha, that was a good sight to see, there had been somewhat of an estrangement of recent months – Lady Bexbury recounting some amuzing tale of Town gossip – Mr MacDonald was looking benignly upon the scene –

The party was not quite complete – Mr Josh Ferraby was anticipated shortly – and Gordon and Ellen had gone to his parents for the seasonal celebrations – but it was a family such as she had never expected to have.

***

Well, thought Ginevra Frinton, this was entire unlike the times she had been obliged to travel by railway about some investigation! A fine first-class compartment – a guard not only very attentive about seeing their luggage stowed in his van, but looking in from time to time to see that all was satisfactory– and even conveying 'em a well-provided lunch-basket part-way through the journey.

Law, said Ma, sure I feel entire like Her Majesty!

Then when they came to their station, there was a carriage awaiting – no matter of the station fly, no, a carriage with, she observed in the gathering twilight, a coat-of-arms upon the door, that Walter commenced expatiate upon.

Because the family name is Ollifaunt, and in heraldry the elephant is called ollifaunt –

A box of coals upon the floor, lest they should get chilled, oh, very thoughtful. Luggage stowed most expeditious.

Could not see much of the passing countryside now it grew full dark – but 'twas not long before they were driving up at a fine old-fashioned manor house –

Ginevra gulped and felt Ma take her hand. 'Twas all very well for Walter – a boy that had schoolfriends here, and had been before – a very different matter.

Greeted extremely civil in the hall by Sir Thomas and Lady Ollifaunt and Master Philip – Pip they called him – Sir Thomas gave a small smile and said, had spared them the whole rout! Would make further introductions later, when they had had a chance to refresh themselves –

And mayhap Miss Frinton might care to take tea with me – Mrs Frinton? – or would you prefer to rest and have tea sent up?

Ma allowed that the journey had been a little tiring, and tea sent up would come very grateful.

Ginevra had just put herself in order to face the rather daunting Lady Ollifaunt when Walter came quite bursting in. O Ma, Ma, imagine what! Quite the primest thing! Pip says their Uncle Josh – Mr Josiah Ferraby, the explorer – is here, just for the next day or so – goes celebrate the season with another part of the family – but o, exceeds all things!

She smiled at him and ruffled his hair, reminding him to be polite and not inundate Mr Ferraby with questions.

A footman came to escort her to Lady Ollifaunt’s sitting-room.

The lady made very civil indeed – that chair was probably the most comfortable – tea? milk? sugar? – bread and butter and cakes – sure entire the like of the hospitality she had received at Sir Harry Ferraby’s in Blackheath –

Lady Ollifaunt commenced upon a little family history – sure dear Tom – Sir Thomas’s – family is indeed a very old one in these parts – but I am sure you will have heard that the Ferrabys were quite nobodies until Papa grew so prosperous after inheriting the ironworks and bringing them about to the modern ways of doing things – my dearest Mama was naught but a yeoman farmer’s daughter – sure the family has flourished and got on, but I hope we do not go pretending to what we are not –

Ginevra murmured something about the industries that contributed so much to the prosperity of the nation.

Quite so! And we were not bred to be fine ladies but to be able to understand business in case of necessity.

Ginevra allowed that in her station, ‘'was expected to go out to work and aid the household finances while filling one’s marriage-chest – she had gone serve in the stationer’s alongside her father –

Lady Ollifaunt gave a little sigh and said, here was her eldest – Chloe – had been quite begged to be let stay at Qualling for the season. Was the bosom-companion of Lady Isabella – Her Grace had introduced her into Society – very kind and generous – fancied Chloe found it a little tedious.

Changed the subject to remark upon the enthusiasm her boys expressed about Walter – his abilities in the classroom, his capacities in games, and very much part of the better set among their schoolfellows. Most gratifying!

Here is our TomTom – now of an age to leave the schoolroom and the governess and go join his older brothers at school – is rather shy and quiet, 'tis reassuring that there will be familiar faces. And of course will be residing with Meg and Sebastian – one cannot like what one hears of boarding schools –

Ginevra agreed that she would be very loathe to send Walter away from home – 'twas an entire different matter going stay with family, that had doubtless known from childhood –

O, indeed, we have ever had a deal of visiting to and fro! And Highbury such an agreeable part to reside. But, have you had enough in the way of tea, let us go and join the company –

Feeling a little more at ease, Ginevra rose, and followed Lady Ollifaunt downstairs to a large drawing-room, where there was a fine crowd of young people, and a most superior toy theatre, all in wood, that Alec Ollifaunt and his sister Beth were displaying to Walter.

Sir Thomas, that was a very kindly-looking fellow, had heard he was a magistrate? was standing next to what must be Mr Josiah Ferraby, the famous explorer, that had a dog about his feet –

Sir Thomas looked down and laughed, saying that 'twas quite the like of that tale of the Pied Piper – here was his fine sheepdog Tag, became quite besotted with Josh.

A passing fancy, said Mr Ferraby with a grin. I am sure did you show him a fine herd of sheep to be about rounding up he would be off in the blink of an eye.

The door opened and came in Ma, escorted by a footman, and introductions were made. Came over Walter to tug at her dress and cry, Gran, come see the theatre! 'Tis the most up to the nines thing I ever saw! And they have all the characters for Bluebeard, and Babes in the Wood, and a deal more, do come look –

For they had been wont to indulge themselves with tuppence-coloured card theatres and sheets of characters, and Ma had been most exceptional fine at doing the different voices –

So there she was, making herself exceeding welcomed among the little ones, and the elder Ollifaunts smiled, and Mr Ferraby said, Lord, did Bess remember Aunty Clorinda showing 'em the harlequinade?

Lady Ollifaunt laughed a little, and turned to Ginevra. 'Twas Lady Bexbury first give us the theatre, and from playing with the toy theatre I came to real brick and mortar ones. And, flesh and blood actors that are a deal more troublesome than wooden ones!

Ginevra ventured that the investigation agency had had some dealings over theatricals –

Lady Ollifaunt gave out a quite theatrical groan and said, o dear, she could entirely imagine – quarrels and rivalries that go from spiteful remarks to attempts to do damage –

Quite so.

Well, we would not wish to gossip, but I fancy that aught you could say would be heard with great interest!