The Long Vacation Part 25

"Oh!" said Clement, with an odd recollection, "but I suppose he did not know about these cadets?"

"No, the big Horner sent up to Mother b.u.t.terfly's for some more stuff, not so mild, and then Ted set upon me, and said it was all because of me that Vale Leston had to live like a boiling of teetotal frogs and toads, just to please the little baronet's lady mamma, but I was a Dutchman all the same, and should sell them yet--I sucked it in so well, and they talked of seeing how much I could stand. Something about my governor, and here--that word in the Catechism."

"Ah!" gasped Clement, fairly clutching his arm, "and what spared you?"

"Horner came down, and Sweetie Bob, that's the errand-boy, and there was a bother about the money, for Bob wasn't to leave anything without being paid, and while they were jawing about that, Merry laid hold of me and said, 'Come and look for the aralia.' They got to shouting and singing, and I don't think they saw what was doing. They were nasty songs, and Merry touched me and said, 'Let us go after the aralia.' We got away without their missing us at first, but they ran after us when they found it out, and if you had not been there, Uncle Clem--"

"Thank G.o.d I was! Now, Adrian, first tell me, did you taste this stuff?

You said you sucked it in."

"Well, I did, a little. You know, uncle, one cannot always be made a baby. Women don't understand, you know, and don't know what a fool it makes a man to have them always after him, and have everything put out of his way like a precious infant, and people drinking it on the sly like Gerald, or--"

"Or me, eh, Adrian? I can tell you that I never tasted it for thirty years, and now only as a medicine. Lance, never."

"But they did not treat you like a baby, and never let you see so much as a gla.s.s of beer."

"Well, I am going to treat you like a man, but it is a sorrowful history that I have to tell you. You know that your mother and Aunt Wilmet are twin sisters?"

"Oh yes, though Aunt Wilmet is stout and jolly, and mother ever so much prettier and more delicate and nice."

"Yes, from ill-health. She is never free from suffering."

"I know. Old Dr. May said there was no help for it."

"Do you know what caused that ill-health? My boy, they spoke of your father to-day--brutes that they were," he could not help muttering.

"Yes, he died when I was a week old."

"He had ruined himself when quite a young man, body, soul, and estate--and you too, beforehand, in estate, and broken your mother's heart and health by being given up to that miserable habit from which we want to save you."

"I thought it was only poor men that got drunk and beat their wives"

(more knowledge, by the bye, than he was supposed to possess). "He did not beat her?"

"Oh no, no," said Clement, "but he as surely destroyed all her happiness, and made you and your sisters very poor for your station in life, so that it is really hard to educate you, and you will have to work for yourself and them. And at only thirty-six years old his life was cut off."

"Was that what D. T. meant? I heard Ted whisper something about that."

"It was well," thought Clement, "that he had grace enough to whisper.

Yes, my poor boy, it is only too true. I was sent for to find your father dying of delirium tremens--you just born, your mother nearly dead, the desolation of your sisters unspeakable. He was only thirty-six, and that vice, together with racing, had devoured him and all the property that should have come to his children. I think he tried to repent at the very last, but there was little time, little power, only he put you and your sisters in my charge, and begged me to save you from being like him."

"Did they mean that I was sure to be like that? Like a pointer puppy, pointing."

"They meant it. And, Adrian, it is so far true that there is an inheritance--with some more, with some less--of our forefathers' nature.

Some have tendencies harder to repress than others. But, my dear boy, you know that we all have had a force given us wherewith to repress and conquer those tendencies, and that we can."

"When we were baptized, G.o.d the Holy Spirit," said Adrian, under his breath.

"You know it, you can believe now. Your uncle Lance and I prayed that the old nature might be put down, the new raised up. We pray, your mother and sisters have prayed ever since, that so it may be, that you may conquer any evil tendencies that may be in you; but, Adrian, no one can save you from the outside if you do not strive yourself. Now you see why your poor mother has been so anxious to keep all temptation out of your reach."

"But I'm growing a man now. I can't always go on so."

"No, you can't. You shall be treated as a man while you are with me.

But I do very seriously advise you--nay, I entreat of you, not to begin taking any kind of liquor, for it would incite the taste to grow upon you, till it might become uncontrollable, and be your tyrant. If you have reason to think the pledge would be a protection to you, come to me, or to Uncle Bill."

He was interrupted by Sibby coming in with his cup of tea, and--

"Now, Mr. Clement, whatever have you been after now? Up to your antics the minute Miss Cherry is out of the way. Aye, ye needn't go to palavering me. I hear it in your breath," and she darted at the stimulant.

"I've had some, Sibby, since I came in."

"More reason you should have it now. Get off with you, Sir Adrian, don't be worriting him. Now, drink that, sir, and don't speak another word."

He was glad to obey. He wanted to think, in much thankfulness for the present, and in faith and love which brought hope for the future.

CHAPTER XV. -- A POOR FOREIGN WIDOW

Art thou a magistrate? Then be severe.--GEORGE HERBERT.

Early in the day General Mohun received a note from Clement Underwood, begging him to look in at St. Andrew's Rock as soon as might be convenient.

"Ah," said his sister, "I strongly suspect something wrong about the boys. Fergus was very odd and silent last night when I asked him about Jem Horner's picnic, and he said something about that Harewood cousin being an unmitigated brute."

"I hope Fergus was not in a sc.r.a.pe."

"Oh no, it is not his way. His geology is a great safeguard. If it had been Wilfred I might have been afraid."

"His head is full--at least as much room as the lost aralia leaves--of the examination for the Winchester College election."

"Yes, you know Jasper has actually promised Gillian that if either of her brothers gets a scholarship, she may be allowed a year at Lady Margaret Hall."

"Yes, it incited her to worry Wilfred beyond sufferance in his holidays.

I know if you or Lily had been always at me I should have kicked as hard as he does."

"Lily herself can hardly cram him with his holiday task; but Fergus is a good little fellow."

"You have kept him at it in a more judgmatical way. But won't Armytage come in between the damsel and her college?"

"Poor Mr. Armytage--Captain, I believe, for he has got his commandership. Gill snubs him desperately. I believe she is afraid of herself and her heart."

"I hope she won't be a goose. Jasper told me that he is an excellent fellow, and it will be an absolute misfortune if the girl is besotted enough to refuse him."

"Girls have set up a foolish prejudice against matrimony."