Torwood's trust

or some days after that encounter with Belassis, Tor saw little of the uncle or the uncle’s family. He was rather glad of this, because Matilda and Bertha had grown somewhat pressing in their attentions of late, and he neither felt disposed to encourage nor yet to snub them. He liked to take life easily, without disturbing himself or others by needless display of feeling, and he hoped that these two supposed cousins would gradually ‘slack off’ from their pursuit of himself, without driving him to any definite declaration of indifference.

The Belassis family was, however, reaping distinct social advantage from its close connection with Philip Debenham of Ladywell Manor. Houses which had heretofore been utterly closed to the ‘pettifogging, vulgar attorney,’ were thrown open to young Debenham’s uncle, and invitations to dinners, dances, and outdoor fêtes rained in thick and fast, to the great delight of the Belassis girls.

It was rather a bitter pill for them to swallow, that Maud should take precedence of them in everything—that she should be courted, flattered, brought forward and made much of, whilst little notice was vouchsafed to them. Maud had been kept studiously in the background at Thornton House, had been stinted in every way as to dress, and made to look and feel as insignificant as possible; therefore it was the more provoking for them to see how attractive and winning she appeared, now that she had cast off her chrysalis shell and had emerged as a bright and brilliant butterfly.

Matilda and Bertha found it trying at first to witness Maud’s triumphs; but motives of policy taught them to conceal all ill-feeling, and gradually Maud’s simple goodwill and generosity towards them took the sting from their jealousy, and brought them to a more reasonable and pleasant frame of mind.

They were in a high state of exultation now, for they had been at last invited to the great fête of the county, Sir William Gainsford’s garden-party, followed by a dance—an annual glory from which hitherto they had been excluded, and upon which they had looked very much as the Peri did upon Paradise.

But here they were at last, walking in the beautiful grounds, playing tennis with the élite of the county, and tasting all the joys of an increased dignity and self-importance.

Maud and Aunt Olive were there under Phil’s escort; but Matilda and Bertha were too well content with their own share of glory to grudge Maud her triumphs. Was not a young baronet now talking as pleasantly to them as if he were an intimate acquaintance? What might not result from festivities like these?

Mrs. Belassis and her two daughters were gathered together under the shade of a spreading beech-tree, and the youthful Sir Herbert was making himself very agreeable, when a tall figure was seen leisurely approaching, and Bertha said softly:

‘Here’s Phil.’

Sir Herbert glanced up as the new-comer approached, and then his face brightened visibly.

‘Why, Torwood!’ he exclaimed, ‘who would have thought of seeing you here, amid all the resources of civilization! I am glad to see you again. Is Debenham here? Are you still partners? I think I did hear the name mentioned; but I never guessed it would be Phil Debenham that I knew in Canada. Is he here?’

Tor looked into the lad’s bright face with an amused smile.

‘He is here, my dear fellow. He is standing before you.’

Sir Herbert glanced round quickly, and then up into Tor’s humorous face.

‘You’re not Phil Debenham!’ he exclaimed.

‘Indeed; that’s news to me. Who am I, pray, if I’m not myself?’

‘Why,’ said Sir Herbert slowly, ‘I beg your pardon; but I thought you were Torwood, and the other fellow Debenham.’

‘Whereas I am Debenham, and the other fellow Torwood,’ answered Tor easily.

‘No; really though!’

‘Why, certainly. Not but what Tor and I have very frequently got mixed in the minds of other people, and I’m afraid we did not bother ourselves always to put them right; still we did not go so far as to confuse our own identity ourselves. All the same, you are not the first person who has been confused.’

‘Yes, I certainly thought you were Torwood; however, I’m quite open to conviction. Where is Torwood? Are you still travelling together, or have you divided company at last?’

‘I have come over to see about some property I came into a little while back; and Tor is in Germany. He’s been rather seedy, poor old fellow! I dare say, as soon as I can get away, we shall go off again somewhere together. Anyway, I shall go over and see about it soon.’

‘You must miss one another, I should think. He always seemed to lean upon you for everything,’ remarked Sir Herbert.

And then he was carried off by Bertha to play tennis, and Tor was left with Mrs. Belassis and her daughter.

‘You know Sir Herbert Moncrieff then, Phil?’ said the latter.

‘Yes, a little. We met in Canada, and travelled for a week together. I think that was the only time we met. He is rather a nice boy; but I fancy Tor saw more of him than I did.’

‘Rather odd, that mistake he made about the name,’ remarked Mrs. Belassis incisively.

Tor felt he was being closely watched; but he was not going to be put out by the scrutiny.

‘Yes, rather; but he’s not the only person who has mixed us up together. We often got taken one for the other; but it didn’t matter, and we didn’t care. I suppose sisters and intimates do meet with that sort of thing. Aren’t you and Bertha mistaken for one another sometimes, Matilda?’

‘Oh yes, often. People are very stupid. I should think you and Mr. Torwood must have got muddled up very often. Is Sir Herbert very rich, Phil?’

‘I don’t know; pretty well off, I should say. You can look him up in the “Landed Gentry” if you want to know about him.’

‘Oh, I don’t care, I’m sure; he’s a mere boy. I don’t think men are at all amusing until they have passed five-and-twenty.’

‘And after that they become more fascinating every year,’ suggested Tor, with a smile. ‘What good taste you have, my fair cousin! I was beginning to fear I was getting to be an old fogy. Now I shall have hopes of myself.’

Matilda laughed and shook her head coquettishly.

‘As if you ever thought such a thing! You know quite well what is thought of you all round here. You are only fishing for compliments, you bad boy!’

‘Well, compliments are very nice things, especially from the lips of ladies,’ answered Tor gallantly.

Matilda blushed and bridled. Mrs. Belassis looked at the two faces, and her keen glance read at once the consciousness and vanity of the one, and the good-humoured indifference of the other. Towards her daughter she felt a contemptuous pity for her conceit and credulity; but none the less did her indignation rise against the man who was practising upon it.

‘Philip,’ she said, in her rasping tones, ‘is it true that you were the leading spirit in your travels with Mr. Torwood, as Sir Herbert seemed to imply? Considering that you were entirely dependent upon him, it seems rather curious that he should depend upon you.’

‘Well, my dear aunt, I suppose when two people travel and live together, year after year, they do grow to lean one upon the other to a certain extent. Of course I tried all I could to save Torwood trouble, and he may have come to depend in a certain measure upon me. I do not see anything peculiar in that. I suppose I have the stronger will of the two, and that always tells in the long-run.’

‘You had not a strong will as a child,’ said Mrs. Belassis shortly.

‘Perhaps I was never allowed the use of it,’ suggested Tor, smiling.

‘Well, you have certainly made up for lost time now,’ retorted the lady, beginning to wield her fan, a sure sign that she was put out. ‘Your friend no doubt found as much, to his cost.’

‘We never quarrelled, anyway.’

‘But you always took the lead?’

‘I did not say that; but I may have done so to a certain extent.’

‘Your letters always gave us to understand quite the contrary. It was always Mr. Torwood who planned and arranged and paid for everything. I always thought that you were a kind of tame dog or valet to him.’

‘I am sure you would always think what was kind and flattering,’ answered Tor, with a little satirical bow, which greatly annoyed Mrs. Belassis, who was not used to retort.

‘You always gave us cause to think what was flattering, did you not?’ she asked, with a sneer. ‘Running away from your uncle’s care the moment the time came for you to earn a living, and repay him for all the benefits heaped upon you—running away to live on the charity of a stranger, who might kick you over at any moment, rather than be independent and do honest work. I wish Mr. Torwood had turned you adrift, just that you might learn what you had lost by your folly and pride.’

‘I am always grateful for good wishes,’ said Tor pleasantly. ‘Have you any more to offer me before I go?’

‘I am glad to hear that you are grateful—I should hardly have thought as much from my knowledge of your character. I suppose you consider yourself under obligations to the friend upon whose charity you have lived all these years? Yet now that your prosperity has come, you leave him ill and alone in Germany, whilst you come over to enjoy your inheritance here. Your ideas of gratitude are evidently as original as the rest of your character.’

‘Mamma, how can you be so disagreeable to poor Phil!’ remonstrated Matilda, with indignation. ‘I’m sure he has been as kind and good to everyone, as anyone could be. But, Phil, why don’t you ask Mr. Torwood to Ladywell? If he is well enough, he would certainly enjoy the change; and if he is ill, he ought to see an English doctor, I am sure. I don’t believe foreign ones are the least good. Why don’t you have him over, and get the very best advice to be had for him?’

‘I should have said that was the very least you could have done for a friend, to whom you owe so much,’ said Mrs. Belassis.

‘So I shall do, if this German man fails,’ answered Tor. ‘That is to say, he shall come if he will; but I have every reason to believe he will soon be well, and there will then be no need for further advice.’

‘But you will ask him to Ladywell, won’t you, when he is well?’

‘Oh yes,’ answered Tor, with a rather peculiar smile. ‘He shall come over as soon as ever he is well. I think you will like him, Matilda.’

‘Is he good-looking?’

‘Yes; I think so.’

‘As good-looking as you, Phil?’ archly.

‘Why, yes; decidedly more so, I should say,’ answered Tor, smiling. ‘I always told him he was quite the lady-killer.’

‘If he is so presentable,’ remarked Mrs. Belassis ruthlessly, cutting short Matilda’s attempt at a flirtation, ‘I cannot think why you did not bring him with you.’

‘You must remember that he is not a “tame dog.” He had not the least wish to come.’

‘How odd! I should have thought he would have liked the fun. Did you ask him? Did he say he would not?’

‘He did not express the least wish to accompany me, which comes much to the same thing. I could not urge him, as he was seedy; and it would hardly have been fair to the German doctor, to have taken him away before he had given his system a trial.’

‘What is the matter with him?’ asked Mrs. Belassis sharply.

‘I do not know. He had a fall, and injured himself somewhere. I fancy perhaps it is the spine, for he has to lie on his back a good deal. I must go over and see him soon, for he is an awfully bad correspondent. Well, Matilda, shall we go for a row on the lake there? I shall have much pleasure in sculling you, if you have a fancy for a boat.’

Matilda complied joyfully, delighted to have secured her handsome cousin for her companion; but she found him disappointingly absent and absorbed, though he concealed any appearance of anxiety so successfully, that she had no idea how much disturbance of mind her mother’s words had occasioned him.

‘She will be dangerous if she can,’ thought Tor to himself. ‘I don’t think she can suspect yet; but she is on the high-road to suspicion. I hope to goodness no other fellows we ever came across, will turn up. It would become distinctly awkward if they all greeted me as Torwood. By Jove! I half wish I’d never begun the game. It grows more and more complicated every week. I’d no notion it would be such a bore. However, if I only stop that marriage between Maud and young Belassis, I shan’t have had my pains for nothing. Confound that Phil! Why can’t he come to his senses and act for himself?’

Mrs. Belassis sat still in deep thought after the pair had left her; and the result of her meditations was expressed in a few words of soliloquy.

‘Well, I don’t understand things yet, and I haven’t got the clue; but I’m quite sure there’s something very odd about it all.’

Matilda and Bertha were in high spirits as they dressed afresh for the ball that night. They were not staying in the house; but as they came from a distance, they remained during the interval between the two fêtes, and a room was allotted to them, which their cousin Maud shared. All three girls had new dresses for the occasion, and therefore, it need hardly be said, were in a high state of delight.

‘Oh, Maud, how lovely!’ was the exclamation of the sisters, as they turned and beheld the marvellous costume of creamy lace and satin and pearls in which she had just arrayed herself. ‘Why, it’s perfectly heavenly! Where did you get it? I suppose Phil gave it you?’

‘Yes, it came from Paris—Worth, you know. Isn’t it nice! He’s a dear boy, and gives me lovely things. I almost wish he wouldn’t. He is so extravagant over me.’

‘It’s well to be you, Maud,’ said Matilda. ‘I wish Lewis was like that; but then, he hasn’t any money. Maud, do you think Phil means ever to get married? Does he ever talk of it? Most men do, when they come into a property.’

Maud laughed, and shook her pretty head.

‘He doesn’t ever talk about it. I don’t think he does intend to, yet.’

‘I think he ought to,’ remarked Matilda judicially. ‘A man in his position ought to have a wife. When you are married, Maud, he will have to get one.’

‘I am not married yet,’ answered Maud, laughing. ‘Perhaps he will when I am; but I do not think he will marry you, Matilda.’

This was not spoken with a shade of malice; only with the frankness of girls brought up together, who had discussed matrimonial projects many times before.

Matilda coloured, but did not seem to take offence.

‘He might do worse,’ she said. ‘I think he likes me. He was particularly nice to-day. Why do you think such a thing so impossible, Maud?’

‘I’m almost sure he will never marry a Belassis,’ she answered gravely.

‘That is all mamma’s fault!’ cried Matilda angrily; ‘she is so rude to poor Phil.’

‘I told her it was horribly mean of her,’ added Bertha, ‘spoiling our chances and everything. Of course she said we were fools ever to think we had any chance. One can never do any good with mamma; she will go her own way.’

‘And make Phil hate us all.’

‘He doesn’t hate you at all,’ interposed Maud, ‘but he doesn’t like Uncle and Aunt Belassis; and I’m sure he wouldn’t like to become a son-in-law.’

‘It is a shame!’ cried Matilda, with something like tears in her eyes.

‘Besides,’ continued Maud frankly, ‘I don’t much think he would fall in love with either of you. It would be much more likely to be Roma.’

‘Roma Meredith!’ cried both sisters at once. ‘Why, she never goes anywhere. When does he see her?’

‘He goes there very often. Mr. Meredith is fond of him. I think he would like him to marry Roma; and she is so very, very beautiful and clever. I don’t see how he can help admiring her. If he does marry at all, I think I should like it to be Roma.’

‘She would never have him; she would never leave her father,’ objected Matilda, looking rather blank.

‘She would do exactly what her father wished. She has no will but his.’

‘She would be a horribly dull wife to have,’ cried Bertha, with a short laugh. ‘She can only stand in statuesque attitudes and look handsome. She never has anything to say for herself.’

‘Oh, but she has, when you know her; only she is very shy and reserved.’

‘I can’t bear people like that,’ said Bertha, pinning in her flowers viciously; ‘I like fun and quickness.’

There was silence for a minute or two; then Matilda asked suddenly:

‘Are you going to marry Lewis, Maud?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Haven’t you made up your mind yet?’

‘No.’

‘You’ll have to, pretty soon.’

‘Well, yes; but I haven’t done so yet.’

‘I call it unfair to Lewis to keep him waiting so long,’ said Bertha.

‘Papa and mamma will be wild if you don’t,’ added Matilda. ‘I thought you were going to for certain.’

‘I did mean to, once; but I don’t feel so sure now,’ said Maud coolly.

‘I suppose Phil is against it, as poor Lewis is a Belassis,’ remarked Matilda.

‘Phil has never said one word about it.’

‘Then why have you changed?’

‘I don’t know, unless because I am so happy at Ladywell, and because all other men seem so stupid and tame after Phil.’

‘I believe you want to wait till he brings Mr. Torwood back from Germany,’ cried Matilda, laughing, ‘to see if he isn’t like Phil, and to go in for him.’

Maud laughed herself at the idea.

‘I think I might do worse,’ she said. ‘If he is one bit like Phil, I should like him fifty times better than Lewis. I will tell him he must bring him to see me soon.’

And then the three girls descended to the ball-room, and enjoyed one of the happiest nights of their lives; the enjoyment being much enhanced by Tor’s impartial attentions to them all.