Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series

der; from the emerald-green outer venetian window-blinds to the handsome iron entrance-gates between the enclosing palisades; and the garden and grounds had not as

entleman. A tall, slender young fellow of seven-and-twenty, with golden hair that shone in the sun and eyes as blue and bright as the sky. Leaving the pony to be taken

n see you. What name?" And the applicant carelessly took a card from his waistcoat-pocket,

ncis Rad

n take to-drinking-and he had not kept the promise. He had been called to the Bar in due course, but he made nothing by his profession. Briefs did not come to him. He just wasted his time and lived a fast life on the small means that were his. He pulled up sometimes, turned his back on folly, and read like a house on fire: but his wild companions soon got hold of him again, and put his good resolutions to flight. Frank put it all down to idleness. "If I had work to do, I should do it," he said, "and that would keep me straight." But at the close of this last wint

ld call at the Torr and see them. The last time he came down, Frank was staying at a place popularly called Pitchley's Farm. Old Pitchley-who had lived on it, boy and man, for seventy years-liked him well. Frank made acquaintance that time with Annet Skate; fell in love with her, in fact, and meant to marry her. She was a pretty g

be let for miles round. And it was perhaps a curious thing that while Frank was thinking he should have to travel elsewhere in search of one, Pitchley's should turn up. Fo

brary, in his geranium-coloured Turkish cap, with its

, is he down here again? You can bring him in, Abel-though I'm sure

, peering up into Frank's handsome face as he shook

and its dissipations for good, and have come here to settle. It

d old Brandon. "You've been o

irst in the field-to ask you to let m

d for a lease of the moon, but he did not show it. His head w

Pitchley's Farm! How do

as my means will allow, and give a bond for the re

ans?" curtly ques

housand pounds. Taking mine

is it, Master Francis?"

a thousand pounds, and her friends are willing

es yours

le fellow at school I had a thousand pounds left me by

dfrey. He came down once or twice to

me another thousand. If I can have Pitchley's Farm, I shall be sure to get on at it," he added in his sa

a flick to the tassel. "My opinion lies the contrary wa

said Frank eagerly. "And I mean

the farm will cripple t

ve me a chance! Unless I can get some constant work, some interest to occupy my hands and my mind,

t at Frank, and nodding little nods to himself, following out some mental a

o give up bad habits, Mr. Brandon. I hope-I thin

habits, young man?" queried Mr. Brandon in

nt drinker, or that I have taken much, in comparison with what very many men drink; but I have, sometimes fo

f a worse habit,

idst such, a fellow has no chance. Often and often that neglected promise to my mother has lain upon me, a nightm

looking down upon you,

soul was actually on the wing-she told me that she knew I should be helped to throw off what was wrong. She had prayed for it, and seen it. A convi

ave the farm, and another to it

not sincere, after what

don't doubt that. The question is, will you be sinc

ve I shall. I will try w

You may ha

tassel quivered. He had a squeaky voice and a cold manner, and went in for coughs and chest-aches,

to stay for it; and drove away in the pony-gig to impart the news to all whom it might

age. Hard and surly as ever was he, and his stock of hair was

illy as he could bring his tongue to

ey's bailiff. He lent

you co

hought I'd just drive round and tell you the ne

say

as afraid, I suppose, that I and the farm might come to grief together-but he consented at last.

she is!" cried

he matter

r the pride and pomp of the Radcliffes: made out that nobody was good enough fo

Frank, with his good-humoured smile. "Here'

dark-blue cotton gown hanging straight down on her thin, lanky figure; and an old black cap adorning her hard face. It was a great contrast: handsome,

Becca's reply to his salutation, as sh

telling Stephen. I am goi

been indulged in so long that it had become habitual. "Much good the

starting the pony. They did not gi

the mop alone for a minute. "Be he a-going t

comment, as he stalked off in the wake of the re

g at matters with a distorted mind, he considered it a foul wrong done him; as no better than a robbery upon him; that the whole of the money was his own by all the laws of right and wrong, and that not a stiver of it ought to have gone to Frank. Unable, however, to alter the state of existing things, he had sincerely hoped that some lucky chance-say the little accident of Frank's drinking himself to death-would put him in

Torr, and make both ends meet. His two children were for ever tugging at his purse-strings. Tom, quitting the sea, had settled in a farm in Canada; but he was always writing home for help. Lizzy would make her appearance at home at all kinds of unseasonable times; and tell pitiful stories of the wants of her scanty ménage at Birmingham, and of h

year went swimmingly on. Francis entered into possession of the farm; and

ch, and roses creeping up the frames of the parlour-windows. Just a year had gone by since the wedding, and to-morrow would be the anniversary of the wedding-day. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Radcliffe were intending to keep it, and had bidden their friends

rlour-a low room, with its windows open to the clustering roses, and the furniture bright and tasty. Annet was of middle height, light and active, with a delica

to herself, with a smile. "Fra

her head at the door. The only maid kept: for both Frank and

. I shall wait

just going to step across now to Hester Bitton's

her hand from the red glare. Some business connected with stock took him to Worcester that d

s before she saw him. He waved his hand to her in the distance, and she fluttered h

r hours, and a mind healthily occupied, had done great things for him. His face was bright, his blue eyes

ank! It is ever s

nd that out to-day, Annet, But

arcels: she helping him. Both were laughing, for there seemed to be no end to them. They cont

hat I forget your

ood you are! But what is i

rself," said Fr

, disclosing a baby's cloak of white bra

k! How co

you say you

yet. It may not be

e's window in High Street, staring passers-b

tly into the paper, as if she mistook it for a baby. "An

o you think is coming here to-morrow? G

flung himself into a chair, and thrown

ave the pleasure of seeing them here, and he curtly said that he was coming, but couldn't answer fo

took no notice o

Something must be in the wind, Annet: neither

r a day's separation. And it was only when the house was at rest, and Annet was

you at once; I quite forgot it. This let

one of his former friends, a Mr. Briarly; offering on his own part and

instinct, against the offered visit, rushed into the mind of Francis Radcliffe. But the chances are, th

ese two fellows are going to take us by storm to-morrow. If I don't

them, won't you, Frank?" sh

m again. It's our busy time, though: they

and the mater. Stephen Radcliffe and his wife were there, Becca in a black silk with straps of rusty velvet across it. Stephen mostly sat still and said nothing,

rner of the porch. He told her he was glad to f

very best, s

hree hundred a-year to fall back upon when he gets out of Pitchley's':

well as we can be, s

sun. "That's a true saying, He who would be rich in twelve months is generally a beggar in six. You are helping Frank well, my dear. I ha

re not so very young, sir. I w

ting an old lady on the lawn in a big lace cap and green gown. "I can tell you what-when I let Frank Radcl

calling indiscriminately about for Frank Radcliffe; for a man to take the horse and vehicle, that they had contrived to chart

saw the company. Frank came out; and received a noisy greeting that might have been heard at York. O

to her explanation. "Fine friends, I should say! Frank Radcliffe,"-laying hold of him as he was comi

heir own accord

of yours,

w them in t

dering up to a decent house with more aboard me tha

the day and the dust on the journey must have caused them to take more than they were aw

ou see their backs turned

rinkers, hard and fast. They drank, themselves, and they seduced Frank to drink-though perhaps he did not require much seduction. Frank's ale was poured out like water. Dozens of port, ordered and paid for by Briarly, arrived from the wine-merchant's; Pratt procured cases of brandy. From morning till night li

own in his bed, a raving madman; Duffham

together; telling them they had done enough mischief for one year, and he must have the house quiet for both its

many days, however: how was a son and heir likely to live, coming to that house of fright and turmoi

as no change. It was not known whether Annet would live o

anor to the Squire: "and that is, a lunatic asylum. At home he cann

etter in an asylum?" cr

ought: but there's nothing else to be done. The calmness of an asylum, the sana

e?" asked

de Christmas. And the next question is, Squire-where shall he b

ank was dead in the eye of the law, and everything lay with the Squire. Not

and the Evesham doctor strongly recommended it. The terms seemed high to us: two hundred pounds a-year: and Stephen grumbled at them. But Annet begged and prayed that money might not be

London madhouse, its mistress in her sick-bed, and the little heir in Church Dykely churchyard. D

n to see her husband. But the sight of her so much excited Frank that Dr. Dale begged her not to come again. It was, he said, tak

eyes. On the whole it was good. The improvement in him, though slow, was gradual: and Dr. Dale felt quite certain now of his restoration. In May, the cheer

to ensure his doing well and to make his farm prosperous, Tom wanted no end of articles sent out to him: the latest improvements in agricultural implements; patent wheelbarrows, and all the rest of it. For Stephen to take the money out of his pocket to purchase the wheelbarrows was like taking the teeth from his head; but as Esau D. Stettin-who was above suspicion-confir

is body was wasting. He was, Ste said, a mere shadow; and Dr. Dale

e. They kept it from Annet. She was but a shadow herself: had fretted her flesh to fiddlestrings; and Duffham's

p to see him, poor fellow?" asked

Frank's being kept free from excitement. Why, he wanted to deny me, that Dale; but I i

Squire, rather surprised. It was something

said Stephen, ungraciously. "I'v

s will, to judge by the ill words he gave to it. And the repo

g that had gone wrong in the stables, when a man was seen making his way from the oak-walk towards the yard. Th

the pater: for the sun was

ike Stephen Ra

Tod; who stood watching a young brood of ducklings in the

his hand, and his face was of a curious leaden c

he began, in low tones, without any

aken off, dropped on the stones. "Dead! Frank!" he

ed the letter," said Stephen, drawing one from his

the head doctor, under Dale, Stephen explained. Frank had died suddenly, it stated, without warning of any kind,

ful thing!" cr

oing to end this way; not yet awhile, at any rate. For him, it's a

died of?" q

tephen. He looked sharply round, as if he hadn'

rt disease," he said, facing the S

Radcliffe? Was anything

Squire. He thought that was t

er told

k heart yet. And it's only a thought o' mine: he might ha

h an ill thought as that," cried the p

venience it is to me to go up at this moment when my hay's just cut! Frank's

n his distress at the sudden news would have tho

to him. "They'd not as much as release him to be buried without me, I expect. I shall

-let him lie by his mo

us; and had rounded the duck-pond on his exit, wh

suppose, up at Dale's. Have I y

ffe. Or let Dale send in the ac

held over his shoulder. Tho Squire rubbed his face, and wondere

ak it to them in the best manner he could. But now, a mischance happened to that letter. Welsh names are difficult to spell; the pater's pen put L for Y, or

her," he pleaded by way of excuse when the Squire blew him up. "There was some delay; an inquest, and all that; and unless we'd

art that was wrong

'" replied Stephen. "Dale says it's rather a common

k his poor wife did not se

actually had the decency to put himself into a semblance of mourning. "The wo

he end of Fran

d it. "That Stephen Radcliffe has been at his stingy tri

itself a rest. The great doubt to be encountered now was, whether she could keep on Pitchley's Farm. Mr. Brandon was willing to risk it: and David Skate took up his a

eemed a very cruel thing for every shilling to leave her, an injustice, a wrong. The tears ran down her pale face as she spok

fe," said the Squire, after walking over to Sandstone Torr

ephen, rumpling up his grizzled hair.

for he went into a fever as usual over his argument, and the day was hot.

her. An unsteady man like h

wish I'd got the whip-hand of those two wicked blades who came down here and

take a drop of ci

t care

went, of Mrs. Stephen Radcliffe, whose younger sister she was. She lived th

d the Squire, after taking a long draught and finding the cider un

rs can do as

n. If that little child of theirs had

't live," ar

consolation to her, poor thing. Come! you can't, I

and the furniture? She's all that to the

ok here. Unless she gets help somewhere, I d

retorted Stephen. "Let her go back to her mother's again, over in th

can't for shame bring every one down upon your head. Allow her a trifle, man, out of the

ng out of one passion into another, would not give in-I may as well say at once that Stephen at last yielded, and agreed

no one believed it at first, the Squire included. It must be in

offer thanksgivings," observed old Bran

, in funds now, bought an adjoining field that was to be sold, and added it to his land: but he and his wife and the Torr kept themselves more secluded than ever. Frank's widow

ter dinner in the growing dusk. There was always plenty to relate, on getting home from school. A dreadful thing had happened this last quarter: one of the younge

cis Radcli

quietly, and sat down after shaking hands all round. Her face loo

tone. "I meant to have been here earlier; but it has

say. She just sat in silence, or next door to it: answering Yes and No in an abstracted sort of way whe

rt grass could be seen as distinctly as in the day. At the first stile she halted, saying she expected

. The moon, low in the heavens, as autumn moons mostly are, lighted up the per

m sure you must won

the Squire candidly. "We are always pleased

to begin upon it. The longer I sat there-like a statue, as I

ost story. The gist of it was this: an impression had taken hold of her mind that her husband had not been fair

ind so long that I do not trace the beginning. At first it was but the merest shadow o

d the Squire. "Johnny,

went on, "do I seem to see in my mind that some ill was wrou

What Mrs.

ion of it when she was dying, and sh

my dear lady, how

hat he put faith in it. He had escaped Stephen's toils until then, he said in a joking ton

u do fear?" asked

then spoke with considerable h

tephen-may hav

ered the Squire, rec

her hand to her face, showing out so pale

r-a great agony. I d

enses. "Your imagination must run away with you, child. Frank di

I don't pretend to account for it; to say what Stephen did or how

shook his head. I am sure he

man, not sticking at a trick or two where his pocket is concerned, but he wouldn't d

rt shiver. David Skate came into sight; To

dly said; and was over the st