Johnny Ludlow, Second Series

Coney's dinner was fixed for six: but country people don't observe the fashion of dashing in at the last stroke of the hour. The weather was cold, and no mistake; the snow lay

d shoot up some degrees over the Coneys' heads in the scale of the world's ladder; for old Coney was only a plain farmer; and you'

big room in it, oak-panelled. The cloth was laid there for to-night, the breakfast would be for the morrow. Old Coney and Mrs. Coney came out of the drawin

d her out of the way by the waist, that he might shake hands all round. The eldest daughter, Mary West, was staying there with her nurse and baby; she looked ill, and got up on

ringing his two brothers, Charles and James; and Mary West's husband. Miss Jane's

and started them well in life. Lucy, the only girl, married a Captain Bird, who turned out to be a frightful scamp. Robert remained on the farm with his father; Charles was a clergyman; James a doctor in Worc

arranged, at Timberdale Station to bring them on. Mrs. James Ashton came over earlier in the day with Mrs. West. Robert and Charles A

ime passed. They were laid out on a table against th

"Poor Lucy Bird sent this. She must have made it herself, a thing like this, bought, would be as much as fifteen or sixteen shillings

ed Mrs. Todhetley, in the

We should have liked to have Lucy over for the wed

to make her look taller and thinner than ever, and a white lace cap with pink rib

re of plain common-sense. The Master of Ravenswood came in the shape of Captain Bird, a tall, dark man, with a flaming coat and fierce moustache. He paid court to Lucy, and she fell in love with him before a week was over. The Ashtons turned their backs upon him: there was something in the man they did not like, in spite of the red coat and the black moustache. But he won Lucy over-he had heard of her fortune, you see-and she promised to marry him. She was a gentle, yielding, timid gi

pent it as soon as he well could; and he would have spent some more that came to Lucy when her father died, only that it was left in Robert Ashton's hands to be paid to her quarterly. People called Bird a blackleg: said he was about the worst man that ever stepped

med Mr. Coney, as the hour struck. "

aid he should be here hal

t," returned old Coney. "If he does not m

d struck half-past six. Dinner. The Squire led o

rt's place whil

owed from us) and the maids stood by the sideboard, which glittered with silver. The Coneys had their stores as well as other people, and did things well when they did them at all. On

wha

ace was interrupted. Lifting his head towards the quarter when

, Charles-I beg everybody's pardon; but indeed we must not sit dow

d her husband, rather crossly.

to sit down. And there we all stood, uncertain what to do, the din

to sit down thirteen: New Year's Day and Christmas D

ed old Coney, in wrath. "Where the plague is Robert? Look here: those tha

r!" cried

obert in the drawing-room, mamma, and you can sit down twelve. Yes,

some dinner in, chi

ould like best to take it

u go over to that side, to make the tabl

parson

called kickshaws, meaning the superfluous dishes you find at a modern entertainment. T

uce as yours, go where I will," crie

s gives an eye to that, you see, Squire," he answered, in

r twice to every dish, and drank champagne with

the plum-pudding appeared, whisperi

utting a mince-pie beside it. "She will have no luck unless she ea

r a little tumbled. It was very pretty hair, dark chestnut, and her eyes were hazel.

ht you some p

d you leave the tab

e to; and some mince-pie al

f the pudding, cut a quarter of the m

luck.' Go back now to your dinner; I dare

and finish this: as

nor no. She was looki

at Robert Ashton'

ould have been here if he could. I t

he is a little late in coming?

a stool on the other side of the hearth; the empty puddin

this dinner, Johnny, all be

t you fear,

to tell some one. I wish I had told Robert when he called this mo

eyes staring into the fire as before, just as thoug

ril, that she cried to him to avoid it, or it would stop their marriage. He seemed not to take the least notice of her, but to

ne before our marriage. I woke up in a fever; and but that it was night and not day, should have had difficulty in persuading myself at

as the

ngs are very dark, you know. I got up soon: what with this dinner-party and other things, there has been a great deal to do to-day, and I soon forgot my dream. Robert called after breakfast, and the sight of him p

he had gone for to Worcester

s here, I don't remember even to have thought of it. But when his brothers and Mr. West came in without him to-night, it

an

ny Ludlow,

d have said there was nothing; but, sitting there in the quiet room listening to her earnest voice, seeing

wl of mamma's," she said, pointing

tty white shoulders and arms. And yet the fi

resumed, drawing the shawl round her as if she were out in the snow. "Of course th

ped. She seemed to be sp

almost sure to take the ne

? I said nothing. It was better

ched, Johnny. What I think is, that he may h

d. I'd as soon have expected he

he Timberdale side," she went on. "With the snow on them, perhaps ice, they ar

feasible enough. But yet-so

agile, Jane. He has come down

he Ravine," she said, staring as before into the f

etter. I'll make

. I thought I'd tell him-keeping counsel about the dream-

of grief?

own the zigzag, and be

h: the notion amused him excessively. "Wha

te, Jane t

her eyes, and went up to Tom in an o

er him, I think I must go myself. I

girl, what h

of the dining-room, and we started. Putting on our dark great-coats in silence, we went out at the back-door, which was nearest

m, "we had better tu

ne was right about its being slippery: we had to hold on by the trees and bushes, and tread

" he roa

could hardly speak for laughing. Tod gr

hing. The snow here at the bottom was up to our calves, and our black evening trousers got rolled up higher. The moonlight lay cold and white on the Ravine: the clustering trees

d lose his footing, he wouldn't come to such m

s as sure-footed as a hare. But for Jane's being so miserable, I'd h

ver came on a bright moonlit night. Here we were at last!-at the foot of the other zigzag. But Robert Ashton wasn't here. And, the

w must have heaps to do the day before his wedding, if it's only in burning his old letters fro

on to the Court,

d!" cried the othe

much farther. You can go

e sun had shone on it in the day and melted the snow. I went up it nearly as easily a

r an adventure by the way, which I have not just here space to tell about. It had nothing to do with Robert A

id she, "I though

he master?"

e has not been in sinc

imbs, Bob Ashton had not got back from Worcester. It was very strange, thoug

es, helping, had their gowns turned up. This helping had not been in the evening's programme; but things seemed to have been turned upside dow

like this," whispere

at, good

nce of Rob

that I like

iminately. The first train came in from Worcester before it was well light; but it did

y the express to South Crabb Junction," said Tom Coney, thinking h

ff than Timberdale Station, but the opposite way. I don't think one of us was more eager than another, unless it w

red nose inside all the carriages, looking for Robert Ashton, was a rare sight. The guard

g fit to cry. "There'll be a train in aga

. Something told us so. It was only makin

y the next down train," sa

does not s

e Squire, defiantly. "You can't come, C

idegroom to give her

must remain on th

stop made by the station-master. The Squire, To

your right hand from your left in a business of this sort. We must go about it systematically, and find out the d

other, Fred Coles, was Robert Ashton's great chum, and was to be groom's-man at the wedding. Harry Coles said his brother had met Ashton by appointment the previous day, and went

that?" cried the

back to their office early in the afternoon-about on

aid-going, or gone?" deman

as busy with some estimates, and did

it, sir," retorted the Squire

ted the first thing this morning, Squire;

owing what in the world to do. He suddenly said he'd go

quire, and had got his licence. The governor (meaning Mr. Clifton, who knew the Ashtons and the Coneys well) had joked a bit with youn

tame lambs; for he wouldn't let them make a suggestion or put in a word edgeways. He was on his way to the jeweller's now: but as he had omitted to a

d for them, the master said. Of course every one knew the young lady was Miss Jane Coney: he had

ted the Squire, wrathfully. "I want to know if M

r. "When they went out of here-young Fred Coles was

king a little bread-and-cheese, observing that he had no time for anything else, and a glass of table-beer. Mr. Coles had come down Broad Street with him, as far

where he went to nex

mind was, that Mr. Ashton's business in Worceste

ed to seekings and searchings, but he knew no more what to be at next than the man in the moon. Turning up the Cross, he came to an anchor outside the line

"I think we had better talk to the

uire took his hands from his pockets,

trouble, sir," was the man's ready answer. "He

ng along at the moment, p

hat?" roared

just caught it now. With a great cry he dashed over to the fly-stand, got into one, and or

mad!" stampe

d the man, obey

you, sir! T

-court," corre

The first thing his spectacles caught sight of distinctly was the fair Saxon f

g up, bringing the guests. The four bridesmaids wore pale-blue silk, trimmed with white fur. Jane

r. And her poor pale face looked more fit for a burying

saw anything less like a mockery, or

ath of myrtle and orange-blossoms on her

-day-and nothing can have been more foolish than to prepare me for it. Oh, Johnn

and corners of the house; the maids, wearing a bright uniform of purple gowns and white muslin aprons, ran about wildly. Every two minutes, old

ing out; and the carriages went away wit

along. A gentleman put his head out of it, to tell the driver to stop. He got down, and came limping up to me.

s to Mr. Coney. Can you manage to bring him out to me, or smuggle me into any littl

Robert Ashton!" I said, in s

nown to every one, but I should like to break it to Coney first.

n as pale as a gir

"He is in custody for nothing less than the mu

Cockermuth's arrival, and came down, knowing he must have brought bad news. The

in a fright. "For goodness' sake shut us in somewhere, J

be shut up. And there we were-hearing that

asked him to go and see her. Robert went at once to their lodgings. What exactly happened there, no one as yet knew; but Robert and Bird got quarrelling. Robert did not come out again. In the morning (this

iserable breakfast! waiting for those who could not sit down to it. The evergreens on th

she said. "That dream was a dre

o, nor altogether believe in. Standing by the cold grate, she began

I were you, Jane. Where's the

rnings,

them? Call them warnings, an you like the

! It was hard enough to bear whe

cook, Molly, in the kitchen amongst the maids. Trust her for being in the thick of any gossip. Bringing

ane, if I were you. Ther

s rather passionate; and there's no telling how they might provoke him. If there is much pro

t, her eyes cast down. Just then ther

. Tell mamma not to come in; I am easier by myself-and the fire's burni

ords? I looked at her narrowly. I supp

I haven't known how to bear it. They mean it in kindness-great k

pered to Mrs. Coney that s

everyday dining-room, and old Coney, after saying he'd have given a thousand pounds out of his pocket for

, it was; and the Squire, and Tod, and Tom Coney with him. The dog-cart had gone to t

right, Mr

You did not think it c

e out o

been no real damage done.

er. She has been wi

room. Jane was kneeling on the hearthrug, her face buried in the cushion of t

ber

something. He went up in silence, slightly smiling-he w

ane. You look as th

I was going away when he hastily called to me. For the first time in

y. Don't call any one.

f both. And then she listened to his story, leaning on his

one there in search of old Coney. The Squire's glowing face was a sight to be seen. Mrs. Coney had sat down on the mahogany bench; her

oney to Bird. But they had made the potion a trifle too strong, not calculating the effect it would take on a young and habitually sober man. Robert fell into a deep sleep, from which it was impossible to arouse him all night: as to writing, his hands were as if dead. Late in the morning he awoke; and, bit by bit, realized where he was and what had passed. He was a little stupid even then, but sensible enough to remember that it was his wedding-day, and to foresee that he might have some trouble to get away from the house. On attempting to leave, Bird and Dawler placed themselves in the passage to prevent him. There was

tation) was telling his tale. Dawler was contradicting him, and swearing hard and fast that it was a case of deliberate murder. The magistrates invited the Squire to a seat b

staggered into the justice-room, to the front of the room. It was Lu

d the club in his hand. I saw it all, for I stood by. It was Dawler who threw his weight upon the club, a

ight to the magistrates, he thought it well to go after her: there was no knowing what plots might be in the wind. He had the grace to acknowledge that the blow was an accident. The whole ben

in there with Jane: where else should he be? They burst in

asked old Coney. "Last night's was only hal

cried the Squi

oney said-that no dinner was prepared.

and there was no room for elbows, but we made up with laughter. Sixteen this evening; Fred Coles being there, and old Cockermuth, who sat down in spite of the gout. Afterwards we went off by the light of the sta

in the morning sun. Robert Ashton was calm and quiet in church; Jane too, and not a bit nervous. The chief speech at th

tears. She was leaving her childhood's home, you see. Robert would have hurried her straigh

nd as she went down the path. "They were all very kind

carriage away towards South Crabb Junction. The people cheered