Amy Walton

“ The bees buzzing in the flowers beneath, the little winds rustling in the leaves, the cheerful chirps and scraps of song from the birds, the crow of a distant cock, the deep, low cooing of the pigeons in the stable-yard near. Anna longed to be out-of-doors, among these pleasant sights and sounds; she suddenly turned away, and began to dress herself quickly. The stable clock struck seven just as she was ready, and she ran down-stairs into the garden with a delightful sense of freedom. The sunshine was splendid; this was indeed different from walking in a London park ”

“ Dornton and the Dornton people seemed to her at that moment almost unbearable. Should she ever get away from them? she wondered. Would her life be spent within the hearing of Mrs Winn’s sententious remarks, the tedious discussions of tiny details, the eternal chatter and gossip, which still seemed to buzz in her ears, from the meeting that afternoon? Then her thoughts turned to their usual refuge, the Professor, and she began to plan a visit to Anna at Waverley. ”

“ Their lives teach us as well as their art, and believe me, Delia, when the artist’s life fails in duty and devotion, his art fails too in some way.”
“It is so hard to remember that all those dusty, little, everyday things matter,” said Delia.
“But if you think of what they stand for, they do matter very much. Call them self-discipline, and patience, and they are very important, above all, to an artist. I have heard people say,” continued Mr Goodwin, reflectively, “that certain failings of temper and self-control are to be excused in artists, because their natures are sensitive. ”

“ When she spoke like that, she felt for the moment that she would do anything she asked—even give up the picnic.
“Oh, Delia,” she exclaimed, impulsively, “you’ve always been very kind. Kinder than I deserve.”
“That’s nothing to do with it,” answered Delia. “People can do without friends when they deserve them. The thing is, that I promised the Professor to be your friend, and I haven’t carried it out.”
“It’s been my fault,” said Anna, in a penitent voice, “but really and truly, Delia, you may not believe me, but I do like you better than Isabel Palmer—or any one. I do indeed.” ”

“ Anna jumped out of bed, went softly to the window, and drew up the blind. Her bedroom was over the veranda, up which some cluster-roses had climbed, flung themselves in masses on the roof, and reached out some of their branches as far as the window-sill. One bold little bunch had pressed itself close up against the pane, and the tight pink buds clattered against it whenever they were stirred by the breeze. The tapping noise was fully accounted for, but Anna could not turn away, it was all so beautiful and so new to her. ”

“ There was both excitement and triumph in these captures, and while they were going on the girls forgot that any coolness had come between them, or that the world held much beyond water-lilies and bulrushes. When, however, they climbed out of the punt with their dripping prizes, and sat down on the bank to rest a little, recollections returned.
“What a pity,” thought Anna, with a sigh, “that things are not always pleasant. Delia is nicer than any one when she is kind.” ”

“ I like Mr Goodwin very much. I’ve always thought him a nice old gentleman, and Herbert admires his playing, but—”
“Of course, of course,” said Mrs Winn, “we must be all agreed as to that.—You’re too fond, my dear Delia, of giving your opinion on subjects where ignorance should keep you silent. A girl of your age should try to behave herself, lowly and reverently, to all her betters.”
“So I do,” said Delia, with a smile; “in fact, I feel so lowly and reverent sometimes, that I could almost worship Mr Goodwin. I am ready to humble myself to the dust, when I hear him playing the violin.” ”

“ Delia’s face softened. Perhaps she had been too hasty with Anna—too quick to blame.
“Listen,” said the Professor, “I was reading this while I waited for service to begin this evening.”
He had taken out of his pocket a stumpy, and very shabby little brown volume of Thomas à Kempis, which was very familiar to her.
“But now, God hath thus ordered it, that we may learn to bear one another’s burdens, for no man is without fault; no man but hath his burden; no man is self-sufficient; no man has wisdom enough for himself alone. ”

“ Everything in this field-walk was new and delightful to Anna, and her pleasure increased by feeling that she had made a friend of her own age. The commonest wild-flowers on her path were wonderful to her unaccustomed eyes. Delia must tell their names. She must stop to pick some. They were prettier even than Aunt Sarah’s flowers at Waverley. What were those growing in the hedge? She ran about admiring and exclaiming until, near the end of the last field, the outbuildings of Leas Farm came in sight, which stood in a lane dividing the farmer’s property from Mr Forrest’s. ”

“ Delia allowed the embrace, but did not return it. Her heart was hot within her. Mrs Winn had said that Anna was not straightforward. Was it true?
Anna had not much time for any sort of reflection, for she had to get back to Waverley as fast as she could, and, in spite of her haste, the bell stopped just as she reached the garden gate, and she knew that her aunt would have started for church without her. It was barely five minutes’ walk, but she had to smooth her hair, and find some gloves, and make herself fit for Mrs Forrest’s critical eye, and all this took some time. ”

“ Mr Goodwin, however, seemed neither surprised nor annoyed.
“Well, Delia,” he answered, with a gentle shake of the head, “I suppose two things have kept me in Dornton—two very strong things—poverty and pride. I had my chance once, but it came in a shape I couldn’t bring myself to accept. ‘There is a tide in the affairs of men,’ you know, and if one neglects it—”
He broke off and bent over his violin, which he had taken up from the ground.
“Of course,” said Delia, looking at him with great affection, “I’m glad you didn’t go, for my own sake. You and music make Dornton bearable.” ”

“ You know how matters stand now, and you can’t say you’ve not been openly dealt with. So we’ll shake hands, and bear no malice.”
Anna went with her visitor as far as the garden door, and watched her until she was hidden from sight by the great walnut tree on the lawn. What a tiresome, interfering old lady she was, and how angry Aunt Sarah would be! Her head really ached now. It felt as though some one had been battering it on each side with large, strong hands, and she was quite confused and giddy; but through it all one triumphant thought came uppermost. She could go to the picnic! ”

“ Delia laughed as Anna crept cautiously down the bank. It reminded her of the time when she had had to encourage and help her to climb gates and scramble through hedges.
“Come along,” she said, holding out her hand, “it’s as safe as dry land. Why, I’ve seen four great boys on it at once.”
“How beautiful!” cried Anna, as, after a little more encouragement, she found herself safely on the punt by Delia’s side, surrounded by water-lilies and bulrushes. They set to work to fill their basket with these, and when it was done there were always finer ones still almost out of reach. ”

“ Mrs Hunt stirred her tea, tasted a strawberry, and leant back in her chair with a gentle sigh of comfort. In a few minutes Delia reappeared hurriedly.
“There is no black currant jelly in the storeroom,” she said, with an air of exasperation.
Mrs Hunt looked up in mild surprise.
“How strange!” she said. “Could I have moved those pots? Ah, now I remember! I had a dream that all the jam was mouldy, and so I moved it into that cupboard in the kitchen. That was why cook left. She didn’t like me to use that cupboard for the jam.” ”

“ He shut the little book, and turned his eyes absently across the broad, green meadows. Delia knew that absent look of the Professor’s well. It meant that he was travelling back into the past, seeing and hearing things of which she knew nothing. Yet, though he did not seem to be speaking to her, every word he said sank into her mind.
“It’s very hard for strong people to bear with weakness. It’s such a disappointing, puzzling thing to them. They are always expecting impossibilities. Yet they are bound to help. It is a sin to turn aside. ”

“ It always creates discord. Of course, it’s a difficult position for Mrs Forrest, but she ought to remember that the child owes duties and respect to Mr Goodwin. ‘Honour thy father and mother,’ and, of course, that applies to a grandfather too.”
“I believe Mr Goodwin is quite satisfied,” answered Delia.
“Oh, I daresay,” said Mrs Winn. “We all know he’s a dear, meek, old man, who could never say boo to a goose. But that doesn’t make it right. Now, I know for a fact that he expected Anna Forrest to tea with him one evening, and she never came. ”

“ Anna tried to look grave. “I see so little of father, you know,” she said, “and I’m sure I shall like the country better than London. I shall miss you, of course, dear Miss Milverton,” she added quickly, bending forward to kiss her governess.
Miss Milverton gave a little shake of the head, as she returned the kiss; perhaps she did not believe in being very much missed.
“You are going to new scenes and new people,” she said, “and at your age, Anna, it is easier to forget than to remember. ”

“ Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
One very hot afternoon a little later, there had been a glee-practising at the Hunts’ house, a meeting which, of all others, was most distasteful to Delia. The last guest had taken leave, and her mother being on the edge of a comfortable nap in the shaded drawing-room, she was just stealing away to her garret, when the bell rang.
“Don’t go away, my love,” murmured Mrs Hunt, half-asleep, and as she spoke Mrs Winn’s solid figure advanced into the room. ”

“ When she saw Anna following the maid, the lady dropped her watering-pot, and stood rooted to the ground in an attitude of intense surprise.
“Why, Anna!” she exclaimed.
“Didn’t you expect me, Aunt Sarah?” said Anna. “Father said you would meet me to-day.”
“Now,” said Mrs Forrest, turning round to her husband in the wicker chair, “isn’t that exactly like your brother Bernard?”
“Well, in the meantime, here is Anna, safe and sound,” he replied; “so there’s no harm done.—Come and sit down in the shade, my dear; you’ve had a hot journey.” ”

“ If only it had been possible to please every one! If only Delia would be kind and agreeable when they did meet, instead of looking so cold and proud! By degrees Anna grew to dread seeing her, instead of looking forward to it as one of her greatest pleasures at Waverley. Everything connected with Pynes, on the contrary, was made so easy and pleasant. Aunt Sarah’s lips never looked straight and thin when she asked to go there, and Isabel Palmer was sure of a welcome at any time. ”

“ Here was an opportunity for Anna’s explanation. The words were on her lips, when they were interrupted by the loud sound of a bell from the house.
“The breakfast bell!” said Mrs Forrest, abruptly turning away from her roses, and beginning to hasten towards the house, without pausing a moment. “I hope you will always be particular in one point, my dear Anna, and that is punctuality. More hangs upon it than most people recognise: the comfort of a household certainly does. ”

“ They parted affectionately, with many hopes and promises as to their meeting again soon, and Anna stood at the white gate watching her new friend until she was out of sight.
Then she looked round her. She was in quite a strange land, for although she had now been some weeks at Waverley, she had not yet explored the fields between the village and Dornton. On her right, a little way down the grassy lane, stood Mr Oswald’s house, a solid, square building, of old, red brick, pleasantly surrounded by barns, cattle-sheds, and outbuildings, all of a substantial, prosperous appearance. ”

“ Everything seemed against her to-day.
“And how,” said that lady, having supplied her with scissors and paper, “do you get on with Anna Forrest? You’re with Mr Goodwin so much, I suppose you know her quite well by this time.”
“Indeed, I don’t,” said Delia. “I haven’t even seen her yet; have you?”
“I’ve seen her twice,” said Mrs Winn. “She’s pretty enough, though not to be compared to her mother; more like the Forrests, and has her father’s pleasant manners. If looks were the only things to consider, she would do very well.” ”

“ Try, whether you are at Waverley or wherever you are, to value the best things in yourself and others.”
Anna’s bright eyes were gazing over the blind into the street, where a man with a basket of flowers on his head was crying, “All a-blowing and a-growing.” In the country she would be able to pick flowers instead of buying them. She smiled at the thought, and said absently, “Yes, Miss Milverton.” Miss Milverton’s voice, which always had a regretful sound in it, went steadily on, while Anna’s bright fancies danced about gaily.
“It is so easy to value the wrong things most. ”

“ Mrs Winn had now risen, and stood ready to depart, with her umbrella planted firmly on the ground.
“My dear,” she interrupted, raising one hand, “I know this. Wrong is wrong, and right is right. That’s enough for me, and always has been. Now, I won’t disturb your dear mother to say good-bye, for I think she’s just dropped off. I’ll go softly out.”
She moved with ponderous care out of the room, followed by Delia, but came to a stand again in the hall.
“You heard about this picnic of the Palmers?” she said, inquiringly. “You’re going, of course. It seems to be a large affair.” ”

“ You can’t serve God and mammon.”
How dreadfully earnest Delia was! It almost frightened Anna to hear her talk like that.
“I will try,” she repeated. “I will do my best, Delia, if only you won’t be angry any longer.”
She put her hand softly into her companion’s, and Delia’s fingers closed over it in a warm clasp. For the time, the old feelings of confidence and affection had returned, and when, a little later, Anna walked back to the Vicarage alone, she was full of good resolves. She would try to deserve Delia’s friendship. She would go often to Dornton, and be very loving to her grandfather. ”