Carson of Red River by Harold Bindloss - HTML preview

CHAPTER XXXIII
 JASPER WINS

In the morning Kit crossed the moor to Whinnyates. The sun shone, the wind was fresh, and swift cloud-shadows checkered the dry bent-grass. A larch wood on the hillside was bright like an emerald; the sheltered hollows were green with springing fern.

Kit went fast, and his mood was buoyant. He had done all he agreed to do, and now he was entitled to think for himself. Since Evelyn had cheated, he was free to marry where he loved. For all that, he had not yet persuaded Alison, and in the circumstances she might hesitate. Kit banished his doubts and smiled. As a rule, where he thought he had a rather heroic part the part was humorous, but he tried to play up. Well, Alison knew his follies and extravagances, and somehow he hoped she was not daunted.

When he got to Whinnyates nobody was about. The old ash trees tossed and the shadows of their thin leaves trembled on the stones. In the background sheep climbed the broken hillside and their faint bleating was musical. A noisy beck plunged down a ghyll and vanished behind a wall.

Kit crossed the farmyard to the porch. The door was open, and by contrast with the sunshine the kitchen was dark. Mrs. Tyson occupied a rocking-chair; Tyson by the chimney stirred a big black pot. When he heard Kit’s step he turned and his eyes twinkled.

“You’re back? Weel, we’s glad t’ see you. You’ll stop for dinner?”

“Thank you,” said Kit. “You’re hospitable folk. I wonder whether you expected me?”

Tyson looked at his wife. The dalesfolk are keen, but they are cautious. Mrs. Tyson gave Kit a thoughtful glance.

“We reckoned you might come across. You kenned you’d be welcome.”

“That’s something,” said Kit. “You see, I want to marry Alison. I thought you ought to know.”

“Alison’s a fine lass. You’ll get none better, but she’s not your aunt’s sort,” Mrs. Tyson remarked.

“Her father was a statesman, but when he died farm was sold to pay his debts, and t’lass came to us,” said Tyson. “Tom Forsyth’s land was wet and sour; maybe he was a bit feckless, but his luck was bad. Alison’s her mother’s dowter, an Wythops o’ Lang Fell are canny, striving folk. Weel, my farm’s landlord’s, and when I and Kate are gone t’lass will maybe get five hundred pounds. I reckon it’s aw’.”

Kit knew a statesman is a yeoman farmer, owning the soil he cultivates, and he smiled.

“Mrs. Carson is not my aunt; I doubt if she’d admit I am her sort, and my fortune is sixty pounds. Perhaps for Alison to marry me would be rash, but I’ve got a good job and I know her pluck.”

“It’s for t’lass to choose,” said Mrs. Tyson. “You’ll find her by t’beck.”

Kit went along a stony lane. The splash of water got louder, and by and by Alison, carrying a large bucket, pushed back a gate. Her clothes were cotton print and she wore a blue sun-bonnet. When she saw Kit she stopped, and her color came and went. Kit put the bucket on the wall and held the gate.

“I think you know I love you, Alison.”

“You did not tell me properly, Kit; but I did know,” said Alison in a quiet voice.

“Then why did you let me go to Netherhall? You had heard about the marriage my relations planned.”

“I thought you ought to go,” Alison replied, and gave Kit a level glance. “If you had not gone, you would always have been sorry. Besides, I’d hate to think I tempted you to shabbiness.”

“You are very proud, my dear, but I like your pride. Well, you tried me out, and now you ought to be kind, because the test was hard. In a week or two I must go back and get to work. Will you marry me before I start?”

“Are you altogether sure you want me, Kit?”

Kit smiled. “Perhaps your inquiry’s logical, but I don’t think you doubt. I wanted you, unconsciously, at the Winnipeg waiting-room, and when your train went I was forlorn. Afterwards, when I stayed with Bob for week-ends my visits were marked by a happiness for which I could not account. I thought Austin’s home charming; I didn’t know the real charm was you were at the house.”

“Ah,” said Alison, “I wonder whether Florence enlightened you! Now I think about it, she forced the locomotive engineer to wait——”

“Florence admitted she was jealous, but we won’t talk about Miss Grey. The light broke when I found you in the snow, and I was dazzled and carried away. For long I was strangely dull; but you know all and you’re generous. I need you in Canada. You risk it?”

Alison blushed and gave him her hand.

“I’ll marry you when you like, Kit, but I cannot yet leave Whinnyates.”

Kit took her in his arms, and by and by he said, “Well, if Mrs. Tyson wants you, I must be resigned. You pay your debts and I cannot dispute her claim.”

“When I join you all our debts will be gone; we will start without a load and look in front. In the meantime, aunt waits for the water.”

Kit laughed and seized the bucket; Alison’s thinking about the water was typical. They went to the house, and in the afternoon Kit started for the post-office. Mrs. Tyson stipulated for a wedding at the village church, and he must send Wheeler a cablegram.

Not long afterwards Ledward one afternoon arrived at Netherhall and joined Jasper in the library. For a time they talked about the forge and the letters Ledward brought; and then Jasper said:

“Your wedding is not for a few days, Harry, but you must go to Sheffield in the morning, and I thought I’d give you my present.”

Ledward thanked him, and when he took the check looked up in surprise. Almost he doubted if he read the figures accurately, but the writing in the body of the form agreed.

“Your generosity is almost embarrassing, sir. I feel I ought not to take a sum like this——”

“When one marries I imagine money’s useful, and I didn’t see much advantage in your waiting for a legacy. Besides, to know an avaricious Government will not claim its share is some comfort,” Jasper replied.

Ledward began to understand, but he waited, and Jasper continued:

“I am accountable for your starting on a business career. I excited your ambition, and perhaps your hopes.”

“You made it possible for me to marry——” Ledward remarked, and stopped, for he saw Jasper’s twinkle.

“The ground is awkward? Your beaten rival is my nephew. Well, if Evelyn and you are happy, Kit must bear his loss; and I want to talk about something else. Your help is useful, and since a wife is expensive, I must put up your pay.” Jasper stated the increase and resumed: “So long as I can carry on and you are willing to work for me, you will get the sum. The important thing is, it’s all you will get.”

Ledward tried to brace up. The wedding present and increased pay was not all he had thought to get; but he admitted his employer was just.

“I am content, sir.”

“Very well. I don’t know if Evelyn will be as philosophical, but that’s another thing. Before very long I shall be forced to stop, and you are not my heir. For all that, my successor will need you, and I will stipulate for you to keep your post.”

For a few moments Ledward was quiet. He had perhaps been justified in thinking himself Jasper’s heir. At all events, Mrs. Haigh had reckoned on his inheriting, and he imagined she and Evelyn would get a nasty jolt.

All the same, he had some money; Jasper’s wedding present was a useful sum, and his pay was good. For himself he was not remarkably ambitious, and he had taken the post because he wanted to marry Evelyn. He knew her calculating selfishness, and perhaps it was strange, but he was not much daunted. Evelyn was not a fool, and by and by he thought she would see she had not much grounds for discontent.

“I expect you know, I’m rather disappointed, but I must not grumble,” he said. “When I joined you I was a fastidious loafer and was getting slack. You gave me an occupation I was soon keen about and made it possible for me to marry the girl I want. I owe you much, sir, and on the whole I think I’m fortunate. Anyhow, so long as you feel my help is useful, it is yours.”

“Your judgment is sound and I like your pluck,” Jasper remarked. “However, I get tired, and I expect your aunt will be interested.”

Ledward agreed, and finding Mrs. Carson had gone to Mrs. Haigh’s, he followed her to the house. Although he thought he could picture Mrs. Haigh’s emotions, he was rather disturbed than sympathetic. When he arrived tea was served, and Mrs. Haigh handed him a cup.

“Jasper has given me a wedding present,” he said, and put the check on the table.

“He is extremely generous,” Mrs. Carson remarked with keen surprise; but when Mrs. Haigh noted the sum her color got high and she set her thin mouth.

“He declares he is not,” said Ledward. “You see, he says it’s all I shall get.”

Mrs. Haigh’s hand shook, and she put down the teapot.

“Ah!” she said, “since the evening Kit arrived I think I expected something like that.”

Ledward saw the knock was hard, but he knew her nerve was good, and he was moved to grim humor. Although Mrs. Haigh had lost the prize for which she planned, he thought she would not refuse the second best.

“But I don’t see——” said Mrs. Carson in a puzzled voice; and then her eyes sparkled. “Jasper has cheated you!” she exclaimed and Ledward did not know whether she addressed him or her hostess. “From the beginning he plotted——”

“I think your relation did plot,” Mrs. Haigh agreed, with an effort for calm. “Harry, however, has not yet told us very much.”

Ledward began to narrate his interview with Jasper. After a few moments Evelyn came in, but he did not stop. Evelyn ought to know, and he did not want to talk about the thing again. She rested her arm on the table and her color came and went. All were very quiet, and Ledward felt his voice jarred. When he stopped Mrs. Carson’s look got very hard.

“Kit has conquered!” she remarked. “He gets all, and he will soon be your employer.”

“Oh, well,” said Ledward, “I think Kit’s part was an unconscious part, and he’s not revengeful. Jasper promises that I shall keep my post.”

“He made a tool of you; he tricked us all——” said Mrs. Carson, and stopped, for she saw what her remarks implied. She frowned and got up. “Alan waits for me. We are going to Hadriansford.”

Mrs. Haigh went with her to the gate, and Evelyn gave Ledward an embarrassed glance. Jasper had used her and Harry, and she was humiliated because she thought Harry knew. All the same, Harry would not admit it. His part was obvious, and she expected he would play up.

She pictured Kit’s romantic charm; sometimes Kit had moved her strongly, but Harry did not. She had weighed Harry’s advantages, and her mother’s arguments had tipped the beam. For the most part, his advantages had vanished, but she could not call back Kit.

“I’m sorry,” said Ledward; “I expect your disappointment’s keen. Some of our plans for the future must go, but after all we really shall not be forced to be very economical.”

Evelyn blushed and gave him a queer smile. “That is something! Since you’re frank, I admit I hate to be frugal, but it looks as if Jasper did not altogether cheat you, and I suppose we must be content. Well, we won’t talk about it. Do you want some tea?”

Ledward said he did not. He thought Evelyn’s inquiry typical, and they went to the garden.

In the morning Kit, at Whinnyates, gave Alison a note in which Jasper stated that if the afternoon were fine he would try to reach the Netherdale inn.

“You agreed to meet me, and although, I doubt if you were very willing, your word goes,” Jasper wrote. “Then I would like you to bring Miss Forsyth. Perhaps I am not entitled to ask this favor, but I cannot get to the farm, and I hope she will indulge me.”

“Perhaps I ought to go,” said Alison. “I feel he’s kind.”

“He’s a queer old fellow. For long I thought he didn’t mean to bother about me, but I begin to doubt. I certainly did not try to win him over.”

“I will go,” said Alison in a thoughtful voice.

In the afternoon they crossed the moors. When they reached Netherdale a man pushed a wheeled chair along the road. A thick larch wood rolled down the hill and the sun was on the fresh green foliage and a high mossy bank. Jasper ordered the man to stop by a large beech trunk.

“Take a smoke and wait until I call,” he said, and when the servant went off turned to Alison.

“You know who I am, and we won’t bother Kit to present me. I did not invite you to Netherhall because the house is not mine, and I dare say you know my nephew’s independence. Then since the spot is quiet and sunny, there is not much use in going on to the inn. You see, I soon get tired.”

Alison saw he gave her ceremonious politeness, but his look was kind, and she smiled.

“Kit is independent, but sometimes independence like his is justified.”

“It’s possible,” Jasper agreed. “Your championing Kit is natural, because I believe you are going to marry him very soon.”

“I wonder whether you think I ought,” said Alison quietly, and motioned Kit to wait.

“You are frank, but I like your frankness,” Jasper replied. “Well, your lover is my nephew, and I know something about you. You spring from old yeoman stock and I think its virtues are yours. Our fortunes are recent and the founder of our house was a blacksmith. However, I want to talk to Kit, and I hope to have your support.”

He indicated the smooth trunk and turned to Kit. “I imagine you feel you do not owe me much?”

“Perhaps I did feel something of the sort, but now I don’t know. All the same, I’m puzzled. You found out Blake sold the boiler drawings. Yet you said nothing!”

“My reserve was calculated. From the beginning I had plans for you. Then I felt the money I used, which might be yours, was not altogether mine. Some I inherited, but all was got by sweat of brain and muscle at office and forge; I was resolved our fortune must not be squandered in social ambitions and extravagance. It must be used to forge steel, to build ships and bridges and rolling mills. Our business is to hammer iron and I felt I’d sooner see my nephew labor with a navvy’s shovel than loaf about town.”

“But since I did not want to loaf, I don’t yet see——”

“I think Alison sees,” said Jasper, and gave her a smile. “When a man marries he is not altogether a free agent; much depends on his wife and something on her relations. Well, I expect you will find Mrs. Carson’s point of view is mine, Kit, and in the meantime we’ll let it go. I wanted you to try your powers, to face obstacles, and get control and balance. In fact, I wanted to learn if you could go alone.”

“I begin to understand, sir. You tried me out?”

“Yes; I experimented. I felt I was trustee for my fortune and the business the others had built, and when I was forced to quit I wanted a man all could trust to carry on my job. Now I am satisfied, and I offer you the post!”

Kit said nothing, but the blood came to his skin. He admitted he had not known Jasper, and his dulness humiliated him.

“You ought to agree, Kit. The job is yours,” said Alison in a quiet voice.

“Thank you, my dear,” said Jasper. “I reckoned on your support. Well, Kit?”

“I’m embarrassed, sir, and half ashamed. At the shipyard I thought you might some time help me get a post; but that was all, and when the company turned me down I resolved I wouldn’t bother you. Since I’d got entangled, I myself must break the entanglement. Now I hesitate. I’m young, I don’t know if I’ve yet got my proper balance, and the job’s important. Then I undertook to build the tanks for the Canadian company, and I must make good.”

“That is so,” said Jasper. “When you have carried out your undertaking, will you come back and talk about my plan again?”

“Yes, sir,” Kit replied quietly.

“It’s all I want; you must do what you agreed to do,” said Jasper. “Well, I doubt if I can get to your wedding; but perhaps Alison and you will meet me another time before you start?”

He turned and gave Alison a gentle look. “I expect you know your lover. Kit is good stuff, and now he will go soberly I feel you and he will go far. I soon must stop, but you have youth and hope. Your road runs on across the horizon; perhaps to a better country than we old folks know.”

Alison kissed him, and he gave Kit his hand and called his servant. The man pushed his chair down the hill and they presently vanished in the shadows of the wood. Then Alison turned to Kit.

“Your uncle is very fine! We must try to go where he expects.”

Kit said nothing, but he kissed her, and they started up-hill in the sun.

THE END