CHAPTER XV

dinner,parishbusinesstooktheRectortohisstudy,andMaryproposedthattheyshouldsitinthekitchen. “It’snotthekitchenreally,”Elizabethhastenedtoexplaintoherguest,“butwecallitso—” “It’sthenicestroominthehouse,”saidEdward. “It’sgottheoldrestsbythesideofthefireplace,wherethemenhungtheirguns,”saidElizabeth,leadingtheway,withatallbrasscandlestickinherhand,downapassage.“ShowMr.Denhamthesteps,Christopher....WhentheEcclesiasticalCommissionerswereheretwoyearsagotheysaidthiswasthemostinterestingpartofthehouse.Thesenarrowbricksprovethatitisfivehundredyearsold—fivehundredyears,Ithink—theymayhavesaidsix.”She,too,feltanimpulsetoexaggeratetheageofthebricks,asherfatherhadexaggeratedthenumberoftrucks.Abiglamphungdownfromthecenteroftheceilingand,togetherwithafinelogfire,illuminatedalargeandloftyroom,withraftersrunningfromwalltowall,afloorofredtiles,andasubstantialfireplacebuiltupofthosenarrowredbrickswhichweresaidtobefivehundredyearsold.Afewrugsandasprinklingofarm-chairshadmadethisancientkitchenintoasitting-room.Elizabeth,afterpointingoutthegun-racks,andthehooksforsmokinghams,andotherevidenceofincontestableage,andexplainingthatMaryhadhadtheideaofturningtheroomintoasitting-room—otherwiseitwasusedforhangingoutthewashandforthementochangeinaftershooting—consideredthatshehaddoneherdutyashostess,andsatdowninanuprightchairdirectlybeneaththelamp,besideaverylongandnarrowoaktable.Sheplacedapairofhornspectaclesuponhernose,anddrewtowardsherabasketfulofthreadsandwools.Inafewminutesasmilecametoherface,andremainedtherefortherestoftheevening. “Willyoucomeoutshootingwithusto-morrow?”saidChristopher,whohad,onthewhole,formedafavorableimpressionofhissister’sfriend. “Iwon’tshoot,butI’llcomewithyou,”saidRalph. “Don’tyoucareaboutshooting?”askedEdward,whosesuspicionswerenotyetlaidtorest. “I’venevershotinmylife,”saidRalph,turningandlookinghimintheface,becausehewasnotsurehowthisconfessionwouldbereceived. “Youwouldn’thavemuchchanceinLondon,Isuppose,”saidChristopher.“Butwon’tyoufinditratherdull—justwatchingus?” “Ishallwatchbirds,”Ralphreplied,withasmile. “Icanshowyoutheplaceforwatchingbirds,”saidEdward,“ifthat’swhatyoulikedoing.IknowafellowwhocomesdownfromLondonaboutthistimeeveryyeartowatchthem.It’sagreatplaceforthewildgeeseandtheducks.I’veheardthismansaythatit’soneofthebestplacesforbirdsinthecountry.” “It’saboutthebestplaceinEngland,”Ralphreplied.TheywereallgratifiedbythispraiseoftheirnativecountyandMarynowhadthepleasureofhearingtheseshortquestionsandanswerslosetheirundertoneofsuspiciousinspection,sofarasherbrotherswereconcerned,anddevelopintoagenuineconversationaboutthehabitsofbirdswhichafterwardsturnedtoadiscussionastothehabitsofsolicitors,inwhichitwasscarcelynecessaryforhertotakepart.ShewaspleasedtoseethatherbrotherslikedRalph,totheextent,thatis,ofwishingtosecurehisgoodopinion.Whetherornothelikedthemitwasimpossibletotellfromhiskindbutexperiencedmanner.Nowandthenshefedthefirewithafreshlog,andastheroomfilledwiththefine,dryheatofburningwood,theyall,withtheexceptionofElizabeth,whowasoutsidetherangeofthefire,feltlessandlessanxiousabouttheeffecttheyweremaking,andmoreandmoreinclinedforsleep.Atthismomentavehementscratchingwasheardonthedoor. “Piper!—oh,damn!—Ishallhavetogetup,”murmuredChristopher. “It’snotPiper,it’sPitch,”Edwardgrunted. “Allthesame,Ishallhavetogetup,”Christophergrumbled.Heletinthedog,andstoodforamomentbythedoor,whichopenedintothegarden,torevivehimselfwithadraughtoftheblack,starlitair. “Docomeinandshutthedoor!”Marycried,halfturninginherchair. “Weshallhaveafinedayto-morrow,”saidChristopherwithcomplacency,andhesathimselfontheflooratherfeet,andleanthisbackagainstherknees,andstretchedouthislongstockingedlegstothefire—allsignsthathefeltnolongeranyrestraintatthepresenceofthestranger.Hewastheyoungestofthefamily,andMary’sfavorite,partlybecausehischaracterresembledhers,asEdward’scharacterresembledElizabeth’s.Shemadeherkneesacomfortablerestforhishead,andranherfingersthroughhishair. “IshouldlikeMarytostrokemyheadlikethat,”Ralphthoughttohimselfsuddenly,andhelookedatChristopher,almostaffectionately,forcallingforthhissister’scaresses.InstantlyhethoughtofKatharine,thethoughtofherbeingsurroundedbythespacesofnightandtheopenairandMary,watchinghim,sawthelinesuponhisforeheadsuddenlydeepen.Hestretchedoutanarmandplacedaloguponthefire,constraininghimselftofititcarefullyintothefrailredscaffolding,andalsotolimithisthoughtstothisoneroom. Maryhadceasedtostrokeherbrother’sheadhemoveditimpatientlybetweenherknees,and,muchasthoughhewereachild,shebeganoncemoretopartthethick,reddish-coloredlocksthiswayandthat.Butafarstrongerpassionhadtakenpossessionofhersoulthananyherbrothercouldinspireinher,and,seeingRalph’schangeofexpression,herhandalmostautomaticallycontinueditsmovements,whilehermindplungeddesperatelyforsomeholduponslipperybanks.