Volume I Part 10 (1/2)
Dawson was a conscientious adherent of the Anglican church, he was not one of those who, in the absence of a place of wors.h.i.+p where the adoration is conducted not strictly in accordance with the prescribed formulae of his church, would abstain from attendance on any other denominational service. He was devoid of such bigotry; and considered it a duty, when an opportunity of public wors.h.i.+p presented itself (even though the minister officiating was not deemed perfectly orthodox by the tenets of the Episcopalian creed), to avail himself of it. Where means of ministration were rare, he considered sectarian distinctions prejudicial to the cause of the gospel, and deemed the only essential to be an earnest truthfulness and piety on the part of the clergyman. He always encouraged the ordinances of religion on his station, and the inculcation of moral principles among his men.
The Sabbath was one of those lovely days so peculiar to the sunny regions of favoured Australia. The sky was without a cloud to vary its unbroken and immaculate azure, and the sun shone with a voluptuous l.u.s.tre, which rendered the atmosphere warm, though not oppressive, and the face of the country smiling and cheerful. The people around the place--men, women, and children, clean and neatly clad--a.s.sembled in an orderly manner; while the sombre stillness of the bush tended to impress the beholders with an earnestness, a feeling of devotion, and a confirmed belief, that, verily, ”the Spirit of the Lord moved upon the face of the earth.” There are, we venture to say, few more inspiring scenes than the performance of Divine service, or ”a preaching,” in the wilds of the woods; and we believe the spiritual influence was felt that day by not a few of the number who listened to the exposition of the Word, which was delivered from the lips of the preacher with a truth and pathos characteristic of a sincere and devout mind. The same orderly and sober manner marked the dispersion of the people, as did their gathering; and if no spiritual good arose from it (though we sincerely trust and believe there did), in a moral point of view the people reaped a reward; and by the same means, indirectly, the squatter was benefited.
These preachings contrast pleasingly with the general thoughtless and frivolous manner of some of the congregations in our large towns, and it is only to be regretted that they are not of more frequent occurrence.
Nothing would more greatly tend to advance the morals of those people of Australia who too frequently live in a state of vitiated depravity and mental degradation, and who are perfectly dest.i.tute of religion, and ignorant and neglectful of its observances.
When William and his party had remained at Barra Warra for about a week he thought it time to push forward to his home; and, after some little persuasion with Mrs. Dawson, induced her to part with his sister, and the young lady to consent to go. They took their leave amidst a general expression of cordiality, and an entreaty from their kind friends to find their way back again as soon as possible. They then proceeded on their way, Kate more than ever delighted with her prospect. In the spontaneous ebullition of her youthful and innocent feelings, and charmed beyond measure at the kind reception she had met with from the amiable people she had just left, she was in the highest spirits, and gave frequent vent to her joy. Her merry peals of laughter rang through the woods with an echo that sounded as if all the trees had taken up the chorus, and supported her in bursts of silvery-toned cachinnations. She talked and chatted away the time, asking questions of her brother respecting the Smitherses and the Rainsfields, and requesting him to draw comparisons between the two families and that which they had lately left. This task William professed himself unable to accomplish, and unwilling to attempt; remarking that ”comparisons were odious,” and that his sister would be able to judge for herself if she would exercise a little patience.
The road was quickly travelled over; and our friends comfortably completed that day's stage, and found themselves at Brompton before dark. They were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Smithers in as friendly a manner as William had antic.i.p.ated; but upon Kate and Mr. Wigton being introduced as strangers to Bob, he muttered some unintelligible sentence, turned on his heel, and left the room. Such extraordinary conduct rather surprised the Fergusons, especially William; who, when last he had seen him, parted from him in perfect good feeling. The proprietor of the station and his wife were not only astonished, but exceedingly chagrined to think that their visitors should have received so gross an insult from a member of their family. Without entering into any vituperations on Bob's conduct, they apologised to their friends for his inexplicable behaviour, stating their inability to a.s.sign any reason for it beyond his extraordinary temper, and expressing many regrets for its occurrence.
The Fergusons professed to think nothing of it, and begged their friends to take no heed of the circ.u.mstance, as it gave them, personally, no concern; being convinced that it could not have been the intention of Mr. Smithers' brother to have meditated any insult. Notwithstanding all their a.s.surances that they in no way felt annoyed, they could not remove from the minds of their hosts the impression that they had received an unwarrantable insult; and the culprit not ”entering an appearance” again, and no explanation being forthcoming, the evening pa.s.sed very heavily, and a general relief was experienced by the party when they separated for the night.
On the following morning the Fergusons and Mr. Wigton resumed their journey, and the spirit of their travelling contrasted greatly with that of the previous day. They had parted from the Smitherses on very good terms; but Bob had continued to absent himself, and there was a gloom thrown over the parting in consequence.
”What a horrid bear that man is,” exclaimed Kate, as she rode between the other two equestrians. ”What could have induced him to be so rude?
Have you any idea, Will?”
William certainly had an idea, and it grieved him much to contemplate it, for he thought he read in the occurrence a rupture between his brother and Bob Smithers. But he was deep in thought when his sister addressed him, and not until she had repeated her question did he make any reply; and that reply, if not strictly the truth, was, he thought, the best he could make, rather than by uttering his convictions, to excite the fears of his sister for her brother John.
”No, my Kate, I do not,” replied William, ”but what does it signify? We have no occasion to trouble ourselves about the circ.u.mstance. Bob Smithers was exceedingly ungentlemanly in his behaviour; but I believe he is proverbial for that sort of conduct, so I think we need not give the matter any further thought. Do you, Mr. Wigton?”
”You are quite right, William,” replied the minister, ”the folly or frivolity of the man, for at most it is only such, should not be allowed to give us any uneasiness. If it was intended to convey any insult, we can best show our appreciation of it by allowing it at once to sink into oblivion; but I have no doubt it may be attributable to his extraordinary manner, which, you say, is customary.”
”Well,” said Kate, ”I'll tell Miss Rainsfield of the manner in which he treated us; it is only right that she should know what a ruffian he is.”
”Now, my thoughtless little sister, you must do no such thing,” said her brother; ”rather studiously avoid mentioning anything at Strawberry Hill disparaging of Bob Smithers. Miss Rainsfield must be better acquainted with the gentleman's character and manner than either you or I; and the relation of any such affront as we have received might cause her considerable and unnecessary pain.”
”Nonsense, William,” cried the girl. ”Miss Rainsfield ought to know how he acts to strangers, because, I am sure, he'll always behave himself before her; and I am convinced if she only knew what a bear he is, she would not have anything to say to him.”
”Kate,” remarked Mr. Wigton, ”William is quite right; it would be better to say nothing about the affair, if, as I imagine from your conversation, this young lady entertains any regard for Mr. Smithers.
She must be better acquainted with his feelings than we; consequently, we should avoid the possibility of creating any contentions between the families; while, after all, there might have been nothing in his manner deserving animadversion.”
”I think I can see the drift of my fair sister's plan,” said William to Mr. Wigton; ”she has taken a fancy to Bob Smithers herself, and she thinks by telling this dreadful tragedy to Miss Rainsfield, that young lady will be induced to discard him, and leave the coast open to our Kate.”
”You are a most impertinent fellow,” exclaimed Kate, as she attempted to lay her whip across the shoulders of her brother. ”I detest the man; and if he were to make himself as pleasant and agreeable as it is possible for any man to be, I could not endure him.”
”Never mind, my pretty Flora,” said her brother, ”we will not submit you to the infliction; but promise to say nothing to the Rainsfields of the affair at Brompton.”
”If you particularly wish it,” replied Kate, ”I will hold my tongue; but I cannot imagine for why. But tell me,” said she, as her usual smile returned to its wonted place, ”how long shall we be before we arrive at Strawberry Hill?”
”Not until late,” said William, ”unless we mend our pace, so we had better push on;” with which remark he put spurs to his horse, and rode at a brisk rate followed hard by his companions.
Well on in the afternoon they arrived at Strawberry Hill; and the first inmate of the house who presented himself was Tom Rainsfield, who grasped the hand of William, and was introduced by him to Kate and Mr.
Wigton. The former he expressed much delight in seeing, and stated he had been looking out anxiously for her arrival, and would at once const.i.tute himself her protector and most obedient servant. With such little blandishments he led the arrivals into the house; and presented with due solemnity the treasure, that he said had been consigned to his keeping, to his sister-in-law and his cousin. The ladies at once received Kate with that affectionate welcome inherent in women; and, relieving Tom of his self-imposed responsibility, disappeared with her to one of those secret conferences, the mysteries of which we masculine mortals are destined always to remain in profound ignorance.
The gentlemen then issued through the French light, and pa.s.sed from the room to the verandah that encompa.s.sed the house. Tom brought out chairs, and desired his visitors to be seated for a few minutes, until the ladies returned, while he went in search of his brother to acquaint him of their arrival.
In a short time Mrs. Rainsfield and her companions made their appearance all radiant with smiles, and their faces beaming with expressions of good feeling; shortly after which Tom joined them with Mr. Rainsfield, who received the travellers with a politeness that struck William as having some degree of formality in it. However, a repast was speedily prepared and set upon the table, to which all sat down; when everything was cordiality; and after spending a very pleasant and agreeable evening, the party broke up at an hour rather late for weary wayfarers.