Part 40 (1/2)
And she was not mistaken.
CHAPTER XXI
The next few weeks, in their effect upon Beth's character, were among the most important of her life. She did not know until the day before where she was to go with Aunt Victoria. It was the habit of the family to conceal all such arrangements from the children, and indeed from each other as much as possible. Aunt Victoria observed that Caroline was singularly reticent, and Mrs. Caldwell complained that Aunt Victoria made a mystery of everything. It was a hard habit, which robbed Beth of what would have been so much to her, something to look forward to. Since she knew that she was to go somewhere, however, she had lived upon the idea; her imagination had been busy trying to picture the unknown place, and her mind full of plans for the comfort of Aunt Victoria.
It was after breakfast one day, while her mother and Aunt Victoria were still at table, that the announcement was made. ”You need not do any lessons this morning, children,” Mrs. Caldwell said. ”Beth is going to Harrowgate with Aunt Victoria to-morrow, and I must see to her things and get them packed.”
Aunt Victoria looked round at Beth with a carefully restrained smile, expecting some demonstration of joy. Beth was standing in the window looking out, and turned with a frown of intentness on her face when her mother mentioned Harrowgate, as if she were trying to recall something.
”Harrowgate!” she said slowly. ”_Harrowgate!_”
”Beth, do not frown so,” Mrs. Caldwell exclaimed irritably. ”You'll be all wrinkled before you're twenty.”
Beth gazed at her solemnly without seeing her, then fixed her eyes upon the ground as if she were perusing it, and began to walk slowly up and down with her head bent, her hands clasped behind her, her curly brown hair falling forward over her cheeks, and her lips moving.
”What is it you're muttering, child?” Aunt Victoria asked.
”I'm trying to think,” Beth rejoined.
”''Twas in the prime of summer time, An evening calm and cool....
”'Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, And one with a heavy stone....
”'And yet I feared him all the more, For lying there so still....
”'I took the dreary body up.'...
”Ah, I know--I have it!” she exclaimed joyfully, and with a look of relief; ”Harrowgate--Knaresboro'--the cave there----
”'Two stern-faced men set out from Lynn, Through the cold and heavy mist; And Eugene Aram walked between, With gyves upon his wrist.'”
”My dear child,” said Aunt Victoria sternly, ”what is it you are trying to say? and how often are you to be told not to work yourself up into such a state of excitement about nothing?”
”Don't you know about Eugene Aram, Aunt Victoria?” Beth rejoined with concern, as if not to know about Eugene Aram were indeed to have missed one of the great interests of life. Then she sat down at the table with her elbows resting on it, and her delicate oval face framed in her slender hands, and gave Aunt Victoria a graphic sketch of the story from Bulwer Lytton.
”Dear me, Caroline,” said Aunt Victoria, greatly horrified, ”is it possible that you allow your children to read such books?”
”I read such books to my children myself when I see fit,” Mrs.
Caldwell rejoined. ”I may be allowed to judge what is good for them, I suppose?”
”Good for them!” Aunt Victoria e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. ”Accounts of murder, theft, and executions!”
”But why not, Aunt Victoria?” Beth put in. ”Why not read about Eugene Aram as well as about Barabbas?”
Aunt Victoria looked so shocked, however, at the mention of Barabbas in this connection, that Beth broke off and hastened to add for the relief of the old lady's feelings--”Only of course Barabbas was a sacred sort of thief, and that is different.”
On the journey next day a casual remark let fall by a stranger made a curious impression upon Beth. They were travelling second-cla.s.s, and Aunt Victoria, talking to another lady in the carriage, happened to mention that Beth was twelve years old. A gentleman, the only other pa.s.senger, who was sitting opposite to Beth, looked up at her over his newspaper when her age was mentioned, and remarked--”Are you only twelve? I should have thought you were older. Rather nice-looking too, only freckled.”