Eveline

all the trouble in life to keep him decently quiet when we were courtin', and since we're married there's no holdin' him. He's like a mad horse, he is!'

'And what age is your husband, Mrs. Hodge?'

'Jock's nigh on a year younger nor me, my lady.'

'Younger is he? That is rather unusual in these parts, is it not?'

'I dunno, my lady, but savin' your presence, his parents were both dead and gone. He had no home. I had saved up a bit o' money here in the dairy, and so they gave me the chance of the lodge if we chose to marry and look after it together.'

'You're a happy woman, Mrs. Hodge.'

Something in my voice seemed to raise all the woman's tender sympathy. She looked at me inquiringly.

'I hope, my lady, you won't think me too bold, but we've all of us on the estate been hopin' as how my lord might have a hare.'

I pretended not to understand.

'I always thought hares were unusually plentiful this season about Chitterlings.'

Mrs. Hodge looked nonplused.

'I don't mean hares wot run, but thems wot's bred and born.'

'Oh, I see! Yes, now I see! It's very kind of you, I'm sure. At present, Mrs. Hodge, we must be content as we are.'

The good woman drew closer. There was an air of mystery in her open honest face, a look almost of trouble. She shook her head as she slowly uttered her next remark.

'I shouldn't. No, there's something wrong somewhere. Savin' your presence, my lady-and your ladyship'll excuse me-but a lovely, beautiful, well-grown young lady like your ladyship has no call to be childless. Ye may send me off for my impertinence, or turn us awt of the lodge, but after being brought up on the estate, and its now nigh on twenty-nine year ago I was born on it, I do say as how your ladyship out to have a hare. I shouldn't-no, I shouldn't.'

There was something in Mrs. Hodge's kindly meant comments which touched me. There was even a dimness in her eye as her broad, good-humored face looked almost affectionately into mine.

'No, I shouldn't be content. I know there's a main difference in the livin' and ways of great people and the likes of us poor folk, but if I were the lady of the manor without a hare I know that all the village would want to know the reason why. I can keep my mouth shut, my lady. I'm not a woman to go about gossiping about what don't concern me. I keeps to myself, but if your ladyship heard all they said, you would find they knew it wasn't your fault.'

The woman looked so kindly sympathetic that I suppressed a natural inclination of resentment. It rose in my throat. What! I, the Countess of Endover, Lady of the Manor of Chitterlings in my own right, to be thus spoken to and pitied by a peasant on my estate! No, but it would not do. I broke down. The position was too strained. The tears rose to my eyes. Mrs. Hodge saw my distress. The kind, good- hearted woman's own sweet natural disposition came up beaming in her sympathetic look as she took my hand and kissed it.

'I know, I know, my lady. My lord takes his shootin'-takes his huntin'. He can do a long day in the covers, perhaps, but he's-he's not to be compared to us poor folk under the sheets.'

'What do you mean, Mrs. Hodge? My husband-Lord Endover-is all that is kind; all that is-'

'Ah, no! My lady, you must excuse me-I mean no wrong. I only talk as I feel for your ladyship. It's not your fault. It's his!'

I withdrew my hand. An angry light must have shone in my eyes. My red blood flew to my cheek. I drew myself up. This woman's insolence should not go unpunished. It was bad enough to have been accosted thus, but to be an object of downright pity-no, this was too much! My husband too! The Earl to be thus discussed at my own park gate?'

'You are angry, my lady-and no wonder! I am only a poor ignorant woman. You are a great lady. I hope you will forgive me. I cannot bear that you should be angry with me. I meant all for the best. I could tell you more-that which would show you that I want to serve you truly.'

I hesitated. There was an air of reality about the young woman I could not mistake. Her earnestness moved me strongly to listen further. She was quick enough to divine my thoughts.

'Come in here, my lady. I will explain all. I will tell you all I have to tell. The Lor' knows I have no cause to hide it. It's too well known already.'

I entered the comfortable dwelling. Mrs. Hodge carefully dusted a chair with her apron. I sat down. She dropped on both knees in front of me, hiding her bonny face in her hands. Suddenly she looked up, her confidence seemed to return-her cheeks were wet with tears, red and mottled by contact with her hot hands.

'I want to tell you all about it. I always said to myself I would. It was not all my fault. I was so young then- only fifteen. He was old enough to have known better than to take advantage of a poor girl without experience. He was eddicated and rich, with ladies all round him ready for his asking. I was taken with his winnin' ways. I was foolishly proud of his noticin' me. He did what he liked with me. More's the pity. He said it was all a bit of fun and nonsense and that he would take care of me. So it was for him, but not for me. Father come to hear of it. Mother was dead then. The village all heard of it. They sneered at Father. It broke his heart. He beat me and turned me out o' doors. An old neighbor took me in out o' charity like. It killed Father. I was left alone. The Countess was kind to me-the last Dowager, I mean. She's dead now, and he-can you guess who he was? Yes, I know you do, my lady.'

Down went her head again between the hands. I heard a low sobbing moan. Then she spoke again.

'Fortunately nothing come of my wrong doin'. I lived down most of the talk. Then Jock come in my way. He was always a good lad. A bit studious-like. Clever at farm work, strong, and cheery. I took to him. We married. The Dowager Lady Endover had left directions that they were to take care o' me. They gave us the lodge. Jock is keeper, as your ladyship knows, and woodman too.'

Mrs. Hodge looked all round. Seeing that we were quite alone, but for the two children playing on the floor, she went on:

'It was then I knew why nothing hod come of my wrong doin'. He was not like my Jock. He had not the way of doing what men who take up with young girls ought-I mean are expected-to do. He was weak. Almost without any force at all after the novelty passed off. It was different with my Jock-my goodness, yes, my lady! I couldn't hold him. He was like a cage full o' lions under the blankets. There wasn't no stoppin' him. Under ten months my baby was born. My second was planted the first time as ever he touched me after I gave up sucklin' the first, and my lady, I don't mind telling you, my third is a- comin' the same. He's a good lad, my Jock is, and quiet steady one as loves his home, and I'm a happy woman.'

Mrs. Hodge rose to her feet. She was quite dramatic in her excitement. As she unfolded her narration, the truth had gradually come home to me. It was the old story-only a penny novel. But there was more than that in it. This view struck me also. Every word was evidently true. She had told me at least one fact I recognized only too well. Very naturally she had fallen into an error in her knowledge of only half the facts. Very possibly, as regarded my matrimonial affairs, there existed a double disqualification. I felt angry at having been deceived. I had been married only a year. I felt I was looked upon all round as a failure-a disappointment. In a flash it occurred to me why the three sisters of the Earl had suddenly commenced a course of subservient patronage towards their cousin, the heir apparent to the title and the entail. It was even said the youngest was going to marry him. Many things hitherto hidden from my understanding became clear. The cousin, a worthless, idle creature, would obtain the title, Chitterlings would one day be his. My woman's instincts were aroused, my pride revolted.

'Go on, Mrs. Hodge. I am much interested. Alas! I think it is much as you say, but still I fear there is nothing to be done. I must be content to be as I am. You are blessed with two beautiful children, boys fit to be kings. You have a fine young fellow for a husband replete with health and strength, while I…'

The good woman dropped on her knees again. She came closer and gazed up into my face with a puzzled look I could not decipher.

'I shouldn't! No, my lady-not in your place-I shouldn't. It ain't in nature. What! Let all go to nobody knows where? A fine title! A fine estate! When all might be for you and yours but for the fault of a certain person who has passed his time in ruining his faculties. See, my lady; only see what might be yours! Look on my boys there-my Jock's the man that knows the trick! Oh, my dear lady, try my Jock?'

Mrs. Hodge clutched my hand, took it between her own, and slobbered it with her kisses as she knelt humbly