Acting for the Best
I have no patience with people who talk that kind of nonsense aboutmarrying for love and the like. For my part I don't know what theymean, and I don't believe they know it themselves. It's only a sortof fashion of talking. I never could see what there was to like inone young man more than another, only, of course, you might favoursome more than others if they was better to do.My cousin Mattie was different. She must set up to be in love, andwalk home from church with Jack Halibut Sunday after Sunday, thelong way round, if you please, through the meadows; and he used tobuy her scent and ribbons at the fair, and send her a big valentineof lacepaper, and satin ribbons and things, though Lord knows wherehe got the money from--honest, I hope--for he hadn't a penny tobless himself with.When my uncle found out all this nonsense, being a man of properspirit, he put his foot down, and says he--'Mattie, my girl, I would be the last to say anything against anyyoung man you fancied, especially a decent chap like young Halibut,if his prospects was anything like as good as could be expected, butyou can't pretend poor Jack's are, him being but a blacksmith's man,and not in regular work even. Now, let's have no waterworks,' hewent on, for Mattie had got the corner of her apron up and her mouthscrewed down at the corners. 'I've known what poverty is, my girl,and you shan't never have a taste of it with my consent.''I don't care how poor I be, father,' said Mattie, 'it's Jack I careabout.''There's a girl all over,' says uncle, for he was a sensible man inthose days. 'The bit I've put by for you, lass, it's enough for one,but it's not enough for two. And when young Halibut can show asmuch, you shall be cried in church the very next Sunday. But,meantime, there must be no kisses, no more letters, and no morewalking home from churches. Now, you give me your word--and keep itI know you will--like an honest girl.'So Mattie she gave him her word, though much against her will; andas for Jack, I suppose, man-like, he didn't care much about stayingin the village after there was a stop put to his philandering andkissing and scent and so on. So what does he do, but he ups and offsto America (assisted emigration) 'to make his fortune,' says he.And never word nor sign did we hear of him for three blessed years.Mattie was getting quite an old maid, nigh on two-and-twenty, and Iwas past nineteen, when one morning there come a letter from Jack.My father and mother were dead this long time, so I lived with uncleand Mattie at the farm. What offers I had had is neither here northere. At any rate, whatever they were, they weren't good enough.But Mattie might have been married twice over if she had liked, andto folks that would have been quite a catch to a girl like hergetting on in years. She might have had young Bath for one, thestrawberry grower; and what if he did drink a bit of a Saturday? Hewas taking his hundreds of pounds to the Bank every week in canvasbags, as all the world knew.But no, she must needs hanker after Jack, and that's why I say it'ssuch nonsense.Well, when the letter come, I was up to my elbows in thejam-making--raspberry and currant it was,--and Mattie, she was downin the garden getting the last berries off the canes. My hands werestained up above the wrist with the currant juice, so I took theletter up by the corner of my apron and I went down the garden withit.'Mattie,' I calls out, 'here's a letter from that good-for-nothingfellow of yours.'She couldn't see me, and she thought I was chaffing her about him,which I often did, to keep things pleasant.'Don't tease me, Jane,' she says, 'for I do feel this morning as ifI could hardly bear myself as it is.'And as she said it I came out through the canes close to her withthe letter in my hand. But when she see the letter she dropped thebasket with the raspberries in it (they rolled all about on theground right under the peony bush, for that was a silly,old-fashioned garden, with the flowers and fruit about it anyhow),and I had a nice business picking them up, and she threw her armsround my neck and kissed me, and cried like the silly little thingshe was, and thanked me for bringing the letter, just as if I hadanything to do with it, or any wish or will one way or another; andthen she opened the letter, and seemed to forget all about me whileshe read it.I remember the sun was so bright on the white paper that I couldscarce see to read it over her shoulder, she not noticing me, noranything else, any more. It was like this--'DEAR MATTIE,--This comes hoping to find you well, as it leaves meat present.'I don't bear no malice over what your father said and done, but I'mnot coming to his house.'Now Mattie, if you have forgot me, or think more of some otherchap, don't let anything stand in the way of your letting me know itstraight and plain. But if you do remember how we used to walk fromchurch, and the valentine, and the piece of poetry about Cupid'sdart that I copied for you out of the poetry-book, you will come andmeet me in the little ash copse, you know where. I may be preventedcoming, for I've a lot of things to see to, and I am going toLiverpool on Thursday, and if we are to be married you will have tocome to me there, for my business won't bear being left, and I mustget back to it. But if so I will put a note in your prayer-book inthe church. So you had best look in there on your way up onWednesday evening.'I am taking this way of seeing you because I don't want there to beany unpleasantness for you if you are tired of me or like some otherchap better.'I mean to take a wife back with me, Mattie, for I have done well,and can afford to keep one in better style than ever your fatherkept his. Will you be her, dear? So no more at present from youraffectionate friend and lover,JACK HALIBUT.'I am quicker at reading writing than Mattie, and I had finished theletter and was picking up the raspberries before she come to theend, where his name was signed with all the little crosses round it.'Well?' says I, as she folded it up and unbuttoned two buttons ofher dress to push it inside. 'Well,' says I, 'what's the best news?''He's come home again,' she says. And I give you my word she didlook like a rose as she said it. 'He's come home again, Jane, andit's all right, and he likes me just as much as ever he did, Godbless him.'Not a word, you see, about his having made his fortune, which Imight never have known if I hadn't read the letter which I did,acting for the best. Not that I think it was deceitfulness in thegirl, but a sort of fondness that always kept her from noticingreally important things.'And does he ask you to have him?' says I.'Of course he does,' she says; 'I never thought any different. Inever thought but what he would come back for me, just as he said hewould--just as he has.'By that I knew well enough that she had often had her doubts.'Oh, well!' says I, 'all's well that ends well.I hope he's made enough to satisfy uncle--that's all.''Oh yes, I think so,' says Mattie, hardly understanding what I wassaying. 'I didn't notice particular. But I suppose that's allright.'She didn't notice particular! Now, I put it to you, Was that thesort of girl to be the wife of a man who had got on like Jack had? Ifor one didn't think so. If she didn't care for money why should shehave it, when there was plenty that did? And if love in a cottagewas what she wanted, and kisses and foolishness out of poetry-books,I suppose one man's pretty much as good as another for that sort ofthing.So I said, 'Come along in, dear, and we will get along with thejam-making, and talk it all over nicely. I'm so glad he's come back.I always say he would, if you remember.'Not that I ever had, but she didn't seem to know any different,anyhow.The next few days Mattie was like a different girl. I will say forher that she always did her fair share of the work, but she did itwith a face as long as a fiddle. Only now her face was all round anddimply, and like a child's that has got a prize at school.On Wednesday afternoon she said to me, 'I'm going to meet Jack, anddon't you say a word to the others about it, Jane. I'll tell fathermyself when I come back, if you'll get the tea like a good girl, andjust tell them I've gone up to the village.''I don't tell lies as a rule, especially for other people,' I says;'but I don't mind doing it for you this once.'And she kissed me (she had got mighty fond of kissing these last fewdays), and ran upstairs to get ready. When she come down, if you'llbelieve me, she wasn't in her best dress as any other girl wouldhave been, but she had gone and put on a dowdy old green and whitedelaine that had been her Sunday dress, trimmed with green satinpiping, three years before, and the old hat she had with all theflowers faded and the ribbons crumpled up, that was three year oldtoo, and the very one she used to walk home from church with him onSundays in. And her with a really good blue poplin laid by and a newbonnet with red roses in it, only come home the week before fromMaidstone.She come through the kitchen where I was setting the tea, and shetook the key of the church off the nail in the wall. Our farm wasfull a mile from the village, and half way between it and thechurch. So we kept one key, and Jack's uncle, who was the sexton, hehad the other.'What time was you to meet Jack?' I says.'He didn't say,' said she; 'but it used to be half-past six.''You're full early,' says I.'Yes,' she says, 'but I've got to take the butter down to Weller's,and to call in for something first.'And, of course, I knew that she meant that she had to call in forthat note at the church.Minute she was out of the way, I runs into the kitchen, and says toour maid--'Poor Mrs. Tibson's not so well, Polly. I'm going over to see her.Give the men their tea, will you? there's a good girl.'And she said she would. And in ten minutes I was dressed, and nicelydressed too, for I had on my white frock and the things I had had ata girl's wedding the summer before, and a pair of new gloves I hadgot out of my butter-money.Then I went off up the hill to the church after Mattie, even thennot making up my mind what I was going to do, but with an idea thatall things somehow might work together for good to me if I only hadthe sense to see how, and turn things that way.As I come up to the church I was just in time to see her old greengown going in at the porch, and when I come up the key was in thedoor, and she hadn't come out. Quick as thought, the idea come to meto have a joke with her and lock her in, so she shouldn't meet him,and next minute I had turned the key in the lock softly, and stoleoff through the church porch, and up to the ash copse, which Icouldn't make a mistake about, for there's only one within a mile ofthe church.Jack was there, though it was before the time. I could see his bluetie and white shirt-front shining through the trees.When I locked her in I only meant to have a sort of joke--at least,I think so,--but when I come close up to him and saw how well off helooked, and the diamond ring on his fingers, and his pin and hisgold chain, I thought to myself--'Well, you go to Liverpool to-morrow, young man! And she ain't gotyour address, and, likely as not, if you go away vexed with her, youwon't leave it with your aunt, and one wife is as good as another,if not better, and as for her caring for you, that's all affectationand silliness--so here goes.'He stepped forward, with his hands held out to me, but when he sawit was me he stopped short.'Why, Miss Jane,' he said, 'I beg your pardon. I was expecting quitea different person.''Yes, I know,' I says, 'you was expecting my cousin Mattie.''And isn't she coming?' he asks very quick, looking at me full, withhis blue eyes.'I hope you won't take it hard, Mr. Halibut,' says I, 'but she saidshe'd rather not come.''Confound it!' says he.'You see,' I went on, 'it's a long time since you was at home, andyou not writing or anything, and some girls are very flighty andchangeable; and she told me to tell you she was sorry if you weremistaken in her feelings about you, and she's had time to thinkthings over since three years ago; and now you're so well off, shesays she's sure you'll find no difficulty in getting a girl suitedto your mind.''Did she say that?' he said, looking at me very straight. 'It's notlike her.''I don't mean she said so in those words, or that she told me totell you so; but that's what I made out to be her mind from what shesaid between us two like.''But what message did she send to me? For I suppose she sent you tomeet me to-day.'Then I saw that I should have to be very careful. So to get a littletime I says, 'I don't quite like to tell you, Mr. Halibut, what shesaid.''Out with it,' says he. 'Don't be a fool, girl!''Well, then,' I says, 'if it must be so, her words were these: "TellJack," she says, "that I shall ever wish him well for the sake ofwhat's past, but all's over betwixt him and me, and--"''And what,' says he.'There wasn't much besides,' says I.'Good God, don't be such an idiot!' and he looked as if he couldhave shaken me.'Well, then, if you must have it,' says I, 'she says, "Tell Jackthere's at least one girl I know of as would make him a better wifethan I should, and has been thinking of him steady and faithfulthese three years, while I've been giving my mind to far otherthings."''Confound her!' says he, 'little witch. And who is this other girlthat she's so gracious to hand me over to?''I don't want to say no more,' says I. 'I'm going now, Mr. Halibut.Good-bye.'For well I knew he wouldn't let me go at that.'Tell me who it is,' says he. 'What! she's not content with givingme the mitten herself, but she must insult me and this poor girltoo, who's got more sense than she has. Good Heavens, it would serveher right if I took her at her word, and took the other girl backwith me.'He was walking up and down with his hands in his pockets, frowninglike a July thunderstorm.'Wicked, heartless little--but there, thank God! all women aren'tlike her. Who's this girl that she's tried to set me against?''I can't tell you,' says I.'Oh! can't you, my girl? But you shall.'And he catches hold of both my wrists in his hands.'Leave me go!' I cried, 'you're hurting me.''Who is it?'I was looking down my nose very straight, but when he said that, Ijust lifted my eyes up and looked at him, and dropped them.I've always practised looking like what I meant, or what I wantedpeople to think I meant--sort of matching your looks and words, likeyou match ribbon and a bit of stuff.'So you're the girl, are you?' he cries. 'And she thought to put youto shame before me with her messages? Look here, I'm well off. I'mgoing to Liverpool to-night, and back to America next week. I wantto take a wife with me, and she says you have thought of me whileI've been away. Will you marry me, Jane?'I just looked at him again, and he put his arm round me and gave mea good kiss. I had to put up with it, though I never could see anysense in that sort of stuff. Then we walked home together, veryslow, his arm round me.I daresay some people will think I oughtn't to have acted so, takingaway another girl's fellow. But I was quite sure she would getplenty that would play love in a cottage with her, and she did notseem to appreciate her blessings in getting a man that was well off,and I didn't see how it could be found out, as he was going awaynext day.Now, it would all have gone as well as well if I had had the senseto offer to see him off at the station, and I ought to have had thesense to see him well out of the place. But we all make mistakessometimes. Mine was in saying 'Good-bye' to him at the corner of thefour-acre and going home by myself, leaving him with three-quartersof an hour for 'Satan to find some mischief still for idle hands todo' in.I said 'Good-bye' to him, and he kissed me, and gave me the addresswhere to write, and told me what to do.'For I shan't have no truck with your uncle,' says he. 'I marries mywife, and I takes her right away.'It wasn't till I was going up the stairs, untying my bonnet-stringsas I went, and smoothing out the ribbons with my finger and thumb,for it was my best, that it come to me all in a minute that I hadleft Mattie locked up in that church. It was very tiresome, and howto get her out I didn't know. But I thought maybe she would betrying some of the other doors, and I might turn the key gently andaway again before she could find out it was unlocked.So up to the church I went, very hot, and a setting sun, and havinghad no tea or anything, and as I began to climb the hill my heartstood still in my veins, for I heard a sound from the church as Inever expected to hear at that time of the day and week.'O Lord!' I thought, 'she's tried every other way, and now she'sringing the bell, and she'll fetch up the whole village, and whatwill become of me?'I made the best haste I could, but I could see more than one blackdot moving up the hill before me that showed me folks on their wayhome had heard the bell and was going to see what it meant. And whenI got up there they were trying the big door of the church, notknowing it was the little side one where the key was, and Jack, hecome up almost the same moment I did, and I knew well enough he hadcome to get that note out of her prayer-book for fear some one elseshould see it.'Here, I've got the key in my pocket,' says he, and with that heopened the door, the bell clang, clang, clanging from the tower allthe time like as if the bellringer was drunk and had got a wager onto get more beats out of the bell in half an hour than the next man.Whoever it was that was ringing the bell--and I could give a prettygood guess who it was--didn't seem to hear us coming, and they wentup the aisle and pulled back the red baize curtain that hides thebottom of the tower where the ringers stand on Sundays, and therewas Mattie with her old green gown on, and her hair all loose anddown her back with the hard work of bellringing, I suppose, and herface as white as the bald-faced stag as is painted on the sign downat the inn in the village. And directly she saw Jack, I knew it wasall over, for she let go the rope and it swung up like a live thingover our heads, and she made two steps to Jack and had him round theneck before them all.'O Jack!' she cried, 'don't look like that.I came to fetch your letter, and somebody locked me in.'Jack, he turned to me, and his face was so that I should have beenafraid to have been along of him in a lonely place.'This is your doings,' says he, 'and all that pack of lies you toldme was out of your own wicked head.'He had got his arm round her, and was holding on as if she wassomething worth having, instead of a silly girl in a frock threeyear old.'I don't know what you mean, I'm sure,' I said; 'it was only ajoke.''A joke!' says he. 'Lies, I call it, and I know they're lies by thevery touch of her in my arm here.''Oh, well!' I said, 'if you can't take joking better than this, it'sthe last time I'll ever try joking with you.'And I walked out of the church, and the other folks who had run upto see what was the matter come out with me. And they two was leftalone.I suppose it was only human nature that, as I come round the church,I should get on the top of a tombstone and look in to see what theywas doing. It was the little window where a pane was broken by astone last summer, and so I heard what they was saying. He wastrying to tell her what I had told him--quite as much for her owngood as for mine, as you have seen; but she didn't seem to want tolisten.'Oh, never mind all that now, Jack,' she says, with arms round hisneck. 'What does it matter about a silly joke now that I have gotyou, and it's all right betwixt us?'I thought it my duty to go straight home and tell uncle she was upin the church, kissing and cuddling with Jack Halibut; and he tookhis stick and started off after her.But he met them at the garden gate, and Jack, he came forward, andhe says--'Mr. Kenworthy, I have had hard thoughts of you this three year, butI see you was right, for if I had never gone away, I should neverhave been able to keep my little girl as she should be kept, and asI can now, thanks be! and I should never have known how dear she hasloved me this three year.'And uncle, like the soft-hearted old thing he is, he holds out hishands, and he says, 'God bless you, my boy, it was for your own goodand hers.'And they went in to supper.As for me, I went to bed. I had had all the supper I wanted. Anduncle has never been the same to me since, though I'm sure I triedto act for the best.
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