mmm0mmmmMMwm m ^9HH n HI 1 i W^ m Wm ^^^^ WmSm s^ ■ &sa H ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. VOL. I. NEW AND POPULAR NOVELS AT ALL THE LIBRARIES. INCOGNITA. By Henry Cresswell, author of 'A Modern Greek Heroine,' ' Fair and Free,' &c. 3 vols. THE COUNTER OF THIS WORLD. By Lilias Was- sEr.ii.vNN and Isabella Weddle, authors of 'A Man of the Day,'&c. 3 v. LADY LOWATER'S COMPANION. By the Author of 'St. Olave's,' 'Janita's Cross,' 'Annette,' &c. 3 vols. GAYTHORNE HALL. By John M. Fothergill. 3 vols. VENUS' DOVES. By Ida Ashworth Taylor. 3 vols. HURST & BLACKETT, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT BY JOHN MILLS AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN,' "TOO FAST TO LAST," ETC., ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1884. Ail rights reserved. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/onspurofmoment01mill sras v. I ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. A CHAPTER I. x : It was a pretty picture, criticise as you r? might from any jDO-int of the compass. n Framed by the surrounding and droop- ing branches of an apple-tree in full bloom there sat Griselda Peepem, in a careless, languid attitude, with a large red and white spaniel stretched at full length on the grass at her feet. The dog had his nose snugly resting between his fore paws, with his eyes turned upwards upon the face of his young mistress, and if ever a look displayed unqualified devotion at what he VOL. I. B 2 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. saw, it was in the concentrated gaze fixed in the worship of his idol, Griselda Peepem. ' Well, Sam !' said she, with a slight toss of her head so as to throw the clus- tering golden ringlets aside from her brow, 'well, Sam!' repeated she, in a listless, dreamy tone and manner. ' I wish that we had something to do.' Sam acquiesced by one gentle sweep of the end of his tail. ' I hate being idle,' continued she, with- out displaying the smallest practical ob- jection of being so. Sam yawned a doubtful affirmative. 4 And yet when I am not idle, resumed Griselda, 'aunt says that I am always doing something wrong, or very wrong, as the case may be. Sam assented by a kind of suiDpressed inward growl. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 6 ' By some strange fatality,' continued Griselda, almost peevishly, ' I am sure to do exactly the opposite of what I know to be right, and just the contrary to what I intended to carry out as a good intention.' Sam gave a signal t of assent by lifting up his head, and, throwing his ears back, closed one eye. ' Be polite enough, Sam,' continued his mistress, 'to open the other eye. At the present moment you look as if wink- ing at me, sir, with almost an expression of insolence.' Sam, however, kept the offending eye shut, and took no notice of the request. Griselda Peepem, shifting her arm upon which her head rested lazily on the elbow of the garden-seat, lifted a large sheet of pasteboard from the ground, and began sketching with a crayon pencil b 2 4 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. the likeness of Sam lying at her feet, who still appeared to wink delib- erately in the face of his mistress. There the two remained in their re- spective positions, the sketcher and the sketched. For a few minutes no interruption took place in the progress of Griselda's task ; but, an approaching footstep attracting her attention, she temporarily left the point of the pencil resting upon the pasteboard, and turned to see her maiden aunt and sole custodian, Penelope Peepein, who with erect figure and measured tread, was, ren- dering the distance shorter by degrees and palpably less which separated them and the apple-tree. 4 Now, Sam,' observed Griselda, in a tone of voice only to be heard by Sam, ' now, Sam,' repeated she, ' we are in for a lecture.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. O Sam instinctively opened his jaws with as profound and wide a yawn as was ever given by an animal, biped or quadruped, knowing that he was about to be tired out. 'You are completing, I suppose, your drawing-lesson, Griselda ?' said her aunt, upon arriving at and stooping under the branches of the apple-tree. ' Signor Ves- prucci will be here in a few minutes. ' 1 I'm afraid, aunt dear,' replied her niece, and as she spoke a little musical, suppress- ed laugh was heard, although no outward effect was seen of the audible but invisible cause. ' I'm afraid, aunt dear,' repeated she, ' that Signor Vesprucci will not be pleased with the progress made in my drawing-lesson.' * If my memory,' replied Miss Penelope Peepem, ' is not more than ordinarily treacherous, a circumstance by no means 6 ON THE SPUK OF THE MOMENT. improbable, the signor gave you the head of Tiberius Cresar to copy in chalk upon a slightly-tinted yellow ground.' A little, merry chuckle was heard ; but Griselcla's features wore a most serious and even stoical expression. Sam was laughing to himself, perhaps at the thought of having recently robbed the cat, 1 I fear, aunt,' said Griselda, ' that Signor Vesprucci will hardly consider that a fair copy of the head of Tiberius Caesar,' and, as she spoke, she handed the very sketchy outlines of Sam, as he sat for his portrait with one eye closed. 'Tiberius Caesar !' exclaimed Miss Pene- lope Peepem, raising her voice to some- thing like a screech with unfeigned aston- ishment as she glanced at the unfinished portrait. ' Why, it is the likeness of that rebellious Sam, and I must say,' continued she, lowering the tone to softer notes, ' a ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 7 most excellent likeness, but vulgarised by the low expression of his closed eye. In fact, winking.' ' So I told him,' quietly responded her niece ; ' but, as usual, he took no notice whatever of my request, and I had to draw him with the wink which you reasonably object to.' ' Reasonably object to !' ejaculated her aunt, stepping backwards and regarding Griselda and Sam with a look intended to convey withering scorn. i What can — what will Signor Vesprucci say to this act of wilful insubordination, amounting to little short of high treason, combined with mutiny ?' ' I told you so, Sam,' rejoined Griselda, shaking her head reprovingly. ' I knew that you would get me into another scrape. You hear what you have done. I almost prayed that you would not wink at me.' 8 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' Prayed that he would not wink at you !' repeated Miss* Penelope Peepem, in a tone of great severity, posing on one foot be- tween advancing and retreating. i I am not censuring your rebellious dog for any share of the misconduct on his part, but you, Griselda Peepem, for setting even the laws of decency at defiance. ' ' How very dreadful !' returned her niece, with an accompaniment of the little laugh, although not a trace of mirth could be seen upon her features, which remained smooth and unruffled. ' How very dread- ful!' repeated she. 'But what particular act of indecency have I committed, aunt dear ?' 1 1 refer,' was the reply, with great dig- nity in tone and manner, ' to Tiberius Caesar. The lesson given you by Signor Vesprucci was to draw that historically- renowned head of the Roman Emperor, ON THE SPUK OF THE MOMENT. \) and instead of which yon have substituted Sam's with a vulgar and, consequently, objectionable expression of countenance.' ' I was very wrong,' rejoined Griselda, raising a remarkably small and well-shap- ed foot in a threatening attitude, ' and I feel much disposed to kick Sam.' Sam drew back the angles of his jaws to the fullest extent, and if ever a dog laughed at the fun of the thing, he did. ' I cannot see how the responsibility of this most reprehensible conduct of yours, Miss Griselda Peepem, can be transferred to your dog,' returned her aunt. ' He too often participates in your mischief and total disregard of all rules of decorum, and, I must add, of propriety for a girl of your age, who seems to entirely forget that the time has arrived for a positive change from childish tricks to accpiire the accomplishments of a lady in order that 10 ON THE SPUE OF THE MOMENT. she may take her proper place in county society. But what do I see?' she ejaculat- ed, as a somewhat strangely-dressed figure stood before her, grinning with evident delight at the opportunity of presenting himself in — as he called it — ' his fresh moult.' ' Oh !' returned Griselda, languidly. ' It's Robin in his new clothes which I made entirely for him. Don't you admire them, aunt dear r' Miss Penelope Peepem slowly raised a pair of strong magnifying glasses, and began a measured and critical examination of Robin's ' fresh moult,' beginning from his feet to his head. ' You will observe,' said her niece, with a serious face, bub with an inward laugh, ' that his legs are encased in elastic black worsted tights, which I knitted with praiseworthy industry and patience to ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. II imitate as closely as possible the slender limbs of a robin. The waistcoat, you will see, is bright red bordering on scarlet, which I worked in the same material to copy — I think successfully — the breast of a robin. The jacket of brown velvet, which certainly is a misfit and baggy, I made from an old garment of yours, aunt dear, which I disentombed from a chest long since forgotten, I should say, from the cobwebs and dust in which it was enshrined.' At this particular juncture Miss Pene- lope Peepem slowly raised her hand with an involuntary movement and kept a fixed stare upon the ' misfit.' ' The close and small skull-cap of the same material,' continued she, ' I also de- signed from a piece of the old brown velvet, and the general effect seems to me that Eobin, from a close resemblance, 12 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. merits the title and distinction I intend that he should henceforth be known by. I now,' said Griselda, after a short pause, ' call him Cock Robin.' The individual to whom personal refer- ence was being made here grinned in a man- ner which showed that he almost revelled in the addition to his name, whether family or otherwise. 'And from what cause has this new outrage been designed ?' inquired her aunt, in a tone trespassing upon the haughty combined with the indignant. ' You will recollect,' responded Griselda, with an elastic manner of extreme ease if not of indifference, 'that Gazelle, in a sharp run of last season, J jumping short, nearly fell backwards into a deep ditch, where Cock Robin laid with his heels rest- ing upon the margin to all intents and purposes buried — absolutely buried.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 13 ' '^"ell ?' snappishly interrogated her aunt. ' Had he been a little more externally conspicuous,' resumed the narrator, ' sup- posing even that his legs only had been then as they are now ' Cock Robin glanced at his legs with ad- miration which, incased as they were in 1 tights,' showed oh their form and shape, as he thought, to supreme advantage, and the expression of his features was that of gratified pride, if not of pourtrayed vanity. ' Easily to be seen if not admired,' con- tinued Griselda, placing the back of her head upon her hand iu a languid attitude as she surveyed the tights. • I should have pulled a few inches either to the near or off side, and so avoided the imminent risk of rendering Cock Eobin as flat as any fritter that was ever fried/ 1 1 quite expect that the poor lad will 14 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. meet with a violent end some day,' remark- ed Miss Lucretia Peepem, deprecatingly. Cock Robin drew back the angles of his month, to the full limits of their stretching powers, and exhibited a remarkable even and sound set of molars and incisors ; but maintained a strict silence upon the subject. ' So do 1/ rejoined her niece, with su- preme and most philosophical indifference, ' and I should not be extremely surprised if, eventually, he comes to be hanged.' Cock Robin was still silent; but his round, ruddy cheeks looked at the final point of cracking with the storage of mirth de- picted in them. 'And this is your explanation of your having dressed the poor boy in so absurd and grotesque a garb !' returned her aunt, cynically. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 15 ' Safety for the future to some of his bones/ added Griselda, ' and immunity from being flattened into the shape of a muffin almost assured. Nothing, I think, could possibly be more considerate or even charit- able in carrying out the design.' Sam threw himself upon his back, and beg^an rolling in a kind of convulsive ecstacy. The design, as he thought, defied improvement. ' In my opinion, which I have expressed upon several opportune occasions,' resumed her aunt, with marked emphasis, ' the time has arrived for a complete and perfect end to be put to these childish absurdities. You are now, Miss Griselda Peepem, about entering your sixteenth year.' 1 How very sad !' murmured her niece. 'I'm growing, then, quite old.' ' Old enough,' rejoined Miss Penelope 16 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. Peepern, with all the severity that she could command with the prompt aid of her reserve forces, l to know better.' 1 How very sad !' repeated her niece, shaking her head mournf ally. i Old enough to know better, and yet without any reason- able hope, so far as I can see, of the small- est improvement. How very sad !' ' If true,' returned Miss Penelope Peep- em, without relaxing any of the austerity of her address, f most sad. As I have told you very often ' Griselda sighed. ' Accompanied by ill-concealed and in- finite impatience on your part, that your long and well-sustained character of Tom- boy should be discarded altogether for the more dignified and elegant deportment of a young lady about to be introduced into the best count}^ society.' 6 1 much prefer that of Gazelle, Cock ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 17 Robin, and Sam/ added her niece, ' to any society I have yet seen. 5 Sam evidently appreciated the flattering compliment paid to his companionship, and, with a loud bark, began running round in a wide circle, with the apple-tree for a common centre. 1 Pray make that noisy and ill-mannered dog of yours quiet,' said Miss Penelope Peepem, ' while I conclude the very few words I have to say/ Griselda's spirits rose at the announce- ment that her aunt's speech was limited in its finish to a few words. 4 Pending the short interval of your in- troduction to the best county society,' re- commenced Miss Penelope Peepem, ' it becomes a paramount duty which you owe to yourself to apply assiduously to your re- spective studies, and become mistress of the arts and sciences.' vol. i. c 18 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. A little ebullition of mirth was beard, not seen. 1 In these days of progressive refine- ment/ continued Miss Penelope Peepem, with great and even stiff dignity, ' what is a young lady without the usual, and, I may add, the tmusual accomplishments ?' 'A kind of fossil, I suppose/ was the quiet reply. ' Not even presentable to ordinary society/ resumed Miss Penelope Peepem, 'to say nothiDg of the best county circles.' ' I have no desire to enter them,' re- sponded her niece, 'any more than the best county circles desire for my enter- ing them. I have no money, aunt dear.' 1 But if you became mistress of the arts and sciences ' ' In the meantime/ interrupted her niece, springing suddenly from her seat, ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 19 4 let me have a gallop on Gazelle. Go and saddle her, Cock Robin. You shall give tne a lead over a few flights of hurdles. She always jumps better with a lead.' 1 But take a pull at her if she gets too close to me, Miss Grizzle,' interposed her personal attendant. ' She made a sharp- ish snap when too near to be pleasant the last time we had a Grand National.' ' I thought that her teeth, I must admit, came together rather viciously as she cleared that last hurdle,' rejoined Gris- elda, carelessly. 'And with her ears thrown back, Miss Grizzle,' added Cock Robin, placing a hand significantly behind him, ' she made an ugly try on to savage me.' ' It shall not occur again,' returned his young mistress, with a laugh which, in- stead of being hidden or suppressed, was carried down the wind to where echo re- c 2 20 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. peated it in ringing mocking mirth. ' I will take care that Gazelle does not get too close for the future. Go and saddle her, Cock Robin.' With this mandate Cock Robin took an abrupt departure with his round, red-apple looking face beaming with delight at the thought of having another Grand National in which he was to take, as usual, a leading part. ' And what excuse or apology am I to offer Signer Vesprucci?' inquired Miss Penelope Peepem, as if having met with a recent personal affront or injury. ' He will expect as a natural consequence of this being the day of your taking your drawing lesson a complete head in chalk of Tiberius Caesar.' ' There is no alternative, as far as I can see,' responded her niece, ' but his accept- ing Sam's instead.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 21 Sain at this juncture had another vigor- ous roll on the grass, and seemed to enjoy the joke to the fullest extent. * May I ask, Miss Griselda Peepem,' said her aunt, with the utmost gravity, 'by way of introducing Sam's head instead of that of Tiberius Cassar to Signor Yes- prucci, may I ask,' repeated she, ' in what particular words you would like the excuse or justification to be made ?' 1 You are so eloquent, dear aunt, in making excuses for me, and so skilled in practising the art,' replied Griselda, i that no instructions could possibly improve your accomplished style.' 1 Signor Yesprucci,' rejoined Miss Pene- lope Peepem, ' will naturally be greatly incensed at what will appear to him a de- liberate insult.' ' It was not intended,' returned her niece, in a voice closely resembling the plaintive, 22 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. and looking very penitent, if not feelings so. ' You invariably put forth this plea for every insubordinate act of your life,' added her aunt, ' and I begin to feel ashamed of myself for being weak enough to listen to it,' ' Let me entreat,' returned Griseida, iu the same tone and manner, 'that you will not exert any additional strength, however small, to set aside my one poor, little de- fence in doing things which I ought not to do, and leaving undone things which I ought to have done. What will become of me if you turn stony-hearted and deaf, dear aunt, to my one little defence, which has been so successful for long, long years ?' and then, raising a cambric pocket-handker- chief to her eyes, she slily peeped from behind it, and looked with dramatic effect one of the most irresistible of penitents. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 23 ' You always succeed in getting your own way,' observed Miss Penelope Peepem, by way of parenthesis. ' I suppose that I must strain a point to conciliate Signor Vesprucci.' * How very kind and affectionate of you to strain a point/ responded her niece, warmly embracing her aunt and energetic- ally kissing her on both cheeks. ' Tell Signor Vesprucci that he shall have a meritorious copy of Tiberius Caasar next week; but this morning I must yield to the temptation of having a gallop on Gazelle :' and away she started with a bound like a roe-deer, from under the drooping branches of the apple-tree, with Sam close at her heels, barking loudly at what he already knew to be romping fun in store for both. 24 CHAPTER II. Upon the boundary line of the western part of the New Forest, Hampshire, a house stood, upon which the gaze of the stranger seldom fell without expressed or entertained admiration for the natural beauties by which it was surrounded. Quaint and old as the architecture was with its high sloping roof, gable ends, heavy casements, and small, diamond-paned lattices, which glittered, shone, and twink- led in the rays of the setting sun as he began to throw long, dark shadows upon the earth, a more modern edifice, perhaps, ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 25 would have failed to present so pleas- iug an effect as Foresters Lodge, built by no one remembers who, when, or for whom. That it was long ago there could be no disputing, and generations, perhaps, of Rangers and Foresters, decked in green and gold, had come and gone without the faintest trace of their ever having been. The cedar, stretching its wide, flat, and dark green branches over the angular roof, had taken centuries to rear, and its thick and gnarled trunk bore evidence, at least, of the growth being anything but of the mushroom kind. Large holly bushes, planted in days long since passed away for the deer to browse upon the barbed and prickly leaves in winter, and called in the Saxon tongue ' Holm Trees,' formed thick- ets here and there, sufficiently dense to harbour as noble a stag as was ever hunted 26 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. by king or belted earl in greenwood glade, forest, or field. It signified little where the spectator turned when within the clearly defined but small domain immediately pertaining to Forester's Lodge. The view presented was precisely the same north, south, east, and west. Hedged in, flanked, sheltered, hidden, surrounded, cradled, and almost buried among trees, bushes, and thickets of the growth of ages, it was barely prac- ticable to catch a glimpse of the world without, albeit stirring scenes had taken place within the short range of a pea- shooter when, in the olden time, bow and arrow and hunting spear were deftly handled by Norman hands, and the bay of the sleuth hound heard as he stretched along in the outlaw's track. This, however, was of the past. Forester's Lodge was now occupied by ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 27 Miss Penelope Peepem, as it bad 'been for a sufficient number of years to accouut for a commanding majority of silver threads in her hair in comparison with those of the nut-brown hue of the earlier days of her youth. There was nothing, and had been no- thing, particularly startling in the known life of any member of the somewhat prolific family of the Peepems. The com- mon belief was that as each succeeding generation presented itself before the foot- lights of the world's stage it progressed in numbers as most families appear to do ; but was unprogressive in the visible means of maintenance. The heirs male grew up into manhood with scarcely an exception from, it is supposed, the great and endur- ing strength of their several constitutions, and did either something or nothing in ac- cordance with the physical or mental 28 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. capacity which they possessed or were found wanting in not possessing. The heirs or heiresses female were not so fortunate; for, consistent with the un- challenged chronology of the Peepems of Forester's Lodge, New Forest, Hampshire, many in growing up into womanhood stop- ped prematurely short in the attempt, and so left the preponderance of numbers in the male representatives of the family as compared with the gentler sex. History repeats itself, and as soon as Miss Penelope Peepem could be made or persuaded to understand anything at — it must be stated in justice to her ordinary powers of comprehension — the early age of lisping her requirements in imperfect English, she found herself one of eight in having six remarkably strong and muscu- lar brothers, and one delicate, thin, and pale-faced sister, some years older than ON THE SrUR OP THE MOMENT. 29 herself. Being considerably the youngest of eight, in consequence of a decided check in the multiplication of the current generation of the Peepems, Penelope soon became acquainted with the commonplace fact that her brothers, after going to and returning from school at pretty regular and stated intervals, quitted the paternal roof one by one to seek, as she understood, their fortunes in other latitudes, and, consequently, longitudes, until all being gone, not a single muscular brother re- mained to teaze Penelope, or be teazed in return by her. From remote and even distant regions letters came addressed to their father, Godfrey Peepem, Esquire, J. P., who, now and again, read aloud to his daughters and companions at the breakfast table lengthy extracts, the principal subject being an acknowledgment of the receipt of the last 30 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. remittance, or the affectionate hope that the fondly expected one would not be much longer delayed in coming into the absolute possession of the writer. It appeared to Godfrey Peepem, Esquire, J. P., that his six muscular sons in seeking their respective and collective fortunes in far distant lands, took a prodigious and disappointing time in finding them. At length came the turn of Penelope's sister, who possessed the unquestionable right and title of being spoken to and of as ' Miss Peepem.' She communicated to her father, at a chosen moment which she considered opportune, a strong inclination, amounting almost to an irrevocable de- cision, to insert her finger and thumb mto the matrimonial basket of prizes and blanks, and place her maiden trust of sub- lunary bliss in the keeping of a tall, bony lieuteuant, under immediate orders, as it ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 31 was said, for the West Indies ; a somewhat undefined address, perhaps, but still near enough for the temporary purpose of en- lightening Godfrey Peepem, Esquire, J. P., from what particular quarter of the ter- restrial globe he might reasonably expect to receive an addition to the usual kind of letters from foreign parts. A parent's consent, without much ap- parent reluctance, was given to the union of the hands of Miss Peepem and her be- trothed; their hearts, in a figurative sense, having undergone a corresponding pre- liminary process at the termination of a waltz at the last county ball, where they met for the first time under the favour- able conditions of both looking at their best. Penelope cried like a child, as she was, when her sister took her departure from Forester's Lodge, but her tears, like all 32 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. tears that were ever shed since the first fell in grief or sorrow, were eventually dried by the soothing hand of time or her readily applied pocket-handkerchief. The family being now reduced to herself and father — for Penelope had no memory of what the tender caresses of a mother were, she having died in her early infancy — they became the closest of friends and constant companions. Riding, driving, and walking, the little daughter was close to the side of Godfrey Peepem, Esquire, J.P. ; and as day succeeded day in the rapidly passing years, although not moving with abnormal velocity, Penelope seemed to become more and more necessary to him as his associate, as the old man older grew. Inheriting the property he possessed early in life, amounting to some two thousand a year from land in that part of ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 33 the county in which he lived, Godfrey Peepem enjoyed the luxury of doing no- thing towards earning: his own livelihood from what may, practically, be called the beginning of his mortal career to its close. His rent-roll being under the discretionary management of a local agent he did not interfere with his tenantry, and, as ends appeared to meet between his receipts and expenditure, things jogged on pleasantly enough from the beginning of each year successively to its close. As a magistrate when he sat upon the bench, which was very seldom, his deci- sioDs were proverbial for being lenient and always mingled with mercy, except in poaching cases, when the delinquents were certain to meet with the extreme punish- ment, for Godfrey Peepem, Esquire, J. P., was fond of field sports, and deemed any unlawful interference with them as a crime vol. I. D 34 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. of the greatest magnitude to his king, country, and himself. Be his merits or demerits, however, what they might, a day at length arrived which had only been postponed since that of his birth, and not to be avoided by the noblest born or the most humble, the richest or the poorest, the good or the bad, the wise or the otherwise. A summons was served upon the magis- trate himself, and he departed, it is to be hoped, in peace to answer it. Penelope Peepem was alone. 35 CHAPTER III. Pink and white blossom was no longer to be seen upon the apple-tree. Dried, crisp, and yellow leaves fell, and were falling, from its branches as Griselda Peepem and her aunt sat together at the breakfast- table in a snug, cosy room looking upon the lawn, after the first night of an early autumnal frost. Parts of the greensward which the pale rays of the sun had just reached glistened as if polished gems had been scattered by fairy hands far and wide, and thin threads of gossamer floated in the calm, clear, unruffled air. Summer d 2 36 ON THE SPUR OP THE MOMENT. bad gone, and the heralds of approaching winter trod closely in her footsteps. ' I am glad that cub-hunting is nearly over,' remarked Griselda, as she sat in a careless, negligent attitude in her chair ; but not less graceful than Titania herself. ' We shall have our first meet advertised, the squire told me, the week after next.' Miss Penelope Peepem looked down her straight and somewhat pointed nose, screwed her lips tightly together as if more than prepared to speak ; but still with an effort maintained a rigid and unbroken silence. ' Gazelle was never in better form,' re- sumed Griselda. ' Two couple and a half of hounds this morning got away by themselves with a full-grown cub, and the squire holla'd me to get to their heads and stoo them/ ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 37 Mis.s Penelope made a stiff and cere- monious bow. ' They were going at racing pace,' con- tinued Griselda, crumbling a piece of bread upon the cloth between her fingers, and so much occupied with her very slight task that she did not appear to notice the frigid indifference with which her commu- nication was being received. ' They were going at racing pace,' said her niece, 'but as no one was near them but myself I put Gazelle's head straight at a gate, and she never topped timber in better style.' Again Miss Penelope Peepem bowed as if her spine was constructed of cast steel. The eyes of her niece being fixed upon rendering the crumbs still smaller by manipulation, she failed to perceive the effect produced, and being increased in 38 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. production, upon her aunt's nervous- system. ' As soon as we cleared the gate, Gazelle was on her legs without a moment's pause, and in a grass field of about forty acres she flew along,' said Griselda, with a flush crimsoning her cheeks as she spoke. ' Having it all to ourselves, I was determined to get to the hounds' heads before they reached the next fence, a thick and high bullfinch, which I knew must stop us.' Miss Penelope Peepem raised both her hands, and, pressing them upon her eye- lids, appeared to be shutting out a scene from her mental vision which was too vivid to be pleasant. ' I lifted my whip, but Gazelle knew what I wanted without touching her,' continued her niece, as her large dark- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 39 blue fearless eyes flashed between the long, silken lashes. ■ With an effort worthy to be called supreme, she threw her whole heart into her work, and as the cubs slipped through the fence, not fifty yards in front of the hounds, she rushed forward and, getting to their heads, I cracked my thong and stopped them in full view of the squire who, lifting his cap, cried out, " Well done !" ' ' Instead of which,' said Miss Penelope Peepem, gravely, ' had John Oakacre of Oakacre Court done his duty, he would have severely reprimanded you for running such an imminent risk of breaking some of your bones or even your neck.' A ringing laugh burst from Griselda's lips. ' He never thought of that,' she replied, ' neither did I.' ' In the announcement of that reckless 40 ON THE SPUE OF THE MOMENT. disregard of all prudent safety,' rejoined her aunt, drawing herself up to her full height on the edge of her seat, and looking severity personified — rigid and inflexible ; ' I am anything but surprised. Had the opposite been alleged I might, indeed, have been agreeably astonished. John Oakacre, as a young man, never had the reputation of being prudent.' ' I thought that he was one of your most ardent admirers,' observed Griselda, looking out of the corners of her eyes at her aunt, but without turning her head. Miss Penelope Peepem coughed slightly, blushed slightly, and looked slightly stupid. ' Among others,' simpered she, whilst a long-drawn sigh struggled to escape her remarkably flat bosom, ' he might have been ; but John Oakacre's heart was always ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 41 more absorbed in fox-hunting than devo- tion to the fair sex.' ' If I were a man so would mine be/ rejoined her niece, still engaged in crum- bling the crumbs. Miss Penelope Peepem felt exception- ally indignant at this voluntary declaration of unequivocal bad taste, or what appeared to be so ; but having, in a figurative sense, other fish to fry, she resolved that the particular subject under discussion should terminate without any further observation on her part. After a brief but effective pause which, in itself, announced that the final stage had been reached, Miss Penelope Peepem cleared her throat of any real or imaginary obstacle, and commenced her already pre- pared address with, c The time has arrived ' Griselda gave a slight but audible groan. 42 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' The time has arrived,' repeated ber aunt, with a slight shake of the head which caused a small, white lace cap to flutter, expediently placed to conceal from view a circular, bald spot, l for you to be- come clearly acquainted with your present worldly condition and prospects, in order that there may be no mistake committed in dealing with the more important and most momentous future.' If Miss Penelope's seuse of hearing did not deceive her, somebody not far off was indulging in a very subdued and quiet laugh, which was not, however, allowed to break the thread of her aunt's eloquence or to interfere with its continuance to any serious extent. So far as outward appear- ances were concerned, Griselda's features bore as serious an effect as could possibly be desired by the most sensitive of speakers. ON THE SPUR OP THE MOMENT. 4& ' The time has arrived- ' Another groan was heard, rather more distinct than the first. Tor you to clearly understand/ con- tinued her aunt, dropping her words slowly and almost solemnly from her lips, 'how much, if not all, depends upon your- self in occupying, at any rate, an enviable position in this world by makiug a good match, which means, in the simplest language that can be used perhaps, a rich husband.' 1 1 have no objection,' responded Gris- elda, carelessly, ' to marry a rich husband, aunt clear. Where am I to find him ?' ' It is not my intention to flatter you with false hopes,' rejoined Miss Penelope Peepem, 'but, upon becoming mistress of the arts and sciences, which I say with pride and pleasure that I afford you the daily opportunity of possessing in the ful- 44 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ness of time, you will not have to seek for a rich husband. Eligible candidates will present themselves upon your introduction to the best county society, and I shall be proud beyond description to see my ac- complished and popular niece,' — the little lace cap fluttered as if it was going to fly off and expose the bald spot, and the colour of her cheeks increased by several shades as she spoke — ' the admired of many admirers.' ' And so shall I, aunt dear,' returned Griselda, with a merry, ringing laugh, ' if such an improbable event should happen, lou seem to forget that I have no money. ' It is the knowledge that you have none,' added Miss Penelope Peepem, with the utmost seriousness, ' that renders it indispensable for you to embrace and make the most of the favourable chances of entering the best county society, which ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 45 you will clo at the next hunt ball. It will not surprise me if it is opened by John Oakacre and yourself, as it was thirty-five years since by him and me/ and the little lace cap fluttered from a sudden toss of the head, but not as if it were going to fly away. 1 The dear old squire !' exclaimed her niece. ' It will give me the greatest pleas- ure to dance with him should he ask me.' ' That he will do I am quite certain,' added Miss Penelope Peepem, ' for you know what a pet you are of his. But now listen as patiently as you can to what I am going to say. The time has arrived ' f Oh, aunt,' ejaculated Griselda, vehe- mentlv, ' it must have lon^ since arrived. The time has always been arriving !' ' For you to learn from me,' continued Miss Penelope Peepem, without heeding 46 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. the interruption, ' the exact circumstances by which you have been and are surround- ed, in order that no error may be commit- ted on your part regarding the more im- portant and most momentous future.' At this juncture Miss Penelope Peepem slowly brought her nicely-starched and prettily-edged pocket-handkerchief to the corners of her eyes. 'Your father, mother, aunt Matilda Slomax, and five uncles,' she continued, after a brief interval of, perhaps, silent grief, ' have all gone, doubtlessly, to a much better world, and the history of each, strange, perhaps, to relate, bore a strong resemblance one to the other. They mar- ried on nothing, saved nothing, and left nothing.' 1 Their heirs, then, had not much to thank them for,' observed Griselda. ' Your father, Captain Godfrey Peepem, ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 47 of the " Old Die-Hards," as his regiment was most irreverently called, in my opinion,' she resumed, with half-closed eyelids, ' no sooner saw your dear mother upon her arrival at Bombay than he yielded to what would appear to have been a constitutional impulse, and at once offered his hand and heart. She promptly accepted both, and the result of their union, which took place with all practicable despatch, was a pledge of their affections in the seasonable arrival of yourself who, sad to relate, experienced the irreparable loss of a most exemplary mother — although I never saw or scarcely heard of her before or since — within the limited space of two years of your birth.' ' I think, aunt dear,' remarked Griselda, with unmistakable weariness, ' that you have been kind enough to make me ac- quainted with all these particulars long since.' 48 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. Miss Penelope Peepem's domestic narra- tive, however, was not to be cut short so readily as her niece most fervently desired. 1 If so,' continued she, with some degree of sharpness in her tone, l they will bear repetition. Within six months of this truly lamentable occurrence an additional cause for mourning followed in the sudden decease of your doting father, Captain Godfrey Peepem, of the " Old Die-Hards." He died,' the speaker concluded tbe sen- tence with evident emotion, ' of tiffin.' ' Of tiffin !' exclaimed Griselda. ' I never heard of such a malady.' 4 Let me be more strictly accurate,' added her aunt. ' I mean from the effects of tiffin. In most of the civilised parts of our Indian Empire, I believe, there is a mid-day refreshment called tiffin at which there are considerable quantities of brandy- pawnee consumed. Brandy-pawnee did ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 49 not agree with Captain Godfrey Peepem's constitution, and be died. He did.' A slight choking sensation in the throat checked further progress in the family history for a few seconds, but Miss Pene- lope Peepem soon recovered her powers of speech. ' At less than the interesting but some- what tiresome age of three years, you were iutrusted to the tender and thoughtful care of a lady passenger from Bombay to England, designated, as I was subsequent- ly given to understand, as a grass widow ; the precise meaning of which I have searched for in several dictionaries, but, hitherto, without success.' 4 In consequence, perhaps,' suggested Griselda, 4 of her probably seeking fresh fields and pastures new.' ' Perhaps so, my dear,' responded her aunt. ' At any rate, she delivered you to VOL. I. e 50 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. me upon her arrival at the Southampton Docks with a most impressive speech con- cerning the importance and sacredness of my trust. We shook hands with the utmost warmth, arid parted on the deck of the ship upon which we had met a few minutes before, never having seen or heard of her from that day to this.' 1 The grass widow, then, does not seem to have taken much permanent interest in the welfare of her charge,' remarked Griselda. 1 Perhaps she possessed tender offspring of her own which absorbed both her time and attention,' rejoined her aunt. * At any rate, we met and parted but once, and I hope that my feeling upon the subject was reciprocated on her part, as I certainly was not anxious for the interesting scene to be repeated/ and here the lace cap ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 51 threatened to fly off, and publish the bald spot, from a little explosion of mirth for which, perhaps, it was not altogether quite prepared. 1 1 saw at a glance,' continued Miss Penelope Peepem, upon the termination of her laugh, ' that you were a fat, sweet, pretty child ' * Ob, spare me, aunt dear !' exclaimed Oriselda, hiding her face with the palms of her hands, but peering between her open fingers with a look full of fun and glee. ' You will make me so sorrowful for the past. Is it possible that I ever could have been pretty ?' 1 As you are, were, and will be,' respond- ed Miss Penelope Peepem, ' as your glass has long since informed you, and which gratifying intelligence I now confirm;' and then the middle-aged, if not elderly, lady e2 UBRARf «NrVERSf7?0FWJW»f 02 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. laughed as in days, perhaps, when the bald spot required no lace cap to hide its ab- normal deficiency. * You will make me most dreadfully vain, aunt dear,' rejoined Griselda, rising from her seat, and, throwing herself upon the floor before her aunt, she embraced her with an energetic force approaching to violence, and kissed her on both cheeks with great rapidity of exchange. Miss Penelope Peepem began to realise the fact of what being smothered with kisses meant. ' I shall lose my breath completely if you persist in assaulting me in this way/ expostulated she, and pretended to force herself away from the entwined arms of her niece ; but the sham was too trans- parent to appear real even for the minutest grain of time. Miss Penelope Peepem ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. «53 loved that hearty caress in a manner known only to herself. 1 Having a little more to say by way of conclusion ' 1 If really the conclusion, aunt dear,' in- terrupted Griselda, re-occupying her seat, ' I will endeavour to listen to it with the effect of resigned patience.' ' Our family history,' continued Miss Penelope Peepem, 'like the records, pro- bably, of a great number of strictly private families, is not totally without singular, strange, and startling incidents ; but none more so, perhaps, than within a few weeks of your arrival from the East Indies I received a letter from the West Indies, informing me of the mournful tidings of my dear sister's death from — as Lieuten- ant Slomax wrote in rather bad taste as I then thought, and still think — an attack of 54 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. Yellow Jack, which carried her off. His son, and only child, he added, was much too precious a life to be subjected any longer to the dangerous climate of Jamaica, and he had, therefore, secured a passage for him to England in a ship which might be expected to arrive soon after the deliv- ery uf his letter; knowing that I would receive the little orphan child as a mother, and be a mother to him in every respect. What could 1 do?' ' That which you did,' replied her niece. 1 Hurry to meet the little orphan child on the deck of the vessel before she anchored, clutch him in your arms, and bring him here to make him the happiest of nephews.' ' But to become slightly tyrannical with you,' rejoined Miss Penelope Peepem, with closed eyes and a slight shake of the head. ' When sleeping in your cot, he, occasion- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 55 ally, would tickle your nose with a feather !' 1 With the unselfish thought, no doubt/ returned Griselda, ' of adding pleasure to nay dreams.' ' And disturb your rest by reversing the feather, and trying, experimentally, how far the sharp end of the quill would go into one of your ears — an act of pre- meditated cruelty, which produced the first aud last application of the birch at my hands, vigorously administered/ added her aunt, with something like exultation at the reminiscence. ' How very cruel, aunt dear !' exclaimed Griselda. 'I should have thought you in- capable of giving the smallest pain i,o clear Teddy.' ' He also used to pick out the eyes of your dolls,' said Miss Penelope Peepem, 1 and, immediately upon his arrival from the West Indies, he treated them, as he 56 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. said, just like niggers, which treatment, as it appeared to me, was most inconsiderate and coarse in the extreme.' 'Being young and thoughtless,' said her niece, apologetically, 'and from evil asso- ciations, perhaps, not knowing right from wrong/ ' He soon improved, however, in these objectionable respects, and you became the very best of friends and inseparable companions — the two happiest children with each other that I ever saw play or quarrel.' ' Who could be otherwise than happy with clear Teddy,' said Griselda, enthu- siastically, ' the best, noblest, and most clever fellow that ever lived !' Miss Penelope Peepem was suddenly seized with a dry, short, hacking cough ; but the effect was not altogether that of bronchial irritation. ON THE SPUR- OF THE MOMENT. 57 * My nephew, and your cousin Edward Slomax, as a schoolboy at Rugby,' said she, recovering from her cough, ' distinguished himself at cricket, football, and wrestling, but no prize fell to his lot in intellectual pursuits. The same remark, I fear, ap- plies to his present position at the Uni- versity of Cambridge.' ' He is in the university eleven,' observ- ed Griselda, with a flush of pride mantling over her features. 4 But he is not to be found high up in the tripos,' rejoined her aunt, ' or, indeed, in the tripos at all.' 1 He is stroke in the university eight,' returned Griselda, ' and admitted to be as strong and finished an oarsman as Cam- bridge ever possessed.' ' A fine, dear, good fellow !' added Miss Penelope Peepem, with profound admira- tion at the thought of her nephew's athletic 58 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. accomplishments. ' But/ and, closing her eyes, she shook her head gravely, and the bald spot was again in danger of being published. 'But,' she repeated, 'recol- lecting that his future depends upon his success at the Bar, I must come to the conclusion, opposed as it is to my feelings, that his time both at Rugby and Cam- bridge might have been more profitably employed. That is all I have to say upon the subject, and I wish that, truthfully, I could express myself in more pleasant words.' 1 Whatever he gives his attention to/ said her niece, with a proud toss of the head, £ he succeeds in/ ' We will put our entire trust, then, my dear/ said Miss Penelope Peepem, ' and place our earnest faith in the fervent hope that he will soon see the expediency of giving up athletic sports for intellectual ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 59- pursuits, so as to qualify himself for tak- ing a splendid position at the English Bar. I can see him now,' she added, 'in a wig and gown, eloquently pleading for justice to his clients.' ' Which sometimes means, I think,' re- marked her niece, ' a successful effort to make right appear wrong, and wrong right.' ' Having proceeded so far in my review of some of the antecedents of our family,' resumed Miss Penelope Peepem, without noticing her niece's cynicism upon the professional duty of counsel, ' I will now make a few concluding observations upon your five uncles.' k I almost wish, aunt dear, at the present moment,' responded Griselda, 'that I had not possessed quite so many.' ' It might have been better, taking all things into consideration,' rejoined her 60 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. aunt, ' had their number been less from the beginning, as much personal trouble must have been saved to themselves, at least, and probably to others. It was not, how- ever, to be. Five was the number, neither more nor less, and, as their several posi- tions at the termination of their lives can alone influence your future interests, my dear, I shall confine myself by giving a few particulars of their respective ends, in so far as this remarkably troublesome world is concerned. For there can be no two opinions, / think, concerning its being a troublesome world.' 'It seems to me to be a very pleasant one,' returned Griselda, with a slight at- tempt to suppress a yawn, ' and, speaking for myself alone, I wish no change or alteration in it.' 1 Which admission I almost am inclined,' — the little lace cap had a shake — ' to ac- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 61 cept as an undeserved compliment paid to myself,' rejoined Miss Penelope Peepem. 1 To be as brief as possible, however, con- cerning the earthly ends of your five uncles ' Griselda either jumped for joy, or was quite ready to do so, at meeting with this assurance of something like a defined limit. ' I shall merely state,' continued she, ' that in Ceylon, China, Zanzibar, South Africa, and North America their graves may be found, or might have been many long years since by, perhaps, a vigilant search being made for them. At the present moment it is doubtful if any trace remains of the positive interment of any one of your dear uncles ; but considering the time which has elapsed no proof is necessary or likely to become so, as far as I am aware, that their dust or ashes repose 62 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. in these distant regions of the globe. "With their children, however, most import- ant questions arise. As your and dear Teddy's cousins they are co-heirs and co- heiresses, under their grandfather's will, to a division of the property, which is to be sold at ray deatli and the money dis- tributed in equal proportions to the sur- vivors, male and female. As my man of business says, and the assertion is perfectly obvious, great difficulties must necessarily present themselves in discovering the number of the survivors, where they are, and their personal identification. He also states, with undeniable common-sense, that, after all the mortgages upon the pro- perty are paid off, principal and iuterest, which were created from time to time to meet the drawings of your uncles upon my dear father while he lived ; the costs of applying to the Court of Chancery for ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 63 general instructions which must be made, he tells me, when I am no ' a slight choke prevented the completion of the sentence, l and from one cause and another, needless to mention, there will be little left to be divided among the survivors, whether satisfactorily proved to be limited or unlimited.' ' I am rather glad to hear that,' replied her niece, throwing herself backwards in her chair, and resting her head upon a folded arm. Having nothing to expect, aunt dear, w r e cannot, under any circum- stances, be disappointed.' ! I have little more to say,' rejoined Miss Penelope Peepem. Griselda was secretly rejoiced to bear it. 1 My-life interest, punctually paid quar- terly by ray man of business,' resumed her aunt, ' is just over a thousand 64 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. a year, and when I have paid the household expenses, and the masters and mistresses for your instruction, my dear, in the arts and sciences, together with clear Teddy's college allowauce, which is under what he ought to receive so that things might be more pleasant with him, I have left just about enough to buy an inexpensive pair of gloves and nothing more.' * How reproachfully generous of you, my dear aunt !' exclaimed Griselda, sud- denly regaining an upright position in her chair. ' We must be more economical. Dismiss Signor Vesprucci, and all the rest of the professors of the arts and sciences. I shall be quite as happy without them.' Miss Penelope Peepem entertained a corresponding opinion, but, instead of ex- pressing, reserved it. At this moment the door of the apart- ON THE SPUR OP THE MOMENT. 65 ment was burst open with a sudden jerk, and in bounced Sam, with his nose, eyes, ears, and chest blocked, jammed, and cov- ered with red sand. 'You've been poaching sir,' said his young mistress, as he squatted at her feet and stared in her face as well as the sand would permit. c You've been trying, sir, and, I have no doubt, most success- fully,' continued she, raising a forefinger to admonish him, ' to dig out a rabbit from its burrow.' Sam offered no defence, but, still occu- pying his position, gave a strong and vigorous sneeze as a relief to the irritating: effects of the sand in his nose. VOL. I. 65 CHAPTER IV. Saddled and bridled, and awaiting with feverish excitement the anticipated pres- ence of her mistress, Gazelle stood at the ivy-twined porch of Forester's Lodge, paw- ing the gravel restlessly with her feet, aud making herself anything but agreeable to Cock Robin, who held her in a firm grasp by the reins close to the bit. Her small, quill-tipped ears were thrown back, and the white of her full, dark eyeballs had almost a vicious effect as she continued to cut up the gravel with her fore-feet, and, occasionally, lash out with her heels. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 67 1 Come, come/ expostulated he, stretch- ing out his legs at an acute angle as far as possible from the reach of her pluuges, 1 can't you let me alone just for once, just by way of a treat ?' Gazelle reared, and lifted Cock Robin bodily from the ground by way of a prac- tical answer. ' That's nice behaviour, that is,' con- tinued he, ' for all my care of ye ! Here, on the morning of the first reg'lar meet, you stand without a stain on your skin, which looks as white as a snow-flake from head to heel, and without a puff, windgall, or scratch on a single leg, all four being as sound as a stag's, and looking as fine as if they belonged to a stag, instead of a nasty- tempered, biting, kicking, plunging var- mint of a pony. Nice behaviour, isn'fc it?' Gazelle looked at Cock Robin sideways, P 2 6S ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. and champed the bit as if trying to snap it in halves. 1 Now, I wonder, sometimes,' said he, 1 if you mean all this, or whether it's not all kid. I'm your best friend in or out of the stable, think what you like of Miss Grizzle, and yet you are always trying, or pretending to try, to have a mouthful of me, or kick my precious body into the middle of the next parish. Nice behaviour, isn't it ?' Gazelle had another vigorous champ at the bit, and the white of her eyes became more visible than before, as she turned them towards Cock Robin with anything but a look of amity. ' When you come home after a clipper/ continued he, ' who nicely washes ye all over with soft soap and hot water, gets ye dry as soon as plenty o' rubbers and lots of elbow grease can do it ; gives ye a ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 69 couple of quarts of warm oatrueal gruel as smooth as cream to suck in ; throws into your crib a quartern of bruised oats mixed with a handful or two of w r hite peas ; bandages your legs all round, and then leaves ye to yourself for a while to get a little over the pumping you've had ?' Gazelle maintained the same attitude of offence, and did not seem to be softened in the least by the appeal. 1 And then back I come to take oh your damp clothes and bandages, well rub your legs until they are quite dry and warm, just as if you were the first lady in the land as wanted her legs well rubbed, and which you often look as if you thought yourself. After that, what do I do? Why, I give ye a short and sharp dressing, brush over your silky mane and flag, put on fresh and warm clothes and bandages, pitch a liberal allowance of corn into your 70 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. crib, which means as much as you can eat, rack ye up with hay as sweet as violets, litter a straw bed under ye which reaches above your hocks and knees, and then, with a friendly slap or two on your quarter by way of saying good night, we part to meet again early next morning, to see what I can do more for ye to make vou feel as fresh as a kitten.' ■/ Gazelle, at this division of his address, reared again, standing exceptionally up- right on her hind legs, and Cock Robin's feet were once more lifted visibly from the ground. ' Exactly so,' said he, regaining them. ' That's just what I get for all my nussin' of ye, nothing more and seldom less ; but whether it's all in earnest or all kid, / don't know, and, perhaps, never shall.' Griselda now appeared by the side of Gazelle, to whom she presented, as was ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 71 her wont, a small piece of white sugar. The pony turned her long and shapely neck towards her mistress, and, accepting the palatable gift with evident satisfaction, stretched her limbs out and stood as mo- tionless as a statue chiselled in white and speckless marble. ' Your invitation to mount/ observed Griselda, smiling; and placing her right hand on the cantel of the saddle, and her left on the pommel, she vaulted into her seat with a light, elastic spring which re- quired no aid to give it additional impetus. No sooner was she mounted than, slipping her fingers quickly through the reins, Ga- zelle felt that she was to move, but in a very different fashion from that which she had just exhibited* when Cock Robin held them close to the bit. Like all indulged beauties, she was capricious and had a will of her own ; but she knew full well that, 72 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. to avoid unpleasant consequences, she must obey the firm, light hand which held her. And so Gazelle strode forward along the gravel drive leading to the road with the vanity of a peacock displaying his tail, now and again lowering her head between her knees, and tossing it aloft as high as it would reach. ' That's what I call a picter !' observed Cock Robin, folding his arms across his breast, striding his legs widely apart, and watching with the most profound admira- tion, the receding forms of Gazelle and her rider. ' That's what I call a picter,' repeated he, as he turned and quitted the spot. Griselda, having received from Squire Oakacre the flattering *itle of being his * first whip,' since her getting to the heads of the hounds and stopping them, on that memorable occasion when Gazelle cleared ON THE SPUR OP THE MOMENT. ' ' If this was smuggled,' interrupted Cock Robin, ' it would go against my conscience to drink it.' 1 Which never paid a sixpence duty,' repeated Bill Baxter, totally ignoring his 230 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. guest's conscientious scruple — ; punch of this kind,' continued he, ' requires time to draw like tea.' ' Bother tea !' ejaculated his com- panion. ' Let's have no more of that rot, Bill.' 4 In place, then, of any more rot, taste that,' responded the second whip, prof- fering a well-filled glass for ' another trial.' Cock Eobin fulfilled the instructions with combined alacrity and strictness, and, after an interval of a few moments given for reflection, pronounced the c old moun- tain dew' blended, as it was, with lemon peel and thin, delicately-cut slices of lemon, f as choice a gum tickler as ever was swallowed, which, when gone, made him feel what a real earthly loss meant.' Bill Baxter felt flattered, and looked as ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 231 he felt, remarking that ' We only know the value of what we've had when we haven't got it to have. Such is life.' And, with this philosophical conclusion, he threw himself backwards in his chair in an attitude of the most perfect ease and indolence, and blew a thick cloud of smoke from his lips which rose slowly and curled in rings above his head. For a time, but not for long, an un- broken silence reigned between the guest and his host, when the latter observed, as the effect, apparently, of an inward thought, 1 It will be a match, 1 suppose ?' ' A pair, but not a match, Bill/ replied Cock Robin. ' A match should be alike, but where could you find two more different?' 1 In shape, make, form, pace, and colour/ rejoined the second whip, ' there were 232 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. never, I suppose, two greater opposite*, and yet, it seems, they will be brought together. Such is life !' 1 Then life ought to be improved,' re- turned Cock Eobin, ' and the sooner somebody takes it in hand the better. I wish I had only known when Chicka- biddy was in Swamp's Hole/ continued he, 'that he was going to make up to Miss Grizzle, he should never have got out alive.' 1 You don't mean to say, Cocky ' ' Yes, I do,' interrupted his companion, in a most emphatic tone and manner. ' I would have left him in Swamp's Hole, head downwards.' ' In that case,' rejoined the second whip, having removed with great deliberation the pipe from his lips, ' 1 should have had the pleasure of rising one morning at the break of day and jogging comfortably ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 233 over to Winchester on the old 'oss to see you hanged.' Upon the conclusion of the sentence his companion looked rather ill at ease and gave two or three quick and nervous puffs at his pipe. ' It wouldn't have been murder,' said he, in a hoarse whisper, ' would it ?' I Pure and simple,' responded Bill Bax- ter, ' and, as the big-wigs call it, with malice aforethought. You'd have been hanged to a certainty, Cocky.' I I didn't put him in Swamp's Hole,' argued Cock Robin. ' He plunged in of his own accord.' 1 But you would have left him there, had you known he was going to make your young missis his old woman,' rejoined the second whip, ' and that, too, by your own confession.' ' I would,' added Cock Robin, slapping 234 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. a knee with the palm of one of his broad hands. ' 1 would, Bill,' repeated he, ' as certain as his name's Chickabiddy.' '"Well, he's alive and you're not hanged,' remarked his host, ' and so we can drop that part of the subject. Help yourself to another glass of punch, and forget, if you can, Cocky, the risk you ran of being strung up at Winchester. At the same time, you may rely upon it that I should have been there to see the end of an old friend, violent as that end must have been.' ' It's kind of you to say so, Bill,' replied his companion, obeying the order to refill his glass, ' and you mean it as kindness, I know ; but I'm not sorry that ' f It's put off for a more favourable chance,' added the second whip. ' A pleasure deferred, but not altogether hope- less of being enjoyed.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 235 This was an opportune moment, Cock Eobin thought, for the indulgence of a good hearty laugh, which, being followed closely by a peal of equal power from the second whip, the two seemed to be rivals in the joint and separate force of their mirth. With the unerring law, however, of all explosives, strength diminished with duration, and at length a calm, unbroken quietude regained supremacy in Bill Bax- ter's parlour, kitchen, ' and all.' 1 1 suppose it's all settled, ' observed the second whip. ' How did it come about ?' ' She was got at,' briefly and angrily replied Cock Eobin, rolling his head from side to side. ' She was got at.' 1 Nobbled ?' said Bill Baxter, interro- gatively. ' Nobbled,' responded his companion, with increasing anger, i and made as safe 236 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. as a mouse in a trap. Miss Grizzle,' con- tinued he, ' was baited and badgered on all sides until she said " yes," when she meant to say " no." There was the aunt at her ; there was Chickabiddy at her ; and, worse than both, there was the squire at her. They each and all persuaded her, against her will, I kuow, to consent to marry a gold-mine — for that's what it means, Bill — and, like a great many people in this world, when she's rich she'll be miser- able.' ' Ha !' exclaimed the second whip, ' I begin to think it's a blessing not to know what riches are. Fifteen shillings a week and nothing found, but everything to find for yourself, can't be properly called wealth.' ' But you have a few good perquisites, Bill,' observed Cock Robin. ' The squire's old red coats,' replied the ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 237 second whip. ' The squire's old top-boots, his old caps, old breeches — sometimes a little too much worn in parts — old shirts, old hose, and his old blundering, stum- bling, shambling screws of old lame 'osses to ride. These are my perquisites and privileges, Cocky, with board wages of fifteen shillings a week.' 1 And yet with all your grumbling,' rejoin- ed his companion, ' you manage to get on pretty well in the squire's service.' ' He knows when he's got a good ser- vant,' returned Bill Baxter, ' and I know when I've got a good master. If I grum- ble now and then, or always, as your young missis says, it's my nater to grumble. I can't help it, Cocky, and don't mean to try. That fine, strong young chap didn't join in the cry to urge her to marry the gold-mine, did he ?' 1 No,' replied Cock Kobin, with a slow 238 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. and sorrowful shake of the head. ' Mr. Edward is as silent as a mole about the matter, and never mentions it, as far as I can learn, or seems by his looks or actions to know anything about it.' ' And yet he's as well up, I'll be bail,' rejoined the second whip, ' as Chickabiddy himself.' ; He knows too much for his own peace of mind,' returned Cock Robin, dolefully. 1 They played and quarrelled with one another, and were sweethearts when little mites of children together, although Mr. Edward used to teaze Miss Grizzle in fun sometimes, until getting hold of a stick, and running quite as fast as he could, she'd let him have it across the shoulders iu a way which made him holloa for mercy. I used, being p boy myself, to laugh to see her lace him, until the tears rolled down my face.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 239 I Ha !' ejaculated Bill Baxter, emptying the shallow remains of his glass, and tak- ing an advantageous opportunity of refilling it, ' if a little vexed she'd make him feel what the stick meant, and so she will Chickabiddy. He'll have to take his lick- ing if he offends her in thought, word, or deed, and it will be the same sort of thing if he doesn't think, or do just as she wishes him. I wouldn't be in Chicka- biddy's trowsers for double my wages, Cocky, I wouldn't, indeed !' I I would,' sharply rejoined his com- panion, 'and for less than half. She's a rare plucked-un, no doubt; but only wants a plain snaffle and a light hand. With a little judgment she'd never shy, jib, bolt, rear, or kick.' ' But you've not said a word about her buck-jumping,' returned the second whip, with an evident desire of having the best 240 OX THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. of the argument. ' Not a word about her buck-jumping.' ' I never heard of a young lady buck- jumping,' rejoined Cock Robin, with an approach of contempt at the supposition. * P'raps not,' added Bill Baxter, ' p'raps not,' repeated] he, swaying his head with, the gentle motion of a pendulum. ' But you've heard of young ladies bolting some- times. She'll bolt, Cocky.' ' You're always saying something against Miss Grizzle,' added his companion, in anything but a conciliatory tone. ' She can't do or say anything right in your eyes ; but that's not the opinion of every- one who knows her.' ' P'raps not,' responded the second whip, still maintaining the movement of the pen- dulum with his head, 'and it may not be mine. But she'll bolt, Cocky, or I'm no prophet. With snaffle or curb, martin- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 241 gale, single or double rein, Chickabiddy will never be able to hold her. She'll take hold of her bit some day, and away she'll go, with Chickabiddy pulling double ; but he might as well pull at a tree. Go she will, and I, Bill Baxter — that's me — tell you so, Cocky, and remember my words from this night, henceforth, and for ever more, world without end. She'll bolt.' At the conclusion of the second whip's most unwelcome prediction, Cock Robin stared vacantly at the floor, as if in deep thought, and, for a few minutes, not a word was spoken by either. c I begin to think it will go precious hard with poor Mr. Edward,' at length said he. 'In turning a sharp corner in the forest to-day, I came upon him un- awares sitting upon a fallen tree in the biting cold wind, with his elbows resting upon his knees, and his face buried be- vol. i. R 242 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. tween his bands.' Being close to him, he looked up with a kind of start, and ' — the speaker dropped his voice, adding after a pause — ' I shall never forget that look, Bill, while I live.' The second whip gave three short and sharp whiffs from his pipe, and then, with- drawing it from his lips, said, * Why, he didn't look ready to kill any- bodv, did he?' ' He did,' replied his companion, in a whisper, turning his head instinctively to see that he was not overheard. 'He did, Bill, quite ready.' ' And do you suspect who it was ?' in- quired the second whip. ' I do,' responded Cock Robin, dropping his voice until it was scarcely audible. ' I think it was ' — and, glancing suspiciously over both shoulders before completing the sentence, added — ' himself. 1 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 243 The evening being far advanced, and the bottom of the punch-bowl having be- come too palpable to admit of the shadow of a doubt as to the exhaustion of its contents, it was deemed expedient to bring the somewhat prolonged sitting to a close, and the two boon companions separated for the night. r 2 244 CHAPTER XIII. Mrs. Chell — her Christian name being- Jane, she was familiarly called ' Jenny ' — was in undisturbed possession of a set of chambers in Middle Temple Lane under most exceptional circumstances. Her hus- band, the departed Luke Chell, had been clerk not only to a rising barrister, but one who had risen to the highest altitude in his profession by being elevated to the judicial bench, and, from some unexplained cause of favouritism, that august body, the benchers of the Middle Temple, as land- lords in perpetuity, permitted the transfer ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 245 of possession of the judge's chambers to Mrs. Chell's husband, Luke Chell, while he was active in the flesh, and subsequently to his widow when he became passive in the dust. Acting upon the admirable plan of tak- ing fair advantage of favourable oppor- tunities, the Judge's Chambers were sub- let for an improved rent far above that paid to the benchers of the Middle Temple, and Mr. Chell, during his lifetime, pocket- ed the difference ; while Mrs. Chell, being allowed to remain in undisturbed posses- sion, felt no compunction whatever of con- science in continuing to pocket the differ- ence. Barristers, briefless and otherwise, students, studious and otherwise, came and remained for certain and uncertain periods, and departed like shadows upon a wall, leaving no trace behind them with the exception, now and again, of a few 246 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. unpaid bills, which acted prejudicially upon the credit of the incoming tenant of the Judge's Chambers. For a time, and until he had established a position of un- questionable responsibility, Mrs. Chell pre- sented her weekly bill with the utmost regularity, and made no sign of taking her departure until it was in a condition to which her sign manual might be affixed in the form of a receipt in full. Mrs. Chell wished to be considered a woman of busi- ness, as her husband had supported the character, over a long series of years, of being a man of business. Knowing full well the value of money, he had saved, by practising great self- denial, a 'good round sum,' as he called it, against the approach of the proverbial rainy day ; but, as he was not exposed to the anticipated soaking, Luke Chell's riches were never utilised by the gatherer, but left ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 247 at the absolute disposal of his relict, Jane Chell, commonly called ' Jenny.' By a shaft of fate the Judge's Chambers, or, to be strictly accurate, the chambers which the judge once occupied, were vacant at the precise moment that Edward Slomax was in search of ' rooms ' within a short radius of their fixed centre. The newly-entered student of the Middle Tem- ple stared at the outside of the black oak door upon which was advertised ' Apart- ments to let,' and after taking quite suffi- cient time to read the announcement critically, so as to satisfy himself that the composition and orthography were free from error, he pulled the time-worn and finger-rubbed little brass knob, supposed to be linked by a wire to a bell on the inside of the black oak door, and, a faint tinkle-tinkle following, Mrs. Chell appeared before the tinkle-tinkle had ceased to 248 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. render itself disagreeable to the ear. ' Walk in, sir,' said Mrs. Chell, for she knew without any unnecessary introduc- tion, the object and the subject of the summons for her presence. Responding to the invitation, Edward Slomax walked in, being closely surveyed, as he did so, by Mrs. Chell, with a view of forming a decision as to the eligibility of his becoming her tenant or not ; for in her own opinion she was a good judge of character, and could read a man as well as a book. The result of the survey appeared to be complimentary to the personal appearance of Edward Slomax, for he had scarcely entered the Judge's Chambers before he was asked to ' sit down,' the seat of the chair meeting with a preliminary dusting from a corner of Mrs. Chell's apron. ' You are a young gentleman studying ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 249 for the law, I suppose/ she remarked, ' who requires chambers/ ' I was entered a student of the Middle Temple Inn of Court this morning,' replied he, with a smile. 1 And thereby means to study for the law which a good many who've been here did the same,' rejoined Mrs. Chell ; ' but didn't. At the same time, sir, it gives me much pleasure to say that one did, and he's a living judge.' From some undefined and inexplicable cause Edward Slomax, upon receiving this interesting piece of information, resolved to agree to the proposed terms without any attempt to modify them, and, having done so, merely asked, ' When he could take possession ?' ' As soon as may be most convenient to yourself, sir,' was Mrs. Chell's gracious answer. ' For although,' continued she, ' I 250 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. always have required references hitherto I shall not ask you for any. I will do away with references.' Edward Slomax rose from his seat and, as became a gentleman upon receiving a handsome compliment, ' bowed his best with his right hand pressed upon the left of his breast. ' Send in your luggage, sir,' added Mrs. Chell, her vanity tickled with the most polite bow she ever remembered to have had, 'as soon as you please.' Her very new tenant, for the agreement if not sealed was settled, expressed his deep sense of the obligation, and then in- formed Mrs. Chell who he was, where he came from, and the why and wherefore of his being then and there in Middle Temple Lane at that exact moment of the earth's rotation upon her axis, and generally and particularly made Mrs. Chell — who he soon ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 251 afterwards took the liberty of calling 1 Jenny' — the repository of his family secrets, great and small, strictly excluding one, however, which he retained as a mo- nopoly for his own bitter reflections. ' I feel honoured by your confidence, sir/ rejoined Mrs. Chell, as he concluded his brief personal narrative ' and am pleased to find that I've a celebrated Cambridge man under my roof. As a matter of choice I prefer Cambridge to the sister university Oxford, but why I never could tell, and, probably, never shall. The colour of their riband, perhaps, has some- thing to do with it, for I prefer light blue to dark.' At this precise point of the interesting conversation between Mrs Chell and her lodger, he casually remarked that, 'being rather hungry, he would return to his hotel and get a mutton chop.' 252 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' Don't think of doing that, sir/ returned Mrs. Chell, quickly. ' Let me cook a mutton chop for ye. I've a clear cinder fire in my kitchen, and you shall see, in a very few minutes, what a mutton chop ought to taste like with some hot mush- room catchup and a mealy potato combin- ed. In the meantime,' she continued, 'you can take a look round the apartments, or, as they are called in these legal quarters, chambers, while I am getting ready the mutton chop.' Not to have readily acquiesced in the proposition regarding the voluntary supply of the mutton chop and mealy potato, must have proved a most ungracious return for the spontaneous offer, and totally foreign to the natural feeliugs of Edward Slomax. He, therefore, prompt- ly accepted it with a profusion of ac- knowledgments, and Mrs. Chell retired ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 253 from his presence to carry it into effect. An opportune moment now presented itself for ' looking around,' and he at once began to make himself master of the situ- ation by closely examining the architec- tural proportions of the chambers, and the useful and ornamental furniture contained within them. The judge's chambers, once occupied by a judge then living, were correctly de- scribed in the plural number, for they consisted of two, and two only, one being appropriated for a sitting-room, in which the judge had eaten innumerable mutton chops that nothing sborfc of a large flock of sheep could possibly have supplied, and the other formed his sleeping apartment, wherein he had slept, dreamt, and snored, and, forgetful of a few brief hours of the world, was probably for a few brief hours by the world forgotten. 254 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. In the olden time a Knight Templar's spurs had clanked and his harness jingled in those very chambers, when they formed part of the barracks of the ' monk in peace and soldier in war;' but this was long ago, and they had been modernised since then by paint and whitewash, and the rough, massive oak beam stretching from one end of the low ceiling to the other had been hidden from sight and covered neatly by a longitudinal case of elm, effectually shut- ting out this witness overhead of the Knight Templars doings and misdoings, the balance of which might have been creditable or discreditable ; but in so far as the silent witness overhead was con- cerned it remained, as it had long con- tinued, in utter darkness. Upon the walls were hung in a formal line engravings of departed Lord Chancel- lors, Chief Justices, and Masters of the ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 255 Rolls, robed, wigged, and each and all looking implacably stern, and terribly prepared to deliver judgments from the bench of ruinous effect to unsuccessful suitors. Whether a portrait of the living judge who 'once upon a time' occupied the chambers was among the collection, there was no evidence to show, but there was the easy-chair in which he sat for man}^ years previous to his promotion to the judicial seat, and the newly-entered student of the Middle Temple dropped himself gently into it with a smile of self- satisfaction, as his successor, at least, for the time being. Pursuing his task of observation, he saw that a faded carpet, somewhat worn, but not altogether shabby, a well-polished mahogany table, in which his features were reflected out of all fair and natural proportions, some chairs, exhibiting de- 256 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. cided effects of friction at the corners of the horsehair seats, and an extensive row of empty bookshelves, completed the in- ventory of the useful furniture in the sit- ting-room vacated by the living judge, and now most recently tenanted by the newly-entered student of the Middle Temple. The ' look round ' was just completed, when Mrs. Chell re-entered from a private door covered with green baize, and orna- mented with brass-headed nails, leading out of and into her kitchen, wherein more mutton chops had been broiled for the living judge than could be conveniently counted, and she proclaimed her presence by the cheery announcement, accompanied by a bustling, fussy manner, that ' it would be done as soon as she had laid a knife and fork and set the table ;' but whether she referred exclusively to the ON THE SPCR OF THE MOMENT. 257 mutton chop, or to the mutton chop and mealy potato combined, must be left to conjecture, for she offered no further explanation upon the subject. During the short period that Mrs. Chell was most industriously occupied in 'lay- ing the table,' by making a few arrange- ments with the salt-cellar and pepper-box, her tenant in possession embraced the moments as they flew by, in a figurative sense, taking her photograph. Mrs. Chell was not only fat, but had been so from her earliest infancy. She was a fat baby, a fat girl, a fat bride, and, at the present time, a fat widow, fair, and some twenty years over forty ; but not so much by ten or a dozen years in what may be correctly, if not elegantly de- scribed, in her jolly, personal appearance. Short, and even dumpy, was her figure, and yet her movements were agile, and vol. i. s 258 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. she almost skipped in placing the salt- cellar and pepper-box in their respective positions upon the table. Mrs. Chell — wooed and won by Luke Chell as ' Jenny ' — possessed a round and ruddy face, shining from a heart the pul- sations of which were governed by 'doing unto others what she would have them do unto her,' a model and paragon of neigh- bours not too frequently met with in the highways and byways of the world. Her eyes were blue, of a cerulean shade, and, having been much admired by Luke Chell in the days that they went blackberrying together in Epping Forest, might have influenced her predilection for the Cam- bridge colour in preference to that of the sister university. Be that as it may, she l stuck,' as she said, ' to light blue,' and would continue to do so to the end of her days. Her nose ON THE SPUR OP THE MOMENT. 259 possessed no decided shape, being of the common order of nothing in particular, and her profusion of nut-brown ringlets, ' once upon a time,' were now smoothed in two equal divisions of grey hair over a forehead unwrinkled by woe, notwithstand- ing Luke Chell had preceded her deliver- ance from this land of toil and turmoil, and left her to fight out the finish of the battle of life alone, an unprotected, but buxom widow. His relict felt quite equal to the occa- sion, and there she flitted in the presence of her new lodger, as she had frequently done in years passed away, ready and willing to do her duty as England might- expect, or that part of the British Empire known as Middle Temple Lane. Mrs. Chell, having arranged the table satisfactorily to herself by placing a knife and fork, one spoon, the salt-cellar and s2 260 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. pepper-box in relative and conventional positions, expressed the earnest hope that the mutton chop and mealy potato were not only done, but done well, and went through the green baize door with a foot- step firm and pronounced in its action, to introduce without further delay the antici- pated triumph of her culinary art. Edward Slomax, even with this short introduction, began to feel quite at home with his landlady, and was almost disposed to take a liberty with her Christian name without further postponement by calling her ' Jennv.' 261 CHAPTER XIV. Among the professors of arts and sciences specially engaged to render Miss Penelope Peepem's niece one of the most clever and accomplished young ladies in the county of Hampshire, and an unapproachable dis- tance from its acknowledged boundaries, was the well-known local apothecary, ' Tom Tidy,' a man of learning, albeit it had been chiefly acquired through his own teaching. Without arrogating to himself any particular distinction, it was generally admitted within the range of the smoke from his own chimney pot, even when 262 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. blown by a strong wind, that ' the doctor was a clever little fellow,' and knew a great deal more about things than he thought it advisable to talk about. As a licentiate of Apothecary's Hall he possessed the indisputable right of poisoning his neighbours either by chance or design ; but had fortunately escaped the suspicion of any charge of professional neglect or criminal intention to kill the most insignificant subject in the realm. And yet it could not be alleged with proper regard to veracity that Tom Tidy was strictly attentive in person to his medical business. Being an enthusiastic naturalist he was too often in pursuit of moths and butterflies, scampering through fields and forest net in hand, instead of standing behind the counter of his little chemist's shop awaiting, perhaps, the ingress of the ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 263 next patient for a couple of mysterious pills, and a complicated blend in the form of a nauseous black draught. It should be stated however, that under these cir- cumstances Tom Tidy in his absence did not permit that the demand should not meet with a prompt supply. His assistant and housekeeper, Mrs. John Sprat, commonly called by the rudest boys in the village ' Jack Sprat,' had imperative instructions from her employee to go to a certain drawer for the pills, and to a cer- tain bottle marked in conspicuous letters ' Aqua Puera,' for the draught. "What the pills consisted of was a profound secret with the doctor ; but, as nobody suffered the smallest harm from taking them, it may fairly be supposed that they were quite as innoxious as the ' Aqua Puera ' itself which , if described in plain English, might have 264 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. been suspected to have come from a neigh- bouriDg pump, and so defeated the object of creating professional mystery. "When not engaged in chasing moths and butterflies Tom Tidy attended to his practice. When occupied with the capture of specimens for his ever increasing collec- tion, his assistant, Mrs. John Sprat, too frequently addressed by the rudest boys in the village as ' Jack Sprat,' much to her lofty indignation, undertook his responsible duties by dispensing the medicines, in strict accordance with the solemn injunc- tions she had received, from the draw r er containing the pills and the bottle contain- ing the ' Aqua Puera.' Such were the fundamental principles upon which Tom Tidy conducted his limit- ed local practice, combining the business of life in bleeding, blistering, and physick- ing with its unalloyed pleasure in the study ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 265 of natural history ; the latter being much preferred to the former. The world — or a very small part of it — having accorded to Tom Tidy the reputa- tion for being 'a clever little fellow,' Miss Penelope sought his aid in imparting a few of his accomplishments to her niece, and to render her a sharer in the firm of 1 Tidy & Co.' in so far, at least, as the natural history branch was concerned. Unlike Signor Vesprucci, and one or two more professors of the arts and sciences who essayed their best, too fre- quently with questionable results, to im- part some of their acquirements to Gris- elda Peepem, ' the clever little fellow was a great favourite of hers from the intro- duction of his teaching to its close, and upon his regular day of attendance at Forester's Lodge she greeted him cordially upon his- arrival, and listeued to all he had 266 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. to say with profound attention from the beginning of his lecture to the announce- ment that it had been brought to a close. For it was no task to her to listen to his pleasant talk about bees and butterflies, or to look at the beautiful specimens he fre- quently brought for examination through the microscope. Years had passed since he attend- ed to give the first lecture, and now — con- sistent with the universal order of all things — the day had arrived, as arrive it must, for him to give the last. As a matter of historical fact, nature had not been too liberal in her personal gifts to Tom Tidy. In a literal sense he was a little fellow with high sloping shoulders not dissimilar in shape to a champagne bottle. His knees bent inward and his legs were entirely devoid of those muscu- lar developments commonly called- ' calves.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 267 The form of his features was long, the colour pale, and the geueral expression and effect created the instinctive idea that he might have been occupied in playing the flute during the greater part of his sublunary existence. As a medical man he seemed to think he ought to appear in public in a suit of sombre black with a white cravat ' got up ' by Mrs. John Sprat ; but not possessing, perhaps, unlimited credit with his tailor, and his laundress being rather too econo- mical with the starch, his dress, even at the best of times, bore the united effect of shabbiness and flabbiness without the smallest vain effort of concealment. Upon the arrival of the day, however, which came round periodically once a week, for him to give his pupil a lesson in natural history, Tom Tidy ' brushed him- self up,'- as he called it, and presented 268 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. as full dress an appearance as those best of cosmetics, soap and water, and a careful attention to the details of his toilette would admit of producing. It being mutually understood that this would be the concluding lecture after the long term of several long years, the pro- fessor and his pupil were somewhat dis- posed to be reticent as they sat opposite each other one morning in the breakfast- parlour of Forester's Lodge, the one scarce- ly prepared to speak as usual, and the other scarcely prepared to listen. Sam was present in possession of an arm-chair, with his nose dividing his fore- paws, and his eyes turned upwards watch- ing events, but with a full and comprehen- sive knowledge of what was going on, both active and passive, Sam looked in anything but good spirits. Sam was depressed. ON THE SPUR OE THE MOMENT. 269 ' And so, Mr. Tidy, you have couie to give me the last delightful and instructive lesson in natural history,' said Griselda, throwing herself back in her seat, with her head on a folded arm resting on the back of the chair. Tom Tidy sighed from the little bottom of his little heart, but said not a syllable in reply. 4 Have you brought some fresh caught and unfortunate victim impaled on a pin and choked with brimstone to show me,' she asked, ' killed because of its beauty ?' ' No,' replied the professor, almost sharp- ly. 'I thought it better that the conclu- sion of my lectures should not be associated with cruelty, even if justified by necessity.' ' Justified by necessity !' reiterated Gri- selda, in a suppressed tone, as if speaking to herself. ' This is a most cruel world, JVIr. Tidy,' continued she, 'and I have 270 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. often thought that the beautiful creatures of the earth suffer more pain and perse- cution than the ugly.' ' I cannot admit the existence of ugli- ness,' responded the professor. ' We may often see shapes, forms, colours, and effects which are opposed to our concep- tions of the symmetrical and harmonious : but upon close examination they will be found to command our equal admiration for their wonderful proportions, marvel- lous formation, and siugular adaptation for the special purposes for which they were designed. There is no such thing in nature, Miss Peepem, as ugliness.' ' Not in men and women,' rejoined she, ' and all the beasts of the field ?' Tom Tidy pressed the ends of two fingers upon his lips, and coughed slightly, in order to gain a little time for shaping a reply. ON THE SPOR OF THE MOMENT. 271 ' Men and women,' resumed he, after a short pause, 'by the grand and gradual process of evolution, which is ever work- ing towards the ultimate end — perfection — are the apex of the tree of life, having ascended from ' ' Reputable monkeyhood,' interrupted Griselda, 'as I have been given to un- derstand.' ' Yes,' returned the professor, ' I see no reason to throw the shadow of a doubt upon the preceding link to the long chain of human development.' ' I am really quite glad to hear you say so, Mr. Tidy,' responded his pupil, ' and feel a natural monkey pride in my de- scent.' c Ascent, Miss Peepem, if you please,' returned Tom Tidy, ' not descent. We have climbed to our present exalted posi- tion, not ' 272 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' Tumbled to it/ added she, with a laugh which, although heard, was without any visible effect. ' And yet I've been told more than once that we are creatures fallen from a state of unqualified per- fection.' Tom Tidy again pressed the ends of two fingers upon his lips, and paused before resuming the subject. ' In a physical and material point of view r , Miss Peepem,' continued he, ' I can only state, without the smallest reserva- tion for a doubt to ' ' Have a little peg to hang upon.' ' The very expressive words I was about to add,' said the professor, * when you were considerate enough, Miss Peepem, to re- lieve me from the necessity of uttering them. I repeat/ continued he, ' that there can be no question upon the fact, as the successive pages in the book of nature ON" THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 273 reveal, spread open for all to read who will only use their eyes to correct conven- tional errors, and render valuable additions to their already acquired knowledge, that we have risen to our present high position, in the animal sphere through incalculable ages of evolution, and the general type of our bodies is common alike to fish, fowl, frog, and ' 1 Monkey,' added Griselda. ' Pray do not omit the monkey, as he is so immeasur- ably superior, in my opinion, to one or two of the lords of creation that I am acquaint- ed with.' Tom Tidy begged to be distinctly under- stood that he had not the slightest objec- tion to include the monkey. 'Man's place in nature,' continued the professor, ' is indisputable. He is the head of the quadruped class ' vol. I. t 274 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' But he hasn't four legs as far as 1 have seen,' interrupted his pupil. ' His direct and immediate ancestors had,' rejoined the professor, 'and man, therefore, is scientifically classed among the quadrupeds.' ' With donkeys, apes, pigs, and all the other beasts of the field,' returned Griselda, with a now unconcealed, merry laugh. 'Yes, Miss Peepem/ added Tom Tidy, ' they may be included among the near relations to man in his assigned place in nature. In fact, Miss Peepem, he can only claim his position in the animal world which every creature with a backbone possesses an equally legitimate share, if in a less degree.' 'A mouse, then,' observed his pupil, 1 may be regarded as one of his backbone relatives.' ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 275 ' Without the shade of the shadow of a doubt,' responded the professor. ' A mouse, indeed/ continued he, ' has quite as sensi- tive a nervous system, and, considering the scale of its anatomy, an unquestionably superior development of strength and muscular power than man.' ' What an upstart and ridiculous sham, then, he is !' exclaimed Griselda. ' I begin to feel the utmost contempt for him. It would be great fun,' continued she, ' to tell a lord of the creation I am acquainted with, of his decided inferiority to a mouse.' 1 Notwithstanding his lowly origin, how- ever, man is the paragon of animals, Miss Peepem, and occupies the highest position among the children of life,' said the pro- fessor,. ' albeit he inherits the essentials of the mammals, which may be traced from t 2 276 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. the duck-billed water-mole to those of a more exalted and elaborate nature such as the bats and ' i Monkeys,' added his pupil. ' Please put in the monkeys. Aunt is so fond of them.' 1 Having accidentally and incidentally overheard this statement referring person- ally to myself,' returned a voice, 'I confess my admiration for two monkeys;' and there stood Miss Penelope Peepem, prepared to make as graceful a curtsey to Tom Tidy as was ever rendered in homage to a monarch. The professor rose with a jerk from his seat, as if touched by a spiral spring, and brought his nose within a few measurable inches of his knees. Miss Penelope Peepem lowered herself gradually and perceptibly. Tom Tidy made an effort to bring ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 277 the point of his nose lower than his knees. Miss Penelope Peepem drooped, and then drooped lower than before. Tom Tidy tried to bring the point of his nose about the centre of the exact spot where his calves ought to be and failed. Miss Penelope Peepem rose majestically from almost a sitting position upon the floor, and felt herself mistress of the situation. ' I hope, madam/ said he, advancing towards her with a tripping step, ' that we are in a state of perfect salubrity.' It ought, perhaps, to be recorded here that if ' we ' — that is, Miss Penelope Peepem — had given either an affirmative or negative in reply, the result would have been precisely the same — two pills at night and a restorative draught in the morniug. 278 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' How, madam, may I delicately inquire,, are your bools?' inquired he, softening or modifying the substantive so as to reduce it of as much harshness as possible. "With her eyes cast modestly downwards, Miss Penelope expressed the belief that her ' bools ' were remarkably right. ' In that case,' rejoined the medical man, feeling her pulse with a gentle pressure, ' we must do our best to keep them right. Permit me the honour of looking at your tongue.' Miss Penelope complied to a certain extent by thrusting forth the tip of her tongue from between her screwed up lips, which looked not dissimilar to a cherry, cherry ripe. ' Very good,' added he, ' very good indeed.' The two pills, however, and restorative ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 279 draught were inevitable, notwithstanding the unqualified admission of the satisfac- tory state of Miss Penelope Peepem's 1 bools.' 1 I will send, madam/ resumed Tom Tidy, with the blandest of his professional smiles, ' the usual weekly corrective. Being right, we cannot do better than exercise our skill in keeping them right. If wrong, we cannot do better than exercise our skill in making them right. I draw these respective finalities from a long profes- sional experience, if not altogether allied to a large professional country practice. Much depends upon our bools, and greatly augmented happiness to the human family at large would follow in the shape of a foregone conclusion, if more affectionate attention was paid to them. My first question to a patient invariably is, im- 280 ON THE SPUR OP THE MOMENT. pressed as I am with the depth of its importance, how are your bools ?' Miss Penelope Peepem curtsied again lowly, and far beneath the average depth ; but, not being desirous of continuing the delicate subject, said nothing more in reply, and so brought it to an abrupt termination. ' Your cavalier will soon arrive,' she said, addressing her niece, ' mounted on his noble steed.' ' His noble steed !' repeated Griselda, with a decided loop in the corner of her upper lip. ' His noble steed looks more like a camel than a horse.' 1 Not being a judge of the symmetrical form and shape of a horse,' rejoined Miss Penelope Peepem, ' I do not pretend to dispute your assertion of Mr. Chickabiddy's noble steed bearing a close resemblance to a camel ; but still I must say that he looks ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 281 to rue more like a horse, particularly in the immediate locality of the tail. He certainly has no hump.' Griselda made no observation in reply, but the loop in the corner of the upper lip became rather more decided in the curve. ' I fear, Mr. Tidy/ continued his patient, who was never out of his hands all the year round, ' that I must ask you the favour to excuse my niece from further attention to your charming lecture on natural history. She is engaged to ride this morning with her cavalier, Mr. Or- lando Chickabiddy, and the time has arrived ' Griselda's departure from the room must have been of the most sudden and abrupt kind, for, upon raising her eyes to the seat occupied by her one moment before, Miss Penelope Peepem discovered that it was empty. 282 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. ' For her to adjust her raiment,' she continued, ' for this pleasant, poetical, and practical purpose.' Tom Tidy bowed low, as became a gentleman when not knowing what to do better. Miss Penelope Peepem curtsied lower, maintaining unbroken silence with the graceful movement. Tom Tidy again tried whether the point of his nose could possibly be reached where his calves might be expected to be seen, and once more failed from want of elasticity in his backbone. Miss Penelope Peepem drooped by degrees lower and lower still, until, the surface of the floor being reached, there was no lower level between herself and the carpet. ' Good morning, madam,' said her now defeated medical man. 'Good morning, sir,' responded his now ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 283 victorious patient, and they separated then and there, as they had done often before much in the same way. 284 CHAPTER XV. After having been in the fostering care of the Court of Chancery for many years, and left entirely to the occupancy of the rats, owls, and bats, Hawkhurst had been restored and renovated, quite regardless of expense, by its present ownerj Orlando Chickabiddy, Esq. Determined, as he said, to render his mansion second to none in the county, the old, deserted, modern ruin had a new face given to it, and, through the application of paint, paper, varnish, and whitewash, with a few other auxiliaries cf the decorator's art, no one ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 285 would have suspected that the wreck of the Chancery suit could have been patched up, furbished, and polished into the almost glittering edifice now in the possession of and tenanted by its legal freeholder, Or- lando Chickabiddy, Esq. When sold by the arbitrary order of the Court of Chancery, there were no trees upon the adjacent grounds of Hawkhurst. They had been already cut down root and branch, and, when an injunction 'to re- strain from further felling' was obtained by a successful litigant, not a stick re- mained bigger than his thumb to fell. Devoid, therefore, of all shade and sha- dows of trees, the ' mansion ' stood out stark and bare, looking much more con- spicuous than picturesque, notwithstanding the lavish expenditure in restoring the old wreck of the Chancery suit. Eefinement of taste might be ques- 286 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. tioned, and questionable, in the gorgeous furniture of Hawkhurst, and the paintings profusely adorning its walls in square yards of canvas, but no one could gain- say that the chairs and tables were almost radiant with polish, and the surrounding gilt frames looked from their depth, width, and breadth much more valuable even than the pictures themselves. Be that, however, as it may, Orlando Chickabiddy felt perfectly satisfied and gratified with the general and particular effect of his ' mansion,' inside and outside, and entertained the firm belief that it de- fied competition. At about that season of the year, when the young rooks begin to caw, Mr. Chicka- biddy might have been seen, after a light breakfast, consistiDg of a single egg, loll- ing or lounging in a well-stuffed cushioned chair, mentally adding up, subtracting ON THE SPUR OV THE MOMENT. 287 from, and balancing accounts in connection with the past, present, and the future. No witness being within sight or hearing, he felt relief, perhaps, in giving vent to the concealment of his thoughts and in- dulge in a soliloquy. { Upon my sacred word of honour,' said he, rubbing his fingers together, not unlike the soft action of a cat when purr- ing. ' Upon my sacred word of honour,' he repeated, ' there appear to be only two kinds of coves or chaps in this blessed world, rogues and fools. Now, I am not going to say to which particular class I belong, but it isn't the fools, I know. For here am I, a landed proprietor, owner of this striking- ly handsome and elegantly furnished man- sion, and engaged to be married to the prettiest gal in all the county of Hamp- shire.' At this point in his address to himself 288 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. Mr. Orlando Chickabiddy chuckled, and for a few moments was solely occupied in chuckling. 4 How the young chaps of the neigh- bourhood look at me when they see us riding out together,' at length continued he. ' Upon my sacred word of honour their eyes flash lightning ! But what do I care ? They couldn't buy her and I did, although I can't say she has seemed par- ticularly pleased or satisfied with the pur- chase and sale from that day to this.' Mr. Chickabiddy paused in his speech, and drummed a few bars of a popular tune upon the elbow of his easy chair. ' Her old fool of an aunt and John Oak- acre, the chairman of my gold company ' — the speaker chuckled with additional force — ' put the screw upon her objections, and after a little too much see-saw between yes and no to be altogether complimen- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 289 tary to the sole proprietor of a gold mine ' Mr. Orlando Chickabiddy cat short bis delivery by bursting into a loud, hoarse laugh which, at the same time, did not sound as if fully charged with mirth. 4 She at last said yes, when, upon my sacred word of honour, I believe she would have much preferred saying no. But what do I care? She's mine, or will be mine, through money, which has given me everything that I possess in this world, from a blacking brush to a silver spoon, and so long as I get what I want, I don't mean to quarrel with what I get or how I get it. Sufficient for me that I know it's in button-hole park, which means my pocket.' Mr. Chickabiddy united a few. more bars of the popular melody, and then resumed the thread of his unlistened-to speech. vol. i. o 290 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 'Talk about fools/ said he, 'just think for a moment about this gold mine. I come down here without knowing or being known by a single soul, and starting with a bit of shine as the owner of Hawkkurst, and scattering a few sovereigns about as a good investment for my purpose, I am believed to be, what I take great care to describe myself, a man of wealth and the sole proprietor of a gold mine. A gold mine !' repeated Mr. Chickabiddy, with a sneer. ' Well ! a gold mine is one thing and a mine of gold another, which the adventurers in my rich and auriferous lode will find out sooner or later ; but quite as soon as anyone of them will feel much pleasure in finding out.' The speaker tried a few more bars of the melody upon the arm of the chair, and collected his thoughts by way of a prelimin- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 291 ary to the continuance of his solitary discourse. ' I knew it would be so. No sooner had I caught John Oakacre for chairman of the compauy, and publicly announced him as such, than the whole county of Hampshire, or this part of it, made a bull's rush for the shares, neither he nor a fool among' them knowing more of the so-called gold mine, than if quarried in the moon, and yet head over heels they tumble to stake their all in a venture which is set forth only in a prospectus written by Orlando Chickabiddy, Esquire. Talk about fools ! The world is choked with them, and they seem born to be robbed.' The speaker again broke off in his address to himself, and had recourse to a little more music during the interval. ' There'll be a blow up by -an -by of course/ u 2 292 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. continued be, c but that won't be just yet. John Oakacre, Lis friends, neighbours, and acquaintances must all, to a moral certain- ty, be dropped in the hole, and Griselda's old fool of an aunt will squall like a cat in a trap when she finds out what marrying her niece to a gold mine means. Ha, ha, ha ! Let those laugh who win, and I shall be found among the winners.' This reflection seemed to afford immense delight to Mr. Chickabiddy ; for a fixed smile took possession of his features, aud the angles of his mouth were drawn back as far as they could be stretched exposing to view nearly the whole of his teeth. Gradually, however, they were relaxed, and regaining their normal position, a more than ordinary seriousness usurped the place of Mr. Chickabiddy's broad grin. Drawing a hand slowly across his fore- ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 293 Lead be stared at the Turkey carpet at his feet as if reading in the oriental pattern a communication of anything but an agree- able nature, and delivered much too abruptly for the composure of his nervous system. 1 But what will Griselda say to all this?' at length whispered he hoarsely to himself, and his countenance became contracted and deeply lined as he spoke. ' What will Griselda say to all this?' he repeated, with the fixed stare still riveted upon the carpet and his hands pressed closely upon a brow now becoming feverish with thought. 1 She will then be Mrs. Chickabiddy, and as such I shall catch it hot, very hot, morn- ing, noon, and perhaps night. When the smash-up comes, as come it must, I shall have slipped out with the coin, and John Oakacre, his friends, neighbours, and acquaintances will have slipped in the deep 294 ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. hole to drop it. But what will Mrs. Chickabiddy say ?' There was now a lengthened pause, and the speaker looked truly disturbed, and far distant from a state of mental tranquillity. ' She's generally spoken of as a high spirited gal in these parts/ at length con- tinued he, ' but I call her as fiery a young bit of muslin as ever I saw or ever wish to see, and I shouldn't like to be in a small room with her alone when devilish out of tem- per. It wouldn't be safe. In a large apart- ment such as this, one niisfht be able to dodge her a bit under the table and get out of her reach a little ; but no small room for me with the future Mrs. Chickabiddy in a towering passion. She probably would get one's back in a corner and hit out straight for the nose, and if she did the consequence might be too dreadful to contemplate. The shape if not the size would be altered to a ON THE SPUE OF THE MOMENT. 295 certainty, and the lasting effect perhaps anything but an improvement to one's beauty. I must certainly take precautions against the announcement of the smash-up; but what to do at the present moment I'm at a decided loss to speculate upon. It's very serious,' continued Orlando Chickabiddy, 1 very serious, indeed, and I don't altogether like the aspect of affairs,' and he recom- menced the rub-a-dub upon the arm of the easy chair ; but the strain was anything but lively. END OV THE FIRST VOLUME, LONDON: PKINTED BY DUNCAN MACDONALD, BLENUK1M HOUSE. Mi * ■ ■ 1 1 UNIVER9ITY OF ILLIN0I9-URBANA 3 0112 051399035 WSm .'"••..'.••.■-■ Pin « - . JBSj gg ESI n nn 3iii»