Chapter XXXIV. Scattered—A Most Unpleasant Drive.

‘Sir,’ began Stubbs as soon as the door of the vestry was closed on them you are, no doubt, surprised at my behaviour, but will not long be so.’

‘I dare say not. I dare say not! But go on with your explanation, please.’

‘Well, sir that villain is the escaped prisoner Fitzwilliam. You will have seen the account in the papers. He was undergoing a sentence for forgery and embezzlement in the Dunedin gaol when I held the chaplaincy there for a few weeks after my arrival in the colony. I accepted the post for a short time till I could hear of something more suitable. He humbugged me shamefully with pretensions of being converted. He managed to escape, and has since successfully evaded the efforts of the police to trace him.

‘But you must be mistaken. This man's name's Grosvernor. He's just returned from England. Been home to see his father Sir Charles,’ replied uncle, hoping against hope that there might yet be a mistake.

‘No, Mr Melton, I am not mistaken. His terror-stricken face and the bad language he used when I recognized him, should convince you of that. I must inform you that at any time I am absurdly stupid at remembering faces, but in this case, through being so thoroughly upset and confused at keeping you all waiting, and being naturally shy with strangers, I really did not get a good look at the man. He recognized me, no doubt, and took all possible care not to meet my glance. The moment, however, he uttered the response I knew his voice, and looking up suddenly caught his eye, and I am as certain, sir, that he is the man as I am that God is in Heaven. As to his name, he has, doubtless, a dozen of them. In gaol he was known as Fitzwilliam. I never heard this alias of “Grosvenor,” or I might have been suspicious when Frank mentioned that your daughter was to be married to a gentleman of that name. He must have reserved that name for the North Island.’

‘I understand, sir. You must be right. What steps do you intend to take? You'll send him back, eh?’

‘I leave it all in your hands, sir. I understand you are a Justice of the Peace. I think I have done my duty. It is for you to act as you think fit with him’

page 146

‘I'll soon do that!’ retorted uncle, who, now that he thoroughly understood the case, was naturally highly incensed.

But to return to Grosvenor. As soon as Fanny and her friends had left he church he evidently thought it was high time to be off. It never seemed to have struck him that his liberty would be interfered with. He must have heard the instructions given to me to watch him, but imagined that out of consideration for Fanny's feelings, uncle would try and keep the thing quiet. Now was the supreme moment for which I had long hoped. I followed him quickly outside the building, and, with a bound, collared him, arresting his course in no gentle manner. He gave a frantic but utterly futile struggle to free himself from my grasp. I was by far the more powerful man and my strength seemed doubled by my bitter hatred and contempt for the cur. The temptation to thrash him within an inch of his life was almost too much for me, but judging that his punishment would yet be complete enough, I refrained. Several friends were about to render me assistance in holding him, but Harry, knowing my mood so thoroughly, and the relief the task was to my overwrought feelings, prevented them.

‘Leave him to Frank, my boys,’ he exclaimed. ‘He is quite able for the job, and is enjoying it.’

Grosvenor now had recourse to cajolery. ‘Frank, old man,’ he whispered, ‘you're a good sort. Give me a chance. Let me slip away. Fanny will be pleased to hear I've escaped. You've known me a long time, old friend. Let me go: there's a brick.’

‘Let you go!’ I almost screamed. ‘I've known you far too long, and too well, to let you go and carry on your infernal villainy somewhere else! You've had the upper hand long enough: it's my turn now!’

‘By heavens! you shall pay for this, you sneaking devil. I always hated you, but was satisfied when the girl you would have given your eyes to get threw herself at my head. By some damned trickery you have bested me! You're mean enough to take her, even now, but as sure as you do, by the God above us I'll find a way of making a corpse of you if I swing for it! You shan't possess her long, I warn you!’

‘Keep silence, you infernal hound, or it will be the worse for you! Who cares for your threats?’ and I gave him a shake which made his teeth chatter with fear.

At this moment uncle came up, and immediately called two stalwart young farmers, who had evidently driven their lady friends down to the wedding, and remained to see the fun.

‘Here, you two fellows, bring up that spring cart. Drive this man to the lock-up at Wanganui. There's a strong halter under the seat, I see. Tie him in tightly, for he's a slippery customer. I'll be down presently. Gag him with a handful of straw if he's noisy. If you lose him, look out! He's Fitzwilliam, the escaped prisoner. Policemen don't come to weddings, but you'll do instead.’

They evidently agreed with the last remark, for they hated the swell. If they were a little too rough in carrying out uncle's orders, no one pitied their prisoner, who was by this time completely cowed. All his resources of impudence and falsehood, all his cleverness at extricating himself from awkward predicaments deserted him. I shuddered as I thought how narrow had been Fanny's escape, how nearly this cowering criminal had succeeded in driving away from that church with a beautiful bride by his side, instead of as now, tied with page 147 a halter in a rough cart between two relentless guardians. Havi ng watched him safely started on his journey, we jumped into a conveyance and followed the rest of our party to the old homestead. Uncle was intensely annoyed to think that he should have been so easily deceivedby a scheming villain, but in the midst of his displeasure he was very just to me.

‘I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, Frank. The new-chum nephew has put the old hand to shame. You saw through him; I didn't. Getting an old fool, I suppose. Didn't think I could be had. Poor Fanny! But she's the right sort. Won't fret long. It took the parson to “put the set on him,” though. I honour you, sir. You've saved my family much disgrace and misery. You can always command us. I honour you, sir, and I thank you heartily. I can say no more.’

‘Not at all, sir, not at all. What am I saying? yes, I mean you do honour me far more than the occasion deserves,’ replied poor Stubbs confusedly, who was accustomed to do his duty in an unobtrusive manner, and look for neither praise nor reward.

‘Now, Walter,’ I said, ‘none of your getting out of it in that way. You have achieved in a few moments what I have been vainly endeavouring for months to do. I also heartily thank you.’

What a weight this weak little man, whom I had so despised, had lifted off my heart. It can easily be understood that I quite altered my opinion of him.

When we arrived at home we found Miss Grave was the only person present besides the home party, which, of course, included Alice and her husband Fanny had entreated her friend to remain a few days with her. Her quiet, lady-like manner—I use the word in its truest sense, acted like a charm on my cousin's disturbed feelings—disturbed in that he, to whom she believed she had given the priceless treasure of her love, had proved basely unworthy of it. The love was already dead, for she of all girls would be the last to retain the least kindly feeling for one whom she could not honour; but the mortification of being so cruelly deceived was naturally most severe. Nor was Fanny the only one on whom Miss Grave acted as a charm. Her kindly sympathetic disposition endeared her to us all, but, of course, to no one so much as to Harry Fanny took a great interest in throwing them together—always accidentally, of course.

One evening Harry and I stood on the verandah, watching the two girl friends strolling down the shady garden path, their arms clasped about each others’ waists in girlish fashion, the setting sun sending a few straggling rays of soft golden light through the tangled branches of the peach trees on to their shapely forms.

‘What a contrast they present!’ I remarked lazily.

‘They are the two grandest girls on God's earth, bar none!’ exclaimed Harry, fervently.

‘Why, Harry,’ said I, ‘what's this? Is it to be the old see-saw business over again? Are you going to cut me out as you did on board ship?’

‘See-saw business! no fear. Thank God there is no more of that for me. I have struck a patch at last, and, by Heaven! I'll stick to it. I hope between ourselves that this brother and sister business will soon be followed by something a thousand times better. I like your cousin immensely, but she has no power over me, now that I know what love really means.

page 148

I was amused at the solemnity with which he imparted to me this momentous secret of his, which was so patent to all of us.

A few days later uncle, who had a very strong sense of duty, and always went through with it, however unpleasant, happened to meet Mr Robinson, and on that worthy endeavouring to pass him without recognition, he at once addressed him.

‘Look here, Robinson, a lying scoundrel has caused this row between us. I've just found him out. He's sent to gaol again. That sneaking cur, Grosvenor, I mean. Let's be friends again,’ and he related the whole affair to show the truth of his words.

‘Right you are, sir. Put it there;’ and he held out his hand cordially. ‘I always believed that my good lady exaggerated matters considerably. It's a way women have, you know, and made far more of a row than there was any need for. I am delighted that you should suggest ending it, and to prove my words, had it not been that I had heard—pardon me for saying it—that you were rather inclined to be an obstinate sort of gentleman, and would not take advances kindly, I would have been the first to offer to make it up, whether you had rounded up that villain or not. I fact, I never really got to the bottom of what the quarrel was about.

‘Well, give my compliments and apologies to your good wife. Say I'm sorry anything happened in my house to annoy her Mrs Melton shall call and make it up. Then come over to tea the lot of you. That'll show every thing's right again.’

‘With all my heart, Melton. Here's my fist on it.

Miss Julia and her mother had a long discussion as to whether they should accept the proffered invitation, which Mrs Melton had confirmed when she called. They decided to go. The pleasure of witnessing, what they called, that proud minx's humiliation exceeded any motive of kindly reconciliation. I am inclined to think Miss Julia had also another reason for desiring to be again friendly with our party. She had heard of Harry's good luck, and that he was staying with us. I mean his luck in the acquisition of his uncle's legacy. Of what he considered his infinitely better luck in the possession of almost certani hopes of obtaining Miss Grave's hand she had heard nothing. She held that young lady far too cheaply to have any fears of her rivalry. Therefore, confident of conquest, attired in her most bewitching costume, she came, she saw, but whether she conquered or not will appear later.

Before closing this chapter in which we have described the final downfall of Grosvenor's schemes for his own aggrandizement, it may be well to state that he served out the remainder of his sentence, together with a new term for breaking prison, and a few other items, which had not been previously proved against him. After his release he left the colony, rightly judging that he was a man of too much note to live the life of retirement he needed. Whether he amended his ways or not I am not aware, as I have not heard of him since his departure.