the dining-room was gloomy as a vault. the candles, burning in branching silver sticks on the white cloth, might have been tapers burning for the dead. a tapestry of flickering lights and shadows seemed to drape the room; ever and anon the leaping firelight or the waving candle-flame would be reflected from some piece of plate, or crystal, or gilded frame. i saw the colour show like blood from one great canvas. in the dimness, the servants moving to and fro in final preparation for the meal, seemed ghostly figures. i wondered that all should be old men, till i recollected mr. bradbury’s explanation to me of the name of rogues’ haven, the fact that my grandfather retained about himself his associates and servitors in the making of his fortunes.
i found my grandfather seated in a chair by the fire, and engaged in conversation with mr. bradbury. mr. craike had put off his gown for an old-fashioned coat of black, gold-braided and gold-buttoned, and a flapped waistcoat of p. 156black silk, flowered with gold; the red jewels glittered still upon his hands, and a brooch of red stones secured the fine laces at his throat. he presented a singular, almost barbaric figure in contrast to the precision of my uncle and mr. bradbury.
waiving formality, all the company at dinner was assembled in the dining-room; two young folk were seated a little apart,—a girl of about my own years and a youth perhaps a year older—him i knew, by his dark likeness to my uncle, for his son oliver, whom mr. bradbury had already mentioned to me; but he had not spoken to me of the girl. my uncle, leading me forward, presented me to her; i scarcely caught his words for my confusion, as i bowed awkwardly to her curtsy; but i gathered that she was his ward, miss milne; and i recollected that milne was his wife’s name. i remember that i was repelled by my impression of a dark, sullen face; her black hair fell in ringlets about thin white shoulders, her lips were pale, her grey eyes seemed sunken. her grey gown became her ill, and she wore no ornament.
my attention was claimed instantly by my uncle—“my dear john,—your cousin oliver”—blandly making us known, yet his tone suggesting to me disfavour, if not actual dislike, for the p. 157ungainly figure of his son. ungainly, yet built strongly, wholly lacking his father’s elegance,—his hair coarse and black, his brows black, his look sullen and lowering—oliver craike yet pleased me more than any of my kinsmen to whom i had been made known. i understood the sturdy strength of him for the rippling muscles displayed by the fine cut of his black clothes; his hand gripped mine with a force that was not hostile; his eyes looked as sullenly at me as miss milne’s. “you’re welcome, cousin,” he muttered, while my uncle smiled on us urbanely, and expressed a polite wish that as kinsmen we might be friends.
but mr. bradbury claimed my immediate attention; with a word of apology to my grandfather, he rose from his chair, and drew me apart from them.
“i’ll be penning a letter to chelton,” he said. “have you any commission with which you care to entrust me? my letter to your mother at least will be delivered.”
“no more than a message to her,” i answered, with a sudden longing for the peace and happiness of chelton and my mother’s cottage, and for the companionship of tony vining. “that i’m all eagerness to return to her. that i’ll not long remain here.”
“i shall assure her,” he said, smiling at me, p. 158“that you’re safe with your grandfather, and that you’ve commended yourself to his favour, and are happy.”
“you interpret me too freely, mr. bradbury,” i said.
“nay, now,” he protested, smiling. “i’m anxious only to convey to your good mother a message that may allay her fears, and set her mind at rest.” lowering his tone, that only i might hear him, he added, “you’re safe here, lad. your grandfather’s will is law. i assure you that you have won his favour by your looks and speech, your resemblance to your father. you will be safe; a year or so, a few months—nay, days, maybe—and you’ll be rich and free to live your life where and how you will. and i’ll be accurately informed of your condition here; i’ll be at hand.”
he broke off, observing that from the hearth my grandfather and my uncle watched us closely. and at the moment thrale stepped forward to announce that dinner was served; my uncle gave my grandfather his arm to assist him to his chair at the head of the table. the old man presided, with mr. bradbury on his right and my uncle on his left; i sat with the girl beside me, my cousin oliver frowned darkly at us from across the board.
p. 159mr. bradbury had prepared me for my grandfather’s wealth—the neglect and disorder of house and grounds might have served to negative this; i wondered yet at the magnificence of the silver upon the table and at the luxury of the meal. i wondered at the richness, and the fantastic design and chasing of this massy plate, at the curious goblets of crystal, as at the rare wines and meats and fruits. but i was amazed and more concerned at my grandfather’s servants—old men, old rogues—i looked on wrinkled faces, brown as with the burning of tropic suns and the lashing of tropical seas; brown hands offered me dishes and filled my glass; a sleeve slipping back from a bony wrist showed me dull blue tattoo marks; glancing over my shoulder i saw an evil brown face, and believed that the old man leered at me. all the while the girl beside me uttered not a word; oliver devoted himself to his dinner; and my grandfather conversed in low tones with mr. bradbury. not till the girl had left us silently, and the cloth was drawn, and we sat over our wine, did aught come to break the silence about me. my cousin, i saw, was drinking deeply; his face was flushed with wine; once, as he looked up suddenly, and our eyes met, he scowled blackly at me. my uncle was sitting watching his son, his look p. 160expressive of contempt; now, as if to divert my attention from oliver’s intoxication, he leaned forward, and with a tolerable show of cordiality, bade me draw in my chair, and take wine with him.
but my grandfather broke in, “i’ve a toast, bradbury—a toast, charles,” and rose unsteadily, and lifted his glass in a shaking hand. mr. bradbury raised his glass, my uncle watched the old man, smiling; oliver was muttering thickly to himself; i saw the old brown men watching from the shadows.
“a toast,—i’ll drink few more, bradbury—i’ll drink few more. i’ll give ye the fortunes of our family—charles, and the rest of ye. i’ll drink to my son dick’s home-coming—hey, charles—hey, bradbury? or, if he’s dead, i’ll have ye drink to my heir—whosoever he may be!”
he laughed harshly, and drank his wine. the stem of the crystal snapped suddenly in my uncle’s fingers; the wine ran blood-red from his white hand. oliver burst into a roar of drunken laughter.
