My Heart's in the Highlands
Copyright© 2024 by Amy Le Feuvre
Chapter 5: A Satisfactory Interview
“The character of a generation is moulded by personal character.”
Westcott.
ON the following Sunday Rowena met Mysie and her father at the doors of the church which she attended. It was a quiet old-fashioned service, and the congregation was not a fashionable one, but the preacher had an arresting, quickening power of delivery, and he took the Bible alone for his authority.
General Macdonald said when he came out:
“I don’t as a rule feel at home in London churches, but that man has the power of raising one from earth altogether.”
“Oh, Dad!” expostulated Mysie. “I didn’t feel that. I felt I was wedged between the two people I love best in the world, and I longed to hug you both!”
Rowena laughed at Mysie, but replied to the General:
“Yes, Canon Villars always takes me right away with him. He is a wonderful mixture of practical common sense and mysticism.”
“And do you never get your—your friend to come and hear him?”
“Once I did.”
A shadow came over Rowena’s face as she spoke. She had taken Mrs. Burke there soon after they came to town, and the Canon had preached a very scathing sermon on worldliness, and the unprofitableness of it. Mrs. Burke had come away furiously indignant with him, and had refused to set her foot inside the door ever again.
“Didn’t she profit by it?”
“I am afraid not. His text was, ‘Hear now then, thou that art given to pleasures,’ and he was very severe and convincing. But with some people, most I should think, it is absolutely useless to tell them they should give up all that they have; empty their hearts, before they know how to fill them! Love draws, severity drives!”
“I don’t quite agree,” said General Macdonald. “In these days there is too much laxity and forbearance with sin. But you must remember I have centuries of Scotch training behind me.”
“But in vulgar words, the ‘proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ That sermon has kept Mrs. Burke from going to church ever since she heard it.”
“I wish you would leave her,” said the General emphatically.
Rowena shook her head and changed the subject.
She began to tell him of Mrs. Burke’s niece, and of the letters that had been sent to her, and asked him if he would be willing to interview her, if she would be able to come to town.
“And if Mrs. Burke asks you to dinner to meet her, will you come? I hope you will.”
“If I can meet her in a quiet way I shall be glad to do so.”
“Now that is nice and friendly of you. I assure you that you will not be shocked in any way.”
Then with a little laugh she added:
“We want to see some good people sometimes, you know. They bring a different atmosphere with them.”
They took a turn together in the Park before Rowena went home. As they parted he said:
“I hope you have a quiet Sunday. But it seems to be the fashion to receive visitors all the afternoon. Even my old cousin does it.”
“You will have to run away as I do if you want to be quiet,” said Rowena cheerfully.
She walked home with a little amusement as well as pity at the General’s inadaptability to his circumstances. “He is a man in one groove,” she said to herself. “I am sure he is much concerned at my atmosphere surroundings; but after all, my business is not his, and he has no right to try to manage my life.”
The next day Mrs. Burke heard from her niece. “She is actually coming,” she told Rowena, “but only for a couple of nights, as she is in charge whilst her mother is away. My dear, I am frightened of her, and feel I should like to run away and leave her to you. I shall scandalize her every minute of the day, I know; her very letter reeks of righteousness!”
“Oh, don’t!” expostulated Rowena in a pained tone. “You really do respect sincerity and goodness in the bottom of your heart. Don’t mock at it.”
“Well, I respect you. But you’re not what I call sanctimonious. Now write off to that good-looking old Scotchie, and ask him to dinner. Who shall we have besides? Some one to frivol with me, I think.”
“No, let us be alone for once.”
“My dear, I shall be bored to tears. I shall go off to the theatre then, and leave you to entertain them.”
“That you can please yourself about. But I don’t think it will be very polite.”
“Then I shall be as cross as two sticks—unless we can manage to shake a little fun out of our guests. I haven’t seen Marion since she was a child in pinafores, but I can imagine she will be a repetition of her mother.”
Marion arrived in two days’ time. Rowena was glad that Mrs. Burke was dining out, for she had her to herself, and told her all she knew about Mysie and her father.
Marion was a good-looking woman. Her clothes were shabby, but she had a sweet face and a quantity of soft brown hair coiled round a shapely little head. Rowena was satisfied that she would find favour in General Macdonald’s sight. They sat over the drawing-room fire and talked, and Marion at last began to ask questions about her aunt.
“I don’t feel at home in all this luxury,” she said, “and yet I must confess I like it. I cannot understand why my parents were so averse to be helped in any way by Aunt Caroline. You say you are fond of her. She cannot be wholly bad!”
“No,” said Rowena, “she is not. She is one of the most kindhearted creatures that I have ever come across, and—remember—she has known what is good and right, and still keeps memories of her young days packed away in her heart. She always tries to appear more empty-headed and frivolous than she really is. And I believe that one day she will search and find again what she has so carelessly thrown away. Bear this in mind when you hear her talking.”
Marion was tired with her journey and went early to bed. She did not see her aunt till noon the next day. Her heart sank when she saw Mrs. Burke’s smart attire, and noted the powder and rouge on her smiling good-natured face.
“Well, my dear, glad to see you! Rowena has made you welcome, and you will see more of her than you will do of me, for I have a good many engagements in town. Are you ready to go off to this immaculate Highland lair? According to Rowena, the child is a perfect child, and the father everything that an ordinary man is not. He is coming to dinner with us to-night, and I advise you to take stock of him. Now tell me about your father. How is he?”
“Not much better. The doctor says it is now only a question of weeks!”
“Dear me! How sad! But doctors are often mistaken. Now, my dear Marion, have you a decent dinner dress? As my niece I like to see you nicely dressed, and if you don’t possess one, I will get Rowena to run you round to the shops. There are wonderful ready-made little gowns at Dalton & Lane’s, and I think a nice dark velvet would suit you. Don’t trouble about the price. I have an account there and it will be booked to me. And if you do come to terms, and agree to go off to Scotland, you must have a suitable outfit. Rowena will see to it for me, I know.”
Marion looked very uncomfortable. She tried to thank her aunt, but Rowena saw that gentle though she was, she possessed a certain amount of pride.
“A governess is always very quietly dressed, Aunt Caroline,” she said, “and I have been a resident governess before in quite good families. I shall be able to get what I require.”
“Well, I mean to give you a very quiet but handsome gown for dinner parties. Rowena, take her out directly after luncheon.”
And so it came to pass that when General Macdonald arrived that evening he was introduced to a very sweet-looking, dignified woman in a brown velvet gown which matched her brown eyes and hair. He came early, and had an interview with her in Mrs. Burke’s back drawing-room. There was a light in his eyes, as he joined Rowena just before dinner, and had the opportunity of speaking to her alone. “She’ll do,” he said. “I like her extremely. A woman with religion and principle. She’s willing to come, but not just yet, I’m afraid—says she must wait till her mother returns home. And she does not seem to know when that will be. She has shown me any amount of certificates and references, but I know a good woman when I see her, and I place that first; education comes afterwards.”
Dinner was a difficult time. Mrs. Burke was in her usual high spirits, and rattled away in an astonishing fashion it seemed to her niece. General Macdonald was courteous, but rather stiff, and Rowena strove to bridge over awkward pauses and water down some of Mrs. Burke’s rash statements.
“I’m sure my niece is one of your sort,” she informed the General. “You Scotch people always take life seriously, and she has been brought up in the old-fashioned orthodox style. Her family never has approved of me.”
“Why is it old-fashioned to take life seriously?” said General Macdonald gravely. “Isn’t life with all of us a very wonderful and mysterious thing?”
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