Jeremy Poldark (2 page)

Leaving the smelting works, whose, ochreous
fumes had blighted the vegetation of the cove, she rode up-the other side to
where Place House, squat and solid against wind and storm, brooded over the sea.
As she got down it was plain that the young woman was nervous. Her gloved
fingers fumbled with the bridle of her horse, and when a groom, came
out
to
hold him she stumbled over what she had to say.

"Sir John Trevaunance, ma'am? I'll ask if
he be in. What name shall I say?"

Mistress Poldark."

" Mistress Poldark. Er - yes, ma'am."
Did she imagine the slight glance of added interest? Will you come this way,
please"

She was shown into a warm little morning room
from which a conservatory led off, and after sitting pulling at the fingers. of
her gloves for a few minutes she heard footsteps returning, and a manservant
came to say Sir John was in and would see her.

He was in a long room like a study, overlooking
the sea. She was relieved to find him alone except-for a great boar hound that
crouched at his feet. She found ,him, too, less imposing than she'd feared,
being of a figure not much taller than herself, and ruddy-complexioned and
rather jovial about the eyes and jowl.

He said: "Your servant, ma'am. Will you
take a seat."

He waited until she had chosen. the edge of a-chair and then sat at his desk again. For a minute she kept her eyes down,
knowing he was looking her over and accepting the scrutiny as part of the
necessary ordeal.

He said warily: "I haven't had the pleasure
before."

" No... You know my husband well....''

" Of course. We've been-associated in
business until recently."

"Ross was very grieved to give up the
association. He was always that proud of it."

Hrrrm ! Circumstances were too much for us,
ma'am. Nobody's fault. We all lost money in the transaction."

She looked up, and saw that his scrutiny had
gratified him. It was one of the few comforting factors in Demelza's excursions
into society, this faculty she had of pleasing men. She did not see it yet as
power, only as a buttress to faltering courage. She knew that her visit here
was irregular by any standards of etiquette - and he must know it as well.

From where they were sitting they could both see
the smoke drifting across the bay from the smelting works, and after a moment
he said rather stiffly:

"As you - hrrm - no doubt know, the company
has been reformed under new management. It was a blow for us all when the
concern failed, but y'understand how I was placed. The buildings were on my
land - indeed under my very nose - I'd sunk more capital than anyone in the
concern, and it would've been crazy to let. 'em rot away in idleness. The
opportunity came to obtain fresh capital and it, was only common sense to take
it. I trust Captain Poldark understands how it was."

" I'm sure he does, said Demelza. "
I'm sure he'd only wish you well with any new venture-even if he wasn't able to
partake in it himself."

Sir John's eyes flickered. "Kind of you to
say so. As yet we barely meet expenses, but I think that will improve. Can I
offer you some refreshment? A glass of canary, perhaps?"

" No, thank you. " She hesitated.
" But p'raps I should like a glass of port if twouldn't be putting you out"

With an ironical eyebrow Sir John rose, and
pulled the bell. Wine was brought and polite conversation made while-it was
drunk. They talked of mines and cows and carriages and the broken summer.
Demelza grew easier in manner and Sir John less wary.

" To tell the truth," said Demelza,
"I think it is the caudly weather that's making trouble with all the
animals. We have a fine cow called Emma: two weeks ago she was yielding rich,
but now the milk's gone into her horn. Same with another, though that was not so
surprising '

"I've, a fine Hereford, worth a mint of
money," Sir John said. "Calved only for the second time two days ago
and now sick and ill with a paraplegia. Had the cow doctor, Phillips, over five
times. It will break my heart if I have to lose her."

"Is the calf safe?"

Oh yes, but it was a bad time. And afterwards
Minta not able to stand. Something is amiss with her teeth too loose in the jaw
and a sort of separation to the joints of her tail. Phillips is completely
defeated, and my own man no better."

"I mind when I lived at Illuggan,"
said. Demelza, "there was a case like that there. The parson's cow was
taken ill with just that sort of complaint. And after calving too."

"Did he find the cure?"

"Yes, sir, he found the cure."

"What was it?"

"Well, it wouldn't be for me to say whether
the parson did right, would it? He wasn't above calling; in an old woman,
called Meggy Dawes - she lived just over the stream, I remember. A rare hand at
curing warts and the King's Evil. Once, a boy went to her with a kenning on the
eye. It was a bad one, but no sooner did she,-"

But about the cow, ma'am."

"Oh yes. Is she to be seen, Sir John? I'd
dearly like to see her to be sure if it is just the same complaint as in the
parson's cow."

I'll take you to her myself, if You'll be so
good. Another glass of port to sustain you?"

A few minutes later they made their way across
the cobbled yard at the back of the house and into the shippon where the cow
lay. Demelza noticed the massive stonework of the outhouses and wished they
were hers. The cow lay upon her side, her soft brown eyes mournful but
uncomplaining. A man rose from a wooden seat and stood respectfully by the
door.

Demelza bent to examine the cow with, a
professionalism of manner that came from her seven years at Nampara, not at all
from her Illuggan childhood. The animal's legs were paralysed and her tail had
a curious disjointed appearance about halfway along its length.

Demelza said : Yes. It is exactly the same.
Meggy Dawes called it Tail-Shot"

"And the cure?"

"It is her cure, mind you, not mine."

" Yes, yes, I follow that."

Demelza passed the tip of her tongue over her
lips. " She said to slit open the tail here, about a foot from the end,
where the joint has slipped, and put in a well-salted onion - then bind it in
place with some coarse tape keep it there about a week, then leave off the
tape. Only a little food once a day, and a cordial made of equal parts of
rosemary, juniper berries and cardamon seeds without their hulks. I remember
well. That's what she said."

Demelza glanced experimentally at the baronet
Sir John was chewing his bottom lip.

Well," he said, " I've never heard of
the cure, but then the disease is rare too. You are the first person who seems
to have encountered it before. Damme, I've a mind to try it., What do you say,
Lyson?"

Tis better'n seeing the animal suffer,
sir."

"Exactly what I feel I have heard that
these old women are wonders when it comes to the lesser-known distempers. Could
you repeat the instructions to my man, Mrs. Poldark?"

“With pleasure”. After a minute or two they
walked back across the yard and into the house.

Sir John said: " I trust Captain Poldark is
keeping in good heart over his coming trial."

As soon as he spoke he regretted having been so
incautious. One felt that, she had deliberately avoided this subject, so
putting on him the onus of mentioning it. But she did not take up the case as
passionatelyas he had feared.

" Well, of course we're very unhappy about
it. I think I worry more than he does," " It will soon be here and
over now,, and a good chance of acquittal, I think."

"D'you really think so, Sir John? That
comforts me greatly. You'll be in Bodmin yourself during the assizes?"

" Um? Um? Well, that I don't know. Why do you
ask?"

"I have heard tell there is to be an
election during September, and with the assizes on the sixth I thought you
might by chance be there."

" You mean to help my brother? Oh, he's
well able to look after his seat The baronet glanced without trust at her
composed face as they re-entered the big room he used as an office. It wasn't
easy to guess what she was thinking. "Even if I was-in the town I should
have too much in hand to attend the court. Besides, with respect, ma'am, I
shouldn't wish to see an old friend in distress. Shall wish him well, of course
but no one wants to seek entertainment in the spectacle."

We've heard tell there are to be two judges, she
said.

Oh, not two to the case. Two will share the
assize between 'em,- I expect. Wentworth Lister, is not an ill fellow, though
it's years since we met. You'll have a fair trial, be sure of that: British
justice will see to it" The boar hound had come across, and he took a
sweet biscuit from a drawer and gave it to the dog.

" It is fair puzzling to me," said
Demelza, " how a man - a judge-can come down all the way from upcountry
and listen to a case and get the hang of the rights and ways of it all in a few
hours. It don't seem possible to me. ; Does he not ever ask for the truth in
private before the case begins?"

Sir John smiled. "You'll be surprised how
quickly a trained brain can sum up the true facts. And remember, it will not
depend upon the judge but upon the jury, and they are Cornish folk like
ourselves, so there's good cause to look on the bright side. Another sip of
port?"

Demelza refused. " It's a little heady, I
suspicion. But very taking in flavour. When all this is over we'd like for you
to come and see us one day, sir. Ross asked me to say that."

Sir John said he'd be charmed, and the dog
dropped crumbs from his biscuit all over the floor. Demelza rose to go.

He added : " I shall pray for good results
from your treatment for Minta."

So did Demelza, but she didn't show her doubts.
" Perhaps I might have news of her?".

"Of course. I'll send word over. And in the
meantime ... should you be passing this way again - only too pleased."

"Thank you, Sir John. I sometimes ride the
coast for my health. It is uneven for a good horse, but I, like the views and
the bracing air."

Sir John went with her to the door-and helped
her to mount, admiring her slim figure and straight back. As she rode out of
the gates a man on a grey horse came in.

"Who was that?" said Unwin
Trevaunance, dropping his grey riding gloves on top of a pile of tin cheques.
Sir John's younger brother did everything deliberately, giving consequence to
actions which hadn't any. Thirty-six or -seven, tall, lion-faced and masterful,
he was a much more impressive personality than the baronet. Yet Sir John made
money and Unwin did not.

"Ross Poldark's wife. Attractive young
woman. Hadn't met her before.''

What did she want?"

That I don't yet know," said Sir John.
" She did not appear to want anything.'?

Unwin had a cleft between his eyes, which
deepened when he frowned." Wasn't she his scullery maid or some
such?"

"Others have risen before her, and with
fewer talents, I'd swear. She has a certain elegance already. In a few years it
will be hard to tell her from a woman of breeding."

"And she came for nothing? I doubt it. To
me she looks a dangerous woman."

Dangerous?"

" We exchanged a, glance as she left. I'm
not unskilled in summing people up, John."

Well, neither am I, Unwin, and 'I think I'll
take the risk. Sir John gave another biscuit to the hound." She has a
ready cure to offer for Minta, though rot me if I think it'll work.

Did you find Ray?"

" Yes. Oh yes. I told him Caroline wanted
to break the journey down here to be in Bodmin during the election; but
Caroline has written him also, so it was no news. Like her to ask me to ask her
uncle and then to write herself!"

She's only a girl. Be patient with her, Unwin.
You'll need patience. She's temperamental and wayward. And there are others
will think her a good catch beside yourself."

Unwin bit at the top of his riding crop. "
The old man's an ingrained miser. There he was this morning, turning over the
accounts with his scabby hands, and the house - no mansion at the best of times
- nearly falling; down for want of repair. It's really no fit place for
Caroline to spend half her life."

"You'll be able to alter all that."

"Aye. Someday. But Ray's no more than
fifty-three or -four. He might live ten year yet." Unwin went to the
window and stared out, across the sea, which was quiet this morning. The low
cloud over the craggy cliffs had darkened the colour of the water to a deep,
veined green. Some sea gulls had perched on the wall of the house and were
throatily crying. To the tall man, accustomed now to London life, the scene was
melancholy. Penvenen's got some uncommon views altogether. He was giving it as
his opinion this morning that Cornwall is over-represented in Parliament. Says
the seats should be redistributed among the new towns in the midlands. Stuff
and nonsense."