Warleggan (14 page)

Caroline and her uncle had
never got on so well since her
break with Unwin Trevaunance, and her return to Killewarren and att
itude since had done little to
smooth things, out. She spent every fine
day riding,
often with a groom but sometimes alone, and was silent through her meals or edgy if questioned. She paid few social visits in the neighbourhood and seldom wished to be found at home if called on. Rum
ours had not been slow to reach
him, but he understood her well enough to know that he must move cautiously if they were to be checked or countered.,

One night at supper, she provoked a discussion by saying `Tell me, Uncle, what do you know of Ross Poldark?'

Blinking, cautious, watching her as if he suspected some deeper meaning in the
question than he was privy to,
he told her what he
knew.
Ross's father, the best-known libertine
in
six parishes; Ross's services overseas during the American war; his return after his father's death and his bitter disappointment, so people said, that Francis was to marry the Chynoweth girl; his foolish marriage a year or so later to a girl he had taken from
some
miner's cottage in Illuggan; his starting of Wheal Lei
sure and, later, his leadership
of the pr
oposal to begin copper smelting
in Cornwall; the failure of the scheme; the death of his child; the shipwrecks and the riots which followed, his trial a
nd his
acquittal; his
– “

'Yes, Uncle, thank you, I know
from there.' Caroline took a
sip of wine, and her eyes looked darker for the reflection from the glass. -`His father, you
say
was bad-behaved with the women of the neighbourhood. I should imagine the son
has sowed his wild
oats also. Or he looks as if he has. You do not mention that.'

Penvenen regarded the girl dryly. `I was not attempting to spare his reputation
-
or your delicacy. I do not know if anything specially unsavoury has clung to him in that respect
although it has in many
others:' Of course this taking
a half
-
starved begg
ar girl, or whatever she was. I
was in
London
at the time, but I believe it caused trouble among the miners and with her father.'

`But he married her,' said Caroline,

`Yes, he married her.'

She waited while her plate was taken away. Beside her in a basket on another chair was Horace, and she picked him, up and set him on her lap. -'

`Did, you lose much in your
association with Ross Poldark
in the copper company?'

`Enough. Everyone lost money. It was an ill-conceived enterprise at best.' `I understand you escaped somewhat earlier
- and somewhat better than the others.

The cand
les were between them, but she
saw his sharply raised eyes. `Who told you that?'

She laughed. 'Unwin. He said once that you and Sir John made a deal with the Warleggans and left the ship to sink. That was
his
phrase.'

`The
ship-as you term it
-
was already on the rocks when
we came to an arrangement with the Warleggans. We did so, only to preserve
capital
investments we had made, he in his furnaces, I in,
the battery mill. No
one lost a penny more
because of our action. Unwin knew nothing of the situation at
first hand.”

She held a piece of meat under the pug's nose, but he only sniffed at it and turned away." `Is the horrid beef not to your liking, any pet? Very well, you shan't be pressed. 'Thomas, bring me the sweet biscuits-you know the ones Horace adores'

`Yes, ma'am'.

But you shall have to go back in your basket for those, my sweet, or you would crumble them all over my frock There, is that to
your liking? I hear Ross Poldark
is
on the verge of insolvency now.”

'Indeed.' Her uncle-had not appreciated
her, comments, and his reply was short.

`He has some debts outstanding from that ti
me, and the Warleggans have got hold of them and
are pressing him hard.'

`You are well informed.'

Thomas came back with the biscuits, and she thanked him with a smile. For a minute or two she devoted her whole attention to Horace. `Not so very well informed, Uncle, for I cannot ask him to his face and I do not know the Warleggans well enough to ask them. But it seems a pity that s
o big a man should be squeezed out for so small a sum, don't
you think? If he went out at all, he should go in the grand manner
-
to suit his looks and his style.'

Mr. Penvenen said:' `I imagine Dr. Enys could enlighten you on any further details you wished to know.'

Horace snuffled
over his biscuit in the sud
den silence. Caroline said : `I
believe
I shall go into Truro tomorrow
morni
ng. It is a poor place to shop,
but I need
some shoes made. In Oxford shoe
buckles are quite out of fashion and I myself prefer the string. And do you know there is quite a craze for feathers in the hair. I don't personall
y favour them, I feel too much
like yesterday's fowl.'

`I think,' said Ray
Penvenen, 'that although you are now your own mistress, Caroline, you should not allow a natural pleasure in your freedom to obscure the observances, of good society in which it has been my privilege and your Uncle William's to enlighten you since your parents died. Although
we may seem to be in a rough and isolated part of the country here, it would
be a
mistake
to think
that the
conventions do not obtain. For instance, to ride far and unattended in the company of a young man of eligible yea
rs is to invite comment of an
unsavoury nature, whether, one is in Cornwall or in Oxfordshire.
No doubt,
this is quite innocent
ly intended, but it can have
far-reaching consequences and is neither quite fair to me, who may seem to be countenancing it, nor to the young man, who may derive encouragement from it and ambitions beyond his proper sphere.'

Sof
tfooted, the manservant closed the door and went
out. After a second or so a breath of air -imp
erceptible to the skin reached
the candles
and their flames trembled like
fronds, in a still pool.

Caroline said : `I'd always thought
-
I've always believed - that a mark of true quality and rank is to behave according to one's personal lights and to pay no attention beyond that to the mesh of artificial conventions with which would-be people
of quality surround themselves.”

'That is true to a point. But a person of quality only acts in such a way ' so far as his behaviour affects himself. When it affects other people, he is no longer a free agent.'

'It
was what I was going to say. There are only two a people, concerned in this beside myself, and that is you and Dr. Enys. Your concern is that you
might be

thought to be
approving of my behaviour. Is that it? Well, if I
am too m
uch on your conscience, should I
not be bet
ter advised to leave this house
and live elsewhere?'

`Possibly,' he agreed quietly, `if it were not for the affection that we hold for each other.'

She frowned a moment, looking angry and troubled. Then she covered her feelings by turning to Horace. `Another biscuit; my love? Uncle Ray is beco
ming cross with me. There will,
I fear, shortly be angry words on both sides. And possibly a scene. And things would be said which we should
both later, somewhat regret.
That is a pity, don't you think? Do you not
suppose we should better change
the subject?'

Horace made a gruff noise in, his throat and
contrived
to lick her fingers and his
own nose at the same
time. Ray stared across at his pretty niece, in perplexity
, partly disarmed but not at
al
l less suspicious. There was a
genuine bond between ahem, and he often
blamed himself
for weaknes
s in his
treatment of her. But he did not know
how
to continue the
attack without provoking the scene she forecast: He did not suppose th
at what he had said would make any difference to her early—
morning rides, but he knew that insistence at this stage might
well lead to her carrying out
her threat to the grief and detriment of them both. And such a move
would
completely defeat his object by
taking her right outside his influence. He wondered if he was approaching; this problem from the wrong quarter and through
the
wrong
person.

Supper ended in peace. Later, when he was in his study, he summoned his servant and asked if he could find out what arrangements Miss Caroline had made for
visiting
Truro in the morning. The man came back to say she had ordered her carriage for nine-thirty. Mr. Penvenen bit the
end
of his quill for a few seconds and then wrote a short note.

Dear Dr. Enys,

I f you are free, I should be obliged if you could call on, me tomorrow morning between ten-thirty'' and eleven. It is some time since you made a routine medical call.

Yours
etc.

R. R. E. Penvenen

About five minutes to eleven Dwight turned his horse in at the gates of Killewarren, not without a quickening of anticipa
tion at
th
e prospect of seeing Caroline
again without the necessity of contrivance. But no C
aroline was about when he went in, and he was silently
shown upstairs into the big untidy drawing-room with its antlers and its sporting pictures where he had first met Ray Penvenen:
Mr. Penvenen was them to meet him again, or rather was standing with his back to him, staring out at the grey day. His coat as usual was sizes, too big for him and the warts, were noticeable on his clasped hands. After a studied pa
use he turned.

`Ah; Dr. Enys, you had my letter?'

`Yes,' said Dwight, knowing now and blaming himself for not having known before. `I hope I've not kept you waiting.'

`There's time enough. My niece happens to be in Truro, and I thought this would be an opportunity to discuss matters with you.'

'Medical matters?'

`No. I must apologise if my note gave you that impression.! 'Well, yes, it did:'

Ray Penvenen picked up his spectacles from the desk but did not put t
hem on. His lashless eyes were
lowered, `Perhaps you would care to sit down.'

'No
, thank you.

Somewhere near at hand Horace was yapping monotonously.''

"I imagine you have some idea why I have sent, for you ! `I don't think it, is for me to speculate, Mr. Penvenen.'

'I could have wished you showed a similar delicacy in all
your dealings, Dr. Enys.'

'I'm sorry you should think I have not'

'Yes ... well, yes.... I think you have not-though I should be happy to learn that you have been offending thoughtlessly and, without a full appreciation of what is involved, I refer, of course, to your growing friendship with my niece.'

`I wonder in what way you consider that offensive?'

Penvenen glanced dryly at
the young man.

`Come, Dr. Enys. You can't be so unaware, of the ways of the
world. For more than a month,
if not longer, you have been paying attentions to my niece. You must know that your first duty was to approach me and ask my permission: The fact that you have not done so shows that you suspect such permission
would not be forthcoming. Isn't
that so?'

Dwight bit his lip, angry with himself as well as with the man in front of him.

`All you say is true,'

`Ah.... Well, then, what explanation have you to offer?'

`None at all. Except that none of it has been so deliberate as you suppose. One'
s feelings grow unsolicited and
unencouraged. There has been no one point when I have said to myself- . .. But I now have such feelings for your niece; I won't attempt to deny that.'

'You have not considered how her ill-advised meetings with
you
reflect on her reputation?'

`
No, I have not I don't; suppose
'

`There's no need for
us,
to quarrel, Dr. Enys.' Penvenen folded his hands under his coat
-
tails and smiled. `Caroline is a forceful young woman, a thoroughly delightful person but as mettlesome as an unbroken colt. She has never been sufiiciently curbed
-
it would be an ungenerous task, but perhaps
I and my brother are to blame for not attempting it. We try to humour her so far as we can. It is nothing uncommon for tier
to take violent likes
and dislikes to people
-
often she drops them as quickly as she has taken them up. It ma
y be so
in
your case;
it probably will; but even then I should be opposed to these quasi-secret meetings. As for a serious attachment, to a young man in your position.... Apart from consideration of money and blood-?

'I don't think blood need enter
into it'

`But I do, my dear sir. There was a Penvenen at Prince Rupert's side at Marston Moor, And we have lived in this district for ninety years-'

`An Enys fitted out and manned a ship to fight the Armada. Ninety years ago one of my ancestors was' High Sheriff of Cornwall.'

Mr.
Penvenen cleared his throat.
His careful geniality was not
quite proof against this reply. And as to money?'

'I admit the obstacle.'

`Caroline is an heiress, Dr. Enys. She is my heir: and my brother's heir, so she will be
-
to say the least
-
rich in her time. She is far too important a person to become entangled with a penniless country doctor. I'm glad you realise it.'

Dwight
had controlled his quick temper
so far, but everything Mr. Penvenen said made things worse. The fact that
he was using arguments Dwight
had used against himself added to the insult.

`Ultimately, isn't it for Caroline to decide her own life?'

Ray Penvenen took one of his hands out and grasped the velvet lapel of his coat. 'That is where you are in error. Caroline must marry with our consent or she will not inherit any money from us.'

'That again
must be for Caroline to choose.”

'And
how do you
think she ' will choose when I
put the 'choice before her?
She had been brought up in the
greatest, luxury. Nothing for her comfort has ever been spared. D'you suppose she'll sacrifice all th
at for, what you have to offer?
Are you justified in expecting, it?'

Dwight stared angrily across the room. The desk was open, with a litter of papers on it. Above the desk was a small water colour of a red-haired child.

'It may be, of course, said Penvenen, 'that
you think my niece has a large
private fortune of her own. Let me- .'

“I nei
ther know nor care what money
she
has.'

`Very creditable of you. But hardly practical. Caroline has about six thousand
pounds of her own. That is all
you could expect to get if you married her Dr. Enys,'

Dwight said
:
'Up to now, Mr. Penvenen, I've
suffered your comments with a, due degree of civility. I owed it to you as Caroline's uncle and guardian. But there are limits to what a man may stand God knows, I've never given you
reason to imagine me a fortune
hun
ter, and I should have thought
that such knowledge as you have of me
might have inclined you to a less
offensive view. If you suppose that no man who has not an eye on her money can fall in love with your niece, you greatly underrate her charm and insult her as much as you do me-'

'Now there is no need-'

''When I came here today, I
was as distracted
-
I suppose
as any man ever has been, over this matter, of Caroline's money. For
months I've faced an
insoluble problem. At least today you'v
e given me a slender hope for
the solution, of it.'

The whiter M
r.
Penvenen's face became, the pinker grew the rims of his eyes. 'You are going a little far, Dr. Enys. I
suppose you realise that, this
will mean the end of our professional relationship-'

`You've shown me a way
out,' said Dwight,
pacing across the room, `by telling me that Caroline's fortune isn't as great as I thought. One of substance, I admit, but not an insuperable bar. It would be possible for a penniless doctor to marry such a fortune without being eclipsed
by it. It would be possible with such a fortune for a wife to maintain herself and yet not entirely dominate the purse strings. Thank you, sir, for that!'

'You will leave this house,' said Ray Penvenen, 'and not come here again
.
You wil
l have no further communication with my niece. '
I forbid it and shall tak
e steps to enforce it. Good day to you.”

Dwight stopped in his pacing opposite the little cold man. `Caroline is of age, Mr. Penvenen. Your control can only be exercised within the limits of your property. But perhaps you yourself have pointed the solution to our difficulties,'

`I have nothing further to say to you, Dr. Enys!'

'I have this to say to you, sir, in all deference. Just now you asked me if I thought Caroline would give up all you had to
offer for what little I have to offer.; That's the crux,' isn't it? Well, we must
leave
it to her to decide!'

'I see I have been gravely mistaken in your character, Dr. Enys. I very much regret ever having invited you here.'

'Many times in the last months I have very much regretted having come. But at least we understand each, other now.'

'We understand each other,' Said Ray Penvenen, as Dwight went out.

Harris Pascoe was not busy when Miss
Penvenen was ann
ounced, but he had the appearance of industry, being occupied at his favourite pastime of juggling with figures. He was not a man of strong passions, and things like credit and debit balances offered to him the cold white peaks of aesthetic pleasure. When Caroline was shown in, he reluctantly closed the last book and stood up.

'Miss
Penvenen I
haven't had the p-pleasure. I know your father, of course'

'My uncle. Yes, it's on account of his speaking of you that
I've come to you today. Not of
course that he knows I'm here.
I
. .'

Harris
Pascoe rubbed the soft part of his-pen along
th
e line of his cheek: Although
be found his dearest pleasure in mathematics, he was not i
nsensible to figures of another
sort, and he acknowledged to himself that this young woman was worth looking at
.

`And can I help you?'

Caroline took off her long green gauntlet gloves, flipping them against her knee. 'It's a peculiar mission I'm on, Mr. Pascoe; at least you may think so, and I shouldn't quarrel with you for having that opinion: I want to know if
you can help me
to help a friend of mine who is in trouble. There, it sounds rather mysterious, doesn't it? And not quite respectable. Would you like me to explain?'

There was a suggestion of mischief in her eyes, so Harris Pascoe was at his most stolid. 'If you please.'

'I have money, Mr. Pascoe, and am seeking an investment. I unders
tand that Captain Poldark has
a bill out which will shortly come due for redemption. Do I use the right professional words? I understand that the present possessor of the
bill is not willing to renew
it. I should like to buy that bill. Could you arrange the purchase for me?'

The banker pulled, his snuffbox, towards him, opened it,, and stayed for a moment with finger and thumb poised over the box. Then he closed it unused.

You are looking for an investment, Miss Penvenen?'

She nodded brightly. 'From, what I hear it should be a good one. The rate of interest is exceedingly high. Of course if you prefer to call the transaction by some other name, I shall not quibble'

`Forgive me, you have c-control of your money?' ' 'Since I was twenty-one,'

`What does your uncle
– but you say he does not know of
this visit. Does Captain Poldark?'

Caroline smiled. 'D
o you suppose he would let me interfere
in his affairs?'

'No..
.' Pascoe got up and dusted some, loose snuff from his waistcoat. `You are putting me in rather a d-difficulty, Miss Penvenen. Captain Poldark is,
a
client of mine and also a personal friend. It is not my custom to
discuss
a client's affairs with any third person; but I'll not disguise from you what I think you already well know
-
that a renewal of this bill would be a matter of the utmost importance t-to him. But also-but also your uncle is a valued client of, mine, and I should be doing' less than my duty to him if I allowed you to make this r
ash purchase-even supposing it
can be made-without warning you that you could hardly make a more risky investment. Indeed, I don't feel I could proceed as you suggest without consulting your uncle in the matter first.'

Caroline looked down and gently stretched t
he fingers of her gloves, 'I am
an independent person, Mr. Pascoe. If you consult my, uncle, you'll be disclosing a private conversation to a third party. I thought you never did that. And if you refuse to make this investment for me, I shall
have
to go elsewhere.'

Harris Pascoe perceived that his visitor was not
to be
trifled with.

'You're aware that it's not a good risk?'

'I'm
aware that most people would not think it a good risk.

But we all have our own opinions.'

Pascoe went to the window and stared down into the street.