The Carved Cupboard | Page 9

abroad, and who Mr. Tom Lester hates. And did
you hear about the cupboard downstairs? Mrs. Tucker says she never
has been inside it herself, for Mr. Lester only used to open it late at
night, and he's gone away and taken the key with him, and says it isn't
to be touched. I says to Mrs. Tucker that there might be anything in the
cupboard, and Martha says she's afraid to go near it, for you do hear
such dreadful tales about locked cupboards, and skeletons inside them,
don't you, miss?'
'Only in your penny novelettes, that do you more harm than good,
Jane!' said Clare a little shortly. I think if Mrs. Tucker is such a gossip,
we shan't care to have her about the house. Where does she live now?'
'She's going to stay with her married sister in Brambleton, miss, and
she's going out cooking if she can. I says to Martha that her tongue
runned away with her, we could hardly get in a word, she talks so; but
she's a very good-natured person, and has given Martha and me a lot of
information about the neighbourhood.'
Clare did not respond, but soon dismissed Jane, and then sat for some
time in dreams before her fire. At last with a little sigh she took hold of
her Bible, to have her usual evening reading out of it. She turned to
Nannie's Psalm, and listlessly scanned the verse that had been given
her.
'Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.'
'Rest!' she mused; 'it is the one thing I never have really experienced. I

always seem to be wishing for, and wanting, what never comes to me. I
don't suppose any but a very old person who has lived her life, and has
no hopes left, can rest and wait patiently. I don't know why I always
seem waiting for something big to come and satisfy my life. I
remember when first Hugh spoke to me, and we were engaged, I hoped
I should be perfectly satisfied and happy, but in some ways he has
disappointed me. He is so--so humdrum and easily pleased, and
wrapped up in his profession. I wish he were more intellectual. I do
love him, of course I do, but he hasn't filled my life as I thought he
would. He doesn't understand some of my thoughts about things. I
often wonder why I can't be as easily pleased with everybody and
everything as Elfie is. Nannie would say it is because my religion is not
real. I don't feel I could rest in the Lord. He seems far away, and there
are so many difficulties, and sometimes I get to doubt everything! I
wish I had Nannie's faith.'
She sighed again, and her thoughts came back to her present
surroundings.
'I never shall like it here, I am sure; only it is no good to say so. It is
such a depressing house, with not a sound outside, except this howling
wind. I think it was a very doubtful venture coming down to a place
where we know no one. Perhaps in the summer it will be better. I will
try and not be discontented, but I feel to-night as if evil is coming upon
us, and this awful wind seems to moan like a human being in the
chimney. I think I will get into bed, and follow Gwen's advice. Oh dear,
I wish I wasn't so easily depressed!'
But a sound night's rest made impressionable Clare view things rather
differently the next day. The rain and wind had disappeared, and as she
looked out of her window the first thing, she saw a cloudless blue sky,
and the green meadows and pine woods in the distance, all lying in still
bright sunshine. She opened her casement, and the fresh spring air
fanned her cheeks, and brought her scents of the sweet country round
her. She came downstairs to breakfast radiant; not even Elfie's sunny
face could eclipse hers.
'It's delicious!' she exclaimed; 'I am longing to explore the garden. Is it

as well stocked with fruit and vegetables as the advertisement led us to
expect?'
'Yes, I think it is,' said Gwen; 'but of course everything has been very
neglected. Mrs. Tucker assures me a nephew of hers always worked for
Mr. Lester, and would be glad to come to us for the same wages. What
do you think, Agatha? Can we afford eight shillings a week?'
Agatha looked a little worried.
'Oh, there is plenty of time to think of the garden later on. There is so
much to do in the house. I hope you will all help in the unpacking
to-day, or we shall never get straight.'
'Household cares already beginning!' said Elfie, laughing. 'Now