The Mystery of Cloomber | Page 5

its
wheels died away in the distance.
"What do you think of our new neighbour, Jamieson?" I asked, after a
long silence.

"'Deed, Mr. West, he seems, as he says himsel', to be vera nervous.
Maybe his conscience is oot o' order."
"His liver, more likely," said I. "He looks as if he had tried his
constitution a bit. But it's blowing chill, Seth, my lad, and it's time both
of us were indoors."
I bade my companion good-night, and struck off across the moors for
the cheery, ruddy light which marked the parlour windows of
Branksome.

CHAPTER III
OF OUR FURTHER ACQUAINTANCE WITH MAJOR-GENERAL J.
B. HEATHERSTONE
There was, as may well be imagined, much stir amongst our small
community at the news that the Hall was to be inhabited once more,
and considerable speculation as to the new tenants, and their object in
choosing this particular part of the country for their residence.
It speedily became apparent that, whatever their motives might be, they
had definitely determined upon a lengthy stay, for relays of plumbers
and of joiners came down from Wigtown, and there was hammering
and repairing going on from morning till night.
It was surprising how quickly the signs of the wind and weather were
effaced, until the great, square-set house was all as spick-and-span as
though it had been erected yesterday. There were abundant signs that
money was no consideration to General Heatherstone, and that it was
not on the score of retrenchment that he had taken up his abode among
us.
"It may be that he is devoted to study," suggested my father, as we
discussed the question round the breakfast table. "Perhaps he has
chosen this secluded spot to finish some magnum opus upon which he

is engaged. If that is the case I should be happy to let him have the run
of my library."
Esther and I laughed at the grandiloquent manner in which he spoke of
the two potato-sacksful of books.
"It may be as you say," said I, "but the general did not strike me during
our short interview as being a man who was likely to have any very
pronounced literary tastes. If I might hazard a guess, I should say that
he is here upon medical advice, in the hope that the complete quiet and
fresh air may restore his shattered nervous system. If you had seen how
he glared at me, and the twitching of his fingers, you would have
thought it needed some restoring."
"I do wonder whether he has a wife and a family," said my sister. "Poor
souls, how lonely they will be! Why, excepting ourselves, there is not a
family that they could speak to for seven miles and more."
"General Heatherstone is a very distinguished soldier," remarked my
father.
"Why, papa, however came you to know anything about him?"
"Ah, my dears," said my father, smiling at us over his coffee-cup, "you
were laughing at my library just now, but you see it may be very useful
at times." As he spoke he took a red-covered volume from a shelf and
turned over the pages. "This is an Indian Army List of three years
back," he explained, "and here is the very gentleman we want-
'Heatherstone, J. B., Commander of the Bath,' my dears, and 'V.C.',
think of that, 'V.C.'--'formerly colonel in the Indian Infantry, 41st
Bengal Foot, but now retired with the rank of major-general.' In this
other column is a record of his services--'capture of Ghuznee and
defence of Jellalabad, Sobraon 1848, Indian Mutiny and reduction of
Oudh. Five times mentioned in dispatches.' I think, my dears, that we
have cause to be proud of our new neighbour."
"It doesn't mention there whether he is married or not, I suppose?"
asked Esther.

"No," said my father, wagging his white head with a keen appreciation
of his own humour. "It doesn't include that under the heading of 'daring
actions'--though it very well might, my dear, it very well might."
All our doubts, however, upon this head were very soon set at rest, for
on the very day that the repairing and the furnishing had been
completed I had occasion to ride into Wigtown, and I met upon the way
a carriage which was bearing General Heatherstone and his family to
their new home. An elderly lady, worn and sickly-looking, was by his
side, and opposite him sat a young fellow about my own age and a girl
who appeared to be a couple of years younger.
I raised my hat, and was about to pass them, when the general shouted
to his coachman to pull up, and held out his hand to me. I could see
now in the daylight that his face, although harsh and stern, was capable
of assuming a