The Bishop's Apron - Chapter 13

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter thirteen of the Bishop's apron by W. Somerset Maum.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter thirteen.
The fates always behaved handsomely to Theodore Spratt. He was
not surprised when Lady Sophia announced at luncheon next day
that she meant to spend the afternoon at the academy.

(00:21):
The Cannon expressed his regret that he would not enjoy
the privilege of her society at tea, but proposed that
he and Winnie should have it quite cozily by themselves.
Ponsonby received private instructions that no one but Lord Roxham
should be admitted. After his lordship has been here about
five minutes. Ponsonby, I wish you to call me away.

(00:42):
When Cannon Spratt gave this order, he looked straight into
the butler's eyes to frown down any expression of surprise,
but Ponsonby replied, without moving a muscle, very well, sir.
He turned to leave the room, and as he did so,
thinking the Cannon could not see, solemnly winked at the
portrait of Josiah, Lord Chancellor of England. For a moment,

(01:05):
Cannon Spratt thought it must be an optical delusion, for
that vast, heavy face remained impassive. Yet he would have
sworn that Ponsonby's right lid descended slowly, with a smooth
and wary stealthiness. The Canon said no word, and when
the butler at last disappeared, smiled quietly to himself. Ponsonby

(01:26):
is really a very remarkable character. It was not often
that cannon Sprat exerted himself when there was none but
his family to admire his conversation, But on this occasion
he took the greatest pains. No human being is more
difficult to entertain than a young girl, and it was
a clear proof of his talent that he could charm

(01:46):
his own daughter. Winnie was listless and depressed. She shuddered
still when she thought of the Railings. Their visit had
precisely the effect which the Canon intended, and she was ashamed.
He had seen Bertram that morning, and perhaps owing to
the sleepless night she had passed, his conversation had seemed

(02:07):
less inspiring than usual. He was much interested in a
strike which was then proceeding in Germany, and he bored
her a little. One or two of his radical theories
sounded preposterous in her ears, and they had a short
argument in which he proved to her that her ideas
were silly and prejudiced. Once or twice, Whennie had caught

(02:27):
in his voice almost the same dictatorial manner which his
sister Louise had assumed when she rated Lord Spratt, Whinnie
left him with a certain feeling of irritation. But the Canon,
though he knew nothing of this, took care not to
refer to railing. He drew her into a conversation on
the subjects which he knew most interested her. He used

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every art to flatter and amuse He told her new stories,
He ridiculed comically the people he had dined with on
the previous evening, and such was his gift of mimicry.
She could not help but laugh. His urbanity and worldly
wisdom were notorious, and he had been invited to adjust
some social difficulty. He now asked her advice on the point, and,

(03:12):
holding apparently an opinion contrary to hers, allowed her to
convince him. I think there's a great deal in what
you say, Whinnie. It's extraordinary that the most experienced man
never catches the point of such matters so accurately. As
a woman. Winnie smiled with pleasure, for her father's commendation
was rare enough to be valuable forgetting her own troubles.

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She enlarged upon the topic, and he making now and
then some opposite remark, listened with gratifying attention upon my word.
I think you're quite right, he said at last, as
though completely persuaded. I shall do exactly as you suggest.
It was not wonderful that, when he thought him the
most remarkable of men, then he turned to other things.

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He talked of his own plans and his ambitions. He
knew very well that nothing compliments a young woman more
than for a man of middle age to discuss with
her his dearest aspirations, and Winnie felt that she had entered,
for the first time thoroughly into her father's life. At length,
Ponsonby announced the expected visitor. Ah My dear boy, I'm

(04:21):
so pleased to see you, cried the cannon, springing to
his feet with agility. Roxham, shyly, hesitating a little, offered
his hand to Winnie. You must think me a dreadful bore,
he said, blushing pleasantly. I'm always coming nonsense, interrupted his
host with great heartiness. We're always delighted to see you.

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I want you to look upon the vicarage as your
second home. Shortly afterwards, according to his orders, Ponsonby appeared again.
He spoke in an undertone to the cannon, who at
once got up. I must ask you to excuse me
for a few minutes, he said, turning to Roxham. I
have a parishion waiting to see me, a very sad case,

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the poor woman who lost her husband a little while ago,
and she's looking out for number two and I can't
find him. The clergyman's time is never his own. Oh pray,
don't mind me, said Roxham. I shall be back in
five minutes. Don't go before I see you. Winnie will
do her best not to bore you. He went out.

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Roxham stepped forward to Winnie, who was pretending to alter
the arrangement of flowers in of Oz. I'm glad your
father has left us alone, Winnie, he said, fixing his
pince nez more firmly. I so seldom get a chance
of speaking to you. Winnie did not reply, but pulled
to pieces of marguerite. What does it come to, he

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asked for a moment, not thinking of the old fancy.
She made no answer, but then, remembering, held out the
stalk with one remaining petal and smiled. He loves me
not It's not true. He loves you passionately he always will.
With a sigh, Winnie threw away the flower. Won't you

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speak to me? Winnie? What do you want me to say?
He took her hand kindly and looked into her eyes,
trying to discover her thoughts, trying from sheer force of
his own love to make her tender. Oh, Harry, I'm
so unhappy, she murmured. At last, I don't know what
to do. Can't you love me, Winnie? He asked, drawing

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her towards him. Did you mean it when you told
me never to hope? I said that only a week ago,
didn't I? You didn't mean it. She tore herself from him,
almost violently. Oh, I utterly despise myself. But why why?
She looked for a long while into his pleasant, clear

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blue eyes, as though she sought to read his very heart.
I wonder if you really care for me. I love
you with all my being, he cried, eagerly, finding in
his ardent love and new eloquence. You are all I
care for in the world. You're my very life. Ah. Yes,
I love you with all my heart and soul. Winnie

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did not answer immediately, but smiled happily. When she spoke,
there was in her voice the tremor of tears. I
think I like to hear you say that, Ah, Whinnie.
He held out his hands appealingly. I'm so miserable, she sighed,
remembering again the events of the previous days. I want

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someone so badly to care for me. Why don't you
tell me what's the matter? I may be able to
do something. It is kind of you to be nice
to me, she smiled, almost tenderly. You're far nicer than
I ever thought you. Why do you torture me like this?
He cried passionately. Whinnie, say you love me. There was

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a silence, then, with a blush, he put her hand
on his arm. A new soft look came into her eyes.
Do you remember when I first saw you? You came
here with Lionel from Eaton, and you were dreadfully shy.
But we became great friends, didn't we? How angry you
used to get when I beat you at tennis? Oh?

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You never did, except when I let you. That's what
you always said, but I never believed it. Roxham laughed boyishly,
feeling on a sudden absurdly happy. He saw that when
he was yielding, and yet he hardly dared to think
his good fortune true. And do you remember how I
used to punt you up and down the river in

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the holidays? He said, How frightened I was when you
fell in. Oh you fibber, he cried, with a joyful smile.
You shrieked and roared with laughter. Winnie, with a little laugh,
turned to the sofa, raising her eyelashes. She looked at
Roxham with a glance that she well knew set him
all aflame. I'm so tired, she murmured. She sat down,

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and he, sitting beside her, took her hand. She made
no effort to withdraw it. What lovely days those were,
she said. But we used to quarrel dreadfully. U isn't
we only for the pleasure of making it up? Do
you think so? You used to make me jealous by
talking to other little girls. Oh never, he cried, shaking

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his head firmly. It was always you. You were so
awfully flirtatious. Winnie smiled and looked down at his hand.
It held hers as though it would never again let
it go. I wonder when you first began to like me,
she asked. I never liked you. I've always loved you passionately, always,

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even when I wore a pigtail and square toed boots. Always,
and I always shall, he cried, boldly, putting his arm
around her waist. She leaned against it as though it
were a comforting support. And I can't live without you.
Are you sure you didn't mean it when you said
you couldn't love me, he murmured vehemently. She looked straight

(10:14):
into his eyes for a moment, smiling and slightly bent
towards him. I don't know, she whispered, my dearest quickly Eagerly,
he took her in his arms and kissed her lips.
Say you'll marry me, Winnie. I'll do anything to make
you happy. Kiss me, I love you. Blushing, she put

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her lips to his, and the soft pressure made him
tremble with delight. He seized her hands and kissed them
in passionate gratitude repeatedly. For a while, they sat in silence. Winnie,
all confused, was trying to realize what she had done,
but Roxham was overwhelmed with joy. Then the cannon's voice

(11:00):
was heard on the stairs, singing to himself, and Winnie
quickly tore herself from her lover. Leudona moby Lay sang
the cannon coming in trela la la la, trala la
la la. He started when he saw the young couple
sitting self consciously in opposite corners of the sofa. Hullo.

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I thought you must have gone. I was detained longer
than I expected. May I tell him? Asked Roxen, Yes,
Cannon sprat, I want to tell you that Winnie has
just promised to be my wife. What cried the cannon,
Capital Capital, My dear fellow. I'm delighted to hear it.

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You know, I couldn't have wanted a better son in law,
My dear child. He opened his arms and Winnie hid
her face on his bosom. He kissed her affectionately, and then,
with sincere warmth, shook hands with Roxam. It all's well,
that ends well, he cried. I I knew she was
devoted to you, my boy. Trust me for knowing a

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woman's character. Papa's wonderful, said Winnie with a laugh, stretching
out her hand to Roxham. You've made me very happy,
he said. They discussed the situation for some time, and
Cannon Sprat was very bland. His wildest hopes had never
led him to expect that Winnie would throw herself there

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and then into Roxham's eligible arms, but an occasional glance,
partly of amusement, was his only sign of surprise. The
young man, promising to return for dinner, went away at last,
and Theodore looked at his daughter for an explanation. She
stood near a table and began nervously to turn over
the pages of a book. A smile broke on the

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Cannon's lips. For her embarrassment told him all he wished
to know. Would it be indiscreet to inquire when you
broke off your engagement with mister Rayling, he asked. Winnie
looked up. I haven't broken it off, and do you
intend to marry them both? She quickly closed the book

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and went up to him. Oh, Papa, you must help me,
she cried. I'm simply distracted and I don't know what
to do. But which of them do you propose to marry?
Oh don't be unkind father, Except for you, I should
never have met that man. I hate him. I'm ashamed

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that he ever kissed me. Which my love, he asked,
as though quite perplexed. I have every reason to believe
that both embraced you, Papa. There was a pause. The
canon felt that he would be wanting in his paternal
duties if he took again to his bosom a prodigal
daughter without pointing out clearly the nature of her misdeeds.

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Some reproof tender but dignified, gentle but explicit, was surely needed.
The child had flatly disobeyed his commands. Do I understand
and that the fact that missus Rayling drops her hes
and drinks gin while her daughter is bumptious and vulgar
has had any effect upon your attachment to mister Bertram Railing.

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You asked them to come here, you knew what would happen,
answered Winnie Flushing. Oh, father, don't be cruel. I made
a fool of myself. He took me unawares, and I
thought for a moment that I could live his life.
But I'm frightened of him, he said, gravely, Which do
you honestly prefer? For a moment? She hesitated, Then with

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a little sob replied I love them both. I beg
your pardon, exclaimed her father, who did not in the
least await such an answer. When I'm with one, I
think he's so much nicer than the other. Really, Winnie,
you can't shilly shallly in this way, he said, considerably annoyed.
You've just told me you couldn't bear young rayling. I

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can't help it. Father. When I see him, I'm simply
carried away. Bertram's a hero fiddle e d He's a journalist.
When I'm with him, I'm filled with high and noble thoughts.
My heart seems to grow larger so that I could
throw myself at his feet. I'm not fit to be
his handmaid, but I can't live up to his ideal.

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I have to pose all the time, and I say
things I don't mean so that he may think well
of me. Sometimes I'm afraid of him. I wonder what
he'd say if he knew what I honestly was. He
doesn't really love me. He thinks I'm full of faults.
He loves his ideal and the woman I may become.
He makes me feel so insignificant and so unworthy and

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Roxham Winnie smiled happily. Oh, Harry's different. He loves me
for myself. I can be quite natural with him, and
I needn't pretend to be any better than I am.
He doesn't think I have any faults, and he doesn't
want me any different from what I am. With Bertram,
I have to walk on still else, but with Harry

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I can just dawdle along at my own pace, and
he'll be only too glad to wait for me. Really, Winnie,
I don't think it's quite nice for a girl of
your age to analyze her feelings in this way, said
the canon irritably. I hate people who can't make up
their minds. That is one of the few things upon
which I feel justified in priding myself that I do

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know my own mind. You will get me out of
the scrape. Father the Cannon quickly drove away all appearance
of vexation, for it was evident that his daughter still
required very careful handling. He took her hand and patted
it affectionately. You see, your poor old father is still
some use after all. What do you wish me to do?

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My child? Bertram is coming here the day after tomorrow.
I want you to tell him it's all a mistake,
and I can't marry him. He won't take it from me.
Oh he must. I daren't see him again. I should
be too ashamed, but be kind to him. Father, I
don't want him to be unhappy. You need not worry

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yourself about that, my darling. If there's any man who
can deal diplomatically with such matters, I may say without
vanity that it is I. He paused and looked at
Winnie sharply. But mind, there must be no drawing back
this time or else. I leave you to get out
of the muddle as best you can have. I your
full authority to tell Sophia that you're going to marry Roxham. Yes,

(17:32):
the cannon took her in his arms. Kiss me, darling.
I feel sure that you will be a credit to
your father and an honor to your family. End of
Chapter thirteen.