Part 1

Produced by Al Haines.

HARUM SCARUM'S FORTUNE

_By_ ESME STUART

JARROLDS _Publishers_ LONDON _Limited, 10 and 11 Warwick Lane, E.C._

First Printed in 1910 Reprinted 1913 " 1915 " 1916 " 1917 " 1918 " 1919 " 1921 " 1923 " 1924 " 1925

_By the same author_: HARUM SCARUM HARUM SCARUM MARRIED

*CONTENTS.*

CHAPTER

I. DO YOU REMEMBER? II. FIFTY THOUSAND A YEAR III. BEFORE THE FRAY IV. VERY EARLY V. PREPARATIONS VI. REAL SILVER VII. THE VISITORS ARRIVE VIII. A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW IX. A BARN DANCE X. THE PATH OF PERFECTION XI. THE NEW SECRETARY XII. AN UNDIGNIFIED SITUATION XIII. A BIG PILE XIV. THE FIRST-FRUITS XV. GENTLE AND SIMPLE XVI. UNEXPECTED NEWS XVII. STUCK IN A BOG XVIII. A GENEROUS COUSIN XIX. A REFUGE XX. SHAPING A ROMANCE XXI. PLAYING WITH FIRE XXII. FAILURE XXIII. TEN MINUTES XXIV. LEWIS' DECISION XXV. SHORT NOTICE XXVI. ANOTHER OFFER XXVII. A TERRIBLE SECRET XXVIII. LILIES AND A WEDDING XXIX. AN ANGRY LAWYER XXX. A FIERY ORDEAL XXXI. HOME AGAIN

*Harum Scarum's Fortune*

*CHAPTER I.*

*DO YOU REMEMBER?*

Toney Whitburn pulled in her thorough-bred suddenly by a gap in the park and looked at her companion. The two had met by chance and they had had a canter together, so that the exercise had made the girl look radiant, and her hair, though twisted round her well-shaped head, rebelled at the restriction, and in protest curled itself round her temples and the nape of her neck.

"Do you know--I'm twenty-one to-morrow. Isn't it terrible?"

"Terrible!" answered the young Squire, Lewis Waycott, with a smile half of amusement and half of sympathy.

"You don't think so, but I do! You know I've honestly tried to become 'a young lady with expectations.' I've been to a finishing school at Paris, and I've tried to learn German at Dresden, and I've gone to sleep through ever so many concerts, and I've seen all the old things at Rome--and yet----"

"You haven't succeeded? You are just the same as you were, thank Heaven!"

Toney's joyous laugh woke the echoes.

"No, I've failed utterly, though, honest Injun, I have tried! Aunt Dove says so! She's always implying what a national misfortune it is that to-morrow I shall be my own mistress, but now, will you--you have always been awfully chummy--will you be the judge?"

"Between you and Lady Dove?"

"Yes. You know I offered to be her companion--and I meant it----"

"You always mean what you say, Toney."

"I try to because Pups always did-- Oh, if only he could just come to me now and say, 'Toney, you must'--no, he always said _we_ must--do this and that with our money."

"I wish he could--but if you ask me, Toney, I should say give it all to Lady Dove, as she seems mighty jealous of your having it."

For a moment Toney looked at her companion with wide open and surprised eyes, then she answered gravely,

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yes, I do," he muttered.

"You are quite wrong. The dear old General would rise from his grave if I gave away his present. Oh, I couldn't; besides--I believe he wished Aunt Dove not to have it, so it would be betraying trust if---- No, I've got to keep it, but the thing is what I'm to do with it!"

"It's not many people who are puzzled what to do with money. I suppose--you'll----"

"What? I never knew you jib before."

"I was going to say you'll have lots of offers--and marry some Nabob----"

Toney laughed.

"How odd you should say that! Do you know, I wanted to ask your opinion about that very thing, because I can trust you. What does one say if people make you offers?"

The two had been waiting by the gate that led into the plantation. It was a lovely October day with the sunshine turning yellow leaves into gold and decay made glorious by its touches. Toney was so unconscious that her remark was at all comical, that her companion dared not laugh, nor did he even dare to look surprised.

"If you love the man, say 'yes,' and if you don't, say 'no.'"

"Thank you. I see it does seem easy and simple. Dear old Crumpet--by the way, this was the gap she went through on our first visit to you--do you remember? Well, when we went to Italy together----"

"Lady Dove did not approve!"

"Of course not, but she was wrong. No one could have done it better than Crumpet. She was just delighted over everything, and I had to hide my yawns often not to make her sorry; I couldn't stand more than one gallery a day, and one ruin thrown in, I really couldn't, but she loved it all. Do you know every now and then she used to burst out into a soft little laugh all to herself just because she was so happy, and I was so scrumptiously pleased to hear it, that I swallowed an extra gallery and did another old ruin without letting her see how sleepy it made me."

"But she was with you to do as you liked, I thought!"

"Oh, to see Crumpet laugh was what I really enjoyed! Do you remember what she used to be like, and now what with the Reverend, and Harry, and Toney, she is quite too happy, she says. But that isn't what I wanted to say, you'll see her to-morrow, and I've been here so little that it all brings back the past to-day. You understand?"

"Yes, I do; it seems ages since you were here, except on awfully short visits."

"Well, in Italy, there was a young man who made me an offer."

"What impudence!"

"Oh, no, and he didn't do it to me personally, because he told Crumpet I never gave him the tiniest chance, but he did it to her instead! Wasn't it funny, and she wept bitterly when she told me, she thought it was her fault."

"And what answer did you give him?" This time his companion smiled.

"I begged Crumpet to tell him Pups had said that he pitied any man who married me, as I was such a dasher--you know--and that Aunt Dove said no one would ever propose to _me_ except he wanted my money!"

The man at her side bit his lip and impatiently flipped his horse with his whip, holding him in tightly at the same time.

"Lady Dove said that!"

"Yes, and of course it's true! Aunt Dove does say the truth now and then. Don't you see yourself that it's true? I'm not like your cousin or Silvia Hales, or any of the nice girls about! Aunt Dove says Paris, Rome, Berlin, Dresden, and London, have all failed to make me an English young lady."

"A good thing too!"

"Oh, you say that because we are chums, but I know it's true. I can't _feel_ different, though I've tried. Once a month I say 'make me a new heart' in the Psalms, you know, but nothing happens, so I suppose it isn't possible to alter some people, and I'm one of them."

"Nonsense!"

"No, it's true; Madame Lemoine, at Paris, used to say, 'Il faut toujours dire la verite en famille,' but to other people it didn't matter. I told her it was all wrong, but she never could see it my way, so I gave it up, and she was an old dear in spite of her fibs!"

"She didn't convert you to fibbing, Toney!"

"There you see, I can't alter, but that wasn't what I was going to say. Do you know that last night, dear Uncle Evas--who is really quite cheerful now--and didn't he enjoy his times at Rome with me and Crumpet? for you know that with a lot of trouble and a little bribery I think, he got a month off last year."

They both laughed heartily, and slowly walked their horses on together. If a stranger had seen them he would have paused to look at this picture of the man and the maid.

"Well, what did your uncle say?"

"Oh, it was funny. He wanted to give me good advice about my coming of age! He cleared his throat and said, 'My dear Antonia, to-morrow you will be----' Then I laughed so much that he couldn't help joining in too, so I just gave him a hug till he begged for mercy."

Her companion also bowed his head over his horse's mane in happy laughter.

"I see, Toney, it's true you _are_ incorrigible!"

"Yes, but really I don't believe you could have been so cruel as to let Uncle Dove give you a homily, now, could you? It would only have given him a sore throat for a month."

"I should like to have heard him all the same."

"You know he's just all right deep down in his heart, but he can't preach to save his life. However, when I released him--Aunt Dove had gone to bed, and he was so afraid of her hearing us--he showed me a long list of names, all men's names."

"Good heavens! What for?"

"I was a bit surprised too, and he laughed and said, 'Don't be afraid, they are not suitors,' then I scolded him and said he knew I never thought of such things. Well, then he explained that as I was coming into so much money--and do you know somehow it's a lot more than they expected--I must have a secretary, because it would take all my time and strength to open the letters. There's a lot come already, begging me to buy carpets and boots and smoked bacon, and heaps more things!"

"Never open letters, then you won't want a secretary," said Lewis decidedly.

"And I said, 'Oh, I can find a girl to do it,' but uncle intimated that there was more work than any poor girl could do, and that I must have a trained man--sort of lawyer--Mr. Staines insists on it, because he doesn't trust me with money--they none of them do--and fancy, dear old uncle had been spending hours collecting a lot of right-minded young men for me! Isn't it funny?"

"Very unnecessary; the London lawyers could do it all."

"No, they say they can't be bothered about begging letters, and so on; anyhow, I've got to have a secretary. I looked at the list and their testimonials and oh, do you know, everyone was perfect, and all their friends declared there was not a fault in them, so I told uncle it didn't matter which I took, and I suggested we should put their names on slips of paper and stick them up in his hat and pull one out!"

"Did he consent?"

"No! he was afraid I should tell of him I think, anyhow I had to choose, and there was one with an Australian uncle who recommended him highly. Out there we always recommended our relations, it wasn't neighbourly not to say all the good and leave out all the bad, so I told uncle I'd have him. Plantagenet Russell, that's his name. His father was a black sheep out home, but his uncle says he is most gentlemanly!"

"Toney, how ridiculous! Of course he's a plant too!"

"Gracious stars! what's the matter? I told you Uncle Dove had written about them all, he's all right and he's coming the day after to-morrow to see us, so as to avoid the coming of age party. You've promised to come, haven't you? I've been working so hard to get everything right for it."

"Of course, we are all coming."

"Heaps of Aunt Dove's friends are coming. We haven't had one refusal. Awfully kind of them, though of course I would much rather some of them didn't come, it's only to see if I've improved."

"Shall I stay away?"

"Why it would not be coming of age without you and Crumpet and Uncle Dove and Doctor Latham, and a few more--and Jim's coming to be my coachman and groom all in one, because Aunt Dove doesn't want to pay anything for me now I'm rich. Jim is just a faithful friend, and he's still engaged to his second young woman, the first was a bit fast so he gave her the slip one day."

"How do you know, Toney?"

"Jim and I have corresponded regularly. You see if you just leave go of these young fellows they soon forget their promises, besides I kept all his savings, and he's a nice little lump now in the Savings Bank. Oh, dear, it's tea-time and I must scoot! Mr. Staines is coming to explain things to me, and there's no end to do, but Crumpet is staying with me in our old rooms, top storey, and she'll help a bit. You should see the rooms, I spent all one quarter's pocket money on them, and now they're real palatial, at least Crumpet's is; I hate a lot of things, but I put in a big tub and---- Oh! gracious stars! I must go, so good-bye, dear old chum!"

Toney Whitburn held out a strong young hand and her companion grasped it.

"Look here, Toney, if you are in trouble or want anything, anything, you know--you'll ask me to help you--promise?"

"Of course I will. Haven't I just now asked you about young men and offers, all because I thought you would know and wouldn't laugh."

"Yes, thank you--and I'll come to-morrow in spite of not being sure I shall be welcome."

"There! you are telling fibs like Madame, but honest truth, I'd rather have you and Jim at my party, than any other men I know."

"Thanks awfully," and with a laugh the two separated. Toney galloped across the park, and the Squire was just going to jump the fence when he paused and looked back at her.

"Oh, Toney, Toney," he said to himself; "when will you understand, but even if you did I'll never let that horrid old cat say I wanted your money! Hang it all--and now there's a beastly young secretary coming to be always in her pocket. Sir Evas ought to know better!"

*CHAPTER II.*

*FIFTY THOUSAND A YEAR.*

Aldersfield House had changed very little outwardly since Antonia Whitburn and Trick had arrived there as lonely orphans. There was the same heavy, handsome, mid-Victorian furniture, the same stately and punctilious servants, or others of the same specie, because the same Lady Dove presided over the establishment. But as every human being changes for better or for worse, there was something even more displeasing than formerly in Lady Dove's face. She was a prey--and had been ever since the memorable day when she heard the news of Toney's good fortune--to the demon of jealousy, who never leaves his victims many peaceful moments, and just now he was her constant visitor. Toney had been very little at Aldersfield, because Sir Evas and Mr. Staines, the lawyer, had insisted on her having foreign advantages, and Lady Dove had eagerly acquiesced. The very sight of Toney increased her malady, but as no one knew this it had been decided that Toney should, for the present, live with her uncle and aunt, for everyone recognised that she had not learnt the use of money, and that it was not safe for her to be left quite unprotected. Strange to say Toney had not rebelled when she was told of this decision; she was very fond of her uncle, and though secretly she called Aunt Dove her "cross," she meant to carry the burden bravely so that Sir Evas should be able to be "off duty" as often as possible. The other plans that had been maturing in the mind of Harum Scarum were for the present kept a secret.

Before Toney could take off her habit she was bidden to come and see Mr. Staines in her uncle's study, so she and Trick hastily ran in, and indeed, Trick, having got jambed between her feet, nearly succeeded in making his mistress tumble--as it was, she lurched into the room in a most undignified manner.

"Gracious stars! I nearly took a header! It's Trick's fault. How do you do, Mr. Staines? I hope you won't be very solemn, as I want everyone to be awfully jolly to-morrow. I've made my own time-table this time," and the remembrance of Aunt Dove's time-table nearly upset Toney's gravity.

Mr. Staines had happily a sense of fun, besides he knew what to expect and merely smiled.

"It is my duty to be solemn, Miss Whitburn, but I fear it is an impossible duty in your presence! To-morrow you will come of age and you will have the sole control of your fortune. I tried to make General Stone insert some restrictions in his will, but he refused. I can still near our dear old friend saying, 'If you knew Toney Whitburn, Staines, you would know restrictions would be of no use!'"

Sir Evas was smiling in his corner. Perhaps Toney's fortune had brought him more happiness than to anyone else, for being her guardian, he had been fully occupied during her minority, and the work had been a real pleasure and occupation for him. Besides this, once a year he had got a month--not in prison, but with Toney abroad, and what good times those had been, even though he always had to pay handsomely for them on his return home. Now he added,

"The General was a very unwise man, and I do hope, Toney----"

"Yes, I know, uncle!---- Oh dear, I suppose my youth has flown now! I've got to do such a lot of thinking--but look here, Mr. Staines, tell me the amount I may spend and I'll promise I'll do it."

"This was what I wished to explain. Sir Evas Dove in accounting for his guardianship has left everything in order, and by a curious piece of luck he bought some land for you with some surplus money, which has turned out to be extremely valuable, as a rich vein of coal has been discovered on it. You will have---- Ehem--at least----"

"Oh, I don't mind, Mr. Staines, so don't hesitate at the figure."

"You will have fifty thousand a year, Miss Whitburn. It is a larger fortune than General Stone anticipated, and I can only hope that you will not long have to bear the burden of the fortune alone. Ehem--I hope that a happy marriage will--ere long----"

Toney shook her head and laughed.

"Oh no, it's no good hoping. Aunt Dove says no one would marry me except for the money, but I'll manage all right, and Uncle Evas will help, won't you!"

"I do not wish to influence you, Toney, my duty ends to-day, but you have never wanted for pluck----"

"No, no, certainly not," said the lawyer, "but if I may say so, Miss Whitburn, your ample pocket money seemed to melt in your hands. Several times you wrote to me for more, and in your last letter----"

Toney laughed as she seized Trick in the act of making a dash at Mr. Staines' heels.

"Yes, I know there was never enough. I'm a bit like Pups in that; our box was always getting empty, but there will be a heap now. Oh dear!" and Toney for a moment heaved a deep sigh.

"I've kept the amount of Toney's fortune a secret, Mr. Staines, from--the neighbourhood," said Sir Evas, "it's better so; of course there are fortune hunters everywhere and--I think, my dear, you had better not mention the actual figures. Everyone knows you will have some money, but even your aunt does not know accurately." Sir Evas looked a little shame-faced.

"Oh dear, I hate secrets," sighed Toney, "I'll try and say nothing--but gracious stars! I needn't tell anyone how it goes, need I, for it would be more than I could do?"

"Of course you need not, but it is more business-like to keep accounts," said the lawyer sternly, "and to come to details, it would be better to give Lady Dove the same amount as she has had, as long as you live here."

"Of course. You'll do that, Mr. Staines, and if you double it, perhaps she'll not dislike me so much."

Sir Evas shook his head deprecatingly.

"My dear child, you are welcome to all I can give you without return."

"You dear old duck of an uncle, of course _you_ shan't have a penny of it, but Aunt Dove won't mind pickings--for the estate you know! and there's extra servants to pay and a lot of---- Is that all, Mr. Staines? By the way, uncle and I have chosen a secretary, so that's a good thing over! Ouf! I do wish it wasn't such a lot of pelf, sort of stifles one, doesn't it? The basket of Gwyddnen Garanhir was nothing to it, but I'll not be crushed by such a silly thing as money, you bet---- Oh, I mustn't say that, eh, Trick?"

"One thing more, Toney; I am going to give over to you the left wing of the house which we shut up some years ago. Your aunt agrees. (Lady Dove had said, "Pray do as you like, Evas, you always go against my wishes.") Come and see if it suits you. I've had it all done up."

"Well, that's real kind; but indeed, uncle, Crumpet's room and mine would have done. I'll keep those, no one wants them, and she can come often and stay with me."

Sir Evas led the way down a passage, and, opening a swing door, they passed through an old library full of books, with pretty windows looking over the park, and next to it a morning room painted white and furnished with old-fashioned oak things, which Lady Dove had long ago discarded as too much out of date. Beyond that again was a small garden room, opening out into the shrubbery.

"These shall be for you, Toney, where you may receive your own friends, and there are two rooms above for the secretary. Mr. Staines agrees with me that--well, considering your fortune, it is more fitting for you to have some rooms you may call your own."

"Oh!" exclaimed Toney, "it is just awfully nice, but--what will Aunt Dove say?"

Sir Evas was thinking the same to himself. Lady Dove had not once come to see the result of his work, and he knew he would have to pay her bill as well as that of the work-people who had decorated the old rooms. Still, you don't give a coming of age present for nothing, and he hoped he should pay his debts honestly!

"Trick, darling, here's your very own rooms, where you can bark as much as you like," and Toney, catching hold of her uncle, waltzed him round the room, regardless of Trick scampering after them barking and darting at the manly heels, whilst Mr. Staines stood by unable to hide a smile on his smooth lawyer-like face.

"Spare me, Toney! and for goodness' sake remember you are twenty-one to-morrow! I fear Mr. Staines will think all your foreign experience has not made a grown-up young lady of you!"

"Oh yes, it has!" said Toney, releasing him. "A sense of sorrow for my sins has grown awful big lately, and I never used to have it. It feels like indigestion, a lump here; but just this evening, uncle, I'll be young, and I'm so awfully pleased. I'll tell you what: you and I will have a sort of house-warming here next week, and ask just our very particular friends, but my party's coming first."

"There's the Winchley ball," said the lawyer, "I suppose you mean to go to that."

"Of course; I love dancing, and Uncle Dove must just come with me and hop a bit, but, Stars and Stripes, look! there's Crumpet's pony carriage and the fat pony bundling up the drive. I must go and get her out of it, for she's never got over her nervous feelings at driving up to Aldersfield. Uncle, remember it's her first visit here, and you will make her feel at home, won't you?" and Toney made a dash through the garden door and rushed to meet Mrs. Faber, who had come to spend two nights at Aldersfield House to celebrate Toney's coming of age. Mr. Faber was to appear the next day, and in the evening there was to be a great ball for the tenants and retainers, and others who had been invited. Sir Evas had had his way about this, and Lady Dove had grudgingly acquiesced, only saying that of course Antonia must pay all expenses.

This time the tables were reversed, and now Toney received the once humble companion at the big house, instead of being received by her.

"Oh, Crumpet, how nice! it's just perfect your coming like this. Jim! drive Mrs. Faber's carriage round, and take particular care of 'The Squire'" (this was the pony's name); "and oh, dear Chum, don't put on that scared look. Aunt Dove won't eat you; you're Mrs. Faber now, do remember that, and my honoured guest!"

"Oh, Toney!" gasped Mrs. Faber, "I feel as if I ought to be doing the flowers and writing notes and----" and then the little woman with the Fra Angelico face smiled like a saint; the scars of ancient chains never having quite disappeared.

"How I wish you had brought the piccaninnies; but it wouldn't do."

"Who is here in my place?" asked Mrs. Faber as she entered the hall, keeping close to Toney whilst the butler relieved her of her wraps.