In the Garden .....Chapter 9

[AnneM]

Just to prove I was still thinking of you all in Islay where I found the graves of of my 2x great grandmother's brother and some family in the lovely old churchyard at Kildalton.

In the Garden


In any other circumstances the scene would have been idyllic. The garden is warm and peaceful, in the pale golden light of a fine early summer evening. Sarah has found a secluded spot, sheltered by bushes from the view of passers by. From her hideaway she can admire the soft green of new growth and the raggle-taggle remnant of blossom, still clinging bravely to cherry and apple trees. The air is heavy with the fragrance of newly cut grass, philadelphus and the early roses, scrambling up the wrought iron bower beneath which Sarah is sitting. All this beauty cannot fail to calm her a little. However, she is no nearer to the solution to her problem.

All possibilities considered so far have had to be dismissed. Mrs Douglas, with whom she lodged while at school, had been dutifully kind but no ties of affection had grown between them. When Sarah visits now it is out of a sense of obligation. This well meaning lady, always somewhat anxious and conventional, had a tendency to ascribe to Ninian’s pronouncements an infallibility their author would not have claimed, a characteristic which has only been exaggerated by increasing age. Her response to Sarah’s need to seek shelter outwith her home would certainly be shock and disapproval.

No more appealing is the prospect of returning to her Redpath family. Everything has changed since she left the village. Even her childhood home is no more. Betty is now living with Agnes and her family and even young Willie, his manifest talents having been recognised by his employers, has finally had to succumb to matrimony and is now the father of two lively small boys.

Sarah, not prone to self deception, has to admit that she also has changed. She is no longer the simple mill girl whose life was turned upside down by Effie’s revelation all these years ago. Whatever she may have said to Ninian, she will find it very difficult to give up the comfort and comparative sophistication of life in the Edinburgh manse.

She can see no way forward. After everything that has happened, to stay with the Kerrs is unthinkable but so far no alternative has presented itself. Certainly, she has some money of her own, her inheritance from Adam, but respectable young ladies do not set up home on their own. Even if she were sufficiently brave to defy convention to this extent, she has no idea if her small fortune is sufficient to meet the expenses of a household.

In despair she picks up one of her books, an old favourite, hoping that the familiar words will cheer her or even supply inspiration. She has never before turned its pages without enjoyment. However, as no rich and haughty gentleman awaits to whisk her out of her current plight, it can offer no solution to her dilemma and sadly even the wit of its heroine fails to distract her. She finds herself continuing to turn over and over in her mind the problem which seems increasingly insoluble.

So deeply is she wrapped in her thoughts that she fails to hear someone approach until her reverie is broken by the sound of a soft voice asking “Miss Kerr?”

Shocked by this intrusion into her sanctuary, she looks up to see a large young man, unfashionably clean shaven, with a thatch of barely controlled dark blond hair. Automatically she responds “Miss Redpath, Sarah Redpath.”

Her unwelcome visitor blushes a little. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were one of the young ladies of the Reverend Mr Kerr’s house.”

“Mr Kerr is my cousin.” replies Sarah tartly “And you are?”

The colour in the young man’s cheeks deepens as he stammers “I’m sorry, so sorry. I should have introduced myself. My name is Hugh McCallum. I lodge with and work for Dr Bell.”

At this, all becomes clear to Sarah. Her sense that he was faintly familiar and the soft Highland voice now add up. Her intruder is none other than Margaret’s ‘queer young man’. He continues “I’m very sorry to have disturbed you. Indeed, I hesitated quite a while before intruding on your privacy but I saw you cross the square with no heed for the traffic....I could not fail to notice you.......You are distressed?”

Sarah shrugs, unwilling to answer. “But how did you get into the garden? Do you have a key? I thought I had left my key in the lock.”

Hugh looks a bit embarrassed, “I climbed over the railings but please don’t worry. I made sure no-one saw me.”

The ever practical Sarah looks over his plain clothing and asks, “But were you not concerned about your clothes?”

Hugh laughs a little shyly, “My brothers and I were the best stealers of apples and gooseberries in our village. We soon learned to climb safely over walls and fences.” He smiles at the memory, “My mother is a gentle lady but we had very little....torn breeks were to her a hanging offence.”

Despite her preoccupation with her own misery, Sarah begins to feel sympathy for this apologetic young man and even a little admiration. She is intrigued that he has not only overcome his obvious diffidence to approach her but has also risked his clothing when it is apparent that he is not wealthy man. His concern at her unhappiness coupled with his unthreatening appearance, impel her to confide in him and she blurts out, “I am afraid that I must leave my home and do not know where I can go.”

She regrets giving in to this impulse when Hugh replies, “Miss Redpath, is that not rather extreme? Surely any difficulty can be mended, a misunderstanding with one of the other young ladies perhaps.”

Sarah is immediately indignant, “Mr McCallum, do I look like a child to you? I may be a woman but I am certainly not a spoilt little girl to be making a drama out of a minor disagreement. I can assure you that my case is serious.”

Her angry response causes Hugh to look increasingly uncomfortable and embarrassed, “Indeed, I must beg your pardon Miss Redpath. I did not mean to offend and realise of course that your distress is genuine. You must forgive me. I rarely go into company and do not often have the pleasure of speaking to young ladies. Now I should leave you as I see that I am only adding to your discomfort.”

Having wished that he would go away, Sarah now feels bereft at the prospect of losing her only sympathiser. “Please don’t go, Mr McCallum. I should apologise to you. I’m truly grateful for your concern and did not mean to be churlish but I have been racking my brains to no effect until my head aches and can’t help being low in spirits.” She gestures towards her book, “Even my dear old friend Miss Lizzie Bennett had failed to cheer me up.”

When Hugh looks blank she asks, “Are you not familiar with the works of Miss Austen?”

“I’m afraid not. Sadly my work and studies take up much of my time and I can’t take time to read novels. I greatly regret this, as a gentleman should be widely read but I owe it to my parents and the friends who have supported me to concentrate on my studies. For the same reason I find I have little time even to go into society.”

“Of course you are right” replies Sarah, “That was thoughtless of me. I suppose that is why we have not met properly before, though I now remember having seen you several times at church.”

“Although we’ve never met I think I may have heard quite a lot about you. Mrs Bell’s housekeeper is friendly with Mrs Kerr’s and I am sure I have heard her mention your name on occasions. Dr Bell prefers me to spend time below stairs.”

Keeping her opinion of Dr Bell to herself, Sarah says ruefully, “You will not have heard any good of me from Mrs Brown.”

“She may not praise you highly in her terms but I have heard nothing which I consider to be other than to your credit. I believe that you are no stranger to duty yourself.”

Now it is Sarah’s turn to blush.” I do very little Mr McCallum. When I was a child they built a new school in our village. A benefactor endowed a stained glass window which showed children working and playing and had the words on it ‘Duty first, Play later.’ I always thought it was rather stern for little children but I suppose it is no bad sentiment.” She turns away and seems to be examining a rose “I hope that you don’t think less of me now because of my present predicament. I’m not at liberty to explain the details but I can assure you that my situation does not reflect badly on my honour or that of anyone in Mr Kerr’s household”

“Certainly not” replies Hugh, hurriedly but sincerely, “I would never have even thought such a thing.”

“You are generous minded, Mr McCallum. Many people are all too ready to put the worst possible interpretation on any situation, including, I regret to say, our mutual acquaintance Mrs Brown. I’m afraid that the only reason she does not gossip more widely about my cousins is that she is afraid to lose a good place. Mr Kerr is a fair employer and Mrs Kerr positively indulgent but neither would tolerate public discussion of their affairs.”

When Hugh does not reply immediately Sarah turns back to find him apparently lost in thought. Suddenly he smiles and exclaims, “Miss Redpath, I think I may have a solution to your problem......if you find it agreeable.”

“You, Mr McCallum,” she replies, too surprised for diplomacy, “How can that be?”

“I have a friend, Mrs Campbell. She has been talking for some time about finding a respectable lady to keep her company, to be like a companion .....or more in the way of a friend, but she has been at a loss how to find the right person.”

Sarah frowns doubtfully, “Is Mrs Campbell quite an old lady, then? A widow?”

Hugh shakes his head, “No indeed! She is a married lady, quite young and very lively, fashionable and gay.”

“She can’t possibly need a companion then. She must have all the company she needs in her husband and friends.”

“That would be true except that, unfortunately, Mrs Campbell was crippled just a few years ago in a riding accident. She is always very cheerful and never talks about her injury but I know that it causes her a lot of pain. She cannot go around as she used to. She gets very tired and has to rest.....but she is very brave.”

“Poor woman! How could anyone fail to feel sympathy for someone in such a condition, particularly a bright, young lady. But Mrs Campbell does not know me and has no idea of my character. Why would she consider me to be a suitable companion? In fact, even you barely know me.”

“Your cousin, Mr Kerr, is well known as a worthy and accomplished man of the cloth. Also,” and Hugh blushed a little again, “I think that Caroline, I mean Mrs Campbell, might be a little influenced by my liking you........though obviously my opinion does not count for very much. You are bound to have doubts. You don’t know Mrs Campbell. I can assure you that she is a very respectable lady indeed. Her husband is a classics master at the Academy and her father was a General. She is so kind and pretty. I can’t believe you would not like her. Would you consider meeting her? I’m going to visit the Campbells tomorrow when I don’t have to work. Will you come with me? They live in Inverleith so we can easily walk. There can be nothing improper in that.”

“No, no nothing improper at all but Mrs Campbell will not be expecting me. Won’t she mind a strange young woman visiting?”

“Not at all. She enjoys meeting people and will be happy for me to bring a friend to visit. Shall we meet in the square at 2 o’clock?”

Sarah hesitates briefly. This is just the kind of impulsive behaviour Ninian finds so deplorable. Should she not be more cautious? She has only just met Hugh. Has the disasterous situation with Adam taught her nothing?......On the other hand, every instinct tells her that Hugh is to be trusted. So far, he does not seem to have any inclination to develop romantic feelings about her. If anything, he appears to be rather innocently enamoured of a married lady, probably some years his senior. There can surely be no harm in visiting a respectable and sadly crippled lady. In any event, whatever the outcome, Hugh’s offer currently presents the only possibility of escape from the intolerable situation at home. “Very well,” she says “I’ll meet you here tomorrow.”

She gathers up her books from the seat and as she does so one falls on to the grass, Hugh bends quickly to retrieve it. “Unto This Last,” he reads, “Ruskin? Are you a socialist Miss Redpath?”

Sarah catches the note of anxiety in his voice. “I don’t think so. I believe there must be order in society but you cannot deny that poor working people lead very hard lives. It surely can’t be wrong to wish to see their lot improved.” She adds a little mischievously, “Does Mrs Campbell disapprove of socialists?”

Hugh frowns, “Yes... no....I don’t believe so. She is a very generous lady and concerned to better the situation of the poor. In fact she is a trustee of a charitable society which provides evening classes for young women who work in shops or in domestic service, to help them better themselves. She even sometimes takes the classes herself.”

Despite her love of clothes Sarah is reasonably free of personal vanity and has in addition, resolved to avoid romantic entanglements. Nonetheless her feminine pride is wounded that a young man who has been paying her attention should be so obviously enraptured by another lady.

“Well” she responds rather sharply, “it is to be hoped that these poor girls do not fall asleep over their books.” With this parting shot, she clangs the gate behind them and heads back to the Kerr house, determined to see as little as possible of the family until the following day.

By luck, she manages to reach her room unobserved, only to discover to her horror that in her abstraction she has pulled down several strands of her hair and twisted them around her fingers. She gazes in the mirror at her unkempt appearance. “What a sight I am! Whatever must Mr McCallum think of me. Still, I don’t suppose he noticed. I don’t think he is the most observant young man. I must make an effort if I am to meet the perfect Mrs Campbell. I wonder what she is like.”

[Jean Jeanie]

Anne

Can't wait for the next instalment.

Is Mrs Campbell really such a nice person?

Do Sarah and Mr McCallum get together?

Jean

[AnneM]

You'll just have to wait and see!!

Anne

[CatrionaL]

Anne
You wouldn't be a Jane Austen fan by any chance?

Thanks again for a good read

Catriona

[AnneM]

Who me?? I have to make sure my characters don't sound too Austenian (or worse like a Heyer rip off) as they are meant to be around some 80 to 90 years later and in Scotland rather than the south of England!! Visited the house of Jane when in Winchester last year between researching husband's ancestors.

Anne

[CatrionaL]

Anne
I've read and reread all her books, have all the films on video. So you see, genealogy isn't my only addiction!

Catriona

[mjh]

I really enjoyed the continuation of the story. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Every time I read an episode, I am left wondering what will come next. Sometimes I turn it over in my head and try to figure out what will come next but it never matches up to your imagination. Keep up the good work. P.S. You'll note that with Heather K. in Scotland , I get a chance to send a reply. Most times I only get time read what's going on on Talking Scot but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy and appreciate all the time and thought others put into making postings. To All of You thanks for informing and entertaining me. mjh

[karenmcc]

Anne,

I'm totally hooked.

Can't wait for the next one.

Karen McCubbin

[joette]

Anne I am hooked & green with envy you have did what I have tried & failed to do.
I would say that Miss Austen would have had a run for her money were you contemparies.
Next chapter very soon- are the Kerrs your family?
joette

[AnneM]

Hi Joette

Thanks for your kind words. I do have Kerr ancestors but they were all farmers and mill workers in the Borders. Everyone in these stories is fictitious except Margaret Wightman who died in episode 2, Effie goes home. She is my great grandfather John Kerr's auntie and did suffer the horrible fate there described (A good example of an informative RCE!). The other 'real' people so far are the McKenzie family from Saltcoat who appeared and disappeared a few episodes ago. They are, with slight liberties taken with their ages, my great grandparents and their two oldest, early deceasing children. Another 'real' character, this time possibly a relative of my husband, is due to get a quick mention shertly. Most of the rest just have my ancestors' names but completely made up lives!!

Anne