Of Earth and Stars

Had planted seeds

Nancy Gaskell had come to consider the offspring of her first husband, the banker Allison’s, long liaison with Bertha Watson quite in the capacity of stepchildren. Their own union had not been blessed, and, since the deathbed disclosure that Bertha had made to Nancy of the clandestine marriage that had took place in Scarborough, just as well. And Allison, that had been a chilly if proper-conducted husband towards her, had shown very well in his testamentary dispositions: had left her well-provided and with an interest in the bank – all the children desired to take the name of Allison and all established in solid professions or business or, in the case of the daughters, well-married.

Except for the youngest, Daisy – la, there were the sons all named out of the prophets of the Old Testament, and the daughters all very pretty and ornamental! – had shown herself such a fine scholar at the very good girls’ school in the town that had proceeded to teach there, and one wondered a little did she have some ambition to go improve her capacities at one of those colleges for ladies in London?

But here it had come to Daisy after the way of the world, that although for some years she had shown indifferent to the some several young men of Firlbrough that displayed an inclination to court her, for her fine looks and character as well as the very agreeable portion she would bring to a marriage, she now found herself looking very kindly upon the suit of the younger Mosstop brother. The Mosstops were incomers, that had arrived quite recently, but their skill as cabinet-makers had led to 'em already becoming well-established tradesmen in the town.

Their sister, that was known as Mrs Williams, there was a sad story behind to do with her villain husband that was now deceased in a street accident, was now the most favoured and fashionable milliner in the place. The elder Mosstop brother, Sidney, was already affianced to Lizbeth Powlett, one of the numerous offspring of the Powletts of Minnie’s bakeries and tearooms, flourishing enterprizes.

An entire eligible match, one could have entirely no objection.

Daisy said indeed, she had no cavils – Habby – her eldest brother Habbakuk, that was now head of the bank – considers it a most respectable connexion. But –

She looked down at her hands wringing together. I daresay that I may teach my own children –

Why, indeed that is a very fine thing, though it is claimed that 'tis also beneficial to children to go to school and mingle with others –

Oh, quite! But is it wrong to feel that perchance one might use one’s talents in a wider sphere, even was one married?

Nancy replenished their teacups and offered the plate of scones while she thought.

Well, my dear, I think you may find that at first – setting up keeping house, and then do you begin upon motherhood – you may find your hands entirely full! – but indeed, there comes about a time when a woman may wish for – there is a fine line of Shakspeare I have heard about virtues going forth of us – for that. And one hears the mothers of the town commend the way you educate their daughters –

Daisy blushed and ducked her head –

– and for some while I have had a notion – have heard of it at other institutes – of classes particularly for women, both on matters to do with health and more general intellectual improvement –

O, said Daisy, blushing more deeply, sure I am no Miss Ferraby –

Why, this would not be mounting a public platform to orate – a quieter matter of talking in a room – discussing questions –

This made Daisy look very thoughtful.

Consider over it, said Nancy. Talk with Mr Mosstop.

You are above and beyond good to us, said Daisy, somewhat tearful. Here is Zephy – her brother Zephaniah – ever praising the fine hospitality that your relatives accorded him in Manchester, made a deal of a difference to a young man living in lodgings – seeing all the horrors in the hospital wards &C – Violet and Pearl crying up the help you have been over 'prenticing their boys – Hosea being brought on in the coke-works –

Why, there is Hosea shows exceeding promising indeed – Mr Gaskell is like to think he should make a Grand Tour of some of the other enterprizes about the country –

As Jeremiah had said to her, did one have no son of one’s own, would feel some security that he was leaving the coke and gas-works in safe hands.

Daisy rose to her feet and said, had took up quite enough of Mrs Gaskell’s time.

Nancy took her hands and leant over to kiss her cheek. I wish you all happiness in your marriage, my dear.

And, she thought, when Daisy had departed, she had planted seeds for bringing about a notion that she, and the other members of the triumvirate of Firlbrough ladies, Vinnie Dalgleish and Hepzie Bramdon had lately talked over, concerning this matter of classes for women. Sure, mayhap Vinnie, that had been a preceptress at a very good girls’ boarding school afore she wed Enoch Dalgleish might have undertaken 'em, but she was very took up with a deal of good causes already!

She rang for the maid to come clear away the tea-things, and went to find Jeremiah.

As she anticipated, he was still in his office along with Horace Bramdon, plans spread out on the table. For Jeremiah was not letting the grass grow beneath his feet and letting this idea of an art gallery be a mere castle in the air! No, it was at the very least convoke with the architect over the practicalities.

Her husband looked up and said, here is Bramdon advances the excellent thought that we might incorporate a museum – there are those cabinets of fossils and insects &C at the institute, very crammed together, could be entirely better displayed –

Is that not very ambitious?

Bramdon, very eager, offered that they might call it the Sir Josiah Ferraby Memorial Museum, and get up a subscription – there were still funds from that attempt to get up a statue, that fell by the wayside during the decline in trade –

And, as Nancy recalled, a deal of brangling over where it should go and selecting a sculptor!

She responded that one felt that the Ferrabys would prefer a museum as memorial rather than a statue –

Quite so –

She stepped over to look more closely at the plans.  Jeremiah put an arm around her as he pointed out various particular merits –

Oh, it was very comforting, the signs of continuing affection that he demonstrated towards her! for she could not ignore the signs of the passage of time, and that she was some years the elder, and that he was still a fine-looking fellow in his prime – just a touch or two of grey in his dark locks that gave distinction – Sure, she was not wore-out with childbearing, had kept her figure, was well-preserved, but sometimes fretted.

Had been the greatest surprize when he had come call, quite early on in her widowhood, and made a declaration – indeed, she could not have failed to notice that there were a number of gentlemen in the locality took a considerable interest in the well-left widow of Banker Allison that was also a great friend of the Ferrabys – but this was different. This was the young man she had observed showing somewhat uneasy and awkward upon social occasions, and gone about to make more comfortable – for one saw that Miss Parkinson, Hepzie Bramdon’s sister, quite failed to set him at ease – and there came in his eyes somewhat she had never found in her husband’s, that had married a woman that provided a provident union into a Manchester banking connexion, and understood a deal about finance herself, and could do the proper in Firlbrough society, but whose warmer affections and passions had long been given to Bertha Watson.

Had never descended into flirtation – had eschewed aught that might give rise to gossip – but, oh, she had looked forward to his presence.

Bramdon said, would leave the plans here, should be getting along, and did Mrs Gaskell have any messages for Hepzie?

So Nancy ceased her reverie, and thought, and recollected that there was some matter of raising money for the Library Literature Fund, that they had not determined upon the best means, and perhaps they should convoke. But this talk of election made everything so uncertain!

Bramdon nodded and said, heard that the Tories were talking of putting up Whitterby, was a very different matter than that sot Birling.

Indeed it was, they agreed when Bramdon had finally left. Here were Mr and Mrs Robert Wallace making a visit, not electioneering as such but going about and taking the feel of the town and finding out what the issues were &C, and generally making themselves known so that they were not seen as strangers. But Bobbie Wallace was not a local man, however well-respected his father, and indeed his mother Aspasia were, whereas the late Sir Josiah and his successor Ned Granton had been. And the Whitterbys had been a county family in these parts since – well, not quite since Domesday, perchance, but a good long while.

And the Whitterbys were well-thought-of, unlike Henry Birling, that had once owned the coke-works but sold them to Ferraby, married Squire Matterson’s daughter and set up to be a country gentleman at Blethersett Hall. That had not done well at, and drank a deal too much, and his wife not much liked.

So did the Tories run Sir Jack Whitterby as their candidate, 'twas somewhat of a serious threat.

But here came Bobbie and Scilla, in exceeding good spirits.

Scilla said she would run upstairs at once to see how the little boys did.

Nancy assured her that there had been no outbreaks of turmoil during her absence: Scilla smiled and said, even so, wished to look upon 'em.

Jeremiah looked at Bobbie and remarked that he looked uncommon pleased with himself.

Indeed, said Bobbie, quite beaming. Imagine who I should meet in company this afternoon but Sir Jack Whitterby – quite assured me that he has no intention of conceding to any persuasions to stand – has quite enough to do bringing the estate about – would desire an introduction to Artie –

A great relief!