And at the thought they both laughed and were happy.
To atone for this argument, Doctor Syn constantly talked of Nicholas,
expressing hopes for his speedy return, and for the same reason of
contrition, Imogene appeared to have lost interest in him.
It had been arranged meantime that Doctor Syn should be inducted into
his Living on the day week following the closing of the Oxford Term. As
the time approached with no news from Spain, the Doctor became anxious,
for he had not calculated that either business or contrary winds could
delay Nicholas so long, and he had given his promise to Imogene not to
leave, and yet he knew the inconvenience he would cause should he not be
in Dymchurch for the Induction. He therefore told Imogene of his
anxiety, and found, much to his relief, that she attached small
importance to it.
“But you must go, of course, my dear,” she said. “We will both go.
The Vicarage is finished. There is nothing to delay us. . Nicholas
must blame himself if he is so tardy. If he wishes to see us at
all, he must take the long ridge to Kent. We have at least
built a Spanish porch to accommodate him and his guitar.”
“You mean that we will go together?” asked Syn, delighted.
“Am I married to you or to Nicholas?” she asked.
“To me, and thank God for it,” he exclaimed.
“Then there is no more to be said, but I like you all the
more for offering to keep your promise.”
Battered by heavy seas and hampered by headwinds in the
Channel, Nicholas returned to Oxford but two days before Doctor Syn and
Imogene were due to set out by coach. Owing to his wife’s change of
attitude towards Nicholas, Doctor Syn generously welcomed the voyager
with more enthusiasm.
“There is no need to inquire after your happiness, Doctor,” said
Nicholas, “for I never saw you so gay in manner. But what has befallen
Imogene? She appears mighty solemn. I trust he is not taking her duties
as a parson’s wife too seriously?”
“She is delighted with your gifts, Nicholas,” he answered. “Believe
me, she had been most anxious to see you before we had to leave.”
Seeing that he had now no cause for jealousy, Doctor Syn reproved his
wife in private for the cold attitude she was showing toward their
friend.
“I am in a mood to be irritated by him,” she explained. “He is so
vastly pleased with himself. Also I am not feeling well. I have the
heaviest head imaginable, my nerves are all jangled, and with your
permission there is nothing I should like more than to spend the day in
bed.”
Having handed her over to the care of the motherly landlady, who was
very fond of her, Doctor Syn was very glad to be able to give Nicholas a
solid reason for Imogene’s indifference, for he did not like to see such
a jolly rogue so dismally cast down. One the advice of the landlady, a
physician was summoned, who reported that although there was no cause
for alarm, the patient was nevertheless suffering from a nervous
disorder and there could be no question of allowing her to undertake the
strain of a long coach journey to Kent. On the contrary, he insisted
that she must be confined to the house for at least a week.
- 57 -
Doctor Syn, in his anxiety, first thought of canceling the ceremony of
his induction till such time as his wife could recover. In this,
however, he was overruled not only by Imogene herself, but also by the
landlady, who avowed that the young husband would be better out of the
way so that she could give all her care to t he patient’s recovery.
“There are times,” she said, “when a young wife is best left alone in
a mother’s care. I have had daughters myself, and I know. You may
safely leave her to me and the physician, and when your business is
done, return to escort h er to her new home.”
Nicholas agreed that the landlady talked sense, and when he had
promised that he would ride from Iffley every day to make inquiry, which
he would immediately communicate to Dymchurch by stagecoach, the Doctor
felt in a happier frame of mind.]
“Allow me to know a little more about women than you do, you old
anchorite,” he laughed. “And since she seems adverse to my presence, I
promise you I will not worry her. I will only call her news and submit
it on to you.”
“I warrant that after a day or so’s rest,” said Syn, “she will be
asking you to sing her your cheerful songs of Spain. I know so well
that you will cheer her back to speedy health and good spirits.”
“I’ll do my best to that end, believe me,” said Nicholas heartily.
“When you return I will put my best coach and cattle at your command,
to make her journey easier.”
Two days later Doctor Syn knelt by his wife’s bed, and with his arms
around her took a loving farewell. She clung to him like a frightened
child and whispered, “Take care of yourself, dear Christopher, and
promise me that nothing shall make you unhappy.”
“So long as we love each other, nothing could,” he answered.
And so he left her, riding his own horse, and leading another which
Nicholas had lent hi m for this saddle-bags.
In this way he accomplished the journey quicker than had he taken
coach. His welcome to Dymchurch was enthusiastic. He found that the
builders had completed the improvements to the vicarage, and he was
satisfied that Imogene’s every wish had been most tastefully carried
out. Joyfully the Doctor wrote to his wife telling her that here was a
home of which they could be proud, and in which he knew they would find
happiness.
Nicholas was as good as his word, and each day his letters were more
cheerful than the last, describing Imogene’s improvement. The great day
of Induction came, and with great solemnity the Dignitaries of
Canterbury instituted and invested their “Well-beloved in Christ,
Christopher Syn, Doctor of Right, Members and Appurtenances thereunto
belonging.”
It was arranged that he should preach his inauguration sermon upon
the following Sunday, and then post back to Oxford to bring his wife,
whom the whole village were agog to welcome. On the Saturday morning
Tony left his friend sitting in the completed Spanish alcove, for the
sun was warm and bright, and the Doctor wished to contemplate his
address in the open air. He had not been alone, however, above a few
moments when Tony returned with a letter in his hand.
“You will forgive me, Christopher, disturbing your mediations, but
the Mail has just driven by, and I warrant brings you the most
delightful inspiration.”
“From our good Nicholas?” asked Syn, joyfully holding out his hand
for the letter.
- 58 -
“No, better still,” laughed Tony. “It is from Imogene herself. This
shows that she is better. I will leave you to read it in peace, and
will call for you at dinner-time.” For the Doctor was residing at the
Court-House.
“It will be nice to read my first letter in her own Spanish garden,”
said Doctor Syn, smiling happily.
Some two hours later Tony re-entered the Vicarage garden, but this
time with his wife upon his arm. Approaching the alcove, the young man
called out gaily, “Study hours are over, Christopher. Dinner is served.
What news from Imogene?”
Receiving no answer, and thinking that the parson might have retired
to his new library, they entered the alcove and received a shock.