Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken

Author:Joan Aiken
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RHCP
Published: 2018-01-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The wishing-well at Upwey consisted of a plenteous spring of clear water which gushed, fountain-wise, from an aperture in a fern-fringed rock-face and fell some three or four feet into a basin below, whose sandy floor was liberally besprinkled with offerings, from buttons, ribbon-bows and bent pins to brass rings and half-guinea pieces. The local rector declaimed from time to time in his pulpit against such idolatrous and heathenish practices, but this did nothing to quench the faith of the people round about in the water’s efficacy against all known ills, and power to grant wishes for every variety of future happiness. As the spring lay such a pleasant distance from Weymouth, easy walking for an afternoon’s promenade, it was a rare summer day that did not see several groups of visitors come on foot to the picturesque spot and make trial of its magical powers.

Today a group of sailors and their female companions had walked out to try the spring’s virtues, and there were screams, and laughter, and splashing, and much horse-play; but when this company had tired of the sport and wandered off to the village ale-house, the party of gentry made a more sedate approach.

“Come, now, Miss Selsea,” gallantly urged Lord Osbert Wincham, one of Robert’s friends who had joined their group, “I understand that it is necessary to drink the water from your cupped hands as it falls from the rock; shall I carry you across? Those tiny boots of yours look far too fine to venture upon the wet, slippery rocks!”

Three flat-topped stepping-stones made a span of the pool but, probably due to the recent rains, they were only just above water-level.

Charlotte gave a little coquettish cry. “Oh! Lord Osbert! I am sure you would drop me! Oh, what shall I do? How can it be approached?”

Frank Churchill, with instant, cheerful address, stepped briskly across the stones, filled his cupped hands with water and, returning, proffered them to Charlotte.

“There, Miss Selsea! You may dip your little finger — or your lips, if you so choose!”

But Charlotte, though she smiled, and thanked, and looked obliged, made such an elaborate business of folding up her parasol and taking a kerchief from her reticule that all the water had drained from Frank’s hands before she was ready.

“Oh, dear me! Now what is to be done?”

Rachel, with a perfectly blank face, yet contrived to meet Jane’s eye as Lord Osbert promptly picked up Miss Selsea and made his way over the rocks, holding the lady so that she might cup a little of the water into her own hand.

“Now you must take a wish, Miss Selsea!”

“O, gracious me! But what must I wish?” She raised her eyes with pretty deference to the gentleman as he set her down safely again upon the bank.

“That must remain a secret or the wish loses its efficacy,” pronounced Lord Osbert, who was a tall young man of patrician appearance: that is to say, he had already, at the age of thirty, lost a great deal of hair from the top of his head, and was somewhat deficient in chin.

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