Recollections of Rosings (21 page)

    The consternation of her aunt Mrs Tate, who had never believed that Lilian was unhappy enough to run away and return to Kent, was more difficult to deal with. Becky appeared affronted by the fact that her sister had decided to travel to London to take Lilian home merely on the basis of the girl's letter.

    "I cannot comprehend it, Cathy," she cried. "Did you not believe that I am sufficiently concerned about my niece's welfare and happiness?"

    Try as she might, Catherine did not succeed in convincing Rebecca that Lilian's desire to return home was no reflection upon her.

    "My dear Becky, what can I say to persuade you that Lilian's letter is not a criticism of you? Nor is it the sole reason for my being here—indeed, there is a reason why I am keen to have Lilian home, which I cannot reveal now, but which will become clear to you very soon."

    Becky's suspicions were immediately aroused. She was aware that Mr Adams, having concluded the business arising from his mother's death, might soon be returning to England and supposed that his arrival might well be the reason for Lilian's desire to be back in Kent. She did not, however, voice her misgivings directly but decided to wait until she could get her sister alone.

    Mr Burnett, meanwhile, having taken leave of the ladies, had proceeded to his lodgings in a modest hotel where he usually stayed when in London. It was not very far from the Tates' residence, and after taking tea, he had decided to enjoy the freshness of the air by taking a walk in the park opposite. There, to his surprise, he met Mr Jonathan Bingley with another gentleman, who was introduced to him as Mr Colin Elliott MP.

    "Mr Elliott is also my son-in-law," said Mr Bingley and added, by way of explanation, "I am here at his invitation to hear him speak in the Commons tomorrow, on the importance of a national plan for public education."

    Frank Burnett was very impressed with Mr Elliott, who declared that his interest in the promotion of public education was one of the reasons why he had left the Tory party and supported Mr Gladstone at the election. His enthusiasm was undisguised; so also his disappointment at the inaction of the government, since coming to office.

    "I had hoped to see a greater degree of keenness for my cause among members of the government," he said. "Sadly, they have become mired in a range of arcane constitutional issues concerning the Irish church, among other things, and have paid only lip service to the vital issue of public education. It has been a cause I have supported for many years now, ever since the late Prince Consort made it one of his own. This time, I have a chance to bring it to the attention of the parliament and the people through my support for a private member's bill, and I intend to use it."

    When Mr Burnett explained his own presence in London and informed them that Mrs Catherine Harrison was staying at her sister's house, a few streets away, Jonathan Bingley appeared very pleased.

    "That is most fortunate indeed, Mr Burnett. I have some good news for Mrs Harrison concerning her application to the Rosings Trust to start a school for girls in the parish. Mr Darcy has instructed me to support the project on his behalf at the meeting of the Trust. Perhaps I should call on her this evening and give her the news."

    "Mrs Harrison will be very happy to hear it, Mr Bingley; Mr Darcy's word must carry considerable weight with the Trust," said Burnett.

    "Indeed it does, and I understand his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam does not oppose the project, either. With two of Her Ladyship's nephews supporting it, there is an excellent chance that Mrs Harrison will get her school."

    Before they parted, Mr Elliott invited Mr Burnett to join Mr Bingley's party in the visitor's gallery at the Commons to hear him speak on the following afternoon, which invitation he was very happy to accept.

    "I have never been in the gallery during a debate, sir; it will be a great pleasure, I thank you," he said as they parted.

    That evening Jonathan Bingley called on Catherine Harrison at the Tates' residence and was made very welcome.

    Jonathan, like his father Charles Bingley, was well liked. Through his close friendship with Mr and Mrs Darcy of Pemberley and his former position as manager of the estates of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, he commanded a good deal of influence in the family. Respected for his integrity and loved for his generous, amiable disposition, Jonathan was always a favoured visitor; both Catherine and her sister greeted him warmly.

    When it was revealed that his visit was more than a courtesy call, that he had some genuine good news to convey, the ladies were even keener. The revelation that Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, both nephews of Lady Catherine and trustees of the Rosings estate, would support her application for a school, rendered Catherine Harrison almost speechless with joy, while Becky applauded their judgment.

    Presently, Catherine Harrison turned to Jonathan Bingley. "Mr Bingley, I cannot thank you enough for being the bearer of such splendid news," she said, "with the support of Mr Darcy and the Colonel, I do believe we should succeed. Oh Becky, I know you will understand now why I am so keen to have Lilian home. We need to start making preparations at once if we are to be ready for the Spring term, and I want very much to have Lilian involved, helping me with the school; she has not been herself since her father's death. I believe it will engage her interest and concentrate her mind. Do you not agree, Mr Bingley?"

    Jonathan, though unaware of the tension between the women, was in complete agreement with Catherine.

    "I certainly do, Mrs Harrison; you may recall that my own daughter AnneMarie was similarly afflicted after the death of Dr Bradshaw; her involvement in establishing and running the children's hospital at Bell's Field transformed her life. I am quite certain that the concentration of the mind upon activities outside of oneself has a salutary effect on us all. I am sure you are quite right about young Miss Lilian, too."

    As he was about to leave, he remembered his engagement at the House of Commons on the morrow and asked if the ladies would like to attend. Both Mrs Tate and Mrs Harrison were delighted to accept, and the invitation was extended to Miss Lilian, too.

    "Unless you think she may be bored by the speeches," he said and left shortly afterwards.

    If Catherine was delighted with the news, Rebecca seemed quite genuinely pleased. It did seem as though her fears had been in vain. Perhaps, she thought, she had been mistaken after all in believing that Lilian's desire to return with haste to Rosings Park was based on hopes of seeing Mr Adams again soon.

    Fortunately for Lilian and her mother, Mrs Tate was unaware of a recent communication that had arrived for her niece a day or two ago, in which Mr Adams had revealed that he expected to conclude his business in France and travel to England within the fortnight.

    He wrote:

    Lilian, upon receiving his letter, was in two minds. Should she or should she not apprise her mother of its contents? After two days of anxiety and contemplation, she decided to wait until they were back at home.

    Convinced it would only lead to more acrimonious debate, she had no wish to risk alerting her aunt Becky to the imminent return of Mr Adams.

    On the day appointed for the introduction of the private member's bill on public education, the ladies, accompanied by Mr Burnett and Jonathan Bingley, went to the House of Commons to hear Mr Elliott speak.

    There they met Mrs Colin Elliott, Jonathan Bingley's charming daughter Anne-Marie, who made no secret of her pride in her husband and her support for his cause.

    "Mr Elliott has consistently supported the proposal that the British government should adopt a national public education policy," she explained. "It is mortifying that France and Germany spend considerably more on educating their children and have enunciated proper education standards, while English children are left to struggle on in ignorance—unless their parents are wealthy enough to have them taught by tutors or governesses."

    Mr Burnett, who had just been introduced to Mrs Elliott, responded, "Indeed, there are few who would not agree with your husband, Mrs Elliott. Those children whose families are either too poor or too ignorant to educate them have nowhere to go but the Ragged Schools, and the quality of teaching there is so deficient as to be worthless. So much so, that parents of these children often prefer to send them out to clean boots on street corners or sweep chimneys and earn a penny or two, rather than spend unprofitable time at school."

    Anne-Marie rejoiced that she had found yet another supporter for her husband's campaign and immediately suggested that Mr Burnett should meet with Mr Elliott afterwards. "I have no doubt he will welcome your support, Mr Burnett," she said, inviting him to join them for supper at Mr Elliott's townhouse in Knightsbridge that evening.

    For Frank Burnett, the activities of Mr and Mrs Colin Elliott were a revelation. In his experience, he had met few men and women of the landed gentry who used their influence in the community to promote the improvement of children of the working classes. Many landowners and their stewards seemed indifferent to the plight of the poor, believing that educating them would only reduce their availability and compliance as labourers on their farms and orchards or as domestic servants in their mansions. Others, like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, feared the education of the poor would give them ideas above their station and erode the power of patronage. Only a few landlords and some hardworking clergymen, believing that education could only improve their communities, had supported and in some cases instituted and financed village and parish schools for the children of the poor.

    Pleasantly surprised by the genuine passion of both Mr and Mrs Elliott, he expressed his own support for Mrs Harrison's project at Rosings Park.

    In Parliament, Colin Elliott had spoken eloquently and from the heart.

    "England," he said, "needs education above all things, to progress and regain her place in Europe, yet English children have too little of it," and everyone in their little party applauded him, which pleased Catherine very much indeed.

    When they met that evening, Catherine was eager to congratulate Mr Elliott upon his speech and his courage in making it.

    "I most sincerely hope and pray, Mr Elliott, that your wise words will convince the government and Mr Gladstone to implement a policy of compulsory education for all children. It is what our country needs above anything," she said.

    Mr Elliott was touched by her praise.

    "My dear Mrs Harrison, if I thought that my words would achieve such an object, I would rise in the Parliament on every sitting day and make a similar speech. We are all agreed that England needs at least as effective a system of public education as many less wealthy nations have today, but a variety of obstructions, based upon privilege, prejudice, and plain stupidity, stand in the way of progress."

    "But can they not be made to see that, without a national system of education, Britain will fall behind these other nations, as more children in other parts of the world are taught to read and write, while our political and religious leaders dither and procrastinate?" asked Catherine, her usually gentle voice rising as she spoke.

    "I could not have put it better myself, ma'am, and I can promise you I shall continue to campaign. I am absolutely committed to it," replied Mr Elliott. "Since we have granted more men the franchise, it is vital that we ensure those who vote receive an education, so they understand their rights and responsibilities and make proper choices when they do vote."

    Catherine persevered, "And meanwhile, may we count on your support for our endeavour to establish a school for girls on the Rosings estate?"

    "Most assuredly," said Colin Elliott, pledging his support unambiguously and wholeheartedly and, drawing his wife into their circle, added, "And, should you need help with lobbying anyone from the Lord Chancellor to the parish priest, my wife will assist you. She is the best lobbyist in the country!" he declared with complete assurance.

    Concluding a particularly satisfying evening, the ladies returned to the Tate residence, but not before Catherine had arranged to meet with Jonathan Bingley and his wife Anna at their townhouse on Grosvenor Street for morning tea on the following day. It was one visit she intended to make on her own, leaving both her sister and her daughter at home. They were due to leave for Kent in two days' time, and Catherine wished to have a private conversation with Mr and Mrs Bingley on matters that neither Rebecca nor Lilian needed to know of at this time. Instructing Lilian to complete her packing, Catherine took a hansom cab to Grosvenor Street.

    Jonathan and Anna were happy to welcome her; she had been in the past helpful and understanding at a time of crisis in their lives and they had not forgotten it.