funeral expenses, and to fees for the due management of said estate, I leave in trust to the principal benefit of the Warminster workhouse, with the urgent wish that a proper school and infirmary be established therein.”’
The acclamation was loud and long.
At length Mr Simeon Tegg held up a hand. ‘“And I do further leave under the terms of said trust an annuity of five hundred pounds to the Reverend Mr Thomas Hervey and Mrs Hervey of Horningsham, for as long as one or other of them shall live.”’
The buzz of surprise returned, but respectful.
Mr Tegg paused only a moment. ‘“And to Major Matthew Hervey of His Majesty’s Sixth Light Dragoons I leave the sum of ten thousand pounds in trust for the purchase of a lieutenant-colonelcy in any of His Majesty’s corps, and to him also my horses and all their appurtenances, and all military chattels of which I die possessed, this being my most certain act of service to His Majesty, so confident as I am in the loyalty and capability of this officer.”’
The noise in the room was as great as for the bequest to the workhouse. Hervey, though both astonished and exhilarated by the scale of the generosity, was nevertheless equally discomfited by its proclamation.
His father laid a hand to his arm.
The attorney again had to hold up a hand to restore silence. ‘“And I appoint the aforesaid Mr Thomas Hervey the executor of this my last Will and Testament, and to him the appointment of said trustees. Signed Daniel Coates, November 27, 1826.”’
IV
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE
Later
The shivering began on their way back to Horningsham. Hervey pulled his coat tighter about him, turning up the collar.
‘You are unwell, Matthew? It is not so cold.’
Hervey knew it was not cold. ‘It will be nothing, Father. The beginnings of a spring chill, perhaps.’
‘I wonder you are scarce able to reason. I confess I am not. I had never imagined Daniel Coates planned such beneficence towards us. Indeed, I am wholly astonished that his fortune should permit of what we heard.’
Hervey hid his hands in his pockets to conceal the trembling. ‘The attorney said there was twenty thousand in bonds alone.’
‘He asked me, of course, if I would be his executor, but I had no idea it might require so much in judgement.’
‘He evidently trusted you more than any man, Father, and with reason, I might say.’ He braced himself to master a vigorous spasm. ‘But you had best appoint the trustees and let the board of guardians propose their plans for the workhouse. If I were you I’d make Elizabeth their chairman!’
Archdeacon Hervey looked at his son warily. ‘That is by no means an idle suggestion.’
‘I did not intend it to be so, Father, I assure you.’
‘But I may remind you, Matthew, that Elizabeth’s duties in regard to Georgiana allow her little time already for her charity. You would not see her neglect the one for the other.’
Hervey, huddled in the corner of the hack barouche as if it were midwinter, though he could feel his temperature rising by the minute, was certain of his reply. ‘I do not intend that Elizabeth has those duties for much longer, Father.’
Archdeacon Hervey did not seem to hear; or if he did he did not question the intriguing notion that someone other than Elizabeth should have charge of Georgiana. ‘Matthew, are you sure you are not sickening for something? Perhaps we should see Dr Birch?’
‘No, Father; it will not be necessary. A chill, that is all. I’ll take a powder when we’re home.’
By the time they reached Horningsham, however, the ‘chill’ had revealed itself unequivocally: fever, violent headache and muscular tiredness which, even transplanted from their tropical origins, were quite unmistakable. Hervey excused himself, explained that he would have to take his ease for several hours, and went to his room. There he scrambled in his small-pack, though he was sure there would be no quinine, for he had become careless
The acclamation was loud and long.
At length Mr Simeon Tegg held up a hand. ‘“And I do further leave under the terms of said trust an annuity of five hundred pounds to the Reverend Mr Thomas Hervey and Mrs Hervey of Horningsham, for as long as one or other of them shall live.”’
The buzz of surprise returned, but respectful.
Mr Tegg paused only a moment. ‘“And to Major Matthew Hervey of His Majesty’s Sixth Light Dragoons I leave the sum of ten thousand pounds in trust for the purchase of a lieutenant-colonelcy in any of His Majesty’s corps, and to him also my horses and all their appurtenances, and all military chattels of which I die possessed, this being my most certain act of service to His Majesty, so confident as I am in the loyalty and capability of this officer.”’
The noise in the room was as great as for the bequest to the workhouse. Hervey, though both astonished and exhilarated by the scale of the generosity, was nevertheless equally discomfited by its proclamation.
His father laid a hand to his arm.
The attorney again had to hold up a hand to restore silence. ‘“And I appoint the aforesaid Mr Thomas Hervey the executor of this my last Will and Testament, and to him the appointment of said trustees. Signed Daniel Coates, November 27, 1826.”’
IV
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE
Later
The shivering began on their way back to Horningsham. Hervey pulled his coat tighter about him, turning up the collar.
‘You are unwell, Matthew? It is not so cold.’
Hervey knew it was not cold. ‘It will be nothing, Father. The beginnings of a spring chill, perhaps.’
‘I wonder you are scarce able to reason. I confess I am not. I had never imagined Daniel Coates planned such beneficence towards us. Indeed, I am wholly astonished that his fortune should permit of what we heard.’
Hervey hid his hands in his pockets to conceal the trembling. ‘The attorney said there was twenty thousand in bonds alone.’
‘He asked me, of course, if I would be his executor, but I had no idea it might require so much in judgement.’
‘He evidently trusted you more than any man, Father, and with reason, I might say.’ He braced himself to master a vigorous spasm. ‘But you had best appoint the trustees and let the board of guardians propose their plans for the workhouse. If I were you I’d make Elizabeth their chairman!’
Archdeacon Hervey looked at his son warily. ‘That is by no means an idle suggestion.’
‘I did not intend it to be so, Father, I assure you.’
‘But I may remind you, Matthew, that Elizabeth’s duties in regard to Georgiana allow her little time already for her charity. You would not see her neglect the one for the other.’
Hervey, huddled in the corner of the hack barouche as if it were midwinter, though he could feel his temperature rising by the minute, was certain of his reply. ‘I do not intend that Elizabeth has those duties for much longer, Father.’
Archdeacon Hervey did not seem to hear; or if he did he did not question the intriguing notion that someone other than Elizabeth should have charge of Georgiana. ‘Matthew, are you sure you are not sickening for something? Perhaps we should see Dr Birch?’
‘No, Father; it will not be necessary. A chill, that is all. I’ll take a powder when we’re home.’
By the time they reached Horningsham, however, the ‘chill’ had revealed itself unequivocally: fever, violent headache and muscular tiredness which, even transplanted from their tropical origins, were quite unmistakable. Hervey excused himself, explained that he would have to take his ease for several hours, and went to his room. There he scrambled in his small-pack, though he was sure there would be no quinine, for he had become careless
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