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Textbook Cross Relaxation and Cross Correlation Parameters in NMR Molecular Approaches 1St Edition Daniel Canet Ebook All Chapter PDF
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Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-FP001
Molecular Approaches
Cross-relaxation and Cross-correlation Parameters in NMR
View Online
Editor-in-Chief:
William S. Price, University of Western Sydney, Australia
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-FP001
Series Editors:
Sharon Ashbrook, University of St Andrews, UK
Bruce Balcom, University of New Brunswick, Canada
István Furó, Industrial NMR Centre at KTH, Sweden
Masatsune Kainosho, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan
Maili Liu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
Cross-relaxation and
Cross-correlation Parameters
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-FP001
in NMR
Molecular Approaches
Edited by
Daniel Canet
Universite de Lorraine, France
Email: daniel.canet@univ-lorraine.fr
.
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-FP001 View Online
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Printed in the United Kingdom by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY, UK
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-FP005
Preface
Some time ago, I was asked by Professor William S. Price to be the editor of a
book about cross-correlation in NMR. I found the idea fairly interesting, but
at first (and only at first), that it might appear as a sibylline and restricted
subject. I answered Bill that cross-correlation is evidently related to (and part
of) spin relaxation but that spin relaxation was per se too broad a subject. By
contrast, it could be interesting to add cross-relaxation to the initial title of
the project. In fact, what are called cross-correlation relaxation rates can
be considered as well as pertaining to cross-relaxation. The concept of cross-
relaxation was introduced as early as 1953 by A. W. Overhauser, who had to
face controversy, because his idea was revolutionary. He predicted that, by
irradiating electron spins, nuclear spins would be enhanced by the transfer
of electron polarization. This idea was rapidly extended to cross-relaxation
among nuclear spins with the tremendous applications known as the
.
v
View Online
vi Preface
Daniel Canet
.
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-FP007
Contents
vii
View Online
viii Contents
References 57
2.1 Introduction 61
2.2 One-dimensional Cross-relaxation Experiments in
Homonuclear Systems 62
2.2.1 Steady-state Nuclear Overhauser
Enhancement 62
2.2.2 Transient NOE Experiments 63
2.2.3 2D Cross-relaxation Experiments in
Homonuclear Systems 71
2.2.4 Distance Measurements from NOE
Experiments 77
2.2.5 Selected Examples of the Usefulness of
Cross-relaxation 80
View Online
Contents ix
x Contents
Contents xi
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Nuclear
Spin Cross-relaxation and
Cross-correlation Phenomena
in Liquids
DANIEL CANET
phenomena are part of the general nuclear spin relaxation processes. What is
meant by relaxation is very common in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, etc.
and is related to the recovery of a system that has been subjected to different
constraints. As far as NMR is concerned, the nuclear spin system tends to
recover toward its equilibrium configuration, which consists of the so-called
macroscopic magnetization, collinear with the polarizing static magnetic
field B0. This magnetization originates from the magnetic momentum
associated with each spin momentum. A nuclear spin system can be moved
from its equilibrium configuration by changing, non-adiabatically, the B0
field value or, more commonly, by applying pulses of an oscillating magnetic
field called also the radio-frequency field. The latter is generally denoted B1
and, with a frequency close to the nuclear resonances, can induce the NMR
signal. As a matter of fact, the consideration of nuclear spin relaxation was a
key issue for the first NMR experiments.1 Moreover, although the prime
1
View Online
2 Chapter 1
interest of NMR for chemists was its ability to reveal the molecular structure
via chemical shifts and coupling constants, it was rapidly realized that the
relaxation parameters could also provide not only dynamical but structural
information.
Very early (in 1948, whereas the first NMR experiments were performed in
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-00001
1946), Bloembergen, Purcell and Pound2 were able to interpret the two major
relaxation parameters: T1, the spin–lattice relaxation time (longitudinal
relaxation time), related to the nuclear magnetization component along the
B0 field; and T2, the spin–spin relaxation time (transverse relaxation time),
related to the nuclear magnetization components perpendicular to the
B0 field. These two relaxation times are involved in the famous Bloch
equations3 that, in a phenomenological way, accounts for the evolution
of the three components of the nuclear magnetization (or polarization,
magnetization being the polarization times the gyromagnetic ratio). These
equations are perfectly valid if the system encompasses a single spin species.
However, as soon as one is dealing with a multi-spin system, it is mandatory
to consider a polarization for each spin species and, possibly, further
quantities describing different spin states. Although T1 and T2 remain active
for each individual polarization (they will be referred to as auto-relaxation
parameters), it turns out that all spin states, including the polarization
for each species, may be coupled by various spin relaxation pathways. The
corresponding parameters include the so-called cross-relaxation and cross-
correlation relaxation rates, which are the subject of this book. They arise
from different relaxation mechanisms (considered in Section 1.1) and are
active through the so-called spectral densities, a concept also developed
.
4 Chapter 1
To understand the two latter points, one can think of a quantity whose
modulus is non-zero but which can take opposite values with the same
probability.
The coherence of a random field can be evaluated by its correlation
function, i.e.
which reflects its memory properties. Indeed, if the two quantities are totally
uncorrelated (independent), one has:
kB T
D¼ (1:8)
8pa3 Z
tc
function of the type . More precisely, we shall denote in the
1 þ o2 t2c
following as ‘normalized spectral density’ J~(o) the Fourier transform
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
(multiplied by 4p) of the correlation function of Y20 ðyÞ ¼ 5=16pð3 cos2 y 1Þ
ð þ1
~J ðoÞ ¼ Re 8p 0 0
Y2 ½yðtÞY2 ½yð0Þ expðiotÞ dt (1:9a)
0
with
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
Y22 ¼ 15=8pð1=2Þsin2 y expð2ijÞ (1:9b)
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
.
2tc
~J ðoÞ ¼ (1:10)
1 þ o2 t2c
When the condition o2t2c{1 is fulfilled (and this is the case for fast motions
since the NMR measurement frequency is lower than 109 Hz), the spectral
density becomes frequency independent. In such cases, one says that
‘extreme narrowing’ conditions prevail.
It must be mentioned that eqn (1.9a) and (1.9b) refer to an angular
modulation. The molecular motions responsible for such a modulation
are thus purely rotational (often dubbed as ‘reorientational’). Many forms
of spectral densities have been proposed to allow for more complicated
motions. It can be remembered that, as early as 1934, Perrin6 established
and solved the rotational Brownian equations for an ellipsoid. The solution
View Online
6 Chapter 1
related to the fact that the trace of the dipolar tensor is zero. To introduce
easily the relevant spectral densities, we shall resort to a simplified treat-
ment and defer to subsequent sections a rigorous quantum mechanical
approach. The classical expression for the dipolar interaction energy is as
follows
3ðl1 rÞðl2 rÞ l1 l2
ED ¼ 3 (1:12)
r5 r
As per Figure 1.1 where the two magnetic moments are parallel to B0 (still a
classical view), eqn (1.11) can be written
m1 m2
ED ¼ ð3 cos2 y 1Þ (1:13)
r3
It should be noted that the same result would be obtained irrespectively of
the magnetic moment orientation (parallel or anti-parallel) with respect to
B0. The two geometrical parameters r and y may be modulated by molecular
motions and thus contribute to nuclear spin relaxation. Indeed, if l1 and l2
belong to two different molecules (inter-molecular dipolar relaxation), the
modulation of both r and y must be considered. The evaluation of the
View Online
Figure 1.1 The various quantities involved in the dipolar interaction between the
two magnetic moments l1 and l2, supposed to be parallel to the static
magnetic field B0.
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi 0
hÞð1=r 3 Þð
ED ¼ ðm0 =4pÞðg1 g2 16p=5ÞY2 ðyÞIz1 Iz2 (1:14)
m0 is the vacuum permeability and the factor (m0/4p) is introduced for unit
compatibility. The spectral density relevant to eqn (1.14) can be written as
KD ~
JD ðoÞ ¼ J ðoÞ (1:15)
r6
where the conventional definition of the coefficient KD has been retrieved
(because one is dealing in this section with a semi-classical theory, the
square of the Iz1Iz2 value had to be inserted in the coefficient of the corre-
lation function):
KD ¼ (1/20)(m0/4p)2(g1g2h
)2 (1.16)
8 Chapter 1
Ds
sZZ ¼ cos2 y sk þ sin2 y s? ¼ s0 þ ð3 cos2 y 1Þ (1:18)
3
where one has introduced the isotropic shielding coefficient
Figure 1.2 The molecular principal axis system of the shielding tensor with respect
to the Z axis (coinciding with the B0 direction) of the laboratory frame.
The shielding tensor is assumed to be axially symmetric, thus involving
only two elements (s8 and s>).
View Online
and the anisotropy of the shielding tensor (also called the chemical shift
anisotropy – CSA)
Ds ¼ s8 s> (1.20)
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-00001
Ds
It can be seen that ð3 cos2 y 1Þ is the only term in eqn (1.18) which is
3
time dependent. Thus, this relaxation mechanism relies exclusively on
molecular reorientation. Its efficiency depends on the shielding anisotropy
(hence, the acronym CSA) and, of course, on the value of the B0 field.
Therefore, until the advent of high field spectrometers, CSA relaxation was
neglected in proton NMR (the anisotropy of the shielding tensor is assumed
to be very weak). Conversely, unless dealing with a low static magnetic
field, this mechanism had to be considered in the case of carbon-13,
phosphorous-31, nitrogen-15, fluorine-19 etc. To be more specific, the CSA
spectral density can be derived from the Fourier Transform of the correlation
function (as this was done for the dipolar interaction). If (3 cos2 y 1) is
expressed as a function of Y20 (see eqn (1.9a), and similar calculations in the
case of dipolar interactions), this leads to
with
As before, a factor (1/2) has been introduced in eqn (1.22) to account for
the value of IZ in eqn (1.17). In addition, as only one component of the
fluctuating magnetic field is involved in eqn (1.17), a factor of 3 was intro-
duced in eqn (1.22) to account for the three components of the fluctuating
magnetic field. This is because, due an assumed isotropic medium, the
contributions of these three components are identical.
10 Chapter 1
pffiffiffiffiffiffipffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi Ds
JD;csa ðoÞ ¼ KD Kcsa 3 ~Jcross ðoÞ (1:23)
r
The first interest of such a cross-correlation spectral density lies in its
dependence on 1/r3 and not on 1/r6 in the case of a dipolar auto-correlation
spectral density. It will therefore be more sensitive to the dipolar interaction
between remote nuclei provided, of course, that Ds is large enough. Con-
versely, this property is especially appealing in the case of dipolar–dipolar
cross-correlation spectral densities.
For an isotropic motion (characterized by a single correlation time tc), the
normalized spectral density ~Jcross can be written as
where a is the angle between the two relaxation vectors. Within the frame-
work of the model-free approach, ~Jcross is more complicated13 and requires,
View Online
for each of the two mechanisms, two order parameters S and S 0 (which, to a
first approximation, can be identical):
this formal statement because wave functions are not analytically known.
Moreover, the situation is very simple in the case of a single spin 1/2 system
since one needs to defined only two basis wave-functions denoted by a
(in this chapter, the notations a, |ai, |1/2i will be equivalent) and b, which
are simply the eigenfunctions (or eigenvectors) of the Îz operator (the
symbol ^ differentiates the operator from its associated quantity).
If the z axis coincides with the direction of the static magnetic field B0,
one recognizes that a corresponds to a magnetic moment parallel to the
magnetic field and b to an anti-parallel orientation. The operator Î 2,
associated with the square of the spin momentum, commutes with the Îz
operator. Two operators are said to commute when they can act one after
the other irrespectively of their order. Concerning the two operators Îz and Î 2,
this means that the product operators ÎzÎ 2 and Î 2Îz act in an identical manner.
Equivalently, using the commutator notation, this can be written
[Îz,Î 2] ¼ ÎzÎ 2 Î 2Îz ¼ 0. Therefore, both operators share the same eigenvectors
12 Chapter 1
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-00001
Figure 1.3 Orientations of spin 1/2 magnetic moments in the presence of a static
magnetic field B0.
Eqn (1.26) and (1.27) exemplify the difference between a classical view and
quantum mechanics. Moreover, these relations indicate that the magnetic
moments associated with spin momentums are not aligned with the static
magnetic field (in a parallel or anti-parallel configuration). This illustrated in
Figure 1.3. Magnetic moments are randomly spread over two cones, with,
due to the Boltzmann distribution, a slight excess in the direction of the
static magnetic field (pseudo ‘parallel’ configuration). Only their length and
their projection on the Z axis are known and, contrary to a common belief,
this is not related to some sort of precession phenomenon. Only the
macroscopic nuclear magnetization is subjected to precession.
While Îz can be seen as being associated with the longitudinal com-
.
(with i2 ¼ 1)
It turns out that, in the case of a single spin 1/2, the actions of these ladder
operators are quite simple. One has
^Iþ a ¼ 0 ^Iþ b ¼ a
(1:29)
^I a ¼ b ^I b ¼ 0
From eqn (1.28) it is then a simple matter to go back to the action of Îx and Îy.
View Online
The wave-functions (called also vectors) a and b are normalized and orthogonal.
Introducing the scalar product (hbra|keti), this feature is written as
ha|ai ¼ hb|bi ¼ 1
(1:33)
.
ha|bi ¼ hb|ai ¼ 0
The interest of this bra-ket notation (Dirac notation) lies in the possibility to
include the action of a spin operator. This is illustrated by the examples
given below
:::
14 Chapter 1
column contains the components (on the chosen basis) of the vector which
results from the action of the considered operator on the first vector of the
chosen basis. The second column is related to the second vector of the
chosen basis and so on.
On the basis (a, b), the matrix associated with Îz and Ê are very simple
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-00001
1 0 1 0
½Iz ¼ ð1=2Þ ½E ¼ (1:35)
0 1 0 1
The first column of the matrix [I1] has for elements the following scalar
products: ha|Î1|ai ¼ 0 and hb|Î1|ai ¼ 0. Likewise, for the second column, one
has ha|Î1|bi ¼ 1 and hb|Î1|bi ¼ 0. A similar procedure can be applied for
obtaining [I] and these two matrices can be written as
0 1 0 0
½Iþ ¼ ½I ¼ (1:36)
0 0 1 0
From eqn (1.28) and (1.36), it is easy to derive the matrices associated with
Îx and Îy
0 1 0 i
½Ix ¼ ð1=2Þ ½Iy ¼ ð1=2Þ (1:37)
1 0 i 0
where eqn (1.35) and (1.37) are the famous Pauli matrices.
Matrices associated with hermitian operators are said hermitian matrices.
They are equal to their conjugate transpose (also called self-adjoint matrix).
.
Let t the duration of a radio-frequency pulse and a the so-called flip angle
a ¼ gB1t (1.39)
ðaÞx
Iz ! cos aIz þ sin aIy (1:40)
Y
n
^ r ¼ Nr
U ^ðrÞ
S (1:41)
j
j¼1
View Online
16 Chapter 1
with Ŝ(r)
j ¼ Êj, Îxj,
or Îyj Îzj,
the index j labelling one of the spins in the
considered system and Nr being a normalization coefficient which can be
calculated as per the definition of the operator scalar product given below.
As each of these product operators differ from another one by at least one Ŝj,
their number is 4n and they are independent. They are further orthogonal
Published on 09 October 2017 on http://pubs.rsc.org | doi:10.1039/9781782622475-00001
Y
n
ðrÞ2
^ r2 ¼ Nr2
Tr U ^
TrðS j Þ ¼ Nr2 2er ð1=2Þner (1:43)
j¼1
1 Y
n
^r ¼
U ^ðrÞ
S (1:44)
j
2er n=2 j ¼ 1
.
Figure 1.5 Left: an in-phase doublet. Right: an antiphase doublet. Vectors associ-
ated with each line help to understand the product operators associated
with each of these spins states.
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Miss Parrett’s instructions, and to ask if she would require the motor,
the invariable reply was that “she would let him know later.”
The first time they met, Miss Parrett had taken a dislike to the
chauffeur, and this dislike had recently been increased by an outrage
of more recent date. She had seen Owen, her paid servant, in
convulsions of laughter at her expense; yes, laughing exhaustively at
his mistress! This was on the occasion of a ridiculous and distressing
incident which had taken place one sultry afternoon in the garden.
The Rector and his daughter were helping Susan to bud roses—a
merry family party; the chauffeur was neatly trimming a box border,
Hogben raking gravel, Miss Parrett herself, hooded like a hawk, was
poking and prowling around. All at once she emerged from a tool-
shed, bearing in triumph a black bottle, which she imprudently
shook.
“I’d like to know what this is?” she demanded, in her shrillest pipe.
The answer was instantaneous, for the liquor being “up,” there was a
loud explosion, a wild shriek, and in a second Miss Parrett’s identity
was completely effaced by the contents of a bottle of porter. The too
inquisitive lady presented a truly humiliating spectacle. Hood, face,
hands, gown, were covered with thick cream-coloured foam; it
streamed and dripped, whilst she gasped and gurgled, and called
upon “Susan!” and “Aurea!”
As the stuff was removed from her eyes by the latter—anxiously
kind, but distinctly hysterical—almost the first object to catch the old
lady’s eye was the chauffeur, at a little distance, who, such was his
enjoyment of the scene, was actually holding his sides! He turned
away hastily, but she could see that his shoulders were shaking, and
told herself then that she would never forgive him. She bided her
time to award suitable punishment for his scandalous behaviour—
and the time arrived.
The malicious old woman enjoyed the conviction that she was
holding this too independent chauffeur a prisoner on the premises,
precisely as she kept the detestable Joss tied up in the stables. Joss
rattled and dragged at his chain, and occasionally broke into
melancholy howls, whilst the other paced to and fro in the red-tiled
yard, thinking furiously and smoking many more cigarettes than were
good for him.
Accustomed from childhood to a life of great activity, to be, perforce,
incarcerated hour after hour, awaiting the good—or evil—pleasure of
an old woman who was afraid to use her motor, exasperated
Wynyard to the last degree. The car was ready, he was ready;
usually about six o’clock Miss Parrett would trot out in her hood and
announce in her bleating voice—
“Owen, I shall not require the car to-day!”
Sometimes she would look in on a humble, fawning culprit in the
stable, and say, as she contemplated his beseeching eyes—
“Hah! you bad dog, you bad dog! I wish to goodness you were dead
—and you shall wish it yourself before I’ve done with you!”
It was not impossible that these amiable visitations afforded Miss
Parrett a delicious, and exquisite satisfaction.
The Drum Inn closed at ten o’clock, and even before the church
clock struck, the Hogbens had retired; but the former Hussar officer,
accustomed to late hours, and with the long summer night seducing
him, found it impossible to retire to his three-cornered chamber—
where the walls leant towards him so confidentially, and the
atmosphere reeked of dry rot. No, he must breathe the sweet breath
of the country, have some exercise, and walk himself weary under
the open sky.
Mrs. Hogben—who had now absolute confidence in her lodger, and
told him all her most private family affairs—entrusted him with the
door-key, that is to say, she showed him the hole in which—as all the
village knew—it was concealed. Sometimes it was one in the
morning when the chauffeur crept upstairs in stockinged feet,
accompanied by Joss—yes, Joss! There were a pair of them, who
had equally enjoyed their nocturnal wanderings. The dog slept on a
bit of sacking, in his confederate’s room, till Mrs. Hogben was astir,
then he flew back to the Manor, and crept through the same hole in
the yew hedge by which, in answer to a welcome whistle, he had
emerged the preceding evening. Behold him sitting at the kitchen
door when the kitchen-maid opened it, the personification of injured
innocence—a poor, neglected, hungry animal, who had been turned
out of doors for the whole long night.
These were delightful excursions: over meadows and brooks,
through deep glens and plantations, the two black sheep scoured the
country, and, as far as human beings were concerned, appeared to
have earth and heaven to themselves. Wynyard roamed hither and
thither as the freak took him, and surrendered himself to the
intoxication that comes of motion in the open air—a purely animal
pleasure shared with his companion.
They surprised the dozing cattle, and alarmed astonished sheep,
sent families of grazing rabbits scuttling to their burrows; they heard
the night-jar, the owl, and the corn-crake; bats flapped across their
path, and in narrow lanes the broad shoulders of Wynyard broke the
webs of discomfited spiders. The extraordinary stillness of the night
was what impressed the young man; sometimes, from a distance of
four or five miles, he could hear, with startling distinctness, the
twelve measured strokes of Ottinge church clock.
During these long, aimless rambles, what Joss’ thoughts were, who
can say? Undoubtedly he recalled such excursions in ecstatic
dreams. Wynyard, for his part, took many pleasure trips into the land
of fancy, and there, amidst its picturesque glamour and all its doubts,
distractions, and hopes, his sole companion was Aurea! Nothing but
the hope of her return sustained and kept him day after day, pacing
the Manor yard, in a sense her prisoner! His devotion would have
amazed his sister; she could not have believed that Owen, of all
people, would have been so enslaved by a girl, could have become
a dumb, humble worshipper, satisfied to listen to her laugh, to catch
a radiant glance of her dark eyes, and, when he closed the door of
the car, to shield her dainty skirt with reverent fingers.
Presently there came a spell of bad weather, the rain sweeping
across the country in great grey gusts and eddying whirls, moaning
and howling through the village, making the venerable trees in Mrs.
Hogben’s orchard quite lively in their old age, lashing each other with
their hoary arms, in furious play.
It was impossible for Wynyard to spend the entire evening indoors
over Mrs. Hogben’s fire, listening to tales of when “she was in
service,” though he was interested to hear that Miss Alice Parrett as
was—Mrs. Morven—“was the best of the bunch, and there wasn’t a
dry eye when she was buried.” He also learned that Mr. Morven was
rich for a parson, and had once kept a curate, well paid, too; but the
curate had been terribly in love with Miss Aurea, and of course she
wouldn’t look at him—a little red-haired, rat-faced fellow! and so he
had gone away, and there was no more regular curate, only
weekends, when Mr. Morven went abroad for his holiday. And now
and then Mrs. Hogben would fall into heartrending reminiscences of
her defunct pigs.
“Afore you come, Jack, I kep’ pigs,” she informed him; “one a year. I
bought un at Brodfield—a nice little fellow—for fifteen shillings to a
pound, and fattened un up, being so much alone all day, I could
never help making sort of free with the pig, and petting un. He
always knew me, and would eat out of my hand, and was a sort of
companion, ye see?”
“Yes,” assented Wynyard, though he did not see, for in his mind’s
eye he was contemplating Aurea Morven.
“Well, of course, he grew fat, and ready for the butcher, and when he
was prime, he had to go—but it just broke my heart, so it did; for
nights before I couldn’t sleep for crying,” here she became
lachrymose; “but it had to be, and me bound to be about when the
men came, and the cries and yells of him nigh drove me wild;
though, of course, once he was scalded and hung up, and a fine
weight, it wor a nice thing to have one’s own pork and bacon.”
Her companion nodded sympathetically.
“Howsomever, the last time I was so rarely fond of the pig, and his
screams and carryings-on cut me so cruel, that I made a vow, then
and there, I’d never own another, but take a lodger instead—and
you, Jack, be the first!”
“I’m sure I’m flattered,” rejoined Wynyard, with an irony entirely
wasted on his companion, who, with her skirt turned over her knees,
and her feet generously displayed, sat at the other side of the fire,
thoroughly enjoying herself.
“Tom is out,” he said, and this remark started her at once into
another topic, and a series of bitter complaints of Dilly Topham—
Tom’s girl.
“The worst of it is, she’s mighty pretty, ain’t she?” she asked
querulously.
“She is,” he admitted. Dilly was a round-faced, smiling damsel, with
curly brown hair and expressive blue eyes—a flirt to her finger-tips. It
was also true that she did lead poor Tom a life, and encouraged a
smart young insurance agent, with well-turned, stockinged calves,
and a free-wheel bicycle.
“I’d never put up with her,” declared Mrs. Hogben, “only for her
grandmother.”
“Why her grandmother?” he questioned lazily.
“Bless your dear heart, old Jane Topham has been a miser all her
life. Oh, she’s a masterpiece, she is, and lives on the scrapings of
the shop; she hasn’t had a gown this ten year, but has a fine lump of
money in the Brodfield Bank, and Dilly is all she’s got left, and the
apple of her eye. Dilly will have a big fortune—only for that, I’d put
her to the door, with her giggling and her impudence, yes I would,
and that’s the middle and the two ends of it!”
When Wynyard had heard more than enough of Dilly’s doings and
misdoings, and the biographies and tragedies of his predecessors
(the pigs), he went over to the Drum, listened to discussions, and
realised the prominent characteristics of the English rustic—
reluctance to accept a new idea. Many talked as if the world had not
moved for thirty years, and evinced a dull-witted contentment, a
stolid refusal to look facts in the face; but others, the younger
generation, gave him a new perspective—these read the papers,
debated their contents, and took a keen interest in their own times.
Wynyard generally had a word with old Thunder, and played a game
of chess with Pither, the organist. Captain Ramsay was established
in his usual place—smoking, silent, and staring. So intent was his
gaze, so insistently fixed, that Wynyard invariably arranged to sit with
his back to him, but even then he seemed to feel the piercing eyes
penetrating the middle of his spine!
One evening Captain Ramsay suddenly rose, and shuffled out of his
corner—an usual proceeding, for he remained immovable till closing
time (ten o’clock). He came straight up to where Wynyard was
bending over the chess-board, considering a move, and laying a
heavy hand on his shoulder, and speaking in a husky voice, said—
“I say—Wynyard—don’t you know me?”
CHAPTER XVII
LADY KESTERS HAS MISGIVINGS
Whilst Ottinge had been dozing through lovely summer days, Aurea
Morven was enjoying a certain amount of the gay London season.
General and Mrs. Morven had no family—Aurea was their only
young relative, the Parretts’ only niece, the parson’s only child; and,
though she was the light of the Rectory, he was not selfish, and
shared and spared her company. Besides, as Mrs. Morven said,
“Edgar had his literary work, his large correspondence, his parish,
and Jane Norris to look after him, and it was out of the question to
suppose that a girl with such beauty and attractiveness was to be
buried in an out-of-the-way hole like Ottinge-in-the-Marsh—although
her father and her aunts did live there!” Mrs. Morven, a masterful
lady on a large scale, who carried herself with conscious dignity,
looked, and was a manager—a manager of ability. She was proud of
the general’s pretty niece, enjoyed chaperoning her and taking her
about, and anticipated her making a notable match; for, besides her
pretty face, and charming, unspoiled nature, Aurea was something of
an heiress.
It seemed to this clear-sighted lady that her niece was changed of
late, her spontaneous gaiety had evaporated, once or twice she had
sudden fits of silence and abstraction, and, although she laughed
and danced and appeared to enjoy herself, refused to take any of
her partners seriously, and shortened her visit by three weeks!
Miss Susan had arrived at Eaton Place for a couple of days. It was
arranged by the girl that she and her aunt were to leave town
together—though the general and his wife pleaded for a longer visit,
offering Aurea, as a temptation, a ball, a Windsor garden-party, and
Sandown—the filial daughter shook her head, with smiling decision;
she had promised the Padre, and, besides, she wanted to get back
to the garden before the best of the roses were over! Theatre
dinners were breaking up at the Ritz, and a stream of smart people
were gradually departing eastward. Among the crowd in the hall,
awaiting her motor, stood Lady Kesters, superb in diamonds and
opera mantle. She and Miss Susan caught sight of one another at
the same moment, and Miss Susan immediately began to make her
way through the throng.
“So glad to meet you!” gasped the elder lady. “I called yesterday
afternoon, but you were out.”
“Yes, so sorry—I was down in the country. Do come and lunch to-
morrow.”
“I wish I could, but, unfortunately, we are going home. Let me
introduce my niece, Aurea Morven—Lady Kesters.”
Lady Kesters smiled and held out her hand. Could this extremely
pretty girl be the reason of Owen’s surprising contentment? She
looked at her critically. No country mouse, this! her air and her frock
were of the town. What a charming face and marvellous complexion
—possibly due to the Marsh air!
“I have known your aunts for years”; and, though addressing Miss
Susan, she looked straight at Aurea, as she asked, “And how is the
new chauffeur suiting you?”
The girl’s colour instantly rose, but before she could speak, Miss
Susan flung herself on the question.
“Oh, very well indeed—most obliging and civil—has been quite a
treasure in the house and garden.”
Lady Kesters raised her delicately pencilled eyebrows and laughed.
“The chauffeur—gardening! How funny!”
“You see, Bella is so nervous in a motor, it is not often wanted, and
Owen likes to help us. We find him rather silent and reserved about
himself; he gives the impression of being a bit above his place?” and
she looked at Lady Kesters interrogatively.
“Really?”
“I suppose you can tell me something about him—as you said you’d
known him for years?” continued Miss Susan, with unconcealed
eagerness. “I am, I must confess, just a little curious. Where does he
come from? Has he any belongings?”
“Oh, my dear lady, do you think it necessary to look into your
chauffeur’s past! I believe he comes from Westshire, his people—er
—er—lived on my grandfather’s property; as to his belongings—ah!
there is my husband! I see he has found the car at last, and I must
fly! So sorry you are leaving town to-morrow—good-bye!” Lady
Kesters now understood her brother’s reluctance to leave Ottinge—
she had seen the reason why.
Miss Susan and her niece travelled down to Catsfield together, were
met in state by the motor and luggage-cart, and created quite a stir
at the little station. Miss Morven had such a heap of boxes—one as
big as a sheep trough—that the cart was delayed for nearly a quarter
of an hour, and Peter, the porter, for once had a job:
The ladies found that, in their absence, the neighbourhood had
awakened; there were large house-parties at Westmere and
Tynflete, and not a few smart motors now to be seen skimming
through the village. It was a fact that several tourists had visited the
church, and had “tea” at Mrs. Pither’s, and patronised her
neighbour’s “cut flowers.” The old church was full on Sundays,
dances and cricket matches were in prospect, and Miss Morven, the
countryside beauty, was immediately in enviable request.
Miss Parrett had relaxed her hold, so to speak, upon the car, and
lent it daily, and even nightly, to her niece and sister; indeed, it
seemed that she would almost do anything with the motor than use it
herself; and though she occasionally ventured to return calls at a
short distance, it was undoubtedly pain and grief to her to do so—
and, on these occasions, brandy and heart-drops were invariably
secreted in one of its many pockets.
Owen, the automaton chauffeur, was the reluctant witness of the
many attentions showered upon his lady-love, especially by Bertie
Woolcock, who was almost always in close attendance, and put her
in the car with many voluble regrets and urgent arrangements for
future meetings. He would linger by the door sometimes for ten
minutes, prolonging the “sweet sorrow,” paying clumsy compliments,
and making notes of future engagements upon his broad linen cuff.
He little suspected how dearly the impassive driver longed to
descend from his seat and throttle him; but once he did remark to the
lady—
“I say, what a scowling brute you have for a chauffeur!”
Meanwhile, Miss Susan looked on and listened to Bertie’s speeches
with happy complacency. Bertie was heir to twenty thousand a year,
and it would be delightful to have her darling Aurea living at
Westmere, and established so near home.
One evening, returning from a garden-party, Miss Susan and her
niece had a narrow escape of being killed. Aurea was seated in front
—she disliked the stuffy interior, especially this warm weather; they
had come to a red triangle notice, “Dangerous to Cyclists,” and were
about to descend a long winding hill—the one hill of the
neighbourhood. Just as they commenced the descent with the brake
hard on, it suddenly broke, and in half a second the car had shot
away!
Wynyard turned his head, and shouted, “Sit tight!” and gave all his
mind to steering; he took the whole width of the road to get round the
first corner, and then the hill made an even sharper drop; the car,
which was heavy, gathered momentum with every yard, and it
seemed impossible to reach the bottom of the hill without some
terrible catastrophe. Half-way down was another motor. Wynyard
yelled, sounded the horn, and flashed by; a pony-trap, ascending,
had a narrow escape of being pulverised in the green car’s mad
flight. Then, to the driver’s horror, he saw a great wagon and horses
on the road near the foot of the hill, and turned cold with the thought
that there might not be room to get by. They missed it by a hair’s-
breadth, and continued their wild career. At last they came to the
level at the foot of the slope, and Wynyard pulled up, after the most
exciting two minutes he had ever experienced. He glanced at his two
companions; they were both as white as death—and so was he!
Miss Susan, for once, was speechless, but at last she signed that