Part 33 (1/2)

”She is here,” cried Richard.

And as he spoke Mistress Nutter and Alizon entered the hall.

Richard endeavoured to read in the young girl's countenance some intimation of what had pa.s.sed between her and Mistress Nutter, but he only remarked that she was paler than before, and had traces of anxiety about her. Mistress Nutter also looked gloomy and thoughtful, and there was nothing in the manner or deportment of either to lead to the conclusion, that a discovery of relations.h.i.+p between them had taken place. As Alizon moved on, her eyes met those of Richard-but the look was intercepted by Mistress Nutter, who instantly called off her daughter's attention to herself; and, while the young man hesitated to join them, his sister came quickly up to him, and drew him away in another direction. Left to himself, Nicholas tossed off another cup of the miraculous Rhenish, which improved in flavour as he discussed it, and then, placing a chair opposite the portrait of Isole de Heton, filled a b.u.mper, and, uttering the name of the fair votaress, drained it to her. This time he was quite certain he received a significant glance in return, and no one being near to contradict him, he went on indulging the idea of an amorous understanding between himself and the picture, till he had finished the bottle, and obtained as many ogles as he swallowed draughts of wine, upon which he arose and staggered off in search of Dame Tetlow.

Meanwhile, Mistress Nutter having made her excuses to Lady a.s.sheton for not attending the supper, walked down the hall with her daughter, until such time as the dancing and pastimes should commence. As will be readily supposed under the circ.u.mstances, this part of the entertainment was distasteful to both of them; but it could not be avoided without entering into explanations, which Mistress Nutter was unwilling to make, and she, therefore, counselled her daughter to act in all respects as if she were still Alizon Device, and in no way connected with her.

”I shall take an early opportunity of announcing my intention to adopt you,” she said, ”and then you can act differently. Meantime, keep near me as much as you can. Say little to Dorothy or Richard a.s.sheton, and prepare to retire early; for this noisy and riotous a.s.semblage is not much to my taste, and I care not how soon I quit it.”

Alizon a.s.sented to what was said, and stole a timid glance towards Richard and Dorothy; but the latter, who alone perceived it, instantly averted her head, in such way as to make it evident she wished to shun her regards. Slight as it was, this circ.u.mstance occasioned Alizon much pain, for she could not conceive how she had offended her new-made friend, and it was some relief to encounter a party of acquaintances who had risen from the lower table at her approach, though they did not presume to address her while she was with Mistress Nutter, but waited respectfully at a little distance. Alizon, however, flew towards them.

”Ah, Susan!-ah, Nancy!” she cried taking the hand of each-”how glad I am to see you here; and you too, Lawrence Blackrod-and you, Phil Rawson-and you, also, good Master Harrop. How happy you all look!”

”An wi' good reason, sweet Alizon,” replied Blackrod. ”Boh we began to be afeerd we'd lost ye, an that wad ha' bin a sore mishap-to lose our May Queen-an th' prettiest May Queen os ever dawnced i' this ha', or i' onny other ha' i' Lonkys.h.i.+ar.”

”We ha drunk your health, sweet Alizon,” added Phil-”an wis.h.i.+n' ye may be os happy os ye desarve, wi' the mon o' your heart, if onny sich lucky chap there be.”

”Thank you-thank you both,” replied Alizon, blus.h.i.+ng; ”and in return I cannot wish you better fortune, Philip, than to be united to the good girl near you, for I know her kindly disposition so well, that I am sure she will make you happy.”

”Ey'm satisfied on't myself,” replied Rawson; ”an ey hope ere long she'll be missus o' a little cot i' Bowland Forest, an that yo'll pay us a visit, Alizon, an see an judge fo' yourself how happy we be. Nance win make a rare forester's wife.”

”Not a bit better than my Sukey,” cried Lawrence Blackrod. ”Ye shanna get th' start o' me, Phil, fo' by th' mess! the very same day os sees yo wedded to Nancy Holt shan find me united to Sukey Worseley. An so Alizon win ha' two cottages i' Bowland Forest to visit i'stead o' one.”

”And well pleased I shall be to visit them both,” she rejoined. At this moment Mistress Nutter came up.

”My good friends,” she said, ”as you appear to take so much interest in Alizon, you may be glad to learn that it is my intention to adopt her as a daughter, having no child of my own; and, though her position henceforth will be very different from what it has been, I am sure she will never forget her old friends.”

”Never, indeed, never!” cried Alizon, earnestly.

”This is good news, indeed,” cried Sampson Harrop, joyfully, while the others joined in his exclamation. ”We all rejoice in Alizon's good fortune, and think she richly deserves it. For my own part, I was always sure she would have rare luck, but I did not expect such luck as this.”

”What's to become o' me?” cried Jennet, coming from behind a chair, where she had hitherto concealed herself.

”I will always take care of you,” replied Alizon, stooping, and kissing her.

”Do not promise more than you may be able to perform, Alizon,” observed Mistress Nutter, coldly, and regarding the little girl with a look of disgust; ”an ill-favour'd little creature, with the Demdike eyes.”

”And as ill-tempered as she is ill-favoured,” rejoined Sampson Harrop; ”and, though she cannot help being ugly, she might help being malicious.”

Jennet gave him a bitter look.

”You do her injustice, Master Harrop,” said Alizon. ”Poor little Jennet is quick-tempered, but not malevolent.”

”Ey con hate weel if ey conna love,” replied Jennet, ”an con recollect injuries if ey forget kindnesses.-Boh dunna trouble yourself about me, sister. Ey dunna envy ye your luck. Ey dunna want to be adopted by a grand-dame. Ey'm content os ey am. Boh are na ye gettin' on rayther too fast, la.s.s? Mother's consent has to be axed, ey suppose, efore ye leave her.”

”There is little fear of her refusal,” observed Mistress Nutter.

”Ey dunna knoa that,” rejoined Jennet. ”If she were to refuse, it wadna surprise me.”

”Nothing spiteful she could do would surprise me,” remarked Harrop. ”But how are you likely to know what your mother will think and do, you forward little hussy?”