Part 61 (1/2)
I will tell you all that has pa.s.sed since I absconded, when we are at Lady de Clare's: one story will do for all.”
Harcourt then took his leave, and I returned to my father, with whom I found Lord Windermear.
”De Benyon, I am happy to see you again,” said his lords.h.i.+p. ”I have just been giving a very good character of you to the general; I hope you will continue to deserve it.”
”I hope so too, my lord; I should be ungrateful, indeed, if I did not, after my father's kindness to me.”
Mr Masterton was then introduced: Lord Windermear shook hands with him, and after a short conversation took his leave.
”j.a.phet,” said Mr Masterton aside, ”I have a little business with your father; get out of the room any way you think best.”
”There are but two ways, my dear sir,” replied I, ”the door or the windows: with your permission, I will select the former, as most agreeable;” so saying, I went to my own room. What pa.s.sed between the general and Mr Masterton I did not know until afterwards, but they were closeted upwards of an hour, when I was sent for by Mr Masterton.
”j.a.phet, you said you would go with me to hear the new preacher; we have no time to lose: so, general, I shall take my leave and run away with your son.”
I followed Mr Masterton into his carriage, and we drove to the lodging of Mr Cophagus. Susannah was all ready, and Mr Masterton went up stairs and brought her down. A blush and a sweet smile illumined her features when she perceived me stowed away in the corner of the chariot.
We drove off, and somehow or another our hands again met, and did not separate until we arrived at the church door. Susannah had the same dress on as when she had accompanied me in my father's carriage. I went through the responses with her, reading out of the same book, and I never felt more inclined to be devout, for I was happy, and grateful to Heaven for my happiness. When the service was over, we were about to enter the carriage, when who should accost us but Harcourt.
”You are surprised to see me here,” said he to Mr Masterton; ”but I thought there must be something very attractive, that you should make an appointment with j.a.phet to go to this church, and as I am very fond of a good sermon, I determined to come and hear it.”
Harcourt's ironical look told me all he would say.
”Well,” replied Mr Masterton, ”I hope you have been edified--now get out of the way, and let us go into the carriage.”
”To-morrow at two, De Benyon,” said Harcourt, taking another peep at Susannah.
”Yes, punctually,” replied I, as the carriage drove off.
”And now, my dear child,” said Mr Masterton to Susannah, as the carriage rolled along, ”tell me, have you been disappointed, or do you agree with me? You have attended a meeting of your own persuasion this morning--you have now, for the first time, listened to the ritual of the Established Church. To which do you give the preference?”
”I will not deny, sir, that I think, in departing from the forms of wors.h.i.+p, those of my persuasion did not do wisely. I would not venture thus much to say, but you support me in my judgment.”
”You have answered like a good, sensible girl, and have proved that you can think for yourself; but observe, my child, I have persuaded you for once, and once only, to enter our place of wors.h.i.+p, that you might compare and judge for yourself: it now remains for you to decide as you please.”
”I would that some better qualified would decide for me,” replied Susannah, gravely.
”Your husband, Susannah,” whispered I, ”must take that responsibility upon himself. Is he not the proper person?”
Susannah slightly pressed my hand, which held hers, and said nothing.
As soon as we had conveyed her home, Mr Masterton offered to do me the same kindness which I accepted.
”Now, j.a.phet, I dare say that you would like to know what it was I had so particular to say to the old general this morning.”
”Of course I would, sir, if it concerned me.”
”It did concern you, for we had not been two minutes in conversation, before you were brought on the tapis. He spoke of you with tears in his eyes--of what a comfort you had been to him, and how happy you had made him; and that he could not bear you to be away from him for half an hour. On that hint I spake, and observed, that he must not expect you to continue in retirement long, neither must he blame you, that when he had set up his establishment, you would be as great a favourite as you were before, and be unable, without giving offence, to refuse the numerous invitations which you would receive. In short, that it was nothing but right you should resume your position in society, and it was his duty to submit to it. The 'Governor' did not appear to like my observations, and said he expected otherwise from you. I replied, 'that it was impossible to change our natures; and the other s.e.x would naturally have attractions which you would not be able to resist, and that they would occupy a large portion of your time. The only way to insure his company, my dear sir, is marry him to a steady, amiable young woman, who, not having been thrown into the vortex of fas.h.i.+on, will find pleasure in domestic life. Then her husband will become equally domestic, and you will be all very happy together.' Your father agreed with me, and appeared very anxious that it should take place. I then very carefully introduced Miss Temple, saying, that I knew you had a slight partiality in that quarter, highly commending her beauty, prudence, etcetera. I stated, that feeling an interest about you, I had gone down into the country where she resided, and had made her acquaintance, and had been much pleased with her; that since she had come up to town with her relations, I had seen a great deal, and had formed so high an opinion of, and so strong an attachment, to her, and had felt so convinced that she was the very person who would make you happy and domestic, that having no family myself, I had some idea of adopting her. At all events, that if she married you, I was determined to give her something very handsome on the day of the wedding.”
”But, my dear sir, why should you not have said that Susannah Temple was left an orphan at seven years old, and her fortune has acc.u.mulated ever since? It is by no means despicable, I understand, from Mr Cophagus; and, moreover, Mr Cophagus intends to leave her all his property.”
”I am very glad to hear it, j.a.phet, and will not fail to communicate all this to your father; but there is no reason why I may not do as I please with my own money--and I love that girl dearly. By-the-by, have you ever said anything to her?”