Part 28 (1/2)
Though the waves may run high when the night wind awakes, And hurries the stream to its fall; Though broken and wild be the billows it makes, Thine image still trembles on all!”
While this ominous love between Clifford and Lucy was thus finding fresh food in every interview and every opportunity, the unfortunate Mauleverer, firmly persuaded that his complaint was a relapse of what he termed the ”Warlock dyspepsia,” was waging dire war with the remains of the beef and pudding, which he tearfully a.s.sured his physicians ”were lurking in his const.i.tution.” As Mauleverer, though complaisant, like most men of unmistakable rank, to all his acquaintances, whatever might be their grade, possessed but very few friends intimate enough to enter his sick-chamber, and none of that few were at Bath, it will readily be perceived that he was in blissful ignorance of the growing fortunes of his rival; and to say the exact truth, illness, which makes a man's thoughts turn very much upon himself, banished many of the most tender ideas usually floating in his mind around the image of Lucy Brandon. His pill superseded his pa.s.sion; and he felt that there are draughts in the world more powerful in their effects than those in the phials of Alcidonis.--[See Marmontel's pretty tale of ”Les Quatres Flacons.”]--He very often thought, it is true, how pleasant it would be for Lucy to smooth his pillow, and Lucy to prepare that mixture; but then Mauleverer had an excellent valet, who hoped to play the part enacted by Gil Blas towards the honest Licentiate, and to nurse a legacy while he was nursing his master. And the earl, who was tolerably good-tempered, was forced to confess that it would be scarcely possible for any one ”to know his ways better than Smoothson.” Thus, during his illness, the fair form of his intended bride little troubled the peace of the n.o.ble adorer. And it was not till he found himself able to eat three good dinners consecutively, with a tolerable appet.i.te, that Mauleverer recollected that he was violently in love. As soon as this idea was fully reinstated in his memory, and he had been permitted by his doctor to allow himself ”a little cheerful society,” Mauleverer resolved to go to the rooms for an hour or two.
It may be observed that most great personages have some favourite place, some cherished Baiae, at which they love to throw off their state, and to play the amiable instead of the splendid; and Bath at that time, from its gayety, its ease, the variety of character to be found in its haunts, and the obliging manner in which such characters exposed themselves to ridicule, was exactly the place calculated to please a man like Mauleverer, who loved at once to be admired and to satirize. He was therefore an idolized person at the city of Bladud; and as he entered the rooms he was surrounded by a whole band of imitators and sycophants, delighted to find his lords.h.i.+p looking so much better and declaring himself so convalescent. As soon as the earl had bowed and smiled, and shaken hands sufficiently to sustain his reputation, he sauntered towards the dancers in search of Lucy. He found her not only exactly in the same spot in which he had last beheld her, but dancing with exactly the same partner who had before provoked all the gallant n.o.bleman's jealousy and wrath. Mauleverer, though not by any means addicted to preparing his compliments beforehand, had just been conning a delicate speech for Lucy; but no sooner did the person of her partner flash on him than the whole flattery vanished at once from his recollection.
He felt himself grow pale; and when Lucy turned, and seeing him near, addressed him in the anxious and soft tone which she thought due to her uncle's friend on his recovery, Mauleverer bowed, confused and silent; and that green-eyed pa.s.sion, which would have convulsed the mind of a true lover, altering a little the course of its fury, effectually disturbed the manner of the courtier.
Retreating to an obscure part of the room, where he could see all without being conspicuous, Mauleverer now employed himself in watching the motions and looks of the young pair. He was naturally a penetrating and quick observer, and in this instance jealousy sharpened his talents; he saw enough to convince him that Lucy was already attached to Clifford; and being, by that conviction, fully persuaded that Lucy was necessary to his own happiness, he resolved to lose not a moment in banis.h.i.+ng Captain Clifford from her presence, or at least in inst.i.tuting such inquiries into that gentleman's relatives, rank, and respectability as would, he hoped, render such banishment a necessary consequence of the research.
Fraught with this determination, Mauleverer repaired at once to the retreat of the squire, and engaging him in conversation, bluntly asked him who the deuce Miss Brandon was dancing with.
The squire, a little piqued at this brusquerie, replied by a long eulogium on Paul; and Mauleverer, after hearing it throughout with the blandest smile imaginable, told the squire, very politely, that he was sure Mr. Brandon's good-nature had misled him. ”Clifford!” said he, repeating the name,--”Clifford! It is one of those names which are particularly selected by persons n.o.body knows,--first, because the name is good, and secondly, because it is common. My long and dear friends.h.i.+p with your brother makes me feel peculiarly anxious on any point relative to his niece; and, indeed, my dear William, overrating, perhaps, my knowledge of the world and my influence in society, but not my affection for him, besought me to a.s.sume the liberty of esteeming myself a friend, nay, even a relation of yours and Miss Brandon's; so that I trust you do not consider my caution impertinent.”
The flattered squire a.s.sured him that he was particularly honoured, so far from deeming his lords.h.i.+p (which never could be the case with people so distinguished as his lords.h.i.+p was, especially!) impertinent.
Lord Mauleverer, encouraged by this speech, artfully renewed, and succeeded, if not in convincing the squire that the handsome captain was a suspicious character, at least in persuading him that common prudence required that he should find out exactly who the handsome captain was, especially as he was in the habit of dining with the squire thrice a week, and dancing with Lucy every night.
”See,” said Mauleverer, ”he approaches you now; I will retreat to the chair by the fireplace, and you shall cross-examine him,--I have no doubt you will do it with the utmost delicacy.”
So saying, Mauleverer took possession of a seat where he was not absolutely beyond hearing (slightly deaf as he was) of the ensuing colloquy, though the position of his seat screened him from sight.
Mauleverer was esteemed a man of the most punctilious honour in private life, and he would not have been seen in the act of listening to other people's conversation for the world.
Hemming with an air and resettling himself as Clifford approached, the squire thus skilfully commenced the attack ”Ah, ha! my good Captain Clifford, and how do you do? I saw you (and I am very glad, my friend, as every one else is, to see you) at a distance. And where have you left my daughter?”
”Miss Brandon is dancing with Mr. Muskwell, sir,” answered Clifford.
”Oh! she is! Mr. Muskwell,--humph! Good family the Muskwells,--came from Primrose Hall. Pray, Captain, not that I want to know for my own sake, for I am a strange, odd person, I believe, and I am thoroughly convinced (some people are censorious, and others, thank G.o.d, are not!) of your respectability,--what family do you come from? You won't think my--my caution impertinent?” added the shrewd old gentleman, borrowing that phrase which he thought so friendly in the mouth of Lord Mauleverer.
Clifford coloured for a moment, but replied with a quiet archness of look, ”Family! oh, my dear sir, I come from an old family,--a very old family indeed.”
”So I always thought; and in what part of the world?”
”Scotland, sir,--all our family come from Scotland; namely, all who live long do,--the rest die young.”
”Ay, particular air does agree with particular const.i.tutions. I, for instance, could not live in all countries; not--you take me--in the North!”
”Few honest men can live there,” said Clifford, dryly. ”And,” resumed the squire, a little embarra.s.sed by the nature of his task, and the cool a.s.surance of his young friend,--”and pray, Captain Clifford, what regiment do you belong to?”
”Regiment?--oh, the Rifles!” answered Clifford. (”Deuce is in me,”
muttered he, ”if I can resist a jest, though I break my neck over it.”)
”A very gallant body of men,” said the squire.
”No doubt of that, sir!” rejoined Clifford.
”And do you think, Captain Clifford,” renewed the squire, ”that it is a good corps for getting on?”
”It is rather a bad one for getting off,” muttered the Captain; and then aloud, ”Why, we have not much interest at court, sir.”