Part 51 (1/2)
”I tell you she is not,” said Comyn, still more emphatically; ”and you can write that down in red in your table book. Gossip has never been able to connect her name with that of any man save yours, when she went for you in Castle Yard. And, gemini, gossip is like water, and will get in if a crack shows. When the Marquis of Wells was going to Arlington Street once every day, she sent him about his business in a fortnight.”
Despite Comyn's most unselfish optimism, I could see no light. And in the recklessness that so often besets youngsters of my temper, on like occasions, I went off to Newmarket next day with Mr. Fox and Lord Ossory, in his Lords.h.i.+p's travelling-chaise and four. I spent a very gay week trying to forget Miss Dolly. I was the loser by some three hundred pounds, in addition to what I expended and loaned to Mr. Fox. This young gentleman was then beginning to acc.u.mulate at Newmarket a most execrable stud. He lost prodigiously, but seemed in no wise disturbed thereby.
I have never known a man who took his ill-luck with such a stoical nonchalance. Not so while the heat was on. As I write, a most ridiculous recollection rises of Charles dragging his Lords.h.i.+p and me and all who were with him to that part of the course where the race was highest, where he would act like a madman; blowing and perspiring, and whipping and swearing all at a time, and rising up and down as if the horse was throwing him.
At Newmarket I had the good--or ill-fortune to meet that incorrigible rake and profligate, my Lord of March and Ruglen. For him the G.o.ddess of Chance had smiled, and he was in the most complaisant humour. I was presented to his Grace, the Duke of Grafton, whose name I had no reason to love, and invited to Wakefield Lodge. We went instead, Mr. Fox and I, to Ampthill, Lord Ossory's seat, with a merry troop. And then we had more racing; and whist and quinze and pharaoh and hazard, until I was obliged to write another draft upon Mr. Dix to settle the wails: and picquet in the travelling-chaise all the way to London. Dining at Brooks's, we encountered Fitzpatrick and Comyn and my Lord Carlisle.
”Now how much has Charles borrowed of you, Mr. Carvel?” demanded Fitzpatrick, as we took our seats.
”I'll lay ten guineas that Charles has him mortgaged this day month, though he owns as much land as William Penn, and is as rich as Fordyce.”
Comyn demanded where the devil I had been, though he knew perfectly. He was uncommonly silent during dinner, and then asked me if I had heard the news. I told him I had heard none. He took me by the sleeve, to the quiet amus.e.m.e.nt of the company, and led me aside.
”Curse you, Richard,” says be; ”you have put me in such a temper that I vow I'll fling you over. You profess to love her, and yet you go betting to Newmarket and carousing to Ampthill when she is ill.”
”Ill!” I said, catching my breath.
”Ay! That hurts, does it? Yes, ill, I say. She was missed at Lady Pembroke's that Friday you had the scene with her, and at Lady Ailesbury's on Sat.u.r.day. On Monday morning, when I come to you for tidings, you are off watching Charles make an a.s.s of himself at Newmarket.”
”And how is she now, Comyn?” I asked, catching him by the arm.
”You may go yourself and see, and be cursed, Richard Carvel. She is in trouble, and you are pleasure-seeking in the country. Damme! you deserve richly to lose her.”
Calling for my greatcoat, and paying no heed to the jeers of the company for leaving before the toasts and the play, I fairly ran to Arlington Street. I was in a pa.s.sion of remorse. Comyn had been but just.
Granting, indeed, that she had refused to marry me, was that any reason why I should desert my life-long friend and playmate? A hundred little tokens of her affection for me rose to mind, and last of all that rescue from Castle Yard in the face of all Mayfair. And in that hour of darkness the conviction that something was wrong came back upon me with redoubled force. Her lack of colour, her feverish actions, and the growing slightness of her figure, all gave me a pang, as I connected them with that scene on the balcony over the Park.
The house was darkened, and a coach was in front of it.
”Yessir,” said the footman, ”Miss Manners has been quite ill. She is now some better, and Dr. James is with her. Mrs. Manners begs company will excuse her.”
And Mr. Marmaduke? The man said, with as near a grin as he ever got, that the marster was gone to Mrs. Cornelys's a.s.sembly. As I turned away, sick at heart, the physician, in his tie-wig and scarlet cloak, came out, and I stopped him. He was a testy man, and struck the stone an impatient blow with his staff.
”'Od's life, sir. I am besieged day and night by you young gentlemen. I begin to think of sending a daily card to Almack's.”
”Sir, I am an old friend of Miss Manners,” I replied, ”having grown up with her in Maryland--”
”Are you Mr. Carvel?” he demanded abruptly, taking his hat from his arm.
”Yes,” I answered, surprised. In the gleam of the portico lanthorn he scrutinized me for several seconds.
”There are some troubles of the mind which are beyond the power of physic to remedy, Mr. Carvel,” said he. ”She has mentioned your name, sir, and you are to judge of my meaning. Your most obedient, sir. Good night, sir.”
And he got into his coach, leaving me standing where I was, bewildered.
That same fear of being alone, which has driven many a man to his cups, sent me back to Brooks's for company. I found Fox and Comyn seated at a table in the corner of the drawing-room, for once not playing, but talking earnestly. Their expressions when they saw me betrayed what my own face must have been.
”What is it?” cried Comyn, half rising; ”is she--is she--”
”No, she is better,” I said.
He looked relieved.