Part 125 (1/2)
”It is a simple name,” replied Lady Isabel; ”and simple names are always the most attractive.”
”That is just what Archibald thinks. But he wanted this child's to be Barbara. I would not have had it Barbara for the world. I remember his once saying, a long, long while ago that he did not like elaborate names; they were mouthfuls; and he instanced mine and his sister's, and his own. I recalled his words to him, and he said he may not have liked the name of Barbara then, but he loved it now. So we entered into a compromise; Miss Baby was named Anne Barbara, with an understanding that the first name is to be for use, and the last for the registers.”
”It is not christened?” said Lady Isabel.
”Only baptized. We should have had it christened before now, but for William's death. Not that we give christening dinners; but I waited for the trial at Lynneborough to be over, that my dear brother Richard might stand to the child.”
”Mr. Carlyle does not like christenings made into festivals,” Lady Isabel dreamily observed, her thoughts buried in the past.
”How do you know that?” exclaimed Barbara, opening her eyes.
And poor Madame Vine, her pale face flus.h.i.+ng, had to stammer forth some confused words that she had ”heard so somewhere.”
”It is quite true,” said Barbara. ”He has never given a christening- dinner for any of his children, and gets out of attending if invited to one. He cannot understand the a.n.a.logy between a solemn religious rite and the meeting together afterward to eat and drink and make merry, according to the fas.h.i.+on of this world.”
As Lady Isabel quitted the room, young Vane was careering through the corridor, throwing his head in all directions, and calling out,--
”Lucy! I want Lucy!”
”What do you want with her?” asked Madame Vine.
”Il m'est impossible de vous le dire madame,” responded he. Being, for an Eton boy, wonderfully up in French, he was rather given to show it off when he got the chance. He did not owe thanks for it to Eton. Lady Mount Severn had taken better care than that. Better care? What could she want? There was one whole, real, live French tutor--and he an Englishman!--for the eight hundred boys. Very unreasonable of her ladys.h.i.+p to disparage that ample provision.
”Lucy cannot come to you just now. She is practicing.”
”Mais, il le faut. J'ai le droit de demander apres elle. Elle m'appartient, vous comprenez, madame, cette demoiselle la.”
Madame could not forbear a smile. ”I wish you would speak English sense, instead of French nonsense.”
”Then the English sense is that I want Lucy and I must have her. I am going to take her for a drive in the pony carriage, if you must know.
She said she'd come, and John's getting it ready.”
”I could not possibly allow it,” said Madame Vine. ”You'd be sure to upset her.”
”The idea!” he returned, indignantly. ”As if I should upset Lucy! Why, I'm one of the great whips at Eton. I care for Lucy too much not to drive steadily. She is to be my wife, you know, ma bonne dame.”
At this juncture two heads were pushed out from the library, close by; those of the earl and Mr. Carlyle. Barbara, also, attracted by the talking, appeared at the door of her dressing-room.
”What's that about a wife?” asked my lord of his son.
The blood mantled in the young gentleman's cheek as he turned round and saw who had spoken, but he possessed all the fearlessness of an Eton boy.
”I intend Lucy Carlyle to be my wife, papa. I mean in earnest--when we shall both be grown up--if you will approve, and Mr. Carlyle will give her to me.”
The earl looked somewhat impa.s.sable, Mr. Carlyle amused. ”Suppose,” said the latter, ”we adjourn the discussion to this day ten years?”
”But that Lucy is so very young a child, I should reprove you seriously, sir,” said the earl. ”You have no right to bring Lucy's name into any such absurdity.”
”I mean it, papa; you'll all see. And I intend to keep out of sc.r.a.pes-- that is, of nasty, dishonorable sc.r.a.pes--on purpose that Mr. Carlyle shall find no excuse against me. I have made up my mind to be what he is--a man of honor. I am right glad you know about it, sir, and I shall let mamma know it before long.”