Part 5 (2/2)
”The fact is, my dear madam, I have set my heart on a family arrangement, which I mention to you as a personal friend, and a lady for whom I entertain the greatest regard.”
Mary bowed again, and could hardly suppress a smile at the manner in which the old gentleman a.s.sured her of his consideration.
”Well, though an unmarried man _as yet_, I am keenly alive to the advantages of the married state. I never told you, I think, Mrs.
Delaval, of an adventure that befell me at Cheltenham--never mind now--but, believe me, I am no stranger to those tender feelings, Mrs.
Delaval, to which we men of the sword--ah, ah--are _infernally_ addicted. What? Well, ma'am, there's my niece now, they all want to marry her. Every scoundrel within fifty miles wants to lead Blanche to the altar. Zounds, I'll weather 'em, the villains--excuse me, Mrs.
Delaval, but to proceed--I am extremely anxious to confide my intentions to you, as I hope I may calculate on your a.s.sistance. My nephew, Charlie, to be explicit, is the----Holloa! you woman, come back--come back, I say; you're carrying off the wrong coop. The dolt has mistaken my orders about the Cochin Chinas. In the afternoon, if you please, Mrs. Delaval, we'll discuss the point more at leisure.”
And the General bolted through the study window, and was presently heard in violent altercation with the lady who presided over his poultry yard.
Though not very explicit, Mary had gathered enough from the General's confidences to conclude he was anxious to arrange a marriage eventually between the two cousins. Well! what was that to her? He certainly was a very taking boy, handsome, gentle, and high-spirited; nothing could be nicer for Blanche. And she was so fond of him; what a charming couple they would make. ”I am so glad,” thought Mary, wondering when she might congratulate the bride-elect; ”so _very_ glad; dear, how glad I am.” Why should Mary have taken such pains to a.s.sure herself how glad she was? Why did she watch the _charming couple_ with an interest she had never felt before, as she joined them on their return from their morning walk? A walk, the object of which (tell it not in Bubbleton) had been to pursue the sport of rat-hunting in a certain barn, with a favourite terrier of Charlie's, a sport that Blanche was persuaded to patronise, notwithstanding her horror both of the game and the mode of its destruction, by her affection for Charlie, and her childish habit of joining him in all his pastimes and amus.e.m.e.nts. How alike they were, with their delicate skin, their deep blue eyes sparkling with exercise and excitement, and their waving brown hair cl.u.s.tering round each flushed and smiling face. How alike they were, and what a nice couple they certainly did make. And Mary sighed, as again she thought how _very_ glad she was!
No further interview took place that day with the General, whose many avocations scarcely permitted him time for the elaborate toilette which, partly out of respect for Blanche's birthday, partly in consideration of his dinner-party, he thought it advisable to perform.
He certainly did take more pains with himself than usual; and as he fixed an order or two in an una.s.suming place under the breast-lap of his coat, a ray of satisfaction shot through his heart that beat beneath those clasps and medals, while the old gentleman thought aloud as usual, ”Not such a bad arrangement after all! She certainly did look very queer when I talked of Blanche's marrying. No doubt she's smitten--just like the one at Cheltenham. Bounce! Bounce! you've a deal to answer for. If ever I _do_, it's time I thought of it; don't improve by keeping. 'Pon my life, I might go farther and fare worse.
Zounds! there's the door-bell.”
”Lady Mount Helicon!” ”Captain Lacquers!” ”Sir Ascot Uppercrust!” and a whole host of second-rate grandees were successively announced and ushered into the brilliantly-lighted drawing-room, to be received by the General with the _empress.e.m.e.nt_ of a bachelor, who is host and hostess all in one. Blanche was too young and shy to take much part in the proceedings. Charlie, of course, was late; but Bounce was in his glory, bowing to the ladies, joking with the gentlemen, and telling anecdotes to all, till the announcement of ”dinner” started him across the hall, convoying stately Lady Mount Helicon, and well-nigh lost amidst the lappets and flounces of that magnificent dame, who would not have been here at all unless she had owned an unmarried son, and a jointure entirely out of proportion to the present lord's finances.
The rest of the party paired off after their ill.u.s.trious leaders. Sir Ascot Uppercrust took Blanche, who was already lost in surprise at his taciturnity. Miss Deeper skilfully contrived to entangle young Cashley. Kate Carmine felt her heart beat happily against the arm of Captain Laurel, of the Bays. Mr. Gotobed made a dash at Mary Delaval, but ”Cousin Charlie,” who that instant entered the room, quietly interposed and led her off to the dining-room, leaving a heterogeneous ma.s.s of unappropriated gentlemen to scramble in as they best might.
Mary was grateful for the rescue; she was glad to be near somebody she knew. With a flush of shame and anger she had recognised Captain Lacquers, though that worthy dipped his moustaches into his soup in happy unconsciousness that the well-dressed aristocratic woman opposite him was the same indignant damsel who would once have knocked him down if she could. With all her self-possession, Mary was not blind to the fact that her position was anomalous and ill-defined. She had found that out already by the condescending manner in which Lady Mount Helicon had bowed to her in the drawing-room. With the men she was ”that handsome lady-like Mrs. Delaval”; but with the women (your true aristocrats after all) she was _only the governess_.
Dinner progressed in the weary protracted manner that the meal does when it is one of state and ceremony. The guests did not know each other well, and were dreadfully afraid (as is too often the case in good society) of being over civil or attentive to those whose position they had not exactly ascertained. It argues ill for one's stock of politeness when one cannot afford to part with ever so small a portion, save in expectation of a return. So Lady Mount Helicon was patronising and affable, and looked at everything, including the company, through her eye-gla.s.s, but was very distant notwithstanding; and the gentlemen hemmed and hawed, and voted the weather detestable--aw! and the sport with the hounds--aw--very moderate--aw (it was d----d bad after the ladies went away); and their fair companions lisped and simpered, and ate very little, and drank as much champagne as appearances would allow; and everybody felt it an unspeakable relief when Blanche, drawing on her gloves, and blus.h.i.+ng crimson at the responsibility, made ”the move” to Lady Mount Helicon; and the muslins all sailed away, with their gloves and fans and pocket-handkerchiefs rescued from under the table by their red-faced cavaliers.
When they met again over tea and coffee, things had thawed considerably. The most solemn high-breeding is not proof against an abundance of claret, and the General's hospitality was worthy of his cellar. The men had found each other out to be ”deuced good sort of fellows,” and had moreover discovered mutual tastes and mutual acquaintances, which much cemented their friends.h.i.+ps. To be sure, there was at first a partial reaction consequent upon the difficulty of breaking through a formal circle of ladies; but this feat accomplished, and the gentlemen grouped about cup-in-hand in becoming att.i.tudes, and disposed to look favourably on the world in general, even Sir Ascot Uppercrust laid aside his usual reserve, and asked Blanche whether she had seen anything of a round game called ”turning the tables,” which the juvenile philosopher further confided to her he opined to be ”infernal humbug.” In an instant every tongue was unloosed. Drop a subject like this amongst a well-dressed crowd and it is like a cracker--here and there it bounces, and fizzes, and explodes, amongst serious exclamations and hearty laughter. Lady Mount Helicon thought it wicked--Kate Carmine thought it ”fun”--Miss Deeper voted it charming--Lacquers considered it ”aw--deuced scientific--aw”--and the General in high glee exclaimed, ”I vote we try.” No sooner said than done; a round mahogany table was deprived of its covering--a circle formed--hands joined with more energy than was absolutely indispensable--white arms laid in juxtaposition to dark coat sleeves--long ringlets bent over the polished mirror-like surface; and amidst laughing entreaties to be grave, and voluble injunctions to be silent, the incantation progressed, we are bound in truth to state, with no definite result. Perhaps the spell was broken by the bursts of laughter that greeted the pompous butler's face of consternation, as, entering the room to remove cups, etc., he found the smartly-dressed party so strangely employed. Well-bred servants never betray the slightest marks of emotion or astonishment, though we fancy their self-command is sometimes severely put to the test. But ”turning the tables” was too much for the major-domo, and he was obliged to make his exit in a paroxysm of unseemly mirth. Then came a round game of forfeits--then music--then dancing, the ladies playing by turns--then somebody found out the night was pouring with rain, and the General declared it would be sure to clear in an hour or so, and n.o.body must go away till after supper. So supper appeared and more champagne; and even Lady Mount Helicon was ready to do anything to oblige, so, being a fine musician, she volunteered to play ”The Coquette.” A chair was placed in the middle of the room, and everybody danced, the General and all. Blanche laughed till she cried; and there was but one feeling of regret when the announcement of her ladys.h.i.+p's carriage broke up the party, just at the moment when, in accordance with the rules of the dance, Charlie sank upon one knee before the Coquette's chair, occupied by stately Mrs. Delaval. He looked like a young knight prostrate before the Queen of Beauty.
When Blanche laid her head upon her pillow, she thought over all her uncle's guests in succession, and decided not one was to be compared to Cousin Charlie; and none was half so agreeable as Mr. Hardingstone.
Mary Delaval, on the contrary, scarcely gave a thought to Captain Lacquers, Sir Ascot Uppercrust, Captain Laurel, or even Mr. Gotobed, who had paid her great attention. No, even as she closed her eyes she was haunted by a young upturned face, with fair open brow and a slight moustache--do what she would, she saw it still. She was, besides, a little distracted about the loss of one of her gloves--a white one, with velvet round the wrist--what could have become of it?
CHAPTER VII
BOOT AND SADDLE
”THE GRAND MILITARY”--SPORT, BUT NOT PLEASURE--WARLIKE ADVANCES--SOME OF ALL SORTS--AN EQUESTRIAN FEAT--THEY'RE OFF--RIDING TO WIN--FOLLOW-MY-LEADER--WELL OVER AND WELL IN--HOME IN A HURRY--A CLOSE RACE--THE HEIRESS WITH MANY FRIENDS--A DAY'S AMUs.e.m.e.nT
”Card of the running 'orses--_cor_-rect card! Major, dear, you always take a card of me!” pleads a weather-worn, good-looking, smart-ribboned card-woman, standing up to her ankles in mud on Guyville race-course. Poor thing! hers is a strange, hard, vagabond sort of life. This very morning she has heard ma.s.s (being an Irish-woman) seventeen miles off, and she will be on her legs the whole of the livelong day, and have a good supper and a hard bed, and be up at dawn to-morrow, ready and willing for a forty-mile tramp wherever money is to be made; so, in the meantime, she hands up half-a-dozen damp cards to Gaston D'Orville, now Major in ”The Loyals,” and this day princ.i.p.al acting-steward of ”The Grand Military Steeple-Chase.”
The Major is but slightly altered since we saw him last at Bishops'-Baffler. His tall figure may, perhaps, be a trifle fuller, and the lines of dissipation round his eyes and mouth a little deeper, while here and there his large whiskers and cl.u.s.tering hair are just sprinkled with grey; but for all this, he is still about the finest-looking man on the course, and of this fact, as of every other advantage of his position, no one is better aware than himself. Yet is he not a vain man; cool and calculating, he looks upon such ”pulls in his favour,” as he calls them, much as he would on ”a point in the odds,”--mere chances in the game of life, to be made the most of when opportunity offers. He has just got upon a remarkably handsome white horse, to show the military equestrians ”the line” over which they are to have an opportunity of breaking their necks, and is surrounded by a posse of great-coated, shawl-handkerchiefed, and goloshed individuals, mostly striplings, who are nervously ready to scan the obstacles they are destined to encounter.
There are nine starters for the great event, and professional speculators at ”The Kingmakers' Arms” are even now wagering that not above three ever reach ”home,” so low an opinion do they entertain of ”the soldiers' riding,” or so ghastly do they deem the fences flagged out to prove the warriors' metal. Four miles over a stiff country, with a large brook, and a finish in front of the grand-stand, will furnish work for the horses and excitement for the ladies, whilst the adventurous jocks are even now glancing at one another aghast at the unexpected strength and height of these impediments, which, to a man on foot, look positively awful.
”I object to this fence decidedly,” observes a weak, thin voice, which, under his multiplicity of wraps, we have some difficulty in identifying as the property of Sir Ascot Uppercrust. ”I object in the name of all the riders--it is positively dangerous--don't you agree with me?” he adds, pointing to a formidable ”double post and rail,”
with but little room between, and appealing to his fellow-sufferers, who all coincide with him but one.
”Nothing for a hunter,” says the dissentient, who, seeing that the exploit has to be performed in full view of the ladies in the stand, would have it worse if he could. ”Nothing for any horse that is properly ridden;--what do you say, major?”
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