Part 26 (1/2)
”I simply mean that even you could hardly have asked Miss Effingham such a question. I have asked her, and she has refused me.”
”But girls often do that, and yet accept afterwards the men whom they have refused. Laura tells me that she believes that Violet would consent if you pressed your suit.”
”Laura knows nothing about it, my lord.”
”There you are probably wrong. Laura and Violet are very close friends, and have no doubt discussed this matter between them. At any rate, it may be as well that you should hear what I have to say. Of course I shall not interfere myself. There is no ground on which I can do so with propriety.”
”None whatever,” said Lord Chiltern.
The Earl became very angry, and nearly broke down in his anger. He paused for a moment, feeling disposed to tell his son to go and never to see him again. But he gulped down his wrath, and went on with his speech. ”My meaning, sir, is this;--that I have so great faith in Violet Effingham, that I would receive her acceptance of your hand as the only proof which would be convincing to me of amendment in your mode of life. If she were to do so, I would join with you in raising money to pay your sister, would make some further sacrifice with reference to an income for you and your wife, and--would make you both welcome to Saulsby,--if you chose to come.” The Earl's voice hesitated much and became almost tremulous as he made the last proposition. And his eyes had fallen away from his son's gaze, and he had bent a little over the table, and was moved. But he recovered himself at once, and added, with all proper dignity, ”If you have anything to say I shall be glad to hear it.”
”All your offers would be nothing, my lord, if I did not like the girl.”
”I should not ask you to marry a girl if you did not like her, as you call it.”
”But as to Miss Effingham, it happens that our wishes jump together.
I have asked her, and she has refused me. I don't even know where to find her to ask her again. If I went to Lady Baldock's house the servants would not let me in.”
”And whose fault is that?”
”Yours partly, my lord. You have told everybody that I am the devil, and now all the old women believe it.”
”I never told anybody so.”
”I'll tell you what I'll do. I will go down to Lady Baldock's to-day.
I suppose she is at Baddingham. And if I can get speech of Miss Effingham--”
”Miss Effingham is not at Baddingham. Miss Effingham is staying with your sister in Grosvenor Place. I saw her yesterday.”
”She is in London?”
”I tell you that I saw her yesterday.”
”Very well, my lord. Then I will do the best I can. Laura will tell you of the result.”
The father would have given the son some advice as to the mode in which he should put forward his claim upon Violet's hand, but the son would not wait to hear it. Choosing to presume that the conference was over, he went back to the room in which he had kept his dumb-bells, and for a minute or two went to work at his favourite exercise. But he soon put the dumb-bells down, and began to prepare himself for his work. If this thing was to be done, it might as well be done at once. He looked out of his window, and saw that the streets were in a mess of slush. White snow was becoming black mud, as it will do in London; and the violence of frost was giving way to the horrors of thaw. All would be soft and comparatively pleasant in Northamptons.h.i.+re on the following morning, and if everything went right he would breakfast at the Willingford Bull. He would go down by the hunting train, and be at the inn by ten. The meet was only six miles distant, and all would be pleasant. He would do this whatever might be the result of his work to-day;--but in the meantime he would go and do his work. He had a cab called, and within half an hour of the time at which he had left his father, he was at the door of his sister's house in Grosvenor Place. The servants told him that the ladies were at lunch. ”I can't eat lunch,” he said. ”Tell them that I am in the drawing-room.”
”He has come to see you,” said Lady Laura, as soon as the servant had left the room.
”I hope not,” said Violet.
”Do not say that.”
”But I do say it. I hope he has not come to see me;--that is, not to see me specially. Of course I cannot pretend not to know what you mean.”
”He may think it civil to call if he has heard that you are in town,”
said Lady Laura, after a pause.