Part 66 (1/2)

When the ladies retired, being alone, we entered into friendly conversation. I expressed my admiration of his daughters, who certainly were very handsome and elegant girls.

”Very true; they are more than pa.s.sable,” replied he. ”We have had many offers, but not such as come up to my expectations. Baronets are cheap now-a-days, and Irish lords are nothings; I hope to settle them comfortably. We shall see. Try this claret; you will find it excellent, not a headache in a hogshead of it. How people can drink port, I cannot imagine.”

The next morning he proposed that I should rattle round the park with him. I acceded, and we set off in a handsome open carriage, with four greys, ridden by postilions at a rapid pace. As we were whirling along, he observed, ”In town we must of course drive but a pair, but in the country I never go out without four horses. There is a spring in four horses which is delightful; it makes your spirits elastic, and you feel that the poor animals are not at hard labour. Rather than not drive four, I would prefer to stay at home.”

Our ride was very pleasant, and in such amus.e.m.e.nts pa.s.sed away one of the most pleasant weeks that I ever remembered. Willemott was not the least altered--he was as friendly, as sincere, as open-hearted, as when a boy at school. I left him, pleased with his prosperity, and acknowledging that he was well deserving of it, although his ideas had a.s.sumed such a scale of magnificence.

I went to India when my leave expired, and was absent about four years.

On my return, I inquired after my friend Willemott, and was told, that his circ.u.mstances and expectations had been greatly altered. From many causes, such as a change in the government, a demand for economy, and the wording of his contracts having been differently rendered from what Willemott had supposed their meaning to be, large items had been struck out of his balance sheet, and, instead of being a millionaire, he was now a gentleman with a handsome property. Belem Castle had been sold, and he now lived at Richmond, as hospitable as ever, and was considered a great addition to the neighbourhood. I took the earliest opportunity of going down to see him.

”Oh, my dear Reynolds, this is really kind of you to come without invitation. Your room is ready, and bed well aired, for it was slept in three nights ago. Come--Mrs Willemott will be delighted to see you.”

I found the girls still unmarried, but they were yet young. The whole family appeared as contented and happy, and as friendly, as before. We sat down to dinner at six o'clock; the footman and the coachman attended. The dinner was good, but not by the _artiste extraordinaire_.

I praised everything.

”Yes,” replied he, ”she is a very good cook; she unites the solidity of the English with the delicacy of the French fare; and, altogether, I think it a _decided improvement_. Jane is quite a treasure.” After dinner, he observed, ”Of course you know I have sold Belem Castle, and reduced my establishment. Government have not treated me fairly, but I am at the mercy of commissioners, and a body of men will do that which, as individuals, they would be ashamed of. The fact is, the odium is borne by no one in particular, and it is only the sense of shame which keeps us honest, I am afraid. However, here you see me, with a comfortable fortune, and always happy to see my friends, especially my old school-fellow. Will you take _port_ or claret; the port is very fine, and so is the claret. By-the-bye, do you know--I'll let you into a family secret; Louisa is to be married to a Colonel Willer--an _excellent_ match! It has made us all happy.”

The next day we drove out, not in a open carriage as before, but in a chariot and with _a pair of horses_.

”These are handsome horses,” observed I.--”Yes,” replied he, ”I am fond of good horses; and, as I only keep a pair, I have the best. There is a certain degree of pretension in _four horses_, I do not much like--it appears as if you wished to overtop your neighbours.”

I spent a few very pleasant days, and then quitted his hospitable roof.

A severe cold, caught that winter, induced me to take the advice of the physicians, and proceed to the South of France, where I remained two years. On my return, I was informed that Willemott had speculated, and had been unlucky on the Stock Exchange; that he had left Richmond, and was now living at Clapham. The next day I met him near the Exchange.

”Reynolds, I am happy to see you. Thompson told me that you had come back. If not better engaged, come down to see me; I will drive you down at four o'clock, if that will suit.”

It suited me very well, and, at four o'clock, I met him according to appointment at a livery stables over the Iron Bridge. His vehicle was ordered out, it was a phaeton drawn by two longed-tailed ponies--altogether a very neat concern. We set off at a rapid pace.

”They step out well, don't they? We shall be down in plenty of time to put on a pair of shoes by five o'clock, which is _our dinner-time_. Late dinners don't agree with me--they produce indigestion. Of course, you know that Louisa has a little boy.”

I did not; but congratulated him.

”Yes, and has now gone out to India with her husband. Mary is also engaged to be married--a very _good_ match--a Mr Rivers, in the law. He has been called to the bar this year, and promises well. They will be a little pinched at first, but we must see what we can do for them.”

We stopped at a neat row of houses, I forget the name, and, as we drove up, the servant, the only man-servant, came out, and took the ponies round to the stable, while the maid received my luggage, and one or two paper-bags, containing a few extras for the occasion. I was met with the same warmth as usual by Mrs Willemott. The house was small, but very neat; the remnants of former grandeur appeared here and there, in one or two little articles, favourites of the lady. We sat down at five o'clock to a _plain_ dinner, and were attended by the footman, who had rubbed down the ponies and pulled on his livery.

”A good plain cook is the best thing, after all,” observed Willemott.

”Your fine cooks won't condescend to roast and boil. Will you take some of this sirloin, the under-cut is excellent. My dear, give Mr Reynolds some Yorks.h.i.+re pudding.”

When we were left alone after dinner, Willemott told me, very unconcernedly, of his losses.

”It was my own fault,” said he; ”I wished to make up a little sum for the girls, and risking what they would have had, I left them almost penniless. However, we can always command a bottle of port and a beef-steak, and _what more_ in this world can you have? Will you take port or white?--I have no claret to offer you.”

We finished our port, but I could perceive no difference in Willemott.

He was just as happy and as cheerful as ever. He drove me to town the next day. During our drive, he observed, ”I like ponies, they are so little trouble; and I prefer them to driving one horse in this vehicle, as I can put my wife and daughters into it. It's selfish to keep a carriage for yourself alone, and one horse in a four-wheeled double chaise appears like an imposition upon the poor animal.”

I went to Scotland, and remained about a year. On my return, I found that my friend Willemott had again s.h.i.+fted his quarters. He was at Brighton; and having nothing better to do, I put myself in the ”Times,”