Part 81 (2/2)
”Richard--Richard--who is he? Oh, I remember, the wild lad who went off to America; but that was when I was a mere child.”
”That Richard Avenel is now a rich, thriving trader, and his marriage is in this newspaper,--married to an Honourable Mrs. M'Catchley. Well, in this country who should plume himself on birth?”
”You did not say so always, Egerton,” replied Harley, with a tone of mournful reproach.
”And I say so now pertinently to a Mrs. M'Catchley, not to the heir of the L'Estranges. But no more of these--these Avenels.”
”Yes, more of them. I tell you I have met a relation of theirs--a nephew of--of--”
”Of Richard Avenel's?” interrupted Egerton; and then added in the slow, deliberate, argumentative tone in which he was wont to speak in public, ”Richard Avenel the trader! I saw him once,--a presuming and intolerable man!”
”The nephew has not those sins. He is full of promise, of modesty, yet of pride. And his countenance--oh, Egerton, he has her eyes.”
Egerton made no answer, and Harley resumed,
”I had thought of placing him under your care. I knew you would provide for him.”
”I will. Bring him hither,” cried Egerton, eagerly. ”All that I can do to prove my--regard for a wish of yours.” Harley pressed his friend's hand warmly.
”I thank you from my heart; the Audley of my boyhood speaks now. But the young man has decided otherwise; and I do not blame him. Nay, I rejoice that he chooses a career in which, if he find hards.h.i.+p, he may escape dependence.”
”And that career is--”
”Letters.”
”Letters! Literature!” exclaimed the statesman. ”Beggary! No, no, Harley, this is your absurd romance.”
”It will not be beggary, and it is not my romance: it is the boy's.
Leave him alone, he is my care and my charge henceforth. He is of her blood, and I said that he had HER eyes.”
”But you are going abroad; let me know where he is; I will watch over him.”
”And unsettle a right ambition for a wrong one? No, you shall know nothing of him till he can proclaim himself. I think that day will come.”
Audley mused a moment, and then said, ”Well, perhaps you are right.
After all, as you say, independence is a great blessing, and my ambition has not rendered myself the better or the happier.”
”Yet, my poor Audley, you ask me to be ambitious.”
”I only wish you to be consoled,” cried Egerton, with pa.s.sion.
”I will try to be so; and by the help of a milder remedy than yours.
I said that my adventure might influence my future; it brought me acquainted not only with the young man I speak of, but the most winning, affectionate child,--a girl.”
”Is this child an Avenel too?”
<script>