Part 40 (1/2)
His friend turned on him a cold eye and for a moment said nothing, presently, however, speaking a little stiffly. ”My pa.s.sion doesn't make such a show as you might suppose, considering what a demonstrative beggar I am.”
”I don't want to know anything about it-anything whatever,” said Beaumont. ”Your mother asks me every time she sees me whether I believe you're really lost-and Lady Pimlico does the same. I prefer to be able to answer that I'm in complete ignorance, that I never go there. I stay away for consistency's sake. As I said the other day, they must look after you themselves.”
”Well, you're wonderfully considerate,” the young man returned. ”They never question _me_.”
”They're afraid of you. They're afraid of annoying you and making you worse. So they go to work very cautiously, and, somewhere or other, they get their information. They know a great deal about you. They know you've been with those ladies to the dome of Saint Paul's and-where was the other place?-to the Thames Tunnel.”
”If all their knowledge is as accurate as that it must be very valuable,”
said Lord Lambeth.
”Well, at any rate, they know you've been visiting the 'sights of the metropolis.' They think-very naturally, as it seems to me-that when you take to visiting the sights of the metropolis with a little n.o.body of an American girl something may be supposed to be 'up.'” The young man met this remark with scornful laughter, but his companion continued after a pause: ”I told you just now that I cultivate my ignorance, but I find I can no longer stand my suspense. I confess I do want to know whether you propose to marry Miss Alden.”
On this point Lord Lambeth gave his questioner no prompt satisfaction; he only mused-frowningly, portentously. ”By Jove they go rather too far.
They _shall_ have cause to worry-I promise them.”
Percy Beaumont, however, continued to aim at lucidity. ”You don't, it's true, quite redeem your threats. You said the other day you'd make your mother call.”
Lord Lambeth just hung fire. ”Well, I asked her to.”
”And she declined?”
”Yes, but she shall do it yet.”
”Upon my word,” said Percy, ”if she gets much more scared I verily believe she will.” His friend watched him on this, and he went on.
”She'll go to the girl herself.”
”How do you mean 'go' to her?”
”She'll try to get 'at' her-to square her. She won't care what she does.”
Lord Lambeth turned away in silence; he took twenty steps and slowly returned. ”She had better take care what she does. I've invited Mrs.
Westgate and Miss Alden to Branches, and this evening I shall name a day.”
”And shall you invite your mother and your sisters to meet them?”
Lord Lambeth indulged in one of his rare discriminations. ”I shall give them the opportunity.”
”That will touch the d.u.c.h.ess up,” said Percy Beaumont. ”I 'guess' she'll come.”
”She may do as she pleases.”
”Then do you really propose to marry the little sister?”
”I like the way you talk about it!” the young man cried. ”She won't gobble me down. Don't be afraid.”
”She won't leave you on your knees,” Percy declared. ”What the devil's the inducement?”
”You talk about proposing-wait till I _have_ proposed,” Lord Lambeth went on.