Volume I Part 28 (2/2)
”You are usually more mindful about these matters,” said he, tartly, ”and not so likely to forget promised festivities.”
”They certainly were not promised to me,” said she, ”nor, if they had been, should I accept of them.”
”What do you mean?” said he, angrily.
”Simply, papa, that it is a house I will not re-enter, that's all.”
”Why, your head is turned, your brains are destroyed by flattery, girl. You seem totally to forget that we go to these places merely by courtesy,--we are received only on sufferance; we are not _their_ equals.”
”The more reason to treat us with deference, and not render our position more painful than it need be.”
”Folly and nonsense! Deference, indeed! How much deference is due from eight thousand a year to a dispensary doctor, or his daughter? I 'll have none of these absurd notions. If they made any mistake towards you, it was by over-attention,--too much notice.”
”That is very possible, papa; and it was not always very flattering for that reason.”
”Why, what is your head full of? Do you fancy you are one of Lord Carricklough's daughters, eh?”
”No, papa; for they are shockingly freckled, and very plain.”
”Do you know your real station?” cried he, more angrily, ”and that if, by the courtesy of society, my position secures acceptance anywhere, it entails nothing--positively nothing--to those belonging to me?”
”Such being the case, is it not wise of us not to want anything,--not to look for it,--not to pine after it? You shall see, papa, whether I fret over my exclusion from Cobham.”
The doctor was not in a mood to approve of such philosophy, and he drove on, only showing--by an extra cut of his whip--the tone and temper that beset him.
”You are to have a visit from Captain Stapylton tomorrow, papa?” said she, in the manner of a half question.
”Who told you so?” said he, with a touch of eagerness in his voice; for suddenly it occurred to him if Polly knew of this appointment, she herself might be interested in its object.
”He asked me what was the most likely time to find you at home, and also if he might venture to hope he should be presented to mamma.”
That was, as the doctor thought, a very significant speech; it might mean a great deal,--a very great deal, indeed; and so he turned it over and over in his mind for some time before he spoke again. At last he said,--
”I haven't a notion what he's coming about, Polly,--have you?”
”No, sir; except, perhaps, it be to consult you. He told me he had sprained his arm, or his shoulder, the other day, when his horse swerved.”
”Oh no, it can't be that, Polly; it can't be that.”
”Why not the pleasure of a morning call, then? He is an idle man, and finds time heavy on his hands.”
A short ”humph” showed that this explanation was not more successful than the former, and the doctor, rather irritated with this game of fence, for so he deemed it, said bluntly,--
”Has he been showing you any marked attentions of late? Have you noticed anything peculiar in his manner towards you?”
”Nothing whatever, sir,” said she, with a frank boldness. ”He has chatted and flirted with me, just as every one else presumes he has a right to do with a girl in a station below their own; but he has never been more impertinent in this way than any other young man of fas.h.i.+on.”
”But there have been”--he was sorely puzzled for the word he wanted, and it was only as a resource, not out of choice, he said--”attentions?”
<script>