Part 56 (1/2)
”The same charming scene!” he exclaimed. ”I think the moonlight view from this window most beautiful. The dark trees, and the white walls of Lady G.o.dolphin's Folly, rising there, remain on my memory as a painted scene.”
He folded his arms and stood there, gazing still. Cecil stole a look up at him: at his pale, attractive face, with its expression of care. She had wondered once why that look of care should be conspicuous there; but not after she became acquainted with his domestic history.
”Have you returned to England to remain, Lord Averil?”
The question awoke him from his reverie. He turned to Cecil, and a sudden impulse prompted him to stake his fate on the die of the moment.
It was not a lucky throw.
”I would remain if I could induce one to share my name and home. Forgive me, Cecil, if I anger you by thus hastily speaking. Will you forget the past, and help _me_ to forget it?--will you let me make you my dear wife?”
In saying ”Will you forget the past,” Lord Averil had alluded to his first marriage. In his extreme sensitiveness upon that point, he doubted whether Cecil might not object to succeed the dead Lady Averil: he believed those hasty and ill-natured words, reported to him as having been spoken by her, bore upon that sore point alone. Cecil, on the contrary, a.s.sumed that her forgetfulness was asked for his own behaviour to her, in so far as that he had gone away and left her without word or explanation. She grew quite pale with anger. Lord Averil resumed, his manner earnest, his voice low and tender.
”I have loved you, Cecil, from the first day that I saw you at Mrs.
Averil's. I dragged myself away from the place, because I loved you, fearing lest you might come to see my folly. It was worse than folly then, for I was not a free man. I have gone on loving you more and more, from that time to this. I went abroad this last time hoping to forget you; striving to forget you; but I cannot do it, and the love has only become stronger. Forgive, I say, my urging it upon you in this moment's impulse.”
Poor Cecil was all at sea. ”Went abroad, hoping to forget her; striving to forget her!” It was worse and worse. She flung his hand away.
”Oh, Cecil! can you not love me?” he exclaimed in agitation. ”Will you not give me hope that you will sometime be my wife?”
”No, I cannot love you. I will not give you hope. I would rather marry any one in the world than you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Lord Averil!”
Not a very dignified rejoinder. And Cecil, what with anger, what with _love_, burst into even less dignified tears, and left the room in a pa.s.sion. Lord Averil bit his lips to pain.
Janet entered, unsuspicious. He turned from the window, and smoothed his brow, gathering what equanimity he could, as he proceeded to inquire after Mr. G.o.dolphin.
CHAPTER IV.
CHARLOTTE PAIN'S ”TURN-OUT.”
A stylish vehicle, high enough for a fire-escape, its green wheels picked out with gleaming red; was das.h.i.+ng up the streets of Prior's Ash.
A lady was seated in it, driving its pair of blood-horses, whose restive mettle appeared more fitted for a man's guidance than a woman's. You need not be told that it was Charlotte Pain; no one else of her s.e.x in Prior's Ash would have driven such a turn-out. Prior's Ash, rather at a loss what name to give it, for the like of it had never been seen in that sober place, christened it ”Mrs. Pain's turn-out:” so, if you grumble at the appellation, you must grumble at them, not at me.
Past the Bank it flew; when, as if a sudden thought appeared to take the driver, it suddenly whirled round, to the imminent danger of the street in general, retraced its steps past the Bank, dashed round the corner of Crosse Street, and drew up at the entrance to Mr. George G.o.dolphin's.
The servant sprang from the seat behind.
”Inquire if Mrs. George G.o.dolphin is within.”
Mrs. George G.o.dolphin was within, and Charlotte entered. Across the hall, up the handsome staircase lined with paintings, to the still more handsome drawing-room, swept she, conducted by a servant. Margery looked out at an opposite door, as Charlotte entered that of the drawing-room, her curious eyes taking in at a glance Charlotte's attire. Charlotte wore a handsome mauve brocaded skirt, trailing the ground at the very least half a yard behind her, and a close habit of mauve velvet. A black hat with a turned-up brim, and a profusion of mauve feathers, adorned her head, and a little bit of gauze, mauve-coloured also, came half-way down her face, fitting tightly round the nose and cheeks. At that period, this style of dress was very uncommon.
Margery retired with a sniff. Had it been any one she approved, any especial friend of her mistress, she would have invited her into her mistress's presence, to the little boudoir, where Maria was seated. A pretty boudoir, tastefully furnished. The bedroom, dressing-room, and this boudoir communicated with each other. Being who it was, Margery allowed the drawing-room the honour of receiving the visitor.
Maria sat at a table, her drawing materials before her. Miss Meta, perched in a high chair, was accommodated with a pencil and paper opposite. ”It's Mrs. Pain in a mask,” was Margery's salutation.
Maria laid down her pencil. ”Mrs. Pain in a mask!” she echoed.
”It looks like nothing else, ma'am,” responded Margery. ”_I_ never saw Christian folks make themselves into such spectacles before. It's to be hoped she won't go in that guise to call at Ashlydyat: Miss Janet would be sending for the mad doctor.”