Part 68 (1/2)
ha!”
Sir Lionel was struck dumb. What could he say when his little tenderness was met in such a manner?
”Call me Sally, if you like, Sir Lionel. My brothers and sisters, and uncles and aunts, and all those sort of people, always called me Sally. But, Sarah! Ha! ha! ha! Suppose you call me Sally, Sir Lionel.”
Sir Lionel tried, but he could not call her Sally; his lips at that moment would not form the sound.
But the subject had now been introduced. If he should ever be able to claim her as his own, he might then call her Sarah, or Sally, or use any other term of endearment which the tenderness of the moment might suggest. When that day should come, perhaps he might have his own little joke; but, in the meantime, the plunge had been taken, and he could now swim on.
”Miss Todd, you now know what my feelings are, and I hope that you will at any rate not disapprove of them. We have known each other for some time, and have, I hope, enjoyed and valued each other's society.” Miss Todd here made a little bow, but she said nothing. She had a just perception that Sir Lionel should be permitted to have his say, and that, as matters had become serious, it would be well for her to wait till he had done, and then she might have her say. So she merely bowed, by way of giving a civil acquiescence in Sir Lionel's last little suggestion.
”I have hoped so, dear Miss Todd”--he had taken a moment to consider, and thought that he had better drop the Sarah altogether for the present. ”In myself, I can safely say that it has been so. With you, I feel that I am happy, and at my ease. Your modes of thought and way of life are all such as I admire and approve,”--Miss Todd again bowed--”and--and--what I mean is, that I think we both live very much after the same fas.h.i.+on.”
Miss Todd, who knew everything that went on in Littlebath, and was _au fait_ at every bit of scandal and t.i.ttle-tattle in the place, had probably heard more of the fas.h.i.+on of Sir Lionel's life than he was aware. In places such as Littlebath, ladies such as Miss Todd do have sources of information which are almost miraculous. But still she said nothing. She merely thought that Sir Lionel was a good deal mistaken in the opinion which he had last expressed.
”I am not a young man,” continued Sir Lionel. ”My brother, you know, is a very old man, and there are but fifteen years' difference between us.” This was a mistake of Sir Lionel's; the real difference being ten years. ”And you, I know, are hardly yet past your youth.”
”I was forty-five last Guy Fawkes' day,” said Miss Todd.
”Then there are fifteen years difference between us.” The reader will please to read ”twenty.” ”Can you look over that difference, and take me, old as I am, for your companion for life? Shall we not both be happier if we have such a companion? As to money--”
”Oh, Sir Lionel, don't trouble about that; nor yet about your age.
If I wanted to marry, I'd as lief have an old man as a young one; perhaps liefer: and as to money, I've got enough for myself, and I have no doubt you have too”--nevertheless, Miss Todd did know of that heavy over-due bill at the livery stables, and had heard that the very natty groom who never left Sir Lionel's phaeton for a moment was a sworn bailiff; sworn to bring the carriage and horses back to the livery-stable yard--”but the fact is, I don't want to marry.”
”Do you mean, Miss Todd, that you will prefer to live in solitude for ever?”
”Oh, as for solitude, I'm not much of a Robinson Crusoe, nor yet an Alexander Selkirk. I never found any of its charms. But, Lord bless you, Sir Lionel, people never leave me in solitude. I'm never alone.
My sister Patty has fifteen children. I could have half of them to live with me if I liked it.” This view of the case did throw some cold water on Sir Lionel's ardour.
”And you are quite resolved on this?” he said, with a dash of expiring sentiment in his tone.
”What! to have Patty's children? No, I find it more convenient to pay for their schooling.”
”But you are quite resolved to--to--to give me no other, no more favourable answer?”
”Oh! about marrying. On that subject, Sir Lionel, my mind is altogether made up. Miss Todd I am, and Miss Todd I mean to remain.
To tell the truth plainly, I like to be number one in my own house.
Lady Bertram, I am quite sure, will be a fortunate and happy woman; but then, she'll be number two, I take it. Eh, Sir Lionel?”
Sir Lionel smiled and laughed, and looked at the ground, and then looked up again; but he did not deny the imputation. ”Well,” said he, ”I trust we shall still remain friends.”
”Oh, certainly; why not?” replied Miss Todd.
And so they parted. Sir Lionel took his hat and stick, and went his way.
CHAPTER II.
HE TRIES HIS HAND AGAIN.