Part 48 (2/2)
The sheriff would probably have urged a variety of other reasons upon the consideration of his son, but the door opened, and Lady Rety entered the room. Rety's arguments were not likely to have any effect upon his son; nor was it probable that Akosh could ever persuade his father, that a man who had the full enjoyment of his reasoning faculties could prefer the daughter of a poor village notary to the seductive charms of a shrievalty; but still Akosh loved his father, and the sheriff's warmth and sincerity touched his heart. But when his step-mother entered, and (as usual) took the lead in the discussion, her commanding tone and supercilious manner turned the young man's blood to gall, and his every word betrayed his scorn and disgust of the woman, whom he knew to be an accessory of a crime.
”I presume you have talked to Akosh,” said Lady Rety, addressing her husband. ”Pray what has he to say for himself?”
”Yes, I did mention the matter--and Akosh said he would--that is to say, just at present--that he----”
”That he will never resign Vilma,” cried Akosh, ”neither now nor ever; that's what he says!”
”Oh, very well!” replied Lady Rety, with an angry look at her son. ”You are mistaken, if you believe, sir, that _we_ can ever be brought to consent to this marriage.”
”As for your ladys.h.i.+p, I never reckoned on your consent; but----”
”Nor will your father give his. I am sure my husband has never given you reason to suppose----”
”Perhaps not!” said Akosh. ”But since my father loves me, I have no reason to suppose that his will is unchangeable.”
”It _is_ unchangeable!” cried Lady Rety, violently. ”I say it _is_ unchangeable! Am I right, Rety?”
The sheriff nodded his head in token of a.s.sent.
”No, never!” continued Lady Rety. ”Neither he nor I will ever sanction this folly!”
”If that's the case,” said the young man, with a look of contempt, ”I shall be forced to do my duty as an honourable man without my father's consent; I shall be forced to leave a house which, it appears, is so completely monopolised by others, that there's no room left for me!”
”And which place does the young gentleman intend to honour with his presence?” sneered Lady Rety. ”Does he propose to reside on the domains of his lady-love?”
”There's no occasion for it!” replied Akosh, trembling with excitement.
”My mother's property will suffice for me now that she is dead. If she were alive, I'd not be forced to leave my father's house in this manner!”
”Ungrateful wretch!” screamed Lady Rety; ”do you reproach me with my condescension? I was born a Baroness of Andorhazy, and nothing compelled _me_ to marry a common-place n.o.bleman! I am sure _I_ was not honoured by the alliance! No, it was _I_ who honoured your family! And as for your mother's property, you shan't have it! You are not of age. You have no right to claim it!”
”I shall be of age in about six weeks.”
”And I say no! and no! and no! I scorn the match! I won't stand the disgrace--the infamy! Your father will disown you! curse you! I say I will not allow you to disgrace the name which _I_ bear!”
Akosh would have spoken, but she continued:--
”I will not suffer it! What? is the daughter of a village notary to become my daughter-in-law! A woman without a name! a woman with scarcely a rag to her back! a woman I despise!”
”My lady!” cried Akosh.
”Yes, a dishonourable woman! Your mistress before she was your wife; a----”
The cup was full. Akosh, in a frenzy of pa.s.sion, rushed forward to attack his step-mother, but the sheriff caught his arm as it descended.
”How dare you?” screamed the young man; ”how dare _you_ say so! _you_, the accomplice of robbers and thieves! _You_, who are indeed the disgrace of our house! Why woman, if I were to speak, I could send you to gaol, to your fellows!”
His words were so many thunders in Lady Rety's ear. She stood deadly pale, trembling, with downcast eyes--a picture of guilt and misery.
There is no saying what the sheriff might not have done but for Vandory's entrance, which put a stop to all further explanations. When the curate entered, Lady Rety seized her husband's hand and led him out of the room. Akosh, still exhausted with his illness, and fearfully excited, flung himself on the sofa, and wept.
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