Part 19 (1/2)

'Now, Ferdinand, how can you be so ridiculous?'

'Oh! I have no doubt I shall have to bear all the blame. ”You brought me here,” it will be: ”Ungrateful man, is this your love? not even post-horses!”'

'As for that,' said Henrietta, 'perhaps we shall have to walk. I can fancy ourselves, you with an Andalusian jacket, a long gun, and, I fear, a cigar; and I with all the baggage.'

'Children and all,' added Ferdinand.

Miss Temple looked somewhat demure, turned away her face a little, but said nothing.

'But what think you of Vienna, sweetest?' enquired Ferdinand in a more serious tone; 'upon my honour, I think we might do great things there. A regiment and a chamberlains.h.i.+p at the least!'

'In mountains or in cities I shall be alike content, provided you be my companion,' replied Miss Temple.

Ferdinand let go the reins, and dropped his whip. 'My Henrietta,' he exclaimed, looking in her face, 'what an angel you are!'

This visit to Armine was so delightful to Miss Temple; she experienced so much gratification in wandering about the park and over the old castle, and gazing on Glas...o...b..ry's tower, and wondering when she should see him, and talking to her Ferdinand about every member of his family, that Captain Armine, unable to withstand the irresistible current, postponed from day to day his decisive visit to Bath, and, confident in the future, would not permit his soul to be the least daunted by any possible conjuncture of ill fortune. A week, a whole happy week glided away, and spent almost entirely at Armine. Their presence there was scarcely noticed by the single female servant who remained; and, if her curiosity had been excited, she possessed no power of communicating it into Somersets.h.i.+re. Besides, she was unaware that her young master was nominally in London. Sometimes an hour was s.n.a.t.c.hed by Henrietta from roaming in the pleasaunce, and interchanging vows of mutual love and admiration, to the picture-gallery, where she had already commenced a miniature copy of the portrait of the great Sir Ferdinand. As the sun set they departed in their little equipage. Ferdinand wrapped his Henrietta in his fur cloak, for the autumn dews began to rise, and, thus protected, the journey of ten miles was ever found too short. It is the habit of lovers, however innocent their pa.s.sion, to grow every day less discreet; for every day their almost constant companions.h.i.+p becomes more a necessity. Miss Temple had almost unconsciously contrived at first that Captain Armine, in the absence of her father, should not be observed too often at Ducie; but now Ferdinand drove her home every evening, and drank tea at the Bower, and the evening closed with music and song. Each night he crossed over the common to his farmhouse more fondly and devotedly in love.

One morning at Armine, Henrietta being alone in the gallery busied with her drawing, Ferdinand having left her for a moment to execute some slight commission for her, she heard some one enter, and, looking up to catch his glance of love, she beheld a venerable man, of a mild and benignant appearance, and dressed in black, standing, as if a little surprised, at some distance. Herself not less confused, she nevertheless bowed, and the gentleman advanced with hesitation, and with a faint blush returned her salute, and apologised for his intrusion. 'He thought Captain Armine might be there.'

'He was here but this moment,' replied Miss Temple; 'and doubtless will instantly return.' Then she turned to her drawing with a trembling hand.

'I perceive, madam,' said the gentleman, advancing and speaking in a soft and engaging tone, while looking at her labour with a mingled air of diffidence and admiration, 'that you are a fine artist.'

'My wish to excel may have a.s.sisted my performance,' replied Miss Temple.

'You are copying the portrait of a very extraordinary personage,' said the stranger.

'Do you think that it is like Captain Armine?' enquired Miss Temple with some hesitation.

'It is always so considered,' replied the stranger. Henrietta's hand faltered; she looked at the door of the gallery, then at the portrait; never was she yet so anxious for the reappearance of Ferdinand. There was a silence which she was compelled to break, for the stranger was both mute and motionless, and scarcely more a.s.sured than herself.

'Captain Armine will be here immediately, I have no doubt.'

The stranger bowed. 'If I might presume to criticise so finished a performance,' he remarked, 'I should say that you had conveyed, madam, a more youthful character than the original presents.'

Henrietta did not venture to confess that such was her intention.

She looked again at the door, mixed some colour, and then cleared it immediately off her palette. 'What a beautiful gallery is this!' she exclaimed, as she changed her brush, which was, however, without a fault.

'It is worthy of Armine,' said the stranger.

'Indeed there is no place so interesting,' said Miss Temple.

'It pleases me to hear it praised,' said the stranger.

'You are well acquainted with it?' enquired Miss Temple.

'I have the happiness to live here,' said the stranger.

'I am not then mistaken in believing that I speak to Mr. Glas...o...b..ry.'

'Indeed, madam, that is my name,' replied the gentleman; 'I fancy we have often heard of each other. This a most unexpected meeting, madam, but for that reason not less delightful. I have myself just returned from a ramble of some days, and entered the gallery little aware that the family had arrived. You met, I suppose, my Ferdinand on the road.