Volume I Part 5 (1/2)
There had been a moment when they had been ”Madge” and ”Letty” to each other, even since Letty had ”come out.” Now, whenever Mrs. Hawkins attempted the Christian name, it stuck in her throat; it seemed, even to herself, a familiarity that had nothing to go upon; while with every succeeding visit to Malford, Letty had dropped her former friend more decidedly, and ”Madge” was heard no more.
The gentlemen, deep in election incident and gossip, were, in the view chiefly of the successful candidate, unreasonably long in leaving the dining-room. When they appeared at last, George Tressady once more made an attempt to talk to someone else than Letty Sewell, and once more failed.
”I want you to tell me something about Miss Sewell,” said Lord Fontenoy presently in Mrs. Watton's ear. He had been sitting silent beside her on the sofa for some little time, apparently toying with the evening papers, which Mrs. Watton had relinquished to him.
Mrs. Watton looked up, followed the direction of his eyes towards a settee in a distant corner of the room, and showed a half-impatient amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Letty? Oh! Letty's my niece--the daughter of my brother, Walter Sewell, of Helbeck. They live in Yorks.h.i.+re. My brother has my father's place--a small estate, and rents very irregular. I often wonder how they manage to dress that child as they do. However, she has always had her own way since she was a foot high. As for my poor brother, he has been an invalid for the last ten years, and neither he nor his wife--oh! such a stupid woman!”--Mrs. Watton's energetic hands and eyes once more, called Heaven to witness--”have ever counted for much, I should say, in Letty's career. There is another sister, a little delicate, silent thing, that looks after them. Oh! Letty isn't stupid; I should think not. I suppose you're alarmed about Sir George. You needn't be. She does it with everybody.”
The candid aunt pursued the conversation a little further, in the same tone of a half-caustic indulgence. At the end of it, however, Lord Fontenoy was still uneasy. He had only migrated to Malford House for the declaration of the poll, having spent the canva.s.sing weeks mainly in another part of the division. And now, on this triumphant evening, he was conscious of a sudden sense of defective information, which was disagreeable and damping.
When bedtime came, Letty lingered in the drawing-room a little behind the other ladies, on the plea of gathering up some trifles that belonged to her. So that when George Tressady went out with her to light her candle for her in the gallery, they found themselves alone.
He had fallen into a sudden silence, which made her sweep him a look of scrutiny as she took her candlestick. The slim yet virile figure drawn to its full height, the significant, long-chinned face, pleased her senses.
He might be plain--she supposed he was--but he was, nevertheless, distinguished, and extraordinarily alive.
”I believe you are tired to death,” she said to him. ”Why don't you go to bed?”
She spoke with the freedom of one accustomed to advise all her male acquaintance for their good. George laughed.
”Tired? Not I. I was before dinner. Look here, Miss Sewell, I've got a question to ask.”
”Ask it.”
”You don't want to spoil my great day, do you? You do repent that headache?”
They looked at each other, dancing laughter in each pair of eyes, combined in his with an excited insistence.
”Good-night, Sir George,” she said, holding out her hand.
He retained it.
”You do?” he said, bending over her.
She liked the situation, and made no immediate effort to change it.
”Ask me a month hence, when I have proved your statements.”
”Then you admit it was all pretence?”
”I admit nothing,” she said joyously. ”I protected my friend.”
”Yes, by injuring and offending another friend. Would it please you if I said I missed you _very_ much at Malford to-day?”
”I will tell you to-morrow--it is so late! Please let me have my hand.”
He took no notice, and they went hand-in-hand, she drawing him, to the foot of the stairs.
”George!” said a shrill, hesitating voice from overhead.