Part 95 (1/2)

”And you saw him, and you didn't kill him, Clavering, you coward?”

said the wife of Amory. ”Come away, Frank; your father's a coward. I am dishonoured, but I'm your old mother, and you'll--you'll love me, won't you?”

Blanche, eploree, went up to her mother; but Lady Clavering shrank from her with a sort of terror. ”Don't touch me,” she said; ”you've no heart; you never had. I see all now. I see why that coward was going to give up his place in Parliament to Arthur; yes, that coward! and why you threatened that you would make me give you half Frank's fortune. And when Arthur offered to marry you without a s.h.i.+lling, because he wouldn't rob my boy, you left him, and you took poor Harry. Have nothing to do with her, Harry. You're good, you are. Don't marry that--that convict's daughter. Come away, Frank, my darling; come to your poor old mother.

We'll hide ourselves; but we're honest, yes, we are honest.”

All this while a strange feeling of exultation had taken possession of Blanche's mind. That month with poor Harry had been a weary month to her. All his fortune and splendour scarcely sufficed to make the idea of himself supportable. She was wearied of his simple ways, and sick of coaxing and cajoling him.

”Stay, mamma; stay, madam!” she cried out, with a gesture which was always appropriate, though rather theatrical; ”I have no heart, have I? I keep the secret of my mother's shame. I give up my rights to my half-brother and my b.a.s.t.a.r.d brother, yes, my rights and my fortune.

I don't betray my father, and for this I have no heart. I'll have my rights now, and the laws of my country shall give them to me. I appeal to my country's laws--yes, my country's laws! The persecuted one returns this day. I desire to go to my father.” And the little lady swept round her hand, and thought that she was a heroine.

”You will, will you?” cried out Clavering, with one of his usual oaths.

”I'm a magistrate, and dammy, I'll commit him. Here's a chaise coming; perhaps it's him. Let him come.”

A chaise was indeed coming up the avenue; and the two women shrieked each their loudest, expecting at that moment to see Altamont arrive.

The door opened, and Mr. Morgan announced Major Pendennis and Mr.

Pendennis, who entered, and found all parties engaged in this fierce quarrel. A large screen fenced the breakfast-room from the hall; and it is probable that, according to his custom, Mr. Morgan had taken advantage of the screen to make himself acquainted with all that occurred.

It had been arranged on the previous day that the young people should ride; and at the appointed hour in the afternoon, Mr. Foker's horses arrived from the Clavering Arms. But Miss Blanche did not accompany him on this occasion. Pen came out and shook hands with him on the door-steps; and Harry Foker rode away, followed by his groom in mourning. The whole transactions which have occupied the most active part of our history were debated by the parties concerned during those two or three hours. Many counsels had been given, stories told, and compromises suggested; and at the end, Harry Foker rode away, with a sad ”G.o.d bless you!” from Pen. There was a dreary dinner at Clavering Park, at which the lately installed butler did not attend; and the ladies were both absent. After dinner, Pen said, ”I will walk down to Clavering and see if he is come.” And he walked through the dark avenue, across the bridge and road by his own cottage,--the once quiet and familiar fields of which were flaming with the kilns and forges of the artificers employed on the new railroad works; and so he entered the town, and made for the Clavering Arms.

It was past midnight when he returned to Clavering Park. He was exceedingly pale and agitated. ”Is Lady Clavering up yet?” he asked.

Yes, she was in her own sitting-room. He went up to her, and there found the poor lady in a piteous state of tears and agitation.

”It is I,--Arthur,” he said, looking in; and entering, he took her hand very affectionately and kissed it. ”You were always the kindest of friends to me, dear Lady Clavering,” he said. ”I love you very much. I have got some news for you.”

”Don't call me by that name,” she said, pressing his hand. ”You were always a good boy, Arthur; and it's kind of you to come now,--very kind.

You sometimes look very like your ma, my dear.”

”Dear good Lady Clavering,” Arthur repeated, with particular emphasis, ”something very strange has happened.”

”Has anything happened to him?” gasped Lady Clavering. ”Oh, it's horrid to think I should be glad of it--horrid!”

”He is well. He has been and is gone, my dear lady. Don't alarm yourself;--he is gone, and you are Lady Clavering still.”

”Is it true? what he sometimes said to me,” she screamed out,--”that he----”

”He was married before he married you,” said Pen. ”He has confessed it to-night. He will never come back.” There came another shriek from Lady Clavering, as she flung her arms round Pen, and kissed him, and burst into tears on his shoulder.

What Pen had to tell, through a multiplicity of sobs and interruptions, must be compressed briefly, for behold our prescribed limit is reached, and our tale is coming to its end. With the Branch Coach from the railroad, which had succeeded the old Alacrity and Perseverance, Amory arrived, and was set down at the Clavering Arms. He ordered his dinner at the place under his a.s.sumed name of Altamont; and, being of a jovial turn, he welcomed the landlord, who was nothing loth, to a share of his wine. Having extracted from Mr. Lightfoot all the news regarding the family at the Park, and found, from examining his host, that Mrs.

Lightfoot, as she said, had kept his counsel, he called for more wine of Mr. Lightfoot; and at the end of this symposium, both, being greatly excited, went into Mrs. Lightfoot's bar.

She was there taking tea with her friend, Madame Fribsby; and Lightfoot was by this time in such a happy state as not to be surprised at anything which might occur, so that, when Altamont shook hands with Mrs.

Lightfoot as an old acquaintance, the recognition did not appear to him to be in the least strange, but only a reasonable cause for further drinking. The gentlemen partook then of brandy-and-water, which they offered to the ladies, not heeding the terrified looks of one or the other.

Whilst they were so engaged, at about six o'clock in the evening, Mr.

Morgan, Sir Francis Clavering's new man, came in, and was requested to drink. He selected his favourite beverage, and the parties engaged in general conversation.