Part 81 (1/2)
He then returned home much calmed and comforted, climbed up his rope and into his room, and there slept sweetly, as one who had discharged his duty to his neighbor and society in general.
In the morning, however, he was very active, hurried the grooms, and was off before the appointed time.
Sir Charles came down to breakfast, and lo! young Hopeful gone, without the awkward ceremony of leave-taking.
Sir Charles found, as usual, many delicacies on his table, and among them one rarer to him than ortolan, pin-tail, or wild turkey (in which last my soul delights); for he found a letter from Richard Ba.s.sett, Esq.
”SIR--Some nights since we caught your successor that is to be, at my dining-room window, prying into my private affairs. Having the honor of our family at heart, I was about to administer a little wholesome correction, when he reminded me he had been instrumental in tracking Miss Ba.s.sett, and thereby rescuing her: upon this I was, naturally, mollified, and sent him about his business, hoping to have seen the last of him at Highmore.
”This morning my door is covered with opprobrious epithets, and as Mr.
Ba.s.sett bought paint and brushes at the shop yesterday afternoon, it is doubtless to him I am indebted for them.
”I make no comments; I simply record the facts, and put them down to your credit, and your son's.
”Your obedient servant,
”RICHARD Ba.s.sETT.”
Lady Ba.s.sett did not come down to breakfast that morning; so Sir Charles digested this dish in solitude.
He was furious with Reginald; but as Richard Ba.s.sett's remonstrance was intended to insult him, he wrote back as follows:
”SIR--I am deeply grieved that a son of mine should descend to look in at your windows, or to write anything whatever upon your door; and I will take care it shall never recur.
”Yours obediently,
”CHARLES d.y.k.e Ba.s.sETT.”
This little correspondence was salutary; it fanned the coals of hatred between the cousins.
Reckless Reginald soon found he had caught a Tartar in his new master.
That gentleman punished him severely for every breach of discipline.
The study was a cool dark room, with one window looking north, and that window barred. Here he locked up the erratic youth for hours at a time, upon the slightest escapade.
Reginald wrote a honeyed letter to Sir Charles, bewailing his lot, and praying to be removed.
Sir Charles replied sternly, and sent him a copy of Mr. Richard Ba.s.sett's letter. He wrote to Mr. Beecher at the same time, expressing his full approval.
Thus disciplined, the boy began to change; he became moody, sullen, silent, and even sleepy. This was the less wonderful, that he generally escaped at night to a gypsy camp, and courted a gypsy girl, who was nearly as handsome as himself, besides being older, and far more knowing.
His tongue went like a mill, and the whole tribe soon knew all about him and his parents.
One morning the servants got up supernaturally early, to wash. Mr.