Part 38 (1/2)
She at once hurried to his room. He made light of his hurts, and declared that he should come down to breakfast as usual. She persuaded him, however, to remain in bed. He consented to do so on condition that she would send over to May, and account for his non-appearance at Downside that day.
Sir Ralph was very indignant at hearing of the outrage, and determined at once to take steps to discover the perpetrators. He had wished to speak to his son, and was annoyed at being unable to do so, as Lady Castleton persuaded him that any agitation would be injurious to Harry.
A surgeon had been sent for and gave a favourable report, complimenting Captain Headland on the way he had treated his patient.
Julia and Headland met constantly in Harry's room, both being anxious to a.s.sist in nursing him.
In a couple of days he was able to dress and come downstairs. Perhaps he would have remained up longer had he known the ordeal he was about to go through.
Harry was sitting in the drawing-room when he received a message from Sir Ralph, requesting him to come into the study.
”My father is going to question me about May,” he thought. ”I had hoped to escape this for some time to come; but I must be firm and not allow his prejudices to cause her unhappiness.”
He walked slowly in. Sir Ralph closed the door and placed him in an arm-chair, and took his usual seat at his writing-table.
”Harry,” he said, ”I had sufficient confidence in you to suppose that, when you brought your friend Captain Headland to the house, you knew that he was a man of family and good connections, so that should he fall in love with your sister no objections were likely to be raised. Am I right in giving you credit for this amount of wisdom?”
Harry felt greatly relieved on finding that he was not to be questioned about May.
”My friend Headland, sir,” he said, ”is a first-rate officer and an excellent fellow, and is sure to gain credit for himself and to rise high in the service.”
”That may be,” observed Sir Ralph. ”But I wish to know if he is a man of family and a fit match for your sister, for I understand that he has of late paid her great attention.”
”I think so highly of him that I am sure any girl would be fortunate in winning his affections,” answered Harry.
”That's not the question I wish to have answered. I wish to know whether he is of good family, and has a sufficient fortune to support a wife, as Julia ought to be supported.”
”On the first point I cannot enlighten you,” answered Harry; ”for I confess that I do not know of what family he is, but he has been very fortunate in making prize money, and I am sure he has quite enough to live in a way to satisfy Julia.”
”I was afraid it might be so from never having heard him speak of his family,” said Sir Ralph. ”You have acted very imprudently, Harry, in bringing a man of his description here. Though I do not wish to act with discourtesy, I desire you will give him to understand that he is no longer welcome at Texford.”
”That is impossible, father,” exclaimed Harry. ”He is devotedly attached to Julia, and I am sure she is to him. If he is told to go, I must go also. I have said that, though I do not know his family, for the simple reason that he does not know it himself. He is everything that is n.o.ble, and good, and excellent, and I would rather see Julia marry him than any other person in existence.”
”I know the world better than you do, Harry, and such a marriage as you wish me to sanction for your sister is not calculated to promote her welfare, and that is the point I, as her father, have to consider.”
”If she is not allowed to marry Headland she will be miserable,”
exclaimed Harry.
”I had considered the point maturely before I sent for you,” said Sir Ralph, ”and I wish to save your friend the annoyance of being spoken to by me. If you refuse to tell him my determination, I shall have to do so. And now, Harry, I have another matter to speak to you about.”
Harry grew nervous.
”I understand during my absence you have paid frequent visits to Downside.”
”Yes, sir,” said Harry, ”Our cousins kindly invited me there.”
”I know they did, and placed a young lady, I hear, of some personal attractions in your way, and, like a sailor, you directly tumbled over head and ears in love with her. I strip the matter of the romance with which you may be inclined to surround it. Do I not speak the truth?”
”I confess, sir,” said Harry, determined to speak boldly, ”I have met at the Miss Pembertons a young lady to whom I have declared my love.”