Part 8 (1/2)

-49--Having said this, he took up a book which was lying by his side, and, murmuring something about ”talking being so fatiguing,” soon became buried in its contents.

Whilst I was dressing for dinner Lawless came into my room, and told me that he had been speaking to c.u.mberland with regard to the way in which he had behaved to me about the mare, and that c.u.mberland professed himself exceedingly sorry that the affair had so nearly turned out a serious one, declaring he meant it quite as a joke, never expecting that when I saw the mare I should venture to mount her.

”So you see,” continued Lawless, ”he merely wanted to have a good laugh at you--nothing more. It was a thoughtless thing to do, but not so bad as you had fancied it, by any means.”

”Well,” replied I, ”as he says so, I am bound to believe him; but his manner certainly gave me the impression that he intended me to ride her.

He went the right way to make me do so, at all events, by hinting that I was afraid.”

”Ah! he could not know that by intuition, you see,” said Lawless; ”he thought, I daresay, as I did, that you were a mere molly-coddle, brought up at your mother's ap.r.o.n-string, and had not pluck enough in you to do anything sporting.”

”It's not worth saying anything more about,” replied I; ”it will never happen again: I am very much obliged to you, though.”

”Oh, that's nothing,” said Lawless; ”if c.u.mberland had really meant to break your neck, I should have fallen out with him; that would have been too much of a good thing: however, as it is it's all right.”

And so the conversation ended, though I felt far from satisfied in my own mind as to the innocence of c.u.mberland's intentions.

On reaching the drawing-room I found the whole party a.s.sembled with the exception of Mr. Henry Oaklands, who had not yet made his appearance.

At the moment of my entrance Mrs. Mildman, who had not seen the new arrival, and who, like the rest of her s.e.x, was somewhat curious, was examining Coleman (who stood bolt upright before her, with his hands behind him, looking like a boy saying his lesson) as to his manners and appearance.

”Very tall, and dark hair and large eyes,” continued Mrs. Mildman; ”why, he must be very handsome.”

”He seems as if he were half-asleep,” observed I.

-50--”Not always,” said Coleman; ”did you see the look he gave me? he seemed wide-awake enough then; I thought he was going to eat me.”

”Dear me I why he must be quite a cannibal! besides, I don't think you would be at all nice to eat, Mr. Coleman,” said Mrs. Mildman, with a smile.

”Horrid nasty, I'm sure,” muttered Mullins, who was seated on the very edge of his chair, and looked thoroughly uncomfortable, as was his wont in anything like civilised society.

At this moment the door opened, and Oaklands entered. If one had doubted about his height before, when lying on the chairs, the question was set at rest the instant he was seen standing: he must have measured at least six feet two inches, though the extreme breadth of his chest and shoulders, and the graceful setting-on of his finely formed head, together with the perfect symmetry and proportion of his limbs, prevented his appearing too tall. He went through the ceremony of introduction with the greatest ease and self-possession; and though he infused rather more courtesy into his manner towards Mrs. Mildman than he had taken the trouble to bestow on us, his behaviour was still characterised by the same indolence and listlessness I had previously noticed, and which indeed seemed part and parcel of himself. Having bowed slightly to c.u.mberland and Lawless he seated himself very leisurely on the sofa by Mrs. Mildman's side, altering one of the pillows so as to make himself thoroughly comfortable as he did so.

Having settled it to his satisfaction, he addressed Mrs. Mildman with:--

”What a very fatiguing day this has been; haven't you found it so?”

”No, I can't say I have,” was the reply; ”I daresay it was warm travelling: I'm afraid, in that case, Dr. Mildman will not have a very pleasant journey--he's gone to town to-day.”

”Ah, so that short, stout young gentleman” (the first two adjectives he p.r.o.nounced very slowly and distinctly) ”told me.”

”Mr. Coleman,” insinuated Mrs. Mildman.

”Pleasant that,” whispered Coleman to me.

”Take care,” replied I, ”he will hear you.”

”I'm afraid,” continued Oaklands, ”the old gentleman will be quite knocked up. I wonder he does not make two days' journey of it.”

”Dr. Mildman is not so _very_ old,” observed Mrs. Mildman, in rather an annoyed tone of voice.

-51--”I really beg pardon, I scarcely know why I said it,” replied Oaklands, ”only I somehow fancied all tutors were between sixty and seventy--very absurd of me. My father sent all kind of civil messages to the o---- to Dr. Mildman, only it is so much trouble to remember that sort of thing.”