Part 39 (1/2)
”Really, Miss Saville,” exclaimed Coleman, who had entered the room in time to overhear her speech, ”I am shocked to find you comparing your respectable and -257-- revered guardian to a heathen Turk, and Frank Fairlegh, instead of reproving you for it, aiding, abetting, encouraging, and, to speak figuratively, patting you on the back.”
”I'm sure, Freddy,” interrupted Mrs. Coleman, who had been aroused from one of her customary fits of absence by the last few words, ”Mr.
Fairlegh was doing nothing of the sort; he knows better than to think of such a thing. And if he didn't, do you suppose I should sit here and allow him to take such liberties? But I believe it's all your nonsense--and where you got such strange ideas I'm sure I can't tell; not out of Mrs. Trimmer's _Sacred History_, I'm certain, though you used to read it with me every Sunday afternoon when you were a good little boy, trying to look out of the window all the time, instead of paying proper attention to your books.”
During the burst of laughter which followed this speech, and in which Miss Saville, after an ineffectual struggle to repress the inclination, out of respect to Mrs. Coleman, was fain to join, dinner was announced, and Coleman pairing off with the young lady, whilst I gave my arm to the old one, we proceeded to the dining-room.
CHAPTER x.x.xIII -- WOMAN'S A RIDDLE
”Let mirth and music sound the dirge of care, But ask thou not if happiness be there.”
_The Lord of the Isles_.
”And here she came...
And sang to me the whole Of those three stanzas.”
_The Talking Oak._
”Yet this is also true, that, long before, My heart was like a prophet to my heart, And told me I should love.”
_Tennyson_.
”DON'T you consider Fairlegh to be looking very thin and pale, Miss Saville?” inquired Coleman, when we joined the ladies after dinner, speaking with an air of such genuine solicitude, that any one not intimately acquainted with him must have imagined him in earnest. Miss Saville, who was completely taken in, answered innocently, ”Indeed I have thought Mr. Fairlegh much altered since I had the pleasure of meeting him before”; -258-- then, glancing at my face with a look of unfeigned interest, which sent the blood bounding rapidly through my veins, she continued: ”You have not been ill, I hope?” I was hastening to reply in the negative, and to enlighten her as to the real cause of my pale looks, when Coleman interrupted me by exclaiming:--
”Ah! poor fellow, it is a melancholy affair. In those pale cheeks, that wasted though still graceful form, and the weak, languid, and unhappy, but deeply interesting _tout ensemble_, you perceive the sad results of--am I at liberty to mention it?--of an unfortunate attachment.”
”Upon my word, Freddy, you are too bad,” exclaimed I half angrily, though I could scarcely refrain from laughing, for the pathetic expression of his countenance was perfectly irresistible. ”Miss Saville, I can a.s.sure you--let me beg of you to believe, that there is not a word of truth in what he has stated.”
”Wait a moment, you're so dreadfully fast, my dear fellow, you won't allow a man time to finish what he is saying,” remonstrated my tormentor--”attachment to his studies I was going to add, only you interrupted me.”
”I see I shall have to chastise you before you learn to behave yourself properly,” replied I, shaking my fist at him playfully; ”remember you taught me how to use the gloves at Dr. Mildman's, and I have not quite forgotten the science even yet.”
”Hit a man your own size, you great big monster you,” rejoined Coleman, affecting extreme alarm. ”Miss Saville, I look to you to protect me from his tyranny; ladies always take the part of the weak and oppressed.”
”But they do not interfere to s.h.i.+eld evil-doers from the punishment due to their misdemeanours,” replied Miss Saville archly.
”There now,” grumbled Freddy, ”that's always the way; every one turns against me. I'm a victim, though I have not formed an unfortunate attachment for--anything or anybody.”
”I should like to see you thoroughly in love for once in your life, Freddy,” said I; ”it would be as good as a comedy.”
”Thank ye,” was the rejoinder, ”you'd be a pleasant sort of fellow to make a confidant of, I don't think. Here's a man now, who calls himself one's friend, and fancies it would be 'as good as a comedy' to witness the display of our n.o.blest affections, and would have all the tenderest emotions of our nature laid bare, for him to poke fun at--the barbarian!” -259-- ”I did not understand Mr. Fairlegh's remark to apply to _affaires du cour_ in general, but simply to the effects likely to be produced in your case by such an attack,” observed Miss Saville, with a quiet smile.
”A very proper distinction,” returned I; ”I see that I cannot do better than leave my defence in your hands.”
”It is quite clear that you have both entered into a plot against me,”
rejoined Freddy; ”well, never mind, _mea virtute me involvo_: I wrap myself in a proud consciousness of my own immeasurable superiority, and despise your attacks.”
”I have read, that to begin by despising your enemy, is one of the surest methods of losing the battle,” replied Miss Saville.
”Oh! if you are going to quote history against me, I yield at once--there is nothing alarms me so much as the sight of a blue-stocking,” answered Freddy.