Part 59 (2/2)
”You'll hear it sooner than you like; try and take it easy, young gentleman. Do you feel yourself quite prepared?”
I am afraid my rejoinder was more energetic than correct; but it appeared to produce greater effect than my entreaties had done, for he continued:--
”Well I see you will have it out, so you must, I suppose; only if you ain't prepared proper, don't blame me. As far as I can see and hear--and I keeps my eyes and ears open pretty wide, I can tell you--I feels convinced that Miss Clara's guv you the sack, and gone and taken -392-- up with another young man.” As he delivered himself of this pleasant opinion, old Peter slowly approached me, and ended by laying his hands solemnly on my shoulders, and, with an expression of fearful import stamped on his grotesque features, nodded thrice in my very face.
”Nonsense!” replied I, a.s.suming an air of indifference I was far from feeling; ”such a thing is utterly impossible--you have deceived yourself in some ridiculous manner.”
”I only wish as I could think so, for all our sakes, Mr. Fairlegh; but facts is like jacka.s.ses, precious stubborn things. Why are they always a-walking together, and talking so loving like, that even the old un hisself looks quite savage about it? And why ain't she never wrote to you since he c.u.m--though she's had all your letters--eh?”
”Then she _has_ received my letters?”
”Oh, yes! she's always had them the same as usual.”
”And are you sure she has never written to me?”
”Not as I know on; I've never had one to send to you since she's took up with this other chap.”
”And pray who or what is this other chap, as you call him, and how comes he to be staying at Barstone?”
”Well, sir, all as I can tell you about him is, that nigh upon a fortnight ago Muster Richard come home, looking precious ill and seedy; and the wery next morning he had a letter from this chap, as I take it.
I brought it to him just as they rung for the breakfast things to be took away, so I had a chance of stopping in the room. Direc'ly he sot eyes on the handwriting, he looked as black as night, and seemed all of a tremble like as he hopened it. As he read he seemed to get less frightened and more cross; and when he'd finished it, he 'anded it to the old un, saying, 'It's all smooth, but he's taken it into his head to come down here. What's to be done, eh? 'Mr. Vernor read it through, and then said in an under tone,' 'Of course he must come if he chooses'.
He then whispered something of which I only caught the words, 'Send her away'; to which Richard replied angrily, 'It shall not be; I'll s.h.i.+lly-shally no longer,--it must be done at once, I tell you, or I give the whole thing up altogether'. They then went into the library, and I heard no more; but the wery next day come this here hidentical chap--he arrived in style too--britzska and post-horses. Oh! he's a reg'lar swell, you may depend; he looks something like a Spaniard, a foreigneering style of physiography, only he ain't so swarthy.”
-393-- ”Don't you know his name?” inquired I.
”They call him Mr. Fleming, but I don't believe that's his right name; leastways he had a letter come directed different, but I can't remember what it was: it was either--let me see--either a hess or a W; I think it was a hess, but I can't say for certain.”
”But what has all this to do with Miss Saville?” asked I impatiently.
”Fair and easy; fair and easy; I'm a-coming to her direc'ly--the world was not made in a day; you'll know sooner than you likes, I expects, now sir. Well, I didn't fancy him from the first; he looks more like Saytin himself than any Christian as ever I set eyes on, except Boneypart, which, being a Frenchman and a henemy, was not so much to be wondered at: however, he was wery quiet and civil, and purlite to Miss Clara, and said wery little to her, while Muster Richard and the old un was by, and she seemed rather to choose to talk to him, as I thought, innocent-like, to avoid the t'other one; but afore long they got quite friends together, and I soon see that he meant business, and no mistake. He's as hartful and deep as Garrick; and there ain't no means of inweigling and coming over a woman as he don't try on her: ay, and he's a clever chap, too; he don't attempt to hurry the thing; he's wery respectful and attentive, and seems to want to show her the difference between his manners and Muster Richard's--not worreting her like; and he says sharp things to make Muster Richard look like a fool before her. I can't help larfing to mysolf sometimes to hear him,--Muster d.i.c.key's met his match at last.”
”And how does c.u.mberland brook such interference?”
”Why, that's what I can't make out; he don't like it, that's clear, for I have seen him turn pale with rage; but he seems afraid to quarrel with him, somehow. If ever he says a sharp word, Mr. Fleming gives him a scowling look with his wicked eyes, and Muster Richard shuts up direc'ly.”
”And you fancy Miss Saville appears disposed to receive this man's advances favourably? Think well before you speak; do not accuse her lightly, for, by Heaven! if you have not good grounds for your insinuations, neither your age nor your long service shall avail to s.h.i.+eld you from my anger! every word breathed against her is like a stab to me.” As, in my grief and irritation, I threatened the old man, his brow reddened, and his eye flashed with all the fire of youth. After a moment's reflection, however, his mood changed, and, advancing towards me, he took -394-- my hand respectfully, and pressing it between his own, said:--
”Forgive me this liberty, sir, but I honours you, young gentleman, for your high spirit and generous feeling; your look and bearing, as you said them words, reminded me of my dear old master. It can't be no pleasure to me, sir, to blame _his_ daughter, that I have loved for his sake, as if she had been a child of my own--but truth is truth;” and as he uttered these words, the big drops stood in his eyes, unfailing witnesses of his sincerity. There is something in the display of real deep feeling, which for the time appears to raise and enn.o.ble those who are under its influence; and as the old man stood before me, I experienced towards him a mingled sentiment of admiration and respect, and I hastily endeavoured to atone for the injustice I had done him.
”Forgive me, Peter!” exclaimed I; ”I did not mean what I said,--sorrow and annoyance made me unjust to you, but you will forgive it?”
”No need of that, sir,” was the reply; ”I respects you all the more for it. And now, in answer to your question, I will go on with the little that remains to tell, and you can judge for yourself. Miss Clara, then, avoids Mr. Richard more than hever, and talks kind and pleasant like with this Mr. Fleming--walks out with him, sometimes alone--rides with him--don't seem so dull and mopish like since he's been here, and has never hanswered your letters since she took up with him.” As he concluded his catalogue of proofs, I threw myself into a chair, and sat with my hands pressed tightly on my brow for some minutes; my brain seemed on fire.
At length, starting up abruptly, I exclaimed: ”This is utterly unbearable! I must have certainty, Peter; I must see her at once. How is that to be done?”
”You may well ask,” was his reply; ”better wait till I can find an opportunity, and let you know.”
”Listen to me, old Peter,” continued I, laying my hand on his shoulder; ”there is that within me this day which can overcome all obstacles--I tell you I must see her, and I WILL!”.
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