Part 65 (2/2)
”Why, really!--let me see--was it Jones the grocer, or Mrs. Muddles when she brought home the clean linen? I think it was Jones, but I know it came with the clean clothes, and they had heard it from some of the servants,” returned Mrs. Coleman.
”I'll boil Shrimp alive when I get back,” muttered Lawless, ”and have him sent up in the fish-sauce.”
”Yes,” replied I to Lucy, as soon as the conversation again became general, ”Freddy gave me an outline of the cause of his disquietude; but from a hint Lawless dropped in our way here to-day, Mr. Lowe Brown is likely to have a somewhat powerful rival, is he not?”
”Oh! then you know all, Mr. Fairlegh,” she replied; ”what am I to do? I am so unhappy--so bewildered!”
”If you will allow me to advise you,” returned I, ”you will not positively refuse Lawless; on the contrary, I should encourage him so far as to ensure the dismissal of Mr. Brown, at all events.”
”But would that be light? besides, I should be forced to marry Mr.
Lawless, it I once said Yes.”
”I should not exactly say Yes,” replied I, smiling at the nave simplicity of her answer; ”I would tell my uncle that, as he was aware, I had always disliked the -435-- attentions of Mr. Brown, and that I begged he might be definitely informed that it would be useless for him to attempt to prosecute his suit any farther. I would then add, that it was impossible for me to agree to accept at once a man of whom I knew so little as of Lawless, but that I had no objection to his visiting here, with a view to becoming better acquainted with him. By this means you will secure the positive advantage of getting rid of the drysalter, as Freddy calls him, and you must leave the rest to time. Lawless is a good-natured, generous-spirited fellow, and if he were made aware of the true state of the case, I do not think he would wish to interfere with Freddy's happiness, or annoy you by addresses which he must feel were unacceptable to you.”
”But what will Freddy say if I appear to encourage Mr. Lawless? you don't know how particular he is.”
”If you will permit me, I will tell him exactly what has pa.s.sed between us to-day, and explain to him your reasons for what you are about to do.”
”Will you really be so kind?” she answered, with a grateful smile; ”then I shall do exactly as you have told me. How shall I ever thank you for your kindness?”
”By making my friend Freddy a good wife, and being married on the same day that I am.”
”That you are! are you joking?”
”Never was more serious in my life, I can a.s.sure you.”
”Are you really going to be married? Oh! I am so glad! Is the lady a nice person? do I know her?”
”The most charming person in the world,” replied I, ”and you know her intimately.”
”Why, you can't mean Cla----”
”Hus.h.!.+” exclaimed I, as a sudden silence rendered our conversation no longer private.
”Lucy, my dear, may I request your company for a few minutes in my study?” said Mr. Coleman, holding the door open with an air of dignified courtesy for his niece to pa.s.s out. She had acquired double importance in his eyes, since the eldest son of a real live peer of the realm had declared himself her suitor.
”Allow me, governor--ar--Mr. Coleman, I mean,” said Lawless, springing forward, ”it's for us young fellows to hold doors open, you know--not old reprobates like you,” he added in an undertone, making a grimace for my especial benefit at the retreating figure of the aforesaid irreverently apostrophised legal luminary.
”Ah!” said Mrs. Coleman, by whom this by-play had been un.o.bserved, ”I wish all young men were like you, -436-- Mr. Lawless: we see very little respect to grey hairs nowadays.”
”Very little indeed, ma'am,” returned Lawless, winking furiously at me; ”but from a boy I've always been that way inclined: I dare say that you observed that I addressed Mr. Coleman as 'Governor' just now?”
”Oh yes, I think I did,” replied Mrs. Coleman innocently.
”Well, ma'am, that's a habit I've fallen into from unconsciously giving utterance to my feelings of veneration. To govern, is a venerable attribute--governor signifies one who governs--hence my inadvertent application of the term to your revered husband, eh?”
”Ah!” returned poor Mrs. Coleman, thoroughly mystified, ”it's very kind of you to say so, I'm sure. I wonder whether I left my knitting upstairs, or whether it went down in the luncheon-tray.”
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