Part 44 (2/2)
When Parliament rose Mr. Cecil Burleigh came down to Norminster and paid a visit to Abbotsmead. He was the bearer of an invitation to Brentwood and his sister's wedding, but Miss Fairfax was not able to accept it.
She had just accepted an invitation to Fairfield.
CHAPTER XLVI.
_TENDER AND TRUE._
Lady Latimer was in possession of all the facts and circ.u.mstances of her guest's position when she arrived at Fairfield. Her grandfather's will was notorious, and my lady did not entirely disapprove of it, as Bessie's humbler friends did, for she still cherished expectations in Mr. Cecil Burleigh's interest, and was not aware how far he was now from entertaining any on his own account. Though she had convinced herself that there was an unavowed engagement between Mr. Harry Musgrave and Miss Fairfax, she was resolved to treat it and speak of it as a very slight thing indeed, and one that must be set aside without weak tenderness. Having such clear and decided views on the affair, she was not afraid to state them even to Bessie herself.
Harry Musgrave had not yet arrived at Brook, but after a day devoted to her mother Bessie's next opportunity for a visit was devoted to Harry's mother. She mentioned to Lady Latimer where she was going, and though my lady looked stern she did not object. On Bessie's return, however, she found something to say, and cast off all reserves: ”Mr. Harry Musgrave has not come, but he is coming. Had I known beforehand, I should have preferred to have you here in his absence. Elizabeth, I shall consider that young man very deficient in honorable feeling if he attempt to interfere between you and your true interest.”
”That I am sure he never will,” said Bessie with animation.
”He is not over-modest. If you are advised by me you will be distant with him--you will give him no advantage by which he may imagine himself encouraged. Any foolish promise that you exchanged when you were last here must be forgotten.”
Bessie replied with much quiet dignity: ”You know, Lady Latimer, that I was not brought up to think rank and riches essential, and the experience I have had of them has not been so enticing that I should care to sacrifice for their sake a true and tried affection. Harry Musgrave and I are dear friends, and, since you speak to me so frankly, I will tell you that we propose to be friends for life.”
Lady Latimer grew very red, very angry: ”Do you tell me that you will marry that young man--without birth, without means, without a profession even? What has he, or is he, that should tempt you to throw away the fine position that awaits your acceptance?”
”He has a real kindness for me, a real unselfish love, and I would rather be enriched with that than be ever so exalted. It is an old promise. I always did love Harry Musgrave, and never anybody else.”
Lady Latimer fumed, walked about and sat down again: ”How are you to live?”
”I don't know,” said Bessie cheerfully. ”Like other young people--partly on our prospects. But we do not talk of marrying yet.”
”It is a relief to hear that you do not talk of marrying yet, though how you can dream of marrying young Mr. Musgrave at all, when you have Mr.
Cecil Burleigh at your feet, is to me a strange, incomprehensible infatuation.”
”Mr. Cecil Burleigh is not at my feet any longer. He has got up and gone back to Miss Julia Gardiner's feet, which he ought never to have left.
Grandpapa's will has the effect of making two charming people happy, and I am glad of it.”
”Is it possible?” said Lady Latimer in a low, chagrined voice. ”Then you have lost him. I presume that you felt the strain of such high companions.h.i.+p too severe for you? Early habits cling very close.”
”He had no fascination for me; it was an effort sometimes.”
”You must have been carrying on a correspondence with Mr. Harry Musgrave all this while.”
”We have corresponded during the last year,” said Bessie calmly.
”I blame myself that I ever gave the opportunity for a renewal of your old friendliness. That is the secret of your wilfulness.”
”I loved Harry best--that is the secret of it,” said Bessie; and she turned away to close the discussion.
It was a profound mortification to Lady Latimer to hear within the week from various quarters that Mr. Cecil Burleigh was at Ryde, and to all appearance on the happiest terms with Miss Julia Gardiner. And in fact they were quietly married one morning by special license, and the next news of them was that they were travelling in the Tyrol.
It was about a week after this, when Bessie was spending a few hours with her mother, that she heard of Harry Musgrave's arrival at Brook. It was the doctor who brought the intelligence. He came into the little drawing-room where his wife and Bessie were sitting, and said, ”I called at Brook in pa.s.sing and saw poor Harry.”
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