Part 37 (2/2)
She met him with a grand display of cordiality.
She inquired, ”Whether he had heard of a most gallant action, that, coupled with another circ.u.mstance” _(here she smiled),_ ”had in part reconciled her to the age we live in?”
He asked for further particulars.
She then informed him ”that a s.h.i.+p had been ash.o.r.e on the rocks, that no fisherman dared venture out, that a young gentleman had given them his whole fortune, and so bribed them to accompany him; that he had saved the s.h.i.+p and the men's lives, paid away his fortune, and lighted an odious cigar and gone home, never minding, amid the blessings and acclamations of a maritime population.”
A beautiful story she told him; so beautiful, in fact, that until she had discoursed ten minutes he hardly recognized his own feat; but when he did he blushed inside as well as out with pleasure. Oh! music of music--praise from eloquent lips, and those lips the lips we love.
The next moment he felt ashamed; ashamed that Lady Barbara should praise him beyond his merits, as he conceived.
He made a faint hypocritical endeavor to moderate her eulogium; this gave matters an unexpected turn, Lady Barbara's eyes flashed defiance.
”I say it was a n.o.ble action, that one nursed in effeminacy (as you all are) should teach the hardy seamen to mock at peril--n.o.ble fellow!”
”He did a man's duty, Barbara.”
”Ipsden, take care, you will make me hate you, if you detract from a deed you cannot emulate. This gentleman risked his own life to save others--he is a hero! I should know him by his face the moment I saw him. Oh, that I were such a man, or knew where to find such a creature!”
The water came into Lord Ipsden's eyes; he did not know what to say or do; he turned away his head. Lady Barbara was surprised; her conscience smote her.
”Oh, dear,” said she, ”there now, I have given you pain--forgive me; we can't all be heroes; dear Ipsden, don't think I despise you now as I used. Oh, no! I have heard of your goodness to the poor, and I have more experience now. There is n.o.body I esteem more than you, Richard, so you need not look so.”
”Thank you, dearest Barbara.”
”Yes, and if you were to be such a goose as to write me another letter proposing absurdities to me--”
”Would the answer be different?”
”Very different.”
”Oh, Barbara, would you accept?”
”Why, of course not; but I would refuse civilly!”
”Ah!”
”There, don't sigh; I hate a sighing man. I'll tell you something that I know will make you laugh.” She then smiled saucily in his face, and said, ”Do you remember Mr.----?”
_L'effronte'e!_ this was the earnest man. But Ipsden was a match for her this time. ”I think I do,” said he; ”a gentleman who wants to make John Bull little again into John Calf; but it won't do.”
Her ladys.h.i.+p laughed. ”Why did you not tell us that on Inch Coombe?”
”Because I had not read _The Catspaw_ then.”
_”The Catspaw?_ Ah! I thought it could not be you. Whose is it?”
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