Part 24 (2/2)
”When may we expect this hero?” asks Guy, kindly.
”His leave begins next week,” answers Lilian, looking at Lady Chetwoode.
”If he might come then, it would be such a comfort to him.”
”Of course he must come then,” says Lady Chetwoode. ”Do not let him lose a day of his precious leave. I remember when Guy was in the army how stingy they were about granting him a few days now and then.”
”The Mater's 'few days' always meant eight months out of the twelve,”
says Cyril, laughing, ”and anything like the abuse she used to shower upon the colonel because he didn't see it in the light that she did, was never heard. It is unfit for publication.”
”Archibald Chesney is coming here the twenty-ninth,” says Guy. ”So you will be able to make choice between your two cousins.”
”Is Archibald coming?” surprised. ”But my choice is already made. No one shall ever get inside Taffy in my affections.”
”Thrice blessed Taffy,” says Cyril. ”See what it is to be a young and gallant plunger!”
”That wouldn't weigh with me,” says Lilian, indignantly.
”Would it not?” asks Guy. ”I was hoping otherwise. I was a plunger once.
What is the renowned Taffy's other name?”
”Musgrave,” says Lilian.
”A very pretty name,” remarks Miss Beauchamp, who has received an unexpected check by the morning's post, and is consequently in high good humor.
”I think so too,” returns Lilian.
”Five distinct blushes, and all about Taffy,” says Cyril, meditatively.
”Happy Taffy! I have counted them religiously. Are you very much in love with him, Lilian?”
”'In love'! nonsense!” laughing. ”If you only saw Taffy! (But,” with a glad smile, ”you soon will.) He never remembers anything half an hour after he has said it, and besides,” scornfully, ”he is only a boy.”
”'Only a boy'! Was there ever such willful waste! Such reckless, extravagant, woful waste! To throw away five priceless, divine blushes upon 'only a boy'! Oh, that I were a boy! Perhaps, Lilian, when you come to know me longer I shall be happy enough to have one whole blush all to myself.”
”Be consoled,” says Miss Chesney, saucily: ”I feel a.s.sured the longer I know you, the more reason I shall have to blush for you!”
All through the day Miss Chesney's joy makes itself felt. She is thoroughly happy, and takes very good care every one shall know it. She sings through the house, ”up-stairs, down-stairs, and in my lady's chamber,” gay as any lark, and inundates her nurse with vain conjectures and interrogations; as for example, whether she thinks Taffy will be much changed,--and whether twelve months could possibly produce a respectable moustache,--and if she really believes the fact of his being a full-blown dragoon will have a demoralizing effect upon him.
”An' no doubt it will, ninny,” says nurse, shaking her beribboned head very solemnly, ”I have no opinion of those soldiering ways myself. I fear me he will be growing wilder an' wilder every day.”
”Oh! if that's all!” says Miss Lilian, with a relieved sigh. ”I am only afraid he will be growing steadier and steadier; and Taffy would be ruined if he gave himself airs. I can't endure dignified young men.”
”I don't think you need fret about that, my dear,” says nurse, with conviction. ”I never yet saw much signs of it about him.”
Having used up all nurse's powers of conversation, Lilian goes on to Lady Chetwoode's boudoir, and finds out from her the room Taffy will be likely to occupy. Having inspected it, and brought up half the servants to change every article of furniture in the room into a different position, and given as much trouble as possible, and decided in her own mind the precise flowers she will place upon his dressing-table the morning of his arrival, she goes back to her auntie to tell her all she has done.
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