Part 22 (1/2)
Miss Jacky was astonished how any person's mind could be so callous as to think of leaving Glenfern without emotion.
Miss Nicky wondered what was to become of the christening cake she had ordered from Perth; it might be as old as the hills before there would be another child born amongst them.
The Misses were ready to weep at the disappointment of the dreaming-bread.
In the midst of all this agitation, mental and bodily, the long-looked-for moment arrived. The carriage drove round ready packed and loaded, and, absolutely screaming with delight, Lady Juliana sprang into it. As she nodded and kissed her hand to the a.s.sembled group, she impatiently called to Henry to follow. His adieus were, however, not quite so tonish as those of his high-bred lady, for he went duly and severally through all the evolutions of kissing, embracing, shaking of hands, and promises to write; then taking his station by the side of the nurse and child--the rest of the carriage being completely filled by the favourites--he bade a long farewell to his paternal halls and the land of his birth.
CHAPTER XX.
”For trifles why should I displease The man I love? For trifles such as these To serious mischiefs lead the man I love.”
HORACE.
BRIGHT prospects of future happiness and endless plans of expense floated through Lady Juliana's brain, and kept her temper in some degree of serenity during the journey.
Arrived in London, she expressed herself enraptured at being once more in a civilised country, and restored to the society of human creatures.
An elegant house and suitable establishment were immediately provided; and a thousand dear friends, who had completely forgotten her existence, were now eager to welcome her to her former haunts, and lead her thoughtless and willing steps in the paths of dissipation and extravagance.
Soon after their arrival they were visited by General Cameron. It was two o'clock, yet Lady Juliana had not appeared; and Henry, half-stretched upon a sofa, was dawdling over his breakfast with half-a-dozen newspapers scattered round.
The first salutations over, the General demanded, ”Am I not to be favoured with a sight of your lady? Is she afraid that I am one of your country relations, and taken her flight from the breakfast-table in consequence?”
”She has not yet made her appearance,” replied Douglas; ”but I will let her know you are here. I am sure she will be happy to make acquaintance with one to whom I am so much indebted.”
A message was despatched to Lady Juliana, who returned for answer that she would be down immediately. Three quarters of an hour, however, elapsed; and the General, provoked with this inattention and affectation, was preparing to depart when the Lady made her appearance.
”Juliana, my love,” said her husband, ”let me present you to General Cameron--the generous friend who has acted the part of a father towards me, and to whom you owe all the comforts you enjoy.”
Lady Juliana slightly bowed with careless ease, and half uttered a ”How d'ye do?--very happy indeed,” as she glided on to pull the bell for breakfast. ”Cupid, Cupid!” cried she to the dog, who had flown upon the General, and was barking most vehemently. ”Poor darling Cupid! are you almost starved to death? Harry, do give him that m.u.f.fin on your plate.”
”You are very late to-day, my love,” cried the mortified husband.
”I have been pestered for the last hour with Duval and the court dresses, and I could not fix on what I should like.”
”I think you might have deferred the ceremony of choosing to another opportunity. General Cameron has been here above an hour.”
”Dear! I hope you did not wait for me. I shall be quite shocked!”
drawled out her ladys.h.i.+p in a tone denoting how very indifferent the answer would be to her.
”I beg your ladys.h.i.+p would be under no uneasiness on that account,”
replied the General in an ironical tone, which, though lost upon her, was obvious enough to Henry.
”Have you breakfasted?” asked Lady Juliana, exerting herself to be polite.
”Absurd, my love!” cried her husband. ”Do you suppose I should have allowed the General to wait for that too all this time, if he had not breakfasted many hours ago?”
”How cross you are this morning, my Harry! I protest my Cupidon is quite ashamed of your _grossierete! ”_