Part 14 (2/2)
David did not heed her. All of a moment his heart vented itself in a sea-ditty so loud, and clear, and mellow, that windows opened, and out came nightcapped heads to hear him carol the l.u.s.ty stave, making night jolly.
Meantime, the weather being balmy, Mr. Fountain had walked slowly with Mr. Talboys in another direction. Mr. Talboys inquired, ”Who were these people?”
”Oh, only two humble neighbors,” was the reply.
”I never met them anywhere. They are received in the neighborhood?”
”Not in society, of course.”
”I don't understand you. Have not I just met them here?”
”That is not the way to put it,” said the old gentleman, a little confused. ”You did not meet them; you did me and my niece the honor to dine with us, and the Dodds dropped in to tea--quite another matter.”
”Oh, is it?”
”Is it not? I see you have been so long out of England you have forgotten these little distinctions; society would go to the deuce without them. We ask our friends, and persons of our own cla.s.s, to dinner, but we ask who we like to tea in this county. Don't you like her? She is the prettiest girl in the village.”
”Pretty and pert.”
”Ha! ha! that is true. She is saucy enough, and amusing in proportion.”
”It is the man I alluded to.”
”What, David? ay, a very worthy lad. He is a downright modest, well-informed young man.”
”I don't doubt his general merits, but let me ask you a serious question: his evident admiration of Miss Fountain?”
”His ad-mi-ration of Miss Fountain?”
”Is it agreeable to you?”
”It is a matter of consummate indifference to me.”
”But not, I think, to her. She showed a submission to the cub's impertinence, and a desire to please instead of putting him down, that made me suspect. Do you often ask Mr. Dodd--what a name!--to tea?”
”My dear friend, I see that, with all your accomplishments, you have something to learn. You want insight into female character. Now I, who must go to school to you on most points, can be of use to you here.”
Then, seeing that Talboys was mortified at being told thus gently there was a department of learning he had not fathomed, he added: ”At all events, I can interpret my own niece to you. I have known her much longer than you have.”
Mr. Talboys requested the interpreter to explain the pleasure his niece took in Mr. Dodd's fiddle.
”Part politeness, part sham. Why, she wanted not to ask them this evening, the fiddle especially. I'll give you the clue to Lucy; she is a female Chesterfield, and the droll thing is she is polite at heart as well. Takes it from her mother: she was something between an angel and a d.u.c.h.ess.”
”Politeness does not account for the sort of partiality she showed for these Dodds while I was in the room.”
”Pure imagination, my dear friend. I was there; and had so monstrous a phenomenon occurred I must have seen it. If you think she could really prefer their society to yours, you are as unjust to her as yourself.
She may have concealed her real preference out of _finesse,_ or perhaps she has observed that our inferiors are touchy, and ready to fancy we slight them for those of our own rank.”
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