Part 15 (1/2)
Talboys shrugged his shoulders; he was but half convinced. ”Her enthusiasm when the cub sc.r.a.ped the fiddle went beyond mere politeness.”
”Beyond other people's, you mean. Nothing on earth ever went beyond hers--ha! ha! ha! To-morrow night, if you like, we will have my gardener, Jack Absolom, in to tea.”
”No, I thank you. I have no wish to go beyond Mr. and Miss Dodd.”
”Oh, only for an experiment. The first minute Jack will be wretched, and want to sink through the floor; but in five minutes you will fancy Lucy will have made Jack Absolom at home in my drawing-room. He will be laying down the law about Jonquilles, and she all sweetness, curiosity, and enthusiasm outside--_ennui_ in.”
”Can her eyes glisten out of politeness?” inquired Talboys, with a subdued sneer.
”Why not?”
”They could shed tears, perhaps, for the same motive?” said Talboys, with crus.h.i.+ng irony.
”Well! Hum! I'd back them at four to seven.”
Mr. Talboys was silent, and his manner showed that he was a little mortified at a subject turning to joke which he had commenced seriously. He must stop this annoyance. He said severely, ”It is time to come to an understanding with you.”
At these words, and, above all, at their solemn tone, the senior p.r.i.c.ked his ears and prepared his social diplomacy.
”I have visited very frequently at your house, Mr. Fountain.”
”Never without being welcome, my dear sir.”
”You have, I think, divined one reason of my very frequent visits here.”
”I have not been vain enough to attribute them entirely to my own attractions.”
”You approve the homage I render to that other attraction?”
”Unfeignedly.”
”Am I so fortunate as to have her suffrage, too?”
”I have no better means of knowing than you have.”
”Indeed! I was in hopes you might have sounded her inclinations.”
”I have scrupulously avoided it,” replied the veteran. ”I had no right to compromise you upon mere conjecture, however reasonable. I awaited your authority to take any move in so delicate a matter. Can you blame me? On one side my friend's dignity, on the other a young lady's peace of mind, and that young lady my brother's daughter.”
”You were right, my dear sir; I see and appreciate your reserve, your delicacy, though I am about to remove its cause. I declare myself to you your niece's admirer; have I your permission to address her?”
”You have, and my warmest wishes for your success.”
”Thank you. I think I may hope to succeed, provided I have a fair chance afforded me.”
”I will take care you shall have that.”
”I should prefer not to have others buzzing about the lady whose affection I am just beginning to gain.”
”You pay this poor sailor an amazing compliment,” said Mr. Fountain, a little testily; ”if he admires Lucy it can only be as a puppy is struck with the moon above. The moon does not respond to all this wonder by descending into the whelp's jaws--no more will my niece. But that is neither here nor there; you are now her declared suitor, and you have a right to stipulate; in short, you have only to say the word, and 'exeunt Dodds,' as the play-books say.”