Part 57 (2/2)
At these words, to which she was too cautious to reply in words, Lucy wore a puzzled air; but underneath it a keen observer might have noticed her cheek pale a little, a very little, and a quiver of suppressed agitation pa.s.s over her like a current of air in summer over a smooth lake.
Receiving no answer, Mr. Fountain went on to remind her that he was her only kinsman, Mrs. Bazalgette being her relation by half-blood only; and told her that, looking on himself as her father, he had always been anxious to see her position in life secured before his own death.
”I have been ambitious for you, my dear,” said he, ”but not more so than your beauty and accomplishments, and your family name ent.i.tle us to be. Well, my ambition for you and my affection for you are both about to be gratified; at least, it now rests with you to gratify them. Will you be Mrs. Talboys?”
Lucy looked down, and said demurely, ”What a question for a third person to put!”
”Should I put it if I had not a right?”
”I don't know.”'
”You ought to know, Lucy.”
”Mr. Talboys has authorized you, dear?”
”He has.”'
”Then this is a formal proposal from Mr. Talboy's?”
”Of course it is,” said the old gentleman, fearlessly, for Lucy's manner of putting these questions was colorless; n.o.body would have guessed what she was at.
She now drew her arm round her uncle's neck, and kissed him, which made him exult prematurely.
”Then, dear uncle,” said she lovingly, ”you must tell Mr. Talboys that I thank him for the honor he does me, and that I decline.”
”Accept, you mean?”
”No I don't--ha! ha!”
Her laugh died rapidly away at sight of the effect of her words. Mr.
Fountain started, and his face turned red and pale alternately.
”Refuse my friend--refuse Talboys in that way? Thoughtless girl, you don't know what you are doing. His family is all but n.o.ble. What am I saying? n.o.ble? why, half the House of Peers is sprung from the dregs of the people, and got there either by pettifogging in the courts of law, or selling consciences in the Lower House; and of the other half, that are gentlemen of descent, not two in twenty can show a pedigree like Talboys. And with that name a princely mansion--antiquity stamped on it--stands in its own park, in the middle of its vast estates, with t.i.tle-deeds in black-letter, girl.”
”But, uncle, all this is enc.u.mbered--”
”It is false, whoever told you so. There is not a mortgage on any part of it--only a few trifling copyholds and pepper-corn rents.”
”You misunderstand me; I was going to say, it is enc.u.mbered with a gentleman for whom I could never feel affection, because he does not inspire me with respect.”
”Nonsense! he inspires universal respect.”
”It must be by his estates, then, not his character. You know, uncle, the world is more apt to ask, 'What _has_ he, then what _is_ he?'”
”He _is_ a polished gentleman.”
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