by E R Burrows
His arrival was soon known at the Pradeer; for Mr. Lum Tar O was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Zagdi Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his bow as the cloud flier turned into the Park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Roosins to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Mistress Tara to require them, for Mr. Darcy Carter had brought with him a Colonel Myr-lo, the younger son of his uncle Lord, and, to the great surprise of all the party, when Mr. Lum Tar O returned, the gentlemen accompanied him.
Thuvia had seen them from her sire’s room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding,
“I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy Carter would never have come so soon to wait upon me.”
Elizadejah had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Myr-lo, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy Carter looked just as he had been used to look in Bantoom—paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Lum Tar O, and whatever might be his feelings toward her friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizadejah merely curtseyed to him without saying a word.
Colonel Myr-lo entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Lum Tar O, sat for some time without speaking to anybody.
At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of Elizadejah after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment’s pause, added,
“My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?”
She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Tars Tarkass and Tavia, and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Kajak. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.
Chapter 31
Colonel Myr-lo’s manners were very much admired at the Pradeer, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures of their engagements at Roosins. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither—for while there were visitors in the house, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Estock-day, almost a week after the gentlemen’s arrival, that they were honoured by such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the evening. For the last week they had seen very little of Mistress Tara or her daughter. Colonel Myr-lo had called at the Pradeer more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy Carter they had seen only at church.
The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Mistress Tara’s nesting-room. Her mistressship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy Carter, much more than to any other person in the room.
Colonel Myr-lo seemed really glad to see them; anything was a welcome relief to him at Roosins; and Mrs. Lum Tar O’s pretty friend had moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and talked so agreeably of Kant and Bantoom, of travelling and staying at home, of new scrolls and music, that Elizadejah had never been half so well entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Mistress Tara herself, as well as of Mr. Darcy Carter.
His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity; and that her mistressship, after a while, shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not scruple to call out,
“What is that you are saying, Myr-lo? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Miss Kajak? Let me hear what it is.”
“We are speaking of music, madam,” said he, when no longer able to avoid a reply.
“Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are few people in Barsoom, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully. How does Gert get on, Darcy Carter?”
Mr. Darcy Carter spoke with affectionate praise of his sister’s proficiency.
“I am very glad to hear such a good account of her,” said Mistress Tara, “and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practice a good deal.”
“I assure you, madam,” he replied, “that she does not need such advice. She practises very constantly.”
“So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Kajak several times, that she will never play really well unless she practises more; and though Mrs. Lum Tar O has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Roosins every day, and play on the haapsicordforte in Mrs. J’kansin’s room. She would be in nobody’s way, you know, in that part of the house.”
Mr. Darcy Carter looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill-breeding, and made no answer.
When kaffee was over, Colonel Myr-lo reminded Elizadejah of having promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He drew a chair near her. Mistress Tara listened to half a song, and then talked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away from her, and making with his usual deliberation towards the haapsicordforte stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer’s countenance.
Elizadejah saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said, “You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy Carter, by coming in all this state to hear me? I will not be alarmed though your sister does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
“I shall not say you are mistaken,” he replied, “because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.”
Elizadejah laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel Myr-lo, “Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy Carter, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage in Bantoom—and, give me leave to say, very impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear.”
“I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly.
“Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of,” cried Colonel Myr-lo. “I should like to know how he behaves among strangers.”
“You shall hear then—but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing him in Bantoom, you must know, was at a ball—and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young mistress was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr. Darcy Carter, you cannot deny the fact.”
“I had not at t
hat time the honour of knowing any mistress in the assembly beyond my own party.”
“True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel Myr-lo, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders.”
“Perhaps,” said Darcy Carter, “I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers.”
“Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?” said Elizadejah, still addressing Colonel Myr-lo. “Shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?”
“I can answer your question,” said Myr-lo, “without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble.”
“I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy Carter, “of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.”
“My fingers,” said Elizadejah, “do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of superior execution.”
Darcy Carter smiled and said, “You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”
Here they were interrupted by Mistress Tara, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizadejah immediately began playing again. Mistress Tara approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy Carter.
“Miss Kajak would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the advantage of a Torkwas master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.”
Elizadejah looked at Darcy Carter to see how cordially he assented to his cousin’s praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss de Broonak she derived this comfort for Miss Tars Tarkas, that he might have been just as likely to betroth her, had she been his relation.
Mistress Tara continued her remarks on Elizadejah’s performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizadejah received them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her mistressship’s cloud flier was ready to take them all home.
Chapter 32
Elizadejah was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Tavia while Mrs. Lum Tar O and Maria were gone on business into the village, when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a visitor. As she had heard no cloud flier, she thought it not unlikely to be Mistress Tara, and under that apprehension was putting away her half-finished missive that she might escape all impertinent questions, when the door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy Carter, and Mr. Darcy Carter only, entered the room.
He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologised for his intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were to be within.
They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Roosins were made, seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence recollecting when she had seen him last in Bantoom, and feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty departure, she observed,
“How very suddenly you all quitted Artol last No’vimbak, Mr. Darcy Carter! It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Tars Tarkas to see you all after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day before. He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left Torkwas?”
“Perfectly so, I thank you.”
She found that she was to receive no other answer, and, after a short pause added, “I think I have understood that Mr. Tars Tarkas has not much idea of ever returning to Artol again?”
“I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend very little of his time there in the future. He has many friends, and is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing.”
“If he means to be but little at Artol, it would be better for the valley that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Tars Tarkas did not take the house so much for the convenience of the valley as for his own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same principle.”
“I should not be surprised,” said Darcy Carter, “if he were to give it up as soon as any eligible purchase offers.”
Elizadejah made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his friend; and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the trouble of finding a subject to him.
He took the hint, and soon began with, “This seems a very comfortable house. Mistress Tara, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Lum Tar O first came to Zagdi.”
“I believe she did—and I am sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful object.”
“Mr. Lum Tar O appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a concubine.”
“Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made him happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding—though I am not certain that I consider her betrothing Mr. Lum Tar O as the wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her.”
“It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends.”
“An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty kliks.”
“And what is fifty kliks of good road? Little more than half a day’s journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance.”
“I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match,” cried Elizadejah. “I should never have said Mrs. Lum Tar O was settled near her family.”
“It is a proof of your own attachment to Bantoom. Anything beyond the very valley of Sanomah ni Torkwasi, I suppose, would appear far.”
As he spoke there was a sort of smile which Elizadejah fancied she understood; he must be supposing her to be thinking of Tavia and Artol, and she blushed as she answered, “I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settle too near her family. The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expenses of travelling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case here. Mr. and Mrs. Lum Tar O have a comfortable income, but not such a one as will allow of frequent journeys—and I am persuaded my friend would not call herself near her family under less than half the present distance.”
Mr. Darcy Carter drew his chair a little towards her, and said, “You cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been always at Sanomah ni Torkwasi.”
Elizadejah looked surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and glancing over it, said, in a colder voice, “Are you pleased with Kant?”
A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and concise—and soon put an end to by the entrance of Thuvia and her sister, just returned from her walk. The tete-a-tete surprised them. Mr. Darcy Carter related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding on Miss Kajak, and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying much to anybody, went away.
“What can be the meaning of this?” said Thuvia, as soon as he was gone. “My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called us in this
familiar way.”
But when Elizadejah told of his silence, it did not seem very likely, even to Thuvia’s wishes, to be the case; and after various conjectures, they could at last only suppose his visit to proceed from the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was the more probable from the time of year. All field sports were over. Within doors there was Mistress Tara, scrolls, and a billiard-table, but gentlemen cannot always be within doors; and in the nearness of the Pradeer, or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, the two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking thither almost every day.
They called at various times of the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their aunt. It was plain to them all that Colonel Myr-lo came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; and Elizadejah was reminded by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her former favourite Gharge Voort; and though, in comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Myr-lo’s manners, she believed he might have the best-informed mind.
But why Mr. Darcy Carter came so often to the Pradeer, it was more difficult to understand. It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice—a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really animated. Mrs. Lum Tar O knew not what to make of him.