The Master of the Ceremonies
Page 42
sisterand brothers."
"What, and not get married at all?" cried Mrs Barclay, in a tone ofdisappointment.
"And never be any man's wife," said Claire sadly. "Oh!"
"Stop one moment, Mrs Barclay," whispered Claire, in a strangelyhesitating manner, "you do like me, I know."
"Indeed, I do, my dear, though I must say you disappoint me horribly."
"Then I want you--whatever comes to pass--whatever people may say ofme--to try and think the best of me."
"Why, my darling!"
"Yes: I know you will; but your confidence may be sorely tried, and Iwant you to think well of me always. I cannot do all I wish, and--and--I cannot explain myself; only think the best you can of me. Good-bye,good-bye!"
"She is the strangest girl I ever did meet," said Mrs Barclay, as shepanted away in her thick silk and enormous open bonnet. "Think well ofher, whatever comes to pass! Why, of course I will, poor girl!"
Volume Two, Chapter IX.
AN INTERESTED PATRON.
"Well, Denville," said Lord Carboro', "I wanted to see you."
"In what way can I serve your lordship?" said the MC, with his best bow.
"A pinch of your snuff."
The pinch was taken, and the box snapped and returned.
"Your arm."
Denville's breast swelled as he offered his arm to the elderly beau, anda flush of hope rose into his cheeks. The sun must be coming out atlast.
It was a pleasant thing to be seen walking along the Parade in sofamiliar a way with Lord Carboro', and to his great delight Denville sawthat the Parade was well filled.
He expected that this would be only a temporary condescension from thewealthy old nobleman; but Lord Carboro' held on tightly, made a few verynasty remarks about some of the people they passed, and then saidsuddenly:
"Drelincourt has been asking me to interest myself with the Prince toget your boy a commission."
"Indeed, my lord?"
"Yes, indeed. 'Nother pinch of snuff."
The box--_sniff--snuff--snap_.
"Like to know what I said to her?"
"My lord, I am a father."
"Yes, Denville, I know it. Well."
The old man changed the conversation to make another remark or two aboutsome visitors, and then said, suddenly returning to the subject:
"Drelincourt asked me to get the lad a commission."
"Yes, my lord."
"You don't think of letting that old harpy claw up the boy?"
"Oh, my lord!"
"Of course, it would be madness. I told her I'd see her ladyship made amummy first."
The MC's heart sank.
"She means to marry fat Matt Bray. I hope she will. I said I'd see herladyship made a mummy first, Denville; and--he, he, he! she showed realcolour. It came up in her cheeks, all round the rouge. Poor old girl!she is as bad as her sister was: hates to hear about dying. Doosidawkward thing, old Teigne being killed in your house. I wonder who gother diamonds."
Denville's hands began to tremble, and the beads of perspiration tostand upon his forehead.
"Must all die some day, I suppose. Great nuisance to think about if theweather's fine, Denville; but when it's a cold, easterly wind, or one'sgout's bad, I often feel as if I shouldn't mind being tucked upcomfortably. How do you feel about it, Denville? You're not achicken."
"My lord, I feel sometimes as if, once I could see my boy settled, andmy daughter well married, it would be a relief to lie down and take thelong sleep," said the MC solemnly.
"Denville," said Lord Carboro', after a pause, during which he held ontightly to his companion's arm. "I've gone on for years calling you anartificial old humbug, with your deportment and niminy-piminy ways. Ihadn't the common sense to see that they were like my wig and stock,sir--put on. I beg your pardon, Denville. I do, sir: I beg yourpardon. You've the right stuff in you after all, and, sir--I'm veryproud to tell you that what I wouldn't do for that old harpy,Drelincourt, I would do on my own account."
"My lord!"
"Yes, sir; asked His Royal Highness, myself, and he said nothing wouldgive him greater pleasure. Denville, your son has a commission in theLight Dragoons."
"My lord, I--I--"
"Don't, don't, Denville," said the old man, pressing his arm. "Hold upman, or some of these idiots will be seeing that you are moved. Take apinch of snuff, man--of mine, and let's walk out upon the Downs, outhere beyond the fishermen's cottages, and my sight isn't what it was, orI should have said that was Miss Claire going into yon fisherman's hut."
"Impossible, my lord. Will you allow me to express my--"
"No, no, no. Not a word, Denville. Why, man, you are husky withemotion now, real emotion. Don't say another word about it. Only makethe boy do us justice."
"He shall, my lord," said the MC in a broken voice.
"And now, look here, Denville; I'm about one of the most selfish oldfellows that ever breathed, and I want to see if I can't have a littlerecompense for all my miseries and disappointments."
"Yours, my lord?"
"Yes, sir, mine," said the old beau. "Do you think because I'm rich I'mhappy? Not a bit of it. I haven't long to live though now, and I wantto make the best of the time left."
"My lord!"
"Hold your tongue and listen. I heard all about Rockley meeting MissClaire and young Linnell thrashing him."
"It was a most unfortunate affair, my lord."
"I don't know that either. Pity young Linnell couldn't shoot and popoff that scoundrel Rockley. By the way, he looked daggers at me forgetting your boy appointed to his regiment; but the boy shan't disgracethe corps, if I find him money myself."
Denville paused where they stood upon the Downs and gazed wonderingly atthe old Earl.
"I make you stare, Denville. Well, I'll be frank with you, and youshall be frank with me."
The MC bowed and wiped his streaming face.
"Of course she does not care for Rockley."
"Good heavens, my lord; no!"
"Nor for young Linnell?"
The MC hemmed twice before he spoke.
"I, too, will be frank with you, my lord," he said. "It was in deadopposition to my wishes, but I'm afraid there was something between mydaughter and Mr Richard Linnell."
Lord Carboro' looked at the speaker searchingly.
"It was an unspoken attachment, my lord, nothing more; and since thatterrible event at my house--I am obliged to name it," he said, withquivering lip--"whatever intimacy existed has been broken off."
"Humph! Sure, Denville?"
"I have my daughter's word, my lord. That duel set me thinking; andlike another father, my lord, of whom we read, I bespoke her roundly."
"Oh! come, Denville, don't compare yourself to Polonius, man. He--he--he!"
"Only to that extent, my lord. As I say, I spoke to her, and sheassured me that there was nothing whatever between her and Mr Linnell,but gratitude towards a gentleman who saved her from insult."
"Denville, that Mellersh is his friend; he ought to have shown the boyhow to shoot the scoundrel."
The MC was trembling with excitement. He was between hope and dread,for he could not but divine what was coming, and in spite of theglittering future it held up to his view he shrank from it with fear.
Volume Two, Chapter X.
AN ELDERLY SUITOR.
"Gratitude, eh?" said Lord Carboro' suddenly.
"Yes, my lord," said the MC, who was perspiring profusely.
"Deuced dangerous thing, Denville. Are you sure?"
"My lord, I have my child's word, and that is sacred."
"Hah!" ejaculated Lord Carboro', "you are right. Bless her! she is assweet and true as she is beautiful. She stands alone here in heryouthful dignity. Damme, Denville, I always look upon her as somebeautiful Greek goddess, and I would have sooner gone to her funeralthan seen that _roue_ Rockley win her. I would, damme."
"My lord, so would I," said Denville huskily.
"A
nd you would sooner go to her funeral than see her my wife, eh?" saidthe old beau abruptly.
"My lord, I did not say so."
"Nor think it?"
Stuart Denville, MC of Saltinville, stood there out on the hazy Downs,trembling, obsequious, tossed by his emotions. It was so dazzling, thissuggestion of an offer for his child's hand. May had married a richman; but for Claire, his beautiful child, to become the wife of awealthy nobleman--to become Countess of