But the letter to her brother was more difficult. In her epistles to those others she had so framed her words as if possible to bring them to Matching. But in writing to her brother, she was anxious so to write as to deter him from coming. She was bound to obey her father's commands. He had desired that Silverbridge should be asked to come, – and he was asked to come. But she craftily endeavoured so to word the invitation that he should be induced to remain away. ‘It is all papa's doing,’ she said; ‘and I am glad that he should like to have people here. I have asked the Finns, with whom papa seems to have made up everything. Mr Warburton2 will be here of course, and I think Mr Moreton is coming. He seems to think that a certain amount of shooting ought to be done. Then I have invited Lady Mabel Grex and Miss Cassewary, – all of papa's choosing, and the Boncassens. Now you will know whether the set will suit you. Papa has particularly begged that you will come, – apparently because of Lady Mabel. I don't at all know what that means. Perhaps you do. As I like Lady Mabel, I hope she will come.’ Surely Silverbridge would not run himself into the jaws of the lion. When he heard that he was specially expected by his father to come to Matching in order that he might make himself agreeable to one young lady, he would hardly venture to come, seeing that he would be bound to make love to another young lady!
To Mary's great horror, all the invitations were accepted. Mr and Mrs Finn were quite at the Duke's disposal. That she had expected. The Boncassens would all come. This was signified in a note from Isabel, which covered four sides of the paper and was full of fun. But under her signature had been written a few words, – not in fun, – words which Lady Mary perfectly understood. ‘I wonder, I wonder, I wonder!’ Did the Duke when inviting her know anything of his son's inclinations? Would he be made to know them now, during this visit? And what would he say when he did know them?
That the Boncassens would come was a matter of course; but Mary had thought that Lady Mabel would refuse. She had told Lady Mabel that the Boncassens had been asked, and to her thinking it had not been improbable that the young lady would be unwilling to meet her rival at Matching. But the invitation was accepted.
But it was her brother's ready acquiescence which troubled Mary chiefly. He wrote as though there were no doubt about the matter. ‘Of course there is a deal of shooting to be done,’ he said, ‘and I consider myself bound to look after it. There ought not to be less than four guns, – particularly if Warburton is to be one of them. I like Warburton very much, but I think he shoots badly to ingratiate himself with the governor. I wonder whether the governor would get leave for Gerald for a week. He has been sticking to his work like a brick. If not, would he mind my bringing someone? You ask the governor and let me know. I'll be there on the 20th. I wonder whether they'll let me hear what goes on among them about politics. I'm sure there is not one of them hates Sir Timothy worse than I do. Lady Mab is a brick, and I'm glad you have asked her. I don't think she'll come, as she likes shutting herself up at Grex. Miss Boncassen is another brick. And if you can manage about Gerald I will say that you are a third.’
This would have been all very well had she not known that secret. Could it be that Miss Boncassen had been mistaken? She was forced to write again to say that her father did not think it right that Gerald should be brought away from his studies for the sake of shooting, and that the necessary fourth gun would be there in the person of one Barrington Erle.3 Then she added: ‘Lady Mabel Grex is coming, and so is Miss Boncassen.’ But to this she received no reply.
Though Silverbridge had written to his sister in his usual careless style, he had considered the matter much. The three months were over. He had no idea of any hesitation on his part. He had asked her to be his wife, and he was determined to go on with his suit. Had he ever been enabled to make the same request to Mabel Grex, or had she answered him when he did half make it in a serious manner, he would have been true to her. He had not told his father, or his sister, or his friends, as Isabel had suggested. He would not do so till he should have received some more certain answer from her. But in respect to his love he was prepared to be quite as obstinate as his sister. It was a matter for his own consideration, and he would choose for himself. The three months were over, and it was now his business to present himself to the lady again.
That Lady Mabel should also be at Matching, would certainly be a misfortune. He thought it probable that she, knowing that Isabel Boncassen and he would be there together, would refuse the invitation. Surely she ought to do so. That was his opinion when he wrote to his sister. When he heard afterwards that she intended to be there, he could only suppose that she was prepared to accept the circumstances as they stood.
CHAPTER 52
Miss Boncassen Tells the Truth
On the 20th of the month all the guests came rattling in at Matching one after another. The Boncassens were the first, but Lady Mabel with Miss Cassewary followed them quickly. Then came the Finns, and with them Barrington Erie. Lord Silverbridge was the last. He arrived by a train which reached the station at 7 p.m., and only entered the house as his father was taking Mrs Boncassen into the dining-room. He dressed himself in ten minutes, and joined the party as they had finished their fish. ‘I am awfully sorry,’ he said, rushing up to his father, ‘but I thought that I should just hit it.’
‘There is no occasion for awe,’1 said the Duke, ‘as a sufficiency of dinner is left. But how you should have hit it, as you say, – seeing that the train is not due at Bridstock till 7.5, I do not know.’
‘I've done it often, sir,’ said Silverbridge, taking the seat left vacant for him next to Lady Mabel. ‘We've had a political caucus of the party, – all the members who could be got together in London, – at Sir Timothy's, and I was bound to attend.’
‘We've all heard of that,’ said Phineas Finn.
‘And we pretty well know all the points of Sir Timothy's eloquence,’ said Barrington Erie.
‘I am not going to tell any of the secrets. I have no doubt that there were reporters present, and you will see the whole of it in the papers tomorrow.’ Then Silverbridge turned to his neighbour. ‘Well, Lady Mab, and how are you this long time?’
‘But how are you? Think what you have gone through since we were at Killancodlem!’
‘Don't talk of it.’
‘I suppose it is not to be talked of.’
‘Though upon the whole it has happened very luckily. I have got rid of the accursed horses, and my governor has shown what a brick he can be. I don't think there is another man in England who would have done as he did.’
‘There are not many who could.’
‘There are fewer who would. When they came into my bedroom that morning and told me that the horse could not run, I thought I should have broken my heart. Seventy thousand pounds gone!’
‘Seventy thousand pounds!’
‘And the honour and glory of winning the race! And then the feeling that one had been so awfully swindled! Of course I had to look as though I did not care a straw about it, and to go and see the race, with a jaunty air and a cigar in my mouth. That is what I call hard work.’
‘But you did it!’
‘I tried. I wish I could explain to you my state of mind that day. In the first place the money had to be got. Though it was to go into the hands of swindlers, still it had to be paid. I don't know how your father and Percival get on together; – but I felt very like the prodigal son.’
‘It is very different with papa.’
‘I suppose so. I felt very like hanging myself when I was alone that evening. And now everything is right again.’
‘I am glad that everything is right,’ she said, with a strong emphasis on the everything.
‘I have done with racing at any rate. The feeling of being in the power of a lot of low blackguards is so terrible! I did love the poor brute so dearly. And now what have you been doing?’
‘Just nothing; – and have seen nobody. I went back to Grex after leaving Killancodlem, and shut myself up in my misery.
’
‘Why misery?’
‘Why misery! What a question for you to ask! Though I love Grex, I am not altogether fond of living alone; and though Grex has its charms, they are of a melancholy kind. And when I think of the state of our family affairs, that is not reassuring. Your father has just paid seventy thousand pounds for you. My father has been good enough to take something less than a quarter of that sum from me; – but still it was all that I was ever to have.’
‘ ‘Girls don't want money.’
‘Don't they? When I look forward it seems to me that a time will come when I shall want it very much.’
‘You will marry,’ he said. She turned round for a moment and looked at him, full in the face, after such a fashion that he did not dare to promise her further comfort in that direction. ‘Things always do come right, somehow.’
‘Let us hope so. Only nothing has ever come right with me yet. What is Frank doing?’
‘I haven't seen him since he left Crummie-Toddie.’
‘And your sister?’ she whispered.
‘I know nothing about it at all.’
‘And you? I have told you everything about myself.’
‘As for me, I think of nothing but politics now. I have told you about my racing experiences. Just at present shooting is up. Before Christmas I shall go into Chiltern's2 country for a little hunting.’
‘You can hunt here?’
‘I shan't stay long enough to make it worth while to have my horses down. If Tregear will go with me to the Brake, I can mount him for a day or two. But I daresay you know more of his plans than I do. He went to see you at Grex.’
‘And you did not.’
‘I was not asked.’
‘Nor was he.’
‘Then all I can say is,’ replied Silverbridge, speaking in a low voice, but with considerable energy, ‘that he can use a freedom with Lady Mabel Grex upon which I cannot venture.’
‘I believe you begrudge me his friendship. If you had no one else belonging to you with whom you could have any sympathy, would not you find comfort in a relation who could be almost as near to you as a brother?’
‘I do not grudge him to you.’
‘Yes; you do. And what business have you to interfere?’
‘None at all; – certainly. I will never do it again.’
‘Don't say that, Lord Silverbridge. You ought to have more mercy on me. You ought to put up with anything from me, – knowing how much I suffer.’
‘I will put up with anything,’ said he.
‘Do, do. And now I will try to talk to Mr Erle.’
Miss Boncassen was sitting on the other side of the table, between Mr Monk and Phineas Finn, and throughout the dinner talked mock politics with the greatest liveliness. Silverbridge when he entered the room had gone round the table and had shaken hands with everyone. But there had been no other greeting between him and Isabel, nor had any sign passed from one to the other. No such greeting or sign had been possible. Nothing had been left undone which she had expected, or hoped. But, though she was lively, nevertheless she kept her eye upon her lover and Lady Mabel. Lady Mary had said that she thought her brother was in love with Lady Mabel. Could it be possible? In her own land she had heard absurd stories – stories which had seemed to her to be absurd, – of the treachery of Lords and Countesses, of the baseness of aristocrats, of the iniquities of high life in London. But her father had told her that go where she might, she would find people in the main to be very like each other. It had seemed to her that nothing could be more ingenuous than this young man had been in the declaration of his love. No simplest republican could have spoken more plainly. But now, at this moment, she could not doubt but that her lover was very intimate with this other girl. Of course he was free. When she had refused to say a word to him of her own love or want of love, she had necessarily left him his liberty. When she had put him off for three months, of course he was to be his own master. But what must she think of him if it were so? And how could he have the courage to face her in his father's house if he intended to treat her in such a fashion? But of all this she showed nothing, nor was there a tone in her voice which betrayed her. She said her last word to Mr Monk with so sweet a smile that that old bachelor wished he were younger for her sake.
In the evening after dinner there was music. It was discovered that Miss Boncassen sang divinely, and both Lady Mabel and Lady Mary accompanied her. Mr Erle, and Mr Warburton, and Mr Monk, all of whom were unmarried, stood by enraptured. But Lord Silverbridge kept himself apart, and interested himself in a description which Mrs Boncassen gave him of their young men and their young ladies in the States. He had hardly spoken to Miss Boncassen, – till he offered her sherry or soda-water before she retired for the night. She refused his courtesy with her usual smile, but showed no more emotion than though they two had now met for the first time in their lives.
He had quite made up his mind as to what he would do. When the opportunity should come in his way he would simply remind her that the three months were passed. But he was shy of talking to her in the presence of Lady Mabel and his father. He was quite determined that the thing should be done at once, but he certainly wished that Lady Mabel had not been there. In what she had said to him at the dinner-table she had made him understand that she would be a trouble to him. He remembered her look when he told her she would marry. It was as though she had declared to him that it was he who ought to be her husband. It referred back to that proffer of love which he had once made to her. Of course all this was disagreeable. Of course it made things difficult for him. But not the less was it a thing quite assured that he would press his suit to Miss Boncassen. When he was talking to Mrs Boncassen he was thinking of nothing else. When he was offering Isabel the glass of sherry he was telling himself that he would find his opportunity on the morrow, – though now, at that moment, it was impossible that he should make a sign. She, as she went to bed, asked herself whether it was possible that there should be such treachery; – whether it were possible that he should pass it all by as though he had never said a word to her!
During the whole of the next day, which was Sunday, he was equally silent. Immediately after breakfast, on the Monday, shooting commenced, and he could not find a moment in which to speak. It seemed to him that she purposely kept out of his way. With Mabel he did find himself for a few minutes alone, and was then interrupted by his sister and Isabel. ‘I hope you have killed a lot of things,’ said Miss Boncassen.
‘Pretty well, among us all.’
‘What an odd amusement it seems, going out to commit wholesale slaughter. However it is the proper thing, no doubt.’
‘Quite the proper thing,’ said Lord Silverbridge, and that was all.
On the next morning he dressed himself for shooting, – and then sent out the party without him. He had heard, he said, of a young horse for sale in the neighbourhood, and had sent to desire that it might be brought to him. And now he found his occasion.
‘Come and play a game of billiards,’ he said to Isabel, as the three girls with the other ladies were together in the drawing-room. She got up very slowly from her seat, and very slowly crept away to the door. Then she looked round as though expecting the others to follow her. None of them did follow her. Mary felt that she ought to do so; but, knowing all that she knew, did not dare. And what good could she have done by one such interruption? Lady Mabel would fain have gone too; – but neither did she quite dare. Had there been no special reason why she should or should not have gone with them, the thing would have been easy enough. When two people go to play billiards, a third may surely accompany them. But now, Lady Mabel found that she could not stir. Mrs Finn, Mrs Boncassen, and Miss Cassewary were all in the room, but none of them moved. Silverbridge led the way quickly across the hall, and Isabel Boncassen followed him very slowly. When she entered the room she found him standing with a cue in his hand. He at once shut the door, and walking up to her dropped the butt of the cue on the floor and spoke one word. �
��Well!’ he said.
‘What does “well” mean?’
‘The three months are over.’
‘Certainly they are “over”.’
‘And I have been a model of patience.’
‘Perhaps your patience is more remarkable than your constancy. Is not Lady Mabel Grex in the ascendant just now?'
‘What do you mean by that? Why do you ask that? You told me to wait for three months. I have waited, and here I am.’
‘How very – very – downright you are.’
‘Is not that the proper thing?’
‘I thought I was downright, – but you beat me hollow. Yes, the three months are over. And now what have you got to say?’ He put down his cue, and stretched out his arms as though he were going to take her and hold her to his heart. ‘No; – no; not that,’ she said laughing. ‘But if you will speak, I will hear you.’
‘You know what I said before. Will you love me, Isabel?’
‘And you know what I said before. Do they know that you love me? Does your father know it, and your sister? Why did they ask me to come here?’
‘Nobody knows it. But say that you love me, and everyone shall know it at once. Yes; one person knows it. Why did you mention Lady Mabel's name? She knows it.’
‘Did you tell her?’
‘Yes. I went again to Killancodlem after you were gone, and then I told her.’
‘But why her? Come, Lord Silverbridge. You are straightforward with me, and I will be the same with you. You have told Lady Mabel; I have told Lady Mary.’
‘My sister!’
‘Yes; – your sister. And I am sure she disapproves it. She did not say so; but I am sure it is so. And then she told me something.’
‘What did she tell you?’
‘Has there never been reason to think that you intended to offer your hand to Lady Mabel Grex?’
‘Did she tell you so?’
The Duke's Children Page 45