A Double Knot Part 57

Volume 2, Chapter XIII.

CLOTILDE IS TRIUMPHANT.

Palace Gardens, Kensington, was selected by Elbraham for the scene of his married life, and here he was to take the fair Clotilde upon their return from their Continental trip.

"It's all bosh, Litton, that going across to Paris; and on one's wedding day," said the great financier. "Can't we get off it?"

"Impossible, I should say," replied Litton. "You see, you are bound to make yours the most stylish of the fashionable marriages of the season."

"Oh yes, of course--that I don't mind; and I'll come out as handsome as you like for the things to do it with well; but I do kick against the run over to Paris the same day."

"And why?" said Litton wonderingly.

"Well, the fact is, my boy, I never could go across the Channel without being terribly ill. Ill! that's nothing to my feelings. I'm a regular martyr, and I feel disposed to strike against all that. Why not say the Lakes?"

"Too shabby and c.o.c.kneyfied."

"Wales?"

"Worse still."

"Why not Scotland?"

"My dear sir, what man with a position to keep up would think of going there? I'll consult Lady Littletown, if you like."

"Lord, no; don't do that," said Elbraham. "She's certain to say I must go to Paris; and so sure as ever I do have to cross, the Channel is at its worst."

"But it is a very short pa.s.sage, sir. You'll soon be over; and in society a man of your position is forced to study appearances."

"How the deuce can a fellow study appearances at a time like that?"

growled Elbraham. "I always feel as if it would be a mercy to throw me overboard. 'Pon my soul I do."

"I'll see if I cannot fee the clerk of the weather for you, and get you a smooth pa.s.sage this time," said Litton, laughing; and the matter dropped.

There were endless other little matters to settle, in all of which Litton was the bridegroom's amba.s.sador, carrying presents, bringing back messages and notes, and in one way and another thoroughly ingratiating himself in Clotilde's favour, that young lady condescending to smile upon him when he visited Hampton Court.

The Palace Gardens house was rapidly prepared, and, thanks to Arthur Litton, who had been consulted on both sides, and finally entrusted with the arrangements, everything was in so refined a style that there was but little room for envy to carp and condemn.

Certainly, Lady Littletown had had what Mr Elbraham called a finger in the pie, and had added no little by her advice and counsel in making the interior the model it was.

"For," said Elbraham, in a little quiet dinner with her ladyship at Hampton, "I'm not particular to a few thousands. All I say is, let me have something to look at for my money; and I say, Litton, draw it mild, you know."

"I don't understand you," said that gentleman. "Do you mean don't have the decorations too showy?"

"Not I. Have 'em as showy as you like. Get out with you; how innocent we are!"

"Really, Mr Elbraham, I do not know what you mean," said Litton stiffly.

"Go along with you," chuckled Elbraham. "I say, draw it mild. Of course you'll make your bit of commission with the furniture people; but draw it mild."

Litton flushed with annoyance and indignation, probably on account of his having received a promise of a cheque for two hundred pounds from a firm if he placed the decorating and furnishing of Mr Elbraham's new mansion in their hands.

A look from Lady Littletown quieted him, and that lady laughed most heartily.

"Oh, you funny man, Elbraham! really you are, you know, a very funny man."

"Oh, I don't know," chuckled the financier; "I like my joke. But look here, Litton, I don't get married every day, and want to do it well.

I'm not going to put on the screw, I can tell you. You furnish the place spiff, and bring me the bills afterwards, and I'll give you cheques for the amounts. If there is a bit of discount, have it and welcome; I shan't complain so long as the thing is done well."

So Arthur Litton contented himself with calling the financier "a coa.r.s.e beast," declined to be more fully offended, and aided by Lady Littletown, who worked hard for nothing but the _kudos_, furnished the house in admirable style, received the cheques from Elbraham, who really did pay without grumbling, and soothed his injured feelings with the very substantial commission which he received.

Upon one part of the decorations Lady Littletown prided herself immensely, and that was upon the addition to the drawing-room of a very s.p.a.cious conservatory built upon the model of her own; and this she laboured hard to fill with choice foliage plants and gaily petalled exotics of her own selection.

Her carriage was seen daily at the princ.i.p.al florists', and Elbraham had to write a very handsome cheque for what he called the "greenstuff"; but it was without a murmur, and he smiled with satisfaction as Lady Littletown triumphantly led him in to see the result of her toil.

"Yes," he said, "tip-top--beats the C.P. hollow! Puts one a little in mind of what the Pantheon used to be when I was a boy."

"But, my dear Elbraham, is that _all_ you have to say?" exclaimed her ladyship.

"Well, since you put it like that, Lady Littletown, I won't shilly-shally."

"No, don't--pray don't. I like to hear you speak out, Elbraham--you are so original."

"Oh, I am, am I?" he said. "Well, you know--well, I was going to say, don't you think some of those statues are a little too p.r.o.nonsay, as you people call it, you know?"

"Naughty man!" exclaimed her ladyship. "I will not have fault found with a thing, especially as I brought our sweet Clotilde here, and she was perfectly charmed with all she saw. The flowers are really, really--"

"Well, they are not amiss," said the financier; and he went up to a wreath of stephanotis with such evident intention of picking a "b.u.t.tonhole" that Lady Littletown hooked him with the handle of her sunshade, uttering a scream of horror the while.

"Mustn't touch--naughty boy!" she cried. "How could you?"

"Oh, all right," said Elbraham, grinning hugely at the idea of not being allowed to touch his own property; and then he suffered himself to be led through the various rooms, one and all replete with the most refined luxuries of life.

"Now, you do think it is nice, my dear Elbraham?" said her ladyship.

"Nice? It's clipping! Might have had a little more voluptuousness; but Litton says no, so I don't complain. I say: Clotilde--you know, eh?"

"Yes, dear Elbraham. What of her?"

"She ought to be satisfied, eh?"

"She is charmed; she really loves the place. Come, I'll tell you a secret. The darling--ah, but you'll betray me?"

"No--honour bright!" cried Elbraham, laying his hand upon the side of his waistcoat.

"Well, I'll tell you, then; but, mind, it is sacred."

"Of course--of course."