By Birth A Lady Part 4

Charles Vining gazed half laughingly in his father's earnest face; then throwing himself back, he burst into an uncontrolled fit of merriment.

"Ha, ha, ha! Me married! Why, my dear father, what next?" Then, seeing the look of pain in Sir Philip's countenance, he rose and stood by his side, resting one hand upon his shoulder. "Why, my dear father,"

he said, "what ever put that in your head? I never even thought of such a thing!"

"My dear boy, I know it--I know it; and that's why I speak. You see, you are now just twenty-seven, and a fine handsome young fellow--"

Charley made a grimace.

"While I am getting an old man, Charley, and the time cannot be so very far off before I must go to my sleep. You are my only child, and I want the Squire of Blandfield to keep up the dignity of the old family.

Don't interrupt me, my boy, I have not done yet. I must soon go the way of all flesh--"

"Heaven forbid!" said Charley fervently.

"And it is the dearest wish of my heart to see you married to some lady of good birth--one who shall well do the honours of your table.

Blandfield must not pa.s.s to a collateral branch, Charley; we must have an heir to these broad acres; for I hope the time will come, my boy, when in this very library you will be seated, grey and aged as I am, talking to some fine stalwart son, who, like you, shall possess his dear mother's eyes, ever to bring to remembrance happy days gone by, my boy-- gone by never to return."

The old man's voice trembled as he spoke, and the next moment his son's hands were clasped in his, while as eye met eye there was a weak tear glistening in that of the elder, and the lines seemed more deeply cut in his son's fine open countenance.

"My dear father!" said the young man softly.

"My dear Charley!" said Sir Philip.

There was silence for a while as father and son thought of the days of sorrow ten years back, when Blandfield Court was darkened, and steps pa.s.sed lightly about the fine old mansion, because its lady--loved of all for miles round--had been suddenly called away from the field of labour that she had blessed. And then they looked up to the portrait gazing down at them from the chimneypiece, seeming almost to smile sadly upon them as they watched the skilful limning of the beloved features.

A few moments after, a smile dawned upon the old man's quivering lip, as, still retaining his son's hand, he motioned him to take a seat by his side.

"My dear Charley," he said at last, "I think you understand my wishes."

"My dear father, yes."

"And you will try?"

"To gratify you?--Yes, yes, of course; but really, father--"

"My dear boy, I know--I know what you would say. But look here, Charley--there has always been complete confidence between us; is there--is there anything?"

"Any lady in the case? What, any tender _penchant_?" laughed Charley.

"My dear father, no. I think I've hardly given a thought to anything but my horses and dogs."

"I'm glad of it, Charley, I'm glad of it! And now let's quietly chat it over. Do you know, my dear boy, that you are shutting yourself out from an Eden? Do you not believe in love?"

"Well, ye-e-es. I believe that you and my dear mother were most truly happy."

"We were, my dear boy, we were. And why should not you be as happy?"

"Hem!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Charley; and then firmly: "because, sir, I believe that there is not such a woman as my dear mother upon earth."

The old gentleman shaded his eyes for a few moments with his disengaged hand.

"Frankly again, father," said the young man, "is there a lady in view?"

"Well, no, my dear boy, not exactly; but I certainly was talking with Bray over our port last week, when we perhaps did agree that you and Laura seemed cut out for one another; but, my dear boy, don't think I want to play the tyrant and choose for you. They do say, though, that the lady has a leaning your way; and no wonder, Charley, no wonder!"

"I don't know very much about Laura," said Charley musingly. "She's a fine girl certainly; looks rather Jewish, though, with those big red lips of hers and that hooked nose."

"My dear Charley!" remonstrated Sir Philip.

"But she rides well--sits that great rawboned mare of hers gloriously.

I saw her take a leap on the last day I was out--one that I took too, about half an hour before that fall; but hang me if it wasn't to avoid being outdone by a woman! I really wanted to shirk it."

"Good, good!" laughed Sir Philip.

"But she's fast, and not feminine, to my way of thinking," said Charley, gazing up as he spoke at the picture above the mantelpiece, and comparing the lady in question with the truly gentle mother whom he had almost worshipped. "She burst out with a hoa.r.s.e 'Bravo!' when she saw me safely landed, and then shouted, 'Well done, Charley!' and I felt so nettled, that I pulled out my cigar-case, and asked her to take one."

"But she did not?" exclaimed Sir Philip.

"Well, no," said Charley, "she did not, certainly--she only laughed; but she looked just as if she were half disposed. She's one of your Spanish style of women: scents, too, tremendously--bathes in Ihlang-Ihlang, I should think; perhaps because she delights in garlic and onions, and wants to smother the odour!"

"My dear boy--my dear boy!" laughed Sir Philip, "you do really want polish horribly! What a way to speak of a lady! It's terrible, you know! But there, don't judge harshly, and you are perfectly unfettered; only just bear this in mind: it would give me great pleasure if you were to lead Laura Bray in here some day and say--But there, you know--you know! Still I place no tie upon you, Charley: only bring me some fair sweet girl--by birth a lady, of whom I can be proud--and then all I want is that you shall give me a chair at your table and fireside. You might have the t.i.tle if it were possible, but you shall have the Court and the income--everything. Only let me have my gla.s.s of wine and my bit of snuff, and play with your children. Heaven bless you, my dear boy!

I'll go off the bench directly, and you shall be a county magistrate; but you must be married, Charley--you must be married!"

Charley Vining did not appear to be wonderfully elated by his future prospects, for, sighing, he said:

"Really, father, I could have been very happy to have gone on just as we are; but your wishes--"

"Yes, my dear boy, my wishes. And you will try? Only don't bother yourself; take time, and mix a little more with society--accept a few more invitations--go to a few of the archery and croquet parties."

"Heigho, dad!" sighed Charley. "Why, I should be sending arrows for fun in the stout old dowagers' backs, and breaking the slow curates' shins with my croquet mallet! There, leave me to my own devices, and I'll see what I can do!"

"To be sure--to be sure, Charley! And you do know Maximilian Bray?"

"Horrid sn.o.b!" laughed Charley, "such a languid swell! Do you know what our set call him? But there, of course you don't! 'Donkey Bray' or else 'Long-ears!'"

"There, there--never mind that! I don't want you to marry him, Charley.

And there--there's Beauty at the door!" exclaimed the old gentleman, shaking his son's hand. "Go and have your ride, Charley! Good-bye!

But you'll think of what I said?"

"I will, honestly," said the young man.

"And--stay a moment, Charley: Lexville flower-show is to-morrow. I can't go. Couldn't you, just to oblige me? I like to see these affairs patronised; and Pruner takes a good many of our things over. He generally carries off a few prizes. I see they've quite stripped the conservatory. You'll go for me, won't you?"

"Yes, father, if you wish it," sighed Charley.

"I do wish it, my dear boy; but don't sigh, pray!"

"All right, dad," said the young man, brightening, and shaking Sir Philip's hand, "I'll go; give away the prizes, too, if they ask me," he laughed. And the next moment the door closed upon his retreating form.

Sir Philip Vining listened to his son's departing step, and then muttering, "They will ask him too," he rose, and went to the window, from which he could just get a glimpse of the young man mounting at the hall-door. The next moment Charley cantered by upon a splendid roan mare, turning her on to the lawn-like sward, and disappearing behind a clump of beeches.