Roland Cashel Volume I Part 30

"I repeat, sir, I'll send for him. Peter knows pretty well what ought to be done in such matters, and it's a comfort to think there is some spirit on one side of the family, at least." Whether to afford a practical ill.u.s.tration, albeit negatively, or that he dreaded a continuance of the controversy, Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k feigned a business appointment, and retired, leaving his spouse to ponder over her threat, and resolve with herself as to the advantage of Peter's alliance.

While this conjugal discussion engaged papa and mamma, Cashel was endeavoring to explain to the fair daughters the reasons for his departure, affecting to see that the multiplicity of his engagements and duties required a step which he owned was far from agreeable to his feelings.

"I suspected how soon you would weary of us," said Olivia, in a half whisper.

"We ought to have remembered, Livy," said the elder sister, "how little would our claims upon Mr. Cashel appear when confronted with those of a higher station in the world."

"I a.s.sure you, you wrong both yourselves and me. I never--"

"Oh, I 'm certain you never imagined this step. I can well believe that if it were not for advice--not very disinterested, perhaps--you would have still condescended to regard this as your home."

"If I suspected that this removal would in the least affect the sentiments I entertain for my kind friends here, or in any way alter those I trust they feel for me, I 'd never have adopted, or, having adopted, never execute it."

"We are really very much to blame, Mr. Cashel," said Olivia bashfully, "in suffering our feelings to sway you on a matter like this. It was only too kind of you to come here at first; and perhaps even yet you will come occasionally to see us."

"Yes, Mr. Cashel, Livy is right; we are very selfish in our wishes, and very inconsiderate besides. Your position in the world requires a certain mode of living, a certain cla.s.s of acquaintances, which are not ours. It is far better, then, that we should resign ourselves to an interruption, than wait for an actual broach of intimacy."

Cashel was totally at a loss to see how his mere change of residence could possibly imply a whole train of altered feelings and relations, and was about to express his astonishment on that score when Linton's phaeton drove up to the door, according to an appointment they had made the day before, to breakfast with the officers of a regiment quartered a short distance from town.

"There is your _friend_, Mr. Cashel," said Miss Kennyf.e.c.k, with a marked emphasis on the word. Cashel muttered something about a rendezvous, and took up his hat, when a servant entered to request he would favor Mr.

Kennyf.e.c.k with a brief interview before going out.

"Are we to see you at dinner to-day?" said Olivia, languidly.

"I hope so. Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k has been kind enough to ask me, and I hope to have the pleasure."

"Will Mr. Linton give leave?" said Miss Kennyf.e.c.k, laughing; and then, seeing a cloud on Cashel's brow, added, "I meant, if you had made no appointment with him."

"I 'm self-willed enough to follow my own bent generally," said he, abruptly, and left the room.

"You owe that gentleman a heavy grudge, Livy," said Miss Kennyf.e.c.k, as she approached the window and looked out.

"Who do you mean, dear?"

"Mr. Linton. Were it not for him, I half think you might have succeeded."

"I really cannot comprehend you," said the younger, with well-a.s.sumed astonishment.

"Of course not, my dear. Still, it was a difficult game, even if left all to yourself. He was always likely to smash the tackle at the moment when almost caught. There, don't look so puzzled, dear; I was only following out a little reverie,--that's all."

Meanwhile Cashel hastily descended the stairs, not over good-humoredly commenting on Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k's ill-chosen moment for a business conversation. "I can only stay a few minutes, or rather seconds," cried he, as he opened the door of the study; and then checked himself as he perceived a short, stout elderly man, of venerable appearance, who rose respectfully from his chair as he came in.

"Doctor Tiernay, Mr. Cashel," said Kennyf.e.c.k, presenting the stranger.

"I have taken the liberty to delay you, sir, since it would be a great convenience if you could accord this gentleman a brief hearing at present; he has come above a hundred miles to crave it, and must leave Dublin by the afternoon mail."

"Without it be Mr. Cashel's pleasure to detain me," said the doctor, submissively.

"He is a tenant of your Tubbermore estate, sir," resumed Kennyf.e.c.k, "a very near neighbor."

"I regret that I am pressed for time at this moment, sir," said Cashel, drawing on his gloves impatiently; "but I believe it is the less consequence, inasmuch as I really know nothing--absolutely nothing--and you, Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k, know everything about that property, and are by far the best person to hear and decide upon this gentleman's proposition, whatever it be."

"It is a case that must be decided by yourself, sir," said the doctor.

"It is neither a matter of law nor right, but a simple question of whether you will do an act of great kindness to the oldest tenant on your property,--a man who, now overtaken by years and sickness, may not perhaps be alive at my return to hear of your benevolence."

"It is about this renewal, sir," interposed Kennyf.e.c.k, who saw Cashel's increasing impatience to be away. "Mr. Corrigan's lease expires on the 25th."

"He is now struck by paralysis," interrupted the doctor; "and his only prayer is to be suffered to die beneath the roof where he has lived for fifty years."

"A tenant at will," interposed Kennyf.e.c.k.

"Gracious Heaven! how could he suppose I should dream of dispossessing him?" cried Cashel. "Of course, sir, the house is his own so long as he pleases to hold it. Tell him so. Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k will tell him from me that he need not give the matter another thought. I am sincerely grieved that it should have already caused him so much anxiety."

"Ah, sir," cried the doctor, while two very dubious drops twinkled in his eyes, "you are indeed worthy of the good fortune that has befallen you. My poor old friend will bless you, with a prouder heart in his belief in human nature than even his grat.i.tude could suggest. Farewell, sir, and may you long live to be as happy as you know how to make others."

With an impulse of irrepressible warmth the old man seized Cashel's hand in both his own, and pressed it cordially, when the door suddenly opened, and Linton, dressed in a riding costume, appeared.

"What, Roland, at business so early. Do you know you 're an hour behind time?"

"I do; but I couldn't help it In fact, this was unexpected--"

"It was an act of benevolence, sir, detained Mr. Cashel," interrupted the doctor. "I believe no appointment can be broken with a safer apology."

"Ho! ho!" said Linton, throwing up his eyebrows, as if he suspected a snare to his friend's simplicity. "Which of the missions to convert the blacks, or what family of continuous twins are you patronizing?"

"Good-bye, sir," said the doctor, turning towards Cashel. "I'd ask your pardon for the liberty I have already taken with you, if I were not about to transgress again." Here he looked Linton fully in the face.

"Mr. Cashel has done a kind and worthy action this morning, sir; but if he does many more such, and keep your company, he is not only a good man, but the strongest principled one I ever met with."

As the last word was uttered, the door closed after him, and he was gone.

"So then, I 'm the Mephistopheles to your Faust," said Linton, laughing heartily; "but what piece of credulous benevolence has cost you this panegyric and me this censure?"

"Oh, a mere trifle," said Cashel, preparing to leave,--"a simple grant of renewal to an old tenant on my estate."

"Only that," said Linton, affecting the coolest indifference, while by a keen glance at Kennyf.e.c.k he revealed a profound consciousness of his friend's simplicity.

"Nothing more, upon my honor; that little cottage of Tubber-beg."

"Not that fishing lodge beside the river, in an angle of your own demesne?" asked Linton, eagerly.

"The same. Why, what of it?"

"Nothing, save that your magnanimity is but one-sided, since only so late as Thursday last, when we looked over the map together, you gave me that cottage until such time as you should include the farm within the demesne."

"By Jupiter, and so I did!" exclaimed Cashel, while a flush of shame covered his face and forehead; "what a confounded memory I have! What is to be done?"

"Oh, never fret about it," said Linton, taking his arm, and leading him away; "the thing is easily settled. What do I want with the cottage? The old gentleman is, doubtless, a far more rural personage than I should prove. Let us not forget Aubrey's breakfast, which, if we wait much longer, will be a luncheon. The ladies well, Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k?" This was the first time he had noticed that gentleman.

"Quite well, Mr. Linton," said he, bowing politely.