Sir Brook Fossbrooke Volume I Part 43

"You will think of this loan I want,--won't you?"

"I 'll think of it, but I don't know what good thinking will do." She paused, and after a few minutes' silence, said, "If you really are serious about taking up your abode at the Priory, you 'll have to get rid of the granddaughter."

"We could marry her off easily enough."

"You might, and you mightn't. If she marry to Sir William's satisfaction, he'll leave her all he has in the world."

"Egad, he must have a rare taste in a son-in-law if he likes the fellow I 'll promote to the place."

"You seem to forget, Dudley, that the young lady has a will of her own.

She's a Lendrick too."

"With all my heart, mother. She 'll not be a match for Lucy."

"And would _she_--"

"Ay, would she," interrupted he, "if her pride as a woman--if her jealousy was touched. I have made her do more than that when I wounded her self-love!"

"You are a very amiable husband, I must say."

"We might be better, perhaps, mother; but I suspect we are pretty much like our neighbors. And it's positive you won't come to dinner?"

"No! certainly not."

"Well, I 'll try and look in at tea-time. You 'll not forget what I spoke of. I shall be in funds in less than three weeks."

She gave a little incredulous laugh as she said "Goodbye!" She had heard of such pledges before, and knew well what faith to attach to them.

CHAPTER x.x.xIII. EVENING AT THE PRIORY

The Chief Baron brought his friend Haire back from Court to dine with him. The table had been laid for five, and it was only when Sewell entered the drawing-room that it was known Lady Lendrick had declined the invitation. Sir William heard the apology to the end; he even waited when Sewell concluded, to see if he desired to add anything more, but nothing came.

"In that case," said he, at length, "we 'll order dinner." That his irritation was extreme needed no close observation to detect, and the bell-rope came down with the pull by which he summoned the servant.

The dinner proceeded drearily enough. None liked to adventure on a remark which might lead to something unpleasant in discussion, and little was spoken on any side. Sewell praised the mutton, and the Chief Baron bowed stiffly. When Haire remarked that the pale sherry was excellent, he dryly told the butler to "fill Mr. Haire's gla.s.s;" and though Lucy, with more caution, was silent, she did not escape, for he turned towards her and said, "We have not been favored with a word from your lips, Miss Lendrick; I hope these neuralgic headaches are not becoming a family affection."

"I am perfectly well, sir," said she, with a smile.

"It is Haire's fault, then," said the Judge, with one of his malicious twinkles of the eye,--"all Haire's fault if we are dull. It is ever so with wits, Colonel Sewell; they will not perform to empty benches."

"I don't know whom you call a wit," began Haire.

"My dear friend, the men of pleasantry and happy conceits must no more deny the reputation that attaches to them than must a rich merchant dishonor his bill; nor need a man resent more being called a Wit, than being styled a Poet, a Painter, a Chief Baron, or"--here he waved his hand towards Sewell, and bowing slightly, added--"a Chief Registrar to the Court of Exchequer."

"Oh, have you got the appointment?" said Haire to the Colonel. "I am heartily glad of it. I 'm delighted to know it has been given to one of the family."

"As I said awhile ago," said the Judge, with a smile of deeper malice, "these witty fellows spare n.o.body! At the very moment he praises the sherry he disparages the host. Why should not this place be filled by one of my family, Haire? I call upon you to show cause."

"There's no reason against it. I never said there was. Nay, I was far from satisfied with you on the day you refused my prayer on behalf of one belonging to you."

"Sir, you are travelling out of the record," said the Judge, angrily.

"I can only say," added Haire, "that I wish Colonel Sewell joy with all my heart; and if he 'll allow me, I 'll do it in a b.u.mper."

"'A reason fair to drink his health again!' That 's not the line. How does it go, Lucy? Don't you remember the verse?"

"No, sir; I never heard it."

"'A reason fair,--a reason fair.' I declare I believe the newspapers are right. I am losing my memory. One of the scurrilous rascals t'other day said they saw no reason Justice should be deaf as well as blind. Haire, was that yours?"

"A thousand a year," muttered Haire to Sewell.

"What is that, Haire?" cried the old Judge. "Do I hear you aright? You utter one thousand things just as good every year?"

"I was speaking of the Registrar's salary," said Haire, half testily.

"A thousand a year is a pittance,--a mere pittance, sir, in a country like England. It is like the place at a window to see a procession. You may gaze on the pa.s.sing tide of humanity, but must not dare to mix in it."

"And yet papa went half across the globe for it," said Lucy, with a flushed and burning cheek.

"In your father's profession the rewards are less money, Lucy, than the esteem and regard of society. I have ever thought it wise of our rulers not to bestow t.i.tles on physicians, but to leave them the un.o.btrusive and undistinguished comforters of every cla.s.s and condition. The equal of any,--the companion of all."

It was evident that the old Judge was eager for discussion on anything.

He had tried in vain to provoke each of his guests, and he was almost irritable at the deference accorded him.

"Do I see you pa.s.s the decanter, Colonel Sewell? Are you not drinking any wine?"

"No, my Lord."

"Perhaps you like coffee? Don't you think, Lucy, you could give him some?"

"Yes, sir. I shall be delighted."

"Very well. Haire and I will finish this magnum, and then join you in the drawing-room."

Lucy took Sewells arm and retired. They were scarcely well out of the room when Sewell halted suddenly, and in a voice so artificial that, if Lucy had been given to suspectfulness, she would have detected at once, said, "Is the Judge always as pleasant and as witty as we saw him today?"

"To-day he was very far from himself; something, I 'm sure, must have irritated him, for he was not in his usual mood."

"I confess I thought him charming; so full of neat reply, pleasant apropos, and happy quotation."

"He very often has days of all that you have just said, and I am delighted with them."

"What an immense gain to a young girl--of course, I mean one whose education and tastes have fitted her for it--to be the companion of such a mind as his! Who is this Mr. Haire?"

"A very old friend. I believe he was a schoolfellow of grandpapa's."