The Daltons Volume I Part 68

"I never saw a Frenchman who had not, on such an occasion," rejoined the other, snapping the pistol as he spoke. "I like these straight stocks; you are almost always certain of your man, with a stiff arm and a low aim."

"I don't know that I 've forgotten anything, Norwood," said Onslow, rising and pacing the room with folded arms.

"You 've written to the governor?"

"Yes; and mentioned those acceptances," said Onslow, with a sneering severity that the other never seemed to notice. "You're quite safe, whatever happens."

"Hang it, man, I wasn't thinking of that; curse the money, it never entered my thoughts."

"My father will pay it," said George, dryly, and continued his walk.

"As you have alluded to it, I hope you spoke of it as a loan, anything like a play transaction suggests a mess of scandal and stories."

"I have called it a debt, and that is quite sufficient."

"All right whatever you like. And now about this girl. Do you intend to let this mystery continue, or do you think that, under the circ.u.mstances, Lady Hester should still retain her as a friend and companion?"

"I know of nothing to her disparagement, nor have I yet met one who does. That there are circ.u.mstances which she does not deem fitting to entrust to my keeping is no just cause of allegation against her."

"You are very honorable to say so, George; but I must confess it is more than she deserves at your hands."

"How do you mean?"

"That she means to take the Russian, that's all."

"Well, and why not? Would not such a match be a brilliant one for a girl of much higher rank and pretension?"

"What's the use of all this fencing, man?" said Norwood, half angrily, "I know better how matters stand. Do you remember the night you lost so heavily at Macao? Well, I was lying stretched on the sofa, yonder, by the light of the fire only, when the door opened, and she stepped gently in."

"What, Kate Dalton?"

"Yes, Kate Dalton. Oh! impossible, if you like deny it as much as you please, but she has not equal hardihood, that I can tell you; and if she had, here is the proof that could condemn her, this fragment of her lace flounce was caught in the door as she banged it in her escape; and this very evening I compared it with the dress in question; ay, and showed her the rent from which it came."

Twice did George compel Norwood to repeat over this story; and then sat down, overwhelmed with sorrow and shame.

"You swear to me, then, Onslow, that you never saw her here, never knew of her coming?" said he, after a long silence between them.

"Never, I swear!" said the other, solemnly.

"Then, some other is the fortunate man, that's all. How good if it should turn out to be Jekyl!" And he laughed heartily at the absurdity of the conceit.

"No more of this," said Onslow, pa.s.sionately. "The tone of the society we live in here would seem to warrant any or every imputation, even on those whose lives are spotless; and I know of no greater degradation than the facility of our belief in them. In this instance, however, my conscience is at ease; and I reject, with contempt, the possibility of a stain upon that girl's honor."

"The sentiment does more credit to your chivalry than your shrewdness, George," said the Viscount, sarcastically.

"But as you are about to stake your life on the issue, I cannot impugn your sincerity."

A hasty movement of George towards the window here alarmed Grounsell, and he noiselessly withdrew, and descended the stairs again.

"A precious mess of trouble do I find ready for me," muttered he, as he pa.s.sed across the courtyard. "Debt, duelling, and sickness, such are the pleasures that welcome me; and these not the worst, perhaps, if the causes of them were to be made known!"

"My Lady has just heard of your arrival, doctor, and begs you will have the kindness to step up to her room," said Proctor, coming to meet him.

"I 'm tired, I 'm fatigued. Say I 'm in bed," said Grounsell, angrily.

"Her maid has just seen you, sir," suggested Proctor, mildly.

"No matter; give the answer I tell you; or stay perhaps it would be better to see her. Yes, Proctor, show me the way." And muttering to himself, "The meeting will not be a whit pleasanter for her than me," he followed the servant up the stairs.

Well habituated to Lady Hester's extravagant and costly tastes, Grounsell was yet unprepared for the gorgeous decorations and splendid ornaments of the chambers through which he pa.s.sed, and he stopped from time to time in amazement to contemplate a magnificence which was probably rather heightened than diminished by the uncertain light of the candles the servant carried. He peered at the china vases; he pa.s.sed his hand across the malachite and jasper tables; he narrowly inspected the rich mosaics, as though doubtful of their being genuine; and then, with a deep sigh, almost deep enough to be a groan, he moved on in sadness.

A bust of Kate Dalton the work of a great sculptor, and an admirable likeness caught his eye, and he gazed at it with signs of strong emotion. There was much beauty in it, and of a character all her own; but still the cold marble had caught up, in traits sterner than those of life, the ambitious bearing of the head and the proud elevation of the brow.

"And she has become this already!" said he, half aloud. "Oh, how unlike poor Nelly's model! how different from the simple and beauteous innocence of those saint-like features!"

"My Lady will see you, sir," said Celestine, breaking in upon his musings. And he followed her into the chamber, where, seated in a deeply cushioned chair, Lady Hester reclined, dressed in all the perfection of an elegant deshabille.

Grounsell was, a.s.suredly, not the man to be most taken by such attractions, yet he could not remain entirely insensible to them; and he felt a most awkward sense of admiration as he surveyed her. With all a woman's quickness, her Ladyship saw the effect she had produced, and languidly extending her hand, she vouchsafed the nearest approach to a smile with which she had ever favored him. As if suddenly recalling all his old antipathies and prejudices, Grounsell was himself in a moment, and, scarcely touching the taper and jewelled fingers, he bowed ceremoniously and took his seat at a little distance off.

"This is a very unexpected pleasure indeed," sighed Lady Hester; "you only arrived to-night?"

"Half an hour ago, madam; and but for your Ladyship's summons I should have been in bed."

"How do you find Sir Stafford looking poorly, I fear?"

"I haven't yet seen him, madam, but I am prepared for a great change."

"I fear so," sighed she, plaintively; "George says, quite a break up; and Buccellini calls it 'Gotta Affievolita,' and says it is very fatal with elderly people."

"The vulgar phrase of a 'broken heart' is more expressive, madam, and perhaps quite as pathological."

Lady Hester drew proudly up, and seemed preparing herself for a coming encounter. They were old antagonists, and well knew each other's mode of attack. On the present occasion, however, Grounsell did not seek a contest, and was satisfied by a single shot at the enemy, as if trying the range of his gun.

"You will probably advise a change of air and scene, Dr. Grounsell,"

said she, calmly, and as though inviting pacific intercourse.

"It is precisely what I have come for, madam," answered he, in a short, dry voice. "Sir Stafford's affairs require his immediate return to England. The vicissitudes that attend on great commercial enterprises threaten him with large very large losses."

Lady Hester fell back in her chair, and this time, at least, her pale cheek and her powerless att.i.tude were not feigned nor counterfeited; but Grounsell merely handed her a smelling-bottle from the table, and went on:

"The exact extent of his liabilities cannot be ascertained at once, but they must be considerable. He will be fortunate if there remain to him one fourth of his property."

Lady Hester's head fell heavily back, and she fainted away.

The doctor rose, and sprinkled her forehead with water, and then patiently sat down with his finger on her wrist to watch the returning tide of circulation. a.s.sured at length of her restored consciousness, he went on:

"A small establishment, strict economy, a watchful supervision of every domestic arrangement, together with the proceeds of the sale of all the useless trumpery by which he is at present surrounded, will do much; but he must be seconded, madam, seconded and aided, not thwarted and opposed. George can exchange into a regiment in India; the proper steps have been already taken for that purpose."

"Have you been thoughtful enough, sir, in your general care of this family, to engage a small house for us at Brighton?"