Thereby Hangs a Tale Part 77

"But, please, Miss, Sir Hampton sent Edward for me, and jumped on me horrid. He said it was my fault you weren't dressed, and your dear ma looks quite frightened with the people coming."

"Go and say we'll come down as soon as my sister's better--there!"

She half pushed the girl from the room, and then turned to Tiny.

"Now, look here, Tiny--you're very fond of that wicked Richard Trevor, bad as he's behaved to you."

Tiny gave her a pitiful look.

"Then I say, once for all, it would be a piece of horrible wickedness for you to let papa frighten you into this engagement. Now, tell me directly how it was. You ought to have told me before. If you had been a good, wise sister, you would."

"Oh, Tin, I could not tell you!" said Tiny, plaintively. "You had just come in from the square, and looked so happy about--"

"I didn't--I wasn't--I hate him; and I won't listen to him any more till you are happy," burst out Fin.

Tiny smiled.

"Papa sent for me into his study, and took my hand, and sat down by me.

He was so gentle and kind. He said he wanted to see us both settled in a position which should give us the entree into good society; for he said that, after all, he knew well enough people did not care for him, as he'd been a tradesman."

Fin gave her head a jerk.

"He told me he had given way about--about--"

"Yes, yes--go on--I know," said Tin.

"And that if he had not lost his position he should never have opposed the match; but as that was all over, he begged me to consent to receive Captain Vanleigh's attentions. And, oh, Fin, he knew about the attentions to that poor girl, and told me of it."

"Then some spiteful spy must have told him that," cried Fin. "Oh, Aunt Matty."

"He talked to me for an hour, Fin, so kindly all the time--said it would be for the best, and that it would make him happy and me too, he was sure; and at last I gave way. For oh, Fin, darling, I had no hope yesterday--nothing, I felt, to live for; and I thought that if I could make him satisfied, and dear ma happy, that was all I need care to do."

"Then you were a wicked, weak little coward," said Fin, "I'd have died sooner than given way. There, here they are again for us; and now I suppose we are to meet those people to-night."

"Yes; papa said he should write to Captain Vanleigh."

"And Sir Felix, of course. Madame, your humble servant--Finetta, Lady Landells. There, we're coming down now. Miss Rea is better," she said, in answer to a knock at the door.

Tiny turned to the gla.s.s, and smoothed her hair, while Fin went and stood behind her, holding her waist.

"What are you going to do?" she said, sharply.

Tiny shook her head.

"Masterly inactivity--that's the thing," cried Fin. "Do nothing; let things drift, same as I do. It can't go on, I'm sure it can't. There, let's go down, for poor dear mamma's sake, and I'll be buffer all the evening. Whenever Bluebeard comes near you, I'll get between, and we'll have a long talk to-morrow."

The two girls went down, to find many of the visitors arrived; and the news of Tiny's indisposition having spread, she was surrounded directly with kind inquirers. But she hardly heard a word that was said to her, for her timid eyes were wandering round the room, to see if the object of her dread had arrived; and then, noticing his absence, she sank back in a fauteuil with a sigh of relief.

Fin mounted guard by her side, and snubbed the down off the wings of several b.u.t.terflies who came fluttering about them, her little lips tightening into a thin smile as Sir Felix and Vanleigh were announced.

Directly they had freed themselves from their host and hostess, they made their way to the corner of the great drawing-room, now ablaze with gas and candles, where the sisters were together; and, in spite of Fin's diplomacy, she found Vanleigh too much for her, as he quietly put aside her vicious little thrusts, and ended by interposing himself between her and Tiny--Fin being carried off by Sir Felix, whose face wore quite a puzzled expression, so verbally nettled was his little prize.

Aunt Matty met them, carrying with her a halo of lavender wherever she went, and exhaling the sad fragrance in every direction as she moved.

Pepine was poorly in bed, so that his mistress was able to devote the whole of her attention to those with whom she came in contact.

"Ah, Sir Felix!" she exclaimed, "and so you've captured my saucy little bird of a niece. You'll have to clip her wings some day," she continued, playfully.

As she spoke she tapped Fin on each shoulder--from whence the imaginary wings doubtless sprang--with her fan, while aunt and niece gazed in each other's eyes.

"Yes, exactly," said Sir Felix, smiling feebly.

But somehow he did not feel comfortable, and in spite of his after-efforts to lead Fin into conversation, he failed.

The end of it was that the little maid telegraphed to another admirer, and had herself carried back to where she had left her sister; but Tiny was gone.

In fact, as soon as they were left alone, Vanleigh had quietly offered his arm.

"This room is too hot for you, Valentina," he said. "Let me take you out of the crowd."

"Masterly inactivity," Fin had said, and the words seemed to ring in Tiny's ears, as, unable to refuse, she suffered herself to be led through the crowded rooms, past Lady Rea, who nodded and smiled--past Aunt Matty, who came up, tapped the Captain on the middle shirt stud with her fan, and pinched her niece's cheek, as she smiled at her like a wintry apple--past Sir Hampton, who came behind her, and whispered, a faint "Er-rum."

"Thank you, Tiny: good girl!"--out on to the great broad staircase, now a complete conservatory of exotics where the air was perfectly cool by comparison; and there Vanleigh found her a seat smiling occasionally at the new-comers who kept thronging upstairs to where Lady Rea was receiving--Sir Hampton now keeping an eye upon the couple, a flight of stain below him, and nodding encouragement whenever his eyes met those of his child.

"I received Sir Hampton's note yesterday," said Vanleigh at last, speaking slowly, and in a suppressed voice, as the guests pa.s.sed on.

"Don't start--I am not going to make a scene. I only wish to tell you how happy you have made me, and that you shall find me patient and watchful of your every wish."

"Masterly inactivity," thought Tiny.

"I am going to wait--to let you see that heretofore you have misjudged me. And now let me a.s.sure you that I am not going to presume upon the consent I have received."

He waited, and she felt obliged to speak.

"Captain Vanleigh," faltered Tiny, "it was at my father's wish that I gave way, and consented to receive your visits. It is only fair to tell you that you are seeking to gain one who does not--who can never care for you."

"My dear Valentina," he said, smiling, "I am quite content. I know your sweet, gentle nature better than you know it yourself. And now for once, and once only, I am going to revert to an unpleasant theme, begging you first to forgive me for touching a wound that I know still throbs."

"Captain Vanleigh!"

"It is odd, is it not," he said, speaking with a mingling of profound tenderness and respect--"this talking of such things in a crowd? I only wished to say this once, that you do not know me. I am going to prove my love by patience. Valentina, dearest, you have been wasting the sweetness of your heart on an unworthy object."

She tried to rise; but his hand rested on her arm, and detained her.

"I pain you; but I must tell you, sweet one, that he whom you cared for, no sooner left your side than he sought consolation with another, forsaking a love that is meet for the best on earth--a love of which I feel myself unworthy. Stay, not a syllable. Those were cruel words, but the words of truth. Now we understand one another, let us draw a veil over the past, never to refer to it again. You will know me better soon."

As he spoke, there was a little bustle in the hall, where visitors were constantly arriving; and as Vanleigh stood gazing down in the pale, frightened face before him, watching the struggle that was going on, a plainly dressed woman brushed by the servant, who tried to stay her, and reached the stairs.

"Forgive me, Valentina," whispered Vanleigh, bending over her. "I touched the wound but to try and heal it. My future life shall be all devotion; and in the happiness to come you will--"