’Aforeigner,too!’observedtheSquire。
Dickcouldnotsufficientlycongratulatehimselfontheescapehehadeffected。HadtheAdmiralmethimwithhisfather,whatwouldhavebeentheresult?Andcouldsuchacatastrophebelongpostponed?Itseemedtohimasifthestormwerenearlyripe;anditwassomorenearlythanhethought。
Hedidnotgotothecottageintheafternoon,withheldbyfearandshame;butwhendinnerwasoveratNasebyHouse,andtheSquirehadgoneoffintoacomfortabledoze,Dickslippedoutoftheroom,andranacrosscountry,inparttosavetime,inparttosavehisowncouragefromgrowingcold;forhenowhatedthenotionofthecottageortheAdmiral,andifhedidnothate,atleastfearedtothinkofEsther。Hehadnocluetoherreflections;buthecouldnotconcealfromhisownheartthathemusthavesunkinheresteem,andthespectacleofherinfatuationgalledhimlikeaninsult。
Heknockedandwasadmitted。Theroomlookedverymuchasonhislastvisit,withEstheratthetableandVanTrompbesidethefire;buttheexpressionofthetwofacestoldaverydifferentstory。Thegirlwaspalerthanusual;hereyesweredark,thecolourseemedtohavefadedfromroundaboutthem,andherswiftestglancewasasintentasastare。TheappearanceoftheAdmiral,ontheotherhand,wasrosy,andflabby,andmoist;hisjowlhungoverhisshirtcollar,hissmilewaslooseandwandering,andhehadsofarrelaxedthenaturalcontrolofhiseyes,thatoneofthemwasaimedinward,asiftowatchthegrowthofthecarbuncle。Wearewarnedagainstbadjudgments;buttheAdmiralwascertainlynotsober。HemadenoattempttorisewhenRichardentered,butwavedhispipeflightilyintheair,andgavealeerofwelcome。Esthertookaslittlenoticeofhimasmightbe。
’Aha!Dick!’criedthepainter。’I’vebeentochurch;I
have,uponmyword。AndIsawyouthere,thoughyoudidn’tseeme。AndIsawadevilishprettywoman,byGad。Ifitwerenotforthisbaldness,andakindofcrapulousairI
can’tdisguisefrommyself—ifitweren’tforthisandthatandt’otherthing—I—I’veforgotwhatIwassaying。Notthatthatmatters,I’veheapsofthingstosay。I’minacommunicativeveinto—night。I’llletoutallmycats,evenuntoseventytimesseven。I’minwhatIcallTHEstage,andallIdesireisalistener,althoughheweredeaf,tobeashappyasNebuchadnezzar。’
Ofthetwohourswhichfolloweduponthisitisunnecessarytogivemorethanasketch。TheAdmiralwasextremelysilly,nowandthenamusing,andneverreallyoffensive。Itwasplainthathekeptinviewthepresenceofhisdaughter,andchosesubjectsandacharacteroflanguagethatshouldnotoffendalady。OnalmostanyotheroccasionDickwouldhaveenjoyedthescene。VanTromp’segotism,flownwithdrink,struckapitchabovemerevanity。Hebecamecandidandexplanatory;soughttotakehisauditorsentirelyintohisconfidence,andtellthemhisinmostconvictionabouthimself。Betweenhisself—knowledge,whichwasconsiderable,andhisvanity,whichwasimmense,hehadcreatedastrangehybridanimal,andcalleditbyhisownname。HowhewouldplumehisfeathersovervirtueswhichwouldhavegladdenedtheheartofCaesarorSt。Paul;andanon,completehisownportraitwithoneofthosetouchesofpitilessrealismwhichthesatiristsooftenseeksinvain。
’Now,there’sDick,’hesaid,’he’sshrewd;hesawthroughmethefirsttimewemet,andtoldmeso—toldmesotomyface,whichIhadthevirtuetokeep。Ibearyounomaliceforit,Dick;youwereright;Iamahumbug。’
YoumayfancyhowEstherquailedatthisnewfeatureofthemeetingbetweenhertwoidols。
Andthen,again,inaparenthesis:—
’That,’saidVanTromp,’waswhenIhadtopaintthosedirtydaubsofmine。’
Andalittlefurtheron,laughinglysaidperhaps,butyetwithanairoftruth:—
’Ineverhadtheslightesthesitationinsponginguponanyhumancreature。’
ThereuponDickgotup。
’Ithinkperhaps,’hesaid,’wehadbetterallbethinkingofgoingtobed。’Andhesmiledwithafeebleanddeprecatorysmile。
’Notatall,’criedtheAdmiral,’Iknowatrickworthtwoofthat。Pusshere,’indicatinghisdaughter,’shallgotobed;
andyouandIwillkeepituptillall’sblue。’
ThereuponEstheraroseinsullenglory。Shehadsatandlistenedfortwomortalhourswhileheridoldefiledhimselfandsneeredawayhisgodhead。Onebyone,herillusionshaddeparted。Andnowhewishedtoorderhertobedinherownhouse!nowhecalledherPuss!now,evenasheutteredthewords,topplingonhischair,hebrokethestemofhistobacco—pipeinthree!Neverdidthesheepturnuponhershearerwithamorecommandingfront。Hervoicewascalm,herenunciationalittleslow,butperfectlydistinct,andshestoodbeforehimasshespoke,inthesimplestandmostmaidenlyattitude。
’No,’shesaid,’Mr。Nasebywillhavethegoodnesstogohomeatonce,andyouwillgotobed。’
ThebrokenfragmentsofpipefellfromtheAdmiral’sfingers;
heseemedbyhiscountenancetohavelivedtoolonginaworldunworthyofhim;butitisanoddcircumstance,heattemptednoreply,andsatthunderstruck,withopenmouth。
Dickshemotionedsharplytowardsthedoor,andhecouldonlyobeyher。Intheporch,findingshewasclosebehindhim,heventuredtopauseandwhisper,’Youhavedoneright。’
’IhavedoneasIpleased,’shesaid。’Canhepaint?’
’Manypeoplelikehispaintings,’returnedDick,instifledtones;’Ineverdid;IneversaidIdid,’headded,fiercelydefendinghimselfbeforehewasattacked。
’Iaskyouifhecanpaint。Iwillnotbeputoff。CANhepaint?’sherepeated。
’No,’saidDick。
’Doesheevenlikeit?’
’Notnow,Ibelieve。’
’Andheisdrunk?’—sheleaneduponthewordwithhatred。
’Hehasbeendrinking。’
’Go,’shesaid,andwasturningtore—enterthehousewhenanotherthoughtarrestedher。’Meetmeto—morrowmorningatthestile,’shesaid。
’Iwill,’repliedDick。
Andthenthedoorclosedbehindher,andDickwasaloneinthedarkness。Therewasstillachinkoflightabovethesill,awarm,mildglowbehindthewindow;theroofofthecottageandsomeofthebanksandhazelsweredefinedindenserdarknessagainstthesky;butallelsewasformless,breathless,andnoiselesslikethepit。Dickremainedasshehadlefthim,standingsquarelyupononefootandrestingonlyonthetoeoftheother,andashestoodhelistenedwithhissoul。Thesoundofachairpushedsharplyoverthefloorstartledhisheartintohismouth;butthesilencewhichhadthusbeendisturbedsettledbackagainatonceuponthecottageanditsvicinity。Whattookplaceduringthisintervalisasecretfromtheworldofmen;butwhenitwasoverthevoiceofEstherspokeevenlyandwithoutinterruptionforperhapshalfaminute,andassoonasthatceasedheavyanduncertainfootfallscrossedtheparlourandmountedlurchingupthestairs。Thegirlhadtamedherfather,VanTromphadgoneobedientlytobed:somuchwasobvioustothewatcherintheroad。Andyethestillwaited,straininghisears,andwithterrorandsicknessathisheart;forifEstherhadfollowedherfather,ifshehadevenmadeonemovementinthisgreatconspiracyofmenandnaturetobestill,Dickmusthavehadinstantknowledgeofitfromhisstationbeforethedoor;andifshehadnotmoved,mustshenothavefainted?ormightshenotbedead?
Hecouldhearthecottageclockdeliberatelymeasureouttheseconds;timestoodstillwithhim;analmostsuperstitiousterrortookcommandofhisfaculties;atlast,hecouldbearnomore,and,springingthroughthelittlegardenintwobounds,heputhisfaceagainstthewindow。Theblind,whichhadnotbeendrawnfullydown,leftanopenchinkaboutaninchinheightalongthebottomoftheglass,andthewholeparlourwasthusexposedtoDick’sinvestigation。Esthersatuprightatthetable,herheadrestingonherhand,hereyesfixeduponthecandle。Herbrowswereslightlybent,hermouthslightlyopen;herwholeattitudesostillandsettledthatDickcouldhardlyfancythatshebreathed。ShehadnotstirredatthesoundofDick’sarrival。Soonafter,makingaconsiderabledisturbanceamidthevastsilenceofthenight,theclockliftedupitsvoice,whinedforawhilelikeapartridge,andtheneleventimeshootedlikeacuckoo。StillEsthercontinuedimmovableandgazeduponthecandle。
Midnightfollowed,andthenoneofthemorning;andstillshehadnotstirred,norhadRichardNasebydaredtoquitthewindow。Andthen,abouthalf—pastone,thecandleshehadbeenthusintentlywatchingflaredupintoalastblazeofpaper,andsheleapedtoherfeetwithanejaculation,lookedaboutheronce,blewoutthelight,turnedround,andwasheardrapidlymountingthestaircaseinthedark。
DickwasleftoncemorealonetodarknessandtothatdulledanddoggedstateofmindwhenamanthinksthatMiserymustnowhavedoneherworst,andisalmostgladtothinkso。Heturnedandwalkedslowlytowardsthestile;shehadtoldhimnohour,andhewasdetermined,whenevershecame,thatsheshouldfindhimwaiting。Ashegottherethedaybegantodawn,andheleanedoverahurdleandbeheldtheshadowsfleeaway。Upwentthesunatlastoutofabankofcloudsthatwerealreadydisbandingintheeast;aheraldwindhadalreadysprunguptosweeptheleafyearthandscatterthecongregateddewdrops。’Alas!’thoughtDickNaseby,’howcananyotherdaycomesodistastefullytome?’Hestillwantedhisexperienceofthemorrow。
CHAPTERVII—THEELOPEMENT
ITwasprobablyonthestrokeoften,andDickhadbeenhalfasleepforsometimeagainstthebank,whenEsthercameuptheroadcarryingabundle。Somekindofinstinct,orperhapsthedistantlightfootfalls,recalledhim,whileshewasstillagoodwayoff,tothepossessionofhisfaculties,andhehalfraisedhimselfandblinkedupontheworld。Ittookhimsometimetorecollecthisthoughts。Hehadawakenedwithacertainblankandchildishsenseofpleasure,likeamanwhohadreceivedalegacyovernight;butthisfeelinggraduallydiedaway,andwasthensuddenlyandstunninglysucceededbyaconvictionofthetruth。Thewholestoryofthepastnightsprangintohismindwitheverydetail,asbyanexerciseofthedirectandspeedysenseofsight,andhearosefromtheditchand,withruefulcourage,wenttomeethislove。
Shecameuptohimwalkingsteadyandfast,herfacestillpale,buttoallappearanceperfectlycomposed;andsheshowedneithersurprise,relief,norpleasureatfindingherloveronthespot。Nordidsheofferhimherhand。
’HereIam,’saidhe。
’Yes,’shereplied;andthen,withoutapauseoranychangeofvoice,’Iwantyoutotakemeaway,’sheadded。
’Away?’herepeated。’How?Where?’
’To—day,’shesaid。’Idonotcarewhereitis,butIwantyoutotakemeaway。’
’Forhowlong?Idonotunderstand,’gaspedDick。
’Ishallnevercomebackhereanymore,’wasallsheanswered。
Wildwordsuttered,asthesewere,withperfectquietofmannerandvoice,exerciseadoubleinfluenceonthehearer’smind。Dickwasconfounded;herecoveredfromastonishmentonlytofallintodoubtandalarm。Helookeduponherfrozenattitude,sodiscouragingforalovertobehold,andrecoiledfromthethoughtswhichitsuggested。
’Tome?’heasked。’Areyoucomingtome,Esther?’
’Iwantyoutotakemeaway,’sherepeatedwithwearyimpatience。’Takemeaway—takemeawayfromhere。’
Thesituationwasnotsufficientlydefined。Dickaskedhimselfwithconcernwhethershewerealtogetherinherrightwits。Totakeheraway,tomarryher,toworkoffhishandsforhersupport,Dickwascontenttodoallthis;yetherequiredsomeshowofloveuponherpart。Hewasnotoneofthosetough—hidedandsmall—heartedmaleswhowouldmarrytheirloveatthepointofthebayonetratherthannotmarryheratall。Hedesiredthatawomanshouldcometohisarmswithanattractivewillingness,ifnotwithardour。AndEsther’sbearingwasmorethatofdespairthanthatoflove。
Itchilledhimandtaughthimwisdom。
’Dearest,’heurged,’tellmewhatyouwish,andyoushallhaveit;tellmeyourthoughts,andthenIcanadviseyou。
Buttogofromherewithoutaplan,withoutforethought,intheheatofamoment,ismadderthanmadness,andcanhelpnothing。Iamnotspeakinglikeaman,butIspeakthetruth;andItellyouagain,thething’sabsurd,andwrong,andhurtful。’
Shelookedathimwithalowering,languidlookofwrath。
’Soyouwillnottakeme?’shesaid。’Well,Iwillgoalone。’
Andshebegantostepforwardonherway。Buthethrewhimselfbeforeher。
’Esther,Esther!’hecried。
’Letmego—don’ttouchme—whatrighthaveyoutointerfere?Whoareyou,totouchme?’sheflashedout,shrillwithanger。
Then,beingmadeboldbyherviolence,hetookherfirmly,almostroughly,bythearm,andheldherwhilehespoke。
’YouknowwellwhoIam,andwhatIam,andthatIloveyou。
YousayIwillnothelpyou;butyourheartknowsthecontrary。Itisyouwhowillnothelpme;foryouwillnottellmewhatyouwant。Yousee—oryoucouldsee,ifyoutookthepainstolook—howIhavewaitedhereallnighttobereadyatyourservice。Ionlyaskedinformation;Ionlyurgedyoutoconsider;andIstillurgeandbegyoutothinkbetterofyourfancies。Butifyourmindismadeup,sobeit;Iwillbegnolonger;Igiveyoumyorders;andIwillnotallow—notallowyoutogohencealone。’
Shelookedathimforawhilewithcold,unkindscrutinylikeonewhotriesthetemperofatool。
’Well,takemeaway,then,’shesaidwithasigh。
’Good,’saidDick。’Comewithmetothestables;thereweshallgetthepony—trapanddrivetothejunction。To—nightyoushallbeinLondon。Iamyourssowhollythatnowordscanmakememoreso;and,besides,youknowit,andthewordsareneedless。MayGodhelpmetobegoodtoyou,Esther—
mayGodhelpme!forIseethatyouwillnot。’
So,withoutmorespeech,theysetouttogether,andwerealreadygotsomedistancefromthespot,ereheobservedthatshewasstillcarryingthehand—bag。Shegaveituptohim,passively,butwhenheofferedherhisarm,merelyshookherheadandpursedupherlips。Thesunshoneclearlyandpleasantly;thewindwasfreshandbriskupontheirfaces,andsmeltracilyofwoodsandmeadows。AstheywentdownintothevalleyoftheThyme,thebabbleofthestreamroseintotheairlikeaperenniallaughter。Onthefar—awayhills,sun—burstandshadowracedalongtheslopesandleapedfrompeaktopeak。Earth,airandwater,eachseemedinbetterhealthandhadmoreoftheshrewdsaltoflifeinthemthanuponordinarymornings;andfromeasttowest,fromthelowestglentotheheightofheaven,fromeverylookandtouchandscent,ahumancreaturecouldgatherthemostencouragingintelligenceastothedurabilityandspiritoftheuniverse。
ThroughallthiswalkedEsther,pickinghersmallstepslikeabird,butsilentandwithacloudunderherthickeyebrows。
Sheseemedinsensible,notonlyofnature,butofthepresenceofhercompanion。Shewasaltogetherengrossedinherself,andlookedneithertorightnortoleft,butstraightbeforeherontheroad。Whentheycametothebridge,however,shehalted,leanedontheparapet,andstaredforamomentattheclear,brownpool,andswift,transientsnowdriftoftherapids。
’Iamgoingtodrink,’shesaid;anddescendedthewindingfootpathtothemargin。
Thereshedrankgreedilyinherhandsandwashedhertempleswithwater。Thecoolnessseemedtobreak,foraninstant,thespellthatlayuponher;for,insteadofhasteningforwardagaininherdull,indefatigabletramp,shestoodstillwhereshewas,fornearaminute,lookingstraightbeforeher。AndDick,fromaboveonthebridgewherehestoodtowatchher,sawastrange,equivocalsmiledawnslowlyonherfaceandpassawayagainatonceandsuddenly,leavingherasgraveasever;andthesenseofdistance,whichitissocruelforalovertoendure,pressedwitheverymomentmoreheavilyonhercompanion。Herthoughtswereallsecret;herheartwaslockedandbolted;andhestoodwithout,vainlywooingherwithhiseves。
’Doyoufeelbetter?’askedDick,assheatlastrejoinedhim;andaftertheconstraintofsolongasilence,hisvoicesoundedforeigntohisownears。
Shelookedathimforanappreciablefractionofaminuteeresheanswered,andwhenshedid,itwasinthemonosyllable—
’Yes。’
Dick’ssolicitudewasnippedandfrosted。Hiswordsdiedawayonhistongue。Evenhiseyes,despairingofencouragement,ceasedtoattendonhers。AndtheywentoninsilencethroughKirtonhamlet,whereanoldmanfollowedthemwithhiseyes,andperhapsenviedthemtheiryouthandlove;
andacrosstheIvybeckwherethemillwassplashingandgrumblinglowthundertoitselfinthechequeredshadowofthedell,andthemillerbeforethedoorwasbeatingflourfromhishandsashewhistledamodulation;andupbythehighspinney,whencetheysawthemountainsuponeitherhand;
anddownthehillagaintothebackcourtsandofficesofNasebyHouse。Estherhadkeptaheadalltheway,andDickploddedobedientlyinherwake;butastheynearedthestables,hepushedonandtookthelead。Hewouldhavepreferredhertoawaithimintheroadwhilehewentonandbroughtthecarriageback,butaftersomanyrepulsesandrebuffshelackedcouragetoofferthesuggestion。Perhaps,too,hefeltitwisertokeephisconvoywithinsight。SotheyenteredtheyardinIndianfile,likeatrampandhiswife。
Thegroomseyebrowsroseashereceivedtheorderforthepony—phaeton,andkeptrisingduringallhispreparations。
Estherstoodboltuprightandlookedsteadilyatsomechickensinthecorneroftheyard。MasterRichardhimself,thoughtthegroom,wasnotinhisordinary;forintruth,hecarriedthehand—baglikeatalisman,andeitherstoodlistless,orsetoffsuddenlywalkinginonedirectionafteranotherwithbrisk,decisivefootsteps。Moreoverhehadapparentlyneglectedtowashhishands,andboretheairofonereturningfromaprolongednuttingramble。Uponthegroom’scountenancetherebegantogrowupanexpressionasofoneabouttowhistle。Andhardlyhadthecarriageturnedthecornerandrattledintothehighroadwiththisinexplicablepair,thanthewhistlebrokeforth—prolonged,andlowandtremulous;andthegroom,alreadysofarrelieved,ventedtherestofhissurpriseinonesimpleEnglishword,friendlytothemouthofJack—tarandthesootypitman,andhurriedtospreadthenewsroundtheservants’
hallofNasebyHouse。Luncheonwouldbeonthetableinlittlebeyondanhour;andtheSquire,onsittingdown,wouldhardlyfailtoaskforMasterRichard。Hence,astheintelligentreadercanforesee,thisgroomhasaparttoplayintheimbroglio。
Meantime,Dickhadbeenthinkingdeeplyandbitterly。Itseemedtohimasifhislovehadgonefromhim,indeed,yetgonebutalittleway;asifheneededbuttofindtherighttouchorintonation,andherheartwouldrecognisehimandbemelted。Yethedurstnotopenhismouth,anddroveinsilencetilltheyhadpassedthemainpark—gatesandturnedintothecross—cutlanealongthewall。Thenitseemedtohimasifitmustbenow,ornever。
’Can’tyouseeyouarekillingme?’hecried。’Speaktome,lookatme,treatmelikeahumanman。’
Sheturnedslowlyandlookedhiminthefacewitheyesthatseemedkinder。Hedroppedthereinsandcaughtherhand,andshemadenoresistance,althoughhertouchwasunresponsive。
Butwhen,throwingonearmroundherwaist,hesoughttokissherlips,notlikealoverindeed,notbecausehewantedtodoso,butasadesperatemanwhoputshisfortunestothetouch,shedrewawayfromhim,withaknotinherforehead,backedandshiedaboutfiercelywithherhead,andpushedhimfromherwithherhand。Thentherewasnoroomleftfordoubt,andDicksaw,asclearassunlight,thatshehadadistasteornourishedagrudgeagainsthim。
’Thenyoudon’tloveme?’hesaid,drawingbackfromher,healso,asthoughhertouchhadburnthim;andthen,asshemadenoanswer,herepeatedwithanotherintonation,imperiousandyetstillpathetic,’Youdon’tloveme,DOyou,DOyou?’
’Idon’tknow,’shereplied。’Whydoyouaskme?Oh,howshouldIknow?Ithasallbeenliestogether—lies,andlies,andlies!’
Hecriedhernamesharply,likeamanwhohastakenaphysicalhurt,andthatwasthelastwordthateitherofthemspokeuntiltheyreachedThymeburyJunction。
Thiswasastationisolatedinthemidstofmoorlands,yetlyingonthegreatuplinetoLondon。Thenearesttown,Thymeburyitself,wassevenmilesdistantalongthebranchtheycalltheValeofThymeRailway。Itwasnownearlyhalfanhourpastnoon,thedowntrainhadjustgoneby,andtherewouldbenomoretrafficatthejunctionuntilhalf—pastthree,whenthelocaltraincomesintomeettheupexpressataquarterbeforefour。Thestationmasterhadalreadygoneofftohisgarden,whichwashalfamileawayinahollowofthemoor;aporter,whowasjustleaving,tookchargeofthephaeton,andpromisedtoreturnitbeforenighttoNasebyHouse;onlyadeaf,snuffy,andsternoldmanremainedtoplayproprietyforDickandEsther。
Beforethephaetonhaddrivenoff,thegirlhadenteredthestationandseatedherselfuponabench。Theendless,emptymoorlandsstretchedbeforeher,entirelyunenclosed,andwithnoboundarybutthehorizon。Twolinesofrails,awaggonshed,andafewtelegraphposts,alonediversifiedtheoutlook。Asforsounds,thesilencewasunbrokensavebythechantofthetelegraphwiresandthecryingoftheploversonthewaste。Withtheapproachofmiddaythewindhadmoreandmorefallen,itwasnowswelteringhotandtheairtrembledinthesunshine。
Dickpausedforaninstantonthethresholdoftheplatform。
Then,intwosteps,hewasbyhersideandspeakingalmostwithasob。
’Esther,’hesaid,’havepityonme。WhathaveIdone?Canyounotforgiveme?Esther,youlovedmeonce—canyounotlovemestill?’
’HowcanItellyou?HowamItoknow?’sheanswered。’Youareallalietome—allaliefromfirsttolast。Youwerelaughingatmyfolly,playingwithmelikeachild,attheverytimewhenyoudeclaredyoulovedme。Whichwastrue?
wasanyofittrue?orwasitall,allamockery?Iamwearytryingtofindout。AndyousayIlovedyou;Ilovedmyfather’sfriend。Ineverloved,Ineverheardof,you,untilthatmancamehomeandIbegantofindmyselfdeceived。Givemebackmyfather,bewhatyouwerebefore,andyoumaytalkofloveindeed!’
’Thenyoucannotforgiveme—cannot?’heasked。
’Ihavenothingtoforgive,’sheanswered。’Youdonotunderstand。’
’Isthatyourlastword,Esther?’saidhe,verywhite,andbitinghisliptokeepitstill。
’Yes,thatismylastword,’repliedshe。
’Thenwearehereonfalsepretences,andwestayherenolonger,’hesaid。’Hadyoustilllovedme,rightorwrong,I
shouldhavetakenyouaway,becausethenIcouldhavemadeyouhappy。Butasitis—Imustspeakplainly—whatyouproposeisdegradingtoyou,andaninsulttome,andarankunkindnesstoyourfather。Yourfathermaybethisorthat,butyoushouldusehimlikeafellow—creature。’
’Whatdoyoumean?’sheflashed。’Ileavehimmyhouseandallmymoney;itismorethanhedeserves。Iwonderyoudarespeaktomeaboutthatman。Andbesides,itisallhecaresfor;lethimtakeit,andletmeneverhearfromhimagain。’
’Ithoughtyouromanticaboutfathers,’hesaid。
’Isthatataunt?’shedemanded。
’No,’hereplied,’itisanargument。Noonecanmakeyoulikehim,butdon’tdisgracehiminhisowneyes。Heisold,Esther,oldandbrokendown。EvenIamsorryforhim,andhehasbeenthelossofallIcaredfor。Writetoyouraunt;
whenIseeheransweryoucanleavequietlyandnaturally,andIwilltakeyoutoyouraunt’sdoor。Butinthemeantimeyoumustgohome。Youhavenomoney,andsoyouarehelpless,andmustdoasItellyou;andbelieveme,Esther,Idoallforyourgood,andyourgoodonly,soGodhelpme。’
Shehadputherhandintoherpocketandwithdrawnitempty。
’Icounteduponyou,’shewailed。
’Youcountedrightlythen,’heretorted。’Iwillnot,topleaseyouforamoment,makebothofusunhappyforourlives;andsinceIcannotmarryyou,wehaveonlybeentoolongaway,andmustgohomeatonce。’
’Dick,’shecriedsuddenly,’perhapsImight—perhapsintime—perhaps—’
’Thereisnoperhapsaboutthematter,’interruptedDick。’I
mustgoandbringthephaeton。’Andwiththathestrodefromthestation,allinaglowofpassionandvirtue。Esther,whoseeyeshadcomealiveandhercheeksflushedduringtheselastwords,relapsedinasecondintoastateofpetrifaction。Sheremainedwithoutmotionduringhisabsence,andwhenhereturnedsufferedherselftobeputbackintothephaeton,anddrivenoffonthereturnjourneylikeanidiotoratiredchild。Comparedwithwhatshewasnow,herconditionofthemorningseemedpositivelynatural。Shesatwhiteandcoldandsilent,andtherewasnospeculationinhereyes。PoorDickflailedandflailedatthepony,andoncetriedtowhistle,buthiscouragewasgoingdown;hugecloudsofdespairgatheredtogetherinhissoul,andfromtimetotimetheirdarknesswasdividedbyapiercingflashoflongingandregret。Hehadlosthislove—hehadlosthisloveforgood。
Theponywastired,andthehillsverylongandsteep,andtheairsultrierthanever,fornowthebreezebegantofailentirely。Itseemedasifthismiserabledrivewouldneverbedone,asifpoorDickwouldneverbeabletogoawayandbecomfortablywretchedbyhimself;forallhisdesirewastoescapefromherpresenceandthereproachofheravertedlooks。Hehadlosthislove,hethought—hehadlosthisloveforgood。
Theywerealreadynotfarfromthecottage,whenhisheartagainfalteredandheappealedtoheroncemore,speakinglowandeagerlyinbrokenphrases。
’Icannotlivewithoutyourlove,’heconcluded。
’Idonotunderstandwhatyoumean,’shereplied,andI
believewithperfecttruth。
’Then,’saidhe,woundedtothequick,’yourauntmightcomeandfetchyouherself。Ofcourseyoucancommandmeasyouplease。ButIthinkitwouldbebetterso。’
’Ohyes,’shesaidwearily,’betterso。’
Thiswastheonlyexchangeofwordsbetweenthemtillaboutfouro’clock;thephaeton,mountingthelane,’openedout’
thecottagebetweentheleafybanks。Thinsmokewentstraightupfromthechimney;theflowersinthegarden,thehawthorninthelane,hungdowntheirheadsintheheat;thestillnesswasbrokenonlybythesoundofhoofs。Forrightbeforethegatealiveryservantrodeslowlyupanddown,leadingasaddlehorse。AndinthislastDickshudderedtoidentifyhisfather’schestnut。
Alas!poorRichard,whatshouldthisportend?
Theservant,asindutybound,dismountedandtookthephaetonintohiskeeping;yetDickthoughthetouchedhishattohimwithsomethingofagrin。Esther,passiveasever,washelpedoutandcrossedthegardenwithaslowandmechanicalgait;andDick,followingclosebehindher,heardfromwithinthecottagehisfather’svoiceupraisedinananathema,andtheshrillertonesoftheAdmiralrespondinginthekeyofwar。
CHAPTERVIII—BATTLEROYAL
SQUIRENASEBY,onsittingdowntolunch,hadinquiredforDick,whomhehadnotseensincethedaybeforeatdinner;
andtheservantansweringawkwardlythatMasterRichardhadcomebackbuthadgoneoutagainwiththeponyphaeton,hissuspicionsbecamearoused,andhecross—questionedthemanuntilthewholewasout。ItappearedfromthisreportthatDickhadbeengoingaboutfornearlyamonthwithagirlintheVale—aMissVanTromp;thatshelivednearLordTrevanion’supperwood;thatrecentlyMissVanTromp’spapahadreturnedhomefromforeignpartsafteraprolongedabsence;thatthispapawasanoldgentleman,verychattyandfreewithhismoneyinthepublic—house—whereuponMr。
Naseby’sfacebecameencrimsoned;thatthepapa,furthermore,wassaidtobeanadmiral—whereuponMr。Nasebyspatoutawhistlebriefandfierceasanoath;thatMasterDickseemedveryfriendlywiththepapa—’Godhelphim!’saidMr。
Naseby;thatlastnightMasterDickhadnotcomein,andto—
dayhehaddrivenawayinthephaetonwiththeyounglady—
’Youngwoman,’correctedMr。Naseby。
’Yes,sir,’saidtheman,whohadbeenunwillingenoughtogossipfromthefirst,andwasnowcowedbytheeffectofhiscommunicationsonthemaster。’Youngwoman,sir!’
’Hadtheyluggage?’demandedtheSquire。
’Yes,sir。’
Mr。Nasebywassilentforamoment,strugglingtokeepdownhisemotion,andhemastereditsofarastomountintothesarcasticvein,whenhewasinthenearestdangerofmeltingintothesorrowful。
’Andwasthis—thisVanDunkwiththem?’heasked,dwellingscornfullyuponthename。
Theservantbelievednot,andbeingeagertoshifttheresponsibilityofspeechtoothershoulders,suggestedthatperhapsthemasterhadbetterinquirefurtherfromGeorgethestablemaninperson。
’Tellhimtosaddlethechestnutandcomewithme。Hecantakethegraygelding;forwemayridefast。Andthenyoucantakeawaythistrash,’addedMr。Naseby,pointingtotheluncheon;andhearose,lordlyinhisanger,andmarchedforthupontheterracetoawaithishorse。
ThereDick’soldnurseshrunkuptohim,forthenewswentlikewildfireoverNasebyHouse,andtimidlyexpressedahopethattherewasnothingmuchamisswiththeyoungmaster。
’I’llpullhimthrough,’theSquiresaidgrimly,asthoughhemeanttopullhimthroughathreshing—mill;’I’llsavehimfromthisgang;Godhelphimwiththenext!Hehasatasteforlowcompany,andnonaturalaffectionstosteadyhim。
Hisfatherwasnosocietyforhim;hemustgofuddlingwithaDutchman,Nance,andnowhe’scaught。Letusprayhe’lltakethelesson,’headdedmoregravely,’butyouthisheretomaketroubles,andagetopullthemoutagain。’
NancewhimperedandrecalledseveralepisodesofDick’schildhood,whichmovedMr。Nasebytoblowhisnoseandshakeherhardbythehand;andthen,thehorsearrivingopportunely,togethimselfwithoutdelayintothesaddleandcanteroff。
Herodestraight,hotspur,toThymebury,where,aswastobeexpected,hecouldgleannotidingsoftherunaways。TheyhadnotbeenseenattheGeorge;theyhadnotbeenseenatthestation。TheshadowdarkenedonMr。Naseby’sface;thejunctiondidnotoccurtohim;hislasthopewasforVanTromp’scottage;thitherhebadeGeorgeguidehim,andthitherhefollowed,nursinggrief,anxiety,andindignationinhisheart。
’Hereitis,sir,’saidGeorgestopping。
’What!onmyownland!’hecried。’How’sthis?Iletthisplacetosomebody—M’WhirterorM’Glashan。’
’MissM’Glashanwastheyounglady’saunt,sir,Ibelieve,’
returnedGeorge。
’Ay—dummies,’saidtheSquire。’Ishallwhistleformyrenttoo。Here,takemyhorse。’
TheAdmiral,thishotafternoon,wassittingbythewindowwithalongglass。HealreadyknewtheSquirebysight,andnow,seeinghimdismountbeforethecottageandcomestridingthroughthegarden,concludedwithoutdoubthewastheretoaskforEsther’shand。
’Thisiswhythegirlisnotyethome,’hethought:’averysuitabledelicacyonyoungNaseby’spart。’
Andhecomposedhimselfwithsomepomp,answeredtheloudrattleoftheriding—whipuponthedoorwithadulcetinvitationtoenter,andcomingforwardwithabowandasmile,’Mr。Naseby,Ibelieve,’saidhe。
TheSquirecamearmedforbattle;tookinhismanfromtoptotoeinonerapidandscornfulglance,anddecidedonacourseatonce。Hemustletthefellowseethatheunderstoodhim。
’YouareMr。VanTromp?’hereturnedroughly,andwithouttakinganynoticeoftheprofferedhand。
’Thesame,sir,’repliedtheAdmiral。’Praybeseated。’
’Nosir,’saidtheSquire,point—blank,’Iwillnotbeseated。Iamtoldthatyouareanadmiral,’headded。
’Nosir,Iamnotanadmiral,’returnedVanTromp,whonowbegantogrownettledandenterintothespiritoftheinterview。
’Thenwhydoyoucallyourselfone,sir?’
’Ihavetoaskyourpardon,Idonot,’saysVanTromp,asgrandasthePope。
ButnothingwasofavailagainsttheSquire。
’Yousailunderfalsecoloursfrombeginningtoend,’hesaid。’Yourveryhousewastakenunderashamname。’
’Itisnotmyhouse。Iammydaughter’sguest,’repliedtheAdmiral。’IfitWEREmyhouse—’
’Well?’saidtheSquire,’whatthen?hey?’
TheAdmirallookedathimnobly,butwassilent。
’Lookhere,’saidMr。Naseby,’thisintimidationisawasteoftime;itisthrownawayonme,sir;itwillnotsucceedwithme。Iwillnotpermityoueventogaintimebyyourfencing。Now,sir,Ipresumeyouunderstandwhatbringsmehere。’
’Iamentirelyatalosstoaccountforyourintrusion,’bowsandwavesVanTromp。
’Iwilltrytotellyouthen。Icomehereasafather’—
downcametheriding—whipuponthetable—’Ihaverightandjusticeuponmyside。Iunderstandyourcalculations,butyoucalculatedwithoutme。Iamamanoftheworld,andI
seethroughyouandyourmanoeuvres。Iamdealingnowwithaconspiracy—Istigmatiseitassuch,andIwillexposeitandcrushit。AndnowIorderyoutotellmehowfarthingshavegone,andwhitheryouhavesmuggledmyunhappyson。’
’MyGod,sir!’VanTrompbrokeout,’Ihavehadaboutenoughofthis。Yourson?Godknowswhereheisforme!WhatthedevilhaveItodowithyourson?Mydaughterisout,forthematterofthat;Imightaskyouwhereshewas,andwhatwouldyousaytothat?Butthisisallmidsummermadness。
Nameyourbusinessdistinctly,andbeoff。’
’HowoftenamItotellyou?’criedtheSquire。’Wheredidyourdaughtertakemysonto—dayinthatcursedponycarriage?’
’Inaponycarriage?’repeatedVanTromp。
’Yes,sir—withluggage。’
’Luggage?’—VanTromphadturnedalittlepale。
’Luggage,Isaid—luggage!’shoutedNaseby。’Youmaysparemethisdissimulation。Where’smyson。Youarespeakingtoafather,sir,afather。’
’But,sir,ifthisbetrue,’outcameVanTrompinanewkey,’itisIwhohaveanexplanationtodemand?’
’Precisely。Thereistheconspiracy,’retortedNaseby。
’Oh!’headded,’Iamamanoftheworld。Icanseethroughandthroughyou。’
VanTrompbegantounderstand。
’Youspeakagreatdealaboutbeingafather,Mr。Naseby,’
saidhe;’Ibelieveyouforgetthattheappellationiscommontobothofus。Iamatalosstofiguretomyself,howeverdimly,howanyman—Ihavenotsaidanygentleman—couldsobrazenlyinsultanotherasyouhavebeeninsultingmesinceyouenteredthishouse。ForthefirsttimeIappreciateyourbaseinsinuations,andIdespisethemandyou。Youwere,I
amtold,amanufacturer;Iamanartist;Ihaveseenbetterdays;Ihavemovedinsocietieswhereyouwouldnotbereceived,anddinedwhereyouwouldbegladtopayapoundtoseemedining。Theso—calledaristocracyofwealth,sir,I
despise。Irefusetohelpyou;Irefusetobehelpedbyyou。
Thereliesthedoor。’
AndtheAdmiralstoodforthinahalo。
ItwasthenthatDickentered。Hehadbeenwaitingintheporchforsometimeback,andEstherhadbeenlistlesslystandingbyhisside。Hehadputouthishandtobarherentrance,andshehadsubmittedwithoutsurprise;andthoughsheseemedtolisten,shescarcelyappearedtocomprehend。
Dick,onhispart,wasaswhiteasasheet;hiseyesburnedandhislipstrembledwithangerashethrustthedoorsuddenlyopen,introducedEstherwithceremoniousgallantry,andstoodforwardandknockedhishatfirmeronhisheadlikeamanabouttoleap。
’Whatisallthis?’hedemanded。
’Isthisyourfather,Mr。Naseby?’inquiredtheAdmiral。
’Itis,’saidtheyoungman。
’Imakeyoumycompliments,’returnedVanTromp。
’Dick!’criedhisfather,suddenlybreakingforth,’itisnottoolate,isit?Ihavecomehereintimetosaveyou。
Come,comeawaywithme—comeawayfromthisplace。’
AndhefawneduponDickwithhishands。
’Keepyourhandsoffme,’criedDick,notmeaningunkindness,butbecausehisnerveswereshatteredbysomanysuccessivemiseries。
’No,no,’saidtheoldman,’don’trepulseyourfather,Dick,whenhehascomeheretosaveyou。Don’trepulseme,myboy。
PerhapsIhavenotbeenkindtoyou,notquiteconsiderate,tooharsh;myboy,itwasnotforwantoflove。Thinkofoldtimes。Iwaskindtoyouthen,wasInot?Whenyouwereachild,andyourmotherwaswithus。’Mr。Nasebywasinterruptedbyasortofsob。Dickstoodlookingathiminamaze。’Comeaway,’pursuedthefatherinawhisper;’youneednotbeafraidofanyconsequences。Iamamanoftheworld,Dick;andshecanhavenoclaimonyou—noclaim,I
tellyou;andwe’llbehandsometoo,Dick—we’llgivethemagoodroundfigure,fatheranddaughter,andthere’sanend。’
HehadbeentryingtogetDicktowardsthedoor,butthelatterstoodoff。
’Youhadbettertakecare,sir,howyouinsultthatlady,’
saidtheson,asblackasnight。
’Youwouldnotchoosebetweenyourfatherandyourmistress?’
saidthefather。
’Whatdoyoucallher,sir?’criedDick,highandclear。
ForbearanceandpatiencewerenotamongMr。Naseby’squalities。
’Icalledheryourmistress,’heshouted,’andImighthavecalledhera—’
’Thatisanunmanlylie,’repliedDick,slowly。
’Dick!’criedthefather,’Dick!’
’Idonotcare,’saidtheson,strengtheninghimselfagainsthisownheart;’I—Ihavesaidit,anditisthetruth。’
Therewasapause。
’Dick,’saidtheoldmanatlast,inavoicethatwasshakenasbyagaleofwind,’Iamgoing。Ileaveyouwithyourfriends,sir—withyourfriends。Icametoserveyou,andnowIgoawayabrokenman。ForyearsIhaveseenthiscoming,andnowithascome。Youneverlovedme。Nowyouhavebeenthedeathofme。Youmayboastofthat。NowI
leaveyou。Godpardonyou。’
Withthathewasgone;andthethreewhoremainedtogetherheardhishorse’shoofsdescendthelane。Estherhadnotmadeasignthroughouttheinterview,andstillkeptsilencenowthatitwasover;buttheAdmiral,whohadonceortwicemovedforwardanddrawnbackagain,nowadvancedforgood。
’Youareamanofspirit,sir,’saidhetoDick;’butthoughIamnofriendtoparentalinterference,Iwillsaythatyouwereheavyonthegovernor。’Thenheaddedwithachuckle:
’Youbegan,Richard,withasilverspoon,andhereyouareinthewaterliketherest。Work,work,nothinglikework。Youhaveparts,youhavemanners;why,withapplicationyoumaydieamillionaire!’Dickshookhimself。HetookEstherbythehand,lookingathermournfully。
’Thenthisisfarewell,’hesaid。
’Yes,’sheanswered。Therewasnotoneinhervoice,andshedidnotreturnhisgaze。
’Forever,’addedDick。
’Forever,’sherepeatedmechanically。
’Ihavehadhardmeasure,’hecontinued。’IntimeIbelieveIcouldhaveshownyouIwasworthy,andtherewasnotimelongenoughtoshowhowmuchIlovedyou。Butitwasnottobe。Ihavelostall。’
Herelinquishedherhand,stilllookingather,andsheturnedtoleavetheroom。
’Why,whatinfortune’snameisthemeaningofallthis?’
criedVanTromp。’Esthercomeback!’
’Lethergo,’saidDick,andhewatchedherdisappearwithstrangelymingledfeelings。Forhehadfallenintothatstagewhenmenhavethevertigoofmisfortune,courtthestrokesofdestiny,andrushtowardsanythingdecisive,thatitmayfreethemfromsuspensethoughatthecostofruin。
Itisoneofthemanyminorformsofsuicide。
’Shedidnotloveme,’hesaid,turningtoherfather。
’Ifearedasmuch,’saidhe,’whenIsoundedher。PoorDick,poorDick。AndyetIbelieveIamasmuchcutupasyouare。
Iwasborntoseeothershappy。’
’Youforget,’returnedDick,withsomethinglikeasneer,’thatIamnowapauper。’
VanTrompsnappedhisfingers。
’Tut!’saidhe;’Estherhasplentyforusall。’
Dicklookedathimwithsomewonder。Ithadneverdawneduponhimthatthisshiftless,thriftless,worthless,spongingparasitewasyet,afterandinspiteofall,notmercenaryintheissueofhisthoughts;yetsoitwas。
’Now,’saidDick,’Imustgo。’
’Go?’criedVanTromp。’Where?Notonefoot,Mr。RichardNaseby。Hereyoushallstayinthemeantime!and—well,anddosomethingpractical—advertiseforasituationasprivatesecretary—andwhenyouhaveit,goandwelcome。Butinthemeantime,sir,nofalsepride;wemuststaywithourfriends;
wemustspongeawhileonPapaVanTromp,whohasspongedsooftenuponus。’
’ByGod,’criedDick,’Ibelieveyouarethebestofthelot。’
’Dick,myboy,’repliedtheAdmiral,winking,’youmarkme,I
amnottheworst。’
’Thenwhy,’beganDick,andthenpaused。’ButEsther,’hebeganagain,oncemoretointerrupthimself。’Thefactis,Admiral,’hecameoutwithitroundlynow,’yourdaughterwishedtorunawayfromyouto—day,andIonlybroughtherbackwithdifficulty。’
’Intheponycarriage?’askedtheAdmiral,withthesillinessofextremesurprise。
’Yes,’Dickanswered。
’Why,whatthedevilwassherunningawayfrom?’
Dickfoundthequestionunusuallyhardtoanswer。
’Why,’saidhe,’youknow,you’reabitofarip。’
’Ibehavetothatgirl,sir,likeanarchdeacon,’repliedVanTrompwarmly。
’Well—excuseme—butyouknowyoudrink,’insistedDick。
’IknowthatIwasasheetinthewind’seye,sir,once—
onceonly,sinceIreachedthisplace,’retortedtheAdmiral。
’AndeventhenIwasfitforanydrawing—room。Ishouldlikeyoutotellmehowmanyfathers,layandclerical,goupstairseverydaywithafacelikealobsterandcod’seyes—andaredull,uponthebackofit—notevenmirthforthemoney!No,ifthat’swhatsherunsfor,allIsayis,letherrun。’
’Yousee,’Dicktrieditagain,’shehasfancies—’
’Confoundherfancies!’criedVanTromp。’Iusedherkindly;
shehadherownway;Iwasherfather。BesidesIhadtakenquitealikingtothegirl,andmeanttostaywithherforgood。ButItellyouwhatitis,Dick,sinceshehastrifledwithyou—Oh,yes,shedidthough!—andsinceheroldpapa’snotgoodenoughforher—thedeviltakeher,sayI。’
’Youwillbekindtoheratleast?’saidDick。
’Ineverwasunkindtoalivingsoul,’repliedtheAdmiral。
’FirmIcanbe,butnotunkind。’
’Well,’saidDick,offeringhishand,’Godblessyou,andfarewell。’
TheAdmiralsworebyallhisgodsheshouldnotgo。’Dick,’
hesaid,’Youareaselfishdog;youforgetyouroldAdmiral。
Youwouldn’tleavehimalone,wouldyou?’
Itwasuselesstoremindhimthatthehousewasnothistodisposeof,thatbeingaclassofconsiderationstowhichhisintelligencewasclosed;soDicktorehimselfoffbyforce,and,shoutingagood—bye,madeoffalongthelanetoThymebury。
CHAPTERIX—INWHICHTHELIBERALEDITORRE—APPEARSAS’DEUS
EXMACHINA’
ITwasperhapsaweeklater,asoldMr。Nasebysatbroodinginhisstudy,thattherewasshowninuponhim,onurgentbusiness,alittlehecticgentlemanshabbilyattired。
’Ihavetoaskpardonforthisintrusion,Mr。Naseby,’hesaid;’butIcomeheretoperformaduty。Mycardhasbeensentin,butperhapsyoumaynotknow,whatitdoesnottellyou,thatIamtheeditoroftheTHYMEBURYSTAR。’
Mr。Nasebylookedup,indignant。
’Icannotfancy,’hesaid,’thatwehavemuchincommontodiscuss。’
’Ihaveonlyawordtosay—onepieceofinformationtocommunicate。Somemonthsago,wehad—youwillpardonmyreferringtoit,itisabsolutelynecessary—butwehadanunfortunatedifferenceastofacts。’
’Haveyoucometoapologise?’askedtheSquire,sternly。
’No,sir;tomentionacircumstance。Onthemorninginquestion,yourson,Mr。RichardNaseby—’
’Idonotpermithisnametobementioned。’
’Youwill,however,permitme,’repliedtheEditor。
’Youarecruel,’saidtheSquire。Hewasright,hewasabrokenman。
ThentheEditordescribedDick’swarningvisit;andhowhehadseeninthelad’seyethattherewasathrashinginthewind,andhadescapedthroughpityonly—sotheEditorputit—’throughpityonlysir。Andoh,sir,’hewenton,’ifyouhadseenhimspeakingupforyou,Iamsureyouwouldhavebeenproudofyourson。IknowIadmiredtheladmyself,andindeedthat’swhatbringsmehere。’
’Ihavemisjudgedhim,’saidtheSquire。’Doyouknowwhereheis?’
’Yes,sir,heliessickatThymebury。’
’Youcantakemetohim?’
’Ican。’
’IprayGodhemayforgiveme,’saidthefather。
AndheandtheEditormadepost—hasteforthecountrytown。
NextdaythereportwentabroadthatMr。RichardwasreconciledtohisfatherandhadbeentakenhometoNasebyHouse。Hewasstillailing,itwassaid,andtheSquirenursedhimliketheproverbialwoman。Rumour,inthisinstance,didnomorethanjusticetothetruth;andoverthesickbedmanyconfidenceswereexchanged,andcloudsthathadbeengrowingforyearspassedawayinafewhours,andasfondmankindlovestohope,forever。Manylongtalkshadbeenfruitlessinexternalaction,thoughfruitfulfortheunderstandingofthepair;butatlast,oneshoweryTuesday,theSquiremighthavebeenobserveduponhiswaytothecottageinthelane。
Theoldgentlemanhadarrangedhisfeatureswithaviewtoself—command,ratherthanexternalcheerfulness;andheenteredthecottageonhisvisitofconciliationwiththebearingofaclergymancometoannounceadeath。
TheAdmiralandhisdaughterwerebothwithin,andbothlookedupontheirvisitorwithmoresurprisethanfavour。
’Sir,’saidhetoVanTromp,’IamtoldIhavedoneyoumuchinjustice。’
TherecamealittlesoundinEsther’sthroat,andsheputherhandsuddenlytoherheart。
’Youhave,sir;andtheacknowledgmentsuffices,’repliedtheAdmiral。’Iamprepared,sir,tobeeasywithyou,sinceI
hearyouhavemadeitupwithmyfriendDick。Butletmeremindyouthatyouowesomeapologiestothisyoungladyalso。’
’Ishallhavethetemeritytoaskformorethanherforgiveness,’saidtheSquire。’MissVanTromp,’hecontinued,’onceIwasingreatdistress,andknewnothingofyouoryourcharacter;butIbelieveyouwillpardonafewroughwordstoanoldmanwhoasksforgivenessfromhisheart。Ihaveheardmuchofyousincethen;foryouhaveaferventadvocateinmyhouse。IbelieveyouwillunderstandthatIspeakofmyson。Heis,Iregrettosay,veryfarfromwell;hedoesnotpickupasthedoctorshadexpected;
hehasagreatdealuponhismind,and,totellyouthetruth,mygirl,ifyouwon’thelpus,IamafraidIshalllosehim。Comenow,forgivehim!Iwasangrywithhimoncemyself,andIfoundIwasinthewrong。Thisisonlyamisunderstanding,liketheother,believeme;andwithonekindmovement,youmaygivehappinesstohim,andtome,andtoyourself。’
Esthermadeamovementtowardsthedoor,butlongbeforeshereacheditshehadbrokenforthsobbing。
’Itisallright,’saidtheAdmiral;’Iunderstandthesex。
Letmemakeyoumycompliments,Mr。Naseby。’
TheSquirewastoomuchrelievedtobeangry。
’Mydear,’saidhetoEsther,’youmustnotagitateyourself。’
’Shehadbettergoupandseehimrightaway,’suggestedVanTromp。
’Ihadnotventuredtoproposeit,’repliedtheSquire。’LES
CONVENANCES,Ibelieve—’
’JEM’ENFICHE,’criedtheAdmiral,snappinghisfingers。
’SheshallgoandseemyfriendDick。Runandgetready,Esther。’
Estherobeyed。
’Shehasnot—hasnotrunawayagain?’inquiredMr。Naseby,assoonasshewasgone。
’No,’saidVanTromp,’notagain。Sheisadevilishoddgirlthough,mindyouthat。’
’ButIcannotstomachthemanwiththecarbuncles,’thoughttheSquire。
Andthisiswhythereisanewhouseholdandabrand—newbabyinNasebyDowerHouse;andwhythegreatVanTromplivesinpleasantstyleupontheshoresofEngland;andwhytwenty—sixindividualcopiesoftheTHYMEBURYSTARarereceiveddailyatthedoorofNasebyHouse。