|Do you know, Mrs. Calverley, I have never been at your place,
Ouselcroft, and I hear it's uncommonly pretty.”
This remark was made by Captain Danvers, as he was seated by the side of
the charming widow on a bench near one of the fountains.
“Come and see it, and judge,” she replied. “We shall be at home
to-morrow.”
“Give me the greatest pleasure to ride over,” he said. “A country place
is charming; but I almost wonder you haven't got a house in town.”
“I think of taking one,” she replied. “Mildred has never been in
town--never resided there, I ought to say. Her papa objected to noise
and racket--didn't care for the parks or the Opera, and disliked large
parties. I don't think he could have stood a season in town. I
prefer quietude and the country myself. However, Mildred ought to be
considered, and as she wishes to mix a little more with society than she
is able to do here, we shall go to London for a time.”
“'Pon my soul! you're exceedingly kind,” cried the captain. “Miss
Calverley is blessed with a most indulgent mamma--'sister,' I was going
to say, but I recollected myself in time.”
“I shall make her as happy as I can, so long as she remains with me,”
replied Mrs. Calverley. “When my late husband entrusted his daughter to
my care, he knew I should do my duty to her.”
“And your first duty,” he remarked, with a smile, “is to get her well
married. That will be easily accomplished, for I hear there are many
_prétendants._ No wonder!--she is a most lovely creature.”
“And will have a very good fortune,” said Mrs. Calverley. “I make no
secret that I mean to give her thirty thousand pounds as a marriage
portion.” Captain Danvers was astounded. If she was to have such a
fortune as this, he began to think he had better turn his attention
to the step-daughter. He endeavoured to look indifferent, but Mrs.
Calverley perceived that the remark had told, as she intended it to do.
“You are the most generous of your sex, Mrs. Calverley,” he observed.
“Few women, circumstanced as you are, would make so great a sacrifice.”
“I don't consider it a sacrifice, Captain Danvers. I regard it as a
duty. I simply represent her father. What he would have done, I shall
do.”
“I cannot withhold my admiration of conduct as rare as it is
praiseworthy,” said the captain. “I repeat, you deserve infinite credit
for your generosity. But Mr. Calverley, I believe, left a son as well as
a daughter? What will he say to this magnificent portion?”
“He has no voice in the matter,” replied the lady. “My husband left the
entire control of his property to me.”
“A wise man!--a very wise man!” cried the captain.
“Chetwynd Calverley has been very wild and extravagant,” said the widow.
“It was necessary, therefore, to tie up the property.”
“Quite necessary!--quite proper!” remarked the captain. “Though I
shouldn't like it myself,” he thought. “Is Chetwynd satisfied with the
arrangement, may I ask?”
“Very much the reverse,” she replied. “But that is immaterial.”
“He doesn't know what is good for him,” said the captain. “None of us
do,” he mentally ejaculated.
“Then you approve of the course I am about to pursue, Captain Danvers?”
“Entirely, my dear madam--entirely,” he replied. “I think it most
judicious.”
“And now you have asked me a good many questions, let me ask you one in
return?” said Mrs. Calverley.
“Delighted to answer any questions you may put to me,” he replied,
wondering what she was going to say.
“But don't answer this, unless you like,” she observed.
“Let me hear it,” he rejoined, fearing something unpleasant was coming.
“How is it that your lovely cousin, Emmeline, has not married? I know
she has had several very good offers.”
“'Pon my honour, I can't tell. I fancy--but mind its only fancy--she has
had some disappointment.”
“I should think that scarcely possible,” observed Mrs. Calverley. “Why,
she is an only child, and will be a great heiress!”
“Well, that's the only solution I can give of the mystery. I know Lord
Bollington proposed to her, and I know my uncle would have liked the
match to take place, but the young lord was refused.”
“Possibly she has an attachment,” observed Mrs. Calverley, thoughtfully.
“If so, it's a great pity.”
“Here she comes, with Miss Calverley,” said Captain Danvers, as the two
young ladies were seen advancing along the terrace.