|Mrs. Calverley had arrived, and they found her in the drawing-room.
She appeared greatly surprised at the sight of Chetwynd, and perhaps not
altogether pleased, but she quickly recovered herself, and greeted him
in a friendly manner.
Certainly, she did not expect it, but he immediately stepped forward,
and, for the first time for a lengthened period, shook hands with her.
“Let there be peace between us,” he said.
“Willingly,” she replied. “I never sought a quarrel with you, Chetwynd,
and since you desire a reconciliation, I gladly agree to it. I am
anxious to forget the past.”
“You are very kind, madam,” he replied. “I frankly own I have been much
to blame, and have no right to expect your forgiveness.”
“After this admission on your part, there is an end of all
misunderstanding between us,” said Mrs. Calverley. “Some painful, but
clearly groundless, rumours having reached me,” she added, “I must say
that I am truly rejoiced to see you again.”
“I have reason to thank Heaven, madam,” he replied, gravely, “that I am
still alive. But I ought still more to be thankful that my sentiments
are changed. All my vindictive feelings are gone.”
“Yes, I can answer for it, that my dear brother is now in a very proper
frame of mind,” observed Mildred, in a low tone.
Mrs. Calverley seemed much relieved by the assurance.
“Where are you staying, Chetwynd?” she inquired.
“With Sir Bridgnorth Charlton,” he replied. “I rode over from Charlton
Park this morning. I owe a large debt of gratitude to Sir Bridgnorth.
He has behaved like a father to me, and has extricated me from all my
difficulties. Without him, I know not what I might have become. Now the
world is once more open to me.”
“Dearest brother,” exclaimed Mildred, “how thankful I am you have found
such a friend!”
“I have found other friends, though in a very different sphere of life,
who have rendered me great service, and shown me much kindness,” he
replied; “and I should be ungrateful indeed if I did not acknowledge my
obligations to them. One day you shall know all, and then you will admit
that poor men have as good hearts as their richer brethren. But for one
of my humble friends I should not be here now.”
Some bright eyes were dimmed at this remark, and a momentary silence
ensued.
It was broken by Mrs. Calverley, who said, in a kindly tone:
“I hope you mean to make Ouselcroft your home, Chetwynd?”
“I shall be delighted to do so, since you are kind enough to ask me,
madam,” he replied. “I shall not give you much trouble, for I propose to
live very quietly.”
“Don't mistake me,” she rejoined. “The house will be as much your own as
during your father's lifetime. Come and go as you please. Your friends
will always be welcome. In a word, do just as you like, and don't
imagine I shall be any restraint upon you.”
“You are too kind, madam,” he rejoined, somewhat confused.
“I desire to meet you in the same spirit in which you have come to me,”
she said. “Now I hope you understand me.”
“I do, madam, and I will avail myself of your offer, In a day or two I
will again take possession of my old room.”
“It has always been kept for you, as you will find; but you shall have
any other room you may prefer.”
“None can suit me so well as that. And since you permit me to ask my
friends, I will mention a gentleman I have just met at Charlton, as I
feel sure he will be agreeable to you.”
“Do I know him?”
“Perfectly--Captain Danvers. I will bring him with me, if you have no
objection.”
“Do so, by all means,” she replied. “I shall be delighted to see him,
and so, I am sure, will Mildred.”
“Yes; he is very amusing,” said that young lady.
“Captain Danvers is my cousin, and a great favourite of mine as well,”
observed Emmeline. “I am glad you have formed his acquaintance; and I am
sure you will like him.”
Luncheon being announced at this moment, they repaired to the
dining-room, where they found Lady Barfleur, who had come down-stairs
for the first time since the day of Sir Leycester's interment.
Being strongly prejudiced against Chetwynd, she received him very
coldly, and as she could be very rude when she pleased, she made several
very unpleasant observations in his hearing, greatly to Emmeline's
annoyance.
“I didn't expect to see your brother here,” she remarked to Mildred.
“I fancied he had got into some fresh scrape, worse than any of the
others.”
“Oh! no,” cried Mildred, almost indignantly. “He has got out of all his
difficulties.”
“Since when?” asked Lady Barfleur, dryly.
Mildred made no reply.
“What is he going to do now, may I ask?” pursued her ladyship.
“Coming to reside with mamma, at Ouselcroft,” replied Mildred.
“Oh! she is good enough to take him back again, eh?” observed Lady
Barfleur. “Well, she is very forgiving, I must say.”
“Mamma!” exclaimed Emmeline, reproachfully, and trying to check her.
“Nay, I meant nothing,” muttered her ladyship. “It is her own concern,
not mine. I have no right to interfere.”
“I shall be greatly pleased to have him with me again--that is all I can
say,” observed Mrs. Calverley, rather offended, for she felt the matter
was carried somewhat too far for Chetwynd's patience, and dreaded an
outbreak.
Happily, none occurred. Chetwynd could not fail to hear all that was
said, but appeared calm and indifferent.
Lady Barfleur, however, had not yet exhausted all her displeasure.
“What is he going to do?” she asked, after a pause. “I suppose he has
nothing.”
Mrs. Calverley smiled.
“Your ladyship is entirely mistaken,” she said. “He has a very fair
income, and,” she added, with some significance, “extremely good
expectations. You may trust me on this point.”
“Of course,” replied Lady Barfleur. “But allow me to say I was under a
very different impression.”
That Chetwynd felt highly indignant at this discussion in his presence,
is certain, but he allowed no symptom of anger to appear. On the
contrary, he seemed perfectly indifferent.
Emmeline was very anxious, fearing that his visits in future to the
house might be interdicted. But she was needlessly alarmed, as it turned
out.
Chetwynd's unwonted self-control served him well. Lady Barfleur began
to relent, and to view him in a more favourable light. She made no more
rude remarks; indeed, she seemed rather inclined to be friendly towards
him; and he so gained upon her by his tact and good nature that,
before luncheon was ended, she observed, in an audible whisper, to Mrs.
Calverley:
“Upon my word, I must say Chetwynd is vastly improved!” And, to
Emmeline's infinite delight, she added, “I shall be very happy to see
him at Brackley whenever he likes to come over.”
The two girls exchanged a look.
“I think he'll do now,” whispered Mildred. “He has got through this
ordeal remarkably well.”