THIS DEAR GIRL BELONGS TO US
I forget all about the night that followed. I also forget the next
day. I think I stayed in my room most of the time, but the day
following I went down to the drawing-room. London was already emptying
fast. Jim had not come back. I sat in the drawing-room wondering what
was going to happen, feeling that something must happen soon--a great
catastrophe--a great shattering of that castle in the air which I had
built so proudly a few months ago. While I was sitting there Jasmine
bustled in.
"Now that is good, West," she said. "You are better. I want to have a
little chat with you."
I raised my eyes. I knew very well what she was going to talk about,
but I was not prepared to tell the whole truth yet. There was one
matter I kept in reserve--my engagement to Albert Fanning. Whether I
did right or wrong, the announcement of that extreme news could not
pass my lips. I often struggled to tell it, but never yet had I been
able. I knew, of course, that if Jim came to see me again I must tell
him everything, but I hoped in my mad misery that he would not come
again. Then the next hour I hoped the other way. I longed most
passionately to see him, and so I was torn from hour to hour and from
minute to minute with longings and doubts and despairs; but all
through everything, I kept my secret untold within my breast.
"It is so nice about Jim Randolph," said Jasmine, sitting down near
me. "Do you know that when Sir Henry Severn dies, Jim will be the
successor to the baronetcy. While Jim was away in Australia, Sir
Henry's son Theodore died quite suddenly. It was awfully sad, and now
James is the next in succession. Sir Henry wishes him to live either
with him at Severn Towers, in Somersetshire, or to have a house close
by. James went down yesterday to see the old man, and will probably be
coming back to-morrow. He was very sorry to leave you, but he had to
go. He will be a rich man in the future, for Sir Henry Severn is very
wealthy. It is a grand chance for Jim. He never for a moment supposed
that the title would come to him."
I sat silent. I had a little ring on my finger--a very plain ring,
with one tiny diamond in it. It had been given to me by Albert
Fanning. I would not allow him to give me a flashy or showy ring, as
he wanted to do, and I think he would gladly have spent a couple of
hundred pounds on my engagement-ring, but I would not have it, not
until the whole thing was known, then he might lavish jewellery on me
as much as he pleased for all I cared. I twisted the little ring
round and thought of my bond, and said after a pause--
"I do grieve about one thing, and that is that mother did not see Mr.
Randolph before she died."
"But she always knew about everything. It is an open secret," said
Jasmine. "I cannot imagine, Westenra, why you are so reserved with me.
Every one knows. The Duchess knows, your mother knew, I know that
James loves you, that he has loved you for months and months. What
else would have taken a young man like James, a man of the world, so
polished, so distinguished, so charming, to live in a place like
Graham Square? Besides, dear, he has told you himself, has he not?"
I felt myself turning white.
"He has told you, has he not?" repeated Jasmine.
"I would rather not say," I replied.
"Your face tells me; besides, I saw the Duchess yesterday, and she
said that she was so happy, for now you would be back again in your
own set. You will make a very pretty and graceful Lady Severn."
"I care nothing whatever about that," I said, and I jumped up and
walked to the window. "I hate titles," I continued. "I hate rank; I
hate the whole thing. It is humbug, Jasmine; humbug. Why is it
necessary for us all to class together in Mayfair, or to live in large
houses in the country, in order to love each other? Why should we not
go on loving, whatever our worldly position? Oh! it is cruel; the
whole thing is cruel."
"But you ought to be rejoiced about James," continued Jasmine, who did
not evidently think it worth her while even to answer my last words.
"He has come back; he is quite well. In a few years at latest he will
be Sir James Severn, for of course he must take the name with the
baronetcy, and you will be his pretty wife. Doubtless he will want to
marry you very soon--as soon, I mean, darling, as you can bring
yourself to go to him after your dear mother's death; but I knew your
mother quite well enough, Westenra, to be sure that the sooner you
made yourself happy the better pleased she would be, and you will be
happy with such a good man. Why, he is a catch in a thousand. I cannot
tell you how many girls are in love with him, and I never saw him talk
to any one or flirt the least bit in the world except with your
charming self. You are lucky, Westenra; very lucky."
I went now and stood by the window, and as I stood there I felt my
heart give a great thump, and then go low down in my breast. I turned
impulsively.
"I--I am not quite well," I began; but then I hastily thought that I
must see it out. The moment had come when Jasmine Thesiger was to have
all her doubts answered, her questions replied to, and my future would
be clear in her eyes, for I had seen the chocolate-coloured brougham
draw up at the door, and Mrs. and Mr. Fanning get out.
"What is the matter? Are you ill?" said Jasmine.
"No, no; I am quite well," I replied. I sank down on a chair. "I only
saw some visitors just arrive," I continued.
"Visitors at this hour! I will tell Tomkins we are not at home."
"It is too late," I answered; "they are coming up. They are friends of
mine."
"All right, child; but how queer you look," Jasmine gazed at me in
great astonishment.
I hoped earnestly that I did not show my emotion too plainly, when the
next moment the door was thrown open by Lady Thesiger's smart servant,
and Mrs. and Mr. Fanning walked in.
Mrs. Fanning had put on black on my account. She had told me that she
meant to go into mourning, as we were practically relations already. I
had begged of her not, but she had not regarded my wishes in the
least. She was in a heavy black serge dress, and a voluminous cape
which came down nearly to her knees, and she had a black bonnet on,
and her face was all beaming and twinkling with affection and sympathy
and suppressed happiness. And Albert Fanning, also in a most
melancholy suit of black, with his hair as upright as ever, came up to
my side. I heard his usual formula--
"How is Westenra?" and then I found myself introducing him and his
mother to Lady Thesiger, and Lady Thesiger gave a haughty little bow,
and then sat down, with her eyes very bright, to watch events. Perhaps
already she had an inkling of what was about to follow.
"We have come," said Mrs. Fanning, looking at her son and then
glancing at me, "to tell you, Westenra, that we think you had better
arrange to spend your holidays with us. Considering all things, it
seems most fitting."
"What I say is this," interrupted Albert Fanning. "Westenra must do as
she pleases. If she likes to come with us to Switzerland we shall be,
I need not say, charmed; but if she prefers to stay with her
ladyship"--here he gave a profound bow in the direction of Lady
Thesiger--"we must submit. It is not in the bond, you know, mother,
and anything outside the bond I for one debar."
"You always were so queer, my son Albert," said Mrs. Fanning, who had
lost her shyness, and now was determined to speak out her mind fully.
"It's this way, your ladyship," she continued, turning to Lady
Thesiger. "I may as well be plain, and I may as well out with the
truth. This pretty young girl, this dear girl, belongs to us. She does
not belong to you--she belongs to us."
"No, no, mother; you are wrong there," cried Mr. Fanning; "she does
not belong to us at present."
"It's all the same," said Mrs. Fanning; "don't talk nonsense to me.
When a girl is engaged to a man--"
"Engaged! Good heavens!" I heard Lady Thesiger mutter, and then she
sat very still, and fixed her eyes for a moment on my face, with a
sort of glance which seemed to say, "Are you quite absolutely mad?"
"Yes, engaged," continued Mrs. Fanning. "It is a very queer
engagement, it seems to me, but it is a _bonâ fide_ one for all that."
"As _bonâ fide_," said Mr. Fanning, with a profound sigh, "as there is
a sky in the heavens. As _bonâ fide_ as there is a day and a night; as
_bonâ fide_ as that I am in existence; but the marriage is not to be
consummated until the 1st of June of next year. That is in the bond,
and we have nothing to complain of if--if Westenra"--here his voice
dropped to a sound of absolute tenderness--"if Westenra would rather
not come with us now."
"Please explain," said Lady Thesiger. "I knew nothing of this. Do you
mean to tell me, madam, that my friend Westenra Wickham is engaged
to--to whom?"
"To my son Albert," said Mrs. Fanning, with great emphasis and with
quite as much pride as Lady Thesiger's own.
"Is that the case, Westenra?" continued Jasmine, looking at me.
I bowed my head. I was silent for a moment; then I said, "I am engaged
to Albert Fanning. I mean to marry him on the 1st of June next year."
"Then, of course, I have nothing to say. Do you wish to go away with
the Fannings, Westenra? You must do what you wish."
I looked at her and then I looked at Mrs. Fanning, and then I looked
at Albert, whose blue eyes were fixed on my face with all the soul he
possessed shining out of them. He came close to me, took my hand, and
patted it.
"You must do just as you please, little girl," he said; "just exactly
as you please."
"Then I will write and let you know," I answered. "I cannot tell you
to-day."
"That is all right--that is coming to business," said Mrs. Fanning;
"that is as it should be. Albert, we are not wanted here, and we'll
go. You'll let us know to-morrow, my dearie dear. Don't keep us
waiting long, for we have to order rooms in advance at the big hotels
in Switzerland at this time of year. Your ladyship, we will be wishing
you good morning, and please understand one thing, that though we may
not be quite so stylish, nor quite so up in the world as you are, yet
we have got money enough, money enough to give us everything that
money can buy, and Westenra will have a right good time with my son
Albert and me. Come, Albert."
Albert Fanning gave me a piteous glance, but I could not reply to it
just then, and I let them both go away, and felt myself a wretch for
being so cold to them, and for their society so thoroughly.
When they were gone, and the sound of wheels had died away in the
street, Jasmine turned to me.
"What does it mean?" she cried. "It cannot be true--you, Westenra,
engaged to that man! Jim Randolph wants you; he loves you with all his
heart; he has been chivalrous about you; he is a splendid fellow, and
he is rich and in your own set, and you choose that man!"
"Yes, I choose Albert Fanning," I said. "I can never marry James
Randolph."
"But why, why, why?" asked Jasmine.