After the plain speaking which had passed between Richard Meadowes and
his son, a readjustment of their relationships seemed necessary. It was
not possible for them to keep up the former pretence of amity, yet
Meadowes was anxious that no hint of their differences should reach the
outside world. He called Philip to him one day and explained the case to
him.
‘I would not have all the world know how it fares betwixt us, Phil,’ he
said. ‘I had rather keep that bitter knowledge to myself; but things
being as they are, ’twill be better for us now to live apart,—the one
at Fairmeadowes, the other in town. I purpose after this date giving
over the house in St. James’ Square to you, while I reside myself at
Fairmeadowes. I care no longer for the amusements of the town.’
Phil objected at first to this arrangement as too generous. ‘You will
tire of a rural existence, sir,’ he said, ‘ere six months are gone, and
then—supposing me to have married in the meantime—I and my wife will
have to rearrange our establishment once more. ’Twould be better for you
to keep the house in town, and let me have another and smaller one.’
But Meadowes would not hear of this.
‘I cannot tell you, Phil, how it is with me,’ he said, leaning his head
on his hand as he spoke. ‘And—may you never understand—a great
weariness hath fallen over me, that is of the mind, not of the body. I
care for nothing; the game is played out. So make no further parley over
this; take what I offer and welcome: as you pointed out to me ’tis but
your due, in a sense.’
‘Then you fully understand, sir, that I bring Carrie Shepley to live in
your house?’
‘Bring her and welcome—ah, you think that will bring you happiness,
Phil, but you are mistaken. Happiness is a creature of the fancy, she is
never caught and held; always flits ahead. You’ll not find her in Carrie
Shepley—no, nor in aught in this world.’
‘My dear sir, I fear you will be turning monk, when I hear you despise
the good things of this world, as you do just now,’ said Phil. He laid
his hand on his father’s shoulder with the caressing way he had to every
one. Meadowes smiled.
‘I know better than to think happiness lies there either,’ he
said.—‘But to return to business: you mean to marry this girl as soon
as may be?’
‘So soon as she will have me, sir.’
‘I shall make you an allowance then, Phil, and the house in St. James’
Square; and you understand that the outer world still considers us as a
devoted father and son.’
‘They will be right to name you a generous father at least, sir,’ said
Phil, and he held out his hand suddenly to his father as he spoke.
‘Don’t name me ungrateful, sir,’ he added; ‘I see all you have done for
me.’
It was a very painful moment to them both, for each understood how one
spontaneous expression of affection on Phil’s part would have taken away
all difficulty from the situation; and yet the possibility of giving it
was not there. Gratitude, however sincere it may be, if unwarmed by
love, is cold as icicles.
Now that his affairs were arranged in this unsatisfactory fashion, Phil
lost no time in presenting himself at Jermyn Street, to ask for the hand
of Miss Caroline Shepley in marriage.
Carrie stood at the window that evening looking out into the dusty
little street, when all at once she saw Phil come up the steps and heard
his knock at the door. Her father sat by the fire reading, unsuspicious
of the blow that was about to fall. Carrie turned away from the window
and came towards him.
‘Father,’ she said, in a very tense voice, then waited for a moment, not
knowing what to say; and Phil, who was very impatient that night,
knocked again more loudly than before. ‘I am sure my heart makes as much
noise as the knocker!’ thought Carrie, as she listened. Sebastian looked
up—
‘Well? what is it, my daughter?’
‘_Philip_,’ said Carrie.
Then as in a dream she heard Patty’s familiar voice announce her lover’s
name, and a moment later saw her dear Phil stand beside her.
‘How are you, Carrie?’ he said, as if they had never been parted, and
then he held out his hand to Sebastian.
‘I fear I come as an unwelcome guest, sir,’ he said.
‘I cannot welcome you,’ said Sebastian shortly; but he motioned to Phil
to take a seat.
‘I need not tell you why I am come, sir,’ pursued Phil, who wasted no
time upon preliminaries.
‘I have given Carrie her choice betwixt you and me; ’tis for her to
speak,’ said Sebastian for answer.
Carrie had been standing behind her father during this conversation; she
came now and sat on the arm of his chair, bent down, and whispered a few
words in his ear. He rose, and taking her hand in his held it for a
moment and then laid it in Phil’s.
‘She belongs to you now, Philip Meadowes,’ he said.
‘Oh, dada dear, love him too!’ pleaded Carrie, and the tears gathered in
her blue eyes at the cold sound of her father’s voice.
‘You ask the impossible, Carrie,’ said he.
‘Perhaps, sir, time may soften the prejudice you entertain for me,’ said
Phil. ‘Indeed I shall do my utmost to make Carrie a good husband.’
‘Do not misunderstand me, Meadowes,’ said Sebastian. ‘The feeling I have
against you is quite impersonal, else I had not given you Carrie’s hand
in marriage. I think you will make her happy; but for all that I cannot
be your friend, I cannot bear to look upon your face!’ He rose at the
last words and left the room, and Carrie and Phil looked at each in
perplexity.
‘Ah, Phil, ’tis terrible,’ said Carrie, ‘and I so happy! my dearest
father——’
Phil refused to look upon the tragic side of the case, however. He was
far too pleased to think anything very far wrong.
‘Dear heart, you must not grieve; Dr. Shepley will forget after a time;
the best you can do is to marry me at once. When that is done he will
forgive you. He thinks now to prevent the wedding by his displeasure,
but when he sees that impossible his resentment will die out. Come,
Carrie, the sooner you arrange for our marriage the better ’twill be for
all concerned.’
Perhaps Carrie did not need very much persuasion. Two years of waiting
had been quite long enough.
‘I shall see my aunt, Lady Mallow, and she will decide the date for us,’
she said, and then, as Phil prepared to go, she whispered, ‘I shall make
her arrange it soon.’