Her whyles Sir Calidore there vowed well,
And markt her rare demeanure, which him seemed
So farre the meane of shepheards to excell,
As that he in his mind her worthy deemed
To be a prince's paragone esteemed.
SPENSER.
Margaret breakfasted with Miss Gage in her dressing-room the next
morning, and heard all the particulars that she wished to know
respecting the ball. She went down stairs about the middle of the day,
and the first person she saw was Harriet Conway standing on the lawn
outside the drawing-room windows, talking to Lord Raymond, while Hubert
Gage and Mr. Conway were teazing her Skye terrier at a little distance.
As soon as she caught sight of Margaret, she came to the window and
greeted her.
"Quite well, really? That is right! No remains whatever of that unlucky
head-ache? I hope devoutly the dog will bite you both!" she exclaimed,
turning round to the gentlemen.
Hubert left the dog to its fate, and came up to condole with Margaret
upon her disappointment of the last evening--his disappointment he ought
to say; for he was sure that he had been the greatest sufferer on the
occasion.
Margaret, knowing very well that he had been dancing, and enjoying
himself all the evening, laughed, and said she was sorry for him.
Lord Raymond, who was just going off, took Harriet on one side, and
seemed to be talking very earnestly to her. Mr. Conway joined Margaret
at the window with the dog, and conversed with her in a very
condescending manner; tried to persuade her to think Donald a great
beauty, and told her how much money the little beast was worth.
While they were thus employed, Mr. Gage came into the drawing-room, and
advanced leisurely to Margaret. He immediately caught sight of Harriet
and Lord Raymond; but he was far too experienced to suffer any vexation
to be traced in his manner. He made the most anxious inquiries after
Miss Capel's health; regretted very much the loss their party had
sustained on the previous night; abused the ball as intolerably stupid;
and tried to persuade Margaret to allow him to drive her out after
luncheon. He hoped now that she had seen how quiet his horses were, she
would feel disposed to trust herself with him. He trusted that Miss
Harriet Conway had inspired Miss Capel with a little of her courage.
Harriet, hearing her own name, turned round, and seeing George Gage,
coloured, waved her hand to him by way of "good morning," and then
renewed her conversation with Lord Raymond. His Lordship did not speak
very fast; and like many people, the more he made up his mind to go, the
farther he was from going. He had to say a great many things which he
was very earnest in delivering, and which made Harriet laugh very much;
and the bystanders would hardly have imagined that the substance of his
narrative was the history of some tulip roots which his sister had paid
a great deal of money for, and which, owing to some carelessness on her
part, had never blossomed at all.
Meantime, while Mr. Gage talked to Margaret of the flower-show, he was
watching every movement and look of Harriet's; and his patience was
going by inches, while he appeared much interested in moss roses and
Neapolitan violets. At last he said to Mr. Conway in a remarkably calm
manner, that considering his sister was an invalid, it occurred to him
that it was hardly prudent to stand out in a high wind without a shawl.
Mr. Conway laughed, said it was true enough; but that Harriet had a will
of her own, and would not thank him if he interrupted her conversation
for the minor consideration of a bonnet and cloak.
"What is that you say of me?" asked Harriet, running up to the window,
having just parted from Lord Raymond. "Here, Hubert, stand out of the
way, you are such giants, you Gage's. Give me my dog, Charles. Now,
Margaret, if you wish to see a beauty--but what were you saying of me?"
"Merely remarking that it would have been unpardonable to break in upon
your tête-à-tête to save you from the chance of another illness. I
ventured to think that you were slightly clad for so cold a wind," said
Mr. Gage, drawing his chair to the fire, as if in proof of the inclement
weather.
"People have no business to think at all upon my proceedings," said
Harriet, carelessly, "Hubert! I wish you would go and get Donald a
little bit of meat on a plate; he ought to have his dinner about this
time of day. My dog is not a dog in the manger," she added; drawing
close to Margaret with Donald in her arms. "How frightened you look. He
does not hear me."
"He will be worth nothing for sport if you nurse and pet him so," said
her brother, "you had much better have a lap-dog."
"Now is not that quite a man's idea?" said Harriet laughing, "if you can
make anything of use to you, well; but you have literally no notion of
companionship. You judge everything by what it would fetch; and why you
ever marry, I cannot think, unless you get some money by the bargain."
"Oh! that is too severe upon my word. Do not you think so?" said Hubert,
turning to Margaret.
"I hope so," said Margaret, "but I have seen too little to judge."
"I cannot think that experience will ever make you judge hardly of
others," said Mr. Gage in a soft voice to Margaret.
"Experience will tell her that to judge truly, is to judge hardly in
five cases out of ten," said Harriet disdainfully.
"Luncheon is ready," exclaimed Hubert, taking Margaret's hand and
hurrying her out of the room, "and a good thing too, for our discussion
was growing rather stormy; and I have no objection to interrupt my
courtier of a brother in his pretty speeches."
Margaret laughed as she took her seat at the table, and said she thought
that pretty speeches ran in the family. She felt now perfectly at her
ease with both brothers; feeling convinced that George was still
attached to Harriet Conway, and that Hubert did not know what it was to
be attached to any body.
"Oh, by the way!" said Hubert, as he drew a chair beside Margaret,
"Haveloc would go off after breakfast. He made many inquiries about you,
and was very sorry, as everybody was, last night. Bread! to be sure, I
beg you a thousand pardons. Now don't starve; it is dreadful to see
women eat so little, it reminds me of that story,--did you ever read the
Arabian Nights?"
"Often," said Margaret, "you mean the story of the Ghoul. I do not mean
to be a Ghoul to-day; you may give me some chicken."
"That's right," said Hubert. "Hallo! here is the Governor with that old
wretch, Casement. How I wish Haveloc was here; he hates the old fellow
so cordially. Don't you?"
"I am glad he is away," said Margaret, "for they always quarrel."
"You are an angel of peace," exclaimed Hubert, gazing at her with
admiration.
"Pray don't be sentimental at luncheon," said Margaret, laughing, "it is
so very inappropriate."
Captain Gage and Mr. Casement now came up to the table. Captain Gage
took a vacant chair on the other side of Margaret; shook hands, and
said a great many kind things to her on her loss of the ball; hoped it
would not be long before there was another in the neighbourhood;
wondered what people were about that they did not give as many dances as
they used to do, and insisted on her drinking a glass of wine. Mr.
Casement stopped short, and taking out his glasses, surveyed everybody
at table with much deliberation; and odious as he was, there was
something in his manner which showed that he had been used to a great
deal of society, and that he held himself on a level with everybody he
met.
"Hallo!" said he, "you have got a party together. How do you manage to
keep them out of mischief; eh, Captain? There is something going on at
your elbow there, as I'm alive. Eh, little woman! Shall I go home and
tell uncle?"
Margaret coloured deeply. Miss Gage shook her head at Mr. Casement.
"Miss Gage, your most devoted," said he, bowing to her. "No, I never
touch anything at this time of day--well, for once, give me a bit of
tongue, little woman. Thank you, Master Hubert."
And not being able to express himself fully, under the kind but
commanding eye of Miss Gage, he was obliged to content himself by making
a face at Hubert and Margaret, which was intended to speak the contents
of a whole valentine.
"And who is that curly-headed thing yonder?" said Mr. Casement pointing
with his glasses to Harriet.
"My niece, Harriet," said Captain Gage, who was so used to hear Harriet
call him uncle, that he forgot at the moment that their relationship was
rather more distant.
"Niece--by Adam's side," said Mr. Casement. "Eh, Captain Gage! it looks
rather suspicious when gentlemen call ladies their nieces--ha! ha!"
"Sir!" said George Gage, staring in his most arrogant manner at Mr.
Casement.
"Eh! you there Master George?" said Mr. Casement. "I thought you could
not get leave; really, when one considers what a farce the service is
now-a-days, one is puzzled to know why you should not get leave, as you
call it, every mother's son of you at once. What are you doing over in
Ireland?"
George Gage seemed very little disposed to give Mr. Casement an answer;
but after staring at him haughtily for a moment, he replied "Nothing."
And then turning to his sister, he asked her some questions about her
plans for the afternoon.
"Do you know, Uncle Gage," said Harriet, "that I am going to stay here a
whole week longer?"
"The longer the better," said Captain Gage. "I wish you were all going
to stay. The house will seem deserted when you are gone."
Lady Conway made some polite reply to this speech, and thanked Miss Gage
for taking charge of Harriet, for she knew they were to have a very gay
week at Wardenscourt, and it was important that Harriet should be
quiet.
George Gage on hearing this announcement, directed his merciless stare
to Harriet in some surprise; for Wardenscourt was Lord Raymond's place,
and it seemed but natural that she should have made an effort to go
there.
Harriet cared nothing for his gaze; she was used to be looked at, and
she did not even seem to perceive that his eyes were upon her; she kept
her eyes on her plate, and a suppressed smile played for an instant on
her cheek, as she said, "Ah! Wardenscourt; they are sure to be really
gay there. It is the only house almost--but I shall have the pleasure of
being with you Bessy."
"Wardenscourt is not far off, fortunately," said George.
Harriet looked up, still smiling.
"No," she said. "I hope Lord Raymond will come over one morning to tell
me about the pointers his keeper is training for Uncle Singleton. Take
care that you remind him, Lucy."
Lucy laughed and coloured. Margaret felt very much inclined to laugh
too.
"It will be worth while for him to come over," said George, "if he
occupies you as profitably as he did this morning."
"How was that, Mr. Gage?" asked Lady Conway.
"The fact is this, mamma," said Harriet hastily, "Mr. Gage having
forgotten my out of door propensities, was astonished to see me standing
on the lawn for a few minutes without my bonnet."
"Oh! pray be careful while we are away, my dear," said Lady Conway. "You
must not take cold."
They were rising. Mr. Gage drew back Harriet's chair; and she, in
passing out, fixed her splendid eyes upon him, and muttered in a
distinct manner, 'Tu me lo pagherai.'
He bowed as if to say, he was willing to make payment at any time.
The ladies remained loitering among the beautiful plants in the hall,
and Elizabeth coming up to Margaret, urged her, in a low voice, to stay
with her as long as Harriet remained at Chirke Weston.
"It will be more cheerful for both of you, and though I do not propose
her as a model for your imitation; you are safe with her, she always
speaks the truth. And your uncle can better spare you now Mr. Haveloc is
with him."
Margaret accepted with much pleasure, and the visitors having now all
dropped off, she began really to enjoy herself. They walked out,
accompanied by George and Hubert over a beautiful country.
Hubert divided his attentions very much between Margaret and the Skye
terrier.
Harriet took her own course, swinging in her hand a little riding-whip
which had a whistle at the end of it, with which she was used to summon
her dog.
George walked with Elizabeth, being out of humour, and thinking very
properly that his sister was created for the especial purpose of
cheering him under the influence of that complaint.
She succeeded in doing so, for her evenness of temper was remarkable.
She agreed that it was a miserable day--that the wind was keen--that it
was very likely to rain--that the ball had been a dull one, and that the
post came in at Chirke Weston at an inconvenient time--and then, (for it
does not answer to agree too much with people,) she qualified his
censures of Lord Raymond, defended her father's black cravats,
maintained there would be a great many people at the flower-show, and
said she had not at all pitied him for being obliged to dance with Lady
Farquhar, though she was fat, and five and forty.
George being a little restored by this time, began to grow confidential.
He told Elizabeth that he was very thankful that things had turned out
as they did between Harriet and him. That he was convinced she had no
heart. That she was very well suited to Lord Raymond, and he had no
doubt but that they would be extremely happy!
He said this in rather an angry tone, and did not look as if he at all
wished that their married life should prove an Elysium; so Elizabeth
changed the subject.
"What do you think of my little friend?" she asked. "You must admire
Margaret."
"Yes," he said. "She is a lovely little creature, but such a mere child,
and so shy; and it is too much to expect that one can take the trouble
to draw a woman out. I should not be surprised if she was to grow a
little taller, which would be an advantage. She dresses well, and her
hand and arm is really a model. I was struck with it immediately. And I
am glad to perceive," he said, directing his glance to Margaret, as she
walked on in front with Hubert and Harriet against a pretty strong
breeze. "I am glad to see that her foot and ancle is equally perfect."
"Well," said Elizabeth smiling. "On the whole, your decision seems to
be favourable."
"Yes, decidedly," said Mr. Gage quite seriously. "I am very well
pleased; for I have not been used to be ashamed of my sister, and I
should care to be ashamed of my sister-in-law; for that I suppose will
be the end of it, Bessy?"
"I shall be very glad if it is so," replied Elizabeth.
"He might do worse," said Mr. Gage. "Sailors are so _inconséquent_. They
often marry the most extraordinary persons--people that one never has
heard of. Miss Capel, however, seems highly respectable. But," he added
in a low tone, "to put that little doll in competition with such a woman
as Harriet! Hubert need not fear me for a rival."
"Very fortunately," said Elizabeth smiling, "it would be dreadful if we
were to have the Theban brothers over again."
"They fought for a crown, not a woman," said Mr. Gage, "being wise men."
"Is Mr. Gage very amusing to you, Bessy?" said Harriet, looking back,
"that you don't come to join our party?"
Elizabeth good-naturedly quickened her steps, and Harriet said aloud to
Margaret, "It is a charity to break in upon their tête-à-tête, for Mr.
Gage has grown so dull, I think he must have caught cold on the race
ground."
Margaret looked frightened, and Mr. Gage pretended not to hear Harriet's
speech.
Margaret was very happy during her stay at Chirke Weston. Hubert Gage
was always paying her compliments which she laughed at, and contriving
all sorts of schemes for her amusement, for which she was much obliged.
She became every day more attached to Elizabeth; she admired her
character, and loved her sweetness; and it was delightful to see the
terms upon which she lived with her father and brothers.
George Gage paid Margaret the most devoted attentions whenever he
wished to pique Harriet, and at other times consigned her to the care of
Hubert, as if he had too much delicacy to interfere with his brother's
pretensions. Fortunately, she found amusement in the society of both
brothers, without allowing their courtesies to penetrate her heart.