Willoughby was fidgeting in and out of the drawing-room, looking at his
watch every five minutes, drawing off and on his gloves, and whistling
out of tune, although his ear was excellent. Alfred was seated in a
corner reading a book, which he said he was anxious to finish, having on
that plea, though in general so obliging, refused to walk out with his
sisters. The fact was, that he was miserably desirous to watch the
movements of Willoughby, and be on the spot to hear from himself the
earliest account of the result of his intended visit at Lady Palliser's.
Willoughby suspected as much, but neither had the courage to speak to
his brother on the subject, though they had the room quite to
themselves, and knew that they enjoyed each other's confidence. At
length Willoughby, after looking at his watch rather longer than usual,
put it abruptly back into his pocket, once more drew on his gloves, but
now so hastily that he deprived one of a thumb; he then took his hat and
smoothed it round and round three several times with the wrist of his
coat, paused irresolutely between each deliberate performance of the
operation, as if intending to say something, and yet at length, without
speaking at all, rushed through one of the French windows which opened
on the lawn, and disappeared. Alfred, as soon as he was alone, raised
his head from his book, and with parted lips held his breath, to listen
for the tread of his brother's foot on the gravel, first in their own
garden, then in the adjoining one. He next heard his knock, and a few
moments after could distinguish, though not the precise words,
Willoughby's voice inquiring, of course, if Lady Palliser were at home.
Lastly he heard the entering step and closing door.
Now it was Alfred's turn to pace up and down the apartment. He did so
with hurried and unequal steps for about ten minutes, then flung himself
on a sofa, and lay perfectly motionless, his eyes vacant of expression,
for their sight was turned inward, where fancy was busily pourtraying
the scene probably passing at the moment in Lady Palliser's
drawing-room--that very room in which he had lately spent so many
blissful hours; in which he had so often yielded to the fatally
fascinating conviction that he was beloved by a heart too innocent to
hide its feelings; that very room in which he had finally been accepted
with seeming confidence, with seeming tenderness; and yet in which but a
few hours after, he had been as capriciously, as unfeelingly rejected;
nay, rejected with the most unequivocal symptoms of personal aversion,
and that without any possible cause being assigned, except the lady's
having, in the mean time, met with and determined to captivate his elder
brother, who was a much richer, and as head of the family, a greater
man. And she had accomplished her end. Willoughby was probably at this
very moment declaring his love! How did Caroline listen? He pictured her
such as she had looked while he had himself spoken; and the most
pitiable agitation overwhelmed him. After the lapse of half an hour he
again heard footsteps on the gravel. He started up--he stood at the
window; he saw Willoughby approaching, his countenance beaming with
satisfaction. How strange were his own sensations; the exquisite pang
instantly checked by the bitterest self-reproach. Was it
possible?--Could he when he beheld the face of his kind, affectionate,
dear brother, expressive of happiness, grieve at the sight?--Oh, for
shame! it was not so--it should not be so--as to his own disappointment,
that had been an ascertained thing long before;--why recur to it now! By
this time Willoughby had entered and grasped his hand. Alfred mastered
his emotion, and cordially returning the pressure of the hand, said with
a forced smile, "I see you have been accepted?"
"I have--it is not however to take place for several months; so Lady
Palliser has invited me in the mean while to stay some time with them in
----shire; and after I have been to Arden, and made all my arrangements
there, I am to join them in Paris, whence we are to proceed through some
parts of Italy and Germany; all previous to--to--the ratification of our
engagement. They will leave Cheltenham, I believe, to-morrow or next
day; but I am to spend this evening with them _en famille_, when I shall
know all their plans."
Fortunately for Alfred, the walking party returned at this moment, which
spared him the painful necessity of either hearing more or speaking at
all, beyond the one warmly expressed ejaculation, "May you be truly
happy!"
Each of the girls was attended by her respective lover; Louisa indeed by
both of hers, and Mrs. Dorothea was chaperon, as she was on all
occasions when Lady Arden felt fatigued; for the young people knew very
well they had only to get about their good-natured aunt and declare they
could not do without her, to make sure of her services.
"What has become of Mr. Cameron?" asked Mrs. Dorothea. Madeline had been
thinking the same question. "Surely he has not slipped away without
bidding us good morning!" continued the old lady, "he came to the door
with us."
The object of their enquiries now made his appearance; he had merely in
passing through the hall slunk behind the party a little to comb up the
side curls; and they had either been more unmanageable than usual, or
their owner had become more than ever anxious about his personal
appearance.
A long luncheon-table was laid in the dining-room, furnished with many
good things which had adorned the supper of the night before; with this
resource, a little flirtation, and a good deal of music--for all the
girls sang and played on various instruments, nothing could be more gay
and agreeable than the party. Even Henry Lindsey was in high good
humour; for Louisa had that morning bestowed on him two smiles for each
one she had vouchsafed Sir James.
Lady Arden, who was never early after a night of raking, joined them in
the midst of their merriment, looking, however, rather serious herself;
for Willoughby had been up to her dressing-room, and had confided to her
his pleasing prospects, and though she could not absolutely grieve at
the happiness of any of her children, she certainly could not help
regretting in this particular instance that Alfred had not been the
successful suitor. Setting aside a peculiar overflow of tenderness for
him as the secret favourite of her heart, she considered that, in a
pecuniary point of view it would have been a most desirable match for
him, while his brother did not require fortune. And then she had watched
Alfred, and had traced, or at least thought she could trace, effort in
his manner, and even in the very tones of his voice a cadence that was
not quite natural. There was something, in short, in the sound, that
made her look at him while he spoke, and pained her, she could not tell
why. He sat opposite to her at the said luncheon-table, and had just
offered to help her to something. She met his eyes and saw that they
rose and fell unsteadily before the enquiring expression of hers. The
first time they were alone, or at least thought themselves so, her
enquiries were so tender that he could no longer act a part. His eyes
filled with tears; ashamed of these he hid his face for a few moments,
then, as if to apologise for his weakness, with a vehement burst of
feeling confessed the ardour of his attachment; the hopes he had been
authorised to entertain--nay, how he had been on the morning of the very
evening on which Willoughby arrived, actually accepted; and then on the
very morning after as absolutely rejected, and from interested motives
he could not doubt; there was no time for preference. And here, he added
some bitter reflections on the misery of being a younger brother, till
his more generous feelings prevailing again he spoke with his usual
affection of Willoughby, and of his chief consolation being in the
thought of his happiness, for the sake of which it was that he had
struggled, and still would struggle to conceal, and ultimately subdue
every feeling of his own.
Geoffery had been all this while laying _perdu_ on a sofa in the
adjoining drawing-room, the folding doors to which were open; he had
therefore heard enough of the foregoing conversation to be tolerably _au
fait_ of the family secrets of which it treated, sufficiently so at
least for a future purpose, of which, however, he was not, indeed could
not be at the time aware. On the philosophical principle, however, that
"knowledge is power," perhaps he thought it as well to have all the
knowledge he could obtain. A knowledge of peoples' affairs does
sometimes, there is no question, place them in our power.
Without therefore announcing his presence he retained his unseen
position till Lady Arden and Alfred had severally quitted the room.