THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING.
Deerham could not believe the news. Verner's Pride could not believe it.
Nobody believed it, save Lady Verner, and she was only too thankful to
believe it and hug it. There was nothing surprising in Sibylla's
marrying her cousin Fred, for many had shrewdly suspected that the
favour between them was not altogether cousinly favour; but the surprise
was given to the hasty marriage. Dr. West vouchsafed an explanation. Two
of his daughters, aged respectively one year and two years younger than
Amilly, had each died of consumption, as all Deerham knew. On attaining
her twenty-fifth year, each one had shown rapid symptoms of the disease,
and had lingered but a few weeks. Sibylla was only one-and-twenty yet;
but Dr. West fancied he saw, or said he saw, grounds for fear. It was
known of what value a sea-voyage was in these constitutions; hence his
consent to the departure of Sibylla. Such was the explanation of Dr.
West.
"I wonder whether the stated 'fear of consumption' has been called up by
himself for the occasion?" was the thought that crossed the mind of
Decima Verner. Decima did not believe in Dr. West.
Verner's Pride, like the rest, had been taken by surprise. Mrs. Verner
received the news with equanimity. She had never given Fred a tithe of
the love that John had had, and she did not seem much to care whether he
married Sibylla, or whether he did not--whether he went out to
Australia, or whether he stayed at home. Frederick told her of it in a
very off-hand manner; but he took pains to bespeak the approbation of
Mr. Verner.
"I hope my choice is pleasant to you, sir. That you will cordially
sanction it."
"Whether it is pleasant to me or not, I have no right to say it shall
not be," was the reply of Mr. Verner. "I have never interfered with
you, or with your brother, since you became inmates of my house."
"Do you not like Sibylla, sir?"
"She is a pretty girl. I know nothing against her. I think you might
have chosen worse."
Coldly, very coldly were the words delivered, and there was a strangely
keen expression of anguish on Mr. Verner's face; but that was nothing
unusual now. Frederick Massingbird was content to accept the words as a
sanction of approval.
A few words--I don't mean angry ones--passed between him and Lionel on
the night before the wedding. Lionel had not condescended to speak to
Frederick Massingbird upon the subject at all; Sibylla had refused him
for the other of her own free will; and there he let it rest. But the
evening previous to the marriage day, Lionel appeared strangely
troubled; indecisive, anxious, as if he were debating some question with
himself. Suddenly he went straight up to Frederick Massingbird's
chamber, who was deep in the business of packing, as his unfortunate
brother John had been, not two short years before.
"I wish to speak to you," he began. "I have thought of doing so these
several days past, but have hesitated, for you may dream that it is no
business of mine. However, I cannot get it off my mind that it may be my
duty; and I have come to do it."
Frederick Massingbird was half buried amid piles of things, but he
turned round at this strange address and looked at Lionel.
"Is there _nothing_ on your conscience that should prevent your marrying
that girl?" gravely asked Lionel.
"Do you want her left for yourself?" was Fred's answer, after a
prolonged stare.
Lionel flushed to his very temples. He controlled the hasty retort that
rose to his tongue. "I came here not to speak in any one's interest but
hers. Were she free as air this moment--were she to come to my feet and
say, 'Let me be your wife,' I should tell her that the whole world was
before her to choose from, save myself. She can never again be anything
to me. No. I speak for her alone. She is marrying you in all confidence.
Are you worthy of her?"
"What on earth do you mean?" cried Frederick Massingbird.
"If there be any sin upon your conscience that ought to prevent your
taking her, or any confiding girl, to your heart, as wife, reflect
whether you should ignore it. The consequences may come home later; and
then what would be her position?"
"I have no sin upon my conscience, Poor John, perhaps, had plenty of it.
I do not understand you, Lionel Verner."
"On your sacred word?"
"On my word, and honour, too."
"Then forgive me," was the ready reply of Lionel. And he held out his
hand with frankness to Frederick Massingbird.