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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9487-8.txt b/9487-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e40b14 --- /dev/null +++ b/9487-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5948 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Fair Barbarian, by Francis Hodgson Burnett + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Fair Barbarian + +Author: Francis Hodgson Burnett + +Posting Date: August 31, 2012 [EBook #9487] +Release Date: December, 2005 +First Posted: October 5, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + + A FAIR BARBARIAN + + BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT + + 1881 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT + + II. "AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY" + + III. L'ARGENTVILLE + + IV. LADY THEOBALD + + V. LUCIA + + VI. ACCIDENTAL + + VII. "I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE" + + VIII. SHARES LOOKING UP + + IX. WHITE MUSLIN + + X. ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD + + XI. A SLIGHT INDISCRETION + + XII. AN INVITATION + + XIII. INTENTIONS + + XIV. A CLERICAL VISIT + + XV. SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES + + XVI. CROQUET + + XVII. ADVANTAGES + + XVIII. CONTRAST + + XIX. AN EXPERIMENT + + XX. PECULIAR TO NEVADA + + XXI. LORD LANSDOWNE + + XXII. "YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER" + + XXIII. "MAY I GO?" + + XXIV. THE GARDEN PARTY + + XXV. "SOMEBODY ELSE" + + XXVI. "JACK" + + + + +A FAIR BARBARIAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT. + + +Slowbridge had been shaken to its foundations. + +It may as well be explained, however, at the outset, that it would not +take much of a sensation to give Slowbridge a great shock. In the first +place, Slowbridge was not used to sensations, and was used to going on +the even and respectable tenor of its way, regarding the outside world +with private distrust, if not with open disfavor. The new mills had been +a trial to Slowbridge,--a sore trial. On being told of the owners' plan +of building them, old Lady Theobald, who was the corner-stone of the +social edifice of Slowbridge, was said, by a spectator, to have turned +deathly pale with rage; and, on the first day of their being opened in +working order, she had taken to her bed, and remained shut up in her +darkened room for a week, refusing to see anybody, and even going so far +as to send a scathing message to the curate of St. James, who called in +fear and trembling, because he was afraid to stay away. + +"With mills and mill-hands," her ladyship announced to Mr. Laurence, the +mill-owner, when chance first threw them together, "with mills and +mill-hands come murder, massacre, and mob law." And she said it so loud, +and with so stern an air of conviction, that the two Misses Briarton, who +were of a timorous and fearful nature, dropped their buttered muffins (it +was at one of the tea-parties which were Slowbridge's only dissipation), +and shuddered hysterically, feeling that their fate was sealed, and that +they might, any night, find three masculine mill-hands secreted under +their beds, with bludgeons. But as no massacres took place, and the +mill-hands were pretty regular in their habits, and even went so far as +to send their children to Lady Theobald's free school, and accepted the +tracts left weekly at their doors, whether they could read or not, +Slowbridge gradually recovered from the shock of finding itself forced to +exist in close proximity to mills, and was just settling itself to +sleep--the sleep of the just--again, when, as I have said, it was shaken +to its foundations. + +It was Miss Belinda Bassett who received the first shock. Miss Belinda +Bassett was a decorous little maiden lady, who lived in a decorous little +house on High Street (which was considered a very genteel street in +Slowbridge). She had lived in the same house all her life, her father had +lived in it, and so also had her grandfather. She had gone out, to take +tea, from its doors two or three times a week, ever since she had been +twenty; and she had had her little tea-parties in its front parlor as +often as any other genteel Slowbridge entertainer. She had risen at +seven, breakfasted at eight, dined at two, taken tea at five, and gone to +bed at ten, with such regularity for fifty years, that to rise at eight, +breakfast at nine, dine at three, and take tea at six, and go to bed at +eleven, would, she was firmly convinced, be but "to fly in the face of +Providence," as she put it, and sign her own death-warrant. Consequently, +it is easy to imagine what a tremor and excitement seized her when, one +afternoon, as she sat waiting for her tea, a coach from the Blue Lion +dashed--or, at least, _almost_ dashed--up to the front door, a young lady +got out, and the next minute the handmaiden, Mary Anne, threw open the +door of the parlor, announcing, without the least preface,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker." + +Miss Belinda got up, feeling that her knees really trembled beneath her. + +In Slowbridge, America was not approved of--in fact, was almost entirely +ignored, as a country where, to quote Lady Theobald, "the laws were +loose, and the prevailing sentiments revolutionary." It was not +considered good taste to know Americans,--which was not unfortunate, as +there were none to know; and Miss Belinda Bassett had always felt a +delicacy in mentioning her only brother, who had emigrated to the United +States in his youth, having first disgraced himself by the utterance of +the blasphemous remark that "he wanted to get to a place where a fellow +could stretch himself, and not be bullied by a lot of old tabbies." From +the day of his departure, when he had left Miss Belinda bathed in tears +of anguish, she had heard nothing of him; and here upon the threshold +stood Mary Anne, with delighted eagerness in her countenance, +repeating,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker!" + +And, with the words, her niece entered. + +Miss Belinda put her hand to her heart. + +The young lady thus announced was the prettiest, and at the same time the +most extraordinary-looking, young lady she had ever seen in her life. +Slowbridge contained nothing approaching this niece. Her dress was so +very stylish that it was quite startling in its effect; her forehead was +covered down to her large, pretty eyes themselves, with curls of +yellow-brown hair; and her slender throat was swathed round and round +with a grand scarf of black lace. + +She made a step forward, and then stopped, looking at Miss Belinda. Her +eyes suddenly, to Miss Belinda's amazement, filled with tears. + +"Didn't you," she said,--"oh, dear! _Didn't_ you get the letter?" + +"The--the letter!" faltered Miss Belinda. "What letter, my--my dear?" + +"Pa's," was the answer. "Oh! I see you didn't." + +And she sank into the nearest chair, putting her hands up to her face, +and beginning to cry outright. + +"I--am Octavia B-bassett," she said. "We were coming to surp-prise you, +and travel in Europe; but the mines went wrong, and p-pa was obliged to +go back to Nevada." + +"The mines?" gasped Miss Belinda. + +"S-silver-mines," wept Octavia. "And we had scarcely landed when Piper +cabled, and pa had to turn back. It was something about shares, and he +may have lost his last dollar." + +Miss Belinda sank into a chair herself. + +"Mary Anne," she said faintly, "bring me a glass of water." + +Her tone was such that Octavia removed her handkerchief from her eyes, +and sat up to examine her. + +"Are you frightened?" she asked, in some alarm. + +Miss Belinda took a sip of the water brought by her handmaiden, replaced +the glass upon the salver, and shook her head deprecatingly. + +"Not exactly frightened, my dear," she said, "but so amazed that I find +it difficult to--to collect myself." + +Octavia put up her handkerchief again to wipe away a sudden new gush of +tears. + +"If shares intended to go down," she said, "I don't see why they couldn't +go down before we started, instead of waiting until we got over here, and +then spoiling every thing." + +"Providence, my dear"--began Miss Belinda. + +But she was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mary Anne. + +"The man from the Lion, mum, wants to know what's to be done with the +trunks. There's six of 'em, an' they're all that 'eavy as he says he +wouldn't lift one alone for ten shilling." + +"Six!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Whose are they?" + +"Mine," replied Octavia. "Wait a minute. I'll go out to him." + +Miss Belinda was astounded afresh by the alacrity with which her niece +seemed to forget her troubles, and rise to the occasion. The girl ran to +the front door as if she was quite used to directing her own affairs, and +began to issue her orders. + +"You will have to get another man," she said. "You might have known that. +Go and get one somewhere." + +And when the man went off, grumbling a little, and evidently rather at a +loss before such peremptory coolness, she turned to Miss Belinda. + +"Where must he put them?" she asked. + +It did not seem to have occurred to her once that her identity might be +doubted, and some slight obstacles arise before her. + +"I am afraid," faltered Miss Belinda, "that five of them will have to be +put in the attic." + +And in fifteen minutes five of them _were_ put into the attic, and the +sixth--the biggest of all--stood in the trim little spare chamber, and +pretty Miss Octavia had sunk into a puffy little chintz-covered +easy-chair, while her newly found relative stood before her, making the +most laudable efforts to recover her equilibrium, and not to feel as if +her head were spinning round and round. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +"AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY." + + +The natural result of these efforts was, that Miss Belinda was moved to +shed a few tears. + +"I hope you will excuse my being too startled to say I was glad to see +you," she said. "I have not seen my brother for thirty years, and I was +very fond of him." + +"He said you were," answered Octavia; "and he was very fond of you too. +He didn't write to you, because he made up his mind not to let you hear +from him until he was a rich man; and then he thought he would wait until +he could come home, and surprise you. He was awfully disappointed when he +had to go back without seeing you." + +"Poor, dear Martin!" wept Miss Belinda gently. "Such a journey!" + +Octavia opened her charming eyes in surprise. + +"Oh, he'll come back again!" she said. "And he doesn't mind the journey. +The journey is nothing, you know." + +"Nothing!" echoed Miss Belinda. "A voyage across the Atlantic nothing? +When one thinks of the danger, my dear"-- + +Octavia's eyes opened a shade wider. + +"We have made the trip to the States, across the Isthmus, twelve times, +and that takes a month," she remarked. "So we don't think ten days much." + +"Twelve times!" said Miss Belinda, quite appalled. "Dear, dear, dear!" + +And for some moments she could do nothing but look at her young relative +in doubtful wonder, shaking her head with actual sadness. + +But she finally recovered herself, with a little start. + +"What am I thinking of," she exclaimed remorsefully, "to let you sit here +in this way? Pray excuse me, my dear. You see I am so upset." + +She left her chair in a great hurry, and proceeded to embrace her young +guest tenderly, though with a little timorousness. The young lady +submitted to the caress with much composure. + +"Did I upset you?" she inquired calmly. + +The fact was, that she could not see why the simple advent of a relative +from Nevada should seem to have the effect of an earthquake, and result +in tremor, confusion, and tears. It was true, she herself had shed a tear +or so, but then her troubles had been accumulating for several days; and +she had not felt confused yet. + +When Miss Belinda went down-stairs to superintend Mary Anne in the +tea-making, and left her guest alone, that young person glanced about her +with a rather dubious expression. + +"It is a queer, nice little place," she said. "But I don't wonder that pa +emigrated, if they always get into such a flurry about little things. I +might have been a ghost." + +Then she proceeded to unlock the big trunk, and attire herself. + +Down-stairs, Miss Belinda was wavering between the kitchen and the +parlor, in a kindly flutter. + +"Toast some muffins, Mary Anne, and bring in the cold roast fowl," she +said. "And I will put out some strawberry-jam, and some of the preserved +ginger. Dear me! Just to think how fond of preserved ginger poor Martin +was, and how little of it he was allowed to eat! There really seems a +special Providence in my having such a nice stock of it in the house when +his daughter comes home." + +In the course of half an hour every thing was in readiness; and then Mary +Anne, who had been sent up-stairs to announce the fact, came down in a +most remarkable state of delighted agitation, suppressed ecstasy and +amazement exclaiming aloud in every feature. + +"She's dressed, mum," she announced, "an' 'll be down immediate," and +retired to a shadowy corner of the kitchen passage, that she might lie in +wait unobserved. + +Miss Belinda, sitting behind the tea-service, heard a soft, flowing, +silken rustle sweeping down the staircase, and across the hall, and then +her niece entered. + +"Don't you think I've dressed pretty quick?" she said, and swept across +the little parlor, and sat down in her place, with the calmest and most +unconscious air in the world. + +There was in Slowbridge but one dressmaking establishment. The head of +the establishment--Miss Letitia Chickie--designed the costumes of every +woman in Slowbridge, from Lady Theobald down. There were legends that she +received her patterns from London, and modified them to suit the +Slowbridge taste. Possibly this was true; but in that case her labors as +modifier must have been severe indeed, since they were so far modified as +to be altogether unrecognizable when they left Miss Chickie's +establishment, and were borne home in triumph to the houses of her +patrons. The taste of Slowbridge was quiet,--upon this Slowbridge prided +itself especially,--and, at the same time, tended toward economy. When +gores came into fashion, Slowbridge clung firmly, and with some pride, to +substantial breadths, which did not cut good silk into useless strips +which could not be utilized in after-time; and it was only when, after a +visit to London, Lady Theobald walked into St. James's one Sunday with +two gores on each side, that Miss Chickie regretfully put scissors into +her first breadth. Each matronly member of good society possessed a +substantial silk gown of some sober color, which gown, having done duty +at two years' tea-parties, descended to the grade of "second-best," and +so descended, year by year, until it disappeared into the dim distance of +the past. The young ladies had their white muslins and natural flowers; +which latter decorations invariably collapsed in the course of the +evening, and were worn during the latter half of any festive occasion in +a flabby and hopeless condition. Miss Chickie made the muslins, +festooning and adorning them after designs emanating from her fertile +imagination. If they were a little short in the body, and not very +generously proportioned in the matter of train, there was no rival +establishment to sneer, and Miss Chickie had it all her own way; and, at +least, it could never be said that Slowbridge was vulgar or overdressed. + +Judge, then, of Miss Belinda Bassett's condition of mind when her fair +relative took her seat before her. + +What the material of her niece's dress was, Miss Belinda could not have +told. It was a silken and soft fabric of a pale blue color; it clung to +the slender, lissome young figure like a glove; a fan-like train of great +length almost covered the hearth-rug; there were plaitings and frillings +all over it, and yards of delicate satin ribbon cut into loops in the +most recklessly extravagant manner. + +Miss Belinda saw all this at the first glance, as Mary Anne had seen it, +and, like Mary Anne, lost her breath; but, on her second glance, she saw +something more. On the pretty, slight hands were three wonderful, +sparkling rings, composed of diamonds set in clusters: there were great +solitaires in the neat little ears, and the thickly-plaited lace at the +throat was fastened by a diamond clasp. + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, clutching helplessly at the teapot, "are +you--surely it is a--a little dangerous to wear such--such priceless +ornaments on ordinary occasions." + +Octavia stared at her for a moment uncomprehendingly. + +"Your jewels, I mean, my love," fluttered Miss Belinda. "Surely you don't +wear them often. I declare, it quite frightens me to think of having such +things in the house." + +"Does it?" said Octavia. "That's queer." + +And she looked puzzled for a moment again. + +Then she glanced down at her rings. + +"I nearly always wear these," she remarked. "Father gave them to me. He +gave me one each birthday for three years. He says diamonds are an +investment, anyway, and I might as well have them. These," touching the +ear-rings and clasp, "were given to my mother when she was on the stage. +A lot of people clubbed together, and bought them for her. She was a +great favorite." + +Miss Belinda made another clutch at the handle of the teapot. + +"Your mother!" she exclaimed faintly. "On the--did you say, on the"-- + +"Stage," answered Octavia. "San Francisco. Father married her there. She +was awfully pretty. I don't remember her. She died when I was born. She +was only nineteen." + +The utter calmness, and freedom from embarrassment, with which these +announcements were made, almost shook Miss Belinda's faith in her own +identity. Strange to say, until this moment she had scarcely given a +thought to her brother's wife; and to find herself sitting in her own +genteel little parlor, behind her own tea-service, with her hand upon her +own teapot, hearing that this wife had been a young person who had been +"a great favorite" upon the stage, in a region peopled, as she had been +led to suppose, by gold-diggers and escaped convicts, was almost too much +for her to support herself under. But she did support herself bravely, +when she had time to rally. + +"Help yourself to some fowl, my dear," she said hospitably, even though +very faintly indeed, "and take a muffin." + +Octavia did so, her over-splendid hands flashing in the light as she +moved them. + +"American girls always have more things than English girls," she +observed, with admirable coolness. "They dress more. I have been told so +by girls who have been in Europe. And I have more things than most +American girls. Father had more money than most people; that was one +reason; and he spoiled me, I suppose. He had no one else to give things +to, and he said I should have every thing I took a fancy to. He often +laughed at me for buying things, but he never said I shouldn't buy them." + +"He was always generous," sighed Miss Belinda. "Poor, dear Martin!" + +Octavia scarcely entered into the spirit of this mournful sympathy. She +was fond of her father, but her recollections of him were not pathetic or +sentimental. + +"He took me with him wherever he went," she proceeded. "And we had a +teacher from the States, who travelled with us sometimes. He never sent +me away from him. I wouldn't have gone if he had wanted to send me--and +he didn't want to," she added, with a satisfied little laugh. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +L'ARGENTVILLE. + + +Miss Belinda sat, looking at her niece, with a sense of being at once +stunned and fascinated. To see a creature so young, so pretty, so +luxuriously splendid, and at the same time so simply and completely at +ease with herself and her surroundings, was a revelation quite beyond her +comprehension. The best-bred and nicest girls Slowbridge could produce +were apt to look a trifle conscious and timid when they found themselves +attired in the white muslin and floral decorations; but this slender +creature sat in her gorgeous attire, her train flowing over the modest +carpet, her rings flashing, her ear-pendants twinkling, apparently +entirely oblivious of, or indifferent to, the fact that all her +belongings were sufficiently out of place to be startling beyond measure. + +Her chief characteristic, however, seemed to be her excessive frankness. +She did not hesitate at all to make the most remarkable statements +concerning her own and her father's past career. She made them, too, as +if there was nothing unusual about them. Twice, in her childhood, a +luckless speculation had left her father penniless; and once he had taken +her to a Californian gold-diggers' camp, where she had been the only +female member of the somewhat reckless community. + +"But they were pretty good-natured, and made a pet of me," she said; +"and we did not stay very long. Father had a stroke of luck, and we +went away. I was sorry when we had to go, and so were the men. They made +me a present of a set of jewelry made out of the gold they had got +themselves. There is a breastpin like a breastplate, and a necklace like +a dog-collar: the bracelets tire my arms, and the ear-rings pull my ears; +but I wear them sometimes--gold girdle and all." + +"Did I," inquired Miss Belinda timidly, "did I understand you to say, my +dear, that your father's business was in some way connected with +silver-mining?" + +"It _is_ silver-mining," was the response. "He owns some mines, you +know"-- + +"Owns?" said Miss Belinda, much fluttered; "owns some silver-mines? He +must be a very rich man,--a very rich man. I declare, it quite takes my +breath away." + +"Oh! he is rich," said Octavia; "awfully rich sometimes. And then again +he isn't. Shares go up, you know; and then they go down, and you don't +seem to have any thing. But father generally comes out right, because he +is lucky, and knows how to manage." + +"But--but how uncertain!" gasped Miss Belinda: "I should be perfectly +miserable. Poor, dear Mar"-- + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't!" said Octavia: "you'd get used to it, and wouldn't +mind much, particularly if you were lucky as father is. There is every +thing in being lucky, and knowing how to manage. When we first went to +Bloody Gulch"-- + +"My dear!" cried Miss Belinda, aghast. "I--I beg of you"-- + +Octavia stopped short: she gazed at Miss Belinda in bewilderment, as she +had done several times before. + +"Is any thing the matter?" she inquired placidly. + +"My dear love," explained Miss Belinda innocently, determined at least to +do her duty, "it is not customary in--in Slowbridge,--in fact, I think I +may say in England,--to use such--such exceedingly--I don't want to wound +your feelings, my dear,--but such exceedingly strong expressions! I +refer, my dear, to the one which began with a B. It is really considered +profane, as well as dreadful beyond measure." + +"'The one which began with a B,'" repeated Octavia, still staring at her. +"That is the name of a place; but I didn't name it, you know. It was +called that, in the first place, because a party of men were surprised +and murdered there, while they were asleep in their camp at night. It +isn't a very nice name, of course, but I'm not responsible for it; and +besides, now the place is growing, they are going to call it Athens or +Magnolia Vale. They tried L'Argentville for a while; but people would +call it Lodginville, and nobody liked it." + +"I trust you never lived there," said Miss Belinda. "I beg your pardon +for being so horrified, but I really could not refrain from starting when +you spoke; and I cannot help hoping you never lived there." + +"I live there now, when I am at home," Octavia replied. "The mines are +there; and father has built a house, and had the furniture brought on +from New York." + +Miss Belinda tried not to shudder, but almost failed. + +"Won't you take another muffin, my love?" she said, with a sigh. "Do take +another muffin." + +"No, thank you," answered Octavia; and it must be confessed that she +looked a little bored, as she leaned back in her chair, and glanced down +at the train of her dress. It seemed to her that her simplest statement +or remark created a sensation. + +Having at last risen from the tea-table, she wandered to the window, and +stood there, looking out at Miss Belinda's flower-garden. It was quite a +pretty flower-garden, and a good-sized one considering the dimensions of +the house. There were an oval grass-plot, divers gravel paths, heart and +diamond shaped beds aglow with brilliant annuals, a great many +rose-bushes, several laburnums and lilacs, and a trim hedge of holly +surrounding it. + +"I think I should like to go out and walk around there," remarked +Octavia, smothering a little yawn behind her hand. "Suppose we go--if you +don't care." + +"Certainly, my dear," assented Miss Belinda. "But perhaps," with a +delicately dubious glance at her attire, "you would like to make some +little alteration in your dress--to put something a little--dark over +it." + +Octavia glanced down also. + +"Oh, no!" she replied: "it will do well enough. I will throw a scarf over +my head, though; not because I need it," unblushingly, "but because I +have a lace one that is very becoming." + +She went up to her room for the article in question, and in three minutes +was down again. When she first caught sight of her, Miss Belinda found +herself obliged to clear her throat quite suddenly. What Slowbridge would +think of seeing such a toilet in her front garden, upon an ordinary +occasion, she could not imagine. The scarf truly was becoming. It was a +long affair of rich white lace, and was thrown over the girl's head, +wound around her throat, and the ends tossed over her shoulders, with the +most picturesque air of carelessness in the world. + +"You look quite like a bride, my dear Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "We +are scarcely used to such things in Slowbridge." + +But Octavia only laughed a little. + +"I am going to get some pink roses, and fasten the ends with them, when +we get into the garden," she said. + +She stopped for this purpose at the first rose-bush they reached. She +gathered half a dozen slender-stemmed, heavy-headed buds, and, having +fastened the lace with some, was carelessly placing the rest at her +waist, when Miss Belinda started violently. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LADY THEOBALD. + + +"Oh, dear!" she exclaimed nervously, "there is Lady Theobald." + +Lady Theobald, having been making calls of state, was returning home +rather later than usual, when, in driving up High Street, her eye fell +upon Miss Bassett's garden. She put up her eyeglasses, and gazed through +them severely; then she issued a mandate to her coachman. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive more slowly." + +She could not believe the evidence of her own eyeglasses. In Miss +Bassett's garden she saw a tall girl, "dressed," as she put it, "like an +actress," her delicate dress trailing upon the grass, a white lace scarf +about her head and shoulders, roses in that scarf, roses at her waist. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed: "is Belinda Bassett giving a party, +without so much as mentioning it to _me_?" + +Then she issued another mandate. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive faster, and drive me to Miss Bassett's." + +Miss Belinda came out to the gate to meet her, quaking inwardly. Octavia +simply turned slightly where she stood, and looked at her ladyship, +without any pretence of concealing her curiosity. + +Lady Theobald bent forward in her landau. + +"Belinda," she said, "how do you do? I did not know you intended to +introduce garden-parties into Slowbridge." + +"Dear Lady Theobald"--began Miss Belinda. + +"Who is that young person?" demanded her ladyship. + +"She is poor dear Martin's daughter," answered Miss Belinda. "She arrived +to-day--from Nevada, where--where it appears Martin has been very +fortunate, and owns a great many silver-mines"-- + +"A 'great many' silver-mines!" cried Lady Theobald. "Are you mad, Belinda +Bassett? I am ashamed of you. At your time of life too!" + +Miss Belinda almost shed tears. + +"She said 'some silver-mines,' I am sure," she faltered; "for I remember +how astonished and bewildered I was. The fact is, that she is such a very +singular girl, and has told me so many wonderful things, in the +strangest, cool way, that I am quite uncertain of myself. Murderers, and +gold-diggers, and silver-mines, and camps full of men without women, +making presents of gold girdles and dog-collars, and ear-rings that drag +your ears down. It is enough to upset any one." + +"I should think so," responded her ladyship. "Open the carriage-door, +Belinda, and let me get out." + +She felt that this matter must be inquired into at once, and not allowed +to go too far. She had ruled Slowbridge too long to allow such +innovations to remain uninvestigated. She would not be likely to be +"upset," at least. She descended from her landau, with her most rigorous +air. Her stout, rich black _moire-antique_ gown rustled severely; the +yellow ostrich feather in her bonnet waved majestically. (Being a +brunette, and Lady Theobald, she wore yellow.) As she tramped up the +gravel walk, she held up her dress with both hands, as an example to +vulgar and reckless young people who wore trains and left them to +take care of themselves. Octavia was arranging afresh the bunch of +long-stemmed, swaying buds at her waist, and she was giving all her +attention to her task when her visitor first addressed her. + +"How do you do?" remarked her ladyship, in a fine, deep voice. + +Miss Belinda followed her meekly. + +"Octavia," she explained, "this is Lady Theobald, whom you will be very +glad to know. She knew your father." + +"Yes," returned my lady, "years ago. He has had time to improve since +then. How do you do?" + +Octavia's limpid eyes rested serenely upon her. + +"How do you do?" she said, rather indifferently. + +"You are from Nevada?" asked Lady Theobald. + +"Yes." + +"It is not long since you left there?" + +Octavia smiled faintly. + +"Do I look like that?" she inquired. + +"Like what?" said my lady. + +"As if I had not long lived in a civilized place. I dare say I do, +because it is true that I haven't." + +"You don't look like an English girl," remarked her ladyship. + +Octavia smiled again. She looked at the yellow feather and stout _moire +antique_ dress, but quite as if by accident, and without any mental +deduction; then she glanced at the rosebuds in her hand. + +"I suppose I ought to be sorry for that," she observed. "I dare say I +shall be in time--when I have been longer away from Nevada." + +"I must confess," admitted her ladyship, and evidently without the +least regret or embarrassment, "I must confess that I don't know where +Nevada is." + +"It isn't in Europe," replied Octavia, with a soft, light laugh. "You +know that, don't you?" + +The words themselves sounded to Lady Theobald like the most outrageous +impudence; but when she looked at the pretty, lovelock-shaded face, she +was staggered the look it wore was such a very innocent and undisturbed +one. At the moment, the only solution to be reached seemed to be that +this was the style of young people in Nevada, and that it was ignorance +and not insolence she had to do battle with--which, indeed, was +partially true. + +"I have not had any occasion to inquire where it is situated, so far," +she responded firmly. "It is not so necessary for English people to know +America as it is for Americans to know England." + +"Isn't it?" said Octavia, without any great show of interest. "Why not?" + +"For--for a great many reasons it would be fatiguing to explain," she +answered courageously. "How is your father?" + +"He is very sea-sick now," was the smiling answer,--"deadly sea-sick. He +has been out just twenty-four hours." + +"Out? What does that mean?" + +"Out on the Atlantic. He was called back suddenly, and obliged to leave +me. That is why I came here alone." + +"Pray do come into the parlor, and sit down, dear Lady Theobald," +ventured Miss Belinda. "Octavia"-- + +"Don't you think it is nicer out here?" said Octavia. + +"My dear," answered Miss Belinda. "Lady Theobald"--She was really quite +shocked. + +"Ah!" interposed Octavia. "I only thought it was cooler." + +She preceded them, without seeming to be at all conscious that she was +taking the lead. + +"You had better pick up your dress, Miss Octavia," said Lady Theobald +rather acidly. + +The girl glanced over her shoulder at the length of train sweeping the +path, but she made no movement toward picking it up. + +"It is too much trouble, and one has to duck down so," she said. "It is +bad enough to have to keep doing it when one is on the street. Besides, +they would never wear out if one took too much care of them." + +When they went into the parlor, and sat down, Lady Theobald made +excellent use of her time, and managed to hear again all that had tried +and bewildered Miss Belinda. She had no hesitation in asking questions +boldly; she considered it her privilege to do so: she had catechised +Slowbridge for forty years, and meant to maintain her rights until Time +played her the knave's trick of disabling her. + +In half an hour she had heard about the silver-mines, the gold-diggers, +and L'Argentville; she knew that Martin Bassett was a millionnaire, if +the news he had heard had not left him penniless; that he would return to +England, and visit Slowbridge, as soon as his affairs were settled. The +precarious condition of his finances did not seem to cause Octavia much +concern. She had asked no questions when he went away, and seemed quite +at ease regarding the future. + +"People will always lend him money, and then he is lucky with it," she +said. + +She bore the catechising very well. Her replies were frequently rather +trying to her interlocutor, but she never seemed troubled, or ashamed of +any thing she had to say; and she wore, from first to last, that +inscrutably innocent and indifferent little air. + +She did not even show confusion when Lady Theobald, on going away, made +her farewell comment:-- + +"You are a very fortunate girl to own such jewels," she said, glancing +critically at the diamonds in her ears; "but if you take my advice, my +dear, you will put them away, and save them until you are a married +woman. It is not customary, on this side of the water, for young girls to +wear such things--particularly on ordinary occasions. People will think +you are odd." + +"It is not exactly customary in America," replied Octavia, with her +undisturbed smile. "There are not many girls who have such things. +Perhaps they would wear them if they had them. I don't care a very great +deal about them, but I mean to wear them." + +Lady Theobald went away in a dudgeon. + +"You will have to exercise your authority, Belinda, and _make_ her put +them away," she said to Miss Bassett. "It is absurd--besides being +atrocious." + +"Make her!" faltered Miss Bassett. + +"Yes, 'make her'--though I see you will have your hands full. I never +heard such romancing stories in my life. It is just what one might expect +from your brother Martin." + +When Miss Bassett returned, Octavia was standing before the window, +watching the carriage drive away, and playing absently with one of her +ear-rings as she did so. + +"What an old fright she is!" was her first guileless remark. + +Miss Belinda quite bridled. + +"My dear," she said, with dignity, "no one in Slowbridge would think of +applying such a phrase to Lady Theobald." + +Octavia turned around, and looked at her. + +"But don't you think she is one?" she exclaimed. "Perhaps I oughtn't to +have said it; but you know we haven't any thing as bad as that, even out +in Nevada--really!" + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, "different countries contain different +people; and in Slowbridge _we_ have our standards,"--her best cap +trembling a little with her repressed excitement. + +But Octavia did not appear overwhelmed by the existence of the standards +in question. She turned to the window again. + +"Well, anyway," she said, "I think it was pretty cool in her to order me +to take off my diamonds, and save them until I was married. How does she +know whether I mean to be married, or not? I don't know that I care +about it." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LUCIA. + + +In this manner Slowbridge received the shock which shook it to +its foundations, and it was a shock from which it did not recover for +some time. Before ten o'clock the next morning, everybody knew of the +arrival of Martin Bassett's daughter. + +The very boarding-school (Miss Pilcher's select seminary for young +ladies, "combining the comforts of a home," as the circular said, +"with all the advantages of genteel education") was on fire with it, +highly colored versions of the stories told being circulated from +the "first class" downward, even taking the form of an Indian princess, +tattooed blue, and with difficulty restrained from indulging in +war-whoops,--which last feature so alarmed little Miss Bigbee, aged +seven, that she retired in fear and trembling, and shed tears under the +bedclothes; her terror and anguish being much increased by the stirring +recitals of scalping-stories by pretty Miss Phipps, of the first +class--a young person who possessed a vivid imagination, and delighted in +romances of a tragic turn. + +"I have not the slightest doubt," said Miss Phipps, "that when she is at +home she lives in a wampum." + +"What is a wampum?" inquired one of her admiring audience. + +"A tent," replied Miss Phipps, with some impatience. "I should +think any goose would know that. It is a kind of tent hung with +scalps and--and--moccasins, and--lariats--and things of that sort." + +"I don't believe that is the right name for it," put in Miss Smith, who +was a pert member of the third class. + +"Ah!" commented Miss Phipps, "that was Miss Smith who spoke, of course. +We may always expect information from Miss Smith. I trust that I may be +allowed to say that I _think_ I _have_ a brother"-- + +"He doesn't know much about it, if he calls a wigwam a wampum," +interposed Miss Smith, with still greater pertness. "I have a brother who +knows better than that, if I am only in the third class." For a moment +Miss Phipps appeared to be meditating. Perhaps she was a trifle +discomfited; but she recovered herself after a brief pause, and returned +to the charge. + +"Well," she remarked, "perhaps it is a wigwam. Who cares if it is? And +at any rate, whatever it is, I haven't the slightest doubt that she +lives in one." + +This comparatively tame version was, however, entirely discarded when the +diamonds and silver-mines began to figure more largely in the reports. +Certainly, pretty, overdressed, jewel-bedecked Octavia gave Slowbridge +abundant cause for excitement. + +After leaving her, Lady Theobald drove home to Oldclough Hall, rather +out of humor. She had been rather out of humor for some time, having +never quite recovered from her anger at the daring of that cheerful +builder of mills, Mr. John Burmistone. Mr. Burmistone had been one +innovation, and Octavia Bassett was another. She had not been able to +manage Mr. Burmistone, and she was not at all sure that she had managed +Octavia Bassett. + +She entered the dining-room with an ominous frown on her forehead. + +At the end of the table, opposite her own seat, was a vacant chair, and +her frown deepened when she saw it. + +"Where is Miss Gaston?" she demanded of the servant. + +Before the man had time to reply, the door opened, and a girl came in +hurriedly, with a somewhat frightened air. + +"I beg pardon, grandmamma dear," she said, going to her seat quickly. "I +did not know you had come home." + +"We have a dinner-hour," announced her ladyship, "and _I_ do not +disregard it." + +"I am very sorry," faltered the culprit. + +"That is enough, Lucia," interrupted Lady Theobald; and Lucia dropped her +eyes, and began to eat her soup with nervous haste. In fact, she was glad +to escape so easily. + +She was a very pretty creature, with brown eyes, a soft white skin, and +a slight figure with a reed-like grace. A great quantity of brown hair +was twisted into an ugly coil on the top of her delicate little head; +and she wore an ugly muslin gown of Miss Chickie's make. For some time +the meal progressed in dead silence; but at length Lucia ventured to +raise her eyes. + +"I have been walking in Slowbridge, grandmamma," she said, "and I met Mr. +Burmistone, who told me that Miss Bassett has a visitor--a young lady +from America." + +Lady Theobald laid her knife and fork down deliberately. + +"Mr. Burmistone?" she said. "Did I understand you to say that you stopped +on the roadside to converse with Mr. Burmistone?" + +Lucia colored up to her delicate eyebrows and above them. + +"I was trying to reach a flower growing on the bank," she said, "and he +was so kind as to stop to get it for me. I did not know he was near at +first. And then he inquired how you were--and told me he had just heard +about the young lady." + +"Naturally!" remarked her ladyship sardonically. "It is as I anticipated +it would be. We shall find Mr. Burmistone at our elbows upon all +occasions. And he will not allow himself to be easily driven away. He is +as determined as persons of his class usually are." + +"O grandmamma!" protested Lucia, with innocent fervor. "I really do not +think he is--like that at all. I could not help thinking he was very +gentlemanly and kind. He is so much interested in your school, and so +anxious that it should prosper." + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, "how long a time this generous +expression of his sentiments occupied? Was this the reason of your +forgetting the dinner-hour?" + +"We did not"--said Lucia guiltily: "it did not take many minutes. I--I do +not think that made me late." + +Lady Theobald dismissed this paltry excuse with one remark,--a remark +made in the deep tones referred to once before. + +"I should scarcely have expected," she observed, "that a granddaughter of +mine would have spent half an hour conversing on the public road with the +proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, the tears rising in her eyes: "it was +not half an hour." + +"I should scarcely have expected," replied her ladyship, "that a +granddaughter of mine would have spent five minutes conversing on the +public road with the proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +To this assault there seemed to be no reply to make. Lady Theobald had +her granddaughter under excellent control. Under her rigorous rule, the +girl--whose mother had died at her birth--had been brought up. At +nineteen she was simple, sensitive, shy. She had been permitted to have +no companions, and the greatest excitements of her life had been the +Slowbridge tea-parties. Of the late Sir Gilbert Theobald, the less said +the better. He had spent very little of his married life at Oldclough +Hall, and upon his death his widow had found herself possessed of a +substantial, gloomy mansion, an exalted position in Slowbridge society, +and a small marriage-settlement, upon which she might make all the +efforts she chose to sustain her state. So Lucia wore her dresses a much +longer time than any other Slowbridge young lady: she was obliged to mend +her little gloves again and again; and her hats were retrimmed so often +that even Slowbridge thought them old-fashioned. But she was too simple +and sweet-natured to be much troubled, and indeed thought very little +about the matter. She was only troubled when Lady Theobald scolded her, +which was by no means infrequently. Perhaps the straits to which, at +times, her ladyship was put to maintain her dignity imbittered her +somewhat. + +"Lucia is neither a Theobald nor a Barold," she had been heard to say +once, and she had said it with much rigor. + +A subject of much conversation in private circles had been Lucia's +future. It had been discussed in whispers since her seventeenth year, but +no one had seemed to approach any solution of the difficulty. Upon the +subject of her plans for her granddaughter, Lady Theobald had preserved +stern silence. Once, and once only, she had allowed herself to be +betrayed into the expression of a sentiment connected with the matter. + +"If Miss Lucia marries"--a matron of reckless proclivities had remarked. + +Lady Theobald turned upon her, slowly and majestically. + +"_If_ Miss Gaston marries," she repeated. "Does it seem likely that Miss +Gaston will _not_ marry?" + +This settled the matter finally. Lucia was to be married when Lady +Theobald thought fit. So far, however, she had not thought fit: indeed, +there had been nobody for Lucia to marry,--nobody whom her grandmother +would have allowed her to marry, at least. There were very few young men +in Slowbridge; and the very few were scarcely eligible according to Lady +Theobald's standard, and--if such a thing should be mentioned--to +Lucia's, if she had known she had one, which she certainly did not. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ACCIDENTAL. + + +When dinner was over, Lady Theobald rose, and proceeded to the +drawing-room, Lucia following in her wake. From her very babyhood Lucia +had disliked the drawing-room, which was an imposing apartment of great +length and height, containing much massive furniture, upholstered in +faded blue satin. All the girl's evenings, since her fifth year, had been +spent sitting opposite her grandmother, in one of the straightest of the +blue chairs: all the most scathing reproofs she had received had been +administered to her at such times. She had a secret theory, indeed, that +all unpleasant things occurred in the drawing-room after dinner. + +Just as they had seated themselves, and Lady Theobald was on the point of +drawing toward her the little basket containing the gray woollen mittens +she made a duty of employing herself by knitting each evening, Dobson, +the coachman, in his character of footman, threw open the door, and +announced a visitor. + +"Capt. Barold." + +Lady Theobald dropped her gray mitten, the steel needles falling upon the +table with a clink. She rose to her feet at once, and met half-way the +young man who had entered. + +"My dear Francis," she remarked, "I am exceedingly glad to see you at +last," with a slight emphasis upon the "at last." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold, rather languidly. "You're very good, I'm +sure." + +Then he glanced at Lucia, and Lady Theobald addressed her:-- + +"Lucia," she said, "this is Francis Barold, who is your cousin." + +Capt. Barold shook hands feebly. + +"I have been trying to find out whether it is third or fourth," he said. + +"It is third," said my lady. + +Lucia had never seen her display such cordiality to anybody. But Capt. +Francis Barold did not seem much impressed by it. It struck Lucia that he +would not be likely to be impressed by any thing. He seated himself near +her grandmother's chair, and proceeded to explain his presence on the +spot, without exhibiting much interest even in his own relation of facts. + +"I promised the Rathburns that I would spend a week at their place; and +Slowbridge was on the way, so it occurred to me I would drop off in +passing. The Rathburns' place, Broadoaks, is about ten miles farther on; +not far, you see." + +"Then," said Lady Theobald, "I am to understand that your visit is +accidental." + +Capt. Barold was not embarrassed. He did not attempt to avoid her +ladyship's rather stern eye, as he made his cool reply. + +"Well, yes," he said. "I beg pardon, but it is accidental, rather." + +Lucia gave him a pretty, frightened look, as if she felt that, after such +an audacious confession, something very serious must happen; but nothing +serious happened at all. Singularly enough, it was Lady Theobald herself +who looked ill at ease, and as though she had not been prepared for such +a contingency. + +During the whole of the evening, in fact, it was always Lady Theobald +who was placed at a disadvantage, Lucia discovered. She could hardly +realize the fact at first; but before an hour had passed, its truth was +forced upon her. + +Capt. Barold was a very striking-looking man, upon the whole. He was +large, gracefully built, and fair: his eyes were gray, and noticeable for +the coldness of their expression, his features regular and aquiline, his +movements leisurely. + +As he conversed with her grandmother, Lucia wondered at him privately. It +seemed to her innocent mind that he had been everywhere, and seen every +thing and everybody, without caring for or enjoying his privileges. The +truth was, that he had seen and experienced a great deal too much. As an +only child, the heir to a large property, and heir prospective to one of +the oldest titles in the country, he had exhausted life early. He saw in +Lady Theobald, not the imposing head and social front of Slowbridge +social life, the power who rewarded with approval and punished with a +frown, but a tiresome, pretentious old woman, whom his mother had asked +him, for some feminine reason, to visit. "She feels she has a claim upon +us, Francis," she had said appealingly. + +"Well," he had remarked, "that is rather deuced cool, isn't it? We have +people enough on our hands without cultivating Slowbridge, you know." + +His mother sighed faintly. + +"It is true we have a great many people to consider; but I wish you would +do it, my dear." + +She did not say any thing at all about Lucia: above all, she did not +mention that a year ago she herself had spent two or three days at +Slowbridge, and had been charmed beyond measure by the girl's innocent +freshness, and that she had said, rather absently, to Lady Theobald,-- + +"What a charming wife Lucia would make for a man to whom gentleness and a +yielding disposition were necessary! We do not find such girls in society +nowadays, my dear Lady Theobald. It is very difficult of late years to +find a girl who is not spoken of as 'fast,' and who is not disposed to +take the reins in her own hands. Our young men are flattered and courted +until they become a little dictatorial, and our girls are spoiled at +home. And the result is a great deal of domestic unhappiness +afterward--and even a great deal of scandal, which is dreadful to +contemplate. I cannot help feeling the greatest anxiety in secret +concerning Francis. Young men so seldom consider these matters until it +is too late." + +"Girls are not trained as they were in my young days, or even in yours," +said Lady Theobald. "They are allowed too much liberty. Lucia has been +brought up immediately under my own eye." + +"I feel that it is fortunate," remarked Mrs. Barold, quite incidentally, +"that Francis need not make a point of money." + +For a few moments Lady Theobald did not respond; but afterward, in the +course of the conversation which followed, she made an observation which +was, of course, purely incidental. + +"If Lucia makes a marriage which pleases her great-uncle, old Mr. Dugald +Binnie, of Glasgow, she will be a very fortunate girl. He has intimated, +in his eccentric fashion, that his immense fortune will either be hers, +or will be spent in building charitable asylums of various kinds. He is a +remarkable and singular man." + +When Capt. Barold had entered his distinguished relative's drawing-room, +he had not regarded his third cousin with a very great deal of interest. +He had seen too many beauties in his thirty years to be greatly moved by +the sight of one; and here was only a girl who had soft eyes, and looked +young for her age, and who wore an ugly muslin gown, that most girls +could not have carried off at all. + +"You have spent the greater part of your life in Slowbridge?" he +condescended to say in the course of the evening. + +"I have lived here always," Lucia answered. "I have never been away more +than a week at a time." + +"Ah?" interrogatively. "I hope you have not found it dull." + +"No," smiling a little. "Not very. You see, I have known nothing gayer." + +"There is society enough of a harmless kind here," spoke up Lady Theobald +virtuously. "I do not approve of a round of gayeties for young people: it +unfits them for the duties of life." + +But Capt. Barold was not as favorably impressed by these remarks as might +have been anticipated. + +"What an old fool she is!" was his polite inward comment. And he resolved +at once to make his visit as brief as possible, and not to be induced to +run down again during his stay at Broadoaks. He did not even take the +trouble to appear to enjoy his evening. From his earliest infancy, he had +always found it easier to please himself than to please other people. In +fact, the world had devoted itself to endeavoring to please him, and win +his--toleration, we may say, instead of admiration, since it could not +hope for the latter. At home he had been adored rapturously by a large +circle of affectionate male and female relatives; at school his tutors +had been singularly indulgent of his faults and admiring of his talents; +even among his fellow-pupils he had been a sort of autocrat. + +Why not, indeed, with such birthrights and such prospects? When he had +entered society, he had met with even more amiable treatment from +affectionate mothers, from innocent daughters, from cordial paternal +parents, who voted him an exceedingly fine fellow. Why should he bore +himself by taking the trouble to seem pleased by a stupid evening with an +old grenadier in petticoats and a badly dressed country girl? + +Lucia was very glad when, in answer to a timidly appealing glance, Lady +Theobald said,-- + +"It is half-past ten. You may wish us good-night, Lucia." + +Lucia obeyed, as if she had been half-past ten herself, instead of nearly +twenty; and Barold was not long in following her example. + +Dobson led him to a stately chamber at the top of the staircase, and left +him there. The captain chose the largest and most luxurious chair, sat +down in it, and lighted a cigar at his leisure. + +"Confoundedly stupid hole!" he said with a refined vigor one would +scarcely have expected from an individual of his birth and breeding. "I +shall leave to-morrow, of course. What was my mother thinking of? Stupid +business from first to last." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +"I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE." + + +When he announced at breakfast his intention of taking his departure on +the midday train, Lucia wondered again what would happen; and again, to +her relief, Lady Theobald was astonishingly lenient. + +"As your friends expect you, of course we cannot overrule them," she +said. "We will, however, hope to see something of you during your stay at +Broadoaks. It will be very easy for you to run down and give us a few +hours now and then." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold. + +He was decently civil, if not enthusiastic, during the few remaining +hours of his stay. He sauntered through the grounds with Lucia, who took +charge of him in obedience to her grandmother's wish. He did not find her +particularly troublesome when she was away from her ladyship's side. When +she came out to him in her simple cotton gown and straw hat, it occurred +to him that she was much prettier than he had thought her at first. For +economical reasons she had made the little morning-dress herself, without +the slightest regard for the designs of Miss Chickie; and as it was not +trimmed at all, and had only a black-velvet ribbon at the waist, there +was nothing to place her charming figure at a disadvantage. It could not +be said that her shyness and simplicity delighted Capt. Barold, but, at +least, they did not displease him; and this was really as much as could +be expected. + +"She does not expect a fellow to exert himself, at all events," was his +inward comment; and he did not exert himself. + +But, when on the point of taking his departure, he went so far as to make +a very gracious remark to her. + +"I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you in London for a season, +before very long," he said: "my mother will have great pleasure in taking +charge of you, if Lady Theobald cannot be induced to leave Slowbridge." + +"Lucia never goes from home alone," said Lady Theobald; "but I should +certainly be obliged to call upon your mother for her good offices, in +the case of our spending a season in London. I am too old a woman to +alter my mode of life altogether." + +In obedience to her ladyship's orders, the venerable landau was brought +to the door; and the two ladies drove to the station with him. + +It was during this drive that a very curious incident occurred,--an +incident to which, perhaps, this story owes its existence, since, if it +had not taken place, there might, very possibly, have been no events of a +stirring nature to chronicle. Just as Dobson drove rather slowly up the +part of High Street distinguished by the presence of Miss Belinda +Bassett's house, Capt. Barold suddenly appeared to be attracted by some +figure he discovered in the garden appertaining to that modest structure. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed, in an undertone, "there is Miss Octavia." + +For the moment he was almost roused to a display of interest. A faint +smile lighted his face, and his cold, handsome eyes slightly brightened. + +Lady Theobald sat bolt upright. + +"That is Miss Bassett's niece, from America," she said. "Do I understand +you know her?" + +Capt. Barold turned to confront her, evidently annoyed at having allowed +a surprise to get the better of him. All expression died out of his face. + +"I travelled with her from Framwich to Stamford," he said. "I suppose we +should have reached Slowbridge together, but that I dropped off at +Stamford to get a newspaper, and the train left me behind." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, who had turned to look, "how very pretty +she is!" + +Miss Octavia certainly was amazingly so this morning. She was standing by +a rosebush again, and was dressed in a cashmere morning-robe of the +finest texture and the faintest pink: it had a Watteau plait down the +back, _jabot_ of lace down the front, and the close, high frills of lace +around the throat which seemed to be a weakness with her. Her hair was +dressed high upon her head, and showed to advantage her little ears and +as much of her slim white neck as the frills did not conceal. + +But Lady Theobald did not share Lucia's enthusiasm. + +"She looks like an actress," she said. "If the trees were painted canvas +and the roses artificial, one might have some patience with her. That +kind of thing is scarcely what we expect in Slowbridge." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"I had the pleasure of meeting her yesterday, not long after she +arrived," she said. "She had diamonds in her ears as big as peas, and +rings to match. Her manner is just what one might expect from a young +woman brought up among gold-diggers and silver-miners." + +"It struck me as being a very unique and interesting manner," said Capt. +Barold. "It is chiefly noticeable for a _sang-froid_ which might be +regarded as rather enviable. She was good enough to tell me all about her +papa and the silver-mines, and I really found the conversation +entertaining." + +"It is scarcely customary for English young women to confide in their +masculine travelling companions to such an extent," remarked my lady +grimly. + +"She did not confide in me at all," said Barold. "Therein lay her +attraction. One cannot submit to being 'confided in' by a strange young +woman, however charming. This young lady's remarks were flavored solely +with an adorably cool candor. She evidently did not desire to appeal to +any emotion whatever." + +And as he leaned back in his seat, he still looked at the picturesque +figure which they had passed, as if he would not have been sorry to see +it turn its head toward him. + +In fact, it seemed that, notwithstanding his usual good fortune, Capt. +Barold was doomed this morning to make remarks of a nature objectionable +to his revered relation. On their way they passed Mr. Burmistone's mill, +which was at work in all its vigor, with a whir and buzz of machinery, +and a slight odor of oil in its surrounding atmosphere. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Barold, putting his single eyeglass into his eye, and +scanning it after the manner of experts. "I did not think you had any +thing of that sort here. Who put it up?" + +"The man's name," replied Lady Theobald severely, "is Burmistone." + +"Pretty good idea, isn't it?" remarked Barold. "Good for the place--and +all that sort of thing." + +"To my mind," answered my lady, "it is the worst possible thing which +could have happened." + +Mr. Francis Barold dropped his eyeglass dexterously, and at once lapsed +into his normal condition--which was a condition by no means favorable +to argument. + +"Think so?" he said slowly. "Pity, isn't it, under the circumstances?" + +And really there was nothing at all for her ladyship to do but preserve a +lofty silence. She had scarcely recovered herself when they reached the +station, and it was necessary to say farewell as complacently as +possible. + +"We will hope to see you again before many days," she said with dignity, +if not with warmth. + +Mr. Francis Barold was silent for a second, and a slightly reflective +expression flitted across his face. + +"Thanks, yes," he said at last. "Certainly. It is easy to come down, and +I should like to see more of Slowbridge." + +When the train had puffed in and out of the station, and Dobson was +driving down High Street again, her ladyship's feelings rather got the +better of her. + +"If Belinda Bassett is a wise woman," she remarked, "she will take my +advice, and get rid of this young lady as soon as possible. It appears to +me," she continued, with exalted piety, "that every well-trained English +girl has reason to thank her Maker that she was born in a civilized +land." + +"Perhaps," suggested Lucia softly, "Miss Octavia Bassett has had no one +to train her at all; and it may be that--that she even feels it deeply." + +The feathers in her ladyship's bonnet trembled. + +"She does not feel it at all!" she announced. "She is an +impertinent--minx!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SHARES LOOKING UP. + + +There were others who echoed her ladyship's words afterward, though they +echoed them privately, and with more caution than my lady felt necessary. +It is certain that Miss Octavia Bassett did not improve as time +progressed, and she had enlarged opportunities for studying the noble +example set before her by Slowbridge. + +On his arrival in New York, Martin Bassett telegraphed to his daughter +and sister, per Atlantic cable, informing them that he might be detained +a couple of months, and bidding them to be of good cheer. The arrival of +the message in its official envelope so alarmed Miss Belinda, that she +was supported by Mary Anne while it was read to her by Octavia, who +received it without any surprise whatever. For some time after its +completion, Slowbridge had privately disbelieved in the Atlantic cable, +and, until this occasion, had certainly disbelieved in the existence of +people who received messages through it. In fact, on first finding that +she was the recipient of such a message, Miss Belinda had made immediate +preparations for fainting quietly away, being fully convinced that a +shipwreck had occurred, which had resulted in her brother's death, and +that his executors had chosen this delicate method of breaking the news. + +"A message by Atlantic cable?" she had gasped. "Don't--don't read it, my +love. L-let some one else do that. Poor--poor child! Trust in Providence, +my love, and--and bear up. Ah, how I wish I had a stronger mind, and +could be of more service to you!" + +"It's a message from father," said Octavia. "Nothing is the matter. He's +all right. He got in on Saturday." + +"Ah!" panted Miss Belinda. "Are you _quite_ sure, my dear--are you quite +sure?" + +"That's what he says. Listen." + +"Got in Saturday. Piper met me. Shares looking up. May be kept here two +months. Will write. Keep up your spirits. MARTIN BASSETT." + +"Thank Heaven!" sighed Miss Belinda. "Thank Heaven!" + +"Why?" said Octavia. + +"Why?" echoed Miss Belinda. "Ah, my dear, if you knew how terrified I +was! I felt sure that something had happened. A _cable_ message, my dear! +I never received a telegram in my life before, and to receive a _cable_ +message was really a _shock_." + +"Well, I don't see why," said Octavia. "It seems to me it is pretty much +like any other message." + +Miss Belinda regarded her timidly. + +"Does your papa _often_ send them?" she inquired. "Surely it must be +expensive." + +"I don't suppose it's cheap," Octavia replied, "but it saves time and +worry. I should have had to wait twelve days for a letter." + +"Very true," said Miss Belinda, "but"-- + +She broke off with rather a distressed shake of the head. Her simple +ideas of economy and quiet living were frequently upset in these times. +She had begun to regard her niece with a slight feeling of awe; and yet +Octavia had not been doing any thing at all remarkable in her own eyes, +and considered her life pretty dull. + +If the elder Miss Bassett, her parents and grandparents, had not been so +thoroughly well known, and so universally respected; if their social +position had not been so firmly established, and their quiet lives not +quite so highly respectable,--there is an awful possibility that +Slowbridge might even have gone so far as not to ask Octavia out to tea +at all. But even Lady Theobald felt that it would not do to slight +Belinda Bassett's niece and guest. To omit the customary state teas +would have been to crush innocent Miss Belinda at a blow, and place +her--through the medium of this young lady, who alone deserved +condemnation--beyond the pale of all social law. + +"It is only to be regretted," said her ladyship, "that Belinda Bassett +has not arranged things better. Relatives of such an order are certainly +to be deplored." + +In secret Lucia felt much soft-hearted sympathy for both Miss Bassett and +her guest. She could not help wondering how Miss Belinda became +responsible for the calamity which had fallen upon her. It really did not +seem probable that she had been previously consulted as to the kind of +niece she desired, or that she had, in a distinct manner, evinced a +preference for a niece of this description. + +"Perhaps, dear grandmamma," the girl ventured, "it is because Miss +Octavia Bassett is so young that"-- + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, in fell tones, "how old you are?" + +"I was nineteen in--in December." + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said her ladyship, "was nineteen last October, +and it is now June. I have not yet found it necessary to apologize for +you on the score of youth." + +But it was her ladyship who took the initiative, and set an evening for +entertaining Miss Belinda and her niece, in company with several other +ladies, with the best bohea, thin bread and butter, plum-cake, and +various other delicacies. + +"What do they do at such places?" asked Octavia. "Half-past five is +pretty early." + +"We spend some time at the tea-table, my dear," explained Miss Belinda. +"And afterward we--we converse. A few of us play whist. I do not. I feel +as if I were not clever enough, and I get flurried too easily by--by +differences of opinion." + +"I should think it wasn't very exciting," said Octavia. "I don't fancy +I ever went to an entertainment where they did nothing but drink tea, +and talk." + +"It is not our intention or desire to be exciting, my dear," Miss Belinda +replied with mild dignity. "And an improving conversation is frequently +most beneficial to the parties engaged in it." + +"I'm afraid," Octavia observed, "that I never heard much improving +conversation." + +She was really no fonder of masculine society than the generality of +girls; but she could not help wondering if there would be any young men +present, and if, indeed, there were any young men in Slowbridge who might +possibly be produced upon festive occasions, even though ordinarily kept +in the background. She had not heard Miss Belinda mention any masculine +name so far, but that of the curate of St. James's; and, when she had +seen him pass the house, she had not found his slim, black figure, and +faint, ecclesiastic whiskers, especially interesting. + +It must be confessed that Miss Belinda suffered many pangs of anxiety in +looking forward to her young kinswoman's first appearance in society. A +tea at Lady Theobald's house constituted formal presentation to the +Slowbridge world. Each young lady within the pale of genteel society, +having arrived at years of discretion, on returning home from +boarding-school, was invited to tea at Oldclough Hall. During an entire +evening she was the subject of watchful criticism. Her deportment was +remarked, her accomplishments displayed, she performed her last new +"pieces" upon the piano, she was drawn into conversation by her hostess; +and upon the timid modesty of her replies, and the reverence of her +listening attitudes, depended her future social status. So it was very +natural indeed that Miss Belinda should be anxious. + +"I would wear something rather quiet and--and simple, my dear Octavia," +she said. "A white muslin perhaps, with blue ribbons." + +"Would you?" answered Octavia. Then, after appearing to reflect upon the +matter a few seconds, "I've got one that would do, if it's warm enough +to wear it. I bought it in New York, but it came from Paris. I've never +worn it yet." + +"It would be nicer than any thing else, my love," said Miss Belinda, +delighted to find her difficulty so easily disposed of. "Nothing is so +charming in the dress of a young girl as pure simplicity. Our Slowbridge +young ladies rarely wear any thing but white for evening. Miss Chickie +assured me, a few weeks ago, that she had made fifteen white-muslin +dresses, all after one simple design of her own." + +"I shouldn't think that was particularly nice, myself," remarked Octavia +impartially. "I should be glad one of the fifteen didn't belong to me. I +should feel as if people might say, when I came into a room, 'Good +gracious, there's another!'" + +"The first was made for Miss Lucia Gaston, who is Lady Theobald's niece," +replied Miss Belinda mildly. "And there are few young ladies in +Slowbridge who would not emulate her example." + +"Oh!" said Octavia, "I dare say she is very nice, and all that; but I +don't believe I should care to copy her dresses. I think I should draw +the line there." + +But she said it without any ill-nature; and, sensitive as Miss Belinda +was upon the subject of her cherished ideals, she could not take offence. + +When the eventful evening arrived, there was excitement in more than one +establishment upon High Street and the streets in its vicinity. The +stories of the diamonds, the gold-diggers, and the silver-mines, had been +added to, and embellished, in the most ornate and startling manner. It +was well known that only Lady Theobald's fine appreciation of Miss +Belinda Bassett's feelings had induced her to extend her hospitalities to +that lady's niece. + +"I would prefer, my dear," said more than one discreet matron to her +daughter, as they attired themselves,--"I would much prefer that you +would remain near me during the earlier part of the evening, before we +know how this young lady may turn out. Let your manner toward her be +kind, but not familiar. It is well to be upon the safe side." + +What precise line of conduct it was generally anticipated that this +gold-digging and silver-mining young person would adopt, it would be +difficult to say: it is sufficient that the general sentiments regarding +her were of a distrustful, if not timorous, nature. + +To Miss Bassett, who felt all this in the very air she breathed, the +girl's innocence of the condition of affairs was even a little touching. +With all her splendor, she was not at all hard to please, and had quite +awakened to an interest in the impending social event. She seemed in good +spirits, and talked more than was her custom, giving Miss Belinda graphic +descriptions of various festal gatherings she had attended in New York, +when she seemed to have been very gay indeed, and to have worn very +beautiful dresses, and also to have had rather more than her share of +partners. The phrases she used, and the dances she described, were all +strange to Miss Belinda, and tended to reducing her to a bewildered +condition, in which she felt much timid amazement at the intrepidity of +the New-York young ladies, and no slight suspicion of the "German"--as a +theatrical kind of dance, involving extraordinary figures, and an +extraordinary amount of attention from partners of the stronger sex. + +It must be admitted, however, that by this time, notwithstanding the +various shocks she had received, Miss Belinda had begun to discover in +her young guest divers good qualities which appealed to her +affectionate and susceptible old heart. In the first place, the girl +had no small affectations: indeed, if she had been less unaffected she +might have been less subject to severe comment. She was good-natured, +and generous to extravagance. Her manner toward Mary Anne never ceased +to arouse Miss Belinda to interest. There was not any condescension +whatever in it, and yet it could not be called a vulgarly familiar +manner: it was rather an astonishingly simple manner, somehow +suggestive of a subtile recognition of Mary Anne's youth, and ill-luck +in not having before her more lively prospects. She gave Mary Anne +presents in the shape of articles of clothing at which Slowbridge +would have exclaimed in horror if the recipient had dared to wear them; +but, when Miss Belinda expressed her regret at these indiscretions, +Octavia was quite willing to rectify her mistakes. + +"Ah, well!" she said, "I can give her some money, and she can buy some +things for herself." Which she proceeded to do; and when, under her +mistress's direction, Mary Anne purchased a stout brown merino, she took +quite an interest in her struggles at making it. + +"I wouldn't make it so short in the waist and so full in the skirt, if I +were you," she said. "There's no reason why it shouldn't fit, you know," +thereby winning the house-maiden's undying adoration, and adding much to +the shapeliness of the garment. + +"I am sure she has a good heart," Miss Belinda said to herself, as the +days went by. "She is like Martin in that. I dare say she finds me very +ignorant and silly. I often see in her face that she is unable to +understand my feeling about things; but she never seems to laugh at me, +nor think of me unkindly. And she is very, very pretty, though perhaps I +ought not to think of that at all." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHITE MUSLIN. + + +As the good little spinster was arraying herself on this particular +evening, having laid upon the bed the greater portion of her modest +splendor, she went to her wardrobe, and took therefrom the scored bandbox +containing her best cap. All the ladies of Slowbridge wore caps; and all +being respectfully plagiarized from Lady Theobald, without any reference +to age, size, complexion, or demeanor, the result was sometimes a little +trying. Lady Theobald's head-dresses were of a severe and bristling +order. The lace of which they were composed was induced by some ingenious +device to form itself into aggressive quillings, the bows seemed lined +with buckram, the strings neither floated nor fluttered. + +"To a majestic person the style is very appropriate," Miss Belinda had +said to Octavia that very day; "but to one who is not so, it is rather +trying. Sometimes, indeed, I have _almost_ wished that Miss Chickie would +vary a _little_ more in her designs." + +Perhaps the sight of the various articles contained in two of the five +trunks had inspired these doubts in the dear old lady's breast: it is +certain, at least, that, as she took the best cap up, a faint sigh +fluttered upon her lips. + +"It is very large for a small person," she said. "And I am not at all +sure that amber is becoming to me." + +And just at that moment there came a tap at the door, which she knew was +from Octavia. + +She laid the cap back, in some confusion at being surprised in a moment +of weakness. + +"Come in, my love," she said. + +Octavia pushed the door open, and came in. She had not dressed yet, and +had on her wrapper and slippers, which were both of quilted gray silk, +gayly embroidered with carnations. But Miss Belinda had seen both wrapper +and slippers before, and had become used to their sumptuousness: what she +had not seen was the trifle the girl held in her hand. "See here," she +said. "See what I have been making for you!" + +She looked quite elated, and laughed triumphantly. + +"I did not know I could do it until I tried," she said. "I had seen some +in New York, and I had the lace by me. And I have enough left to make +ruffles for your neck and wrists. It's Mechlin." + +"My dear!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "My dear!" + +Octavia laughed again. + +"Don't you know what it is?" she said. "It isn't like a Slowbridge cap; +but it's a cap, nevertheless. They wear them like this in New York, and I +think they are ever so much prettier." + +It was true that it was not like a Slowbridge cap, and was also true that +it was prettier. It was a delicate affair of softly quilled lace, adorned +here and there with loops of pale satin ribbon. + +"Let me try it on," said Octavia, advancing; and in a minute she had done +so, and turned Miss Bassett about to face herself in the glass. "There!" +she said. "Isn't that better than--well, than emulating Lady Theobald?" + +It was so pretty and so becoming, and Miss Belinda was so touched by the +girl's innocent enjoyment, that the tears came into her eyes. + +"My--my love," she faltered, "it is so beautiful, and so expensive, +that--though indeed I don't know how to thank you--I am afraid I should +not dare to wear it." + +"Oh!" answered Octavia, "that's nonsense, you know. I'm sure there's no +reason why people shouldn't wear becoming things. Besides, I should be +awfully disappointed. I didn't think I could make it, and I'm real proud +of it. You don't know how becoming it is!" + +Miss Belinda looked at her reflection, and faltered. It was becoming. + +"My love," she protested faintly, "real Mechlin! There is really no such +lace in Slowbridge." + +"All the better," said Octavia cheerfully. "I'm glad to hear that. It +isn't one bit too nice for you." + +To Miss Belinda's astonishment, she drew a step nearer to her, and gave +one of the satin loops a queer, caressing little touch, which actually +seemed to mean something. And then suddenly the girl stooped, with a +little laugh, and gave her aunt a light kiss on her cheek. + +"There!" she said. "You must take it from me for a present. I'll go and +make the ruffles this minute; and you must wear those too, and let people +see how stylish you can be." + +And, without giving Miss Bassett time to speak, she ran out of the room, +and left the dear old lady warmed to the heart, tearful, delighted, +frightened. + +A coach from the Blue Lion had been ordered to present itself at a +quarter past five, promptly; and at the time specified it rattled up to +the door with much spirit,--with so much spirit, indeed, that Miss +Belinda was a little alarmed. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "I hope the driver will be able to control the +horse, and will not allow him to go too fast. One hears of such terrible +accidents." + +Then Mary Anne was sent to announce the arrival of the equipage to Miss +Octavia, and, having performed the errand, came back beaming with smiles. + +"Oh, mum," she exclaimed, "you never see nothin' like her! Her gownd is +'evingly. An' lor'! how you do look yourself, to be sure!" + +Indeed, the lace ruffles on her "best" black silk, and the little cap on +her smooth hair, had done a great deal for Miss Bassett; and she had only +just been reproaching herself for her vanity in recognizing this fact. +But Mary Anne's words awakened a new train of thought. + +"Is--is Miss Octavia's dress a showy one, Mary Anne?" she inquired. "Dear +me, I do hope it is not a showy dress!" + +"I never see nothin' no eleganter, mum," said Mary Anne: "she wants +nothin' but a veil to make a bride out of her--an' a becominer thing she +never has wore." + +They heard the soft sweep of skirts at that moment, and Octavia came in. + +"There!" she said, stopping when she had reached the middle of the room. +"Is that simple enough?" Miss Belinda could only look at her helplessly. +The "white muslin" was composed almost entirely of Valenciennes lace; the +blue ribbons were embroidered with field-daisies; the air of delicate +elaborateness about the whole was something which her innocent mind could +not have believed possible in orthodox white and blue. + +"I don't think I should call it exactly simple," she said. "My love, what +a quantity of lace!" + +Octavia glanced down at her _jabots_ and frills complacently. + +"There _is_ a good deal of it," she remarked; "but then, it is nice, and +one can stand a good deal of nice Valenciennes on white. They said Worth +made the dress. I hope he did. It cost enough. The ribbon was embroidered +by hand, I suppose. And there is plenty of it cut up into these bows." + +There was no more to be said. Miss Belinda led the way to the coach, +which they entered under the admiring or critical eyes of several most +respectable families, who had been lying in wait behind their +window-curtains since they had been summoned there by the sound of +the wheels. + +As the vehicle rattled past the boarding-school, all the young ladies in +the first class rushed to the window. They were rewarded for their zeal +by a glimpse of a cloud of muslin and lace, a charmingly dressed +yellow-brown head, and a pretty face, whose eyes favored them with a +frank stare of interest. + +"She had diamonds in her ears!" cried Miss Phipps, wildly excited. "I saw +them flash. Ah, how I should like to see her without her wraps! I have no +doubt she is a perfect blaze!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD. + + +Lady Theobald's invited guests sat in the faded blue drawing-room, +waiting. Everybody had been unusually prompt, perhaps because +everybody wished to be on the ground in time to see Miss Octavia +Bassett make her entrance. + +"I should think it would be rather a trial, even to such a girl as she is +said to be," remarked one matron. + +"It is but natural that she should feel that Lady Theobald will regard +her rather critically, and that she should know that American manners +will hardly be the thing for a genteel and conservative English country +town." + +"We saw her a few days ago," said Lucia, who chanced to hear this +speech, "and she is very pretty. I think I never saw any one so very +pretty before." + +"But in quite a theatrical way, I think, my dear," the matron replied, in +a tone of gentle correction. + +"I have seen so very few theatrical people," Lucia answered sweetly, +"that I scarcely know what the theatrical way is, dear Mrs. Burnham. Her +dress was very beautiful, and not like what we wear in Slowbridge; but +she seemed to me to be very bright and pretty, in a way quite new to me, +and so just a little odd." + +"I have heard that her dress is most extravagant and wasteful," put in +Miss Pilcher, whose educational position entitled her to the +condescending respect of her patronesses. "She has lace on her morning +gowns, which"-- + +"Miss Bassett and Miss Octavia Bassett," announced Dobson, throwing +open the door. + +Lady Theobald rose from her seat. A slight rustle made itself heard +through the company, as the ladies all turned toward the entrance; and, +after they had so turned, there were evidences of a positive thrill. +Before the eyes of all, Belinda Bassett advanced with rich ruffles of +Mechlin at her neck and wrists, with a delicate and distinctly novel cap +upon her head, her niece following her with an unabashed face, twenty +pounds' worth of lace on her dress, and unmistakable diamonds in her +little ears. + +"There is not a _shadow_ of timidity about her," cried Mrs. Burnham under +her breath. "This is actual boldness." + +But this was a very severe term to use, notwithstanding that it was born +of righteous indignation. It was not boldness at all: it was only the +serenity of a young person who was quite unconscious that there was any +thing to fear in the rather unimposing party before her. Octavia was +accustomed to entering rooms full of strangers. She had spent several +years of her life in hotels, where she had been stared out of countenance +by a few score new people every day. She was even used to being, in some +sort, a young person of note. It was nothing unusual for her to know that +she was being pointed out. "That pretty blonde," she often heard it said, +"is Martin Bassett's daughter: sharp fellow, Bassett,--and lucky fellow +too; more money than he can count." + +So she was not at all frightened when she walked in behind Miss Belinda. +She glanced about her cheerfully, and, catching sight of Lucia, smiled at +her as she advanced up the room. The call of state Lady Theobald had made +with her grand-daughter had been a very brief one; but Octavia had taken +a decided fancy to Lucia, and was glad to see her again. + +"I am glad to see you, Belinda," said her ladyship, shaking hands. "And +you also, Miss Octavia." + +"Thank you," responded Octavia. + +"You are very kind," Miss Belinda murmured gratefully. + +"I hope you are both well?" said Lady Theobald with majestic +condescension, and in tones to be heard all over the room. + +"Quite well, thank you," murmured Miss Belinda again. "_Very_ well +indeed;" rather as if this fortunate state of affairs was the result of +her ladyship's kind intervention with the fates. + +She felt terribly conscious of being the centre of observation, and +rather overpowered by the novelty of her attire, which was plainly +creating a sensation. Octavia, however, who was far more looked at, was +entirely oblivious of the painful prominence of her position. She +remained standing in the middle of the room, talking to Lucia, who had +approached to greet her. She was so much taller than Lucia, that she +looked very tall indeed by contrast, and also very wonderfully dressed. +Lucia's white muslin was one of Miss Chickie's fifteen, and was, in a +"genteel" way, very suggestive of Slowbridge. Suspended from Octavia's +waist by a long loop of the embroidered ribbon, was a little round fan, +of downy pale-blue feathers, and with this she played as she talked; but +Lucia, having nothing to play with, could only stand with her little +hands hanging at her sides. + +"I have never been to an afternoon tea like this before," Octavia said. +"It is nothing like a kettle-drum." + +"I am not sure that I know what a kettle-drum is," Lucia answered. "They +have them in London, I think; but I have never been to London." + +"They have them in New York," said Octavia; "and they are a crowded sort +of afternoon parties, where ladies go in carriage-toilet, not evening +dress. People are rushing in and out all the time." + +Lucia glanced around the room and smiled. + +"That is very unlike this," she remarked. + +"Well," said Octavia, "I should think that, after all, this might be +nicer." + +Which was very civil. + +Lucia glanced around again--this time rather stealthily--at Lady +Theobald. Then she glanced back at Octavia. + +"But it isn't," she said, in an undertone. + +Octavia began to laugh. They were on a new and familiar footing from +that moment. + +"I said 'it might,'" she answered. + +She was not afraid, any longer, of finding the evening stupid. If there +were no young men, there was at least a young woman who was in sympathy +with her. She said,-- + +"I hope that I shall behave myself pretty well, and do the things I am +expected to do." + +"Oh!" said Lucia, with a rather alarmed expression, "I hope so. I--I am +afraid you would not be comfortable if you didn't." + +Octavia opened her eyes, as she often did at Miss Belinda's remarks, and +then suddenly she began to laugh again. + +"What would they do?" she said disrespectfully. "Would they turn me out, +without giving me any tea?" + +Lucia looked still more frightened. + +"Don't let them see you laughing," she said. "They--they will say you +are giddy." + +"Giddy!" replied Octavia. "I don't think there is any thing to make me +giddy here." + +"If they say you are giddy," said Lucia, "your fate will be sealed; and, +if you are to stay here, it really will be better to try to please them +a little." + +Octavia reflected a moment. + +"I don't mean to _dis_please them," she said, "unless they are very +easily displeased. I suppose I don't think very much about what people +are saying of me. I don't seem to notice." + +"Will you come now and let me introduce Miss Egerton and her sister?" +suggested Lucia hurriedly. "Grandmamma is looking at us." + +In the innocence of her heart Octavia glanced at Lady Theobald, and +saw that she was looking at them, and with a disapproving air. "I +wonder what that's for?" she said to herself; but she followed Lucia +across the room. + +She made the acquaintance of the Misses Egerton, who seemed rather +fluttered, and, after the first exchange of civilities, subsided into +monosyllables and attentive stares. They were, indeed, very anxious to +hear Octavia converse, but had not the courage to attempt to draw her +out, unless a sudden query of Miss Lydia's could be considered such an +attempt. + +"Do you like England?" she asked. + +"Is this England?" inquired Octavia. + +"It is a part of England, of course," replied the young lady, with calm +literalness. + +"Then, of course, I like it very much," said Octavia, slightly waving her +fan and smiling. + +Miss Lydia Egerton and Miss Violet Egerton each regarded her in dubious +silence for a moment. They did not think she looked as if she were +"clever;" but the speech sounded to both as if she were, and as if she +meant to be clever a little at their expense. + +Naturally, after that they felt slightly uncomfortable, and said less +than before; and conversation lagged to such an extent that Octavia was +not sorry when tea was announced. + +And it so happened that tea was not the only thing announced. The ladies +had all just risen from their seats with a gentle rustle, and Lady +Theobald was moving forward to marshal her procession into the +dining-room, when Dobson appeared at the door again. + +"Mr. Barold, my lady," he said, "and Mr. Burmistone." + +Everybody glanced first at the door, and then at Lady Theobald. Mr. +Francis Barold crossed the threshold, followed by the tall, +square-shouldered builder of mills, who was a strong, handsome man, and +bore himself very well, not seeming to mind at all the numerous eyes +fixed upon him. + +"I did not know," said Barold, "that we should find you had guests. Beg +pardon, I'm sure, and so does Burmistone, whom I had the pleasure of +meeting at Broadoaks, and who was good enough to invite me to return with +him." Lady Theobald extended her hand to the gentleman specified. + +"I am glad," she said rigidly, "to see Mr. Burmistone." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"This is very fortunate," she announced. "We are just going in to take +tea, in which I hope you will join us. Lucia"-- + +Mr. Francis Barold naturally turned, as her ladyship uttered her +granddaughter's name in a tone of command. It may be supposed that his +first intention in turning was to look at Lucia; but he had scarcely done +so, when his attention was attracted by the figure nearest to her,--the +figure of a young lady, who was playing with a little blue fan, and +smiling at him brilliantly and unmistakably. + +The next moment he was standing at Octavia Bassett's side, looking rather +pleased, and the blood of Slowbridge was congealing, as the significance +of the situation was realized. + +One instant of breathless--of awful--suspense, and her ladyship +recovered herself. + +"We will go in to tea," she said. "May I ask you, Mr. Burmistone, to +accompany Miss Pilcher?" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SLIGHT INDISCRETION. + + +During the remainder of the evening, Miss Belinda was a prey to +wretchedness and despair. When she raised her eyes to her hostess, she +met with a glance full of icy significance; when she looked across the +tea-table, she saw Octavia seated next to Mr. Francis Barold, +monopolizing his attention, and apparently in the very best possible +spirits. It only made matters worse, that Mr. Francis Barold seemed to +find her remarks worthy of his attention. He drank very little tea, and +now and then appeared much interested and amused. In fact, he found Miss +Octavia even more entertaining than he had found her during their +journey. She did not hesitate at all to tell him that she was delighted +to see him again at this particular juncture. + +"You don't know how glad I was to see you come in," she said. + +She met his rather startled glance with the most open candor as she +spoke. + +"It is very civil of you to say so," he said; "but you can hardly expect +me to believe it, you know. It is too good to be true." + +"I thought it was too good to be true when the door opened," she answered +cheerfully. "I should have been glad to see _anybody_, almost"-- + +"Well, that," he interposed, "isn't quite so civil." + +"It is not quite so civil to"-- + +But there she checked herself, and asked him a question with the most +_naive_ seriousness. + +"Are you a great friend of Lady Theobald's?" she said. + +"No," he answered. "I am a relative." + +"That's worse," she remarked. + +"It is," he replied. "Very much worse." + +"I asked you," she proceeded, with an entrancing little smile of +irreverent approval, "because I was going to say that my last speech was +not quite so civil to Lady Theobald." + +"That is perfectly true," he responded. "It wasn't civil to her at all." + +He was passing his time very comfortably, and was really surprised to +feel that he was more interested in these simple audacities than he had +been in any conversation for some time. Perhaps it was because his +companion was so wonderfully pretty, but it is not unlikely that there +were also other reasons. She looked him straight in the eyes, she +comported herself after the manner of a young lady who was enjoying +herself, and yet he felt vaguely that she might have enjoyed herself +quite as much with Burmistone, and that it was probable that she would +not think a second time of him, or of what she said to him. + +After tea, when they returned to the drawing-room, the opportunities +afforded for conversation were not numerous. The piano was opened, and +one after another of the young ladies were invited to exhibit their +prowess. Upon its musical education Slowbridge prided itself. "Few +towns," Miss Pilcher frequently remarked, "could be congratulated upon +the possession of _such_ talent and _such_ cultivation." The Misses +Egerton played a duet, the Misses Loftus sang, Miss Abercrombie +"executed" a sonata with such effect as to melt Miss Pilcher to tears; +and still Octavia had not been called upon. There might have been a +reason for this, or there might not; but the moment arrived, at length, +when Lady Theobald moved toward Miss Belinda with evidently fell intent. + +"Perhaps," she said, "perhaps your niece, Miss Octavia, will favor us." + +Miss Belinda replied in a deprecatory and uncertain murmur. + +"I--am not sure. I really don't know. Perhaps--Octavia, my dear." + +Octavia raised a smiling face. + +"I don't play," she said. "I never learned." + +"You do not play!" exclaimed Lady Theobald. "You do not play at all!" + +"No," answered Octavia. "Not a note. And I think I am rather glad of it; +because, if I tried, I should be sure to do it worse than other people. I +would rather," with unimpaired cheerfulness, "let some one else do it." + +There were a few seconds of dead silence. A dozen people seated around +her had heard. Miss Pilcher shuddered; Miss Belinda looked down; Mr. +Francis Barold preserved an entirely unmoved countenance, the general +impression being that he was very much shocked, and concealed his disgust +with an effort. + +"My dear," said Lady Theobald, with an air of much condescension and some +grave pity, "I should advise you to try to learn. I can assure you that +you would find it a great source of pleasure." + +"If you could assure me that my friends would find it a great source of +pleasure, I might begin," answered the mistaken young person, still +cheerfully; "but I am afraid they wouldn't." + +It seemed that fate had marked her for disgrace. In half an hour from +that time she capped the climax of her indiscretions. + +The evening being warm, the French windows had been left open; and, in +passing one of them, she stopped a moment to look out at the brightly +moonlit grounds. + +Barold, who was with her, paused too. + +"Looks rather nice, doesn't it?" he said. + +"Yes," she replied. "Suppose we go out on the terrace." + +He laughed in an amused fashion she did not understand. + +"Suppose we do," he said. "By Jove, that's a good idea!" + +He laughed as he followed her. + +"What amuses you so?" she inquired. + +"Oh!" he replied, "I am merely thinking of Lady Theobald." + +"Well," she commented, "I think it's rather disrespectful in you to +laugh. Isn't it a lovely night? I didn't think you had such moonlight +nights in England. What a night for a drive!" + +"Is that one of the things you do in America--drive by moonlight?" + +"Yes. Do you mean to say you don't do it in England?" + +"Not often. Is it young ladies who drive by moonlight in America?" + +"Well, you don't suppose they go alone, do you?" quite ironically. "Of +course they have some one with them." + +"Ah! Their papas?" + +"No." + +"Their mammas?" + +"No." + +"Their governesses, their uncles, their aunts?" + +"No," with a little smile. + +He smiled also. + +"That is another good idea," he said. "You have a great many nice ideas +in America." + +She was silent a moment or so, swinging her fan slowly to and fro by its +ribbon, and appearing to reflect. + +"Does that mean," she said at length, "that it wouldn't be considered +proper in England?" + +"I hope you won't hold me responsible for English fallacies," was his +sole answer. + +"I don't hold anybody responsible for them," she returned with some +spirit. "I don't care one thing about them." + +"That is fortunate," he commented. "I am happy to say I don't, either. I +take the liberty of pleasing myself. I find it pays best." + +"Perhaps," she said, returning to the charge, "perhaps Lady Theobald will +think _this_ is improper." + +He put his hand up, and stroked his mustache lightly, without replying. + +"But it is _not_," she added emphatically: "it is _not!_" + +"No," he admitted, with a touch of irony, "it is not!" + +"Are _you_ any the worse for it?" she demanded. + +"Well, really, I think not--as yet," he replied. + +"Then we won't go in," she said, the smile returning to her lips again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN INVITATION. + + +In the mean time Mr. Burmistone was improving his opportunities within +doors. He had listened to the music with the most serious attention; and +on its conclusion he had turned to Mrs. Burnham, and made himself very +agreeable indeed. At length, however, he arose, and sauntered across the +room to a table at which Lucia Gaston chanced to be standing alone, +having just been deserted by a young lady whose mamma had summoned her. +She wore, Mr. Burmistone regretted to see, as he advanced, a troubled and +anxious expression; the truth being that she had a moment before remarked +the exit of Miss Belinda's niece and her companion. It happened oddly +that Mr. Burmistone's first words touched upon the subject of her +thought. He began quite abruptly with it. + +"It seems to me," he said, "that Miss Octavia Bassett"-- + +Lucia stopped him with a courage which surprised herself. + +"Oh, if you please," she implored, "don't say any thing unkind about +her!" + +Mr. Burmistone looked down into her soft eyes with a good deal of +feeling. + +"I was not going to say any thing unkind," he answered. "Why should I?" + +"Everybody seems to find a reason for speaking severely of her," Lucia +faltered. "I have heard so many unkind things tonight, that I am quite +unhappy. I am sure--I am _sure_ she is very candid and simple." + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone, "I am sure she is very candid and +simple." + +"Why should we expect her to be exactly like ourselves?" Lucia went on. +"How can we be sure that our way is better than any other? Why should +they be angry because her dress is so expensive and pretty? Indeed, I +only wish I had such a dress. It is a thousand times prettier than any we +ever wear. Look around the room, and see if it is not. And as to her not +having learned to play on the piano, or to speak French--why should she +be obliged to do things she feels she would not be clever at? I am not +clever, and have been a sort of slave all my life, and have been scolded +and blamed for what I could not help at all, until I have felt as if I +must be a criminal. How happy she must have been to be let alone!" + +She had clasped her little hands, and, though she spoke in a low +voice, was quite impassioned in an unconscious way. Her brief girlish +life had not been a very happy one, as may be easily imagined; and a +glimpse of the liberty for which she had suffered roused her to a +sense of her own wrongs. + +"We are all cut out after the same pattern," she said. "We learn the same +things, and wear the same dresses, one might say. What Lydia Egerton has +been taught, I have been taught; yet what two creatures could be more +unlike each other, by nature, than we are?" + +Mr. Burmistone glanced across the room at Miss Egerton. She was a fine, +robust young woman, with a high nose and a stolid expression of +countenance. + +"That is true," he remarked. + +"We are afraid of every thing," said Lucia bitterly. "Lydia Egerton is +afraid--though you might not think so. And, as for me, nobody knows what +a coward I am but myself. Yes, I am a coward! When grandmamma looks at +me, I tremble. I dare not speak my mind, and differ with her, when I know +she is unjust and in the wrong. No one could say that of Miss Octavia +Bassett." + +"That is perfectly true," said Mr. Burmistone; and he even went so far as +to laugh as he thought of Miss Octavia trembling in the august presence +of Lady Theobald. + +The laugh checked Lucia at once in her little outburst of eloquence. She +began to blush, the color mounting to her forehead. + +"Oh!" she began, "I did not mean to--to say so much. I"-- + +There was something so innocent and touching in her sudden timidity and +confusion, that Mr. Burmistone forgot altogether that they were not very +old friends, and that Lady Theobald might be looking. + +He bent slightly forward, and looked into her upraised, alarmed eyes. + +"Don't be afraid of _me_" he said; "don't, for pity's sake!" + +He could not have hit upon a luckier speech, and also he could not have +uttered it more feelingly than he did. It helped her to recover herself, +and gave her courage. + +"There," she said, with a slight catch of the breath, "does not that +prove what I said to be true? I was afraid, the very moment I ceased to +forget myself. I was afraid of you and of myself. I have no courage at +all." + +"You will gain it in time," he said. + +"I shall try to gain it," she answered. "I am nearly twenty, and it is +time that I should learn to respect myself. I think it must be because I +have no self-respect that I am such a coward." + +It seemed that her resolution was to be tried immediately; for at that +very moment Lady Theobald turned, and, on recognizing the full +significance of Lucia's position, was apparently struck temporarily dumb +and motionless. When she recovered from the shock, she made a majestic +gesture of command. + +Mr. Burmistone glanced at the girl's face, and saw that it changed color +a little. "Lady Theobald appears to wish to speak to you," he said. + +Lucia left her seat, and walked across the room with a steady air. Lady +Theobald did not remove her eye from her until she stopped within three +feet of her. Then she asked a rather unnecessary question:-- + +"With whom have you been conversing?" + +"With Mr. Burmistone." + +"Upon what subject?" + +"We were speaking of Miss Octavia Bassett." + +Her ladyship glanced around the room, as if a new idea had occurred to +her, and said,-- + +"Where _is_ Miss Octavia Bassett?" + +Here it must be confessed that Lucia faltered. + +"She is on the terrace with Mr. Barold." + +"She is on"-- + +Her ladyship stopped short in the middle of her sentence. This was too +much for her. She left Lucia, and crossed the room to Miss Belinda. + +"Belinda," she said, in an awful undertone, "your niece is out upon the +terrace with Mr. Barold. Perhaps it would be as well for you to +intimate to her that in England it is not customary--that--Belinda, go +and bring her in." + +Miss Belinda arose, actually looking pale. She had been making such +strenuous efforts to converse with Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham, that +she had been betrayed into forgetting her charge. She could scarcely +believe her ears. She went to the open window, and looked out, and then +turned paler than before. + +"Octavia, my dear," she said faintly. + +"Francis!" said Lady Theobald, over her shoulder. + +Mr. Francis Barold turned a rather bored countenance toward them; but it +was evidently not Octavia who had bored him. + +"Octavia," said Miss Belinda, "how imprudent! In that thin dress--the +night air! How could you, my dear, how could you?" + +"Oh! I shall not catch cold," Octavia answered. "I am used to it. I have +been out hours and hours, on moonlight nights, at home." + +But she moved toward them. + +"You must remember," said Lady Theobald, "that there are many things +which may be done in America which would not be safe in England." + +And she made the remark in an almost sepulchral tone of warning. + +How Miss Belinda would have supported herself if the coach had not been +announced at this juncture, it would be difficult to say. The coach was +announced, and they took their departure. Mr. Barold happening to make +his adieus at the same time, they were escorted by him down to the +vehicle from the Blue Lion. + +When he had assisted them in, and closed the door, Octavia bent forward, +so that the moonlight fell full on her pretty, lace-covered head, and the +sparkling drops in her ears. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed, "if you stay here at all, you must come and see +us.--Aunt Belinda, ask him to come and see us." + +Miss Belinda could scarcely speak. + +"I shall be most--most happy," she fluttered, "Any--friend of dear Lady +Theobald's, of course"-- + +"Don't forget," said Octavia, waving her hand. + +The coach moved off, and Miss Belinda sank back into a dark corner. + +"My dear," she gasped, "what will he think?" + +Octavia was winding her lace scarf around her throat. + +"He'll think I want him to call," she said serenely. "And I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +INTENTIONS. + + +The position in which Lady Theobald found herself placed, after these +occurrences, was certainly a difficult and unpleasant one. It was Mr. +Francis Barold's caprice, for the time being, to develop an intimacy with +Mr. Burmistone. He had, it seemed, chosen to become interested in him +during their sojourn at Broadoaks. He had discovered him to be a +desirable companion, and a clever, amiable fellow. This much he +condescended to explain incidentally to her ladyship's self. + +"I can't say I expected to meet a nice fellow or a companionable fellow," +he remarked, "and I was agreeably surprised to find him both. Never says +too much or too little. Never bores a man." + +To this Lady Theobald could make no reply. Singularly enough, she had +discovered early in their acquaintance that her wonted weapons were +likely to dull their edges upon the steely coldness of Mr. Francis +Barold's impassibility. In the presence of this fortunate young man, +before whom his world had bowed the knee from his tenderest infancy, she +lost the majesty of her demeanor. He refused to be affected by it: he was +even implacable enough to show openly that it bored him, and to insinuate +by his manner that he did not intend to submit to it. He entirely ignored +the claim of relationship, and acted according to the promptings of his +own moods. He did not feel it at all incumbent upon him to remain at +Oldclough Hall, and subject himself to the time-honored customs there +in vogue. He preferred to accept Mr. Burmistone's invitation to become +his guest at the handsome house he had just completed, in which he lived +in bachelor splendor. Accordingly he installed himself there, and thereby +complicated matters greatly. + +Slowbridge found itself in a position as difficult as, and far more +delicate than, Lady Theobald's. The tea-drinkings in honor of that +troublesome young person, Miss Octavia Bassett, having been inaugurated +by her ladyship, must go the social rounds, according to ancient custom. +But what, in discretion's name, was to be done concerning Mr. Francis +Barold? There was no doubt whatever that he must not be ignored; and, in +that case, what difficulties presented themselves! + +The mamma of the two Misses Egerton, who was a nervous and easily +subjugated person, was so excited and overwrought by the prospect before +her, that, in contemplating it when she wrote her invitations, she was +affected to tears. + +"I can assure you, Lydia," she said, "that I have not slept for three +nights, I have been so harassed. Here, on one hand, is Mr. Francis +Barold, who must be invited; and on the other is Mr. Burmistone, whom we +cannot pass over; and here is Lady Theobald, who will turn to stone the +moment she sees him,--though, goodness knows, I am sure he seems a very +quiet, respectable man, and said some of the most complimentary things +about your playing. And here is that dreadful girl, who is enough to give +one cold chills, and who may do all sorts of dreadful things, and is +certainly a living example to all respectable, well-educated girls. And +the blindest of the blind could see that nothing would offend Lady +Theobald more fatally than to let her be thrown with Francis Barold; +and how one is to invite them into the same room, and keep them apart, +I'm sure I don't know how. Lady Theobald herself could not do it, and how +can we be expected to? And the refreshments on my mind too; and Forbes +failing on her tea-cakes, and bringing up Sally Lunns like lead." + +That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer in +prospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs. +Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs. +Egerton upon the subject. + +Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising, +the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter over +in solemn conclave. + +"I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson," +announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arrive +at any conclusion." + +Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully. + +"Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,--"don't, I beg of you! I +have thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydia +has been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave it +up at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one and +all, let the consequences be what they may." + +Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at Miss +Pilcher. + +"Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as well +for you to mention your impressions." + +Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forward +slightly. + +"My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald has +any--intentions, so to speak?" + +"Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton. + +"Yes," with deep significance,--"so to speak. With regard to Lucia." + +Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless. + +"Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think of +it. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!" + +Mrs. Burnham became more significant still. + +"_And_" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold." + +Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact in +her countenance. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever." + +"It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be a +desirable one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr. +Francis Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited to +make her house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he has +not done so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicable +reluctance upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald once +plainly intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, a +matrimonial alliance." + +"Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is all +very well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if the +young man has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likely +to result in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold is +not in the mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely to +entertain himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in the +moonlight, and make herself agreeable to him in her American style." + +Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Burnham, "he has called upon her twice since Lady +Theobald's tea. They say she invites him herself, and flirts with him +openly in the garden." + +"Her conduct is such," said Miss Pilcher, with a shudder, "that the +blinds upon the side of the seminary which faces Miss Bassett's garden +are kept closed by my orders. I have young ladies under my care whose +characters are in process of formation, and whose parents repose +confidence in me." + +"Nothing but my friendship for Belinda Bassett," remarked Mrs. Burnham, +"would induce me to invite the girl to my house." Then she turned to Mrs. +Egerton. "But--ahem--have you included them _all_ in your invitations?" +she observed. + +Mrs. Egerton became plaintive again. + +"I don't see how I could be expected to do any thing else," she said. +"Lady Theobald herself could not invite Mr. Francis Barold from Mr. +Burmistone's house, and leave Mr. Burmistone at home. And, after all, I +must say it is my opinion nobody would have objected to Mr. Burmistone, +in the first place, if Lady Theobald had not insisted upon it." + +Mrs. Burnham reflected. + +"Perhaps that is true," she admitted cautiously at length. "And it must +be confessed that a man in his position is not entirely without his +advantages--particularly in a place where there are but few gentlemen, +and those scarcely desirable as"-- + +She paused there discreetly, but Mrs. Egerton was not so discreet. + +"There are a great many young ladies in Slowbridge," she said, shaking +her head,--"a great many! And with five in a family, all old enough to be +out of school, I am sure it is flying in the face of Providence to +neglect one's opportunities." + +When the two ladies took their departure, Mrs. Burnham seemed reflective. +Finally she said,--"Poor Mrs. Egerton's mind is not what it was, and it +never was remarkably strong. It must be admitted, too, that there is a +lack of--of delicacy. Those great plain girls of hers must be a trial to +her." + +As she spoke they were passing the privet hedge which surrounded Miss +Bassett's house and garden; and a sound caused both to glance around. The +front door had just been opened; and a gentleman was descending the +steps,--a young gentleman in neat clerical garb, his guileless +ecclesiastical countenance suffused with mantling blushes of confusion +and delight. He stopped on the gravel path to receive the last words of +Miss Octavia Bassett, who stood on the threshold, smiling down upon him +in the prettiest way in the world. + +"Tuesday afternoon," she said. "Now don't forget; because I shall ask Mr. +Barold and Miss Gaston, on purpose to play against us. Even St. James +can't object to croquet." + +"I--indeed, I shall be _most_ happy and--and delighted," stammered her +departing guest, "if you will be so kind as to--to instruct me, and +forgive my awkwardness." + +"Oh! I'll instruct you," said Octavia. "I have instructed people before, +and I know how." + +Mrs. Burnham clutched Miss Pilcher's arm. + +"Do you see who _that_ is?" she demanded. "Would you have believed it?" + +Miss Pilcher preserved a stony demeanor. + +"I would believe any thing of Miss Octavia Bassett," she replied. "There +would be nothing at all remarkable, to my mind, in her flirting with the +bishop himself! Why should she hesitate to endeavor to entangle the +curate of St. James?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A CLERICAL VISIT. + + +It was indeed true that the Rev. Arthur Poppleton had spent the greater +part of his afternoon in Miss Belinda Bassett's front parlor, and that +Octavia had entertained him in such a manner that he had been beguiled +into forgetting the clerical visits he had intended to make, and had +finally committed himself by a promise to return a day or two later to +play croquet. His object in calling had been to request Miss Belinda's +assistance in a parochial matter. His natural timorousness of nature had +indeed led him to put off making the visit for as long a time as +possible. The reports he had heard of Miss Octavia Bassett had inspired +him with great dread. Consequently he had presented himself at Miss +Belinda's front door with secret anguish. + +"Will you say," he had faltered to Mary Anne, "that it is Mr. Poppleton, +to see _Miss_ Bassett--Miss _Belinda_ Bassett?" + +And then he had been handed into the parlor, the door had been closed +behind him, and he had found himself shut up entirely alone in the room +with Miss Octavia Bassett herself. + +His first impulse was to turn, and flee precipitately: indeed, he even +went so far as to turn, and clutch the handle of the door; but somehow a +second thought arrived in time to lead him to control himself. + +This second thought came with his second glance at Octavia. + +She was not at all what he had pictured her. Singularly enough, no one +had told him that she was pretty; and he had thought of her as a gaunt +young person, with a determined and manly air. She struck him, on the +contrary, as being extremely girlish and charming to look upon. She wore +the pale pink gown; and as he entered he saw her give a furtive little +dab to her eyes with a lace handkerchief, and hurriedly crush an open +letter into her pocket. Then, seeming to dismiss her emotion with +enviable facility, she rose to greet him. + +"If you want to see aunt Belinda," she said, "perhaps you had better sit +down. She will be here directly." He plucked up spirit to take a seat, +suddenly feeling his terror take wing. He was amazed at his own courage. + +"Th-thank you," he said. "I have the pleasure of"--There, it is true, he +stopped, looked at her, blushed, and finished somewhat disjointedly. +"Miss Octavia Bassett, I believe." + +"Yes," she answered, and sat down near him. + +When Miss Belinda descended the stairs, a short time afterward, her ears +were greeted by the sound of brisk conversation, in which the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton appeared to be taking part with before-unheard-of spirit. When +he arose at her entrance, there was in his manner an air of mild buoyancy +which astonished her beyond measure. When he re-seated himself, he seemed +quite to forget the object of his visit for some minutes, and was thus +placed in the embarrassing position of having to refer to his note-book. + +Having done so, and found that he had called to ask assistance for the +family of one of his parishioners, he recovered himself somewhat. As he +explained the exigencies of the case, Octavia listened. + +"Well," she said, "I should think it would make you quite uncomfortable, +if you see things like that often." + +"I regret to say I do see such things only too frequently," he answered. + +"Gracious!" she said; but that was all. + +He was conscious of being slightly disappointed at her apathy; and +perhaps it is to be deplored that he forgot it afterward, when Miss +Belinda had bestowed her mite, and the case was dismissed for the time +being. He really did forget it, and was beguiled into making a very long +call, and enjoying himself as he had never enjoyed himself before. + +When, at length, he was recalled to a sense of duty by a glance at the +clock, he had already before his eyes an opening vista of delights, +taking the form of future calls, and games of croquet played upon Miss +Belinda's neatly-shaven grass-plat. He had bidden the ladies adieu in the +parlor, and, having stepped into the hall, was fumbling rather excitedly +in the umbrella-stand for his own especially slender clerical umbrella, +when he was awakened to new rapture by hearing Miss Octavia's tone again. + +He turned, and saw her standing quite near him, looking at him with +rather an odd expression, and holding something in her hand. + +"Oh!" she said. "See here,--those people." + +"I--beg pardon," he hesitated. "I don't quite understand." + +"Oh, yes!" she answered. "Those desperately poor wretches, you know, with +fever, and leaks in their house, and all sorts of disagreeable things the +matter with them. Give them this, won't you?" + +"This" was a pretty silk purse, through whose meshes he saw the gleam of +gold coin. + +"That?" he said. "You don't mean--isn't there a good deal--I beg +pardon--but really"-- + +"Well, if they are as poor as you say they are, it won't be too much," +she replied. "I don't suppose they'll object to it: do you?" + +She extended it to him as if she rather wished to get it out of her +hands. + +"You'd better take it," she said. "I shall spend it on something I don't +need, if you don't. I'm always spending money on things I don't care for +afterward." + +He was filled with remorse, remembering that he had thought her +apathetic. + +"I--I really thought you were not interested at all," he burst forth. +"Pray forgive me. This is generous indeed." + +She looked down at some particularly brilliant rings on her hand, instead +of looking at him. + +"Oh, well!" she said, "I think it must be simply horrid to have to do +without things. I can't see how people live. Besides, I haven't denied +myself any thing. It would be worth talking about if I had, I suppose. +Oh! By the by, never mind telling any one, will you?" + +Then, without giving him time to reply, she raised her eyes to his face, +and plunged into the subject of the croquet again, pursuing it until the +final moment of his exit and departure, which was when Mrs. Burnham and +Miss Pilcher had been scandalized at the easy freedom of her adieus. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES. + + +When Mr. Francis Barold called to pay his respects to Lady Theobald, +after partaking of her hospitality, Mr. Burmistone accompanied him; and, +upon almost every other occasion of his presenting himself to her +ladyship, Mr. Burmistone was his companion. + +It may as well be explained at the outset, that the mill-owner of +Burmistone Mills was a man of decided determination of character, and +that, upon the evening of Lady Theobald's tea, he had arrived at the +conclusion that he would spare no effort to gain a certain end he felt it +would add to his happiness to accomplish. + +"I stand rather in awe of Lady Theobald, as any ordinary man would," he +had said dryly to Barold, on their return to his house. "But my awe of +her is not so great yet that I shall allow it to interfere with any of +my plans." + +"Have you any especial plan?" inquired Barold carelessly, after a pause. + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone,--"several. I should like to go to +Oldclough rather often." + +"I feel it the civil thing to go to Oldclough oftener than I like. Go +with me." + +"I should like to be included in all the invitations to tea for the next +six months." + +"I shall be included in all the invitations so long as I remain here; and +it is not likely you will be left out in the cold. After you have gone +the rounds once, you won't be dropped." + +"Upon the whole, it appears so," said Mr. Burmistone. "Thanks." + +So, at each of the tea-parties following Lady Theobald's, the two men +appeared together. The small end of the wedge being inserted into the +social stratum, the rest was not so difficult. Mrs. Burnham was at once +surprised and overjoyed by her discoveries of the many excellences of the +man they had so hastily determined to ignore. Mrs. Abercrombie found Mr. +Burmistone's manner all that could be desired. Miss Pilcher expressed the +highest appreciation of his views upon feminine education and "our duty +to the young in our charge." Indeed, after Mrs. Egerton's evening, the +tide of public opinion turned suddenly in his favor. + +Public opinion did not change, however, as far as Octavia was concerned. +Having had her anxiety set at rest by several encouraging paternal +letters from Nevada, she began to make up her mind to enjoy herself, and +was, it is to be regretted, betrayed by her youthful high spirits into +the committing of numerous indiscretions. Upon each festal occasion she +appeared in a new and elaborate costume: she accepted the attentions of +Mr. Francis Barold, as if it were the most natural thing in the world +that they should be offered; she joked--in what Mrs. Burnham designated +"her Nevada way"--with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, who appeared more +frequently than had been his habit at the high teas. She played croquet +with that gentleman and Mr. Barold day after day, upon the grass-plat, +before all the eyes gazing down upon her from the neighboring windows; +she managed to coerce Mr. Burmistone into joining these innocent orgies; +and, in fact, to quote Miss Pilcher, there was "no limit to the +shamelessness of her unfeminine conduct." + +Several times much comment had been aroused by the fact that Lucia Gaston +had been observed to form one of the party of players. She had indeed +played with Barold, against Octavia and Mr. Poppleton, on the memorable +day upon which that gentleman had taken his first lesson. + +Barold had availed himself of the invitation extended to him by Octavia, +upon several occasions, greatly to Miss Belinda's embarrassment. He had +dropped in the evening after the curate's first call. + +"Is Lady Theobald very fond of you?" Octavia had asked, in the course of +this visit. + +"It is very kind of her, if she is," he replied with languid irony. + +"Isn't she fond enough of you to do any thing you ask her?" Octavia +inquired. + +"Really, I think not," he replied. "Imagine the degree of affection it +requires! I am not fond enough of any one to do any thing they ask me." + +Octavia bestowed a long look upon him. + +"Well," she remarked, after a pause, "I believe you are not. I shouldn't +think so." + +Barold colored very faintly. + +"I say," he said, "is that an imputation, or something of that character? +It sounds like it, you know." + +Octavia did not reply directly. She laughed a little. + +"I want you to ask Lady Theobald to do something," she said. + +"I am afraid I am not in such favor as you imagine," he said, looking +slightly annoyed. + +"Well, I think she won't refuse you this thing," she went on. "If she +didn't loathe me so, I would ask her myself." + +He deigned to smile. + +"Does she loathe you?" he inquired. + +"Yes," nodding. "She would not speak to me if it weren't for aunt +Belinda. She thinks I am fast and loud. Do _you_ think I am fast and +loud?" + +He was taken aback, and not for the first time, either. She had startled +and discomposed him several times in the course of their brief +acquaintance; and he always resented it, priding himself in private, as +he did, upon his coolness and immobility. He could not think of the right +thing to say just now, so he was silent for a second. + +"Tell me the truth," she persisted. "I shall not care--much." + +"I do not think you would care at all." + +"Well, perhaps I shouldn't. Go on. Do you think I am fast?" + +"I am happy to say I do not find you slow." + +She fixed her eyes on him, smiling faintly. + +"That means I am fast," she said. "Well, no matter. Will you ask Lady +Theobald what I want you to ask her?" + +"I should not say you were fast at all," he said rather stiffly. "You +have not been educated as--as Lady Theobald has educated Miss Gaston, for +instance." + +"I should rather think not," she replied. Then she added, very +deliberately, "She has had what you might call very superior advantages, +I suppose." + +Her expression was totally incomprehensible to him. She spoke with the +utmost seriousness, and looked down at the table. "That is derision, I +suppose," he remarked restively. + +She glanced up again. + +"At all events," she said, "there is nothing to laugh at in Lucia Gaston. +Will you ask Lady Theobald? I want you to ask her to let Lucia Gaston +come and play croquet with us on Tuesday. She is to play with you against +Mr. Poppleton and me." + +"Who is Mr. Poppleton?" he asked, with some reserve. He did not exactly +fancy sharing his entertainment with any ordinary outsider. After all, +there was no knowing what this little American might do. + +"He is the curate of the church," she replied, undisturbed. "He is very +nice, and little, and neat, and blushes all over to the toes of his +boots. He came to see aunt Belinda, and I asked him to come and be +taught to play." + +"Who is to teach him?" + +"I am. I have taught at least twenty men in New York and San Francisco." + +"I hope he appreciates your kindness." + +"I mean to try if I can make him forget to be frightened," she said, with +a gay laugh. + +It was certainly nettling to find his air of reserve and displeasure met +with such inconsequent lightness. She never seemed to recognize the +subtle changes of temperature expressed in his manner. Only his sense of +what was due to himself prevented his being very chilly indeed; but as +she went on with her gay chat, in utter ignorance of his mood, and +indulged in some very pretty airy nonsense, he soon recovered himself, +and almost forgot his private grievance. + +Before going away, he promised to ask Lady Theobald's indulgence in the +matter of Lucia's joining them in their game. One speech of Octavia's, +connected with the subject, he had thought very pretty, as well as kind. + +"I like Miss Gaston," she said. "I think we might be friends if Lady +Theobald would let us. Her superior advantages might do me good. They +might improve me," she went on, with a little laugh, "and I suppose I +need improving very much. All my advantages have been of one kind." + +When he had left her, she startled Miss Belinda by saying,-- + +"I have been asking Mr. Barold if he thought I was fast; and I believe he +does--in fact, I am sure he does." + +"Ah, my dear, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda, "what a terrible thing +to say to a gentleman! What will he think?" + +Octavia smiled one of her calmest smiles. + +"Isn't it queer how often you say that!" she remarked. "I think I should +perish if I had to pull myself up that way as you do. I just go right on, +and never worry. I don't mean to do any thing queer, and I don't see why +any one should think I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CROQUET. + + +Lucia was permitted to form one of the players in the game of croquet, +being escorted to and from the scene by Francis Barold. Perhaps it +occurred to Lady Theobald that the contrast of English reserve and +maidenliness with the free-and-easy manners of young women from Nevada +might lead to some good result. + +"I trust your conduct will be such as to show that you at least have +resided in a civilized land," she said. "The men of the present day may +permit themselves to be amused by young persons whose demeanor might +bring a blush to the cheek of a woman of forty, but it is not their habit +to regard them with serious intentions." + +Lucia reddened. She did not speak, though she wished very much for the +courage to utter the words which rose to her lips. Lately she had found +that now and then, at times when she was roused to anger, speeches of +quite a clever and sarcastic nature presented themselves to her mind. She +was never equal to uttering them aloud; but she felt that in time she +might, because of course it was quite an advance in spirit to think them, +and face, even in imagination, the probability of astounding and striking +Lady Theobald dumb with their audacity. + +"It ought to make me behave very well," she was saying now to herself, +"to have before me the alternative of not being regarded with serious +intentions. I wonder if it is Mr. Poppleton or Francis Barold who might +not regard me seriously. And I wonder if they are any coarser in America +than we can be in England when we try." + +She enjoyed the afternoon very much, particularly the latter part of it, +when Mr. Burmistone, who was passing, came in, being invited by Octavia +across the privet hedge. Having paid his respects to Miss Belinda, who +sat playing propriety under a laburnum-tree, Mr. Burmistone crossed the +grass-plat to Lucia herself. She was awaiting her "turn," and laughing at +the ardent enthusiasm of Mr. Poppleton, who, under Octavia's direction, +was devoting all his energies to the game: her eyes were bright, and she +had lost, for the time being, her timid air of feeling herself somehow in +the wrong. + +"I am glad to see you here," said Mr. Burmistone. + +"I am glad to be here," she answered. "It has been such a happy +afternoon. Every thing has seemed so bright and--and different!" + +"'Different' is a very good word," he said, laughing. + +"It isn't a very bad one," she returned, "and it expresses a good deal." + +"It does indeed," he commented. + +"Look at Mr. Poppleton and Octavia," she began. + +"Have you got to 'Octavia'?" he inquired. + +She looked down and blushed. + +"I shall not say 'Octavia' to grandmamma." + +Then suddenly she glanced up at him. + +"That is sly, isn't it?" she said. "Sometimes I think I am very sly, +though I am sure it is not my nature to be so. I would rather be open +and candid." + +"It would be better," he remarked. + +"You think so?" she asked eagerly. + +He could not help smiling. + +"Do you ever tell untruths to Lady Theobald?" he inquired. "If you do, I +shall begin to be alarmed." + +"I act them," she said, blushing more deeply. "I really do--paltry sorts +of untruths, you know; pretending to agree with her when I don't; +pretending to like things a little when I hate them. I have been trying +to improve myself lately, and once or twice it has made her very angry. +She says I am disobedient and disrespectful. She asked me, one day, if it +was my intention to emulate Miss Octavia Bassett. That was when I said I +could not help feeling that I had wasted time in practising." + +She sighed softly as she ended. + +In the mean time Octavia had Mr. Poppleton and Mr. Francis Barold upon +her hands, and was endeavoring to do her duty as hostess by both of them. +If it had been her intention to captivate these gentlemen, she could not +have complained that Mr. Poppleton was wary or difficult game. His first +fears allayed, his downward path was smooth, and rapid in proportion. +When he had taken his departure with the little silk purse in his +keeping, he had carried under his clerical vest a warmed and thrilled +heart. It was a heart which, it must be confessed, was of the most +inexperienced and susceptible nature. A little man of affectionate and +gentle disposition, he had been given from his earliest youth to +indulging in timid dreams of mild future bliss,--of bliss represented by +some lovely being whose ideals were similar to his own, and who preferred +the wealth of a true affection to the glitter of the giddy throng. Upon +one or two occasions, he had even worshipped from afar; but as on each of +these occasions his hopes had been nipped in the bud by the union of +their object with some hollow worldling, his dream had, so far, never +attained very serious proportions. Since he had taken up his abode in +Slowbridge, he had felt himself a little overpowered by circumstances. It +had been a source of painful embarrassment to him, to find his innocent +presence capable of producing confusion in the breasts of young ladies +who were certainly not more guileless than himself. He had been conscious +that the Misses Egerton did not continue their conversation with freedom +when he chanced to approach the group they graced; and he had observed +the same thing in their companions,--an additional circumspection of +demeanor, so to speak, a touch of new decorum, whose object seemed to be +to protect them from any appearance of imprudence. + +"It is almost as if they were afraid of me," he had said to himself once +or twice. "Dear me! I hope there is nothing in my appearance to lead +them to"-- + +He was so much alarmed by this dreadful thought, that he had ever +afterward approached any of these young ladies with a fear and trembling +which had not added either to his comfort or their own; consequently his +path had not been a very smooth one. + +"I respect the young ladies of Slowbridge," he remarked to Octavia that +very afternoon. "There are some very remarkable young ladies here,--very +remarkable indeed. They are interested in the church, and the poor, and +the schools, and, indeed, in every thing, which is most unselfish and +amiable. Young ladies have usually so much to distract their attention +from such matters." + +"If I stay long enough in Slowbridge," said Octavia, "I shall be +interested in the church, and the poor, and the schools." + +It seemed to the curate that there had never been any thing so delightful +in the world as her laugh and her unusual remarks. She seemed to him so +beautiful, and so exhilarating, that he forgot all else but his +admiration for her. He enjoyed himself so much this afternoon, that he +was almost brilliant, and excited the sarcastic comment of Mr. Francis +Barold, who was not enjoying himself at all. + +"Confound it!" said that gentleman to himself, as he looked on. "What did +I come here for? This style of thing is just what I might have expected. +She is amusing herself with that poor little cad now, and I am left in +the cold. I suppose that is her habit with the young men in Nevada." + +He had no intention of entering the lists with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, +or of concealing the fact that he felt that this little Nevada flirt was +making a blunder. The sooner she knew it, the better for herself; so he +played his game as badly as possible, and with much dignity. + +But Octavia was so deeply interested in Mr. Poppleton's ardent efforts +to do credit to her teaching, that she was apparently unconscious of +all else. She played with great cleverness, and carried her partner to +the terminus, with an eager enjoyment of her skill quite pleasant to +behold. She made little darts here and there, advised, directed, and +controlled his movements, and was quite dramatic in a small way when he +made a failure. + +Mrs. Burnham, who was superintending the proceeding, seated in her own +easy-chair behind her window-curtains, was roused to virtuous indignation +by her energy. + +"There is no repose whatever in her manner," she said. "No dignity. Is a +game of croquet a matter of deep moment? It seems to me that it is almost +impious to devote one's mind so wholly to a mere means of recreation." + +"She seems to be enjoying it, mamma," said Miss Laura Burnham, with a +faint sigh. Miss Laura had been looking on over her parent's shoulder. +"They all seem to be enjoying it. See how Lucia Gaston and Mr. Burmistone +are laughing. I never saw Lucia look like that before. The only one who +seems a little dull is Mr. Barold." + +"He is probably disgusted by a freedom of manner to which he is not +accustomed," replied Mrs. Burnham. "The only wonder is that he has not +been disgusted by it before." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ADVANTAGES. + + +The game over, Octavia deserted her partner. She walked lightly, and with +the air of a victor, to where Barold was standing. She was smiling, and +slightly flushed, and for a moment or so stood fanning herself with a gay +Japanese fan. + +"Don't you think I am a good teacher?" she asked at length. + +"I should say so," replied Barold, without enthusiasm. "I am afraid I am +not a judge." + +She waved her fan airily. + +"I had a good pupil," she said. Then she held her fan still for a moment, +and turned fully toward him. "I have done something you don't like," she +said. "I knew I had." + +Mr. Francis Barold retired within himself at once. In his present mood +it really appeared that she was assuming that he was very much interested +indeed. + +"I should scarcely take the liberty upon a limited acquaintance," he +began. + +She looked at him steadily, fanning herself with slow, regular movements. + +"Yes," she remarked. "You're mad. I knew you were." + +He was so evidently disgusted by this observation, that she caught at the +meaning of his look, and laughed a little. + +"Ah!" she said, "that's an American word, ain't it? It sounds queer to +you. You say 'vexed' instead of 'mad.' Well, then, you are vexed." + +"If I have been so clumsy as to appear ill-humored," he said, "I beg +pardon. Certainly I have no right to exhibit such unusual interest in +your conduct." + +He felt that this was rather decidedly to the point, but she did not seem +overpowered at all. She smiled anew. + +"Anybody has a right to be mad--I mean vexed," she observed. "I should +like to know how people would live if they hadn't. I am mad--I mean +vexed--twenty times a day." + +"Indeed?" was his sole reply. + +"Well," she said, "I think it's real mean in you to be so cool about it +when you remember what I told you the other day." + +"I regret to say I don't remember just now. I hope it was nothing very +serious." + +To his astonishment she looked down at her fan, and spoke in a slightly +lowered voice:-- + +"I told you that I wanted to be improved." + +It must be confessed that he was mollified. There was a softness in her +manner which amazed him. He was at once embarrassed and delighted. But, +at the same time, it would not do to commit himself to too great a +seriousness. + +"Oh!" he answered, "that was a rather good joke, I thought." + +"No, it wasn't," she said, perhaps even half a tone lower. "I was +in earnest." + +Then she raised her eyes. + +"If you told me when I did any thing wrong, I think it might be a good +thing," she said. + +He felt that this was quite possible, and was also struck with the idea +that he might find the task of mentor--so long as he remained entirely +non-committal--rather interesting. Still, he could not afford to descend +at once from the elevated stand he had taken. + +"I am afraid you would find it rather tiresome," he remarked. + +"I am afraid _you_ would," she answered. "You would have to tell me of +things so often." + +"Do you mean seriously to tell me that you would take my advice?" he +inquired. + +"I mightn't take all of it," was her reply; "but I should take +some--perhaps a great deal." + +"Thanks," he remarked. "I scarcely think I should give you a great deal." + +She simply smiled. +"I have never had any advice at all," she said. "I don't know that I +should have taken it if I had--just as likely as not I shouldn't; but I +have never had any. Father spoiled me. He gave me all my own way. He said +he didn't care, so long as I had a good time; and I must say I have +generally had a good time. I don't see how I could help it--with all my +own way, and no one to worry. I wasn't sick, and I could buy any thing I +liked, and all that: so I had a good time. I've read of girls, in books, +wishing they had mothers to take care of them. I don't know that I ever +wished for one particularly. I can take care of myself. I must say, too, +that I don't think some mothers are much of an institution. I know girls +who have them, and they are always worrying." + +He laughed in spite of himself; and though she had been speaking with the +utmost seriousness and _naiveté_, she joined him. + +When they ceased, she returned suddenly to the charge. + +"Now tell me what I have done this afternoon that isn't right," she +said,--"that Lucia Gaston wouldn't have done, for instance. I say +that, because I shouldn't mind being a little like Lucia Gaston--in +some things." + +"Lucia ought to feel gratified," he commented. + +"She does," she answered. "We had a little talk about it, and she was as +pleased as could be. I didn't think of it in that way until I saw her +begin to blush. Guess what she said." + +"I am afraid I can't." + +"She said she saw so many things to envy in me, that she could scarcely +believe I wanted to be at all like her." + +"It was a very civil speech," said Barold ironically. "I scarcely thought +Lady Theobald had trained her so well." + +"She meant it," said Octavia. "You mayn't believe it, but she did. I know +when people mean things, and when they don't." + +"I wish I did," said Barold. + +Octavia turned her attention to her fan. + +"Well, I am waiting," she said. + +"Waiting?" he repeated. + +"To be told of my faults." + +"But I scarcely see of what importance my opinion can be." + +"It is of some importance to me--just now." + +The last two words rendered him really impatient, and, it may be, spurred +him up. + +"If we are to take Lucia Gaston as a model," he said, "Lucia Gaston would +possibly not have been so complaisant in her demeanor toward our clerical +friend." + +"Complaisant!" she exclaimed, opening her lovely eyes. "When I was +actually plunging about the garden, trying to teach him to play. Well, I +shouldn't call that being complaisant." + +"Lucia Gaston," he replied, "would not say that she had been 'plunging' +about the garden." + +She gave herself a moment for reflection. + +"That's true," she remarked, when it was over: "she wouldn't. When I +compare myself with the Slowbridge girls, I begin to think I must say +some pretty awful things." + +Barold made no reply, which caused her to laugh a little again. + +"You daren't tell me," she said. "Now, do I? Well, I don't think I want +to know very particularly. What Lady Theobald thinks will last quite a +good while. Complaisant!" + +"I am sorry you object to the word," he said. + +"Oh, I don't!" she answered. "I like it. It sounds so much more polite +than to say I was flirting and being fast." + +"Were you flirting?" he inquired coldly. + +He objected to her ready serenity very much. + +She looked a little puzzled. + +"You are very like aunt Belinda," she said. + +He drew himself up. He did not think there was any point of resemblance +at all between Miss Belinda and himself. + +She went on, without observing his movement. + +"You think every thing means something, or is of some importance. You +said that just as aunt Belinda says, 'What will they think?' It never +occurs to me that they'll think at all. Gracious! Why should they?" + +"You will find they do," he said. + +"Well," she said, glancing at the group gathered under the laburnum-tree, +"just now aunt Belinda thinks we had better go over to her; so, suppose +we do it? At any rate, I found out that I was too complaisant to Mr. +Poppleton." + +When the party separated for the afternoon, Barold took Lucia home, and +Mr. Burmistone and the curate walked down the street together. + +Mr. Poppleton was indeed most agreeably exhilarated. His expressive +little countenance beamed with delight. + +"What a very charming person Miss Bassett is!" he exclaimed, after they +had left the gate. "What a very charming person indeed!" + +"Very charming," said Mr. Burmistone with much seriousness. "A +prettier young person I certainly have never seen; and those wonderful +gowns of hers"-- + +"Oh!" interrupted Mr. Poppleton, with natural confusion, "I--referred to +Miss Belinda Bassett; though, really, what you say is very true. Miss +Octavia Bassett--indeed--I think--in fact, Miss Octavia Bassett is +_quite_, one might almost say even _more_, charming than her aunt." + +"Yes," admitted Mr. Burmistone; "perhaps one might. She is less ripe, it +is true; but that is an objection time will remove." + +"There is such a delightful gayety in her manner!" said Mr. Poppleton; +"such an ingenuous frankness! such a--a--such spirit! It quite carries me +away with it,--quite." + +He walked a few steps, thinking over this delightful gayety and ingenuous +frankness; and then burst out afresh,-- + +"And what a remarkable life she has had too! She actually told me, that, +once in her childhood, she lived for months in a gold-diggers' camp,--the +only woman there. She says the men were kind to her, and made a pet of +her. She has known the most extraordinary people." + +In the mean time Francis Barold returned Lucia to Lady Theobald's safe +keeping. Having done so, he made his adieus, and left the two to +themselves. Her ladyship was, it must be confessed, a little at a loss to +explain to herself what she saw, or fancied she saw, in the manner and +appearance of her young relative. She was persuaded that she had never +seen Lucia look as she looked this afternoon. She had a brighter color in +her cheeks than usual, her pretty figure seemed more erect, her eyes had +a spirit in them which was quite new. She had chatted and laughed gayly +with Francis Barold, as she approached the house; and after his departure +she moved to and fro with a freedom not habitual to her. + +"He has been making himself agreeable to her," said my lady, with grim +pleasure. "He can do it if he chooses; and he is just the man to please a +girl,--good-looking, and with a fine, domineering air." + +"How did you enjoy yourself?" she asked. + +"Very much," said Lucia; "never more, thank you." + +"Oh!" ejaculated my lady. "And which of her smart New York gowns did Miss +Octavia Bassett wear?" + +They were at the dinner-table; and, instead of looking down at her soup, +Lucia looked quietly and steadily across the table at her grandmother. + +"She wore a very pretty one," she said: "it was pale fawn-color, and +fitted her like a glove. She made me feel very old-fashioned and +badly dressed." + +Lady Theobald laid down her spoon. + +"She made you feel old-fashioned and badly dressed,--you!" + +"Yes," responded Lucia: "she always does. I wonder what she thinks of the +things we wear in Slowbridge." And she even went to the length of smiling +a little. + +"What _she_ thinks of what is worn in Slowbridge!" Lady Theobald +ejaculated. "She! may I ask what weight the opinion of a young woman from +America--from Nevada--is supposed to have in Slowbridge?" + +Lucia took a spoonful of soup in a leisurely manner. + +"I don't think it is supposed to have any; but--but I don't think she +minds that. I feel as if I shouldn't if I were in her place. I have +always thought her very lucky." + +"You have thought her lucky!" cried my lady. "You have envied a Nevada +young woman, who dresses like an actress, and loads herself with jewels +like a barbarian? A girl whose conduct toward men is of a character +to--to chill one's blood!" + +"They admire her," said Lucia simply, "more than they admire Lydia +Egerton, and more than they admire me." + +"Do _you_ admire her?" demanded my lady. + +"Yes, grandmamma," replied Lucia courageously. "I think I do." + +Never had my lady been so astounded in her life. For a moment she could +scarcely speak. When she recovered herself she pointed to the door. + +"Go to your room," she commanded. "This is American freedom of speech, I +suppose. Go to your room." + +Lucia rose obediently. She could not help wondering what her ladyship's +course would be if she had the hardihood to disregard her order. She +really looked quite capable of carrying it out forcibly herself. When the +girl stood at her bedroom window, a few minutes later, her cheeks were +burning and her hands trembling. + +"I am afraid it was very badly done," she said to herself. "I am sure it +was; but--but it will be a kind of practice. I was in such a hurry to try +if I were equal to it, that I didn't seem to balance things quite +rightly. I ought to have waited until I had more reason to speak out. +Perhaps there wasn't enough reason then, and I was more aggressive than I +ought to have been. Octavia is never aggressive. I wonder if I was at all +pert. I don't think Octavia ever means to be pert. I felt a little as if +I meant to be pert. I must learn to balance myself, and only be cool and +frank." + +Then she looked out of the window, and reflected a little. + +"I was not so very brave, after all," she said, rather reluctantly. "I +didn't tell her Mr. Burmistone was there. I daren't have done that. I am +afraid I _am_ sly--that sounds sly, I am sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CONTRAST. + + +"Lady Theobald will put a stop to it," was the general remark. "It will +certainly not occur again." + +This was said upon the evening of the first gathering upon Miss Belinda's +grass-plat, and at the same time it was prophesied that Mr. Francis +Barold would soon go away. + +But neither of the prophecies proved true. Mr. Francis Barold did _not_ +return to London; and, strange to say, Lucia was seen again and again +playing croquet with Octavia Bassett, and was even known to spend +evenings with her. + +Perhaps it might be that an appeal made by Miss Belinda to her ladyship +had caused her to allow of these things. Miss Belinda had, in fact, made +a private call upon my lady, to lay her case before her. + +"I feel so very timid about every thing," she said, almost with tears, +"and so fearful of trusting myself, that I really find it quite a trial. +The dear child has such a kind heart--I assure you she has a kind heart, +dear Lady Theobald,--and is so innocent of any intention to do wrong--I +am sure she is innocent,--that it seems cruel to judge her severely. If +she had had the benefit of such training as dear Lucia's. I am convinced +that her conduct would have been most exemplary. She sees herself that +she has faults: I am sure she does. She said to me only last night, in +that odd way of hers,--she had been sitting, evidently thinking deeply, +for some minutes,--and she said, 'I wonder if I shouldn't be nicer if I +were more like Lucia Gaston.' You see what turn her mind must have taken. +She admires Lucia so much." + +"Yesterday evening at dinner," said Lady Theobald severely, "Lucia +informed me that _she_ admired your niece. The feeling seems to be +mutual." + +Miss Belinda colored, and brightened visibly. + +"Did she, indeed?" she exclaimed. "How pleased Octavia will be to hear +it! Did she, indeed?" Then, warned by a chilliness, and lack of response, +in her ladyship's manner, she modified her delight, and became apologetic +again. "These young people are more--are less critical than we are," she +sighed. "Octavia's great prettiness"-- + +"I think," Lady Theobald interposed, "that Lucia has been taught to feel +that the body is corruptible, and subject to decay, and that mere beauty +is of small moment." + +Miss Belinda sighed again. + +"That is very true," she admitted deprecatingly; "very true indeed." + +"It is to be hoped that Octavia's stay in Slowbridge will prove +beneficial to her," said her ladyship in her most judicial manner. "The +atmosphere is wholly unlike that which has surrounded her during her +previous life." + +"I am sure it will prove beneficial to her," said Miss Belinda eagerly. +"The companionship of well-trained and refined young people cannot fail +to be of use to her. Such a companion as Lucia would be, if you would +kindly permit her to spend an evening with us now and then, would +certainly improve and modify her greatly. Mr. Francis Barold is--is, I +think, of the same opinion; at least, I fancied I gathered as much from a +few words he let fall." + +"Francis Barold?" repeated Lady Theobald. "And what did Francis Barold +say?" + +"Of course it was but very little," hesitated Miss Belinda; "but--but I +could not help seeing that he was drawing comparisons, as it were. +Octavia was teaching Mr. Poppleton to play croquet; and she was rather +exhilarated, and perhaps exhibited more--freedom of manner, in an +innocent way,--quite in an innocent, thoughtless way,--than is exactly +customary; and I saw Mr. Barold glance from her to Lucia, who stood near; +and when I said, 'You are thinking of the contrast between them,' he +answered, 'Yes, they differ very greatly, it is true;' and of course I +knew that my poor Octavia could not have the advantage in his eyes. She +feels this herself, I know. She shocked me the other day, beyond +expression, by telling me that she had asked him if he thought she was +really fast, and that she was sure he did. Poor child! she evidently did +not comprehend the dreadful significance of such terms." + +"A man like Francis Barold does understand their significance," said Lady +Theobald; "and it is to be deplored that your niece cannot be taught what +her position in society will be if such a reputation attaches itself to +her. The men of the present day fight shy of such characters." + +This dread clause so impressed poor Miss Belinda by its solemnity, that +she could not forbear repeating it to Octavia afterward, though it is to +be regretted that it did not produce the effect she had hoped. + +"Well, I must say," she observed, "that if some men fought a little shyer +than they do, I shouldn't mind it. You always _do_ have about half a +dozen dangling around, who only bore you, and who will keep asking you to +go to places, and sending you bouquets, and asking you to dance when they +can't dance at all, and only tear your dress, and stand on your feet. If +they would 'fight shy,' it would be splendid." + +To Miss Belinda, who certainly had never been guilty of the indecorum of +having any member of the stronger sex "dangling about" at all, this was +very trying. + +"My dear," she said, "don't say 'you always have;' it--it really seems to +make it so personal." + +Octavia turned around, and fixed her eyes wonderingly upon her blushing +countenance. For a moment she made no remark, a marvellous thought +shaping itself slowly in her mind. + +"Aunt Belinda," she said at length, "did nobody ever"-- + +"Ah, no, my dear! No, no, I assure you!" cried Miss Belinda, in the +greatest possible trepidation. "Ah, dear, no! Such--such things +rarely--very rarely happen in--Slowbridge; and, besides, I couldn't +possibly have thought of it. I couldn't, indeed!" + +She was so overwhelmed with maidenly confusion at the appalling thought, +that she did not recover herself for half an hour at least. Octavia, +feeling that it would not be safe to pursue the subject, only uttered one +word of comment,-- + +"Gracious!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN EXPERIMENT. + + +Much to her own astonishment, Lucia found herself allowed new liberty. +She was permitted to spend the afternoon frequently with Octavia; and on +several occasions that young lady and Miss Bassett were invited to +partake of tea at Oldclough in company with no other guest than Francis +Barold. + +"I don't know what it means, and I think it must mean something," said +Lucia to Octavia; "but it is very pleasant. I never was allowed to be so +intimate with any one before." + +"Perhaps," suggested Octavia sagely, "she thinks, that, if you see me +often enough, you will get sick of me, and it will be a lesson to you." + +"The more I see of you," answered Lucia with a serious little air, "the +fonder I am of you. I understand you better. You are not at all like what +I thought you at first, Octavia." + +"But I don't know that there's much to understand in me." + +"There is a great deal to understand in you," she replied. "You are a +puzzle to me often. You seem so frank, and yet one knows so little about +you after all. For instance," Lucia went on, "who would imagine that you +are so affectionate?" + +"Am I affectionate?" she asked. + +"Yes," answered Lucia: "I am sure you are very affectionate. I have found +it out gradually. You would suffer things for any one you loved." + +Octavia thought the matter over. + +"Yes," she said at length, "I would." + +"You are very fond of Miss Bassett," proceeded Lucia, as if arraigning +her at the bar of justice. "You are _very_ fond of your father; and I am +sure there are other people you are very fond of--_very_ fond of indeed." + +Octavia pondered seriously again. + +"Yes, there are," she remarked; "but no one would care about them here, +and so I'm not going to make a fuss. You don't want to make a fuss over +people you l-like." + +"_You_ don't," said Lucia. "You are like Francis Barold in one way, but +you are altogether different in another. Francis Barold does not wish to +show emotion; and he is so determined to hedge himself around, that one +can't help suspecting that he is always guarding himself against one. He +seems always to be resenting any interference; but you do not appear to +care at all, and so it is not natural that one should suspect you. I did +not suspect you." + +"What do you suspect me of now?" + +"Of thinking a great deal," answered Lucia affectionately. "And of being +very clever and very good." + +Octavia was silent for a few moments. + +"I think," she said after the pause,--"I think you'll find out that it's +a mistake." + +"No, I shall not," returned Lucia, quite glowing with enthusiasm. "And I +know I shall learn a great deal from you." + +This was such a startling proposition that Octavia felt decidedly +uncomfortable. She flushed rosy red. + +"I'm the one who ought to learn things, I think," she said. "I'm always +doing things that frighten aunt Belinda, and you know how the rest +regard me." + +"Octavia," said Lucia, very naively indeed, "suppose we try to help each +other. If you will tell me when I am wrong, I will try to--to have the +courage to tell you. That will be good practice for me. What I want most +is courage and frankness, and I am sure it will take courage to make up +my mind to tell you of your--of your mistakes." + +Octavia regarded her with mingled admiration and respect. + +"I think that's a splendid idea," she said. + +"Are you sure," faltered Lucia, "are you sure you won't mind the +things I may have to say? Really, they are quite little things in +themselves--hardly worth mentioning"-- + +"Tell me one of them, right now," said Octavia, point-blank. + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Lucia, starting. "I'd rather not--just now." + +"Well," commented Octavia, "that sounds as if they must be pretty +unpleasant. Why don't you want to? They will be quite as bad to-morrow. +And to refuse to tell me one is a bad beginning. It looks as if you were +frightened; and it isn't good practice for you to be frightened at such a +little thing." + +Lucia felt convicted. She made an effort to regain her composure. + +"No, it is not," she said. "But that is always the way. I am continually +telling myself that I _will_ be courageous and candid; and, the first +time any thing happens, I fail. I _will_ tell you one thing." + +She stopped short here, and looked at Octavia guiltily. + +"It is something--I think I would do if--if I were in your place," Lucia +stammered. "A very little thing indeed." + +"Well?" remarked Octavia anxiously. + +Lucia lost her breath, caught it again, and proceeded cautiously, and +with blushes at her own daring. + +"If I were in your place," she said, "I think--that, perhaps--only +perhaps, you know--I would not wear--my hair--_quite_ so low down--over +my forehead." + +Octavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the pier-glass over the mantle. +She glanced at the reflection of her own startled, pretty face, and +then, putting her hand up to the soft blonde "bang" which met her brows, +turned to Lucia. + +"Isn't it becoming?" she asked breathlessly. + +"Oh, yes!" Lucia answered. "Very." + +Octavia started. + +"Then, why wouldn't you wear it?" she cried. "What do you mean?" + +Lucia felt her position truly a delicate one. She locked her hands, and +braced herself; but she blushed vividly. + +"It may sound rather silly when I tell you why, Octavia," she said; "but +I really do think it is a sort of reason. You know, in those absurd +pictures of actresses, bangs always seem to be the principal feature. I +saw some in the shop-windows when I went to Harriford with grandmamma. +And they were such dreadful women,--some of them,--and had so very few +clothes on, that I can't help thinking I shouldn't like to look like +them, and"-- + +"Does it make me look like them?" + +"Oh, very little!" answered Lucia; "very little indeed, of course; but"-- + +"But it's the same thing after all," put in Octavia. "That's what you +mean." + +"It is so very little," faltered Lucia, "that--that perhaps it isn't +a reason." + +Octavia looked at herself in the glass again. + +"It isn't a very good reason," she remarked, "but I suppose it will do." + +She paused, and looked Lucia in the face. + +"I don't think that's a little thing," she said. "To be told you look +like an _opéra bouffe_ actress." + +"I did not mean to say so," cried Lucia, filled with the most poignant +distress. "I beg your pardon, indeed--I--oh, dear! I was afraid you +wouldn't like it. I felt that it was taking a great liberty." + +"I don't like it," answered Octavia; "but that can't be helped. I didn't +exactly suppose I should. But I wasn't going to say any thing about +_your_ hair when _I_ began," glancing at poor Lucia's coiffure, "though I +suppose I might." + +"You might say a thousand things about it!" cried Lucia piteously. "I +know that mine is not only in bad taste, but it is ugly and unbecoming." + + +"Yes," said Octavia cruelly, "it is." + +"And yours is neither the one nor the other," protested Lucia. "You know +I told you it was pretty, Octavia." + +Octavia walked over to the table, upon which stood Miss Belinda's +work-basket, and took therefrom a small and gleaming pair of scissors, +returning to the mantle-glass with them. + +"How short shall I cut it?" she demanded. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lucia, "don't, don't!" + +For answer, Octavia raised the scissors, and gave a snip. It was a savage +snip, and half the length and width of her love-locks fell on the mantle; +then she gave another snip, and the other half fell. + +Lucia scarcely dared to breathe. + +For a moment Octavia stood gazing at herself, with pale face and dilated +eyes. Then suddenly the folly of the deed she had done seemed to reveal +itself to her. + +"Oh!" she cried out. "Oh, how diabolical it looks!" + +She turned upon Lucia. + +"Why did you make me do it?" she exclaimed. "It's all your fault--every +bit of it;" and, flinging the scissors to the other end of the room, she +threw herself into a chair, and burst into tears. + +Lucia's anguish of mind was almost more than she could bear. For at least +three minutes she felt herself a criminal of the deepest dye; after the +three minutes had elapsed, however, she began to reason, and called to +mind the fact that she was failing as usual under her crisis. + +"This is being a coward again," she said to herself. "It is worse than to +have said nothing. It is true that she will look more refined, now one +can see a little of her forehead; and it is cowardly to be afraid to +stand firm when I really think so. I--yes, I will say something to her." + +"Octavia," she began aloud, "I am sure you are making a mistake again." +This as decidedly as possible, which was not very decidedly. "You--you +look very much--nicer." + +"I look _ghastly_!" said Octavia, who began to feel rather absurd. + +"You do not. Your forehead--you have the prettiest forehead I ever saw, +Octavia," said Lucia eagerly; "and your eyebrows are perfect. I--wish you +would look at yourself again." + +Rather to her surprise, Octavia began to laugh under cover of her +handkerchief: reaction had set in, and, though the laugh was a trifle +hysterical, it was still a laugh. Next she gave her eyes a final little +dab, and rose to go to the glass again. She looked at herself, touched up +the short, waving fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia, with +a resigned expression. + +"Do you think that any one who was used to seeing it the other way +would--would think I looked horrid?" she inquired anxiously. + +"They would think you prettier,--a great deal," Lucia answered earnestly. +"Don't you know, Octavia, that nothing could be really unbecoming to you? +You have that kind of face." + +For a few seconds Octavia seemed to lose herself in thought of a +speculative nature. + +"Jack always said so," she remarked at length. + +"Jack!" repeated Lucia timidly. + +Octavia roused herself, and smiled with candid sweetness. + +"He is some one I knew in Nevada," she explained. "He worked in father's +mine once." + +"You must have known him very well," suggested Lucia, somewhat awed. + +"I did," she replied calmly. "Very well." + +She tucked away her pocket-handkerchief in the jaunty pocket at the back +of her basque, and returned to her chair. Then she turned again to Lucia. + +"Well," she said, "I think you have found out that you _were_ mistaken, +haven't you, dear? Suppose you tell me of something else." + +Lucia colored. + +"No," she answered: "that is enough for to-day." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PECULIAR TO NEVADA. + + +Whether, or not, Lucia was right in accusing Octavia Bassett of being +clever, and thinking a great deal, is a riddle which those who are +interested in her must unravel as they read; but, whether the surmise was +correct or incorrect, it seemed possible that she had thought a little +after the interview. When Barold saw her next, he was struck by a slight +but distinctly definable change he recognized in her dress and coiffure. +Her pretty hair had a rather less "professional" appearance: he had the +pleasure of observing, for the first time, how very white her forehead +was, and how delicate the arch of her eyebrows; her dress had a novel air +of simplicity, and the diamond rings were nowhere to be seen. + +"She's better dressed than usual," he said to himself. "And she's always +well dressed,--rather too well dressed, fact is, for a place like this. +This sort of thing is in better form, under the circumstances." It was +so much "better form," and he so far approved of it, that he quite +thawed, and was very amiable and very entertaining indeed. + +Octavia was entertaining too. She asked several most interesting +questions. + +"Do you think," she inquired, "that it is bad taste to wear diamonds?" + +"My mother wears them--occasionally." + +"Have you any sisters?" + +"No." + +"Any cousins--as young as I am?" + +"Ya-as." + +"Do they wear them?" + +"I must admit," he replied, "that they don't. In the first place, you +know, they haven't any; and, in the second, I am under the impression +that Lady Beauchamp--their mamma, you know--wouldn't permit it if they +had." + +"Wouldn't permit it!" said Octavia. "I suppose they always do as she +tells them?" + +He smiled a little. + +"They would be very courageous young women if they didn't," he remarked. + +"What would she do if they tried it?" she inquired. "She couldn't beat +them." + +"They will never try it," he answered dryly. "And though I have never +seen her beat them, or heard their lamentations under chastisement, I +should not like to say that Lady Beauchamp could not do any thing. She is +a very determined person--for a gentlewoman." + +Octavia laughed. + +"You are joking," she said. + +"Lady Beauchamp is a serious subject for jokes," he responded. "My +cousins think so, at least." + +"I wonder if she is as bad as Lady Theobald," Octavia reflected aloud. +"She says I have no right to wear diamonds at all until I am married. But +I don't mind Lady Theobald," she added, as a cheerful afterthought. "I am +not fond enough of her to care about what she says." + +"Are you fond of any one?" Barold inquired, speaking with a languid air, +but at the same time glancing at her with some slight interest from under +his eyelids. + +"Lucia says I am," she returned, with the calmness of a young person who +wished to regard the matter from an unembarrassed point of view. "Lucia +says I am affectionate." + +"Ah!" deliberately. "Are you?" + +She turned, and looked at him serenely. + +"Should _you_ think so?" she asked. + +This was making such a personal matter of the question, that he did not +exactly enjoy it. It was certainly not "good form" to pull a man up in +such cool style. + +"Really," he replied, "I--ah--have had no opportunity of judging." + +He had not the slightest intention of being amusing, but to his infinite +disgust he discovered as soon as he spoke that she was amused. She +laughed outright, and evidently only checked herself because he looked so +furious. In consideration for his feelings she assumed an air of mild but +preternatural seriousness. + +"No," she remarked, "that is true: you haven't, of course." + +He was silent. He did not enjoy being amusing at all, and he made no +pretence of appearing to submit to the indignity calmly. + +She bent forward a little. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, "you are mad again--I mean, you are vexed. I am +always vexing you." + +There was a hint of appeal in her voice, which rather pleased him; but he +had no intention of relenting at once. + +"I confess I am at a loss to know why you laughed," he said. + +"Are you," she asked, "really?" letting her eyes rest upon him anxiously +for a moment. Then she actually gave vent to a little sigh. "We look at +things so differently, that's it," she said. + +"I suppose it is," he responded, still chillingly. + +In spite of this, she suddenly assumed a comparatively cheerful aspect. A +happy thought occurred to her. + +"Lucia would beg your pardon," she said. "I am learning good manners from +Lucia. Suppose I beg your pardon." + +"It is quite unnecessary," he replied. + +"Lucia wouldn't think so," she said. "And why shouldn't I be as +well-behaved as Lucia? I beg your pardon." + +He felt rather absurd, and yet somewhat mollified. She had a way of +looking at him, sometimes, when she had been unpleasant, which rather +soothed him. In fact, he had found of late, a little to his private +annoyance, that it was very easy for her either to soothe or disturb him. + +And now, just as Octavia had settled down into one of the prettiest and +least difficult of her moods, there came a knock at the front door, +which, being answered by Mary Anne, was found to announce the curate of +St. James. + +Enter, consequently, the Rev. Arthur Poppleton,--blushing, a trifle +timorous perhaps, but happy beyond measure to find himself in Miss +Belinda's parlor again, with Miss Belinda's niece. + +Perhaps the least possible shade of his joyousness died out when he +caught sight of Mr. Francis Barold, and certainly Mr. Francis Barold was +not at all delighted to see him. + +"What does the fellow want?" that gentleman was saying inwardly. "What +does he come simpering and turning pink here for? Why doesn't he go and +see some of his old women, and read tracts to them? That's _his_ +business." Octavia's manner toward her visitor formed a fresh +grievance for Barold. She treated the curate very well indeed. She +seemed glad to see him, she was wholly at her ease with him, she made no +trying remarks to him, she never stopped to fix her eyes upon him in +that inexplicable style, and she did not laugh when there seemed nothing +to laugh at. She was so gay and good-humored that the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton beamed and flourished under her treatment, and forgot to +change color, and even ventured to talk a good deal, and make divers +quite presentable little jokes. + +"I should like to know," thought Barold, growing sulkier as the others +grew merrier,--"I should like to know what she finds so interesting in +him, and why she chooses to treat him better than she treats me; for she +certainly does treat him better." + +It was hardly fair, however, that he should complain; for, at times, he +was treated extremely well, and his intimacy with Octavia progressed +quite rapidly. Perhaps, if the truth were told, it was always himself who +was the first means of checking it, by some suddenly prudent instinct +which led him to feel that perhaps he was in rather a delicate position, +and had better not indulge in too much of a good thing. He had not been +an eligible and unimpeachable desirable _parti_ for ten years without +acquiring some of that discretion which is said to be the better part of +valor. The matter-of-fact air with which Octavia accepted his attentions +caused him to pull himself up sometimes. If he had been Brown, or Jones, +or even Robinson, she could not have appeared to regard them as more +entirely natural. When--he had gone so far, once or twice--he had deigned +to make a more than usually agreeable speech to her, it was received with +none of that charming sensitive tremor to which he was accustomed. +Octavia neither blushed, nor dropped her eyes. + +It did not add to Barold's satisfaction to find her as cheerful and ready +to be amused by a mild little curate, who blushed and stammered, and was +neither brilliant, graceful, nor distinguished. Could not Octavia see the +wide difference between the two? Regarding the matter in this light, and +watching Octavia as she encouraged her visitor, and laughed at his jokes, +and never once tripped him up by asking him a startling question, did +not, as already has been said, improve Mr. Francis Barold's temper; and, +by the time his visit was over, he had lapsed into his coldest and most +haughty manner. As soon as Miss Belinda entered, and engaged Mr. +Poppleton for a moment, he rose, and crossed the little room to Octavia's +side. + +"I must bid you good-afternoon," he said. + +Octavia did not rise. + +"Sit down a minute, while aunt Belinda is talking about red-flannel +nightcaps and lumbago," she said. "I wanted to ask you something. By the +way, what _is_ lumbago?" + +"Is that what you wished to ask me?" he inquired stiffly. + +"No. I just thought of that. Have you ever had it? and what is it like? +All the old people in Slowbridge have it, and they tell you all about it +when you go to see them. Aunt Belinda says so. What I wanted to ask you +was different"-- + +"Possibly Miss Bassett might be able to tell you," he remarked. + +"About the lumbago? Well, perhaps she might. I'll ask her. Do you think +it bad taste in _me_ to wear diamonds?" + +She said this with the most delightful seriousness, fixing her eyes upon +him with her very prettiest look of candid appeal, as if it were the most +natural thing in the world that she should apply to him for information. +He felt himself faltering again. How white that bit of forehead was! How +soft that blonde, waving fringe of hair! What a lovely shape her eyes +were, and how large and clear as she raised them! + +"Why do you ask _me_?" he inquired. + +"Because I think you are an unprejudiced person. Lady Theobald is not. I +have confidence in you. Tell me." + +There was a slight pause. + +"Really," he said, after it, "I can scarcely believe that my opinion can +be of any value in your eyes. I am--can only tell you that it is hardly +customary in--an--in England for young people to wear a profusion of +ornament." + +"I wonder if I wear a profusion." + +"You don't need any," he condescended. "You are too young, and--all that +sort of thing." + +She glanced down at her slim, unringed hands for a moment, her expression +quite thoughtful. + +"Lucia and I almost quarrelled the other day," she said--"at least, I +almost quarrelled. It isn't so nice to be told of things, after all. I +must say I don't like it as much as I thought I should." + +He kept his seat longer than he had intended; and, when he rose to go, +the Rev. Arthur Poppleton was shaking hands with Miss Belinda, and so it +fell out that they left the house together. + +"You know Miss Octavia Bassett well, I suppose," remarked Barold, with +condescension, as they passed through the gate. "You clergymen are +fortunate fellows." + +"I wish that others knew her as well, sir," said the little gentleman, +kindling. "I wish they knew her--her generosity and kindness of heart and +ready sympathy with misfortune!" + +"Ah!" commented Mr. Barold, twisting his mustache with somewhat of an +incredulous air. This was not at all the sort of thing he had expected to +hear. For his own part, it would not have occurred to him to suspect her +of the possession of such desirable and orthodox qualities. + +"There are those who--misunderstand her," cried the curate, warming with +his subject, "who misunderstand, and--yes, and apply harsh terms to her +innocent gayety and freedom of speech: if they knew her as I do, they +would cease to do so." + +"I should scarcely have thought"--began Barold. + +"There are many who scarcely think it,--if you will pardon my +interrupting you," said the curate. "I think they would scarcely believe +it if I felt at liberty to tell them, which I regret to say I do not. I +am almost breaking my word in saying what I cannot help saying to +yourself. The poor under my care are better off since she came, and there +are some who have seen her more than once, though she did not go as a +teacher or to reprove them for faults; and her way of doing what she did +was new to them, and perhaps much less serious than they were accustomed +to, and they liked it all the better." + +"Ah!" commented Barold again. "Flannel under-garments, and--that sort +of thing." + +"No," with much spirit, "not at all, sir; but what, as I said, they liked +much better. It is not often they meet a beautiful creature who comes +among them with open hands, and the natural, ungrudging way of giving +which she has. Sometimes they are at a loss to understand, as well as the +rest. They have been used to what is narrower and more--more exacting." + +"They have been used to Lady Theobald," observed Barold, with a faint +smile. + +"It would not become me to--to mention Lady Theobald in any disparaging +manner," replied the curate: "but the best and most charitable among us +do not always carry out our good intentions in the best way. I dare say +Lady Theobald would consider Miss Octavia Bassett too readily influenced +and too lavish." + +"She is as generous with her money as with her diamonds perhaps," said +Barold. "Possibly the quality is peculiar to Nevada. We part here, Mr. +Poppleton, I believe. Good-morning." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +LORD LANSDOWNE. + + +One morning in the following week Mrs. Burnham attired herself in her +second-best black silk, and, leaving the Misses Burnham practising +diligently, turned her steps toward Oldclough Hall. Arriving there, she +was ushered into the blue drawing-room by Dobson, in his character of +footman; and in a few minutes Lucia appeared. + +When Mrs. Burnham saw her, she assumed a slight air of surprise. + +"Why, my dear," she said, as she shook hands, "I should scarcely have +known you." + +And, though this was something of an exaggeration, there was some excuse +for the exclamation. Lucia was looking very charming, and several changes +might be noted in her attire and appearance. The ugly twist had +disappeared from her delicate head; and in its place were soft, loose +waves and light puffs; she had even ventured on allowing a few ringed +locks to stray on to her forehead; her white morning-dress no longer wore +the trade-mark of Miss Chickie, but had been remodelled by some one of +more taste. + +"What a pretty gown, my dear!" said Mrs. Burnham, glancing at it +curiously. "A Watteau plait down the back--isn't it a Watteau plait?--and +little ruffles down the front, and pale pink bows. It is quite like some +of Miss Octavia Bassett's dresses, only not so over-trimmed." + +"I do not think Octavia's dresses would seem over-trimmed if she wore +them in London or Paris," said Lucia bravely. "It is only because we are +so very quiet, and dress so little in Slowbridge, that they seem so." + +"And your hair!" remarked Mrs. Burnham. "You drew your idea of that from +some style of hers, I suppose. Very becoming, indeed. Well, well! And how +does Lady Theobald like all this, my dear?" + +"I am not sure that"--Lucia was beginning, when her ladyship interrupted +her by entering. + +"My dear Lady Theobald," cried her visitor, rising, "I hope you are well. +I have just been complimenting Lucia upon her pretty dress, and her new +style of dressing her hair. Miss Octavia Bassett has been giving her the +benefit of her experience, it appears. We have not been doing her +justice. Who would have believed that she had come from Nevada to improve +us?" + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said my lady sonorously, "has come from Nevada to +teach our young people a great many things,--new fashions in duty, and +demeanor, and respect for their elders. Let us hope they will be +benefited." + +"If you will excuse me, grandmamma," said Lucia, speaking in a soft, +steady voice, "I will go and write the letters you wished written." + +"Go," said my lady with majesty; and, having bidden Mrs. Burnham +good-morning, Lucia went. + +If Mrs. Burnham had expected any explanation of her ladyship's evident +displeasure, she was doomed to disappointment. That excellent and +rigorous gentlewoman had a stern sense of dignity, which forbade her +condescending to the confidential weakness of mere ordinary mortals. +Instead of referring to Lucia, she broached a more commonplace topic. + +"I hope your rheumatism does not threaten you again, Mrs. Burnham," +she remarked. + +"I am very well, thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Burnham; "so well, that I +am thinking quite seriously of taking the dear girls to the garden-party, +when it comes off." + +"To the garden-party!" repeated her ladyship. "May I ask who thinks of +giving a garden-party in Slowbridge?" + +"It is no one in Slowbridge," replied this lady cheerfully. "Some one who +lives a little out of Slowbridge,--Mr. Burmistone, my dear Lady Theobald, +at his new place." + +"Mr. Burmistone!" + +"Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to +believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. +Barold." + +"Mr. Barold has not been to Oldclough for several days." + +"Then, he will tell you when he comes; for I suppose he has as much to do +with it as Mr. Burmistone." + +"I have heard before," announced my lady, "of men of Mr. Burmistone's +class securing the services of persons of established position in society +when they wished to spend their money upon entertainments; but I should +scarcely have imagined that Francis Barold would have allowed himself to +be made a party to such a transaction." + +"But," put in Mrs. Burnham rather eagerly, "it appears that Mr. +Burmistone is not such an obscure person, after all. He is an Oxford man, +and came off with honors: he is quite a well-born man, and gives this +entertainment in honor of his friend and relation, Lord Lansdowne." + +"Lord Lansdowne!" echoed her ladyship, sternly. + +"Son of the Marquis of Lauderdale, whose wife was Lady Honora Erroll." + +"Did Mr. Burmistone give you this information?" asked Lady Theobald with +ironic calmness. + +Mrs. Burnham colored never so faintly. + +"I--that is to say--there is a sort of acquaintance between one of my +maids and the butler at the Burmistone place; and, when the girl was +doing Lydia's hair, she told her the story. Lord Lansdowne and his father +are quite fond of Mr. Burmistone, it is said." + +"It seems rather singular to my mind that we should not have known of +this before." + +"But how should we learn? We none of us know Lord Lansdowne, or even the +marquis. I think he is only a second or third cousin. We are a +little--just a little _set_ in Slowbridge, you know, my dear: at least, I +have thought so sometimes lately." + +"I must confess," remarked my lady, "that _I_ have not regarded the +matter in that light." + +"That is because you have a better right to--to be a little set than the +rest of us," was the amiable response. + +Lady Theobald did not disclaim the privilege. She felt the sentiment an +extremely correct one. But she was not very warm in her manner during the +remainder of the call; and, incongruous as such a statement may appear, +it must be confessed that she felt that Miss Octavia Bassett must have +something to do with these defections on all sides, and that +garden-parties, and all such swervings from established Slowbridge +custom, were the natural result of Nevada frivolity and freedom of +manners. It may be that she felt remotely that even Lord Lansdowne and +the Marquis of Lauderdale were to be referred to the same reprehensible +cause, and that, but for Octavia Bassett, Mr. Burmistone would not have +been educated at Oxford and have come off with honors, and have turned +out to be related to respectable people, but would have remained in +appropriate obscurity. + +"I suppose," she said afterward to Lucia, "that your friend Miss Octavia +Bassett is in Mr. Burmistone's confidence, if no one else has been +permitted to have that honor. I have no doubt _she_ has known of this +approaching entertainment for some weeks." + +"I do not know, grandmamma," replied Lucia, putting her letters together, +and gaining color as she bent over them. She was wondering, with inward +trepidation, what her ladyship would say if she knew the whole truth,--if +she knew that it was her granddaughter, and not Octavia Bassett, who +enjoyed Mr. Burmistone's confidence. + +"Ah!" she thought, "how could I ever dare to tell her?" + +The same day Francis Barold sauntered up to pay them a visit; and then, +as Mrs. Burnham had prophesied, Lady Theobald heard all she wished to +hear, and, indeed, a great deal more. + +"What is this I am told of Mr. Burmistone, Francis?" she inquired. +"That he intends to give a garden-party, and that Lord Lansdowne is to +be one of the guests, and that he has caused it to be circulated that +they are cousins." + +"That Lansdowne has caused it to be circulated--or Burmistone?" + +"It is scarcely likely that Lord Lansdowne"-- + +"Beg pardon," he interrupted, fixing his single glass dexterously in his +right eye, and gazing at her ladyship through it. "Can't see why +Lansdowne should object. Fact is, he is a great deal fonder of Burmistone +than relations usually are of each other. Now, I often find that kind of +thing a bore; but Lansdowne doesn't seem to. They were at school +together, it seems, and at Oxford too; and Burmistone is supposed to have +behaved pretty well towards Lansdowne at one time, when he was rather a +wild fellow--so the father and mother say. As to Burmistone 'causing it +to be circulated,' that sort of thing is rather absurd. The man isn't a +cad, you know." + +"Pray don't say 'you know,' Francis," said her ladyship. "I know very +little but what I have chanced to see, and I must confess I have not +been prepossessed in Mr. Burmistone's favor. Why did he not choose to +inform us"-- + +"That he was Lord Lansdowne's second cousin, and knew the Marquis of +Lauderdale, grandmamma?" broke in Lucia, with very pretty spirit. "Would +that have prepossessed you in his favor? Would you have forgiven him for +building the mills, on Lord Lansdowne's account? I--I wish I was related +to a marquis," which was very bold indeed. + +"May I ask," said her ladyship, in her most monumental manner, "when +_you_ became Mr. Burmistone's champion?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +"YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER." + + +When she had become Mr. Burmistone's champion, indeed! She could scarcely +have told when, unless, perhaps, she had fixed the date at the first time +she had heard his name introduced at a high tea, with every politely +opprobrious epithet affixed. She had defended him in her own mind then, +and felt sure that he deserved very little that was said against him, and +very likely nothing at all. And, the first time she had seen and spoken +to him, she had been convinced that she had not made a mistake, and that +he had been treated with cruel injustice. How kind he was, how manly, how +clever, and how well he bore himself under the popular adverse criticism! +She only wondered that anybody could be so blind and stupid and wilful as +to assail him. + +And if this had been the case in those early days, imagine what she felt +now, when--ah, well!--when her friendship had had time and opportunity to +become a much deeper sentiment. Must it be confessed that she had seen +Mr. Burmistone even oftener than Octavia and Miss Belinda knew of? Of +course it had all been quite accidental; but it had happened that now and +then, when she had been taking a quiet walk in the lanes about Oldclough, +she had encountered a gentleman, who had dismounted, and led his horse by +the bridle, as he sauntered by her side. She had always been very timid +at such times, and had felt rather like a criminal; but Mr. Burmistone +had not been timid at all, and would, indeed, as soon have met Lady +Theobald as not, for which courage his companion admired him more than +ever. It was not very long before to be with this hero re-assured her, +and made her feel stronger and more self-reliant. She was never afraid to +open her soft little heart to him, and show him innocently all its +goodness, and ignorance of worldliness. She warmed and brightened under +his kindly influence, and was often surprised in secret at her own simple +readiness of wit and speech. + +"It is odd that I am such a different girl when--when I am with you," she +said to him one day. "I even make little jokes. I never should think of +making even the tiniest joke before grandmamma. Somehow, she never seems +quite to understand jokes. She never laughs at them. You always laugh, +and I am sure it is very kind of you to encourage me so; but you must not +encourage me too much, or I might forget, and make a little joke at +dinner, and I think, if I did, she would choke over her soup." + +Perhaps, when she dressed her hair, and adorned herself with pale pink +bows and like appurtenances, this artful young person had privately in +mind other beholders than Mrs. Burnham, and other commendation than that +to be bestowed by that most excellent matron. + +"Do you mind my telling you that you have put on an enchanted garment?" +said Mr. Burmistone, the first time they met when she wore one of the +old-new gowns. "I thought I knew before how"-- + +"I don't mind it at all," said Lucia, blushing brilliantly. "I rather +like it. It rewards me for my industry. My hair is dressed in a new way. +I hope you like that too. Grandmamma does not." + +It had been Lady Theobald's habit to treat Lucia severely from a sense of +duty. Her manner toward her had always rather the tone of implying that +she was naturally at fault, and yet her ladyship could not have told +wherein she wished the girl changed. In the good old school in which my +lady had been trained, it was customary to regard young people as weak, +foolish, and, if left to their own desires, frequently sinful. Lucia had +not been left to her own desires. She had been taught to view herself as +rather a bad case, and to feel that she was far from being what her +relatives had a right to expect. To be thrown with a person who did not +find her silly or dull or commonplace, was a new experience. + +"If I had been clever," Lucia said once to Mr. Burmistone,--"if I had +been clever, perhaps grandmamma would have been more satisfied with me. I +have often wished I had been clever." + +"If you had been a boy," replied Mr. Burmistone rather grimly, "and had +squandered her money, and run into debt, and bullied her, you would have +been her idol, and she would have pinched and starved herself to supply +your highness's extravagance." + +When the garden-party rumor began to take definite form, and there was no +doubt as to Mr. Burmistone's intentions, a discussion arose at once, and +went on in every genteel parlor. Would Lady Theobald allow Lucia to go? +and, if she did not allow her, would not such a course appear very +pointed indeed? It was universally decided that it would appear pointed, +but that Lady Theobald would not mind that in the least, and perhaps +would rather enjoy it than otherwise; and it was thought Lucia would not +go. And it is very likely that Lucia would have remained at home, if it +had not been for the influence of Mr. Francis Barold. + +Making a call at Oldclough, he found his august relative in a very +majestic mood, and she applied to him again for information. + +"Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me whether it is true that +Belinda Bassett--_Belinda Bassett_," with emphasis, "has been invited by +Mr. Burmistone to assist him to receive his guests." + +"Yes, it is true," was the reply: "I think I advised it myself. +Burmistone is fond of her. They are great friends. Man needs a woman at +such times." + +"And he chose Belinda Bassett?" + +"In the first place, he is on friendly terms with her, as I said before," +replied Barold; "in the second, she's just what he wants--well-bred, +kind-hearted, not likely to make rows, _et caetera_." There was a slight +pause before he finished, adding quietly, "He's not the man to submit to +being refused--Burmistone." + +Lady Theobald did not reply, or raise her eyes from her work: she knew he +was looking at her with calm fixedness, through the glass he held in its +place so cleverly; and she detested this more than any thing else, +perhaps because she was invariably quelled by it, and found she had +nothing to say. + +He did not address her again immediately, but turned to Lucia, dropping +the eyeglass, and resuming his normal condition. + +"You will go, of course?" he said. + +Lucia glanced across at my lady. + +"I--do not know. Grandmamma"-- + +"Oh!" interposed Barold, "you must go. There is no reason for your +refusing the invitation, unless you wish to imply something +unpleasant--which is, of course, out of the question." + +"But there may be reasons"--began her ladyship. + +"Burmistone is my friend," put in Barold, in his coolest tone; "and I am +your relative, which would make my position in his house a delicate one, +if he has offended you." + +When Lucia saw Octavia again, she was able to tell her that they had +received invitations to the _fête_, and that Lady Theobald had accepted +them. + +"She has not spoken a word to me about it, but she has accepted them," +said Lucia. "I don't quite understand her lately, Octavia. She must be +very fond of Francis Barold. He never gives way to her in the least, and +she always seems to submit to him. I know she would not have let me go, +if he had not insisted on it, in that taking-it-for-granted way of his." + +Naturally Mr. Burmistone's _fête_ caused great excitement. Miss Chickie +was never so busy in her life, and there were rumors that her feelings +had been outraged by the discovery that Mrs. Burnham had sent to +Harriford for costumes for her daughters. + +"Slowbridge is changing, mem," said Miss Chickie, with brilliant sarcasm. +"Our ladies is led in their fashions by a Nevada young person. We're +improving most rapid--more rapid than I'd ever have dared to hope. Do you +prefer a frill, or a flounce, mem?" + +Octavia was in great good spirits at the prospect of the gayeties in +question. She had been in remarkably good spirits for some weeks. She had +received letters from Nevada, containing good news she said. Shares had +gone up again; and her father had almost settled his affairs, and it +would not be long before he would come to England. She looked so +exhilarated over the matter, that Lucia felt a little aggrieved. "Will +you be so glad to leave us, Octavia?" she asked. "We shall not be so glad +to let you go. We have grown very fond of you." + +"I shall be sorry to leave you, and aunt Belinda is going with us. You +don't expect me to be very fond of Slowbridge, do you, and to be sorry I +can't take Mrs. Burnham--and the rest?" + +Barold was present when she made this speech, and it rather rankled. + +"Am I one of 'the rest'?" he inquired, the first time he found himself +alone with her. He was sufficiently piqued to forget his usual _hauteur_ +and discretion. + +"Would you like to be?" she said. + +"Oh! Very much--very much--naturally," he replied severely. + +They were standing near a rose-bush in the garden; and she plucked a +rose, and regarded it with deep interest. + +"Well," she said, next, "I must say I think I shouldn't have had such a +good time if you hadn't been here. You have made it livelier." + +"Tha-anks," he remarked. "You are most kind." + +"Oh!" she answered, "it's true. If it wasn't, I shouldn't say it. You and +Mr. Burmistone and Mr. Poppleton have certainly made it livelier." + +He went home in such a bad humor that his host, who was rather happier +than usual, commented upon his grave aspect at dinner. + +"You look as if you had heard ill news, old fellow," he said. "What's +up?" + +"Oh, nothing!" he was answered sardonically; "nothing whatever--unless +that I have been rather snubbed by a young lady from Nevada." + +"Ah!" with great seriousness: "that's rather cool, isn't it?" + +"It's her little way," said Barold. "It seems to be one of the customs +of Nevada." + +In fact, he was very savage indeed. He felt that he had condescended a +good deal lately. He seldom bestowed his time on women; and when he did +so, at rare intervals, he chose those who would do the most honor to his +taste at the least cost of trouble. And he was obliged to confess to +himself that he had broken his rule in this case. Upon analyzing his +motives and necessities, he found, that, after all, he must have extended +his visit simply because he chose to see more of this young woman from +Nevada, and that really, upon the whole, he had borne a good deal from +her. Sometimes he had been much pleased with her, and very well +entertained; but often enough--in fact, rather too often--she had made +him exceedingly uncomfortable. Her manners were not what he was +accustomed to: she did not consider that all men were not to be regarded +from the same point of view. Perhaps he did not put into definite words +the noble and patriotic sentiment that an Englishman was not to be +regarded from the same point of view as an American, and that, though all +this sort of thing might do with fellows in New York, it was scarcely +what an Englishman would stand. Perhaps, as I say, he had not put this +sentiment into words; but it is quite certain that it had been uppermost +in his mind upon more occasions than one. As he thought their +acquaintance over, this evening, he was rather severe upon Octavia. He +even was roused so far as to condescend to talk her over with Burmistone. + +"If she had been well brought up," he said, "she would have been a +different creature." + +"Very different, I have no doubt," said Burmistone thoughtfully. "When +you say well brought up, by the way, do you mean brought up like your +cousin, Miss Gaston?" + +"There is a medium," said Barold loftily. "I regret to say Lady Theobald +has not hit upon it." + +"Well, as you say," commented Mr. Burmistone, "I suppose there is a +medium." + +"A charming wife she would make, for a man with a position to maintain," +remarked Barold, with a short and somewhat savage laugh. + +"Octavia Bassett?" queried Burmistone. "That's true. But I am afraid she +wouldn't enjoy it--if you are supposing the man to be an Englishman, +brought up in the regulation groove." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Barold impatiently: "I was not looking at it from her +point of view, but from his." + +Mr. Burmistone slipped his hands in his pockets, and jingled his keys +slightly, as he did once before in an earlier part of this narrative. + +"Ah! from his," he repeated. "Not from hers. His point of view would +differ from hers--naturally." + +Barold flashed a little, and took his cigar from his mouth to knock off +the ashes. + +"A man is not necessarily a snob," he said, "because he is cool enough +not to lose his head where a woman is concerned. You can't marry a woman +who will make mistakes, and attract universal attention by her conduct." + +"Has it struck you that Octavia Bassett would?" inquired Burmistone. + +"She would do as she chose," said Barold petulantly. "She would do things +which were unusual; but I was not referring to her in particular. Why +should I?" + +"Ah!" said Burmistone. "I only thought of her because it did not strike +me that one would ever feel she had exactly blundered. She is not easily +embarrassed. There is a _sang-froid_ about her which carries things off." + +"Ah!" deigned Barold: "she has _sang-froid_ enough and to spare." + +He was silent for some time afterward, and sat smoking later than usual. +When he was about to leave the room for the night, he made an +announcement for which his host was not altogether prepared. + +"When the _fête_ is over, my dear fellow," he said, "I must go back to +London, and I shall be deucedly sorry to do it." + +"Look here!" said Burmistone, "that's a new idea, isn't it?" + +"No, an old one; but I have been putting the thing off from day to day. +By Jove! I did not think it likely that I should put it off, the day I +landed here." + +And he laughed rather uneasily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +"MAY I GO?" + + +The very day after this, Octavia opened the fourth trunk. She had had it +brought down from the garret, when there came a summons on the door, and +Lucia Gaston appeared. + +Lucia was very pale; and her large, soft eyes wore a decidedly frightened +look. She seemed to have walked fast, and was out of breath. Evidently +something had happened. + +"Octavia," she said, "Mr. Dugald Binnie is at Oldclough." + +"Who is he?" + +"He is my grand-uncle," explained Lucia tremulously. "He has a great deal +of money. Grandmamma"--She stopped short, and colored, and drew her +slight figure up. "I do not quite understand grandmamma, Octavia," she +said. "Last night she came to my room to talk to me; and this morning she +came again, and--oh!" she broke out indignantly, "how could she speak to +me in such a manner!" + +"What did she say?" inquired Octavia. + +"She said a great many things," with great spirit. "It took her a long +time to say them, and I do not wonder at it. It would have taken me a +hundred years, if I had been in her place. I--I was wrong to say I did +not understand her: I did--before she had finished." + +"What did you understand?" + +"She was afraid to tell me in plain words.--I never saw her afraid +before, but she was afraid. She has been arranging my future for me, and +it does not occur to her that I dare object. That is because she knows I +am a coward, and despises me for it--and it is what I deserve. If I make +the marriage she chooses, she thinks Mr. Binnie will leave me his money. +I am to run after a man who does not care for me, and make myself +attractive, in the hope that he will condescend to marry me because Mr. +Binnie may leave me his money. Do you wonder that it took even Lady +Theobald a long time to say that?" + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "you won't do it, I suppose. I wouldn't worry. +She wants you to marry Mr. Barold, I suppose." + +Lucia started. + +"How did you guess?" she exclaimed. + +"Oh! I always knew it. I didn't guess." And she smiled ever so faintly. +"That is one of the reasons why she loathes me so," she added. + +Lucia thought deeply for a moment: she recognized, all at once, several +things she had been mystified by before. + +"Oh, it is! It is!" she said. "And she has thought of it all the time, +when I never suspected her." + +Octavia smiled a little again. Lucia sat thinking, her hands clasped +tightly. + +"I am glad I came here," she said, at length. "I _am_ angry now, and I +see things more clearly. If she had only thought of it because Mr. Binnie +came, I could have forgiven her more easily; but she has been making +coarse plans all the time, and treating me with contempt. Octavia," she +added, turning upon her, with flushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, "I +think that, for the first time in my life, I am in a passion,--a real +passion. I think I shall never be afraid of her any more." Her delicate +nostrils were dilated, she held her head up, her breath came fast. There +was a hint of exultation in her tone. "Yes," she said, "I am in a +passion. And I am not afraid of her at all. I will go home and tell her +what I think." + +And it is quite probable that she would have done so, but for a trifling +incident which occurred before she reached her ladyship. + +She walked very fast, after she left the house. She wanted to reach +Oldclough before one whit of her anger cooled down; though, somehow, she +felt quite sure, that, even when her anger died out, her courage would +not take flight with it. Mr. Dugald Binnie had not proved to be a very +fascinating person. He was an acrid, dictatorial old man: he contradicted +Lady Theobald flatly every five minutes, and bullied his man-servant. But +it was not against him that Lucia's indignation was aroused. She felt +that Lady Theobald was quite capable of suggesting to him that Francis +Barold would be a good match for her; and, if she had done so, it was +scarcely his fault if he had accepted the idea. She understood now why +she had been allowed to visit Octavia, and why divers other things had +happened. She had been sent to walk with Francis Barold; he had been +almost reproached when he had not called; perhaps her ladyship had been +good enough to suggest to him that it was his duty to further her plans. +She was as capable of that as of any thing else which would assist her to +gain her point. The girl's cheeks grew hotter and hotter, her eyes +brighter, at every step, because every step brought some new thought: her +hands trembled, and her heart beat. + +"I shall never be afraid of her again," she said, as she turned the +corner into the road. "Never! never!" + +And at that very moment a gentleman stepped out of the wood at her right, +and stopped before her. + +She started back, with a cry. + +"Mr. Burmistone!" she said: "Mr. Burmistone!" + +She wondered if he had heard her last words: she fancied he had. He took +hold of her shaking little hand, and looked down at her excited face. + +"I am glad I waited for you," he said, in the quietest possible tone. +"Something is the matter." + +She knew there would be no use in trying to conceal the truth, and she +was not in the mood to make the effort. She scarcely knew herself. + +She gave quite a fierce little laugh. + +"I am angry!" she said. "You have never seen me angry before. I am on my +way to my--to Lady Theobald." + +He held her hand as calmly as before. He understood a great deal more +than she could have imagined. + +"What are you going to say to her?" he asked. She laughed again. + +"I am going to ask her what she means. I am going to tell her she has +made a mistake. I am going to prove to her that I am not such a coward, +after all. I am going to tell her that I dare disobey her,--_that_ is +what I am going to say to her," she concluded decisively. + +He held her hand rather closer. + +"Let us take a stroll in the copse, and talk it over," he said. "It is +deliciously cool there." + +"I don't want to be cool," she said. But he drew her gently with him; and +a few steps took them into the shade of the young oaks and pines, and +there he paused. + +"She has made you very angry?" he said. + +And then, almost before she knew what she was doing, she was pouring +forth the whole of her story, even more of it than she had told Octavia. +She had not at all intended to do it; but she did it, nevertheless. + +"I am to marry Mr. Francis Barold, if he will take me," she said, with a +bitter little smile,--"Mr. Francis Barold, who is so much in love with +me, as you know. His mother approves of the match, and sent him here to +make love to me, which he has done, as you have seen. I have no money of +my own; but, if I make a marriage which pleases him, Dugald Binnie will +probably leave me his--which it is thought will be an inducement to my +cousin, who needs one. If I marry him, or rather he marries me, Lady +Theobald thinks Mr. Binnie will be pleased. It does not even matter +whether Francis is pleased or not, and of course I am out of the +question; but it is hoped that it will please Mr. Binnie. The two ladies +have talked it over, and decided the matter. I dare say they have offered +me to Francis, who has very likely refused me, though perhaps he may be +persuaded to relent in time,--if I am very humble, and he is shown the +advantage of having Mr. Binnie's money added to his own,--but I have no +doubt I shall have to be very humble indeed. That is what I learned from +Lady Theobald last night, and it is what I am going to talk to her about. +Is it enough to make one angry, do you think? Is it enough?" + +He did not tell her whether he thought it enough, or not. He looked at +her with steady eyes. + +"Lucia," he said, "I wish you would let me go and talk with Lady +Theobald." + +"You?" she said with a little start. + +"Yes," he answered. "Let me go to her. Let me tell her, that, instead of +marrying Francis Barold, you will marry _me_. If you will say yes to +that, I think I can promise that you need never be afraid of her any +more." The fierce color died out of her cheeks, and the tears rushed to +her eyes. She raised her face with a pathetic look. + +"Oh!" she whispered, "you must be very sorry for me. I think you have +been sorry for me from the first." + +"I am desperately in love with you," he answered, in his quietest way. "I +have been desperately in love with you from the first. May I go?" + +She looked at him for a moment, incredulously. Then she faltered,-- + +"Yes." + +She still looked up at him; and then, in spite of her happiness, or +perhaps because of it, she suddenly began to cry softly, and forgot she +had been angry at all, as he took her into his strong, kind arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GARDEN-PARTY. + + +The morning of the garden-party arose bright and clear, and Slowbridge +awakened in a great state of excitement. Miss Chickie, having worked +until midnight that all her orders might be completed, was so overpowered +by her labors as to have to take her tea and toast in bed. + +At Oldclough varied sentiments prevailed. Lady Theobald's manner was +chiefly distinguished by an implacable rigidity. She had chosen, as an +appropriate festal costume, a funereal-black _moire antique_, enlivened +by massive fringes and ornaments of jet; her jewelry being chains and +manacles of the latter, which rattled as she moved, with a sound somewhat +suggestive of bones. + +Mr. Dugald Binnie, who had received an invitation, had as yet amiably +forborne to say whether he would accept it, or not. He had been out when +Mr. Burmistone called, and had not seen him. + +When Lady Theobald descended to breakfast, she found him growling over +his newspaper; and he glanced up at her with a polite scowl. + +"Going to a funeral?" he demanded. + +"I accompany my granddaughter to this--this entertainment," her ladyship +responded. "It is scarcely a joyous occasion, to my mind." + +"No need to dress yourself like that, if it isn't," ejaculated Mr. +Binnie. "Why don't you stay at home, if you don't want to go? Man's all +right, isn't he? Once knew a man by the name of Burmistone, myself. One +of the few decent fellows I've met. If I were sure this was the same man, +I'd go myself. When I find a fellow who's neither knave nor fool, I stick +to him. Believe I'll send to find out. Where's Lucia?" + +What his opinion of Lucia was, it was difficult to discover. He had an +agreeable habit of staring at her over the top of his paper, and over his +dinner. The only time he had made any comment upon her, was the first +time he saw her in the dress she had copied from Octavia's. "Nice gown +that," he blurted out: "didn't get it here, I'll wager." + +"It's an old dress I remodelled," answered Lucia somewhat alarmed. "I +made it myself." + +"Doesn't look like it," he said gruffly. + +Lucia had touched up another dress, and was very happy in the prospect of +wearing it at the garden-party. + +"Don't call on grandmamma until after Wednesday," she had said to Mr. +Burmistone: "perhaps she wouldn't let me go. She will be very angry, +I am sure." + +"And you are not afraid?" + +"No," she answered: "I am not afraid at all. I shall not be afraid +again." + +In fact, she had perfectly confounded her ladyship by her demeanor. She +bore her fiercest glance without quailing in the least, or making any +effort to evade it: under her most scathing comments she was composed and +unmoved. On the first occasion of my lady's referring to her plans for +her future, she received a blow which fairly stunned her. The girl rose +from her chair, and looked her straight in the face unflinchingly, and +with a suggestion of _hauteur_ not easy to confront. + +"I beg you will not speak to me of that again," she said: "I will not +listen." And turning about, she walked out of the room. + +"This," her ladyship had said in sepulchral tones, when she recovered her +breath, "this is one of the results of Miss Octavia Bassett." And nothing +more had been said on the subject since. + +No one in Slowbridge was in more brilliant spirits than Octavia herself +on the morning of the _fête_. Before breakfast Miss Belinda was startled +by the arrival of another telegram, which ran as follows:-- + +"Arrived to-day, per 'Russia.' Be with you tomorrow evening. Friend with +me. + +"MARTIN BASSETT." + +On reading this communication, Miss Belinda burst into floods of +delighted tears. + +"Dear, dear Martin," she wept; "to think that we should meet again! _Why_ +didn't he let us know he was on the way? I should have been so anxious +that I should not have slept at all." + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "I suppose that would have been an advantage." + +Suddenly she approached Miss Belinda, kissed her, and disappeared out of +the room as if by magic, not returning for a quarter of an hour, looking +rather soft and moist and brilliant about the eyes when she did return. + +Octavia was a marked figure upon the grounds at that garden-party. + +"Another dress, my dear," remarked Mrs. Burnham. "And what a charming +color she has, I declare! She is usually paler. Perhaps we owe this to +Lord Lansdowne." + +"Her dress is becoming, at all events," privately remarked Miss Lydia +Burnham, whose tastes had not been consulted about her own. + +"It is she who is becoming," said her sister: "it is not the dress so +much, though her clothes always have a _look_, some way. She's prettier +than ever to-day, and is enjoying herself." + +She was enjoying herself. Mr. Francis Barold observed it rather gloomily +as he stood apart. She was enjoying herself so much, that she did not +seem to notice that he had avoided her, instead of going up to claim her +attention. Half a dozen men were standing about her, and making +themselves agreeable; and she was apparently quite equal to the +emergencies of the occasion. The young men from Broadoaks had at once +attached themselves to her train. + +"I say, Barold," they had said to him, "why didn't you tell us about +this? Jolly good fellow you are, to come mooning here for a couple of +months, and keep it all to yourself." + +And then had come Lord Lansdowne, who, in crossing the lawn to shake +hands with his host, had been observed to keep his eye fixed upon one +particular point. + +"Burmistone," he said, after having spoken his first words, "who is that +tall girl in white?" + +And in ten minutes Lady Theobald, Mrs. Burnham, Mr. Barold, and divers +others too numerous to mention, saw him standing at Octavia's side, +evidently with no intention of leaving it. + +Not long after this Francis Barold found his way to Miss Belinda, who was +very busy and rather nervous. + +"Your niece is evidently enjoying herself," he remarked. + +"Octavia is most happy to-day," answered Miss Belinda. "Her father will +reach Slowbridge this evening. She has been looking forward to his coming +with great anxiety." + +"Ah!" commented Barold. + +"Very few people understand Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "I'm not sure +that I follow all her moods myself. She is more affectionate than people +fancy. She--she has very pretty ways. I am very fond of her. She is not +as frivolous as she appears to those who don't know her well." + +Barold stood gnawing his mustache, and made no reply. He was not very +comfortable. He felt himself ill-used by Fate, and rather wished he had +returned to London from Broadoaks, instead of loitering in Slowbridge. He +had amused himself at first, but in time he had been surprised to find +his amusement lose something of its zest. He glowered across the lawn at +the group under a certain beech-tree; and, as he did so, Octavia turned +her face a little and saw him. She stood waving her fan slowly, and +smiling at him in a calm way, which reminded him very much of the time he +had first caught sight of her at Lady Theobald's high tea. + +He condescended to saunter over the grass to where she stood. Once there, +he proceeded to make himself as disagreeable as possible, in a silent and +lofty way. He felt it only due to himself that he should. He did not +approve at all of the manner in which Lansdowne kept by her. + +"It's deucedly bad form on his part," he said mentally. "What does he +mean by it?" + +Octavia, on the contrary, did not ask what he meant by it. She chose to +seem rather well entertained, and did not notice that she was being +frowned down. There was no reason why she should not find Lord Lansdowne +entertaining: he was an agreeable young fellow, with an inexhaustible +fund of good spirits, and no nonsense about him. + +He was fond of all pleasant novelty, and Octavia was a pleasant novelty. +He had been thinking of paying a visit to America; and he asked +innumerable questions concerning that country, all of which Octavia +answered. + +"I know half a dozen fellows who have been there," he said. "And they all +enjoyed it tremendously." + +"If you go to Nevada, you must visit the mines at Bloody Gulch," she +said. + +"Where?" he ejaculated. "I say, what a name! Don't deride my youth and +ignorance, Miss Bassett." + +"You can call it L'Argentville, if you would rather," she replied. + +"I would rather try the other, thank you," he laughed. "It has a more +hilarious sound. Will they despise me at Bloody Gulch, Miss Bassett? I +never killed a man in my life." + +Barold turned, and walked away, angry, and more melancholy than he could +have believed. + +"It is time I went back to London," he chose to put it. "The place begins +to be deucedly dull." + +"Mr. Francis Barold seems rather out of spirits," said Mrs. Burnham to +Lady Theobald. "Lord Lansdowne interferes with his pleasure." + +"I had not observed it," answered her ladyship. "And it is scarcely +likely that Mr. Francis Barold would permit his pleasure to be interfered +with, even by the son of the Marquis of Lauderdale." + +But she glared at Barold as he passed, and beckoned to him. + +"Where is Lucia?" she demanded. + +"I saw her with Burmistone half an hour ago," he answered coldly. "Have +you any message for my mother? I shall return to London to-morrow, +leaving here early." + +She turned quite pale. She had not counted upon this at all, and it was +extremely inopportune. + +"What has happened?" she asked rigidly. + +He looked slightly surprised. + +"Nothing whatever," he replied. "I have remained here longer than I +intended." + +She began to move the manacles on her right wrist. He made not the +smallest profession of reluctance to go. She said, at last, "If you will +find Lucia, you will oblige me." She was almost uncivil to Miss Pilcher, +who chanced to join her after he was gone. She had not the slightest +intention of allowing her plans to be frustrated, and was only roused to +fresh obstinacy by encountering indifference on one side and rebellion on +the other. She had not brought Lucia up under her own eye for nothing. +She had been disturbed of late, but by no means considered herself +baffled. With the assistance of Mr. Dugald Binnie, she could certainly +subdue Lucia, though Mr. Dugald Binnie had been of no great help so far. +She would do her duty unflinchingly. In fact, she chose to persuade +herself, that, if Lucia was brought to a proper frame of mind, there +could be no real trouble with Francis Barold. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +"SOMEBODY ELSE." + + +But Barold did not make any very ardent search for Lucia. He stopped to +watch a game of lawn-tennis, in which Octavia and Lord Lansdowne had +joined, and finally forgot Lady Theobald's errand altogether. + +For some time Octavia did not see him. She was playing with great spirit, +and Lord Lansdowne was following her delightedly. + +Finally a chance of the game bringing her to him, she turned suddenly, +and found Barold's eyes fixed upon her. + +"How long have you been there?" she asked. + +"Some time," he answered. "When you are at liberty, I wish to speak to +you." + +"Do you?" she said. + +She seemed a little unprepared for the repressed energy of his manner, +which, he strove to cover by a greater amount of coldness than usual. + +"Well," she said, after thinking a moment, "the game will soon be ended. +I am going through the conservatories with Lord Lansdowne in course of +time; but I dare say he can wait." + +She went back, and finished her game, apparently enjoying it as much as +ever. When it was over, Barold made his way to her. + +He had resented her remaining oblivious of his presence when he stood +near her, and he had resented her enjoyment of her surroundings; and now, +as he led her away, leaving Lord Lansdowne rather disconsolate, he +resented the fact that she did not seem nervous, or at all impressed by +his silence. + +"What do you want to say to me?" she asked. "Let us go and sit down in +one of the arbors. I believe I am a little tired--not that I mind it, +though. I've been having a lovely time." + +Then she began to talk about Lord Lansdowne. + +"I like him ever so much," she said. "Do you think he will really go to +America? I wish he would; but if he does, I hope it won't be for a year +or so--I mean, until we go back from Europe. Still, it's rather uncertain +when we _shall_ go back. Did I tell you I had persuaded aunt Belinda to +travel with us? She's horribly frightened, but I mean to make her go. +She'll get over being frightened after a little while." + +Suddenly she turned, and looked at him. + +"Why don't you say something?" she demanded. "What's the matter?" + +"It is not necessary for me to say any thing." + +She laughed. + +"Do you mean because I am saying every thing myself? Well, I suppose I +am. I am--awfully happy to-day, and can't help talking. It seems to make +the time go." + +Her face had lighted up curiously. There was a delighted excitement in +her eyes, puzzling him. + +"Are you so fond of your father as all that?" + +She laughed again,--a clear, exultant laugh. + +"Yes," she answered, "of course I am as fond of him as all that. It's +quite natural, isn't it?" + +"I haven't observed the same degree of enthusiasm in all the young ladies +of my acquaintance," he returned dryly. + +He thought such rapture disproportionate to the cause, and regarded it +grudgingly. + +They turned into an arbor; and Octavia sat down, and leaned forward on +the rustic table. Then she turned her face up to look at the vines +covering the roof. + +"It looks rather spidery, doesn't it?" she remarked. "I hope it isn't; +don't you?" + +The light fell bewitchingly on her round little chin and white throat; +and a bar of sunlight struck on her upturned eyes, and the blonde rings +on her forehead. + +"There is nothing I hate more than spiders," she said, with a little +shiver, "unless," seriously, "it's caterpillars--and caterpillars I +loathe." + +Then she lowered her gaze, and gave her hat--a large white Rubens, all +soft, curling feathers and satin bows--a charming tip over her eyes. + +"The brim is broad," she said. "If any thing drops, I hope it will drop +on it, instead of on me. Now, what did you want to say?" He had not sat +down, but stood leaning against the rustic wood-work. He looked pale, and +was evidently trying to be cooler than usual. + +"I brought you here to ask you a question." + +"Well," she remarked, "I hope it's an important one. You look serious +enough." + +"It is important,--rather," he responded, with a tone of sarcasm. "You +will probably go away soon?" + +"That isn't exactly a question," she commented, "and it's not as +important to you as to me." + +He paused a moment, annoyed because he found it difficult to go on; +annoyed because she waited with such undisturbed serenity. But at length +he managed to begin again. + +"I do not think you are expecting the question I am going to ask," he +said. "I--do not think I expected to ask it myself,--until to-day. I do +not know why--why I should ask it so awkwardly, and feel--at such a +disadvantage. I brought you here to ask you--to marry me." + +He had scarcely spoken four words before all her airy manner had taken +flight, and she had settled herself down to listen. He had noticed this, +and had felt it quite natural. When he stopped, she was looking straight +into his face. Her eyes were singularly large and bright and clear. + +"You did not expect to ask me to marry you?" she said. "Why didn't you?" + +It was not at all what he had expected. He did not understand her manner +at all. + +"I--must confess," he said stiffly, "that I felt at first that there +were--obstacles in the way of my doing so." + +"What were the obstacles?" + +He flushed, and drew himself up. + +"I have been unfortunate in my mode of expressing myself," he said. "I +told you I was conscious of my own awkwardness." + +"Yes," she said quietly: "you have been unfortunate. That is a good way +of putting it." + +Then she let her eyes rest on the table a few seconds, and thought a +little. + +"After all," she said, "I have the consolation of knowing that you must +have been very much in love with me. If you had not been very much in +love with me, you would never have asked me to marry you. You would have +considered the obstacles." + +"I am very much in love with you," he said vehemently, his feelings +getting the better of his pride for once. "However badly I may have +expressed myself, I am very much in love with you. I have been wretched +for days." + +"Was it because you felt obliged to ask me to marry you?" she inquired. + +The delicate touch of spirit in her tone and words fired him to fresh +admiration, strange to say. It suggested to him possibilities he had not +suspected hitherto. He drew nearer to her. + +"Don't be too severe on me," he said--quite humbly, considering all +things. + +And he stretched out his hand, as if to take hers. + +But she drew it back, smiling ever so faintly. + +"Do you think I don't know what the obstacles are?" she said. "I will +tell you." + +"My affection was strong enough to sweep them away," he said, "or I +should not be here." + +She smiled slightly again. + +"I know all about them, as well as you do," she said. "I rather laughed +at them at first, but I don't now. I suppose I'm 'impressed by their +seriousness,' as aunt Belinda says. I suppose they _are_ pretty +serious--to you." + +"Nothing would be so serious to me as that you should let them interfere +with my happiness," he answered, thrown back upon himself, and bewildered +by her logical manner. "Let us forget them. I was a fool to speak as I +did. Won't you answer my question?" + +She paused a second, and then answered,-- + +"You didn't expect to ask me to marry you," she said. "And I didn't +expect you to"-- + +"But now"--he broke in impatiently. + +"Now--I wish you hadn't done it." + +"You wish"-- + +"You don't want _me_," she said. "You want somebody meeker,--somebody +who would respect you very much, and obey you. I'm not used to obeying +people." + +"Do you mean also that you would not respect me?" he inquired bitterly. + +"Oh," she replied, "you haven't respected me much!" + +"Excuse me"--he began, in his loftiest manner. + +"You didn't respect me enough to think me worth marrying," she said. "I +was not the kind of girl you would have chosen of your own will." + +"You are treating me unfairly!" he cried. + +"You were going to give me a great deal, I suppose--looking at it in your +way," she went on; "but, if I _wasn't_ exactly what you wanted, I had +something to give too. I'm young enough to have a good many years to +live; and I should have to live them with you, if I married you. That's +something, you know." + +He rose from his seat pale with wrath and wounded feeling. + +"Does this mean that you refuse me?" he demanded, "that your answer is +'no'?" + +She rose, too--not exultant, not confused, neither pale nor flushed. He +had never seen her prettier, more charming, or more natural. + +"It would have been 'no,' even if there hadn't been any obstacle," +she answered. + +"Then," he said, "I need say no more. I see that I have--humiliated +myself in vain; and it is rather bitter, I must confess." + +"It wasn't my fault," she remarked. + +He stepped back, with a haughty wave of the hand, signifying that she +should pass out of the arbor before him. + +She did so; but just as she reached the entrance, she turned, and stood +for a second, framed in by the swinging vines and their blossoms. + +"There's another reason why it should be 'no,'" she said. "I suppose I +may as well tell you of it. I'm engaged to somebody else." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"JACK." + + +The first person they saw, when they reached the lawn, was Mr. Dugald +Binnie, who had deigned to present himself, and was talking to Mr. +Burmistone, Lucia, and Miss Belinda. + +"I'll go to them," said Octavia. "Aunt Belinda will wonder where I have +been." + +But, before they reached the group, they were intercepted by Lord +Lansdowne; and Barold had the pleasure of surrendering his charge, and +watching her, with some rather sharp pangs, as she was borne off to the +conservatories. + +"What is the matter with Mr. Barold?" exclaimed Miss Pilcher. "Pray +look at him." + +"He has been talking to Miss Octavia Bassett, in one of the arbors," put +in Miss Lydia Burnham. "Emily and I passed them a few minutes ago, and +they were so absorbed that they did not see us. There is no knowing what +has happened." + +"Lydia!" exclaimed Mrs. Burnham, in stern reproof of such flippancy. + +But, the next moment, she exchanged a glance with Miss Pilcher. + +"Do you think"--she suggested. "Is it possible"-- + +"It really looks very like it," said Miss Pilcher; "though it is scarcely +to be credited. See how pale and angry he looks." + +Mrs. Burnham glanced toward him, and then a slight smile illuminated her +countenance. + +"How furious," she remarked cheerfully, "how furious Lady Theobald will +be!" + +Naturally, it was not very long before the attention of numerous other +ladies was directed to Mr. Francis Barold. It was observed that he took +no share in the festivities, that he did not regain his natural air of +enviable indifference to his surroundings,--that he did not approach +Octavia Bassett until all was over, and she was on the point of going +home. What he said to her then, no one heard. + +"I am going to London to-morrow. Good-by." + +"Good-by," she answered, holding out her hand to him. Then she added +quickly, in an under-tone, "You oughtn't to think badly of me. You won't, +after a while." + +As they drove homeward, she was rather silent, and Miss Belinda remarked +it. + +"I am afraid you are tired, Octavia," she said. "It is a pity that Martin +should come, and find you tired." + +"Oh! I'm not tired. I was only--thinking. It has been a queer day." + +"A queer day, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda. "I thought it a charming +day." + +"So it has been," said Octavia, which Miss Belinda thought rather +inconsistent. + +Both of them grew rather restless as they neared the house. + +"To think," said Miss Belinda, "of my seeing poor Martin again!" + +"Suppose," said Octavia nervously, as they drew up, "suppose they are +here--already." + +"They?" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Who"--but she got no farther. A cry +burst from Octavia,--a queer, soft little cry. "They are here," she +said: "they are! Jack--Jack!" + +And she was out of the carriage; and Miss Belinda, following her +closely, was horrified to see her caught at once in the embrace of a +tall, bronzed young man, who, a moment after, drew her into the little +parlor, and shut the door. + +Mr. Martin Bassett, who was big and sunburned, and prosperous-looking, +stood in the passage, smiling triumphantly. + +"M--M--Martin!" gasped Miss Belinda. "What--oh, what does this mean?" + +Martin Bassett led her to a seat, and smiled more triumphantly still. + +"Never mind, Belinda," he said. "Don't be frightened. It's Jack +Belasys, and he's the finest fellow in the West. And she hasn't seen +him for two years." + +"Martin," Miss Belinda fluttered, "it is not proper--it really isn't." + +"Yes, it is," answered Mr. Bassett; "for he's going to marry her before +we go abroad." + +It was an eventful day for all parties concerned. At its close Lady +Theobald found herself in an utterly bewildered and thunderstruck +condition. And to Mr. Dugald Binnie, more than to any one else, her +demoralization was due. That gentleman got into the carriage, in rather a +better humor than usual. + +"Same man I used to know," he remarked. "Glad to see him. I knew him as +soon as I set eyes on him." + +"Do you allude to Mr. Burmistone?" + +"Yes. Had a long talk with him. He's coming to see you to-morrow. Told +him he might come, myself. Appears he's taken a fancy to Lucia. Wants to +talk it over. Suits me exactly, and suppose it suits her. Looks as if it +does. Glad she hasn't taken a fancy to some haw-haw fellow, like that +fool Barold. Girls generally do. Burmistone's worth ten of him." + +Lucia, who had been looking steadily out of the carriage-window, turned, +with an amazed expression. Lady Theobald had received a shock which made +all her manacles rattle. She could scarcely support herself under it. + +"Do I"--she said. "Am I to understand that Mr. Francis Barold does not +meet with your approval?" Mr. Binnie struck his stick sharply upon the +floor of the carriage. + +"Yes, by George!" he said. "I'll have nothing to do with chaps like that. +If she'd taken up with him, she'd never have heard from _me_ again. Make +sure of that." + +When they reached Oldclough, her ladyship followed Lucia to her room. She +stood before her, arranging the manacles on her wrists nervously. + +"I begin to understand now," she said. "I find I was mistaken in my +impressions of Mr. Dugald Binnie's tastes--and in my impressions of +_you_. You are to marry Mr. Burmistone. My rule is over. Permit me to +congratulate you." + +The tears rose to Lucia's eyes. + +"Grandmamma," she said, her voice soft and broken, "I think I should have +been more frank, if--if you had been kinder sometimes." + +"I have done my duty by you," said my lady. + +Lucia looked at her pathetically. + +"I have been ashamed to keep things from you," she hesitated. "And I have +often told myself that--that it was sly to do it--but I could not help +it." + +"I trust," said my lady, "that you will be more candid with Mr. +Burmistone." + +Lucia blushed guiltily. + +"I--think I shall, grandmamma," she said. + +It was the Rev. Alfred Poppleton who assisted the rector of St. James to +marry Jack Belasys and Octavia Bassett; and it was observed that he was +almost as pale as his surplice. + +Slowbridge had never seen such a wedding, or such a bride as Octavia. It +was even admitted that Jack Belasys was a singularly handsome fellow, and +had a dashing, adventurous air, which carried all before it. There was a +rumor that he owned silver-mines himself, and had even done something in +diamonds, in Brazil, where he had spent the last two years. At all +events, it was ascertained beyond doubt, that, being at last a married +woman, and entitled to splendors of the kind, Octavia would not lack +them. Her present to Lucia, who was one of her bridesmaids, dazzled all +beholders. When she was borne away by the train, with her father and +husband, and Miss Belinda, whose bonnet-strings were bedewed with tears, +the Rev. Alfred Poppleton was the last man who shook hands with her. He +held in his hand a large bouquet, which Octavia herself had given him out +of her abundance. "Slowbridge will miss you, Miss--Mrs. Belasys," he +faltered. "I--I shall miss you. Perhaps we--may even meet again. I have +thought that, perhaps, I should like to go to America." + +And, as the train puffed out of the station and disappeared, he stood +motionless for several seconds; and a large and brilliant drop of +moisture appeared on the calyx of the lily which formed the centre-piece +of his bouquet. + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Fair Barbarian, by Francis Hodgson Burnett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + +***** This file should be named 9487-8.txt or 9487-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9487/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Fair Barbarian + +Author: Francis Hodgson Burnett + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9487] +First Posted: October 5, 2003 +Last Updated: January 27, 2019 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + + + + +Etext produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + A FAIR BARBARIAN + </h1> + <h2> + By Frances Hodgson Burnett + </h2> + <h3> + 1881 <br /> + </h3> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3"> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td> + <a href="#2H_4_0001"> <b>A FAIR BARBARIAN.</b> </a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </td> + <td> + MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </td> + <td> + "AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY." + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a> + </td> + <td> + L'ARGENTVILLE. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a> + </td> + <td> + LADY THEOBALD. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> + </td> + <td> + LUCIA. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> + </td> + <td> + ACCIDENTAL. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </td> + <td> + "I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE." + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + SHARES LOOKING UP. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </td> + <td> + WHITE MUSLIN. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </td> + <td> + ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </td> + <td> + A SLIGHT INDISCRETION. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </td> + <td> + AN INVITATION. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + INTENTIONS. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </td> + <td> + A CLERICAL VISIT. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </td> + <td> + SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> + </td> + <td> + CROQUET. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII. </a> + </td> + <td> + ADVANTAGES. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + CONTRAST. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. </a> + </td> + <td> + AN EXPERIMENT. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> + </td> + <td> + PECULIAR TO NEVADA. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI. </a> + </td> + <td> + LORD LANSDOWNE. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII. </a> + </td> + <td> + "YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER." + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII. </a> + </td> + <td> + "MAY I GO?" + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE GARDEN-PARTY. + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV. </a> + </td> + <td> + "SOMEBODY ELSE." + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI. </a> + </td> + <td> + "JACK." + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2H_4_0001"> </a> + </p> + <h1> + A FAIR BARBARIAN. + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0001"> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. — MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT. + </h2> + <p> + Slowbridge had been shaken to its foundations. + </p> + <p> + It may as well be explained, however, at the outset, that it would not + take much of a sensation to give Slowbridge a great shock. In the first + place, Slowbridge was not used to sensations, and was used to going on the + even and respectable tenor of its way, regarding the outside world with + private distrust, if not with open disfavor. The new mills had been a + trial to Slowbridge,—a sore trial. On being told of the owners' plan + of building them, old Lady Theobald, who was the corner-stone of the + social edifice of Slowbridge, was said, by a spectator, to have turned + deathly pale with rage; and, on the first day of their being opened in + working order, she had taken to her bed, and remained shut up in her + darkened room for a week, refusing to see anybody, and even going so far + as to send a scathing message to the curate of St. James, who called in + fear and trembling, because he was afraid to stay away. + </p> + <p> + "With mills and mill-hands," her ladyship announced to Mr. Laurence, the + mill-owner, when chance first threw them together, "with mills and + mill-hands come murder, massacre, and mob law." And she said it so loud, + and with so stern an air of conviction, that the two Misses Briarton, who + were of a timorous and fearful nature, dropped their buttered muffins (it + was at one of the tea-parties which were Slowbridge's only dissipation), + and shuddered hysterically, feeling that their fate was sealed, and that + they might, any night, find three masculine mill-hands secreted under + their beds, with bludgeons. But as no massacres took place, and the + mill-hands were pretty regular in their habits, and even went so far as to + send their children to Lady Theobald's free school, and accepted the + tracts left weekly at their doors, whether they could read or not, + Slowbridge gradually recovered from the shock of finding itself forced to + exist in close proximity to mills, and was just settling itself to sleep—the + sleep of the just—again, when, as I have said, it was shaken to its + foundations. + </p> + <p> + It was Miss Belinda Bassett who received the first shock. Miss Belinda + Bassett was a decorous little maiden lady, who lived in a decorous little + house on High Street (which was considered a very genteel street in + Slowbridge). She had lived in the same house all her life, her father had + lived in it, and so also had her grandfather. She had gone out, to take + tea, from its doors two or three times a week, ever since she had been + twenty; and she had had her little tea-parties in its front parlor as + often as any other genteel Slowbridge entertainer. She had risen at seven, + breakfasted at eight, dined at two, taken tea at five, and gone to bed at + ten, with such regularity for fifty years, that to rise at eight, + breakfast at nine, dine at three, and take tea at six, and go to bed at + eleven, would, she was firmly convinced, be but "to fly in the face of + Providence," as she put it, and sign her own death-warrant. Consequently, + it is easy to imagine what a tremor and excitement seized her when, one + afternoon, as she sat waiting for her tea, a coach from the Blue Lion + dashed—or, at least, <i>almost</i> dashed—up to the front + door, a young lady got out, and the next minute the handmaiden, Mary Anne, + threw open the door of the parlor, announcing, without the least preface,— + </p> + <p> + "Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda got up, feeling that her knees really trembled beneath her. + </p> + <p> + In Slowbridge, America was not approved of—in fact, was almost + entirely ignored, as a country where, to quote Lady Theobald, "the laws + were loose, and the prevailing sentiments revolutionary." It was not + considered good taste to know Americans,—which was not unfortunate, + as there were none to know; and Miss Belinda Bassett had always felt a + delicacy in mentioning her only brother, who had emigrated to the United + States in his youth, having first disgraced himself by the utterance of + the blasphemous remark that "he wanted to get to a place where a fellow + could stretch himself, and not be bullied by a lot of old tabbies." From + the day of his departure, when he had left Miss Belinda bathed in tears of + anguish, she had heard nothing of him; and here upon the threshold stood + Mary Anne, with delighted eagerness in her countenance, repeating,— + </p> + <p> + "Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker!" + </p> + <p> + And, with the words, her niece entered. + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda put her hand to her heart. + </p> + <p> + The young lady thus announced was the prettiest, and at the same time the + most extraordinary-looking, young lady she had ever seen in her life. + Slowbridge contained nothing approaching this niece. Her dress was so very + stylish that it was quite startling in its effect; her forehead was + covered down to her large, pretty eyes themselves, with curls of + yellow-brown hair; and her slender throat was swathed round and round with + a grand scarf of black lace. + </p> + <p> + She made a step forward, and then stopped, looking at Miss Belinda. Her + eyes suddenly, to Miss Belinda's amazement, filled with tears. + </p> + <p> + "Didn't you," she said,—"oh, dear! <i>Didn't</i> you get the + letter?" + </p> + <p> + "The—the letter!" faltered Miss Belinda. "What letter, my—my + dear?" + </p> + <p> + "Pa's," was the answer. "Oh! I see you didn't." + </p> + <p> + And she sank into the nearest chair, putting her hands up to her face, and + beginning to cry outright. + </p> + <p> + "I—am Octavia B-bassett," she said. "We were coming to surp-prise + you, and travel in Europe; but the mines went wrong, and p-pa was obliged + to go back to Nevada." + </p> + <p> + "The mines?" gasped Miss Belinda. + </p> + <p> + "S-silver-mines," wept Octavia. "And we had scarcely landed when Piper + cabled, and pa had to turn back. It was something about shares, and he may + have lost his last dollar." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda sank into a chair herself. + </p> + <p> + "Mary Anne," she said faintly, "bring me a glass of water." + </p> + <p> + Her tone was such that Octavia removed her handkerchief from her eyes, and + sat up to examine her. + </p> + <p> + "Are you frightened?" she asked, in some alarm. + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda took a sip of the water brought by her handmaiden, replaced + the glass upon the salver, and shook her head deprecatingly. + </p> + <p> + "Not exactly frightened, my dear," she said, "but so amazed that I find it + difficult to—to collect myself." + </p> + <p> + Octavia put up her handkerchief again to wipe away a sudden new gush of + tears. + </p> + <p> + "If shares intended to go down," she said, "I don't see why they couldn't + go down before we started, instead of waiting until we got over here, and + then spoiling every thing." + </p> + <p> + "Providence, my dear"—began Miss Belinda. + </p> + <p> + But she was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mary Anne. + </p> + <p> + "The man from the Lion, mum, wants to know what's to be done with the + trunks. There's six of 'em, an' they're all that 'eavy as he says he + wouldn't lift one alone for ten shilling." + </p> + <p> + "Six!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Whose are they?" + </p> + <p> + "Mine," replied Octavia. "Wait a minute. I'll go out to him." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda was astounded afresh by the alacrity with which her niece + seemed to forget her troubles, and rise to the occasion. The girl ran to + the front door as if she was quite used to directing her own affairs, and + began to issue her orders. + </p> + <p> + "You will have to get another man," she said. "You might have known that. + Go and get one somewhere." + </p> + <p> + And when the man went off, grumbling a little, and evidently rather at a + loss before such peremptory coolness, she turned to Miss Belinda. + </p> + <p> + "Where must he put them?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + It did not seem to have occurred to her once that her identity might be + doubted, and some slight obstacles arise before her. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid," faltered Miss Belinda, "that five of them will have to be + put in the attic." + </p> + <p> + And in fifteen minutes five of them <i>were</i> put into the attic, and + the sixth—the biggest of all—stood in the trim little spare + chamber, and pretty Miss Octavia had sunk into a puffy little + chintz-covered easy-chair, while her newly found relative stood before + her, making the most laudable efforts to recover her equilibrium, and not + to feel as if her head were spinning round and round. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. — "AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY." + </h2> + <p> + The natural result of these efforts was, that Miss Belinda was moved to + shed a few tears. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you will excuse my being too startled to say I was glad to see + you," she said. "I have not seen my brother for thirty years, and I was + very fond of him." + </p> + <p> + "He said you were," answered Octavia; "and he was very fond of you too. He + didn't write to you, because he made up his mind not to let you hear from + him until he was a rich man; and then he thought he would wait until he + could come home, and surprise you. He was awfully disappointed when he had + to go back without seeing you." + </p> + <p> + "Poor, dear Martin!" wept Miss Belinda gently. "Such a journey!" + </p> + <p> + Octavia opened her charming eyes in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, he'll come back again!" she said. "And he doesn't mind the journey. + The journey is nothing, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Nothing!" echoed Miss Belinda. "A voyage across the Atlantic nothing? + When one thinks of the danger, my dear"— + </p> + <p> + Octavia's eyes opened a shade wider. + </p> + <p> + "We have made the trip to the States, across the Isthmus, twelve times, + and that takes a month," she remarked. "So we don't think ten days much." + </p> + <p> + "Twelve times!" said Miss Belinda, quite appalled. "Dear, dear, dear!" + </p> + <p> + And for some moments she could do nothing but look at her young relative + in doubtful wonder, shaking her head with actual sadness. + </p> + <p> + But she finally recovered herself, with a little start. + </p> + <p> + "What am I thinking of," she exclaimed remorsefully, "to let you sit here + in this way? Pray excuse me, my dear. You see I am so upset." + </p> + <p> + She left her chair in a great hurry, and proceeded to embrace her young + guest tenderly, though with a little timorousness. The young lady + submitted to the caress with much composure. + </p> + <p> + "Did I upset you?" she inquired calmly. + </p> + <p> + The fact was, that she could not see why the simple advent of a relative + from Nevada should seem to have the effect of an earthquake, and result in + tremor, confusion, and tears. It was true, she herself had shed a tear or + so, but then her troubles had been accumulating for several days; and she + had not felt confused yet. + </p> + <p> + When Miss Belinda went down-stairs to superintend Mary Anne in the + tea-making, and left her guest alone, that young person glanced about her + with a rather dubious expression. + </p> + <p> + "It is a queer, nice little place," she said. "But I don't wonder that pa + emigrated, if they always get into such a flurry about little things. I + might have been a ghost." + </p> + <p> + Then she proceeded to unlock the big trunk, and attire herself. + </p> + <p> + Down-stairs, Miss Belinda was wavering between the kitchen and the parlor, + in a kindly flutter. + </p> + <p> + "Toast some muffins, Mary Anne, and bring in the cold roast fowl," she + said. "And I will put out some strawberry-jam, and some of the preserved + ginger. Dear me! Just to think how fond of preserved ginger poor Martin + was, and how little of it he was allowed to eat! There really seems a + special Providence in my having such a nice stock of it in the house when + his daughter comes home." + </p> + <p> + In the course of half an hour every thing was in readiness; and then Mary + Anne, who had been sent up-stairs to announce the fact, came down in a + most remarkable state of delighted agitation, suppressed ecstasy and + amazement exclaiming aloud in every feature. + </p> + <p> + "She's dressed, mum," she announced, "an' 'll be down immediate," and + retired to a shadowy corner of the kitchen passage, that she might lie in + wait unobserved. + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda, sitting behind the tea-service, heard a soft, flowing, + silken rustle sweeping down the staircase, and across the hall, and then + her niece entered. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you think I've dressed pretty quick?" she said, and swept across + the little parlor, and sat down in her place, with the calmest and most + unconscious air in the world. + </p> + <p> + There was in Slowbridge but one dressmaking establishment. The head of the + establishment—Miss Letitia Chickie—designed the costumes of + every woman in Slowbridge, from Lady Theobald down. There were legends + that she received her patterns from London, and modified them to suit the + Slowbridge taste. Possibly this was true; but in that case her labors as + modifier must have been severe indeed, since they were so far modified as + to be altogether unrecognizable when they left Miss Chickie's + establishment, and were borne home in triumph to the houses of her + patrons. The taste of Slowbridge was quiet,—upon this Slowbridge + prided itself especially,—and, at the same time, tended toward + economy. When gores came into fashion, Slowbridge clung firmly, and with + some pride, to substantial breadths, which did not cut good silk into + useless strips which could not be utilized in after-time; and it was only + when, after a visit to London, Lady Theobald walked into St. James's one + Sunday with two gores on each side, that Miss Chickie regretfully put + scissors into her first breadth. Each matronly member of good society + possessed a substantial silk gown of some sober color, which gown, having + done duty at two years' tea-parties, descended to the grade of + "second-best," and so descended, year by year, until it disappeared into + the dim distance of the past. The young ladies had their white muslins and + natural flowers; which latter decorations invariably collapsed in the + course of the evening, and were worn during the latter half of any festive + occasion in a flabby and hopeless condition. Miss Chickie made the + muslins, festooning and adorning them after designs emanating from her + fertile imagination. If they were a little short in the body, and not very + generously proportioned in the matter of train, there was no rival + establishment to sneer, and Miss Chickie had it all her own way; and, at + least, it could never be said that Slowbridge was vulgar or overdressed. + </p> + <p> + Judge, then, of Miss Belinda Bassett's condition of mind when her fair + relative took her seat before her. + </p> + <p> + What the material of her niece's dress was, Miss Belinda could not have + told. It was a silken and soft fabric of a pale blue color; it clung to + the slender, lissome young figure like a glove; a fan-like train of great + length almost covered the hearth-rug; there were plaitings and frillings + all over it, and yards of delicate satin ribbon cut into loops in the most + recklessly extravagant manner. + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda saw all this at the first glance, as Mary Anne had seen it, + and, like Mary Anne, lost her breath; but, on her second glance, she saw + something more. On the pretty, slight hands were three wonderful, + sparkling rings, composed of diamonds set in clusters: there were great + solitaires in the neat little ears, and the thickly-plaited lace at the + throat was fastened by a diamond clasp. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," said Miss Belinda, clutching helplessly at the teapot, "are you—surely + it is a—a little dangerous to wear such—such priceless + ornaments on ordinary occasions." + </p> + <p> + Octavia stared at her for a moment uncomprehendingly. + </p> + <p> + "Your jewels, I mean, my love," fluttered Miss Belinda. "Surely you don't + wear them often. I declare, it quite frightens me to think of having such + things in the house." + </p> + <p> + "Does it?" said Octavia. "That's queer." + </p> + <p> + And she looked puzzled for a moment again. + </p> + <p> + Then she glanced down at her rings. + </p> + <p> + "I nearly always wear these," she remarked. "Father gave them to me. He + gave me one each birthday for three years. He says diamonds are an + investment, anyway, and I might as well have them. These," touching the + ear-rings and clasp, "were given to my mother when she was on the stage. A + lot of people clubbed together, and bought them for her. She was a great + favorite." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda made another clutch at the handle of the teapot. + </p> + <p> + "Your mother!" she exclaimed faintly. "On the—did you say, on the"— + </p> + <p> + "Stage," answered Octavia. "San Francisco. Father married her there. She + was awfully pretty. I don't remember her. She died when I was born. She + was only nineteen." + </p> + <p> + The utter calmness, and freedom from embarrassment, with which these + announcements were made, almost shook Miss Belinda's faith in her own + identity. Strange to say, until this moment she had scarcely given a + thought to her brother's wife; and to find herself sitting in her own + genteel little parlor, behind her own tea-service, with her hand upon her + own teapot, hearing that this wife had been a young person who had been "a + great favorite" upon the stage, in a region peopled, as she had been led + to suppose, by gold-diggers and escaped convicts, was almost too much for + her to support herself under. But she did support herself bravely, when + she had time to rally. + </p> + <p> + "Help yourself to some fowl, my dear," she said hospitably, even though + very faintly indeed, "and take a muffin." + </p> + <p> + Octavia did so, her over-splendid hands flashing in the light as she moved + them. + </p> + <p> + "American girls always have more things than English girls," she observed, + with admirable coolness. "They dress more. I have been told so by girls + who have been in Europe. And I have more things than most American girls. + Father had more money than most people; that was one reason; and he + spoiled me, I suppose. He had no one else to give things to, and he said I + should have every thing I took a fancy to. He often laughed at me for + buying things, but he never said I shouldn't buy them." + </p> + <p> + "He was always generous," sighed Miss Belinda. "Poor, dear Martin!" + </p> + <p> + Octavia scarcely entered into the spirit of this mournful sympathy. She + was fond of her father, but her recollections of him were not pathetic or + sentimental. + </p> + <p> + "He took me with him wherever he went," she proceeded. "And we had a + teacher from the States, who travelled with us sometimes. He never sent me + away from him. I wouldn't have gone if he had wanted to send me—and + he didn't want to," she added, with a satisfied little laugh. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. — L'ARGENTVILLE. + </h2> + <p> + Miss Belinda sat, looking at her niece, with a sense of being at once + stunned and fascinated. To see a creature so young, so pretty, so + luxuriously splendid, and at the same time so simply and completely at + ease with herself and her surroundings, was a revelation quite beyond her + comprehension. The best-bred and nicest girls Slowbridge could produce + were apt to look a trifle conscious and timid when they found themselves + attired in the white muslin and floral decorations; but this slender + creature sat in her gorgeous attire, her train flowing over the modest + carpet, her rings flashing, her ear-pendants twinkling, apparently + entirely oblivious of, or indifferent to, the fact that all her belongings + were sufficiently out of place to be startling beyond measure. + </p> + <p> + Her chief characteristic, however, seemed to be her excessive frankness. + She did not hesitate at all to make the most remarkable statements + concerning her own and her father's past career. She made them, too, as if + there was nothing unusual about them. Twice, in her childhood, a luckless + speculation had left her father penniless; and once he had taken her to a + Californian gold-diggers' camp, where she had been the only female member + of the somewhat reckless community. + </p> + <p> + "But they were pretty good-natured, and made a pet of me," she said; "and + we did not stay very long. Father had a stroke of luck, and we went away. + I was sorry when we had to go, and so were the men. They made me a present + of a set of jewelry made out of the gold they had got themselves. There is + a breastpin like a breastplate, and a necklace like a dog-collar: the + bracelets tire my arms, and the ear-rings pull my ears; but I wear them + sometimes—gold girdle and all." + </p> + <p> + "Did I," inquired Miss Belinda timidly, "did I understand you to say, my + dear, that your father's business was in some way connected with + silver-mining?" + </p> + <p> + "It <i>is</i> silver-mining," was the response. "He owns some mines, you + know"— + </p> + <p> + "Owns?" said Miss Belinda, much fluttered; "owns some silver-mines? He + must be a very rich man,—a very rich man. I declare, it quite takes + my breath away." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! he is rich," said Octavia; "awfully rich sometimes. And then again he + isn't. Shares go up, you know; and then they go down, and you don't seem + to have any thing. But father generally comes out right, because he is + lucky, and knows how to manage." + </p> + <p> + "But—but how uncertain!" gasped Miss Belinda: "I should be perfectly + miserable. Poor, dear Mar"— + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no, you wouldn't!" said Octavia: "you'd get used to it, and wouldn't + mind much, particularly if you were lucky as father is. There is every + thing in being lucky, and knowing how to manage. When we first went to + Bloody Gulch"— + </p> + <p> + "My dear!" cried Miss Belinda, aghast. "I—I beg of you"— + </p> + <p> + Octavia stopped short: she gazed at Miss Belinda in bewilderment, as she + had done several times before. + </p> + <p> + "Is any thing the matter?" she inquired placidly. + </p> + <p> + "My dear love," explained Miss Belinda innocently, determined at least to + do her duty, "it is not customary in—in Slowbridge,—in fact, I + think I may say in England,—to use such—such exceedingly—I + don't want to wound your feelings, my dear,—but such exceedingly + strong expressions! I refer, my dear, to the one which began with a B. It + is really considered profane, as well as dreadful beyond measure." + </p> + <p> + "'The one which began with a B,'" repeated Octavia, still staring at her. + "That is the name of a place; but I didn't name it, you know. It was + called that, in the first place, because a party of men were surprised and + murdered there, while they were asleep in their camp at night. It isn't a + very nice name, of course, but I'm not responsible for it; and besides, + now the place is growing, they are going to call it Athens or Magnolia + Vale. They tried L'Argentville for a while; but people would call it + Lodginville, and nobody liked it." + </p> + <p> + "I trust you never lived there," said Miss Belinda. "I beg your pardon for + being so horrified, but I really could not refrain from starting when you + spoke; and I cannot help hoping you never lived there." + </p> + <p> + "I live there now, when I am at home," Octavia replied. "The mines are + there; and father has built a house, and had the furniture brought on from + New York." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda tried not to shudder, but almost failed. + </p> + <p> + "Won't you take another muffin, my love?" she said, with a sigh. "Do take + another muffin." + </p> + <p> + "No, thank you," answered Octavia; and it must be confessed that she + looked a little bored, as she leaned back in her chair, and glanced down + at the train of her dress. It seemed to her that her simplest statement or + remark created a sensation. + </p> + <p> + Having at last risen from the tea-table, she wandered to the window, and + stood there, looking out at Miss Belinda's flower-garden. It was quite a + pretty flower-garden, and a good-sized one considering the dimensions of + the house. There were an oval grass-plot, divers gravel paths, heart and + diamond shaped beds aglow with brilliant annuals, a great many + rose-bushes, several laburnums and lilacs, and a trim hedge of holly + surrounding it. + </p> + <p> + "I think I should like to go out and walk around there," remarked Octavia, + smothering a little yawn behind her hand. "Suppose we go—if you + don't care." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, my dear," assented Miss Belinda. "But perhaps," with a + delicately dubious glance at her attire, "you would like to make some + little alteration in your dress—to put something a little—dark + over it." + </p> + <p> + Octavia glanced down also. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no!" she replied: "it will do well enough. I will throw a scarf over + my head, though; not because I need it," unblushingly, "but because I have + a lace one that is very becoming." + </p> + <p> + She went up to her room for the article in question, and in three minutes + was down again. When she first caught sight of her, Miss Belinda found + herself obliged to clear her throat quite suddenly. What Slowbridge would + think of seeing such a toilet in her front garden, upon an ordinary + occasion, she could not imagine. The scarf truly was becoming. It was a + long affair of rich white lace, and was thrown over the girl's head, wound + around her throat, and the ends tossed over her shoulders, with the most + picturesque air of carelessness in the world. + </p> + <p> + "You look quite like a bride, my dear Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "We are + scarcely used to such things in Slowbridge." + </p> + <p> + But Octavia only laughed a little. + </p> + <p> + "I am going to get some pink roses, and fasten the ends with them, when we + get into the garden," she said. + </p> + <p> + She stopped for this purpose at the first rose-bush they reached. She + gathered half a dozen slender-stemmed, heavy-headed buds, and, having + fastened the lace with some, was carelessly placing the rest at her waist, + when Miss Belinda started violently. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. — LADY THEOBALD. + </h2> + <p> + "Oh, dear!" she exclaimed nervously, "there is Lady Theobald." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald, having been making calls of state, was returning home + rather later than usual, when, in driving up High Street, her eye fell + upon Miss Bassett's garden. She put up her eyeglasses, and gazed through + them severely; then she issued a mandate to her coachman. + </p> + <p> + "Dobson," she said, "drive more slowly." + </p> + <p> + She could not believe the evidence of her own eyeglasses. In Miss + Bassett's garden she saw a tall girl, "dressed," as she put it, "like an + actress," her delicate dress trailing upon the grass, a white lace scarf + about her head and shoulders, roses in that scarf, roses at her waist. + </p> + <p> + "Good heavens!" she exclaimed: "is Belinda Bassett giving a party, without + so much as mentioning it to <i>me</i>?" + </p> + <p> + Then she issued another mandate. + </p> + <p> + "Dobson," she said, "drive faster, and drive me to Miss Bassett's." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda came out to the gate to meet her, quaking inwardly. Octavia + simply turned slightly where she stood, and looked at her ladyship, + without any pretence of concealing her curiosity. + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald bent forward in her landau. + </p> + <p> + "Belinda," she said, "how do you do? I did not know you intended to + introduce garden-parties into Slowbridge." + </p> + <p> + "Dear Lady Theobald"—began Miss Belinda. + </p> + <p> + "Who is that young person?" demanded her ladyship. + </p> + <p> + "She is poor dear Martin's daughter," answered Miss Belinda. "She arrived + to-day—from Nevada, where—where it appears Martin has been + very fortunate, and owns a great many silver-mines"— + </p> + <p> + "A 'great many' silver-mines!" cried Lady Theobald. "Are you mad, Belinda + Bassett? I am ashamed of you. At your time of life too!" + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda almost shed tears. + </p> + <p> + "She said 'some silver-mines,' I am sure," she faltered; "for I remember + how astonished and bewildered I was. The fact is, that she is such a very + singular girl, and has told me so many wonderful things, in the strangest, + cool way, that I am quite uncertain of myself. Murderers, and + gold-diggers, and silver-mines, and camps full of men without women, + making presents of gold girdles and dog-collars, and ear-rings that drag + your ears down. It is enough to upset any one." + </p> + <p> + "I should think so," responded her ladyship. "Open the carriage-door, + Belinda, and let me get out." + </p> + <p> + She felt that this matter must be inquired into at once, and not allowed + to go too far. She had ruled Slowbridge too long to allow such innovations + to remain uninvestigated. She would not be likely to be "upset," at least. + She descended from her landau, with her most rigorous air. Her stout, rich + black <i>moire-antique</i> gown rustled severely; the yellow ostrich + feather in her bonnet waved majestically. (Being a brunette, and Lady + Theobald, she wore yellow.) As she tramped up the gravel walk, she held up + her dress with both hands, as an example to vulgar and reckless young + people who wore trains and left them to take care of themselves. Octavia + was arranging afresh the bunch of long-stemmed, swaying buds at her waist, + and she was giving all her attention to her task when her visitor first + addressed her. + </p> + <p> + "How do you do?" remarked her ladyship, in a fine, deep voice. + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda followed her meekly. + </p> + <p> + "Octavia," she explained, "this is Lady Theobald, whom you will be very + glad to know. She knew your father." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," returned my lady, "years ago. He has had time to improve since + then. How do you do?" + </p> + <p> + Octavia's limpid eyes rested serenely upon her. + </p> + <p> + "How do you do?" she said, rather indifferently. + </p> + <p> + "You are from Nevada?" asked Lady Theobald. + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + "It is not long since you left there?" + </p> + <p> + Octavia smiled faintly. + </p> + <p> + "Do I look like that?" she inquired. + </p> + <p> + "Like what?" said my lady. + </p> + <p> + "As if I had not long lived in a civilized place. I dare say I do, because + it is true that I haven't." + </p> + <p> + "You don't look like an English girl," remarked her ladyship. + </p> + <p> + Octavia smiled again. She looked at the yellow feather and stout <i>moire + antique</i> dress, but quite as if by accident, and without any mental + deduction; then she glanced at the rosebuds in her hand. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose I ought to be sorry for that," she observed. "I dare say I + shall be in time—when I have been longer away from Nevada." + </p> + <p> + "I must confess," admitted her ladyship, and evidently without the least + regret or embarrassment, "I must confess that I don't know where Nevada + is." + </p> + <p> + "It isn't in Europe," replied Octavia, with a soft, light laugh. "You know + that, don't you?" + </p> + <p> + The words themselves sounded to Lady Theobald like the most outrageous + impudence; but when she looked at the pretty, lovelock-shaded face, she + was staggered the look it wore was such a very innocent and undisturbed + one. At the moment, the only solution to be reached seemed to be that this + was the style of young people in Nevada, and that it was ignorance and not + insolence she had to do battle with—which, indeed, was partially + true. + </p> + <p> + "I have not had any occasion to inquire where it is situated, so far," she + responded firmly. "It is not so necessary for English people to know + America as it is for Americans to know England." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't it?" said Octavia, without any great show of interest. "Why not?" + </p> + <p> + "For—for a great many reasons it would be fatiguing to explain," she + answered courageously. "How is your father?" + </p> + <p> + "He is very sea-sick now," was the smiling answer,—"deadly sea-sick. + He has been out just twenty-four hours." + </p> + <p> + "Out? What does that mean?" + </p> + <p> + "Out on the Atlantic. He was called back suddenly, and obliged to leave + me. That is why I came here alone." + </p> + <p> + "Pray do come into the parlor, and sit down, dear Lady Theobald," ventured + Miss Belinda. "Octavia"— + </p> + <p> + "Don't you think it is nicer out here?" said Octavia. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," answered Miss Belinda. "Lady Theobald"—She was really + quite shocked. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" interposed Octavia. "I only thought it was cooler." + </p> + <p> + She preceded them, without seeming to be at all conscious that she was + taking the lead. + </p> + <p> + "You had better pick up your dress, Miss Octavia," said Lady Theobald + rather acidly. + </p> + <p> + The girl glanced over her shoulder at the length of train sweeping the + path, but she made no movement toward picking it up. + </p> + <p> + "It is too much trouble, and one has to duck down so," she said. "It is + bad enough to have to keep doing it when one is on the street. Besides, + they would never wear out if one took too much care of them." + </p> + <p> + When they went into the parlor, and sat down, Lady Theobald made excellent + use of her time, and managed to hear again all that had tried and + bewildered Miss Belinda. She had no hesitation in asking questions boldly; + she considered it her privilege to do so: she had catechised Slowbridge + for forty years, and meant to maintain her rights until Time played her + the knave's trick of disabling her. + </p> + <p> + In half an hour she had heard about the silver-mines, the gold-diggers, + and L'Argentville; she knew that Martin Bassett was a millionnaire, if the + news he had heard had not left him penniless; that he would return to + England, and visit Slowbridge, as soon as his affairs were settled. The + precarious condition of his finances did not seem to cause Octavia much + concern. She had asked no questions when he went away, and seemed quite at + ease regarding the future. + </p> + <p> + "People will always lend him money, and then he is lucky with it," she + said. + </p> + <p> + She bore the catechising very well. Her replies were frequently rather + trying to her interlocutor, but she never seemed troubled, or ashamed of + any thing she had to say; and she wore, from first to last, that + inscrutably innocent and indifferent little air. + </p> + <p> + She did not even show confusion when Lady Theobald, on going away, made + her farewell comment:— + </p> + <p> + "You are a very fortunate girl to own such jewels," she said, glancing + critically at the diamonds in her ears; "but if you take my advice, my + dear, you will put them away, and save them until you are a married woman. + It is not customary, on this side of the water, for young girls to wear + such things—particularly on ordinary occasions. People will think + you are odd." + </p> + <p> + "It is not exactly customary in America," replied Octavia, with her + undisturbed smile. "There are not many girls who have such things. Perhaps + they would wear them if they had them. I don't care a very great deal + about them, but I mean to wear them." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald went away in a dudgeon. + </p> + <p> + "You will have to exercise your authority, Belinda, and <i>make</i> her + put them away," she said to Miss Bassett. "It is absurd—besides + being atrocious." + </p> + <p> + "Make her!" faltered Miss Bassett. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, 'make her'—though I see you will have your hands full. I never + heard such romancing stories in my life. It is just what one might expect + from your brother Martin." + </p> + <p> + When Miss Bassett returned, Octavia was standing before the window, + watching the carriage drive away, and playing absently with one of her + ear-rings as she did so. + </p> + <p> + "What an old fright she is!" was her first guileless remark. + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda quite bridled. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," she said, with dignity, "no one in Slowbridge would think of + applying such a phrase to Lady Theobald." + </p> + <p> + Octavia turned around, and looked at her. + </p> + <p> + "But don't you think she is one?" she exclaimed. "Perhaps I oughtn't to + have said it; but you know we haven't any thing as bad as that, even out + in Nevada—really!" + </p> + <p> + "My dear," said Miss Belinda, "different countries contain different + people; and in Slowbridge <i>we</i> have our standards,"—her best + cap trembling a little with her repressed excitement. + </p> + <p> + But Octavia did not appear overwhelmed by the existence of the standards + in question. She turned to the window again. + </p> + <p> + "Well, anyway," she said, "I think it was pretty cool in her to order me + to take off my diamonds, and save them until I was married. How does she + know whether I mean to be married, or not? I don't know that I care about + it." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. — LUCIA. + </h2> + <p> + In this manner Slowbridge received the shock which shook it to its + foundations, and it was a shock from which it did not recover for some + time. Before ten o'clock the next morning, everybody knew of the arrival + of Martin Bassett's daughter. + </p> + <p> + The very boarding-school (Miss Pilcher's select seminary for young ladies, + "combining the comforts of a home," as the circular said, "with all the + advantages of genteel education") was on fire with it, highly colored + versions of the stories told being circulated from the "first class" + downward, even taking the form of an Indian princess, tattooed blue, and + with difficulty restrained from indulging in war-whoops,—which last + feature so alarmed little Miss Bigbee, aged seven, that she retired in + fear and trembling, and shed tears under the bedclothes; her terror and + anguish being much increased by the stirring recitals of scalping-stories + by pretty Miss Phipps, of the first class—a young person who + possessed a vivid imagination, and delighted in romances of a tragic turn. + </p> + <p> + "I have not the slightest doubt," said Miss Phipps, "that when she is at + home she lives in a wampum." + </p> + <p> + "What is a wampum?" inquired one of her admiring audience. + </p> + <p> + "A tent," replied Miss Phipps, with some impatience. "I should think any + goose would know that. It is a kind of tent hung with scalps and—and—moccasins, + and—lariats—and things of that sort." + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe that is the right name for it," put in Miss Smith, who + was a pert member of the third class. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" commented Miss Phipps, "that was Miss Smith who spoke, of course. We + may always expect information from Miss Smith. I trust that I may be + allowed to say that I <i>think</i> I <i>have</i> a brother"— + </p> + <p> + "He doesn't know much about it, if he calls a wigwam a wampum," interposed + Miss Smith, with still greater pertness. "I have a brother who knows + better than that, if I am only in the third class." For a moment Miss + Phipps appeared to be meditating. Perhaps she was a trifle discomfited; + but she recovered herself after a brief pause, and returned to the charge. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she remarked, "perhaps it is a wigwam. Who cares if it is? And at + any rate, whatever it is, I haven't the slightest doubt that she lives in + one." + </p> + <p> + This comparatively tame version was, however, entirely discarded when the + diamonds and silver-mines began to figure more largely in the reports. + Certainly, pretty, overdressed, jewel-bedecked Octavia gave Slowbridge + abundant cause for excitement. + </p> + <p> + After leaving her, Lady Theobald drove home to Oldclough Hall, rather out + of humor. She had been rather out of humor for some time, having never + quite recovered from her anger at the daring of that cheerful builder of + mills, Mr. John Burmistone. Mr. Burmistone had been one innovation, and + Octavia Bassett was another. She had not been able to manage Mr. + Burmistone, and she was not at all sure that she had managed Octavia + Bassett. + </p> + <p> + She entered the dining-room with an ominous frown on her forehead. + </p> + <p> + At the end of the table, opposite her own seat, was a vacant chair, and + her frown deepened when she saw it. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Miss Gaston?" she demanded of the servant. + </p> + <p> + Before the man had time to reply, the door opened, and a girl came in + hurriedly, with a somewhat frightened air. + </p> + <p> + "I beg pardon, grandmamma dear," she said, going to her seat quickly. "I + did not know you had come home." + </p> + <p> + "We have a dinner-hour," announced her ladyship, "and <i>I</i> do not + disregard it." + </p> + <p> + "I am very sorry," faltered the culprit. + </p> + <p> + "That is enough, Lucia," interrupted Lady Theobald; and Lucia dropped her + eyes, and began to eat her soup with nervous haste. In fact, she was glad + to escape so easily. + </p> + <p> + She was a very pretty creature, with brown eyes, a soft white skin, and a + slight figure with a reed-like grace. A great quantity of brown hair was + twisted into an ugly coil on the top of her delicate little head; and she + wore an ugly muslin gown of Miss Chickie's make. For some time the meal + progressed in dead silence; but at length Lucia ventured to raise her + eyes. + </p> + <p> + "I have been walking in Slowbridge, grandmamma," she said, "and I met Mr. + Burmistone, who told me that Miss Bassett has a visitor—a young lady + from America." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald laid her knife and fork down deliberately. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Burmistone?" she said. "Did I understand you to say that you stopped + on the roadside to converse with Mr. Burmistone?" + </p> + <p> + Lucia colored up to her delicate eyebrows and above them. + </p> + <p> + "I was trying to reach a flower growing on the bank," she said, "and he + was so kind as to stop to get it for me. I did not know he was near at + first. And then he inquired how you were—and told me he had just + heard about the young lady." + </p> + <p> + "Naturally!" remarked her ladyship sardonically. "It is as I anticipated + it would be. We shall find Mr. Burmistone at our elbows upon all + occasions. And he will not allow himself to be easily driven away. He is + as determined as persons of his class usually are." + </p> + <p> + "O grandmamma!" protested Lucia, with innocent fervor. "I really do not + think he is—like that at all. I could not help thinking he was very + gentlemanly and kind. He is so much interested in your school, and so + anxious that it should prosper." + </p> + <p> + "May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, "how long a time this generous + expression of his sentiments occupied? Was this the reason of your + forgetting the dinner-hour?" + </p> + <p> + "We did not"—said Lucia guiltily: "it did not take many minutes. I—I + do not think that made me late." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald dismissed this paltry excuse with one remark,—a remark + made in the deep tones referred to once before. + </p> + <p> + "I should scarcely have expected," she observed, "that a granddaughter of + mine would have spent half an hour conversing on the public road with the + proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + </p> + <p> + "O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, the tears rising in her eyes: "it was not + half an hour." + </p> + <p> + "I should scarcely have expected," replied her ladyship, "that a + granddaughter of mine would have spent five minutes conversing on the + public road with the proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + </p> + <p> + To this assault there seemed to be no reply to make. Lady Theobald had her + granddaughter under excellent control. Under her rigorous rule, the girl—whose + mother had died at her birth—had been brought up. At nineteen she + was simple, sensitive, shy. She had been permitted to have no companions, + and the greatest excitements of her life had been the Slowbridge + tea-parties. Of the late Sir Gilbert Theobald, the less said the better. + He had spent very little of his married life at Oldclough Hall, and upon + his death his widow had found herself possessed of a substantial, gloomy + mansion, an exalted position in Slowbridge society, and a small + marriage-settlement, upon which she might make all the efforts she chose + to sustain her state. So Lucia wore her dresses a much longer time than + any other Slowbridge young lady: she was obliged to mend her little gloves + again and again; and her hats were retrimmed so often that even Slowbridge + thought them old-fashioned. But she was too simple and sweet-natured to be + much troubled, and indeed thought very little about the matter. She was + only troubled when Lady Theobald scolded her, which was by no means + infrequently. Perhaps the straits to which, at times, her ladyship was put + to maintain her dignity imbittered her somewhat. + </p> + <p> + "Lucia is neither a Theobald nor a Barold," she had been heard to say + once, and she had said it with much rigor. + </p> + <p> + A subject of much conversation in private circles had been Lucia's future. + It had been discussed in whispers since her seventeenth year, but no one + had seemed to approach any solution of the difficulty. Upon the subject of + her plans for her granddaughter, Lady Theobald had preserved stern + silence. Once, and once only, she had allowed herself to be betrayed into + the expression of a sentiment connected with the matter. + </p> + <p> + "If Miss Lucia marries"—a matron of reckless proclivities had + remarked. + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald turned upon her, slowly and majestically. + </p> + <p> + "<i>If</i> Miss Gaston marries," she repeated. "Does it seem likely that + Miss Gaston will <i>not</i> marry?" + </p> + <p> + This settled the matter finally. Lucia was to be married when Lady + Theobald thought fit. So far, however, she had not thought fit: indeed, + there had been nobody for Lucia to marry,—nobody whom her + grandmother would have allowed her to marry, at least. There were very few + young men in Slowbridge; and the very few were scarcely eligible according + to Lady Theobald's standard, and—if such a thing should be mentioned—to + Lucia's, if she had known she had one, which she certainly did not. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. — ACCIDENTAL. + </h2> + <p> + When dinner was over, Lady Theobald rose, and proceeded to the + drawing-room, Lucia following in her wake. From her very babyhood Lucia + had disliked the drawing-room, which was an imposing apartment of great + length and height, containing much massive furniture, upholstered in faded + blue satin. All the girl's evenings, since her fifth year, had been spent + sitting opposite her grandmother, in one of the straightest of the blue + chairs: all the most scathing reproofs she had received had been + administered to her at such times. She had a secret theory, indeed, that + all unpleasant things occurred in the drawing-room after dinner. + </p> + <p> + Just as they had seated themselves, and Lady Theobald was on the point of + drawing toward her the little basket containing the gray woollen mittens + she made a duty of employing herself by knitting each evening, Dobson, the + coachman, in his character of footman, threw open the door, and announced + a visitor. + </p> + <p> + "Capt. Barold." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald dropped her gray mitten, the steel needles falling upon the + table with a clink. She rose to her feet at once, and met half-way the + young man who had entered. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Francis," she remarked, "I am exceedingly glad to see you at + last," with a slight emphasis upon the "at last." + </p> + <p> + "Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold, rather languidly. "You're very good, I'm + sure." + </p> + <p> + Then he glanced at Lucia, and Lady Theobald addressed her:— + </p> + <p> + "Lucia," she said, "this is Francis Barold, who is your cousin." + </p> + <p> + Capt. Barold shook hands feebly. + </p> + <p> + "I have been trying to find out whether it is third or fourth," he said. + </p> + <p> + "It is third," said my lady. + </p> + <p> + Lucia had never seen her display such cordiality to anybody. But Capt. + Francis Barold did not seem much impressed by it. It struck Lucia that he + would not be likely to be impressed by any thing. He seated himself near + her grandmother's chair, and proceeded to explain his presence on the + spot, without exhibiting much interest even in his own relation of facts. + </p> + <p> + "I promised the Rathburns that I would spend a week at their place; and + Slowbridge was on the way, so it occurred to me I would drop off in + passing. The Rathburns' place, Broadoaks, is about ten miles farther on; + not far, you see." + </p> + <p> + "Then," said Lady Theobald, "I am to understand that your visit is + accidental." + </p> + <p> + Capt. Barold was not embarrassed. He did not attempt to avoid her + ladyship's rather stern eye, as he made his cool reply. + </p> + <p> + "Well, yes," he said. "I beg pardon, but it is accidental, rather." + </p> + <p> + Lucia gave him a pretty, frightened look, as if she felt that, after such + an audacious confession, something very serious must happen; but nothing + serious happened at all. Singularly enough, it was Lady Theobald herself + who looked ill at ease, and as though she had not been prepared for such a + contingency. + </p> + <p> + During the whole of the evening, in fact, it was always Lady Theobald who + was placed at a disadvantage, Lucia discovered. She could hardly realize + the fact at first; but before an hour had passed, its truth was forced + upon her. + </p> + <p> + Capt. Barold was a very striking-looking man, upon the whole. He was + large, gracefully built, and fair: his eyes were gray, and noticeable for + the coldness of their expression, his features regular and aquiline, his + movements leisurely. + </p> + <p> + As he conversed with her grandmother, Lucia wondered at him privately. It + seemed to her innocent mind that he had been everywhere, and seen every + thing and everybody, without caring for or enjoying his privileges. The + truth was, that he had seen and experienced a great deal too much. As an + only child, the heir to a large property, and heir prospective to one of + the oldest titles in the country, he had exhausted life early. He saw in + Lady Theobald, not the imposing head and social front of Slowbridge social + life, the power who rewarded with approval and punished with a frown, but + a tiresome, pretentious old woman, whom his mother had asked him, for some + feminine reason, to visit. "She feels she has a claim upon us, Francis," + she had said appealingly. + </p> + <p> + "Well," he had remarked, "that is rather deuced cool, isn't it? We have + people enough on our hands without cultivating Slowbridge, you know." + </p> + <p> + His mother sighed faintly. + </p> + <p> + "It is true we have a great many people to consider; but I wish you would + do it, my dear." + </p> + <p> + She did not say any thing at all about Lucia: above all, she did not + mention that a year ago she herself had spent two or three days at + Slowbridge, and had been charmed beyond measure by the girl's innocent + freshness, and that she had said, rather absently, to Lady Theobald,— + </p> + <p> + "What a charming wife Lucia would make for a man to whom gentleness and a + yielding disposition were necessary! We do not find such girls in society + nowadays, my dear Lady Theobald. It is very difficult of late years to + find a girl who is not spoken of as 'fast,' and who is not disposed to + take the reins in her own hands. Our young men are flattered and courted + until they become a little dictatorial, and our girls are spoiled at home. + And the result is a great deal of domestic unhappiness afterward—and + even a great deal of scandal, which is dreadful to contemplate. I cannot + help feeling the greatest anxiety in secret concerning Francis. Young men + so seldom consider these matters until it is too late." + </p> + <p> + "Girls are not trained as they were in my young days, or even in yours," + said Lady Theobald. "They are allowed too much liberty. Lucia has been + brought up immediately under my own eye." + </p> + <p> + "I feel that it is fortunate," remarked Mrs. Barold, quite incidentally, + "that Francis need not make a point of money." + </p> + <p> + For a few moments Lady Theobald did not respond; but afterward, in the + course of the conversation which followed, she made an observation which + was, of course, purely incidental. + </p> + <p> + "If Lucia makes a marriage which pleases her great-uncle, old Mr. Dugald + Binnie, of Glasgow, she will be a very fortunate girl. He has intimated, + in his eccentric fashion, that his immense fortune will either be hers, or + will be spent in building charitable asylums of various kinds. He is a + remarkable and singular man." + </p> + <p> + When Capt. Barold had entered his distinguished relative's drawing-room, + he had not regarded his third cousin with a very great deal of interest. + He had seen too many beauties in his thirty years to be greatly moved by + the sight of one; and here was only a girl who had soft eyes, and looked + young for her age, and who wore an ugly muslin gown, that most girls could + not have carried off at all. + </p> + <p> + "You have spent the greater part of your life in Slowbridge?" he + condescended to say in the course of the evening. + </p> + <p> + "I have lived here always," Lucia answered. "I have never been away more + than a week at a time." + </p> + <p> + "Ah?" interrogatively. "I hope you have not found it dull." + </p> + <p> + "No," smiling a little. "Not very. You see, I have known nothing gayer." + </p> + <p> + "There is society enough of a harmless kind here," spoke up Lady Theobald + virtuously. "I do not approve of a round of gayeties for young people: it + unfits them for the duties of life." + </p> + <p> + But Capt. Barold was not as favorably impressed by these remarks as might + have been anticipated. + </p> + <p> + "What an old fool she is!" was his polite inward comment. And he resolved + at once to make his visit as brief as possible, and not to be induced to + run down again during his stay at Broadoaks. He did not even take the + trouble to appear to enjoy his evening. From his earliest infancy, he had + always found it easier to please himself than to please other people. In + fact, the world had devoted itself to endeavoring to please him, and win + his—toleration, we may say, instead of admiration, since it could + not hope for the latter. At home he had been adored rapturously by a large + circle of affectionate male and female relatives; at school his tutors had + been singularly indulgent of his faults and admiring of his talents; even + among his fellow-pupils he had been a sort of autocrat. + </p> + <p> + Why not, indeed, with such birthrights and such prospects? When he had + entered society, he had met with even more amiable treatment from + affectionate mothers, from innocent daughters, from cordial paternal + parents, who voted him an exceedingly fine fellow. Why should he bore + himself by taking the trouble to seem pleased by a stupid evening with an + old grenadier in petticoats and a badly dressed country girl? + </p> + <p> + Lucia was very glad when, in answer to a timidly appealing glance, Lady + Theobald said,— + </p> + <p> + "It is half-past ten. You may wish us good-night, Lucia." + </p> + <p> + Lucia obeyed, as if she had been half-past ten herself, instead of nearly + twenty; and Barold was not long in following her example. + </p> + <p> + Dobson led him to a stately chamber at the top of the staircase, and left + him there. The captain chose the largest and most luxurious chair, sat + down in it, and lighted a cigar at his leisure. + </p> + <p> + "Confoundedly stupid hole!" he said with a refined vigor one would + scarcely have expected from an individual of his birth and breeding. "I + shall leave to-morrow, of course. What was my mother thinking of? Stupid + business from first to last." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. — "I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE." + </h2> + <p> + When he announced at breakfast his intention of taking his departure on + the midday train, Lucia wondered again what would happen; and again, to + her relief, Lady Theobald was astonishingly lenient. + </p> + <p> + "As your friends expect you, of course we cannot overrule them," she said. + "We will, however, hope to see something of you during your stay at + Broadoaks. It will be very easy for you to run down and give us a few + hours now and then." + </p> + <p> + "Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold. + </p> + <p> + He was decently civil, if not enthusiastic, during the few remaining hours + of his stay. He sauntered through the grounds with Lucia, who took charge + of him in obedience to her grandmother's wish. He did not find her + particularly troublesome when she was away from her ladyship's side. When + she came out to him in her simple cotton gown and straw hat, it occurred + to him that she was much prettier than he had thought her at first. For + economical reasons she had made the little morning-dress herself, without + the slightest regard for the designs of Miss Chickie; and as it was not + trimmed at all, and had only a black-velvet ribbon at the waist, there was + nothing to place her charming figure at a disadvantage. It could not be + said that her shyness and simplicity delighted Capt. Barold, but, at + least, they did not displease him; and this was really as much as could be + expected. + </p> + <p> + "She does not expect a fellow to exert himself, at all events," was his + inward comment; and he did not exert himself. + </p> + <p> + But, when on the point of taking his departure, he went so far as to make + a very gracious remark to her. + </p> + <p> + "I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you in London for a season, + before very long," he said: "my mother will have great pleasure in taking + charge of you, if Lady Theobald cannot be induced to leave Slowbridge." + </p> + <p> + "Lucia never goes from home alone," said Lady Theobald; "but I should + certainly be obliged to call upon your mother for her good offices, in the + case of our spending a season in London. I am too old a woman to alter my + mode of life altogether." + </p> + <p> + In obedience to her ladyship's orders, the venerable landau was brought to + the door; and the two ladies drove to the station with him. + </p> + <p> + It was during this drive that a very curious incident occurred,—an + incident to which, perhaps, this story owes its existence, since, if it + had not taken place, there might, very possibly, have been no events of a + stirring nature to chronicle. Just as Dobson drove rather slowly up the + part of High Street distinguished by the presence of Miss Belinda + Bassett's house, Capt. Barold suddenly appeared to be attracted by some + figure he discovered in the garden appertaining to that modest structure. + </p> + <p> + "By Jove!" he exclaimed, in an undertone, "there is Miss Octavia." + </p> + <p> + For the moment he was almost roused to a display of interest. A faint + smile lighted his face, and his cold, handsome eyes slightly brightened. + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald sat bolt upright. + </p> + <p> + "That is Miss Bassett's niece, from America," she said. "Do I understand + you know her?" + </p> + <p> + Capt. Barold turned to confront her, evidently annoyed at having allowed a + surprise to get the better of him. All expression died out of his face. + </p> + <p> + "I travelled with her from Framwich to Stamford," he said. "I suppose we + should have reached Slowbridge together, but that I dropped off at + Stamford to get a newspaper, and the train left me behind." + </p> + <p> + "O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, who had turned to look, "how very pretty + she is!" + </p> + <p> + Miss Octavia certainly was amazingly so this morning. She was standing by + a rosebush again, and was dressed in a cashmere morning-robe of the finest + texture and the faintest pink: it had a Watteau plait down the back, <i>jabot</i> + of lace down the front, and the close, high frills of lace around the + throat which seemed to be a weakness with her. Her hair was dressed high + upon her head, and showed to advantage her little ears and as much of her + slim white neck as the frills did not conceal. + </p> + <p> + But Lady Theobald did not share Lucia's enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + "She looks like an actress," she said. "If the trees were painted canvas + and the roses artificial, one might have some patience with her. That kind + of thing is scarcely what we expect in Slowbridge." + </p> + <p> + Then she turned to Barold. + </p> + <p> + "I had the pleasure of meeting her yesterday, not long after she arrived," + she said. "She had diamonds in her ears as big as peas, and rings to + match. Her manner is just what one might expect from a young woman brought + up among gold-diggers and silver-miners." + </p> + <p> + "It struck me as being a very unique and interesting manner," said Capt. + Barold. "It is chiefly noticeable for a <i>sang-froid</i> which might be + regarded as rather enviable. She was good enough to tell me all about her + papa and the silver-mines, and I really found the conversation + entertaining." + </p> + <p> + "It is scarcely customary for English young women to confide in their + masculine travelling companions to such an extent," remarked my lady + grimly. + </p> + <p> + "She did not confide in me at all," said Barold. "Therein lay her + attraction. One cannot submit to being 'confided in' by a strange young + woman, however charming. This young lady's remarks were flavored solely + with an adorably cool candor. She evidently did not desire to appeal to + any emotion whatever." + </p> + <p> + And as he leaned back in his seat, he still looked at the picturesque + figure which they had passed, as if he would not have been sorry to see it + turn its head toward him. + </p> + <p> + In fact, it seemed that, notwithstanding his usual good fortune, Capt. + Barold was doomed this morning to make remarks of a nature objectionable + to his revered relation. On their way they passed Mr. Burmistone's mill, + which was at work in all its vigor, with a whir and buzz of machinery, and + a slight odor of oil in its surrounding atmosphere. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said Mr. Barold, putting his single eyeglass into his eye, and + scanning it after the manner of experts. "I did not think you had any + thing of that sort here. Who put it up?" + </p> + <p> + "The man's name," replied Lady Theobald severely, "is Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + "Pretty good idea, isn't it?" remarked Barold. "Good for the place—and + all that sort of thing." + </p> + <p> + "To my mind," answered my lady, "it is the worst possible thing which + could have happened." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Francis Barold dropped his eyeglass dexterously, and at once lapsed + into his normal condition—which was a condition by no means + favorable to argument. + </p> + <p> + "Think so?" he said slowly. "Pity, isn't it, under the circumstances?" + </p> + <p> + And really there was nothing at all for her ladyship to do but preserve a + lofty silence. She had scarcely recovered herself when they reached the + station, and it was necessary to say farewell as complacently as possible. + </p> + <p> + "We will hope to see you again before many days," she said with dignity, + if not with warmth. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Francis Barold was silent for a second, and a slightly reflective + expression flitted across his face. + </p> + <p> + "Thanks, yes," he said at last. "Certainly. It is easy to come down, and I + should like to see more of Slowbridge." + </p> + <p> + When the train had puffed in and out of the station, and Dobson was + driving down High Street again, her ladyship's feelings rather got the + better of her. + </p> + <p> + "If Belinda Bassett is a wise woman," she remarked, "she will take my + advice, and get rid of this young lady as soon as possible. It appears to + me," she continued, with exalted piety, "that every well-trained English + girl has reason to thank her Maker that she was born in a civilized land." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," suggested Lucia softly, "Miss Octavia Bassett has had no one to + train her at all; and it may be that—that she even feels it deeply." + </p> + <p> + The feathers in her ladyship's bonnet trembled. + </p> + <p> + "She does not feel it at all!" she announced. "She is an impertinent—minx!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. — SHARES LOOKING UP. + </h2> + <p> + There were others who echoed her ladyship's words afterward, though they + echoed them privately, and with more caution than my lady felt necessary. + It is certain that Miss Octavia Bassett did not improve as time + progressed, and she had enlarged opportunities for studying the noble + example set before her by Slowbridge. + </p> + <p> + On his arrival in New York, Martin Bassett telegraphed to his daughter and + sister, per Atlantic cable, informing them that he might be detained a + couple of months, and bidding them to be of good cheer. The arrival of the + message in its official envelope so alarmed Miss Belinda, that she was + supported by Mary Anne while it was read to her by Octavia, who received + it without any surprise whatever. For some time after its completion, + Slowbridge had privately disbelieved in the Atlantic cable, and, until + this occasion, had certainly disbelieved in the existence of people who + received messages through it. In fact, on first finding that she was the + recipient of such a message, Miss Belinda had made immediate preparations + for fainting quietly away, being fully convinced that a shipwreck had + occurred, which had resulted in her brother's death, and that his + executors had chosen this delicate method of breaking the news. + </p> + <p> + "A message by Atlantic cable?" she had gasped. "Don't—don't read it, + my love. L-let some one else do that. Poor—poor child! Trust in + Providence, my love, and—and bear up. Ah, how I wish I had a + stronger mind, and could be of more service to you!" + </p> + <p> + "It's a message from father," said Octavia. "Nothing is the matter. He's + all right. He got in on Saturday." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" panted Miss Belinda. "Are you <i>quite</i> sure, my dear—are + you quite sure?" + </p> + <p> + "That's what he says. Listen." + </p> + <p> + "Got in Saturday. Piper met me. Shares looking up. May be kept here two + months. Will write. Keep up your spirits. MARTIN BASSETT." + </p> + <p> + "Thank Heaven!" sighed Miss Belinda. "Thank Heaven!" + </p> + <p> + "Why?" said Octavia. + </p> + <p> + "Why?" echoed Miss Belinda. "Ah, my dear, if you knew how terrified I was! + I felt sure that something had happened. A <i>cable</i> message, my dear! + I never received a telegram in my life before, and to receive a <i>cable</i> + message was really a <i>shock</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I don't see why," said Octavia. "It seems to me it is pretty much + like any other message." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda regarded her timidly. + </p> + <p> + "Does your papa <i>often</i> send them?" she inquired. "Surely it must be + expensive." + </p> + <p> + "I don't suppose it's cheap," Octavia replied, "but it saves time and + worry. I should have had to wait twelve days for a letter." + </p> + <p> + "Very true," said Miss Belinda, "but"— + </p> + <p> + She broke off with rather a distressed shake of the head. Her simple ideas + of economy and quiet living were frequently upset in these times. She had + begun to regard her niece with a slight feeling of awe; and yet Octavia + had not been doing any thing at all remarkable in her own eyes, and + considered her life pretty dull. + </p> + <p> + If the elder Miss Bassett, her parents and grandparents, had not been so + thoroughly well known, and so universally respected; if their social + position had not been so firmly established, and their quiet lives not + quite so highly respectable,—there is an awful possibility that + Slowbridge might even have gone so far as not to ask Octavia out to tea at + all. But even Lady Theobald felt that it would not do to slight Belinda + Bassett's niece and guest. To omit the customary state teas would have + been to crush innocent Miss Belinda at a blow, and place her—through + the medium of this young lady, who alone deserved condemnation—beyond + the pale of all social law. + </p> + <p> + "It is only to be regretted," said her ladyship, "that Belinda Bassett has + not arranged things better. Relatives of such an order are certainly to be + deplored." + </p> + <p> + In secret Lucia felt much soft-hearted sympathy for both Miss Bassett and + her guest. She could not help wondering how Miss Belinda became + responsible for the calamity which had fallen upon her. It really did not + seem probable that she had been previously consulted as to the kind of + niece she desired, or that she had, in a distinct manner, evinced a + preference for a niece of this description. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps, dear grandmamma," the girl ventured, "it is because Miss Octavia + Bassett is so young that"— + </p> + <p> + "May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, in fell tones, "how old you are?" + </p> + <p> + "I was nineteen in—in December." + </p> + <p> + "Miss Octavia Bassett," said her ladyship, "was nineteen last October, and + it is now June. I have not yet found it necessary to apologize for you on + the score of youth." + </p> + <p> + But it was her ladyship who took the initiative, and set an evening for + entertaining Miss Belinda and her niece, in company with several other + ladies, with the best bohea, thin bread and butter, plum-cake, and various + other delicacies. + </p> + <p> + "What do they do at such places?" asked Octavia. "Half-past five is pretty + early." + </p> + <p> + "We spend some time at the tea-table, my dear," explained Miss Belinda. + "And afterward we—we converse. A few of us play whist. I do not. I + feel as if I were not clever enough, and I get flurried too easily by—by + differences of opinion." + </p> + <p> + "I should think it wasn't very exciting," said Octavia. "I don't fancy I + ever went to an entertainment where they did nothing but drink tea, and + talk." + </p> + <p> + "It is not our intention or desire to be exciting, my dear," Miss Belinda + replied with mild dignity. "And an improving conversation is frequently + most beneficial to the parties engaged in it." + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid," Octavia observed, "that I never heard much improving + conversation." + </p> + <p> + She was really no fonder of masculine society than the generality of + girls; but she could not help wondering if there would be any young men + present, and if, indeed, there were any young men in Slowbridge who might + possibly be produced upon festive occasions, even though ordinarily kept + in the background. She had not heard Miss Belinda mention any masculine + name so far, but that of the curate of St. James's; and, when she had seen + him pass the house, she had not found his slim, black figure, and faint, + ecclesiastic whiskers, especially interesting. + </p> + <p> + It must be confessed that Miss Belinda suffered many pangs of anxiety in + looking forward to her young kinswoman's first appearance in society. A + tea at Lady Theobald's house constituted formal presentation to the + Slowbridge world. Each young lady within the pale of genteel society, + having arrived at years of discretion, on returning home from + boarding-school, was invited to tea at Oldclough Hall. During an entire + evening she was the subject of watchful criticism. Her deportment was + remarked, her accomplishments displayed, she performed her last new + "pieces" upon the piano, she was drawn into conversation by her hostess; + and upon the timid modesty of her replies, and the reverence of her + listening attitudes, depended her future social status. So it was very + natural indeed that Miss Belinda should be anxious. + </p> + <p> + "I would wear something rather quiet and—and simple, my dear + Octavia," she said. "A white muslin perhaps, with blue ribbons." + </p> + <p> + "Would you?" answered Octavia. Then, after appearing to reflect upon the + matter a few seconds, "I've got one that would do, if it's warm enough to + wear it. I bought it in New York, but it came from Paris. I've never worn + it yet." + </p> + <p> + "It would be nicer than any thing else, my love," said Miss Belinda, + delighted to find her difficulty so easily disposed of. "Nothing is so + charming in the dress of a young girl as pure simplicity. Our Slowbridge + young ladies rarely wear any thing but white for evening. Miss Chickie + assured me, a few weeks ago, that she had made fifteen white-muslin + dresses, all after one simple design of her own." + </p> + <p> + "I shouldn't think that was particularly nice, myself," remarked Octavia + impartially. "I should be glad one of the fifteen didn't belong to me. I + should feel as if people might say, when I came into a room, 'Good + gracious, there's another!'" + </p> + <p> + "The first was made for Miss Lucia Gaston, who is Lady Theobald's niece," + replied Miss Belinda mildly. "And there are few young ladies in Slowbridge + who would not emulate her example." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said Octavia, "I dare say she is very nice, and all that; but I + don't believe I should care to copy her dresses. I think I should draw the + line there." + </p> + <p> + But she said it without any ill-nature; and, sensitive as Miss Belinda was + upon the subject of her cherished ideals, she could not take offence. + </p> + <p> + When the eventful evening arrived, there was excitement in more than one + establishment upon High Street and the streets in its vicinity. The + stories of the diamonds, the gold-diggers, and the silver-mines, had been + added to, and embellished, in the most ornate and startling manner. It was + well known that only Lady Theobald's fine appreciation of Miss Belinda + Bassett's feelings had induced her to extend her hospitalities to that + lady's niece. + </p> + <p> + "I would prefer, my dear," said more than one discreet matron to her + daughter, as they attired themselves,—"I would much prefer that you + would remain near me during the earlier part of the evening, before we + know how this young lady may turn out. Let your manner toward her be kind, + but not familiar. It is well to be upon the safe side." + </p> + <p> + What precise line of conduct it was generally anticipated that this + gold-digging and silver-mining young person would adopt, it would be + difficult to say: it is sufficient that the general sentiments regarding + her were of a distrustful, if not timorous, nature. + </p> + <p> + To Miss Bassett, who felt all this in the very air she breathed, the + girl's innocence of the condition of affairs was even a little touching. + With all her splendor, she was not at all hard to please, and had quite + awakened to an interest in the impending social event. She seemed in good + spirits, and talked more than was her custom, giving Miss Belinda graphic + descriptions of various festal gatherings she had attended in New York, + when she seemed to have been very gay indeed, and to have worn very + beautiful dresses, and also to have had rather more than her share of + partners. The phrases she used, and the dances she described, were all + strange to Miss Belinda, and tended to reducing her to a bewildered + condition, in which she felt much timid amazement at the intrepidity of + the New-York young ladies, and no slight suspicion of the "German"—as + a theatrical kind of dance, involving extraordinary figures, and an + extraordinary amount of attention from partners of the stronger sex. + </p> + <p> + It must be admitted, however, that by this time, notwithstanding the + various shocks she had received, Miss Belinda had begun to discover in her + young guest divers good qualities which appealed to her affectionate and + susceptible old heart. In the first place, the girl had no small + affectations: indeed, if she had been less unaffected she might have been + less subject to severe comment. She was good-natured, and generous to + extravagance. Her manner toward Mary Anne never ceased to arouse Miss + Belinda to interest. There was not any condescension whatever in it, and + yet it could not be called a vulgarly familiar manner: it was rather an + astonishingly simple manner, somehow suggestive of a subtile recognition + of Mary Anne's youth, and ill-luck in not having before her more lively + prospects. She gave Mary Anne presents in the shape of articles of + clothing at which Slowbridge would have exclaimed in horror if the + recipient had dared to wear them; but, when Miss Belinda expressed her + regret at these indiscretions, Octavia was quite willing to rectify her + mistakes. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, well!" she said, "I can give her some money, and she can buy some + things for herself." Which she proceeded to do; and when, under her + mistress's direction, Mary Anne purchased a stout brown merino, she took + quite an interest in her struggles at making it. + </p> + <p> + "I wouldn't make it so short in the waist and so full in the skirt, if I + were you," she said. "There's no reason why it shouldn't fit, you know," + thereby winning the house-maiden's undying adoration, and adding much to + the shapeliness of the garment. + </p> + <p> + "I am sure she has a good heart," Miss Belinda said to herself, as the + days went by. "She is like Martin in that. I dare say she finds me very + ignorant and silly. I often see in her face that she is unable to + understand my feeling about things; but she never seems to laugh at me, + nor think of me unkindly. And she is very, very pretty, though perhaps I + ought not to think of that at all." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. — WHITE MUSLIN. + </h2> + <p> + As the good little spinster was arraying herself on this particular + evening, having laid upon the bed the greater portion of her modest + splendor, she went to her wardrobe, and took therefrom the scored bandbox + containing her best cap. All the ladies of Slowbridge wore caps; and all + being respectfully plagiarized from Lady Theobald, without any reference + to age, size, complexion, or demeanor, the result was sometimes a little + trying. Lady Theobald's head-dresses were of a severe and bristling order. + The lace of which they were composed was induced by some ingenious device + to form itself into aggressive quillings, the bows seemed lined with + buckram, the strings neither floated nor fluttered. + </p> + <p> + "To a majestic person the style is very appropriate," Miss Belinda had + said to Octavia that very day; "but to one who is not so, it is rather + trying. Sometimes, indeed, I have <i>almost</i> wished that Miss Chickie + would vary a <i>little</i> more in her designs." + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the sight of the various articles contained in two of the five + trunks had inspired these doubts in the dear old lady's breast: it is + certain, at least, that, as she took the best cap up, a faint sigh + fluttered upon her lips. + </p> + <p> + "It is very large for a small person," she said. "And I am not at all sure + that amber is becoming to me." + </p> + <p> + And just at that moment there came a tap at the door, which she knew was + from Octavia. + </p> + <p> + She laid the cap back, in some confusion at being surprised in a moment of + weakness. + </p> + <p> + "Come in, my love," she said. + </p> + <p> + Octavia pushed the door open, and came in. She had not dressed yet, and + had on her wrapper and slippers, which were both of quilted gray silk, + gayly embroidered with carnations. But Miss Belinda had seen both wrapper + and slippers before, and had become used to their sumptuousness: what she + had not seen was the trifle the girl held in her hand. "See here," she + said. "See what I have been making for you!" + </p> + <p> + She looked quite elated, and laughed triumphantly. + </p> + <p> + "I did not know I could do it until I tried," she said. "I had seen some + in New York, and I had the lace by me. And I have enough left to make + ruffles for your neck and wrists. It's Mechlin." + </p> + <p> + "My dear!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "My dear!" + </p> + <p> + Octavia laughed again. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you know what it is?" she said. "It isn't like a Slowbridge cap; + but it's a cap, nevertheless. They wear them like this in New York, and I + think they are ever so much prettier." + </p> + <p> + It was true that it was not like a Slowbridge cap, and was also true that + it was prettier. It was a delicate affair of softly quilled lace, adorned + here and there with loops of pale satin ribbon. + </p> + <p> + "Let me try it on," said Octavia, advancing; and in a minute she had done + so, and turned Miss Bassett about to face herself in the glass. "There!" + she said. "Isn't that better than—well, than emulating Lady + Theobald?" + </p> + <p> + It was so pretty and so becoming, and Miss Belinda was so touched by the + girl's innocent enjoyment, that the tears came into her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "My—my love," she faltered, "it is so beautiful, and so expensive, + that—though indeed I don't know how to thank you—I am afraid I + should not dare to wear it." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" answered Octavia, "that's nonsense, you know. I'm sure there's no + reason why people shouldn't wear becoming things. Besides, I should be + awfully disappointed. I didn't think I could make it, and I'm real proud + of it. You don't know how becoming it is!" + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda looked at her reflection, and faltered. It was becoming. + </p> + <p> + "My love," she protested faintly, "real Mechlin! There is really no such + lace in Slowbridge." + </p> + <p> + "All the better," said Octavia cheerfully. "I'm glad to hear that. It + isn't one bit too nice for you." + </p> + <p> + To Miss Belinda's astonishment, she drew a step nearer to her, and gave + one of the satin loops a queer, caressing little touch, which actually + seemed to mean something. And then suddenly the girl stooped, with a + little laugh, and gave her aunt a light kiss on her cheek. + </p> + <p> + "There!" she said. "You must take it from me for a present. I'll go and + make the ruffles this minute; and you must wear those too, and let people + see how stylish you can be." + </p> + <p> + And, without giving Miss Bassett time to speak, she ran out of the room, + and left the dear old lady warmed to the heart, tearful, delighted, + frightened. + </p> + <p> + A coach from the Blue Lion had been ordered to present itself at a quarter + past five, promptly; and at the time specified it rattled up to the door + with much spirit,—with so much spirit, indeed, that Miss Belinda was + a little alarmed. + </p> + <p> + "Dear, dear!" she said. "I hope the driver will be able to control the + horse, and will not allow him to go too fast. One hears of such terrible + accidents." + </p> + <p> + Then Mary Anne was sent to announce the arrival of the equipage to Miss + Octavia, and, having performed the errand, came back beaming with smiles. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, mum," she exclaimed, "you never see nothin' like her! Her gownd is + 'evingly. An' lor'! how you do look yourself, to be sure!" + </p> + <p> + Indeed, the lace ruffles on her "best" black silk, and the little cap on + her smooth hair, had done a great deal for Miss Bassett; and she had only + just been reproaching herself for her vanity in recognizing this fact. But + Mary Anne's words awakened a new train of thought. + </p> + <p> + "Is—is Miss Octavia's dress a showy one, Mary Anne?" she inquired. + "Dear me, I do hope it is not a showy dress!" + </p> + <p> + "I never see nothin' no eleganter, mum," said Mary Anne: "she wants + nothin' but a veil to make a bride out of her—an' a becominer thing + she never has wore." + </p> + <p> + They heard the soft sweep of skirts at that moment, and Octavia came in. + </p> + <p> + "There!" she said, stopping when she had reached the middle of the room. + "Is that simple enough?" Miss Belinda could only look at her helplessly. + The "white muslin" was composed almost entirely of Valenciennes lace; the + blue ribbons were embroidered with field-daisies; the air of delicate + elaborateness about the whole was something which her innocent mind could + not have believed possible in orthodox white and blue. + </p> + <p> + "I don't think I should call it exactly simple," she said. "My love, what + a quantity of lace!" + </p> + <p> + Octavia glanced down at her <i>jabots</i> and frills complacently. + </p> + <p> + "There <i>is</i> a good deal of it," she remarked; "but then, it is nice, + and one can stand a good deal of nice Valenciennes on white. They said + Worth made the dress. I hope he did. It cost enough. The ribbon was + embroidered by hand, I suppose. And there is plenty of it cut up into + these bows." + </p> + <p> + There was no more to be said. Miss Belinda led the way to the coach, which + they entered under the admiring or critical eyes of several most + respectable families, who had been lying in wait behind their + window-curtains since they had been summoned there by the sound of the + wheels. + </p> + <p> + As the vehicle rattled past the boarding-school, all the young ladies in + the first class rushed to the window. They were rewarded for their zeal by + a glimpse of a cloud of muslin and lace, a charmingly dressed yellow-brown + head, and a pretty face, whose eyes favored them with a frank stare of + interest. + </p> + <p> + "She had diamonds in her ears!" cried Miss Phipps, wildly excited. "I saw + them flash. Ah, how I should like to see her without her wraps! I have no + doubt she is a perfect blaze!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. — ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD. + </h2> + <p> + Lady Theobald's invited guests sat in the faded blue drawing-room, + waiting. Everybody had been unusually prompt, perhaps because everybody + wished to be on the ground in time to see Miss Octavia Bassett make her + entrance. + </p> + <p> + "I should think it would be rather a trial, even to such a girl as she is + said to be," remarked one matron. + </p> + <p> + "It is but natural that she should feel that Lady Theobald will regard her + rather critically, and that she should know that American manners will + hardly be the thing for a genteel and conservative English country town." + </p> + <p> + "We saw her a few days ago," said Lucia, who chanced to hear this speech, + "and she is very pretty. I think I never saw any one so very pretty + before." + </p> + <p> + "But in quite a theatrical way, I think, my dear," the matron replied, in + a tone of gentle correction. + </p> + <p> + "I have seen so very few theatrical people," Lucia answered sweetly, "that + I scarcely know what the theatrical way is, dear Mrs. Burnham. Her dress + was very beautiful, and not like what we wear in Slowbridge; but she + seemed to me to be very bright and pretty, in a way quite new to me, and + so just a little odd." + </p> + <p> + "I have heard that her dress is most extravagant and wasteful," put in + Miss Pilcher, whose educational position entitled her to the condescending + respect of her patronesses. "She has lace on her morning gowns, which"— + </p> + <p> + "Miss Bassett and Miss Octavia Bassett," announced Dobson, throwing open + the door. + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald rose from her seat. A slight rustle made itself heard + through the company, as the ladies all turned toward the entrance; and, + after they had so turned, there were evidences of a positive thrill. + Before the eyes of all, Belinda Bassett advanced with rich ruffles of + Mechlin at her neck and wrists, with a delicate and distinctly novel cap + upon her head, her niece following her with an unabashed face, twenty + pounds' worth of lace on her dress, and unmistakable diamonds in her + little ears. + </p> + <p> + "There is not a <i>shadow</i> of timidity about her," cried Mrs. Burnham + under her breath. "This is actual boldness." + </p> + <p> + But this was a very severe term to use, notwithstanding that it was born + of righteous indignation. It was not boldness at all: it was only the + serenity of a young person who was quite unconscious that there was any + thing to fear in the rather unimposing party before her. Octavia was + accustomed to entering rooms full of strangers. She had spent several + years of her life in hotels, where she had been stared out of countenance + by a few score new people every day. She was even used to being, in some + sort, a young person of note. It was nothing unusual for her to know that + she was being pointed out. "That pretty blonde," she often heard it said, + "is Martin Bassett's daughter: sharp fellow, Bassett,—and lucky + fellow too; more money than he can count." + </p> + <p> + So she was not at all frightened when she walked in behind Miss Belinda. + She glanced about her cheerfully, and, catching sight of Lucia, smiled at + her as she advanced up the room. The call of state Lady Theobald had made + with her grand-daughter had been a very brief one; but Octavia had taken a + decided fancy to Lucia, and was glad to see her again. + </p> + <p> + "I am glad to see you, Belinda," said her ladyship, shaking hands. "And + you also, Miss Octavia." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you," responded Octavia. + </p> + <p> + "You are very kind," Miss Belinda murmured gratefully. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you are both well?" said Lady Theobald with majestic + condescension, and in tones to be heard all over the room. + </p> + <p> + "Quite well, thank you," murmured Miss Belinda again. "<i>Very</i> well + indeed;" rather as if this fortunate state of affairs was the result of + her ladyship's kind intervention with the fates. + </p> + <p> + She felt terribly conscious of being the centre of observation, and rather + overpowered by the novelty of her attire, which was plainly creating a + sensation. Octavia, however, who was far more looked at, was entirely + oblivious of the painful prominence of her position. She remained standing + in the middle of the room, talking to Lucia, who had approached to greet + her. She was so much taller than Lucia, that she looked very tall indeed + by contrast, and also very wonderfully dressed. Lucia's white muslin was + one of Miss Chickie's fifteen, and was, in a "genteel" way, very + suggestive of Slowbridge. Suspended from Octavia's waist by a long loop of + the embroidered ribbon, was a little round fan, of downy pale-blue + feathers, and with this she played as she talked; but Lucia, having + nothing to play with, could only stand with her little hands hanging at + her sides. + </p> + <p> + "I have never been to an afternoon tea like this before," Octavia said. + "It is nothing like a kettle-drum." + </p> + <p> + "I am not sure that I know what a kettle-drum is," Lucia answered. "They + have them in London, I think; but I have never been to London." + </p> + <p> + "They have them in New York," said Octavia; "and they are a crowded sort + of afternoon parties, where ladies go in carriage-toilet, not evening + dress. People are rushing in and out all the time." + </p> + <p> + Lucia glanced around the room and smiled. + </p> + <p> + "That is very unlike this," she remarked. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Octavia, "I should think that, after all, this might be + nicer." + </p> + <p> + Which was very civil. + </p> + <p> + Lucia glanced around again—this time rather stealthily—at Lady + Theobald. Then she glanced back at Octavia. + </p> + <p> + "But it isn't," she said, in an undertone. + </p> + <p> + Octavia began to laugh. They were on a new and familiar footing from that + moment. + </p> + <p> + "I said 'it might,'" she answered. + </p> + <p> + She was not afraid, any longer, of finding the evening stupid. If there + were no young men, there was at least a young woman who was in sympathy + with her. She said,— + </p> + <p> + "I hope that I shall behave myself pretty well, and do the things I am + expected to do." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said Lucia, with a rather alarmed expression, "I hope so. I—I + am afraid you would not be comfortable if you didn't." + </p> + <p> + Octavia opened her eyes, as she often did at Miss Belinda's remarks, and + then suddenly she began to laugh again. + </p> + <p> + "What would they do?" she said disrespectfully. "Would they turn me out, + without giving me any tea?" + </p> + <p> + Lucia looked still more frightened. + </p> + <p> + "Don't let them see you laughing," she said. "They—they will say you + are giddy." + </p> + <p> + "Giddy!" replied Octavia. "I don't think there is any thing to make me + giddy here." + </p> + <p> + "If they say you are giddy," said Lucia, "your fate will be sealed; and, + if you are to stay here, it really will be better to try to please them a + little." + </p> + <p> + Octavia reflected a moment. + </p> + <p> + "I don't mean to <i>dis</i>please them," she said, "unless they are very + easily displeased. I suppose I don't think very much about what people are + saying of me. I don't seem to notice." + </p> + <p> + "Will you come now and let me introduce Miss Egerton and her sister?" + suggested Lucia hurriedly. "Grandmamma is looking at us." + </p> + <p> + In the innocence of her heart Octavia glanced at Lady Theobald, and saw + that she was looking at them, and with a disapproving air. "I wonder what + that's for?" she said to herself; but she followed Lucia across the room. + </p> + <p> + She made the acquaintance of the Misses Egerton, who seemed rather + fluttered, and, after the first exchange of civilities, subsided into + monosyllables and attentive stares. They were, indeed, very anxious to + hear Octavia converse, but had not the courage to attempt to draw her out, + unless a sudden query of Miss Lydia's could be considered such an attempt. + </p> + <p> + "Do you like England?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + "Is this England?" inquired Octavia. + </p> + <p> + "It is a part of England, of course," replied the young lady, with calm + literalness. + </p> + <p> + "Then, of course, I like it very much," said Octavia, slightly waving her + fan and smiling. + </p> + <p> + Miss Lydia Egerton and Miss Violet Egerton each regarded her in dubious + silence for a moment. They did not think she looked as if she were + "clever;" but the speech sounded to both as if she were, and as if she + meant to be clever a little at their expense. + </p> + <p> + Naturally, after that they felt slightly uncomfortable, and said less than + before; and conversation lagged to such an extent that Octavia was not + sorry when tea was announced. + </p> + <p> + And it so happened that tea was not the only thing announced. The ladies + had all just risen from their seats with a gentle rustle, and Lady + Theobald was moving forward to marshal her procession into the + dining-room, when Dobson appeared at the door again. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Barold, my lady," he said, "and Mr. Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + Everybody glanced first at the door, and then at Lady Theobald. Mr. + Francis Barold crossed the threshold, followed by the tall, + square-shouldered builder of mills, who was a strong, handsome man, and + bore himself very well, not seeming to mind at all the numerous eyes fixed + upon him. + </p> + <p> + "I did not know," said Barold, "that we should find you had guests. Beg + pardon, I'm sure, and so does Burmistone, whom I had the pleasure of + meeting at Broadoaks, and who was good enough to invite me to return with + him." Lady Theobald extended her hand to the gentleman specified. + </p> + <p> + "I am glad," she said rigidly, "to see Mr. Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + Then she turned to Barold. + </p> + <p> + "This is very fortunate," she announced. "We are just going in to take + tea, in which I hope you will join us. Lucia"— + </p> + <p> + Mr. Francis Barold naturally turned, as her ladyship uttered her + granddaughter's name in a tone of command. It may be supposed that his + first intention in turning was to look at Lucia; but he had scarcely done + so, when his attention was attracted by the figure nearest to her,—the + figure of a young lady, who was playing with a little blue fan, and + smiling at him brilliantly and unmistakably. + </p> + <p> + The next moment he was standing at Octavia Bassett's side, looking rather + pleased, and the blood of Slowbridge was congealing, as the significance + of the situation was realized. + </p> + <p> + One instant of breathless—of awful—suspense, and her ladyship + recovered herself. + </p> + <p> + "We will go in to tea," she said. "May I ask you, Mr. Burmistone, to + accompany Miss Pilcher?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. — A SLIGHT INDISCRETION. + </h2> + <p> + During the remainder of the evening, Miss Belinda was a prey to + wretchedness and despair. When she raised her eyes to her hostess, she met + with a glance full of icy significance; when she looked across the + tea-table, she saw Octavia seated next to Mr. Francis Barold, monopolizing + his attention, and apparently in the very best possible spirits. It only + made matters worse, that Mr. Francis Barold seemed to find her remarks + worthy of his attention. He drank very little tea, and now and then + appeared much interested and amused. In fact, he found Miss Octavia even + more entertaining than he had found her during their journey. She did not + hesitate at all to tell him that she was delighted to see him again at + this particular juncture. + </p> + <p> + "You don't know how glad I was to see you come in," she said. + </p> + <p> + She met his rather startled glance with the most open candor as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + "It is very civil of you to say so," he said; "but you can hardly expect + me to believe it, you know. It is too good to be true." + </p> + <p> + "I thought it was too good to be true when the door opened," she answered + cheerfully. "I should have been glad to see <i>anybody</i>, almost"— + </p> + <p> + "Well, that," he interposed, "isn't quite so civil." + </p> + <p> + "It is not quite so civil to"— + </p> + <p> + But there she checked herself, and asked him a question with the most <i>naive</i> + seriousness. + </p> + <p> + "Are you a great friend of Lady Theobald's?" she said. + </p> + <p> + "No," he answered. "I am a relative." + </p> + <p> + "That's worse," she remarked. + </p> + <p> + "It is," he replied. "Very much worse." + </p> + <p> + "I asked you," she proceeded, with an entrancing little smile of + irreverent approval, "because I was going to say that my last speech was + not quite so civil to Lady Theobald." + </p> + <p> + "That is perfectly true," he responded. "It wasn't civil to her at all." + </p> + <p> + He was passing his time very comfortably, and was really surprised to feel + that he was more interested in these simple audacities than he had been in + any conversation for some time. Perhaps it was because his companion was + so wonderfully pretty, but it is not unlikely that there were also other + reasons. She looked him straight in the eyes, she comported herself after + the manner of a young lady who was enjoying herself, and yet he felt + vaguely that she might have enjoyed herself quite as much with Burmistone, + and that it was probable that she would not think a second time of him, or + of what she said to him. + </p> + <p> + After tea, when they returned to the drawing-room, the opportunities + afforded for conversation were not numerous. The piano was opened, and one + after another of the young ladies were invited to exhibit their prowess. + Upon its musical education Slowbridge prided itself. "Few towns," Miss + Pilcher frequently remarked, "could be congratulated upon the possession + of <i>such</i> talent and <i>such</i> cultivation." The Misses Egerton + played a duet, the Misses Loftus sang, Miss Abercrombie "executed" a + sonata with such effect as to melt Miss Pilcher to tears; and still + Octavia had not been called upon. There might have been a reason for this, + or there might not; but the moment arrived, at length, when Lady Theobald + moved toward Miss Belinda with evidently fell intent. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," she said, "perhaps your niece, Miss Octavia, will favor us." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda replied in a deprecatory and uncertain murmur. + </p> + <p> + "I—am not sure. I really don't know. Perhaps—Octavia, my + dear." + </p> + <p> + Octavia raised a smiling face. + </p> + <p> + "I don't play," she said. "I never learned." + </p> + <p> + "You do not play!" exclaimed Lady Theobald. "You do not play at all!" + </p> + <p> + "No," answered Octavia. "Not a note. And I think I am rather glad of it; + because, if I tried, I should be sure to do it worse than other people. I + would rather," with unimpaired cheerfulness, "let some one else do it." + </p> + <p> + There were a few seconds of dead silence. A dozen people seated around her + had heard. Miss Pilcher shuddered; Miss Belinda looked down; Mr. Francis + Barold preserved an entirely unmoved countenance, the general impression + being that he was very much shocked, and concealed his disgust with an + effort. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," said Lady Theobald, with an air of much condescension and some + grave pity, "I should advise you to try to learn. I can assure you that + you would find it a great source of pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "If you could assure me that my friends would find it a great source of + pleasure, I might begin," answered the mistaken young person, still + cheerfully; "but I am afraid they wouldn't." + </p> + <p> + It seemed that fate had marked her for disgrace. In half an hour from that + time she capped the climax of her indiscretions. + </p> + <p> + The evening being warm, the French windows had been left open; and, in + passing one of them, she stopped a moment to look out at the brightly + moonlit grounds. + </p> + <p> + Barold, who was with her, paused too. + </p> + <p> + "Looks rather nice, doesn't it?" he said. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she replied. "Suppose we go out on the terrace." + </p> + <p> + He laughed in an amused fashion she did not understand. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we do," he said. "By Jove, that's a good idea!" + </p> + <p> + He laughed as he followed her. + </p> + <p> + "What amuses you so?" she inquired. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" he replied, "I am merely thinking of Lady Theobald." + </p> + <p> + "Well," she commented, "I think it's rather disrespectful in you to laugh. + Isn't it a lovely night? I didn't think you had such moonlight nights in + England. What a night for a drive!" + </p> + <p> + "Is that one of the things you do in America—drive by moonlight?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. Do you mean to say you don't do it in England?" + </p> + <p> + "Not often. Is it young ladies who drive by moonlight in America?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, you don't suppose they go alone, do you?" quite ironically. "Of + course they have some one with them." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Their papas?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Their mammas?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Their governesses, their uncles, their aunts?" + </p> + <p> + "No," with a little smile. + </p> + <p> + He smiled also. + </p> + <p> + "That is another good idea," he said. "You have a great many nice ideas in + America." + </p> + <p> + She was silent a moment or so, swinging her fan slowly to and fro by its + ribbon, and appearing to reflect. + </p> + <p> + "Does that mean," she said at length, "that it wouldn't be considered + proper in England?" + </p> + <p> + "I hope you won't hold me responsible for English fallacies," was his sole + answer. + </p> + <p> + "I don't hold anybody responsible for them," she returned with some + spirit. "I don't care one thing about them." + </p> + <p> + "That is fortunate," he commented. "I am happy to say I don't, either. I + take the liberty of pleasing myself. I find it pays best." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," she said, returning to the charge, "perhaps Lady Theobald will + think <i>this</i> is improper." + </p> + <p> + He put his hand up, and stroked his mustache lightly, without replying. + </p> + <p> + "But it is <i>not</i>," she added emphatically: "it is <i>not!</i>" + </p> + <p> + "No," he admitted, with a touch of irony, "it is not!" + </p> + <p> + "Are <i>you</i> any the worse for it?" she demanded. + </p> + <p> + "Well, really, I think not—as yet," he replied. + </p> + <p> + "Then we won't go in," she said, the smile returning to her lips again. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. — AN INVITATION. + </h2> + <p> + In the mean time Mr. Burmistone was improving his opportunities within + doors. He had listened to the music with the most serious attention; and + on its conclusion he had turned to Mrs. Burnham, and made himself very + agreeable indeed. At length, however, he arose, and sauntered across the + room to a table at which Lucia Gaston chanced to be standing alone, having + just been deserted by a young lady whose mamma had summoned her. She wore, + Mr. Burmistone regretted to see, as he advanced, a troubled and anxious + expression; the truth being that she had a moment before remarked the exit + of Miss Belinda's niece and her companion. It happened oddly that Mr. + Burmistone's first words touched upon the subject of her thought. He began + quite abruptly with it. + </p> + <p> + "It seems to me," he said, "that Miss Octavia Bassett"— + </p> + <p> + Lucia stopped him with a courage which surprised herself. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if you please," she implored, "don't say any thing unkind about her!" + </p> + <p> + Mr. Burmistone looked down into her soft eyes with a good deal of feeling. + </p> + <p> + "I was not going to say any thing unkind," he answered. "Why should I?" + </p> + <p> + "Everybody seems to find a reason for speaking severely of her," Lucia + faltered. "I have heard so many unkind things tonight, that I am quite + unhappy. I am sure—I am <i>sure</i> she is very candid and simple." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone, "I am sure she is very candid and simple." + </p> + <p> + "Why should we expect her to be exactly like ourselves?" Lucia went on. + "How can we be sure that our way is better than any other? Why should they + be angry because her dress is so expensive and pretty? Indeed, I only wish + I had such a dress. It is a thousand times prettier than any we ever wear. + Look around the room, and see if it is not. And as to her not having + learned to play on the piano, or to speak French—why should she be + obliged to do things she feels she would not be clever at? I am not + clever, and have been a sort of slave all my life, and have been scolded + and blamed for what I could not help at all, until I have felt as if I + must be a criminal. How happy she must have been to be let alone!" + </p> + <p> + She had clasped her little hands, and, though she spoke in a low voice, + was quite impassioned in an unconscious way. Her brief girlish life had + not been a very happy one, as may be easily imagined; and a glimpse of the + liberty for which she had suffered roused her to a sense of her own + wrongs. + </p> + <p> + "We are all cut out after the same pattern," she said. "We learn the same + things, and wear the same dresses, one might say. What Lydia Egerton has + been taught, I have been taught; yet what two creatures could be more + unlike each other, by nature, than we are?" + </p> + <p> + Mr. Burmistone glanced across the room at Miss Egerton. She was a fine, + robust young woman, with a high nose and a stolid expression of + countenance. + </p> + <p> + "That is true," he remarked. + </p> + <p> + "We are afraid of every thing," said Lucia bitterly. "Lydia Egerton is + afraid—though you might not think so. And, as for me, nobody knows + what a coward I am but myself. Yes, I am a coward! When grandmamma looks + at me, I tremble. I dare not speak my mind, and differ with her, when I + know she is unjust and in the wrong. No one could say that of Miss Octavia + Bassett." + </p> + <p> + "That is perfectly true," said Mr. Burmistone; and he even went so far as + to laugh as he thought of Miss Octavia trembling in the august presence of + Lady Theobald. + </p> + <p> + The laugh checked Lucia at once in her little outburst of eloquence. She + began to blush, the color mounting to her forehead. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she began, "I did not mean to—to say so much. I"— + </p> + <p> + There was something so innocent and touching in her sudden timidity and + confusion, that Mr. Burmistone forgot altogether that they were not very + old friends, and that Lady Theobald might be looking. + </p> + <p> + He bent slightly forward, and looked into her upraised, alarmed eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be afraid of <i>me</i>" he said; "don't, for pity's sake!" + </p> + <p> + He could not have hit upon a luckier speech, and also he could not have + uttered it more feelingly than he did. It helped her to recover herself, + and gave her courage. + </p> + <p> + "There," she said, with a slight catch of the breath, "does not that prove + what I said to be true? I was afraid, the very moment I ceased to forget + myself. I was afraid of you and of myself. I have no courage at all." + </p> + <p> + "You will gain it in time," he said. + </p> + <p> + "I shall try to gain it," she answered. "I am nearly twenty, and it is + time that I should learn to respect myself. I think it must be because I + have no self-respect that I am such a coward." + </p> + <p> + It seemed that her resolution was to be tried immediately; for at that + very moment Lady Theobald turned, and, on recognizing the full + significance of Lucia's position, was apparently struck temporarily dumb + and motionless. When she recovered from the shock, she made a majestic + gesture of command. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Burmistone glanced at the girl's face, and saw that it changed color a + little. "Lady Theobald appears to wish to speak to you," he said. + </p> + <p> + Lucia left her seat, and walked across the room with a steady air. Lady + Theobald did not remove her eye from her until she stopped within three + feet of her. Then she asked a rather unnecessary question:— + </p> + <p> + "With whom have you been conversing?" + </p> + <p> + "With Mr. Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + "Upon what subject?" + </p> + <p> + "We were speaking of Miss Octavia Bassett." + </p> + <p> + Her ladyship glanced around the room, as if a new idea had occurred to + her, and said,— + </p> + <p> + "Where <i>is</i> Miss Octavia Bassett?" + </p> + <p> + Here it must be confessed that Lucia faltered. + </p> + <p> + "She is on the terrace with Mr. Barold." + </p> + <p> + "She is on"— + </p> + <p> + Her ladyship stopped short in the middle of her sentence. This was too + much for her. She left Lucia, and crossed the room to Miss Belinda. + </p> + <p> + "Belinda," she said, in an awful undertone, "your niece is out upon the + terrace with Mr. Barold. Perhaps it would be as well for you to intimate + to her that in England it is not customary—that—Belinda, go + and bring her in." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda arose, actually looking pale. She had been making such + strenuous efforts to converse with Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham, that she + had been betrayed into forgetting her charge. She could scarcely believe + her ears. She went to the open window, and looked out, and then turned + paler than before. + </p> + <p> + "Octavia, my dear," she said faintly. + </p> + <p> + "Francis!" said Lady Theobald, over her shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Francis Barold turned a rather bored countenance toward them; but it + was evidently not Octavia who had bored him. + </p> + <p> + "Octavia," said Miss Belinda, "how imprudent! In that thin dress—the + night air! How could you, my dear, how could you?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I shall not catch cold," Octavia answered. "I am used to it. I have + been out hours and hours, on moonlight nights, at home." + </p> + <p> + But she moved toward them. + </p> + <p> + "You must remember," said Lady Theobald, "that there are many things which + may be done in America which would not be safe in England." + </p> + <p> + And she made the remark in an almost sepulchral tone of warning. + </p> + <p> + How Miss Belinda would have supported herself if the coach had not been + announced at this juncture, it would be difficult to say. The coach was + announced, and they took their departure. Mr. Barold happening to make his + adieus at the same time, they were escorted by him down to the vehicle + from the Blue Lion. + </p> + <p> + When he had assisted them in, and closed the door, Octavia bent forward, + so that the moonlight fell full on her pretty, lace-covered head, and the + sparkling drops in her ears. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she exclaimed, "if you stay here at all, you must come and see us.—Aunt + Belinda, ask him to come and see us." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda could scarcely speak. + </p> + <p> + "I shall be most—most happy," she fluttered, "Any—friend of + dear Lady Theobald's, of course"— + </p> + <p> + "Don't forget," said Octavia, waving her hand. + </p> + <p> + The coach moved off, and Miss Belinda sank back into a dark corner. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," she gasped, "what will he think?" + </p> + <p> + Octavia was winding her lace scarf around her throat. + </p> + <p> + "He'll think I want him to call," she said serenely. "And I do." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. — INTENTIONS. + </h2> + <p> + The position in which Lady Theobald found herself placed, after these + occurrences, was certainly a difficult and unpleasant one. It was Mr. + Francis Barold's caprice, for the time being, to develop an intimacy with + Mr. Burmistone. He had, it seemed, chosen to become interested in him + during their sojourn at Broadoaks. He had discovered him to be a desirable + companion, and a clever, amiable fellow. This much he condescended to + explain incidentally to her ladyship's self. + </p> + <p> + "I can't say I expected to meet a nice fellow or a companionable fellow," + he remarked, "and I was agreeably surprised to find him both. Never says + too much or too little. Never bores a man." + </p> + <p> + To this Lady Theobald could make no reply. Singularly enough, she had + discovered early in their acquaintance that her wonted weapons were likely + to dull their edges upon the steely coldness of Mr. Francis Barold's + impassibility. In the presence of this fortunate young man, before whom + his world had bowed the knee from his tenderest infancy, she lost the + majesty of her demeanor. He refused to be affected by it: he was even + implacable enough to show openly that it bored him, and to insinuate by + his manner that he did not intend to submit to it. He entirely ignored the + claim of relationship, and acted according to the promptings of his own + moods. He did not feel it at all incumbent upon him to remain at Oldclough + Hall, and subject himself to the time-honored customs there in vogue. He + preferred to accept Mr. Burmistone's invitation to become his guest at the + handsome house he had just completed, in which he lived in bachelor + splendor. Accordingly he installed himself there, and thereby complicated + matters greatly. + </p> + <p> + Slowbridge found itself in a position as difficult as, and far more + delicate than, Lady Theobald's. The tea-drinkings in honor of that + troublesome young person, Miss Octavia Bassett, having been inaugurated by + her ladyship, must go the social rounds, according to ancient custom. But + what, in discretion's name, was to be done concerning Mr. Francis Barold? + There was no doubt whatever that he must not be ignored; and, in that + case, what difficulties presented themselves! + </p> + <p> + The mamma of the two Misses Egerton, who was a nervous and easily + subjugated person, was so excited and overwrought by the prospect before + her, that, in contemplating it when she wrote her invitations, she was + affected to tears. + </p> + <p> + "I can assure you, Lydia," she said, "that I have not slept for three + nights, I have been so harassed. Here, on one hand, is Mr. Francis Barold, + who must be invited; and on the other is Mr. Burmistone, whom we cannot + pass over; and here is Lady Theobald, who will turn to stone the moment + she sees him,—though, goodness knows, I am sure he seems a very + quiet, respectable man, and said some of the most complimentary things + about your playing. And here is that dreadful girl, who is enough to give + one cold chills, and who may do all sorts of dreadful things, and is + certainly a living example to all respectable, well-educated girls. And + the blindest of the blind could see that nothing would offend Lady + Theobald more fatally than to let her be thrown with Francis Barold; and + how one is to invite them into the same room, and keep them apart, I'm + sure I don't know how. Lady Theobald herself could not do it, and how can + we be expected to? And the refreshments on my mind too; and Forbes failing + on her tea-cakes, and bringing up Sally Lunns like lead." + </p> + <p> + That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer in + prospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs. + Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs. + Egerton upon the subject. + </p> + <p> + Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising, + the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter over in + solemn conclave. + </p> + <p> + "I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson," + announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arrive + at any conclusion." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully. + </p> + <p> + "Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,—"don't, I beg of you! I + have thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydia + has been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave it + up at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one and all, + let the consequences be what they may." + </p> + <p> + Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at Miss + Pilcher. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as well + for you to mention your impressions." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forward + slightly. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald has any—intentions, + so to speak?" + </p> + <p> + "Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," with deep significance,—"so to speak. With regard to Lucia." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless. + </p> + <p> + "Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think of + it. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham became more significant still. + </p> + <p> + "<i>And</i>" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact in + her countenance. + </p> + <p> + "Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever." + </p> + <p> + "It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be a desirable + one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr. Francis + Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited to make her + house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he has not done + so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicable reluctance + upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald once plainly + intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, a matrimonial + alliance." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is all very + well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if the young man + has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likely to result + in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold is not in the + mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely to entertain + himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in the moonlight, + and make herself agreeable to him in her American style." + </p> + <p> + Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," said Mrs. Burnham, "he has called upon her twice since Lady + Theobald's tea. They say she invites him herself, and flirts with him + openly in the garden." + </p> + <p> + "Her conduct is such," said Miss Pilcher, with a shudder, "that the blinds + upon the side of the seminary which faces Miss Bassett's garden are kept + closed by my orders. I have young ladies under my care whose characters + are in process of formation, and whose parents repose confidence in me." + </p> + <p> + "Nothing but my friendship for Belinda Bassett," remarked Mrs. Burnham, + "would induce me to invite the girl to my house." Then she turned to Mrs. + Egerton. "But—ahem—have you included them <i>all</i> in your + invitations?" she observed. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Egerton became plaintive again. + </p> + <p> + "I don't see how I could be expected to do any thing else," she said. + "Lady Theobald herself could not invite Mr. Francis Barold from Mr. + Burmistone's house, and leave Mr. Burmistone at home. And, after all, I + must say it is my opinion nobody would have objected to Mr. Burmistone, in + the first place, if Lady Theobald had not insisted upon it." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham reflected. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps that is true," she admitted cautiously at length. "And it must be + confessed that a man in his position is not entirely without his + advantages—particularly in a place where there are but few + gentlemen, and those scarcely desirable as"— + </p> + <p> + She paused there discreetly, but Mrs. Egerton was not so discreet. + </p> + <p> + "There are a great many young ladies in Slowbridge," she said, shaking her + head,—"a great many! And with five in a family, all old enough to be + out of school, I am sure it is flying in the face of Providence to neglect + one's opportunities." + </p> + <p> + When the two ladies took their departure, Mrs. Burnham seemed reflective. + Finally she said,—"Poor Mrs. Egerton's mind is not what it was, and + it never was remarkably strong. It must be admitted, too, that there is a + lack of—of delicacy. Those great plain girls of hers must be a trial + to her." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke they were passing the privet hedge which surrounded Miss + Bassett's house and garden; and a sound caused both to glance around. The + front door had just been opened; and a gentleman was descending the steps,—a + young gentleman in neat clerical garb, his guileless ecclesiastical + countenance suffused with mantling blushes of confusion and delight. He + stopped on the gravel path to receive the last words of Miss Octavia + Bassett, who stood on the threshold, smiling down upon him in the + prettiest way in the world. + </p> + <p> + "Tuesday afternoon," she said. "Now don't forget; because I shall ask Mr. + Barold and Miss Gaston, on purpose to play against us. Even St. James + can't object to croquet." + </p> + <p> + "I—indeed, I shall be <i>most</i> happy and—and delighted," + stammered her departing guest, "if you will be so kind as to—to + instruct me, and forgive my awkwardness." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I'll instruct you," said Octavia. "I have instructed people before, + and I know how." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham clutched Miss Pilcher's arm. + </p> + <p> + "Do you see who <i>that</i> is?" she demanded. "Would you have believed + it?" + </p> + <p> + Miss Pilcher preserved a stony demeanor. + </p> + <p> + "I would believe any thing of Miss Octavia Bassett," she replied. "There + would be nothing at all remarkable, to my mind, in her flirting with the + bishop himself! Why should she hesitate to endeavor to entangle the curate + of St. James?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. — A CLERICAL VISIT. + </h2> + <p> + It was indeed true that the Rev. Arthur Poppleton had spent the greater + part of his afternoon in Miss Belinda Bassett's front parlor, and that + Octavia had entertained him in such a manner that he had been beguiled + into forgetting the clerical visits he had intended to make, and had + finally committed himself by a promise to return a day or two later to + play croquet. His object in calling had been to request Miss Belinda's + assistance in a parochial matter. His natural timorousness of nature had + indeed led him to put off making the visit for as long a time as possible. + The reports he had heard of Miss Octavia Bassett had inspired him with + great dread. Consequently he had presented himself at Miss Belinda's front + door with secret anguish. + </p> + <p> + "Will you say," he had faltered to Mary Anne, "that it is Mr. Poppleton, + to see <i>Miss</i> Bassett—Miss <i>Belinda</i> Bassett?" + </p> + <p> + And then he had been handed into the parlor, the door had been closed + behind him, and he had found himself shut up entirely alone in the room + with Miss Octavia Bassett herself. + </p> + <p> + His first impulse was to turn, and flee precipitately: indeed, he even + went so far as to turn, and clutch the handle of the door; but somehow a + second thought arrived in time to lead him to control himself. + </p> + <p> + This second thought came with his second glance at Octavia. + </p> + <p> + She was not at all what he had pictured her. Singularly enough, no one had + told him that she was pretty; and he had thought of her as a gaunt young + person, with a determined and manly air. She struck him, on the contrary, + as being extremely girlish and charming to look upon. She wore the pale + pink gown; and as he entered he saw her give a furtive little dab to her + eyes with a lace handkerchief, and hurriedly crush an open letter into her + pocket. Then, seeming to dismiss her emotion with enviable facility, she + rose to greet him. + </p> + <p> + "If you want to see aunt Belinda," she said, "perhaps you had better sit + down. She will be here directly." He plucked up spirit to take a seat, + suddenly feeling his terror take wing. He was amazed at his own courage. + </p> + <p> + "Th-thank you," he said. "I have the pleasure of"—There, it is true, + he stopped, looked at her, blushed, and finished somewhat disjointedly. + "Miss Octavia Bassett, I believe." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she answered, and sat down near him. + </p> + <p> + When Miss Belinda descended the stairs, a short time afterward, her ears + were greeted by the sound of brisk conversation, in which the Rev. Arthur + Poppleton appeared to be taking part with before-unheard-of spirit. When + he arose at her entrance, there was in his manner an air of mild buoyancy + which astonished her beyond measure. When he re-seated himself, he seemed + quite to forget the object of his visit for some minutes, and was thus + placed in the embarrassing position of having to refer to his note-book. + </p> + <p> + Having done so, and found that he had called to ask assistance for the + family of one of his parishioners, he recovered himself somewhat. As he + explained the exigencies of the case, Octavia listened. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she said, "I should think it would make you quite uncomfortable, + if you see things like that often." + </p> + <p> + "I regret to say I do see such things only too frequently," he answered. + </p> + <p> + "Gracious!" she said; but that was all. + </p> + <p> + He was conscious of being slightly disappointed at her apathy; and perhaps + it is to be deplored that he forgot it afterward, when Miss Belinda had + bestowed her mite, and the case was dismissed for the time being. He + really did forget it, and was beguiled into making a very long call, and + enjoying himself as he had never enjoyed himself before. + </p> + <p> + When, at length, he was recalled to a sense of duty by a glance at the + clock, he had already before his eyes an opening vista of delights, taking + the form of future calls, and games of croquet played upon Miss Belinda's + neatly-shaven grass-plat. He had bidden the ladies adieu in the parlor, + and, having stepped into the hall, was fumbling rather excitedly in the + umbrella-stand for his own especially slender clerical umbrella, when he + was awakened to new rapture by hearing Miss Octavia's tone again. + </p> + <p> + He turned, and saw her standing quite near him, looking at him with rather + an odd expression, and holding something in her hand. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she said. "See here,—those people." + </p> + <p> + "I—beg pardon," he hesitated. "I don't quite understand." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes!" she answered. "Those desperately poor wretches, you know, with + fever, and leaks in their house, and all sorts of disagreeable things the + matter with them. Give them this, won't you?" + </p> + <p> + "This" was a pretty silk purse, through whose meshes he saw the gleam of + gold coin. + </p> + <p> + "That?" he said. "You don't mean—isn't there a good deal—I beg + pardon—but really"— + </p> + <p> + "Well, if they are as poor as you say they are, it won't be too much," she + replied. "I don't suppose they'll object to it: do you?" + </p> + <p> + She extended it to him as if she rather wished to get it out of her hands. + </p> + <p> + "You'd better take it," she said. "I shall spend it on something I don't + need, if you don't. I'm always spending money on things I don't care for + afterward." + </p> + <p> + He was filled with remorse, remembering that he had thought her apathetic. + </p> + <p> + "I—I really thought you were not interested at all," he burst forth. + "Pray forgive me. This is generous indeed." + </p> + <p> + She looked down at some particularly brilliant rings on her hand, instead + of looking at him. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, well!" she said, "I think it must be simply horrid to have to do + without things. I can't see how people live. Besides, I haven't denied + myself any thing. It would be worth talking about if I had, I suppose. Oh! + By the by, never mind telling any one, will you?" + </p> + <p> + Then, without giving him time to reply, she raised her eyes to his face, + and plunged into the subject of the croquet again, pursuing it until the + final moment of his exit and departure, which was when Mrs. Burnham and + Miss Pilcher had been scandalized at the easy freedom of her adieus. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. — SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES. + </h2> + <p> + When Mr. Francis Barold called to pay his respects to Lady Theobald, after + partaking of her hospitality, Mr. Burmistone accompanied him; and, upon + almost every other occasion of his presenting himself to her ladyship, Mr. + Burmistone was his companion. + </p> + <p> + It may as well be explained at the outset, that the mill-owner of + Burmistone Mills was a man of decided determination of character, and + that, upon the evening of Lady Theobald's tea, he had arrived at the + conclusion that he would spare no effort to gain a certain end he felt it + would add to his happiness to accomplish. + </p> + <p> + "I stand rather in awe of Lady Theobald, as any ordinary man would," he + had said dryly to Barold, on their return to his house. "But my awe of her + is not so great yet that I shall allow it to interfere with any of my + plans." + </p> + <p> + "Have you any especial plan?" inquired Barold carelessly, after a pause. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone,—"several. I should like to go to + Oldclough rather often." + </p> + <p> + "I feel it the civil thing to go to Oldclough oftener than I like. Go with + me." + </p> + <p> + "I should like to be included in all the invitations to tea for the next + six months." + </p> + <p> + "I shall be included in all the invitations so long as I remain here; and + it is not likely you will be left out in the cold. After you have gone the + rounds once, you won't be dropped." + </p> + <p> + "Upon the whole, it appears so," said Mr. Burmistone. "Thanks." + </p> + <p> + So, at each of the tea-parties following Lady Theobald's, the two men + appeared together. The small end of the wedge being inserted into the + social stratum, the rest was not so difficult. Mrs. Burnham was at once + surprised and overjoyed by her discoveries of the many excellences of the + man they had so hastily determined to ignore. Mrs. Abercrombie found Mr. + Burmistone's manner all that could be desired. Miss Pilcher expressed the + highest appreciation of his views upon feminine education and "our duty to + the young in our charge." Indeed, after Mrs. Egerton's evening, the tide + of public opinion turned suddenly in his favor. + </p> + <p> + Public opinion did not change, however, as far as Octavia was concerned. + Having had her anxiety set at rest by several encouraging paternal letters + from Nevada, she began to make up her mind to enjoy herself, and was, it + is to be regretted, betrayed by her youthful high spirits into the + committing of numerous indiscretions. Upon each festal occasion she + appeared in a new and elaborate costume: she accepted the attentions of + Mr. Francis Barold, as if it were the most natural thing in the world that + they should be offered; she joked—in what Mrs. Burnham designated + "her Nevada way"—with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, who appeared more + frequently than had been his habit at the high teas. She played croquet + with that gentleman and Mr. Barold day after day, upon the grass-plat, + before all the eyes gazing down upon her from the neighboring windows; she + managed to coerce Mr. Burmistone into joining these innocent orgies; and, + in fact, to quote Miss Pilcher, there was "no limit to the shamelessness + of her unfeminine conduct." + </p> + <p> + Several times much comment had been aroused by the fact that Lucia Gaston + had been observed to form one of the party of players. She had indeed + played with Barold, against Octavia and Mr. Poppleton, on the memorable + day upon which that gentleman had taken his first lesson. + </p> + <p> + Barold had availed himself of the invitation extended to him by Octavia, + upon several occasions, greatly to Miss Belinda's embarrassment. He had + dropped in the evening after the curate's first call. + </p> + <p> + "Is Lady Theobald very fond of you?" Octavia had asked, in the course of + this visit. + </p> + <p> + "It is very kind of her, if she is," he replied with languid irony. + </p> + <p> + "Isn't she fond enough of you to do any thing you ask her?" Octavia + inquired. + </p> + <p> + "Really, I think not," he replied. "Imagine the degree of affection it + requires! I am not fond enough of any one to do any thing they ask me." + </p> + <p> + Octavia bestowed a long look upon him. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she remarked, after a pause, "I believe you are not. I shouldn't + think so." + </p> + <p> + Barold colored very faintly. + </p> + <p> + "I say," he said, "is that an imputation, or something of that character? + It sounds like it, you know." + </p> + <p> + Octavia did not reply directly. She laughed a little. + </p> + <p> + "I want you to ask Lady Theobald to do something," she said. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid I am not in such favor as you imagine," he said, looking + slightly annoyed. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I think she won't refuse you this thing," she went on. "If she + didn't loathe me so, I would ask her myself." + </p> + <p> + He deigned to smile. + </p> + <p> + "Does she loathe you?" he inquired. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," nodding. "She would not speak to me if it weren't for aunt Belinda. + She thinks I am fast and loud. Do <i>you</i> think I am fast and loud?" + </p> + <p> + He was taken aback, and not for the first time, either. She had startled + and discomposed him several times in the course of their brief + acquaintance; and he always resented it, priding himself in private, as he + did, upon his coolness and immobility. He could not think of the right + thing to say just now, so he was silent for a second. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me the truth," she persisted. "I shall not care—much." + </p> + <p> + "I do not think you would care at all." + </p> + <p> + "Well, perhaps I shouldn't. Go on. Do you think I am fast?" + </p> + <p> + "I am happy to say I do not find you slow." + </p> + <p> + She fixed her eyes on him, smiling faintly. + </p> + <p> + "That means I am fast," she said. "Well, no matter. Will you ask Lady + Theobald what I want you to ask her?" + </p> + <p> + "I should not say you were fast at all," he said rather stiffly. "You have + not been educated as—as Lady Theobald has educated Miss Gaston, for + instance." + </p> + <p> + "I should rather think not," she replied. Then she added, very + deliberately, "She has had what you might call very superior advantages, I + suppose." + </p> + <p> + Her expression was totally incomprehensible to him. She spoke with the + utmost seriousness, and looked down at the table. "That is derision, I + suppose," he remarked restively. + </p> + <p> + She glanced up again. + </p> + <p> + "At all events," she said, "there is nothing to laugh at in Lucia Gaston. + Will you ask Lady Theobald? I want you to ask her to let Lucia Gaston come + and play croquet with us on Tuesday. She is to play with you against Mr. + Poppleton and me." + </p> + <p> + "Who is Mr. Poppleton?" he asked, with some reserve. He did not exactly + fancy sharing his entertainment with any ordinary outsider. After all, + there was no knowing what this little American might do. + </p> + <p> + "He is the curate of the church," she replied, undisturbed. "He is very + nice, and little, and neat, and blushes all over to the toes of his boots. + He came to see aunt Belinda, and I asked him to come and be taught to + play." + </p> + <p> + "Who is to teach him?" + </p> + <p> + "I am. I have taught at least twenty men in New York and San Francisco." + </p> + <p> + "I hope he appreciates your kindness." + </p> + <p> + "I mean to try if I can make him forget to be frightened," she said, with + a gay laugh. + </p> + <p> + It was certainly nettling to find his air of reserve and displeasure met + with such inconsequent lightness. She never seemed to recognize the subtle + changes of temperature expressed in his manner. Only his sense of what was + due to himself prevented his being very chilly indeed; but as she went on + with her gay chat, in utter ignorance of his mood, and indulged in some + very pretty airy nonsense, he soon recovered himself, and almost forgot + his private grievance. + </p> + <p> + Before going away, he promised to ask Lady Theobald's indulgence in the + matter of Lucia's joining them in their game. One speech of Octavia's, + connected with the subject, he had thought very pretty, as well as kind. + </p> + <p> + "I like Miss Gaston," she said. "I think we might be friends if Lady + Theobald would let us. Her superior advantages might do me good. They + might improve me," she went on, with a little laugh, "and I suppose I need + improving very much. All my advantages have been of one kind." + </p> + <p> + When he had left her, she startled Miss Belinda by saying,— + </p> + <p> + "I have been asking Mr. Barold if he thought I was fast; and I believe he + does—in fact, I am sure he does." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my dear, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda, "what a terrible thing to + say to a gentleman! What will he think?" + </p> + <p> + Octavia smiled one of her calmest smiles. + </p> + <p> + "Isn't it queer how often you say that!" she remarked. "I think I should + perish if I had to pull myself up that way as you do. I just go right on, + and never worry. I don't mean to do any thing queer, and I don't see why + any one should think I do." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. — CROQUET. + </h2> + <p> + Lucia was permitted to form one of the players in the game of croquet, + being escorted to and from the scene by Francis Barold. Perhaps it + occurred to Lady Theobald that the contrast of English reserve and + maidenliness with the free-and-easy manners of young women from Nevada + might lead to some good result. + </p> + <p> + "I trust your conduct will be such as to show that you at least have + resided in a civilized land," she said. "The men of the present day may + permit themselves to be amused by young persons whose demeanor might bring + a blush to the cheek of a woman of forty, but it is not their habit to + regard them with serious intentions." + </p> + <p> + Lucia reddened. She did not speak, though she wished very much for the + courage to utter the words which rose to her lips. Lately she had found + that now and then, at times when she was roused to anger, speeches of + quite a clever and sarcastic nature presented themselves to her mind. She + was never equal to uttering them aloud; but she felt that in time she + might, because of course it was quite an advance in spirit to think them, + and face, even in imagination, the probability of astounding and striking + Lady Theobald dumb with their audacity. + </p> + <p> + "It ought to make me behave very well," she was saying now to herself, "to + have before me the alternative of not being regarded with serious + intentions. I wonder if it is Mr. Poppleton or Francis Barold who might + not regard me seriously. And I wonder if they are any coarser in America + than we can be in England when we try." + </p> + <p> + She enjoyed the afternoon very much, particularly the latter part of it, + when Mr. Burmistone, who was passing, came in, being invited by Octavia + across the privet hedge. Having paid his respects to Miss Belinda, who sat + playing propriety under a laburnum-tree, Mr. Burmistone crossed the + grass-plat to Lucia herself. She was awaiting her "turn," and laughing at + the ardent enthusiasm of Mr. Poppleton, who, under Octavia's direction, + was devoting all his energies to the game: her eyes were bright, and she + had lost, for the time being, her timid air of feeling herself somehow in + the wrong. + </p> + <p> + "I am glad to see you here," said Mr. Burmistone. + </p> + <p> + "I am glad to be here," she answered. "It has been such a happy afternoon. + Every thing has seemed so bright and—and different!" + </p> + <p> + "'Different' is a very good word," he said, laughing. + </p> + <p> + "It isn't a very bad one," she returned, "and it expresses a good deal." + </p> + <p> + "It does indeed," he commented. + </p> + <p> + "Look at Mr. Poppleton and Octavia," she began. + </p> + <p> + "Have you got to 'Octavia'?" he inquired. + </p> + <p> + She looked down and blushed. + </p> + <p> + "I shall not say 'Octavia' to grandmamma." + </p> + <p> + Then suddenly she glanced up at him. + </p> + <p> + "That is sly, isn't it?" she said. "Sometimes I think I am very sly, + though I am sure it is not my nature to be so. I would rather be open and + candid." + </p> + <p> + "It would be better," he remarked. + </p> + <p> + "You think so?" she asked eagerly. + </p> + <p> + He could not help smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Do you ever tell untruths to Lady Theobald?" he inquired. "If you do, I + shall begin to be alarmed." + </p> + <p> + "I act them," she said, blushing more deeply. "I really do—paltry + sorts of untruths, you know; pretending to agree with her when I don't; + pretending to like things a little when I hate them. I have been trying to + improve myself lately, and once or twice it has made her very angry. She + says I am disobedient and disrespectful. She asked me, one day, if it was + my intention to emulate Miss Octavia Bassett. That was when I said I could + not help feeling that I had wasted time in practising." + </p> + <p> + She sighed softly as she ended. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time Octavia had Mr. Poppleton and Mr. Francis Barold upon her + hands, and was endeavoring to do her duty as hostess by both of them. If + it had been her intention to captivate these gentlemen, she could not have + complained that Mr. Poppleton was wary or difficult game. His first fears + allayed, his downward path was smooth, and rapid in proportion. When he + had taken his departure with the little silk purse in his keeping, he had + carried under his clerical vest a warmed and thrilled heart. It was a + heart which, it must be confessed, was of the most inexperienced and + susceptible nature. A little man of affectionate and gentle disposition, + he had been given from his earliest youth to indulging in timid dreams of + mild future bliss,—of bliss represented by some lovely being whose + ideals were similar to his own, and who preferred the wealth of a true + affection to the glitter of the giddy throng. Upon one or two occasions, + he had even worshipped from afar; but as on each of these occasions his + hopes had been nipped in the bud by the union of their object with some + hollow worldling, his dream had, so far, never attained very serious + proportions. Since he had taken up his abode in Slowbridge, he had felt + himself a little overpowered by circumstances. It had been a source of + painful embarrassment to him, to find his innocent presence capable of + producing confusion in the breasts of young ladies who were certainly not + more guileless than himself. He had been conscious that the Misses Egerton + did not continue their conversation with freedom when he chanced to + approach the group they graced; and he had observed the same thing in + their companions,—an additional circumspection of demeanor, so to + speak, a touch of new decorum, whose object seemed to be to protect them + from any appearance of imprudence. + </p> + <p> + "It is almost as if they were afraid of me," he had said to himself once + or twice. "Dear me! I hope there is nothing in my appearance to lead them + to"— + </p> + <p> + He was so much alarmed by this dreadful thought, that he had ever + afterward approached any of these young ladies with a fear and trembling + which had not added either to his comfort or their own; consequently his + path had not been a very smooth one. + </p> + <p> + "I respect the young ladies of Slowbridge," he remarked to Octavia that + very afternoon. "There are some very remarkable young ladies here,—very + remarkable indeed. They are interested in the church, and the poor, and + the schools, and, indeed, in every thing, which is most unselfish and + amiable. Young ladies have usually so much to distract their attention + from such matters." + </p> + <p> + "If I stay long enough in Slowbridge," said Octavia, "I shall be + interested in the church, and the poor, and the schools." + </p> + <p> + It seemed to the curate that there had never been any thing so delightful + in the world as her laugh and her unusual remarks. She seemed to him so + beautiful, and so exhilarating, that he forgot all else but his admiration + for her. He enjoyed himself so much this afternoon, that he was almost + brilliant, and excited the sarcastic comment of Mr. Francis Barold, who + was not enjoying himself at all. + </p> + <p> + "Confound it!" said that gentleman to himself, as he looked on. "What did + I come here for? This style of thing is just what I might have expected. + She is amusing herself with that poor little cad now, and I am left in the + cold. I suppose that is her habit with the young men in Nevada." + </p> + <p> + He had no intention of entering the lists with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, + or of concealing the fact that he felt that this little Nevada flirt was + making a blunder. The sooner she knew it, the better for herself; so he + played his game as badly as possible, and with much dignity. + </p> + <p> + But Octavia was so deeply interested in Mr. Poppleton's ardent efforts to + do credit to her teaching, that she was apparently unconscious of all + else. She played with great cleverness, and carried her partner to the + terminus, with an eager enjoyment of her skill quite pleasant to behold. + She made little darts here and there, advised, directed, and controlled + his movements, and was quite dramatic in a small way when he made a + failure. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham, who was superintending the proceeding, seated in her own + easy-chair behind her window-curtains, was roused to virtuous indignation + by her energy. + </p> + <p> + "There is no repose whatever in her manner," she said. "No dignity. Is a + game of croquet a matter of deep moment? It seems to me that it is almost + impious to devote one's mind so wholly to a mere means of recreation." + </p> + <p> + "She seems to be enjoying it, mamma," said Miss Laura Burnham, with a + faint sigh. Miss Laura had been looking on over her parent's shoulder. + "They all seem to be enjoying it. See how Lucia Gaston and Mr. Burmistone + are laughing. I never saw Lucia look like that before. The only one who + seems a little dull is Mr. Barold." + </p> + <p> + "He is probably disgusted by a freedom of manner to which he is not + accustomed," replied Mrs. Burnham. "The only wonder is that he has not + been disgusted by it before." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII. — ADVANTAGES. + </h2> + <p> + The game over, Octavia deserted her partner. She walked lightly, and with + the air of a victor, to where Barold was standing. She was smiling, and + slightly flushed, and for a moment or so stood fanning herself with a gay + Japanese fan. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you think I am a good teacher?" she asked at length. + </p> + <p> + "I should say so," replied Barold, without enthusiasm. "I am afraid I am + not a judge." + </p> + <p> + She waved her fan airily. + </p> + <p> + "I had a good pupil," she said. Then she held her fan still for a moment, + and turned fully toward him. "I have done something you don't like," she + said. "I knew I had." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Francis Barold retired within himself at once. In his present mood it + really appeared that she was assuming that he was very much interested + indeed. + </p> + <p> + "I should scarcely take the liberty upon a limited acquaintance," he + began. + </p> + <p> + She looked at him steadily, fanning herself with slow, regular movements. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she remarked. "You're mad. I knew you were." + </p> + <p> + He was so evidently disgusted by this observation, that she caught at the + meaning of his look, and laughed a little. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" she said, "that's an American word, ain't it? It sounds queer to + you. You say 'vexed' instead of 'mad.' Well, then, you are vexed." + </p> + <p> + "If I have been so clumsy as to appear ill-humored," he said, "I beg + pardon. Certainly I have no right to exhibit such unusual interest in your + conduct." + </p> + <p> + He felt that this was rather decidedly to the point, but she did not seem + overpowered at all. She smiled anew. + </p> + <p> + "Anybody has a right to be mad—I mean vexed," she observed. "I + should like to know how people would live if they hadn't. I am mad—I + mean vexed—twenty times a day." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed?" was his sole reply. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she said, "I think it's real mean in you to be so cool about it + when you remember what I told you the other day." + </p> + <p> + "I regret to say I don't remember just now. I hope it was nothing very + serious." + </p> + <p> + To his astonishment she looked down at her fan, and spoke in a slightly + lowered voice:— + </p> + <p> + "I told you that I wanted to be improved." + </p> + <p> + It must be confessed that he was mollified. There was a softness in her + manner which amazed him. He was at once embarrassed and delighted. But, at + the same time, it would not do to commit himself to too great a + seriousness. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" he answered, "that was a rather good joke, I thought." + </p> + <p> + "No, it wasn't," she said, perhaps even half a tone lower. "I was in + earnest." + </p> + <p> + Then she raised her eyes. + </p> + <p> + "If you told me when I did any thing wrong, I think it might be a good + thing," she said. + </p> + <p> + He felt that this was quite possible, and was also struck with the idea + that he might find the task of mentor—so long as he remained + entirely non-committal—rather interesting. Still, he could not + afford to descend at once from the elevated stand he had taken. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid you would find it rather tiresome," he remarked. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid <i>you</i> would," she answered. "You would have to tell me + of things so often." + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean seriously to tell me that you would take my advice?" he + inquired. + </p> + <p> + "I mightn't take all of it," was her reply; "but I should take some—perhaps + a great deal." + </p> + <p> + "Thanks," he remarked. "I scarcely think I should give you a great deal." + </p> + <p> + She simply smiled. "I have never had any advice at all," she said. "I + don't know that I should have taken it if I had—just as likely as + not I shouldn't; but I have never had any. Father spoiled me. He gave me + all my own way. He said he didn't care, so long as I had a good time; and + I must say I have generally had a good time. I don't see how I could help + it—with all my own way, and no one to worry. I wasn't sick, and I + could buy any thing I liked, and all that: so I had a good time. I've read + of girls, in books, wishing they had mothers to take care of them. I don't + know that I ever wished for one particularly. I can take care of myself. I + must say, too, that I don't think some mothers are much of an institution. + I know girls who have them, and they are always worrying." + </p> + <p> + He laughed in spite of himself; and though she had been speaking with the + utmost seriousness and <i>naiveté</i>, she joined him. + </p> + <p> + When they ceased, she returned suddenly to the charge. + </p> + <p> + "Now tell me what I have done this afternoon that isn't right," she said,—"that + Lucia Gaston wouldn't have done, for instance. I say that, because I + shouldn't mind being a little like Lucia Gaston—in some things." + </p> + <p> + "Lucia ought to feel gratified," he commented. + </p> + <p> + "She does," she answered. "We had a little talk about it, and she was as + pleased as could be. I didn't think of it in that way until I saw her + begin to blush. Guess what she said." + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid I can't." + </p> + <p> + "She said she saw so many things to envy in me, that she could scarcely + believe I wanted to be at all like her." + </p> + <p> + "It was a very civil speech," said Barold ironically. "I scarcely thought + Lady Theobald had trained her so well." + </p> + <p> + "She meant it," said Octavia. "You mayn't believe it, but she did. I know + when people mean things, and when they don't." + </p> + <p> + "I wish I did," said Barold. + </p> + <p> + Octavia turned her attention to her fan. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I am waiting," she said. + </p> + <p> + "Waiting?" he repeated. + </p> + <p> + "To be told of my faults." + </p> + <p> + "But I scarcely see of what importance my opinion can be." + </p> + <p> + "It is of some importance to me—just now." + </p> + <p> + The last two words rendered him really impatient, and, it may be, spurred + him up. + </p> + <p> + "If we are to take Lucia Gaston as a model," he said, "Lucia Gaston would + possibly not have been so complaisant in her demeanor toward our clerical + friend." + </p> + <p> + "Complaisant!" she exclaimed, opening her lovely eyes. "When I was + actually plunging about the garden, trying to teach him to play. Well, I + shouldn't call that being complaisant." + </p> + <p> + "Lucia Gaston," he replied, "would not say that she had been 'plunging' + about the garden." + </p> + <p> + She gave herself a moment for reflection. + </p> + <p> + "That's true," she remarked, when it was over: "she wouldn't. When I + compare myself with the Slowbridge girls, I begin to think I must say some + pretty awful things." + </p> + <p> + Barold made no reply, which caused her to laugh a little again. + </p> + <p> + "You daren't tell me," she said. "Now, do I? Well, I don't think I want to + know very particularly. What Lady Theobald thinks will last quite a good + while. Complaisant!" + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry you object to the word," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I don't!" she answered. "I like it. It sounds so much more polite + than to say I was flirting and being fast." + </p> + <p> + "Were you flirting?" he inquired coldly. + </p> + <p> + He objected to her ready serenity very much. + </p> + <p> + She looked a little puzzled. + </p> + <p> + "You are very like aunt Belinda," she said. + </p> + <p> + He drew himself up. He did not think there was any point of resemblance at + all between Miss Belinda and himself. + </p> + <p> + She went on, without observing his movement. + </p> + <p> + "You think every thing means something, or is of some importance. You said + that just as aunt Belinda says, 'What will they think?' It never occurs to + me that they'll think at all. Gracious! Why should they?" + </p> + <p> + "You will find they do," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she said, glancing at the group gathered under the laburnum-tree, + "just now aunt Belinda thinks we had better go over to her; so, suppose we + do it? At any rate, I found out that I was too complaisant to Mr. + Poppleton." + </p> + <p> + When the party separated for the afternoon, Barold took Lucia home, and + Mr. Burmistone and the curate walked down the street together. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poppleton was indeed most agreeably exhilarated. His expressive little + countenance beamed with delight. + </p> + <p> + "What a very charming person Miss Bassett is!" he exclaimed, after they + had left the gate. "What a very charming person indeed!" + </p> + <p> + "Very charming," said Mr. Burmistone with much seriousness. "A prettier + young person I certainly have never seen; and those wonderful gowns of + hers"— + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" interrupted Mr. Poppleton, with natural confusion, "I—referred + to Miss Belinda Bassett; though, really, what you say is very true. Miss + Octavia Bassett—indeed—I think—in fact, Miss Octavia + Bassett is <i>quite</i>, one might almost say even <i>more</i>, charming + than her aunt." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," admitted Mr. Burmistone; "perhaps one might. She is less ripe, it + is true; but that is an objection time will remove." + </p> + <p> + "There is such a delightful gayety in her manner!" said Mr. Poppleton; + "such an ingenuous frankness! such a—a—such spirit! It quite + carries me away with it,—quite." + </p> + <p> + He walked a few steps, thinking over this delightful gayety and ingenuous + frankness; and then burst out afresh,— + </p> + <p> + "And what a remarkable life she has had too! She actually told me, that, + once in her childhood, she lived for months in a gold-diggers' camp,—the + only woman there. She says the men were kind to her, and made a pet of + her. She has known the most extraordinary people." + </p> + <p> + In the mean time Francis Barold returned Lucia to Lady Theobald's safe + keeping. Having done so, he made his adieus, and left the two to + themselves. Her ladyship was, it must be confessed, a little at a loss to + explain to herself what she saw, or fancied she saw, in the manner and + appearance of her young relative. She was persuaded that she had never + seen Lucia look as she looked this afternoon. She had a brighter color in + her cheeks than usual, her pretty figure seemed more erect, her eyes had a + spirit in them which was quite new. She had chatted and laughed gayly with + Francis Barold, as she approached the house; and after his departure she + moved to and fro with a freedom not habitual to her. + </p> + <p> + "He has been making himself agreeable to her," said my lady, with grim + pleasure. "He can do it if he chooses; and he is just the man to please a + girl,—good-looking, and with a fine, domineering air." + </p> + <p> + "How did you enjoy yourself?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + "Very much," said Lucia; "never more, thank you." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" ejaculated my lady. "And which of her smart New York gowns did Miss + Octavia Bassett wear?" + </p> + <p> + They were at the dinner-table; and, instead of looking down at her soup, + Lucia looked quietly and steadily across the table at her grandmother. + </p> + <p> + "She wore a very pretty one," she said: "it was pale fawn-color, and + fitted her like a glove. She made me feel very old-fashioned and badly + dressed." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald laid down her spoon. + </p> + <p> + "She made you feel old-fashioned and badly dressed,—you!" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," responded Lucia: "she always does. I wonder what she thinks of the + things we wear in Slowbridge." And she even went to the length of smiling + a little. + </p> + <p> + "What <i>she</i> thinks of what is worn in Slowbridge!" Lady Theobald + ejaculated. "She! may I ask what weight the opinion of a young woman from + America—from Nevada—is supposed to have in Slowbridge?" + </p> + <p> + Lucia took a spoonful of soup in a leisurely manner. + </p> + <p> + "I don't think it is supposed to have any; but—but I don't think she + minds that. I feel as if I shouldn't if I were in her place. I have always + thought her very lucky." + </p> + <p> + "You have thought her lucky!" cried my lady. "You have envied a Nevada + young woman, who dresses like an actress, and loads herself with jewels + like a barbarian? A girl whose conduct toward men is of a character to—to + chill one's blood!" + </p> + <p> + "They admire her," said Lucia simply, "more than they admire Lydia + Egerton, and more than they admire me." + </p> + <p> + "Do <i>you</i> admire her?" demanded my lady. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, grandmamma," replied Lucia courageously. "I think I do." + </p> + <p> + Never had my lady been so astounded in her life. For a moment she could + scarcely speak. When she recovered herself she pointed to the door. + </p> + <p> + "Go to your room," she commanded. "This is American freedom of speech, I + suppose. Go to your room." + </p> + <p> + Lucia rose obediently. She could not help wondering what her ladyship's + course would be if she had the hardihood to disregard her order. She + really looked quite capable of carrying it out forcibly herself. When the + girl stood at her bedroom window, a few minutes later, her cheeks were + burning and her hands trembling. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid it was very badly done," she said to herself. "I am sure it + was; but—but it will be a kind of practice. I was in such a hurry to + try if I were equal to it, that I didn't seem to balance things quite + rightly. I ought to have waited until I had more reason to speak out. + Perhaps there wasn't enough reason then, and I was more aggressive than I + ought to have been. Octavia is never aggressive. I wonder if I was at all + pert. I don't think Octavia ever means to be pert. I felt a little as if I + meant to be pert. I must learn to balance myself, and only be cool and + frank." + </p> + <p> + Then she looked out of the window, and reflected a little. + </p> + <p> + "I was not so very brave, after all," she said, rather reluctantly. "I + didn't tell her Mr. Burmistone was there. I daren't have done that. I am + afraid I <i>am</i> sly—that sounds sly, I am sure." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. — CONTRAST. + </h2> + <p> + "Lady Theobald will put a stop to it," was the general remark. "It will + certainly not occur again." + </p> + <p> + This was said upon the evening of the first gathering upon Miss Belinda's + grass-plat, and at the same time it was prophesied that Mr. Francis Barold + would soon go away. + </p> + <p> + But neither of the prophecies proved true. Mr. Francis Barold did <i>not</i> + return to London; and, strange to say, Lucia was seen again and again + playing croquet with Octavia Bassett, and was even known to spend evenings + with her. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps it might be that an appeal made by Miss Belinda to her ladyship + had caused her to allow of these things. Miss Belinda had, in fact, made a + private call upon my lady, to lay her case before her. + </p> + <p> + "I feel so very timid about every thing," she said, almost with tears, + "and so fearful of trusting myself, that I really find it quite a trial. + The dear child has such a kind heart—I assure you she has a kind + heart, dear Lady Theobald,—and is so innocent of any intention to do + wrong—I am sure she is innocent,—that it seems cruel to judge + her severely. If she had had the benefit of such training as dear Lucia's. + I am convinced that her conduct would have been most exemplary. She sees + herself that she has faults: I am sure she does. She said to me only last + night, in that odd way of hers,—she had been sitting, evidently + thinking deeply, for some minutes,—and she said, 'I wonder if I + shouldn't be nicer if I were more like Lucia Gaston.' You see what turn + her mind must have taken. She admires Lucia so much." + </p> + <p> + "Yesterday evening at dinner," said Lady Theobald severely, "Lucia + informed me that <i>she</i> admired your niece. The feeling seems to be + mutual." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda colored, and brightened visibly. + </p> + <p> + "Did she, indeed?" she exclaimed. "How pleased Octavia will be to hear it! + Did she, indeed?" Then, warned by a chilliness, and lack of response, in + her ladyship's manner, she modified her delight, and became apologetic + again. "These young people are more—are less critical than we are," + she sighed. "Octavia's great prettiness"— + </p> + <p> + "I think," Lady Theobald interposed, "that Lucia has been taught to feel + that the body is corruptible, and subject to decay, and that mere beauty + is of small moment." + </p> + <p> + Miss Belinda sighed again. + </p> + <p> + "That is very true," she admitted deprecatingly; "very true indeed." + </p> + <p> + "It is to be hoped that Octavia's stay in Slowbridge will prove beneficial + to her," said her ladyship in her most judicial manner. "The atmosphere is + wholly unlike that which has surrounded her during her previous life." + </p> + <p> + "I am sure it will prove beneficial to her," said Miss Belinda eagerly. + "The companionship of well-trained and refined young people cannot fail to + be of use to her. Such a companion as Lucia would be, if you would kindly + permit her to spend an evening with us now and then, would certainly + improve and modify her greatly. Mr. Francis Barold is—is, I think, + of the same opinion; at least, I fancied I gathered as much from a few + words he let fall." + </p> + <p> + "Francis Barold?" repeated Lady Theobald. "And what did Francis Barold + say?" + </p> + <p> + "Of course it was but very little," hesitated Miss Belinda; "but—but + I could not help seeing that he was drawing comparisons, as it were. + Octavia was teaching Mr. Poppleton to play croquet; and she was rather + exhilarated, and perhaps exhibited more—freedom of manner, in an + innocent way,—quite in an innocent, thoughtless way,—than is + exactly customary; and I saw Mr. Barold glance from her to Lucia, who + stood near; and when I said, 'You are thinking of the contrast between + them,' he answered, 'Yes, they differ very greatly, it is true;' and of + course I knew that my poor Octavia could not have the advantage in his + eyes. She feels this herself, I know. She shocked me the other day, beyond + expression, by telling me that she had asked him if he thought she was + really fast, and that she was sure he did. Poor child! she evidently did + not comprehend the dreadful significance of such terms." + </p> + <p> + "A man like Francis Barold does understand their significance," said Lady + Theobald; "and it is to be deplored that your niece cannot be taught what + her position in society will be if such a reputation attaches itself to + her. The men of the present day fight shy of such characters." + </p> + <p> + This dread clause so impressed poor Miss Belinda by its solemnity, that + she could not forbear repeating it to Octavia afterward, though it is to + be regretted that it did not produce the effect she had hoped. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I must say," she observed, "that if some men fought a little shyer + than they do, I shouldn't mind it. You always <i>do</i> have about half a + dozen dangling around, who only bore you, and who will keep asking you to + go to places, and sending you bouquets, and asking you to dance when they + can't dance at all, and only tear your dress, and stand on your feet. If + they would 'fight shy,' it would be splendid." + </p> + <p> + To Miss Belinda, who certainly had never been guilty of the indecorum of + having any member of the stronger sex "dangling about" at all, this was + very trying. + </p> + <p> + "My dear," she said, "don't say 'you always have;' it—it really + seems to make it so personal." + </p> + <p> + Octavia turned around, and fixed her eyes wonderingly upon her blushing + countenance. For a moment she made no remark, a marvellous thought shaping + itself slowly in her mind. + </p> + <p> + "Aunt Belinda," she said at length, "did nobody ever"— + </p> + <p> + "Ah, no, my dear! No, no, I assure you!" cried Miss Belinda, in the + greatest possible trepidation. "Ah, dear, no! Such—such things + rarely—very rarely happen in—Slowbridge; and, besides, I + couldn't possibly have thought of it. I couldn't, indeed!" + </p> + <p> + She was so overwhelmed with maidenly confusion at the appalling thought, + that she did not recover herself for half an hour at least. Octavia, + feeling that it would not be safe to pursue the subject, only uttered one + word of comment,— + </p> + <p> + "Gracious!" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. — AN EXPERIMENT. + </h2> + <p> + Much to her own astonishment, Lucia found herself allowed new liberty. She + was permitted to spend the afternoon frequently with Octavia; and on + several occasions that young lady and Miss Bassett were invited to partake + of tea at Oldclough in company with no other guest than Francis Barold. + </p> + <p> + "I don't know what it means, and I think it must mean something," said + Lucia to Octavia; "but it is very pleasant. I never was allowed to be so + intimate with any one before." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," suggested Octavia sagely, "she thinks, that, if you see me + often enough, you will get sick of me, and it will be a lesson to you." + </p> + <p> + "The more I see of you," answered Lucia with a serious little air, "the + fonder I am of you. I understand you better. You are not at all like what + I thought you at first, Octavia." + </p> + <p> + "But I don't know that there's much to understand in me." + </p> + <p> + "There is a great deal to understand in you," she replied. "You are a + puzzle to me often. You seem so frank, and yet one knows so little about + you after all. For instance," Lucia went on, "who would imagine that you + are so affectionate?" + </p> + <p> + "Am I affectionate?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," answered Lucia: "I am sure you are very affectionate. I have found + it out gradually. You would suffer things for any one you loved." + </p> + <p> + Octavia thought the matter over. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she said at length, "I would." + </p> + <p> + "You are very fond of Miss Bassett," proceeded Lucia, as if arraigning her + at the bar of justice. "You are <i>very</i> fond of your father; and I am + sure there are other people you are very fond of—<i>very</i> fond of + indeed." + </p> + <p> + Octavia pondered seriously again. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, there are," she remarked; "but no one would care about them here, + and so I'm not going to make a fuss. You don't want to make a fuss over + people you l-like." + </p> + <p> + "<i>You</i> don't," said Lucia. "You are like Francis Barold in one way, + but you are altogether different in another. Francis Barold does not wish + to show emotion; and he is so determined to hedge himself around, that one + can't help suspecting that he is always guarding himself against one. He + seems always to be resenting any interference; but you do not appear to + care at all, and so it is not natural that one should suspect you. I did + not suspect you." + </p> + <p> + "What do you suspect me of now?" + </p> + <p> + "Of thinking a great deal," answered Lucia affectionately. "And of being + very clever and very good." + </p> + <p> + Octavia was silent for a few moments. + </p> + <p> + "I think," she said after the pause,—"I think you'll find out that + it's a mistake." + </p> + <p> + "No, I shall not," returned Lucia, quite glowing with enthusiasm. "And I + know I shall learn a great deal from you." + </p> + <p> + This was such a startling proposition that Octavia felt decidedly + uncomfortable. She flushed rosy red. + </p> + <p> + "I'm the one who ought to learn things, I think," she said. "I'm always + doing things that frighten aunt Belinda, and you know how the rest regard + me." + </p> + <p> + "Octavia," said Lucia, very naively indeed, "suppose we try to help each + other. If you will tell me when I am wrong, I will try to—to have + the courage to tell you. That will be good practice for me. What I want + most is courage and frankness, and I am sure it will take courage to make + up my mind to tell you of your—of your mistakes." + </p> + <p> + Octavia regarded her with mingled admiration and respect. + </p> + <p> + "I think that's a splendid idea," she said. + </p> + <p> + "Are you sure," faltered Lucia, "are you sure you won't mind the things I + may have to say? Really, they are quite little things in themselves—hardly + worth mentioning"— + </p> + <p> + "Tell me one of them, right now," said Octavia, point-blank. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no!" exclaimed Lucia, starting. "I'd rather not—just now." + </p> + <p> + "Well," commented Octavia, "that sounds as if they must be pretty + unpleasant. Why don't you want to? They will be quite as bad to-morrow. + And to refuse to tell me one is a bad beginning. It looks as if you were + frightened; and it isn't good practice for you to be frightened at such a + little thing." + </p> + <p> + Lucia felt convicted. She made an effort to regain her composure. + </p> + <p> + "No, it is not," she said. "But that is always the way. I am continually + telling myself that I <i>will</i> be courageous and candid; and, the first + time any thing happens, I fail. I <i>will</i> tell you one thing." + </p> + <p> + She stopped short here, and looked at Octavia guiltily. + </p> + <p> + "It is something—I think I would do if—if I were in your + place," Lucia stammered. "A very little thing indeed." + </p> + <p> + "Well?" remarked Octavia anxiously. + </p> + <p> + Lucia lost her breath, caught it again, and proceeded cautiously, and with + blushes at her own daring. + </p> + <p> + "If I were in your place," she said, "I think—that, perhaps—only + perhaps, you know—I would not wear—my hair—<i>quite</i> + so low down—over my forehead." + </p> + <p> + Octavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the pier-glass over the mantle. + She glanced at the reflection of her own startled, pretty face, and then, + putting her hand up to the soft blonde "bang" which met her brows, turned + to Lucia. + </p> + <p> + "Isn't it becoming?" she asked breathlessly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes!" Lucia answered. "Very." + </p> + <p> + Octavia started. + </p> + <p> + "Then, why wouldn't you wear it?" she cried. "What do you mean?" + </p> + <p> + Lucia felt her position truly a delicate one. She locked her hands, and + braced herself; but she blushed vividly. + </p> + <p> + "It may sound rather silly when I tell you why, Octavia," she said; "but I + really do think it is a sort of reason. You know, in those absurd pictures + of actresses, bangs always seem to be the principal feature. I saw some in + the shop-windows when I went to Harriford with grandmamma. And they were + such dreadful women,—some of them,—and had so very few clothes + on, that I can't help thinking I shouldn't like to look like them, and"— + </p> + <p> + "Does it make me look like them?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, very little!" answered Lucia; "very little indeed, of course; but"— + </p> + <p> + "But it's the same thing after all," put in Octavia. "That's what you + mean." + </p> + <p> + "It is so very little," faltered Lucia, "that—that perhaps it isn't + a reason." + </p> + <p> + Octavia looked at herself in the glass again. + </p> + <p> + "It isn't a very good reason," she remarked, "but I suppose it will do." + </p> + <p> + She paused, and looked Lucia in the face. + </p> + <p> + "I don't think that's a little thing," she said. "To be told you look like + an <i>opéra bouffe</i> actress." + </p> + <p> + "I did not mean to say so," cried Lucia, filled with the most poignant + distress. "I beg your pardon, indeed—I—oh, dear! I was afraid + you wouldn't like it. I felt that it was taking a great liberty." + </p> + <p> + "I don't like it," answered Octavia; "but that can't be helped. I didn't + exactly suppose I should. But I wasn't going to say any thing about <i>your</i> + hair when <i>I</i> began," glancing at poor Lucia's coiffure, "though I + suppose I might." + </p> + <p> + "You might say a thousand things about it!" cried Lucia piteously. "I know + that mine is not only in bad taste, but it is ugly and unbecoming." +</p> +<p> +"Yes," + said Octavia cruelly, "it is." + </p> + <p> + "And yours is neither the one nor the other," protested Lucia. "You know I + told you it was pretty, Octavia." + </p> + <p> + Octavia walked over to the table, upon which stood Miss Belinda's + work-basket, and took therefrom a small and gleaming pair of scissors, + returning to the mantle-glass with them. + </p> + <p> + "How short shall I cut it?" she demanded. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" exclaimed Lucia, "don't, don't!" + </p> + <p> + For answer, Octavia raised the scissors, and gave a snip. It was a savage + snip, and half the length and width of her love-locks fell on the mantle; + then she gave another snip, and the other half fell. + </p> + <p> + Lucia scarcely dared to breathe. + </p> + <p> + For a moment Octavia stood gazing at herself, with pale face and dilated + eyes. Then suddenly the folly of the deed she had done seemed to reveal + itself to her. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she cried out. "Oh, how diabolical it looks!" + </p> + <p> + She turned upon Lucia. + </p> + <p> + "Why did you make me do it?" she exclaimed. "It's all your fault—every + bit of it;" and, flinging the scissors to the other end of the room, she + threw herself into a chair, and burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + Lucia's anguish of mind was almost more than she could bear. For at least + three minutes she felt herself a criminal of the deepest dye; after the + three minutes had elapsed, however, she began to reason, and called to + mind the fact that she was failing as usual under her crisis. + </p> + <p> + "This is being a coward again," she said to herself. "It is worse than to + have said nothing. It is true that she will look more refined, now one can + see a little of her forehead; and it is cowardly to be afraid to stand + firm when I really think so. I—yes, I will say something to her." + </p> + <p> + "Octavia," she began aloud, "I am sure you are making a mistake again." + This as decidedly as possible, which was not very decidedly. "You—you + look very much—nicer." + </p> + <p> + "I look <i>ghastly</i>!" said Octavia, who began to feel rather absurd. + </p> + <p> + "You do not. Your forehead—you have the prettiest forehead I ever + saw, Octavia," said Lucia eagerly; "and your eyebrows are perfect. I—wish + you would look at yourself again." + </p> + <p> + Rather to her surprise, Octavia began to laugh under cover of her + handkerchief: reaction had set in, and, though the laugh was a trifle + hysterical, it was still a laugh. Next she gave her eyes a final little + dab, and rose to go to the glass again. She looked at herself, touched up + the short, waving fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia, with a + resigned expression. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think that any one who was used to seeing it the other way would—would + think I looked horrid?" she inquired anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "They would think you prettier,—a great deal," Lucia answered + earnestly. "Don't you know, Octavia, that nothing could be really + unbecoming to you? You have that kind of face." + </p> + <p> + For a few seconds Octavia seemed to lose herself in thought of a + speculative nature. + </p> + <p> + "Jack always said so," she remarked at length. + </p> + <p> + "Jack!" repeated Lucia timidly. + </p> + <p> + Octavia roused herself, and smiled with candid sweetness. + </p> + <p> + "He is some one I knew in Nevada," she explained. "He worked in father's + mine once." + </p> + <p> + "You must have known him very well," suggested Lucia, somewhat awed. + </p> + <p> + "I did," she replied calmly. "Very well." + </p> + <p> + She tucked away her pocket-handkerchief in the jaunty pocket at the back + of her basque, and returned to her chair. Then she turned again to Lucia. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she said, "I think you have found out that you <i>were</i> + mistaken, haven't you, dear? Suppose you tell me of something else." + </p> + <p> + Lucia colored. + </p> + <p> + "No," she answered: "that is enough for to-day." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. — PECULIAR TO NEVADA. + </h2> + <p> + Whether, or not, Lucia was right in accusing Octavia Bassett of being + clever, and thinking a great deal, is a riddle which those who are + interested in her must unravel as they read; but, whether the surmise was + correct or incorrect, it seemed possible that she had thought a little + after the interview. When Barold saw her next, he was struck by a slight + but distinctly definable change he recognized in her dress and coiffure. + Her pretty hair had a rather less "professional" appearance: he had the + pleasure of observing, for the first time, how very white her forehead + was, and how delicate the arch of her eyebrows; her dress had a novel air + of simplicity, and the diamond rings were nowhere to be seen. + </p> + <p> + "She's better dressed than usual," he said to himself. "And she's always + well dressed,—rather too well dressed, fact is, for a place like + this. This sort of thing is in better form, under the circumstances." It + was so much "better form," and he so far approved of it, that he quite + thawed, and was very amiable and very entertaining indeed. + </p> + <p> + Octavia was entertaining too. She asked several most interesting + questions. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think," she inquired, "that it is bad taste to wear diamonds?" + </p> + <p> + "My mother wears them—occasionally." + </p> + <p> + "Have you any sisters?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Any cousins—as young as I am?" + </p> + <p> + "Ya-as." + </p> + <p> + "Do they wear them?" + </p> + <p> + "I must admit," he replied, "that they don't. In the first place, you + know, they haven't any; and, in the second, I am under the impression that + Lady Beauchamp—their mamma, you know—wouldn't permit it if + they had." + </p> + <p> + "Wouldn't permit it!" said Octavia. "I suppose they always do as she tells + them?" + </p> + <p> + He smiled a little. + </p> + <p> + "They would be very courageous young women if they didn't," he remarked. + </p> + <p> + "What would she do if they tried it?" she inquired. "She couldn't beat + them." + </p> + <p> + "They will never try it," he answered dryly. "And though I have never seen + her beat them, or heard their lamentations under chastisement, I should + not like to say that Lady Beauchamp could not do any thing. She is a very + determined person—for a gentlewoman." + </p> + <p> + Octavia laughed. + </p> + <p> + "You are joking," she said. + </p> + <p> + "Lady Beauchamp is a serious subject for jokes," he responded. "My cousins + think so, at least." + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if she is as bad as Lady Theobald," Octavia reflected aloud. + "She says I have no right to wear diamonds at all until I am married. But + I don't mind Lady Theobald," she added, as a cheerful afterthought. "I am + not fond enough of her to care about what she says." + </p> + <p> + "Are you fond of any one?" Barold inquired, speaking with a languid air, + but at the same time glancing at her with some slight interest from under + his eyelids. + </p> + <p> + "Lucia says I am," she returned, with the calmness of a young person who + wished to regard the matter from an unembarrassed point of view. "Lucia + says I am affectionate." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" deliberately. "Are you?" + </p> + <p> + She turned, and looked at him serenely. + </p> + <p> + "Should <i>you</i> think so?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + This was making such a personal matter of the question, that he did not + exactly enjoy it. It was certainly not "good form" to pull a man up in + such cool style. + </p> + <p> + "Really," he replied, "I—ah—have had no opportunity of + judging." + </p> + <p> + He had not the slightest intention of being amusing, but to his infinite + disgust he discovered as soon as he spoke that she was amused. She laughed + outright, and evidently only checked herself because he looked so furious. + In consideration for his feelings she assumed an air of mild but + preternatural seriousness. + </p> + <p> + "No," she remarked, "that is true: you haven't, of course." + </p> + <p> + He was silent. He did not enjoy being amusing at all, and he made no + pretence of appearing to submit to the indignity calmly. + </p> + <p> + She bent forward a little. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" she exclaimed, "you are mad again—I mean, you are vexed. I am + always vexing you." + </p> + <p> + There was a hint of appeal in her voice, which rather pleased him; but he + had no intention of relenting at once. + </p> + <p> + "I confess I am at a loss to know why you laughed," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Are you," she asked, "really?" letting her eyes rest upon him anxiously + for a moment. Then she actually gave vent to a little sigh. "We look at + things so differently, that's it," she said. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose it is," he responded, still chillingly. + </p> + <p> + In spite of this, she suddenly assumed a comparatively cheerful aspect. A + happy thought occurred to her. + </p> + <p> + "Lucia would beg your pardon," she said. "I am learning good manners from + Lucia. Suppose I beg your pardon." + </p> + <p> + "It is quite unnecessary," he replied. + </p> + <p> + "Lucia wouldn't think so," she said. "And why shouldn't I be as + well-behaved as Lucia? I beg your pardon." + </p> + <p> + He felt rather absurd, and yet somewhat mollified. She had a way of + looking at him, sometimes, when she had been unpleasant, which rather + soothed him. In fact, he had found of late, a little to his private + annoyance, that it was very easy for her either to soothe or disturb him. + </p> + <p> + And now, just as Octavia had settled down into one of the prettiest and + least difficult of her moods, there came a knock at the front door, which, + being answered by Mary Anne, was found to announce the curate of St. + James. + </p> + <p> + Enter, consequently, the Rev. Arthur Poppleton,—blushing, a trifle + timorous perhaps, but happy beyond measure to find himself in Miss + Belinda's parlor again, with Miss Belinda's niece. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the least possible shade of his joyousness died out when he caught + sight of Mr. Francis Barold, and certainly Mr. Francis Barold was not at + all delighted to see him. + </p> + <p> + "What does the fellow want?" that gentleman was saying inwardly. "What + does he come simpering and turning pink here for? Why doesn't he go and + see some of his old women, and read tracts to them? That's <i>his</i> + business." Octavia's manner toward her visitor formed a fresh grievance + for Barold. She treated the curate very well indeed. She seemed glad to + see him, she was wholly at her ease with him, she made no trying remarks + to him, she never stopped to fix her eyes upon him in that inexplicable + style, and she did not laugh when there seemed nothing to laugh at. She + was so gay and good-humored that the Rev. Arthur Poppleton beamed and + flourished under her treatment, and forgot to change color, and even + ventured to talk a good deal, and make divers quite presentable little + jokes. + </p> + <p> + "I should like to know," thought Barold, growing sulkier as the others + grew merrier,—"I should like to know what she finds so interesting + in him, and why she chooses to treat him better than she treats me; for + she certainly does treat him better." + </p> + <p> + It was hardly fair, however, that he should complain; for, at times, he + was treated extremely well, and his intimacy with Octavia progressed quite + rapidly. Perhaps, if the truth were told, it was always himself who was + the first means of checking it, by some suddenly prudent instinct which + led him to feel that perhaps he was in rather a delicate position, and had + better not indulge in too much of a good thing. He had not been an + eligible and unimpeachable desirable <i>parti</i> for ten years without + acquiring some of that discretion which is said to be the better part of + valor. The matter-of-fact air with which Octavia accepted his attentions + caused him to pull himself up sometimes. If he had been Brown, or Jones, + or even Robinson, she could not have appeared to regard them as more + entirely natural. When—he had gone so far, once or twice—he + had deigned to make a more than usually agreeable speech to her, it was + received with none of that charming sensitive tremor to which he was + accustomed. Octavia neither blushed, nor dropped her eyes. + </p> + <p> + It did not add to Barold's satisfaction to find her as cheerful and ready + to be amused by a mild little curate, who blushed and stammered, and was + neither brilliant, graceful, nor distinguished. Could not Octavia see the + wide difference between the two? Regarding the matter in this light, and + watching Octavia as she encouraged her visitor, and laughed at his jokes, + and never once tripped him up by asking him a startling question, did not, + as already has been said, improve Mr. Francis Barold's temper; and, by the + time his visit was over, he had lapsed into his coldest and most haughty + manner. As soon as Miss Belinda entered, and engaged Mr. Poppleton for a + moment, he rose, and crossed the little room to Octavia's side. + </p> + <p> + "I must bid you good-afternoon," he said. + </p> + <p> + Octavia did not rise. + </p> + <p> + "Sit down a minute, while aunt Belinda is talking about red-flannel + nightcaps and lumbago," she said. "I wanted to ask you something. By the + way, what <i>is</i> lumbago?" + </p> + <p> + "Is that what you wished to ask me?" he inquired stiffly. + </p> + <p> + "No. I just thought of that. Have you ever had it? and what is it like? + All the old people in Slowbridge have it, and they tell you all about it + when you go to see them. Aunt Belinda says so. What I wanted to ask you + was different"— + </p> + <p> + "Possibly Miss Bassett might be able to tell you," he remarked. + </p> + <p> + "About the lumbago? Well, perhaps she might. I'll ask her. Do you think it + bad taste in <i>me</i> to wear diamonds?" + </p> + <p> + She said this with the most delightful seriousness, fixing her eyes upon + him with her very prettiest look of candid appeal, as if it were the most + natural thing in the world that she should apply to him for information. + He felt himself faltering again. How white that bit of forehead was! How + soft that blonde, waving fringe of hair! What a lovely shape her eyes + were, and how large and clear as she raised them! + </p> + <p> + "Why do you ask <i>me</i>?" he inquired. + </p> + <p> + "Because I think you are an unprejudiced person. Lady Theobald is not. I + have confidence in you. Tell me." + </p> + <p> + There was a slight pause. + </p> + <p> + "Really," he said, after it, "I can scarcely believe that my opinion can + be of any value in your eyes. I am—can only tell you that it is + hardly customary in—an—in England for young people to wear a + profusion of ornament." + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if I wear a profusion." + </p> + <p> + "You don't need any," he condescended. "You are too young, and—all + that sort of thing." + </p> + <p> + She glanced down at her slim, unringed hands for a moment, her expression + quite thoughtful. + </p> + <p> + "Lucia and I almost quarrelled the other day," she said—"at least, I + almost quarrelled. It isn't so nice to be told of things, after all. I + must say I don't like it as much as I thought I should." + </p> + <p> + He kept his seat longer than he had intended; and, when he rose to go, + the Rev. Arthur Poppleton was shaking hands with Miss Belinda, and so it + fell out that they left the house together. + </p> + <p> + "You know Miss Octavia Bassett well, I suppose," remarked Barold, with + condescension, as they passed through the gate. "You clergymen are + fortunate fellows." + </p> + <p> + "I wish that others knew her as well, sir," said the little gentleman, + kindling. "I wish they knew her—her generosity and kindness of heart + and ready sympathy with misfortune!" + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" commented Mr. Barold, twisting his mustache with somewhat of an + incredulous air. This was not at all the sort of thing he had expected to + hear. For his own part, it would not have occurred to him to suspect her + of the possession of such desirable and orthodox qualities. + </p> + <p> + "There are those who—misunderstand her," cried the curate, warming + with his subject, "who misunderstand, and—yes, and apply harsh terms + to her innocent gayety and freedom of speech: if they knew her as I do, + they would cease to do so." + </p> + <p> + "I should scarcely have thought"—began Barold. + </p> + <p> + "There are many who scarcely think it,—if you will pardon my + interrupting you," said the curate. "I think they would scarcely believe + it if I felt at liberty to tell them, which I regret to say I do not. I am + almost breaking my word in saying what I cannot help saying to yourself. + The poor under my care are better off since she came, and there are some + who have seen her more than once, though she did not go as a teacher or to + reprove them for faults; and her way of doing what she did was new to + them, and perhaps much less serious than they were accustomed to, and they + liked it all the better." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" commented Barold again. "Flannel under-garments, and—that sort + of thing." + </p> + <p> + "No," with much spirit, "not at all, sir; but what, as I said, they liked + much better. It is not often they meet a beautiful creature who comes + among them with open hands, and the natural, ungrudging way of giving + which she has. Sometimes they are at a loss to understand, as well as the + rest. They have been used to what is narrower and more—more + exacting." + </p> + <p> + "They have been used to Lady Theobald," observed Barold, with a faint + smile. + </p> + <p> + "It would not become me to—to mention Lady Theobald in any + disparaging manner," replied the curate: "but the best and most charitable + among us do not always carry out our good intentions in the best way. I + dare say Lady Theobald would consider Miss Octavia Bassett too readily + influenced and too lavish." + </p> + <p> + "She is as generous with her money as with her diamonds perhaps," said + Barold. "Possibly the quality is peculiar to Nevada. We part here, Mr. + Poppleton, I believe. Good-morning." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI. — LORD LANSDOWNE. + </h2> + <p> + One morning in the following week Mrs. Burnham attired herself in her + second-best black silk, and, leaving the Misses Burnham practising + diligently, turned her steps toward Oldclough Hall. Arriving there, she + was ushered into the blue drawing-room by Dobson, in his character of + footman; and in a few minutes Lucia appeared. + </p> + <p> + When Mrs. Burnham saw her, she assumed a slight air of surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Why, my dear," she said, as she shook hands, "I should scarcely have + known you." + </p> + <p> + And, though this was something of an exaggeration, there was some excuse + for the exclamation. Lucia was looking very charming, and several changes + might be noted in her attire and appearance. The ugly twist had + disappeared from her delicate head; and in its place were soft, loose + waves and light puffs; she had even ventured on allowing a few ringed + locks to stray on to her forehead; her white morning-dress no longer wore + the trade-mark of Miss Chickie, but had been remodelled by some one of + more taste. + </p> + <p> + "What a pretty gown, my dear!" said Mrs. Burnham, glancing at it + curiously. "A Watteau plait down the back—isn't it a Watteau plait?—and + little ruffles down the front, and pale pink bows. It is quite like some + of Miss Octavia Bassett's dresses, only not so over-trimmed." + </p> + <p> + "I do not think Octavia's dresses would seem over-trimmed if she wore them + in London or Paris," said Lucia bravely. "It is only because we are so + very quiet, and dress so little in Slowbridge, that they seem so." + </p> + <p> + "And your hair!" remarked Mrs. Burnham. "You drew your idea of that from + some style of hers, I suppose. Very becoming, indeed. Well, well! And how + does Lady Theobald like all this, my dear?" + </p> + <p> + "I am not sure that"—Lucia was beginning, when her ladyship + interrupted her by entering. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Lady Theobald," cried her visitor, rising, "I hope you are well. + I have just been complimenting Lucia upon her pretty dress, and her new + style of dressing her hair. Miss Octavia Bassett has been giving her the + benefit of her experience, it appears. We have not been doing her justice. + Who would have believed that she had come from Nevada to improve us?" + </p> + <p> + "Miss Octavia Bassett," said my lady sonorously, "has come from Nevada to + teach our young people a great many things,—new fashions in duty, + and demeanor, and respect for their elders. Let us hope they will be + benefited." + </p> + <p> + "If you will excuse me, grandmamma," said Lucia, speaking in a soft, + steady voice, "I will go and write the letters you wished written." + </p> + <p> + "Go," said my lady with majesty; and, having bidden Mrs. Burnham + good-morning, Lucia went. + </p> + <p> + If Mrs. Burnham had expected any explanation of her ladyship's evident + displeasure, she was doomed to disappointment. That excellent and rigorous + gentlewoman had a stern sense of dignity, which forbade her condescending + to the confidential weakness of mere ordinary mortals. Instead of + referring to Lucia, she broached a more commonplace topic. + </p> + <p> + "I hope your rheumatism does not threaten you again, Mrs. Burnham," she + remarked. + </p> + <p> + "I am very well, thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Burnham; "so well, that I + am thinking quite seriously of taking the dear girls to the garden-party, + when it comes off." + </p> + <p> + "To the garden-party!" repeated her ladyship. "May I ask who thinks of + giving a garden-party in Slowbridge?" + </p> + <p> + "It is no one in Slowbridge," replied this lady cheerfully. "Some one who + lives a little out of Slowbridge,—Mr. Burmistone, my dear Lady + Theobald, at his new place." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Burmistone!" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to + believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. + Barold." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Barold has not been to Oldclough for several days." + </p> + <p> + "Then, he will tell you when he comes; for I suppose he has as much to do + with it as Mr. Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + "I have heard before," announced my lady, "of men of Mr. Burmistone's + class securing the services of persons of established position in society + when they wished to spend their money upon entertainments; but I should + scarcely have imagined that Francis Barold would have allowed himself to + be made a party to such a transaction." + </p> + <p> + "But," put in Mrs. Burnham rather eagerly, "it appears that Mr. Burmistone + is not such an obscure person, after all. He is an Oxford man, and came + off with honors: he is quite a well-born man, and gives this entertainment + in honor of his friend and relation, Lord Lansdowne." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Lansdowne!" echoed her ladyship, sternly. + </p> + <p> + "Son of the Marquis of Lauderdale, whose wife was Lady Honora Erroll." + </p> + <p> + "Did Mr. Burmistone give you this information?" asked Lady Theobald with + ironic calmness. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham colored never so faintly. + </p> + <p> + "I—that is to say—there is a sort of acquaintance between one + of my maids and the butler at the Burmistone place; and, when the girl was + doing Lydia's hair, she told her the story. Lord Lansdowne and his father + are quite fond of Mr. Burmistone, it is said." + </p> + <p> + "It seems rather singular to my mind that we should not have known of this + before." + </p> + <p> + "But how should we learn? We none of us know Lord Lansdowne, or even the + marquis. I think he is only a second or third cousin. We are a little—just + a little <i>set</i> in Slowbridge, you know, my dear: at least, I have + thought so sometimes lately." + </p> + <p> + "I must confess," remarked my lady, "that <i>I</i> have not regarded the + matter in that light." + </p> + <p> + "That is because you have a better right to—to be a little set than + the rest of us," was the amiable response. + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald did not disclaim the privilege. She felt the sentiment an + extremely correct one. But she was not very warm in her manner during the + remainder of the call; and, incongruous as such a statement may appear, it + must be confessed that she felt that Miss Octavia Bassett must have + something to do with these defections on all sides, and that + garden-parties, and all such swervings from established Slowbridge custom, + were the natural result of Nevada frivolity and freedom of manners. It may + be that she felt remotely that even Lord Lansdowne and the Marquis of + Lauderdale were to be referred to the same reprehensible cause, and that, + but for Octavia Bassett, Mr. Burmistone would not have been educated at + Oxford and have come off with honors, and have turned out to be related to + respectable people, but would have remained in appropriate obscurity. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose," she said afterward to Lucia, "that your friend Miss Octavia + Bassett is in Mr. Burmistone's confidence, if no one else has been + permitted to have that honor. I have no doubt <i>she</i> has known of this + approaching entertainment for some weeks." + </p> + <p> + "I do not know, grandmamma," replied Lucia, putting her letters together, + and gaining color as she bent over them. She was wondering, with inward + trepidation, what her ladyship would say if she knew the whole truth,—if + she knew that it was her granddaughter, and not Octavia Bassett, who + enjoyed Mr. Burmistone's confidence. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" she thought, "how could I ever dare to tell her?" + </p> + <p> + The same day Francis Barold sauntered up to pay them a visit; and then, as + Mrs. Burnham had prophesied, Lady Theobald heard all she wished to hear, + and, indeed, a great deal more. + </p> + <p> + "What is this I am told of Mr. Burmistone, Francis?" she inquired. "That + he intends to give a garden-party, and that Lord Lansdowne is to be one of + the guests, and that he has caused it to be circulated that they are + cousins." + </p> + <p> + "That Lansdowne has caused it to be circulated—or Burmistone?" + </p> + <p> + "It is scarcely likely that Lord Lansdowne"— + </p> + <p> + "Beg pardon," he interrupted, fixing his single glass dexterously in his + right eye, and gazing at her ladyship through it. "Can't see why Lansdowne + should object. Fact is, he is a great deal fonder of Burmistone than + relations usually are of each other. Now, I often find that kind of thing + a bore; but Lansdowne doesn't seem to. They were at school together, it + seems, and at Oxford too; and Burmistone is supposed to have behaved + pretty well towards Lansdowne at one time, when he was rather a wild + fellow—so the father and mother say. As to Burmistone 'causing it to + be circulated,' that sort of thing is rather absurd. The man isn't a cad, + you know." + </p> + <p> + "Pray don't say 'you know,' Francis," said her ladyship. "I know very + little but what I have chanced to see, and I must confess I have not been + prepossessed in Mr. Burmistone's favor. Why did he not choose to inform + us"— + </p> + <p> + "That he was Lord Lansdowne's second cousin, and knew the Marquis of + Lauderdale, grandmamma?" broke in Lucia, with very pretty spirit. "Would + that have prepossessed you in his favor? Would you have forgiven him for + building the mills, on Lord Lansdowne's account? I—I wish I was + related to a marquis," which was very bold indeed. + </p> + <p> + "May I ask," said her ladyship, in her most monumental manner, "when <i>you</i> + became Mr. Burmistone's champion?" + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0022"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII. — "YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER." + </h2> + <p> + When she had become Mr. Burmistone's champion, indeed! She could scarcely + have told when, unless, perhaps, she had fixed the date at the first time + she had heard his name introduced at a high tea, with every politely + opprobrious epithet affixed. She had defended him in her own mind then, + and felt sure that he deserved very little that was said against him, and + very likely nothing at all. And, the first time she had seen and spoken to + him, she had been convinced that she had not made a mistake, and that he + had been treated with cruel injustice. How kind he was, how manly, how + clever, and how well he bore himself under the popular adverse criticism! + She only wondered that anybody could be so blind and stupid and wilful as + to assail him. + </p> + <p> + And if this had been the case in those early days, imagine what she felt + now, when—ah, well!—when her friendship had had time and + opportunity to become a much deeper sentiment. Must it be confessed that + she had seen Mr. Burmistone even oftener than Octavia and Miss Belinda + knew of? Of course it had all been quite accidental; but it had happened + that now and then, when she had been taking a quiet walk in the lanes + about Oldclough, she had encountered a gentleman, who had dismounted, and + led his horse by the bridle, as he sauntered by her side. She had always + been very timid at such times, and had felt rather like a criminal; but + Mr. Burmistone had not been timid at all, and would, indeed, as soon have + met Lady Theobald as not, for which courage his companion admired him more + than ever. It was not very long before to be with this hero re-assured + her, and made her feel stronger and more self-reliant. She was never + afraid to open her soft little heart to him, and show him innocently all + its goodness, and ignorance of worldliness. She warmed and brightened + under his kindly influence, and was often surprised in secret at her own + simple readiness of wit and speech. + </p> + <p> + "It is odd that I am such a different girl when—when I am with you," + she said to him one day. "I even make little jokes. I never should think + of making even the tiniest joke before grandmamma. Somehow, she never + seems quite to understand jokes. She never laughs at them. You always + laugh, and I am sure it is very kind of you to encourage me so; but you + must not encourage me too much, or I might forget, and make a little joke + at dinner, and I think, if I did, she would choke over her soup." + </p> + <p> + Perhaps, when she dressed her hair, and adorned herself with pale pink + bows and like appurtenances, this artful young person had privately in + mind other beholders than Mrs. Burnham, and other commendation than that + to be bestowed by that most excellent matron. + </p> + <p> + "Do you mind my telling you that you have put on an enchanted garment?" + said Mr. Burmistone, the first time they met when she wore one of the + old-new gowns. "I thought I knew before how"— + </p> + <p> + "I don't mind it at all," said Lucia, blushing brilliantly. "I rather like + it. It rewards me for my industry. My hair is dressed in a new way. I hope + you like that too. Grandmamma does not." + </p> + <p> + It had been Lady Theobald's habit to treat Lucia severely from a sense of + duty. Her manner toward her had always rather the tone of implying that + she was naturally at fault, and yet her ladyship could not have told + wherein she wished the girl changed. In the good old school in which my + lady had been trained, it was customary to regard young people as weak, + foolish, and, if left to their own desires, frequently sinful. Lucia had + not been left to her own desires. She had been taught to view herself as + rather a bad case, and to feel that she was far from being what her + relatives had a right to expect. To be thrown with a person who did not + find her silly or dull or commonplace, was a new experience. + </p> + <p> + "If I had been clever," Lucia said once to Mr. Burmistone,—"if I had + been clever, perhaps grandmamma would have been more satisfied with me. I + have often wished I had been clever." + </p> + <p> + "If you had been a boy," replied Mr. Burmistone rather grimly, "and had + squandered her money, and run into debt, and bullied her, you would have + been her idol, and she would have pinched and starved herself to supply + your highness's extravagance." + </p> + <p> + When the garden-party rumor began to take definite form, and there was no + doubt as to Mr. Burmistone's intentions, a discussion arose at once, and + went on in every genteel parlor. Would Lady Theobald allow Lucia to go? + and, if she did not allow her, would not such a course appear very pointed + indeed? It was universally decided that it would appear pointed, but that + Lady Theobald would not mind that in the least, and perhaps would rather + enjoy it than otherwise; and it was thought Lucia would not go. And it is + very likely that Lucia would have remained at home, if it had not been for + the influence of Mr. Francis Barold. + </p> + <p> + Making a call at Oldclough, he found his august relative in a very + majestic mood, and she applied to him again for information. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me whether it is true that + Belinda Bassett—<i>Belinda Bassett</i>," with emphasis, "has been + invited by Mr. Burmistone to assist him to receive his guests." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it is true," was the reply: "I think I advised it myself. Burmistone + is fond of her. They are great friends. Man needs a woman at such times." + </p> + <p> + "And he chose Belinda Bassett?" + </p> + <p> + "In the first place, he is on friendly terms with her, as I said before," + replied Barold; "in the second, she's just what he wants—well-bred, + kind-hearted, not likely to make rows, <i>et caetera</i>." There was a + slight pause before he finished, adding quietly, "He's not the man to + submit to being refused—Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + Lady Theobald did not reply, or raise her eyes from her work: she knew he + was looking at her with calm fixedness, through the glass he held in its + place so cleverly; and she detested this more than any thing else, perhaps + because she was invariably quelled by it, and found she had nothing to + say. + </p> + <p> + He did not address her again immediately, but turned to Lucia, dropping + the eyeglass, and resuming his normal condition. + </p> + <p> + "You will go, of course?" he said. + </p> + <p> + Lucia glanced across at my lady. + </p> + <p> + "I—do not know. Grandmamma"— + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" interposed Barold, "you must go. There is no reason for your + refusing the invitation, unless you wish to imply something unpleasant—which + is, of course, out of the question." + </p> + <p> + "But there may be reasons"—began her ladyship. + </p> + <p> + "Burmistone is my friend," put in Barold, in his coolest tone; "and I am + your relative, which would make my position in his house a delicate one, + if he has offended you." + </p> + <p> + When Lucia saw Octavia again, she was able to tell her that they had + received invitations to the <i>fête</i>, and that Lady Theobald had + accepted them. + </p> + <p> + "She has not spoken a word to me about it, but she has accepted them," + said Lucia. "I don't quite understand her lately, Octavia. She must be + very fond of Francis Barold. He never gives way to her in the least, and + she always seems to submit to him. I know she would not have let me go, if + he had not insisted on it, in that taking-it-for-granted way of his." + </p> + <p> + Naturally Mr. Burmistone's <i>fête</i> caused great excitement. Miss + Chickie was never so busy in her life, and there were rumors that her + feelings had been outraged by the discovery that Mrs. Burnham had sent to + Harriford for costumes for her daughters. + </p> + <p> + "Slowbridge is changing, mem," said Miss Chickie, with brilliant sarcasm. + "Our ladies is led in their fashions by a Nevada young person. We're + improving most rapid—more rapid than I'd ever have dared to hope. Do + you prefer a frill, or a flounce, mem?" + </p> + <p> + Octavia was in great good spirits at the prospect of the gayeties in + question. She had been in remarkably good spirits for some weeks. She had + received letters from Nevada, containing good news she said. Shares had + gone up again; and her father had almost settled his affairs, and it would + not be long before he would come to England. She looked so exhilarated + over the matter, that Lucia felt a little aggrieved. "Will you be so glad + to leave us, Octavia?" she asked. "We shall not be so glad to let you go. + We have grown very fond of you." + </p> + <p> + "I shall be sorry to leave you, and aunt Belinda is going with us. You + don't expect me to be very fond of Slowbridge, do you, and to be sorry I + can't take Mrs. Burnham—and the rest?" + </p> + <p> + Barold was present when she made this speech, and it rather rankled. + </p> + <p> + "Am I one of 'the rest'?" he inquired, the first time he found himself + alone with her. He was sufficiently piqued to forget his usual <i>hauteur</i> + and discretion. + </p> + <p> + "Would you like to be?" she said. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Very much—very much—naturally," he replied severely. + </p> + <p> + They were standing near a rose-bush in the garden; and she plucked a rose, + and regarded it with deep interest. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she said, next, "I must say I think I shouldn't have had such a + good time if you hadn't been here. You have made it livelier." + </p> + <p> + "Tha-anks," he remarked. "You are most kind." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she answered, "it's true. If it wasn't, I shouldn't say it. You and + Mr. Burmistone and Mr. Poppleton have certainly made it livelier." + </p> + <p> + He went home in such a bad humor that his host, who was rather happier + than usual, commented upon his grave aspect at dinner. + </p> + <p> + "You look as if you had heard ill news, old fellow," he said. "What's up?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, nothing!" he was answered sardonically; "nothing whatever—unless + that I have been rather snubbed by a young lady from Nevada." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" with great seriousness: "that's rather cool, isn't it?" + </p> + <p> + "It's her little way," said Barold. "It seems to be one of the customs of + Nevada." + </p> + <p> + In fact, he was very savage indeed. He felt that he had condescended a + good deal lately. He seldom bestowed his time on women; and when he did + so, at rare intervals, he chose those who would do the most honor to his + taste at the least cost of trouble. And he was obliged to confess to + himself that he had broken his rule in this case. Upon analyzing his + motives and necessities, he found, that, after all, he must have extended + his visit simply because he chose to see more of this young woman from + Nevada, and that really, upon the whole, he had borne a good deal from + her. Sometimes he had been much pleased with her, and very well + entertained; but often enough—in fact, rather too often—she + had made him exceedingly uncomfortable. Her manners were not what he was + accustomed to: she did not consider that all men were not to be regarded + from the same point of view. Perhaps he did not put into definite words + the noble and patriotic sentiment that an Englishman was not to be + regarded from the same point of view as an American, and that, though all + this sort of thing might do with fellows in New York, it was scarcely what + an Englishman would stand. Perhaps, as I say, he had not put this + sentiment into words; but it is quite certain that it had been uppermost + in his mind upon more occasions than one. As he thought their acquaintance + over, this evening, he was rather severe upon Octavia. He even was roused + so far as to condescend to talk her over with Burmistone. + </p> + <p> + "If she had been well brought up," he said, "she would have been a + different creature." + </p> + <p> + "Very different, I have no doubt," said Burmistone thoughtfully. "When you + say well brought up, by the way, do you mean brought up like your cousin, + Miss Gaston?" + </p> + <p> + "There is a medium," said Barold loftily. "I regret to say Lady Theobald + has not hit upon it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, as you say," commented Mr. Burmistone, "I suppose there is a + medium." + </p> + <p> + "A charming wife she would make, for a man with a position to maintain," + remarked Barold, with a short and somewhat savage laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Octavia Bassett?" queried Burmistone. "That's true. But I am afraid she + wouldn't enjoy it—if you are supposing the man to be an Englishman, + brought up in the regulation groove." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" exclaimed Barold impatiently: "I was not looking at it from her + point of view, but from his." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Burmistone slipped his hands in his pockets, and jingled his keys + slightly, as he did once before in an earlier part of this narrative. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! from his," he repeated. "Not from hers. His point of view would + differ from hers—naturally." + </p> + <p> + Barold flashed a little, and took his cigar from his mouth to knock off + the ashes. + </p> + <p> + "A man is not necessarily a snob," he said, "because he is cool enough not + to lose his head where a woman is concerned. You can't marry a woman who + will make mistakes, and attract universal attention by her conduct." + </p> + <p> + "Has it struck you that Octavia Bassett would?" inquired Burmistone. + </p> + <p> + "She would do as she chose," said Barold petulantly. "She would do things + which were unusual; but I was not referring to her in particular. Why + should I?" + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" said Burmistone. "I only thought of her because it did not strike me + that one would ever feel she had exactly blundered. She is not easily + embarrassed. There is a <i>sang-froid</i> about her which carries things + off." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" deigned Barold: "she has <i>sang-froid</i> enough and to spare." + </p> + <p> + He was silent for some time afterward, and sat smoking later than usual. + When he was about to leave the room for the night, he made an announcement + for which his host was not altogether prepared. + </p> + <p> + "When the <i>fête</i> is over, my dear fellow," he said, "I must go back + to London, and I shall be deucedly sorry to do it." + </p> + <p> + "Look here!" said Burmistone, "that's a new idea, isn't it?" + </p> + <p> + "No, an old one; but I have been putting the thing off from day to day. By + Jove! I did not think it likely that I should put it off, the day I landed + here." + </p> + <p> + And he laughed rather uneasily. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0023"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII. — "MAY I GO?" + </h2> + <p> + The very day after this, Octavia opened the fourth trunk. She had had it + brought down from the garret, when there came a summons on the door, and + Lucia Gaston appeared. + </p> + <p> + Lucia was very pale; and her large, soft eyes wore a decidedly frightened + look. She seemed to have walked fast, and was out of breath. Evidently + something had happened. + </p> + <p> + "Octavia," she said, "Mr. Dugald Binnie is at Oldclough." + </p> + <p> + "Who is he?" + </p> + <p> + "He is my grand-uncle," explained Lucia tremulously. "He has a great deal + of money. Grandmamma"—She stopped short, and colored, and drew her + slight figure up. "I do not quite understand grandmamma, Octavia," she + said. "Last night she came to my room to talk to me; and this morning she + came again, and—oh!" she broke out indignantly, "how could she speak + to me in such a manner!" + </p> + <p> + "What did she say?" inquired Octavia. + </p> + <p> + "She said a great many things," with great spirit. "It took her a long + time to say them, and I do not wonder at it. It would have taken me a + hundred years, if I had been in her place. I—I was wrong to say I + did not understand her: I did—before she had finished." + </p> + <p> + "What did you understand?" + </p> + <p> + "She was afraid to tell me in plain words.—I never saw her afraid + before, but she was afraid. She has been arranging my future for me, and + it does not occur to her that I dare object. That is because she knows I + am a coward, and despises me for it—and it is what I deserve. If I + make the marriage she chooses, she thinks Mr. Binnie will leave me his + money. I am to run after a man who does not care for me, and make myself + attractive, in the hope that he will condescend to marry me because Mr. + Binnie may leave me his money. Do you wonder that it took even Lady + Theobald a long time to say that?" + </p> + <p> + "Well," remarked Octavia, "you won't do it, I suppose. I wouldn't worry. + She wants you to marry Mr. Barold, I suppose." + </p> + <p> + Lucia started. + </p> + <p> + "How did you guess?" she exclaimed. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I always knew it. I didn't guess." And she smiled ever so faintly. + "That is one of the reasons why she loathes me so," she added. + </p> + <p> + Lucia thought deeply for a moment: she recognized, all at once, several + things she had been mystified by before. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, it is! It is!" she said. "And she has thought of it all the time, + when I never suspected her." + </p> + <p> + Octavia smiled a little again. Lucia sat thinking, her hands clasped + tightly. + </p> + <p> + "I am glad I came here," she said, at length. "I <i>am</i> angry now, and + I see things more clearly. If she had only thought of it because Mr. + Binnie came, I could have forgiven her more easily; but she has been + making coarse plans all the time, and treating me with contempt. Octavia," + she added, turning upon her, with flushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, "I + think that, for the first time in my life, I am in a passion,—a real + passion. I think I shall never be afraid of her any more." Her delicate + nostrils were dilated, she held her head up, her breath came fast. There + was a hint of exultation in her tone. "Yes," she said, "I am in a passion. + And I am not afraid of her at all. I will go home and tell her what I + think." + </p> + <p> + And it is quite probable that she would have done so, but for a trifling + incident which occurred before she reached her ladyship. + </p> + <p> + She walked very fast, after she left the house. She wanted to reach + Oldclough before one whit of her anger cooled down; though, somehow, she + felt quite sure, that, even when her anger died out, her courage would not + take flight with it. Mr. Dugald Binnie had not proved to be a very + fascinating person. He was an acrid, dictatorial old man: he contradicted + Lady Theobald flatly every five minutes, and bullied his man-servant. But + it was not against him that Lucia's indignation was aroused. She felt that + Lady Theobald was quite capable of suggesting to him that Francis Barold + would be a good match for her; and, if she had done so, it was scarcely + his fault if he had accepted the idea. She understood now why she had been + allowed to visit Octavia, and why divers other things had happened. She + had been sent to walk with Francis Barold; he had been almost reproached + when he had not called; perhaps her ladyship had been good enough to + suggest to him that it was his duty to further her plans. She was as + capable of that as of any thing else which would assist her to gain her + point. The girl's cheeks grew hotter and hotter, her eyes brighter, at + every step, because every step brought some new thought: her hands + trembled, and her heart beat. + </p> + <p> + "I shall never be afraid of her again," she said, as she turned the corner + into the road. "Never! never!" + </p> + <p> + And at that very moment a gentleman stepped out of the wood at her right, + and stopped before her. + </p> + <p> + She started back, with a cry. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Burmistone!" she said: "Mr. Burmistone!" + </p> + <p> + She wondered if he had heard her last words: she fancied he had. He took + hold of her shaking little hand, and looked down at her excited face. + </p> + <p> + "I am glad I waited for you," he said, in the quietest possible tone. + "Something is the matter." + </p> + <p> + She knew there would be no use in trying to conceal the truth, and she was + not in the mood to make the effort. She scarcely knew herself. + </p> + <p> + She gave quite a fierce little laugh. + </p> + <p> + "I am angry!" she said. "You have never seen me angry before. I am on my + way to my—to Lady Theobald." + </p> + <p> + He held her hand as calmly as before. He understood a great deal more than + she could have imagined. + </p> + <p> + "What are you going to say to her?" he asked. She laughed again. + </p> + <p> + "I am going to ask her what she means. I am going to tell her she has made + a mistake. I am going to prove to her that I am not such a coward, after + all. I am going to tell her that I dare disobey her,—<i>that</i> is + what I am going to say to her," she concluded decisively. + </p> + <p> + He held her hand rather closer. + </p> + <p> + "Let us take a stroll in the copse, and talk it over," he said. "It is + deliciously cool there." + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to be cool," she said. But he drew her gently with him; and + a few steps took them into the shade of the young oaks and pines, and + there he paused. + </p> + <p> + "She has made you very angry?" he said. + </p> + <p> + And then, almost before she knew what she was doing, she was pouring forth + the whole of her story, even more of it than she had told Octavia. She had + not at all intended to do it; but she did it, nevertheless. + </p> + <p> + "I am to marry Mr. Francis Barold, if he will take me," she said, with a + bitter little smile,—"Mr. Francis Barold, who is so much in love + with me, as you know. His mother approves of the match, and sent him here + to make love to me, which he has done, as you have seen. I have no money + of my own; but, if I make a marriage which pleases him, Dugald Binnie will + probably leave me his—which it is thought will be an inducement to + my cousin, who needs one. If I marry him, or rather he marries me, Lady + Theobald thinks Mr. Binnie will be pleased. It does not even matter + whether Francis is pleased or not, and of course I am out of the question; + but it is hoped that it will please Mr. Binnie. The two ladies have talked + it over, and decided the matter. I dare say they have offered me to + Francis, who has very likely refused me, though perhaps he may be + persuaded to relent in time,—if I am very humble, and he is shown + the advantage of having Mr. Binnie's money added to his own,—but I + have no doubt I shall have to be very humble indeed. That is what I + learned from Lady Theobald last night, and it is what I am going to talk + to her about. Is it enough to make one angry, do you think? Is it enough?" + </p> + <p> + He did not tell her whether he thought it enough, or not. He looked at her + with steady eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Lucia," he said, "I wish you would let me go and talk with Lady + Theobald." + </p> + <p> + "You?" she said with a little start. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," he answered. "Let me go to her. Let me tell her, that, instead of + marrying Francis Barold, you will marry <i>me</i>. If you will say yes to + that, I think I can promise that you need never be afraid of her any + more." The fierce color died out of her cheeks, and the tears rushed to + her eyes. She raised her face with a pathetic look. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" she whispered, "you must be very sorry for me. I think you have been + sorry for me from the first." + </p> + <p> + "I am desperately in love with you," he answered, in his quietest way. "I + have been desperately in love with you from the first. May I go?" + </p> + <p> + She looked at him for a moment, incredulously. Then she faltered,— + </p> + <p> + "Yes." + </p> + <p> + She still looked up at him; and then, in spite of her happiness, or + perhaps because of it, she suddenly began to cry softly, and forgot she + had been angry at all, as he took her into his strong, kind arms. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0024"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV. — THE GARDEN-PARTY. + </h2> + <p> + The morning of the garden-party arose bright and clear, and Slowbridge + awakened in a great state of excitement. Miss Chickie, having worked until + midnight that all her orders might be completed, was so overpowered by her + labors as to have to take her tea and toast in bed. + </p> + <p> + At Oldclough varied sentiments prevailed. Lady Theobald's manner was + chiefly distinguished by an implacable rigidity. She had chosen, as an + appropriate festal costume, a funereal-black <i>moire antique</i>, + enlivened by massive fringes and ornaments of jet; her jewelry being + chains and manacles of the latter, which rattled as she moved, with a + sound somewhat suggestive of bones. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Dugald Binnie, who had received an invitation, had as yet amiably + forborne to say whether he would accept it, or not. He had been out when + Mr. Burmistone called, and had not seen him. + </p> + <p> + When Lady Theobald descended to breakfast, she found him growling over his + newspaper; and he glanced up at her with a polite scowl. + </p> + <p> + "Going to a funeral?" he demanded. + </p> + <p> + "I accompany my granddaughter to this—this entertainment," her + ladyship responded. "It is scarcely a joyous occasion, to my mind." + </p> + <p> + "No need to dress yourself like that, if it isn't," ejaculated Mr. Binnie. + "Why don't you stay at home, if you don't want to go? Man's all right, + isn't he? Once knew a man by the name of Burmistone, myself. One of the + few decent fellows I've met. If I were sure this was the same man, I'd go + myself. When I find a fellow who's neither knave nor fool, I stick to him. + Believe I'll send to find out. Where's Lucia?" + </p> + <p> + What his opinion of Lucia was, it was difficult to discover. He had an + agreeable habit of staring at her over the top of his paper, and over his + dinner. The only time he had made any comment upon her, was the first time + he saw her in the dress she had copied from Octavia's. "Nice gown that," + he blurted out: "didn't get it here, I'll wager." + </p> + <p> + "It's an old dress I remodelled," answered Lucia somewhat alarmed. "I made + it myself." + </p> + <p> + "Doesn't look like it," he said gruffly. + </p> + <p> + Lucia had touched up another dress, and was very happy in the prospect of + wearing it at the garden-party. + </p> + <p> + "Don't call on grandmamma until after Wednesday," she had said to Mr. + Burmistone: "perhaps she wouldn't let me go. She will be very angry, I am + sure." + </p> + <p> + "And you are not afraid?" + </p> + <p> + "No," she answered: "I am not afraid at all. I shall not be afraid again." + </p> + <p> + In fact, she had perfectly confounded her ladyship by her demeanor. She + bore her fiercest glance without quailing in the least, or making any + effort to evade it: under her most scathing comments she was composed and + unmoved. On the first occasion of my lady's referring to her plans for her + future, she received a blow which fairly stunned her. The girl rose from + her chair, and looked her straight in the face unflinchingly, and with a + suggestion of <i>hauteur</i> not easy to confront. + </p> + <p> + "I beg you will not speak to me of that again," she said: "I will not + listen." And turning about, she walked out of the room. + </p> + <p> + "This," her ladyship had said in sepulchral tones, when she recovered her + breath, "this is one of the results of Miss Octavia Bassett." And nothing + more had been said on the subject since. + </p> + <p> + No one in Slowbridge was in more brilliant spirits than Octavia herself on + the morning of the <i>fête</i>. Before breakfast Miss Belinda was startled + by the arrival of another telegram, which ran as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "Arrived to-day, per 'Russia.' Be with you tomorrow evening. Friend with + me. + </p> + <p> + "MARTIN BASSETT." + </p> + <p> + On reading this communication, Miss Belinda burst into floods of delighted + tears. + </p> + <p> + "Dear, dear Martin," she wept; "to think that we should meet again! <i>Why</i> + didn't he let us know he was on the way? I should have been so anxious + that I should not have slept at all." + </p> + <p> + "Well," remarked Octavia, "I suppose that would have been an advantage." + </p> + <p> + Suddenly she approached Miss Belinda, kissed her, and disappeared out of + the room as if by magic, not returning for a quarter of an hour, looking + rather soft and moist and brilliant about the eyes when she did return. + </p> + <p> + Octavia was a marked figure upon the grounds at that garden-party. + </p> + <p> + "Another dress, my dear," remarked Mrs. Burnham. "And what a charming + color she has, I declare! She is usually paler. Perhaps we owe this to + Lord Lansdowne." + </p> + <p> + "Her dress is becoming, at all events," privately remarked Miss Lydia + Burnham, whose tastes had not been consulted about her own. + </p> + <p> + "It is she who is becoming," said her sister: "it is not the dress so + much, though her clothes always have a <i>look</i>, some way. She's + prettier than ever to-day, and is enjoying herself." + </p> + <p> + She was enjoying herself. Mr. Francis Barold observed it rather gloomily + as he stood apart. She was enjoying herself so much, that she did not seem + to notice that he had avoided her, instead of going up to claim her + attention. Half a dozen men were standing about her, and making themselves + agreeable; and she was apparently quite equal to the emergencies of the + occasion. The young men from Broadoaks had at once attached themselves to + her train. + </p> + <p> + "I say, Barold," they had said to him, "why didn't you tell us about this? + Jolly good fellow you are, to come mooning here for a couple of months, + and keep it all to yourself." + </p> + <p> + And then had come Lord Lansdowne, who, in crossing the lawn to shake hands + with his host, had been observed to keep his eye fixed upon one particular + point. + </p> + <p> + "Burmistone," he said, after having spoken his first words, "who is that + tall girl in white?" + </p> + <p> + And in ten minutes Lady Theobald, Mrs. Burnham, Mr. Barold, and divers + others too numerous to mention, saw him standing at Octavia's side, + evidently with no intention of leaving it. + </p> + <p> + Not long after this Francis Barold found his way to Miss Belinda, who was + very busy and rather nervous. + </p> + <p> + "Your niece is evidently enjoying herself," he remarked. + </p> + <p> + "Octavia is most happy to-day," answered Miss Belinda. "Her father will + reach Slowbridge this evening. She has been looking forward to his coming + with great anxiety." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" commented Barold. + </p> + <p> + "Very few people understand Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "I'm not sure + that I follow all her moods myself. She is more affectionate than people + fancy. She—she has very pretty ways. I am very fond of her. She is + not as frivolous as she appears to those who don't know her well." + </p> + <p> + Barold stood gnawing his mustache, and made no reply. He was not very + comfortable. He felt himself ill-used by Fate, and rather wished he had + returned to London from Broadoaks, instead of loitering in Slowbridge. He + had amused himself at first, but in time he had been surprised to find his + amusement lose something of its zest. He glowered across the lawn at the + group under a certain beech-tree; and, as he did so, Octavia turned her + face a little and saw him. She stood waving her fan slowly, and smiling at + him in a calm way, which reminded him very much of the time he had first + caught sight of her at Lady Theobald's high tea. + </p> + <p> + He condescended to saunter over the grass to where she stood. Once there, + he proceeded to make himself as disagreeable as possible, in a silent and + lofty way. He felt it only due to himself that he should. He did not + approve at all of the manner in which Lansdowne kept by her. + </p> + <p> + "It's deucedly bad form on his part," he said mentally. "What does he mean + by it?" + </p> + <p> + Octavia, on the contrary, did not ask what he meant by it. She chose to + seem rather well entertained, and did not notice that she was being + frowned down. There was no reason why she should not find Lord Lansdowne + entertaining: he was an agreeable young fellow, with an inexhaustible fund + of good spirits, and no nonsense about him. + </p> + <p> + He was fond of all pleasant novelty, and Octavia was a pleasant novelty. + He had been thinking of paying a visit to America; and he asked + innumerable questions concerning that country, all of which Octavia + answered. + </p> + <p> + "I know half a dozen fellows who have been there," he said. "And they all + enjoyed it tremendously." + </p> + <p> + "If you go to Nevada, you must visit the mines at Bloody Gulch," she said. + </p> + <p> + "Where?" he ejaculated. "I say, what a name! Don't deride my youth and + ignorance, Miss Bassett." + </p> + <p> + "You can call it L'Argentville, if you would rather," she replied. + </p> + <p> + "I would rather try the other, thank you," he laughed. "It has a more + hilarious sound. Will they despise me at Bloody Gulch, Miss Bassett? I + never killed a man in my life." + </p> + <p> + Barold turned, and walked away, angry, and more melancholy than he could + have believed. + </p> + <p> + "It is time I went back to London," he chose to put it. "The place begins + to be deucedly dull." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Francis Barold seems rather out of spirits," said Mrs. Burnham to + Lady Theobald. "Lord Lansdowne interferes with his pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "I had not observed it," answered her ladyship. "And it is scarcely likely + that Mr. Francis Barold would permit his pleasure to be interfered with, + even by the son of the Marquis of Lauderdale." + </p> + <p> + But she glared at Barold as he passed, and beckoned to him. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Lucia?" she demanded. + </p> + <p> + "I saw her with Burmistone half an hour ago," he answered coldly. "Have + you any message for my mother? I shall return to London to-morrow, leaving + here early." + </p> + <p> + She turned quite pale. She had not counted upon this at all, and it was + extremely inopportune. + </p> + <p> + "What has happened?" she asked rigidly. + </p> + <p> + He looked slightly surprised. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing whatever," he replied. "I have remained here longer than I + intended." + </p> + <p> + She began to move the manacles on her right wrist. He made not the + smallest profession of reluctance to go. She said, at last, "If you will + find Lucia, you will oblige me." She was almost uncivil to Miss Pilcher, + who chanced to join her after he was gone. She had not the slightest + intention of allowing her plans to be frustrated, and was only roused to + fresh obstinacy by encountering indifference on one side and rebellion on + the other. She had not brought Lucia up under her own eye for nothing. She + had been disturbed of late, but by no means considered herself baffled. + With the assistance of Mr. Dugald Binnie, she could certainly subdue + Lucia, though Mr. Dugald Binnie had been of no great help so far. She + would do her duty unflinchingly. In fact, she chose to persuade herself, + that, if Lucia was brought to a proper frame of mind, there could be no + real trouble with Francis Barold. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0025"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV. — "SOMEBODY ELSE." + </h2> + <p> + But Barold did not make any very ardent search for Lucia. He stopped to + watch a game of lawn-tennis, in which Octavia and Lord Lansdowne had + joined, and finally forgot Lady Theobald's errand altogether. + </p> + <p> + For some time Octavia did not see him. She was playing with great spirit, + and Lord Lansdowne was following her delightedly. + </p> + <p> + Finally a chance of the game bringing her to him, she turned suddenly, and + found Barold's eyes fixed upon her. + </p> + <p> + "How long have you been there?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + "Some time," he answered. "When you are at liberty, I wish to speak to + you." + </p> + <p> + "Do you?" she said. + </p> + <p> + She seemed a little unprepared for the repressed energy of his manner, + which, he strove to cover by a greater amount of coldness than usual. + </p> + <p> + "Well," she said, after thinking a moment, "the game will soon be ended. I + am going through the conservatories with Lord Lansdowne in course of time; + but I dare say he can wait." + </p> + <p> + She went back, and finished her game, apparently enjoying it as much as + ever. When it was over, Barold made his way to her. + </p> + <p> + He had resented her remaining oblivious of his presence when he stood near + her, and he had resented her enjoyment of her surroundings; and now, as he + led her away, leaving Lord Lansdowne rather disconsolate, he resented the + fact that she did not seem nervous, or at all impressed by his silence. + </p> + <p> + "What do you want to say to me?" she asked. "Let us go and sit down in one + of the arbors. I believe I am a little tired—not that I mind it, + though. I've been having a lovely time." + </p> + <p> + Then she began to talk about Lord Lansdowne. + </p> + <p> + "I like him ever so much," she said. "Do you think he will really go to + America? I wish he would; but if he does, I hope it won't be for a year or + so—I mean, until we go back from Europe. Still, it's rather + uncertain when we <i>shall</i> go back. Did I tell you I had persuaded + aunt Belinda to travel with us? She's horribly frightened, but I mean to + make her go. She'll get over being frightened after a little while." + </p> + <p> + Suddenly she turned, and looked at him. + </p> + <p> + "Why don't you say something?" she demanded. "What's the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "It is not necessary for me to say any thing." + </p> + <p> + She laughed. + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean because I am saying every thing myself? Well, I suppose I am. + I am—awfully happy to-day, and can't help talking. It seems to make + the time go." + </p> + <p> + Her face had lighted up curiously. There was a delighted excitement in her + eyes, puzzling him. + </p> + <p> + "Are you so fond of your father as all that?" + </p> + <p> + She laughed again,—a clear, exultant laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she answered, "of course I am as fond of him as all that. It's + quite natural, isn't it?" + </p> + <p> + "I haven't observed the same degree of enthusiasm in all the young ladies + of my acquaintance," he returned dryly. + </p> + <p> + He thought such rapture disproportionate to the cause, and regarded it + grudgingly. + </p> + <p> + They turned into an arbor; and Octavia sat down, and leaned forward on the + rustic table. Then she turned her face up to look at the vines covering + the roof. + </p> + <p> + "It looks rather spidery, doesn't it?" she remarked. "I hope it isn't; + don't you?" + </p> + <p> + The light fell bewitchingly on her round little chin and white throat; and + a bar of sunlight struck on her upturned eyes, and the blonde rings on her + forehead. + </p> + <p> + "There is nothing I hate more than spiders," she said, with a little + shiver, "unless," seriously, "it's caterpillars—and caterpillars I + loathe." + </p> + <p> + Then she lowered her gaze, and gave her hat—a large white Rubens, + all soft, curling feathers and satin bows—a charming tip over her + eyes. + </p> + <p> + "The brim is broad," she said. "If any thing drops, I hope it will drop on + it, instead of on me. Now, what did you want to say?" He had not sat down, + but stood leaning against the rustic wood-work. He looked pale, and was + evidently trying to be cooler than usual. + </p> + <p> + "I brought you here to ask you a question." + </p> + <p> + "Well," she remarked, "I hope it's an important one. You look serious + enough." + </p> + <p> + "It is important,—rather," he responded, with a tone of sarcasm. + "You will probably go away soon?" + </p> + <p> + "That isn't exactly a question," she commented, "and it's not as important + to you as to me." + </p> + <p> + He paused a moment, annoyed because he found it difficult to go on; + annoyed because she waited with such undisturbed serenity. But at length + he managed to begin again. + </p> + <p> + "I do not think you are expecting the question I am going to ask," he + said. "I—do not think I expected to ask it myself,—until + to-day. I do not know why—why I should ask it so awkwardly, and feel—at + such a disadvantage. I brought you here to ask you—to marry me." + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely spoken four words before all her airy manner had taken + flight, and she had settled herself down to listen. He had noticed this, + and had felt it quite natural. When he stopped, she was looking straight + into his face. Her eyes were singularly large and bright and clear. + </p> + <p> + "You did not expect to ask me to marry you?" she said. "Why didn't you?" + </p> + <p> + It was not at all what he had expected. He did not understand her manner + at all. + </p> + <p> + "I—must confess," he said stiffly, "that I felt at first that there + were—obstacles in the way of my doing so." + </p> + <p> + "What were the obstacles?" + </p> + <p> + He flushed, and drew himself up. + </p> + <p> + "I have been unfortunate in my mode of expressing myself," he said. "I + told you I was conscious of my own awkwardness." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," she said quietly: "you have been unfortunate. That is a good way of + putting it." + </p> + <p> + Then she let her eyes rest on the table a few seconds, and thought a + little. + </p> + <p> + "After all," she said, "I have the consolation of knowing that you must + have been very much in love with me. If you had not been very much in love + with me, you would never have asked me to marry you. You would have + considered the obstacles." + </p> + <p> + "I am very much in love with you," he said vehemently, his feelings + getting the better of his pride for once. "However badly I may have + expressed myself, I am very much in love with you. I have been wretched + for days." + </p> + <p> + "Was it because you felt obliged to ask me to marry you?" she inquired. + </p> + <p> + The delicate touch of spirit in her tone and words fired him to fresh + admiration, strange to say. It suggested to him possibilities he had not + suspected hitherto. He drew nearer to her. + </p> + <p> + "Don't be too severe on me," he said—quite humbly, considering all + things. + </p> + <p> + And he stretched out his hand, as if to take hers. + </p> + <p> + But she drew it back, smiling ever so faintly. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think I don't know what the obstacles are?" she said. "I will tell + you." + </p> + <p> + "My affection was strong enough to sweep them away," he said, "or I should + not be here." + </p> + <p> + She smiled slightly again. + </p> + <p> + "I know all about them, as well as you do," she said. "I rather laughed at + them at first, but I don't now. I suppose I'm 'impressed by their + seriousness,' as aunt Belinda says. I suppose they <i>are</i> pretty + serious—to you." + </p> + <p> + "Nothing would be so serious to me as that you should let them interfere + with my happiness," he answered, thrown back upon himself, and bewildered + by her logical manner. "Let us forget them. I was a fool to speak as I + did. Won't you answer my question?" + </p> + <p> + She paused a second, and then answered,— + </p> + <p> + "You didn't expect to ask me to marry you," she said. "And I didn't expect + you to"— + </p> + <p> + "But now"—he broke in impatiently. + </p> + <p> + "Now—I wish you hadn't done it." + </p> + <p> + "You wish"— + </p> + <p> + "You don't want <i>me</i>," she said. "You want somebody meeker,—somebody + who would respect you very much, and obey you. I'm not used to obeying + people." + </p> + <p> + "Do you mean also that you would not respect me?" he inquired bitterly. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," she replied, "you haven't respected me much!" + </p> + <p> + "Excuse me"—he began, in his loftiest manner. + </p> + <p> + "You didn't respect me enough to think me worth marrying," she said. "I + was not the kind of girl you would have chosen of your own will." + </p> + <p> + "You are treating me unfairly!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + "You were going to give me a great deal, I suppose—looking at it in + your way," she went on; "but, if I <i>wasn't</i> exactly what you wanted, + I had something to give too. I'm young enough to have a good many years to + live; and I should have to live them with you, if I married you. That's + something, you know." + </p> + <p> + He rose from his seat pale with wrath and wounded feeling. + </p> + <p> + "Does this mean that you refuse me?" he demanded, "that your answer is + 'no'?" + </p> + <p> + She rose, too—not exultant, not confused, neither pale nor flushed. + He had never seen her prettier, more charming, or more natural. + </p> + <p> + "It would have been 'no,' even if there hadn't been any obstacle," she + answered. + </p> + <p> + "Then," he said, "I need say no more. I see that I have—humiliated + myself in vain; and it is rather bitter, I must confess." + </p> + <p> + "It wasn't my fault," she remarked. + </p> + <p> + He stepped back, with a haughty wave of the hand, signifying that she + should pass out of the arbor before him. + </p> + <p> + She did so; but just as she reached the entrance, she turned, and stood + for a second, framed in by the swinging vines and their blossoms. + </p> + <p> + "There's another reason why it should be 'no,'" she said. "I suppose I may + as well tell you of it. I'm engaged to somebody else." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="2HCH0026"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI. — "JACK." + </h2> + <p> + The first person they saw, when they reached the lawn, was Mr. Dugald + Binnie, who had deigned to present himself, and was talking to Mr. + Burmistone, Lucia, and Miss Belinda. + </p> + <p> + "I'll go to them," said Octavia. "Aunt Belinda will wonder where I have + been." + </p> + <p> + But, before they reached the group, they were intercepted by Lord + Lansdowne; and Barold had the pleasure of surrendering his charge, and + watching her, with some rather sharp pangs, as she was borne off to the + conservatories. + </p> + <p> + "What is the matter with Mr. Barold?" exclaimed Miss Pilcher. "Pray look + at him." + </p> + <p> + "He has been talking to Miss Octavia Bassett, in one of the arbors," put + in Miss Lydia Burnham. "Emily and I passed them a few minutes ago, and + they were so absorbed that they did not see us. There is no knowing what + has happened." + </p> + <p> + "Lydia!" exclaimed Mrs. Burnham, in stern reproof of such flippancy. + </p> + <p> + But, the next moment, she exchanged a glance with Miss Pilcher. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think"—she suggested. "Is it possible"— + </p> + <p> + "It really looks very like it," said Miss Pilcher; "though it is scarcely + to be credited. See how pale and angry he looks." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Burnham glanced toward him, and then a slight smile illuminated her + countenance. + </p> + <p> + "How furious," she remarked cheerfully, "how furious Lady Theobald will + be!" + </p> + <p> + Naturally, it was not very long before the attention of numerous other + ladies was directed to Mr. Francis Barold. It was observed that he took no + share in the festivities, that he did not regain his natural air of + enviable indifference to his surroundings,—that he did not approach + Octavia Bassett until all was over, and she was on the point of going + home. What he said to her then, no one heard. + </p> + <p> + "I am going to London to-morrow. Good-by." + </p> + <p> + "Good-by," she answered, holding out her hand to him. Then she added + quickly, in an under-tone, "You oughtn't to think badly of me. You won't, + after a while." + </p> + <p> + As they drove homeward, she was rather silent, and Miss Belinda remarked + it. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid you are tired, Octavia," she said. "It is a pity that Martin + should come, and find you tired." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I'm not tired. I was only—thinking. It has been a queer day." + </p> + <p> + "A queer day, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda. "I thought it a charming + day." + </p> + <p> + "So it has been," said Octavia, which Miss Belinda thought rather + inconsistent. + </p> + <p> + Both of them grew rather restless as they neared the house. + </p> + <p> + "To think," said Miss Belinda, "of my seeing poor Martin again!" + </p> + <p> + "Suppose," said Octavia nervously, as they drew up, "suppose they are here—already." + </p> + <p> + "They?" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Who"—but she got no farther. A cry + burst from Octavia,—a queer, soft little cry. "They are here," she + said: "they are! Jack—Jack!" + </p> + <p> + And she was out of the carriage; and Miss Belinda, following her closely, + was horrified to see her caught at once in the embrace of a tall, bronzed + young man, who, a moment after, drew her into the little parlor, and shut + the door. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Martin Bassett, who was big and sunburned, and prosperous-looking, + stood in the passage, smiling triumphantly. + </p> + <p> + "M—M—Martin!" gasped Miss Belinda. "What—oh, what does + this mean?" + </p> + <p> + Martin Bassett led her to a seat, and smiled more triumphantly still. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind, Belinda," he said. "Don't be frightened. It's Jack Belasys, + and he's the finest fellow in the West. And she hasn't seen him for two + years." + </p> + <p> + "Martin," Miss Belinda fluttered, "it is not proper—it really + isn't." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it is," answered Mr. Bassett; "for he's going to marry her before we + go abroad." + </p> + <p> + It was an eventful day for all parties concerned. At its close Lady + Theobald found herself in an utterly bewildered and thunderstruck + condition. And to Mr. Dugald Binnie, more than to any one else, her + demoralization was due. That gentleman got into the carriage, in rather a + better humor than usual. + </p> + <p> + "Same man I used to know," he remarked. "Glad to see him. I knew him as + soon as I set eyes on him." + </p> + <p> + "Do you allude to Mr. Burmistone?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. Had a long talk with him. He's coming to see you to-morrow. Told him + he might come, myself. Appears he's taken a fancy to Lucia. Wants to talk + it over. Suits me exactly, and suppose it suits her. Looks as if it does. + Glad she hasn't taken a fancy to some haw-haw fellow, like that fool + Barold. Girls generally do. Burmistone's worth ten of him." + </p> + <p> + Lucia, who had been looking steadily out of the carriage-window, turned, + with an amazed expression. Lady Theobald had received a shock which made + all her manacles rattle. She could scarcely support herself under it. + </p> + <p> + "Do I"—she said. "Am I to understand that Mr. Francis Barold does + not meet with your approval?" Mr. Binnie struck his stick sharply upon the + floor of the carriage. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, by George!" he said. "I'll have nothing to do with chaps like that. + If she'd taken up with him, she'd never have heard from <i>me</i> again. + Make sure of that." + </p> + <p> + When they reached Oldclough, her ladyship followed Lucia to her room. She + stood before her, arranging the manacles on her wrists nervously. + </p> + <p> + "I begin to understand now," she said. "I find I was mistaken in my + impressions of Mr. Dugald Binnie's tastes—and in my impressions of + <i>you</i>. You are to marry Mr. Burmistone. My rule is over. Permit me to + congratulate you." + </p> + <p> + The tears rose to Lucia's eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Grandmamma," she said, her voice soft and broken, "I think I should have + been more frank, if—if you had been kinder sometimes." + </p> + <p> + "I have done my duty by you," said my lady. + </p> + <p> + Lucia looked at her pathetically. + </p> + <p> + "I have been ashamed to keep things from you," she hesitated. "And I have + often told myself that—that it was sly to do it—but I could + not help it." + </p> + <p> + "I trust," said my lady, "that you will be more candid with Mr. + Burmistone." + </p> + <p> + Lucia blushed guiltily. + </p> + <p> + "I—think I shall, grandmamma," she said. + </p> + <p> + It was the Rev. Alfred Poppleton who assisted the rector of St. James to + marry Jack Belasys and Octavia Bassett; and it was observed that he was + almost as pale as his surplice. + </p> + <p> + Slowbridge had never seen such a wedding, or such a bride as Octavia. It + was even admitted that Jack Belasys was a singularly handsome fellow, and + had a dashing, adventurous air, which carried all before it. There was a + rumor that he owned silver-mines himself, and had even done something in + diamonds, in Brazil, where he had spent the last two years. At all events, + it was ascertained beyond doubt, that, being at last a married woman, and + entitled to splendors of the kind, Octavia would not lack them. Her + present to Lucia, who was one of her bridesmaids, dazzled all beholders. + When she was borne away by the train, with her father and husband, and + Miss Belinda, whose bonnet-strings were bedewed with tears, the Rev. + Alfred Poppleton was the last man who shook hands with her. He held in his + hand a large bouquet, which Octavia herself had given him out of her + abundance. "Slowbridge will miss you, Miss—Mrs. Belasys," he + faltered. "I—I shall miss you. Perhaps we—may even meet again. + I have thought that, perhaps, I should like to go to America." + </p> + <p> + And, as the train puffed out of the station and disappeared, he stood + motionless for several seconds; and a large and brilliant drop of moisture + appeared on the calyx of the lily which formed the centre-piece of his + bouquet. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Fair Barbarian, by Francis Hodgson Burnett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + +***** This file should be named 9487-h.htm or 9487-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9487/ + +Etext produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + +HTML file produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Fair Barbarian + +Author: Francis Hodgson Burnett + +Posting Date: August 31, 2012 [EBook #9487] +Release Date: December, 2005 +First Posted: October 5, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + + A FAIR BARBARIAN + + BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT + + 1881 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT + + II. "AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY" + + III. L'ARGENTVILLE + + IV. LADY THEOBALD + + V. LUCIA + + VI. ACCIDENTAL + + VII. "I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE" + + VIII. SHARES LOOKING UP + + IX. WHITE MUSLIN + + X. ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD + + XI. A SLIGHT INDISCRETION + + XII. AN INVITATION + + XIII. INTENTIONS + + XIV. A CLERICAL VISIT + + XV. SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES + + XVI. CROQUET + + XVII. ADVANTAGES + + XVIII. CONTRAST + + XIX. AN EXPERIMENT + + XX. PECULIAR TO NEVADA + + XXI. LORD LANSDOWNE + + XXII. "YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER" + + XXIII. "MAY I GO?" + + XXIV. THE GARDEN PARTY + + XXV. "SOMEBODY ELSE" + + XXVI. "JACK" + + + + +A FAIR BARBARIAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT. + + +Slowbridge had been shaken to its foundations. + +It may as well be explained, however, at the outset, that it would not +take much of a sensation to give Slowbridge a great shock. In the first +place, Slowbridge was not used to sensations, and was used to going on +the even and respectable tenor of its way, regarding the outside world +with private distrust, if not with open disfavor. The new mills had been +a trial to Slowbridge,--a sore trial. On being told of the owners' plan +of building them, old Lady Theobald, who was the corner-stone of the +social edifice of Slowbridge, was said, by a spectator, to have turned +deathly pale with rage; and, on the first day of their being opened in +working order, she had taken to her bed, and remained shut up in her +darkened room for a week, refusing to see anybody, and even going so far +as to send a scathing message to the curate of St. James, who called in +fear and trembling, because he was afraid to stay away. + +"With mills and mill-hands," her ladyship announced to Mr. Laurence, the +mill-owner, when chance first threw them together, "with mills and +mill-hands come murder, massacre, and mob law." And she said it so loud, +and with so stern an air of conviction, that the two Misses Briarton, who +were of a timorous and fearful nature, dropped their buttered muffins (it +was at one of the tea-parties which were Slowbridge's only dissipation), +and shuddered hysterically, feeling that their fate was sealed, and that +they might, any night, find three masculine mill-hands secreted under +their beds, with bludgeons. But as no massacres took place, and the +mill-hands were pretty regular in their habits, and even went so far as +to send their children to Lady Theobald's free school, and accepted the +tracts left weekly at their doors, whether they could read or not, +Slowbridge gradually recovered from the shock of finding itself forced to +exist in close proximity to mills, and was just settling itself to +sleep--the sleep of the just--again, when, as I have said, it was shaken +to its foundations. + +It was Miss Belinda Bassett who received the first shock. Miss Belinda +Bassett was a decorous little maiden lady, who lived in a decorous little +house on High Street (which was considered a very genteel street in +Slowbridge). She had lived in the same house all her life, her father had +lived in it, and so also had her grandfather. She had gone out, to take +tea, from its doors two or three times a week, ever since she had been +twenty; and she had had her little tea-parties in its front parlor as +often as any other genteel Slowbridge entertainer. She had risen at +seven, breakfasted at eight, dined at two, taken tea at five, and gone to +bed at ten, with such regularity for fifty years, that to rise at eight, +breakfast at nine, dine at three, and take tea at six, and go to bed at +eleven, would, she was firmly convinced, be but "to fly in the face of +Providence," as she put it, and sign her own death-warrant. Consequently, +it is easy to imagine what a tremor and excitement seized her when, one +afternoon, as she sat waiting for her tea, a coach from the Blue Lion +dashed--or, at least, _almost_ dashed--up to the front door, a young lady +got out, and the next minute the handmaiden, Mary Anne, threw open the +door of the parlor, announcing, without the least preface,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker." + +Miss Belinda got up, feeling that her knees really trembled beneath her. + +In Slowbridge, America was not approved of--in fact, was almost entirely +ignored, as a country where, to quote Lady Theobald, "the laws were +loose, and the prevailing sentiments revolutionary." It was not +considered good taste to know Americans,--which was not unfortunate, as +there were none to know; and Miss Belinda Bassett had always felt a +delicacy in mentioning her only brother, who had emigrated to the United +States in his youth, having first disgraced himself by the utterance of +the blasphemous remark that "he wanted to get to a place where a fellow +could stretch himself, and not be bullied by a lot of old tabbies." From +the day of his departure, when he had left Miss Belinda bathed in tears +of anguish, she had heard nothing of him; and here upon the threshold +stood Mary Anne, with delighted eagerness in her countenance, +repeating,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker!" + +And, with the words, her niece entered. + +Miss Belinda put her hand to her heart. + +The young lady thus announced was the prettiest, and at the same time the +most extraordinary-looking, young lady she had ever seen in her life. +Slowbridge contained nothing approaching this niece. Her dress was so +very stylish that it was quite startling in its effect; her forehead was +covered down to her large, pretty eyes themselves, with curls of +yellow-brown hair; and her slender throat was swathed round and round +with a grand scarf of black lace. + +She made a step forward, and then stopped, looking at Miss Belinda. Her +eyes suddenly, to Miss Belinda's amazement, filled with tears. + +"Didn't you," she said,--"oh, dear! _Didn't_ you get the letter?" + +"The--the letter!" faltered Miss Belinda. "What letter, my--my dear?" + +"Pa's," was the answer. "Oh! I see you didn't." + +And she sank into the nearest chair, putting her hands up to her face, +and beginning to cry outright. + +"I--am Octavia B-bassett," she said. "We were coming to surp-prise you, +and travel in Europe; but the mines went wrong, and p-pa was obliged to +go back to Nevada." + +"The mines?" gasped Miss Belinda. + +"S-silver-mines," wept Octavia. "And we had scarcely landed when Piper +cabled, and pa had to turn back. It was something about shares, and he +may have lost his last dollar." + +Miss Belinda sank into a chair herself. + +"Mary Anne," she said faintly, "bring me a glass of water." + +Her tone was such that Octavia removed her handkerchief from her eyes, +and sat up to examine her. + +"Are you frightened?" she asked, in some alarm. + +Miss Belinda took a sip of the water brought by her handmaiden, replaced +the glass upon the salver, and shook her head deprecatingly. + +"Not exactly frightened, my dear," she said, "but so amazed that I find +it difficult to--to collect myself." + +Octavia put up her handkerchief again to wipe away a sudden new gush of +tears. + +"If shares intended to go down," she said, "I don't see why they couldn't +go down before we started, instead of waiting until we got over here, and +then spoiling every thing." + +"Providence, my dear"--began Miss Belinda. + +But she was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mary Anne. + +"The man from the Lion, mum, wants to know what's to be done with the +trunks. There's six of 'em, an' they're all that 'eavy as he says he +wouldn't lift one alone for ten shilling." + +"Six!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Whose are they?" + +"Mine," replied Octavia. "Wait a minute. I'll go out to him." + +Miss Belinda was astounded afresh by the alacrity with which her niece +seemed to forget her troubles, and rise to the occasion. The girl ran to +the front door as if she was quite used to directing her own affairs, and +began to issue her orders. + +"You will have to get another man," she said. "You might have known that. +Go and get one somewhere." + +And when the man went off, grumbling a little, and evidently rather at a +loss before such peremptory coolness, she turned to Miss Belinda. + +"Where must he put them?" she asked. + +It did not seem to have occurred to her once that her identity might be +doubted, and some slight obstacles arise before her. + +"I am afraid," faltered Miss Belinda, "that five of them will have to be +put in the attic." + +And in fifteen minutes five of them _were_ put into the attic, and the +sixth--the biggest of all--stood in the trim little spare chamber, and +pretty Miss Octavia had sunk into a puffy little chintz-covered +easy-chair, while her newly found relative stood before her, making the +most laudable efforts to recover her equilibrium, and not to feel as if +her head were spinning round and round. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +"AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY." + + +The natural result of these efforts was, that Miss Belinda was moved to +shed a few tears. + +"I hope you will excuse my being too startled to say I was glad to see +you," she said. "I have not seen my brother for thirty years, and I was +very fond of him." + +"He said you were," answered Octavia; "and he was very fond of you too. +He didn't write to you, because he made up his mind not to let you hear +from him until he was a rich man; and then he thought he would wait until +he could come home, and surprise you. He was awfully disappointed when he +had to go back without seeing you." + +"Poor, dear Martin!" wept Miss Belinda gently. "Such a journey!" + +Octavia opened her charming eyes in surprise. + +"Oh, he'll come back again!" she said. "And he doesn't mind the journey. +The journey is nothing, you know." + +"Nothing!" echoed Miss Belinda. "A voyage across the Atlantic nothing? +When one thinks of the danger, my dear"-- + +Octavia's eyes opened a shade wider. + +"We have made the trip to the States, across the Isthmus, twelve times, +and that takes a month," she remarked. "So we don't think ten days much." + +"Twelve times!" said Miss Belinda, quite appalled. "Dear, dear, dear!" + +And for some moments she could do nothing but look at her young relative +in doubtful wonder, shaking her head with actual sadness. + +But she finally recovered herself, with a little start. + +"What am I thinking of," she exclaimed remorsefully, "to let you sit here +in this way? Pray excuse me, my dear. You see I am so upset." + +She left her chair in a great hurry, and proceeded to embrace her young +guest tenderly, though with a little timorousness. The young lady +submitted to the caress with much composure. + +"Did I upset you?" she inquired calmly. + +The fact was, that she could not see why the simple advent of a relative +from Nevada should seem to have the effect of an earthquake, and result +in tremor, confusion, and tears. It was true, she herself had shed a tear +or so, but then her troubles had been accumulating for several days; and +she had not felt confused yet. + +When Miss Belinda went down-stairs to superintend Mary Anne in the +tea-making, and left her guest alone, that young person glanced about her +with a rather dubious expression. + +"It is a queer, nice little place," she said. "But I don't wonder that pa +emigrated, if they always get into such a flurry about little things. I +might have been a ghost." + +Then she proceeded to unlock the big trunk, and attire herself. + +Down-stairs, Miss Belinda was wavering between the kitchen and the +parlor, in a kindly flutter. + +"Toast some muffins, Mary Anne, and bring in the cold roast fowl," she +said. "And I will put out some strawberry-jam, and some of the preserved +ginger. Dear me! Just to think how fond of preserved ginger poor Martin +was, and how little of it he was allowed to eat! There really seems a +special Providence in my having such a nice stock of it in the house when +his daughter comes home." + +In the course of half an hour every thing was in readiness; and then Mary +Anne, who had been sent up-stairs to announce the fact, came down in a +most remarkable state of delighted agitation, suppressed ecstasy and +amazement exclaiming aloud in every feature. + +"She's dressed, mum," she announced, "an' 'll be down immediate," and +retired to a shadowy corner of the kitchen passage, that she might lie in +wait unobserved. + +Miss Belinda, sitting behind the tea-service, heard a soft, flowing, +silken rustle sweeping down the staircase, and across the hall, and then +her niece entered. + +"Don't you think I've dressed pretty quick?" she said, and swept across +the little parlor, and sat down in her place, with the calmest and most +unconscious air in the world. + +There was in Slowbridge but one dressmaking establishment. The head of +the establishment--Miss Letitia Chickie--designed the costumes of every +woman in Slowbridge, from Lady Theobald down. There were legends that she +received her patterns from London, and modified them to suit the +Slowbridge taste. Possibly this was true; but in that case her labors as +modifier must have been severe indeed, since they were so far modified as +to be altogether unrecognizable when they left Miss Chickie's +establishment, and were borne home in triumph to the houses of her +patrons. The taste of Slowbridge was quiet,--upon this Slowbridge prided +itself especially,--and, at the same time, tended toward economy. When +gores came into fashion, Slowbridge clung firmly, and with some pride, to +substantial breadths, which did not cut good silk into useless strips +which could not be utilized in after-time; and it was only when, after a +visit to London, Lady Theobald walked into St. James's one Sunday with +two gores on each side, that Miss Chickie regretfully put scissors into +her first breadth. Each matronly member of good society possessed a +substantial silk gown of some sober color, which gown, having done duty +at two years' tea-parties, descended to the grade of "second-best," and +so descended, year by year, until it disappeared into the dim distance of +the past. The young ladies had their white muslins and natural flowers; +which latter decorations invariably collapsed in the course of the +evening, and were worn during the latter half of any festive occasion in +a flabby and hopeless condition. Miss Chickie made the muslins, +festooning and adorning them after designs emanating from her fertile +imagination. If they were a little short in the body, and not very +generously proportioned in the matter of train, there was no rival +establishment to sneer, and Miss Chickie had it all her own way; and, at +least, it could never be said that Slowbridge was vulgar or overdressed. + +Judge, then, of Miss Belinda Bassett's condition of mind when her fair +relative took her seat before her. + +What the material of her niece's dress was, Miss Belinda could not have +told. It was a silken and soft fabric of a pale blue color; it clung to +the slender, lissome young figure like a glove; a fan-like train of great +length almost covered the hearth-rug; there were plaitings and frillings +all over it, and yards of delicate satin ribbon cut into loops in the +most recklessly extravagant manner. + +Miss Belinda saw all this at the first glance, as Mary Anne had seen it, +and, like Mary Anne, lost her breath; but, on her second glance, she saw +something more. On the pretty, slight hands were three wonderful, +sparkling rings, composed of diamonds set in clusters: there were great +solitaires in the neat little ears, and the thickly-plaited lace at the +throat was fastened by a diamond clasp. + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, clutching helplessly at the teapot, "are +you--surely it is a--a little dangerous to wear such--such priceless +ornaments on ordinary occasions." + +Octavia stared at her for a moment uncomprehendingly. + +"Your jewels, I mean, my love," fluttered Miss Belinda. "Surely you don't +wear them often. I declare, it quite frightens me to think of having such +things in the house." + +"Does it?" said Octavia. "That's queer." + +And she looked puzzled for a moment again. + +Then she glanced down at her rings. + +"I nearly always wear these," she remarked. "Father gave them to me. He +gave me one each birthday for three years. He says diamonds are an +investment, anyway, and I might as well have them. These," touching the +ear-rings and clasp, "were given to my mother when she was on the stage. +A lot of people clubbed together, and bought them for her. She was a +great favorite." + +Miss Belinda made another clutch at the handle of the teapot. + +"Your mother!" she exclaimed faintly. "On the--did you say, on the"-- + +"Stage," answered Octavia. "San Francisco. Father married her there. She +was awfully pretty. I don't remember her. She died when I was born. She +was only nineteen." + +The utter calmness, and freedom from embarrassment, with which these +announcements were made, almost shook Miss Belinda's faith in her own +identity. Strange to say, until this moment she had scarcely given a +thought to her brother's wife; and to find herself sitting in her own +genteel little parlor, behind her own tea-service, with her hand upon her +own teapot, hearing that this wife had been a young person who had been +"a great favorite" upon the stage, in a region peopled, as she had been +led to suppose, by gold-diggers and escaped convicts, was almost too much +for her to support herself under. But she did support herself bravely, +when she had time to rally. + +"Help yourself to some fowl, my dear," she said hospitably, even though +very faintly indeed, "and take a muffin." + +Octavia did so, her over-splendid hands flashing in the light as she +moved them. + +"American girls always have more things than English girls," she +observed, with admirable coolness. "They dress more. I have been told so +by girls who have been in Europe. And I have more things than most +American girls. Father had more money than most people; that was one +reason; and he spoiled me, I suppose. He had no one else to give things +to, and he said I should have every thing I took a fancy to. He often +laughed at me for buying things, but he never said I shouldn't buy them." + +"He was always generous," sighed Miss Belinda. "Poor, dear Martin!" + +Octavia scarcely entered into the spirit of this mournful sympathy. She +was fond of her father, but her recollections of him were not pathetic or +sentimental. + +"He took me with him wherever he went," she proceeded. "And we had a +teacher from the States, who travelled with us sometimes. He never sent +me away from him. I wouldn't have gone if he had wanted to send me--and +he didn't want to," she added, with a satisfied little laugh. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +L'ARGENTVILLE. + + +Miss Belinda sat, looking at her niece, with a sense of being at once +stunned and fascinated. To see a creature so young, so pretty, so +luxuriously splendid, and at the same time so simply and completely at +ease with herself and her surroundings, was a revelation quite beyond her +comprehension. The best-bred and nicest girls Slowbridge could produce +were apt to look a trifle conscious and timid when they found themselves +attired in the white muslin and floral decorations; but this slender +creature sat in her gorgeous attire, her train flowing over the modest +carpet, her rings flashing, her ear-pendants twinkling, apparently +entirely oblivious of, or indifferent to, the fact that all her +belongings were sufficiently out of place to be startling beyond measure. + +Her chief characteristic, however, seemed to be her excessive frankness. +She did not hesitate at all to make the most remarkable statements +concerning her own and her father's past career. She made them, too, as +if there was nothing unusual about them. Twice, in her childhood, a +luckless speculation had left her father penniless; and once he had taken +her to a Californian gold-diggers' camp, where she had been the only +female member of the somewhat reckless community. + +"But they were pretty good-natured, and made a pet of me," she said; +"and we did not stay very long. Father had a stroke of luck, and we +went away. I was sorry when we had to go, and so were the men. They made +me a present of a set of jewelry made out of the gold they had got +themselves. There is a breastpin like a breastplate, and a necklace like +a dog-collar: the bracelets tire my arms, and the ear-rings pull my ears; +but I wear them sometimes--gold girdle and all." + +"Did I," inquired Miss Belinda timidly, "did I understand you to say, my +dear, that your father's business was in some way connected with +silver-mining?" + +"It _is_ silver-mining," was the response. "He owns some mines, you +know"-- + +"Owns?" said Miss Belinda, much fluttered; "owns some silver-mines? He +must be a very rich man,--a very rich man. I declare, it quite takes my +breath away." + +"Oh! he is rich," said Octavia; "awfully rich sometimes. And then again +he isn't. Shares go up, you know; and then they go down, and you don't +seem to have any thing. But father generally comes out right, because he +is lucky, and knows how to manage." + +"But--but how uncertain!" gasped Miss Belinda: "I should be perfectly +miserable. Poor, dear Mar"-- + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't!" said Octavia: "you'd get used to it, and wouldn't +mind much, particularly if you were lucky as father is. There is every +thing in being lucky, and knowing how to manage. When we first went to +Bloody Gulch"-- + +"My dear!" cried Miss Belinda, aghast. "I--I beg of you"-- + +Octavia stopped short: she gazed at Miss Belinda in bewilderment, as she +had done several times before. + +"Is any thing the matter?" she inquired placidly. + +"My dear love," explained Miss Belinda innocently, determined at least to +do her duty, "it is not customary in--in Slowbridge,--in fact, I think I +may say in England,--to use such--such exceedingly--I don't want to wound +your feelings, my dear,--but such exceedingly strong expressions! I +refer, my dear, to the one which began with a B. It is really considered +profane, as well as dreadful beyond measure." + +"'The one which began with a B,'" repeated Octavia, still staring at her. +"That is the name of a place; but I didn't name it, you know. It was +called that, in the first place, because a party of men were surprised +and murdered there, while they were asleep in their camp at night. It +isn't a very nice name, of course, but I'm not responsible for it; and +besides, now the place is growing, they are going to call it Athens or +Magnolia Vale. They tried L'Argentville for a while; but people would +call it Lodginville, and nobody liked it." + +"I trust you never lived there," said Miss Belinda. "I beg your pardon +for being so horrified, but I really could not refrain from starting when +you spoke; and I cannot help hoping you never lived there." + +"I live there now, when I am at home," Octavia replied. "The mines are +there; and father has built a house, and had the furniture brought on +from New York." + +Miss Belinda tried not to shudder, but almost failed. + +"Won't you take another muffin, my love?" she said, with a sigh. "Do take +another muffin." + +"No, thank you," answered Octavia; and it must be confessed that she +looked a little bored, as she leaned back in her chair, and glanced down +at the train of her dress. It seemed to her that her simplest statement +or remark created a sensation. + +Having at last risen from the tea-table, she wandered to the window, and +stood there, looking out at Miss Belinda's flower-garden. It was quite a +pretty flower-garden, and a good-sized one considering the dimensions of +the house. There were an oval grass-plot, divers gravel paths, heart and +diamond shaped beds aglow with brilliant annuals, a great many +rose-bushes, several laburnums and lilacs, and a trim hedge of holly +surrounding it. + +"I think I should like to go out and walk around there," remarked +Octavia, smothering a little yawn behind her hand. "Suppose we go--if you +don't care." + +"Certainly, my dear," assented Miss Belinda. "But perhaps," with a +delicately dubious glance at her attire, "you would like to make some +little alteration in your dress--to put something a little--dark over +it." + +Octavia glanced down also. + +"Oh, no!" she replied: "it will do well enough. I will throw a scarf over +my head, though; not because I need it," unblushingly, "but because I +have a lace one that is very becoming." + +She went up to her room for the article in question, and in three minutes +was down again. When she first caught sight of her, Miss Belinda found +herself obliged to clear her throat quite suddenly. What Slowbridge would +think of seeing such a toilet in her front garden, upon an ordinary +occasion, she could not imagine. The scarf truly was becoming. It was a +long affair of rich white lace, and was thrown over the girl's head, +wound around her throat, and the ends tossed over her shoulders, with the +most picturesque air of carelessness in the world. + +"You look quite like a bride, my dear Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "We +are scarcely used to such things in Slowbridge." + +But Octavia only laughed a little. + +"I am going to get some pink roses, and fasten the ends with them, when +we get into the garden," she said. + +She stopped for this purpose at the first rose-bush they reached. She +gathered half a dozen slender-stemmed, heavy-headed buds, and, having +fastened the lace with some, was carelessly placing the rest at her +waist, when Miss Belinda started violently. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LADY THEOBALD. + + +"Oh, dear!" she exclaimed nervously, "there is Lady Theobald." + +Lady Theobald, having been making calls of state, was returning home +rather later than usual, when, in driving up High Street, her eye fell +upon Miss Bassett's garden. She put up her eyeglasses, and gazed through +them severely; then she issued a mandate to her coachman. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive more slowly." + +She could not believe the evidence of her own eyeglasses. In Miss +Bassett's garden she saw a tall girl, "dressed," as she put it, "like an +actress," her delicate dress trailing upon the grass, a white lace scarf +about her head and shoulders, roses in that scarf, roses at her waist. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed: "is Belinda Bassett giving a party, +without so much as mentioning it to _me_?" + +Then she issued another mandate. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive faster, and drive me to Miss Bassett's." + +Miss Belinda came out to the gate to meet her, quaking inwardly. Octavia +simply turned slightly where she stood, and looked at her ladyship, +without any pretence of concealing her curiosity. + +Lady Theobald bent forward in her landau. + +"Belinda," she said, "how do you do? I did not know you intended to +introduce garden-parties into Slowbridge." + +"Dear Lady Theobald"--began Miss Belinda. + +"Who is that young person?" demanded her ladyship. + +"She is poor dear Martin's daughter," answered Miss Belinda. "She arrived +to-day--from Nevada, where--where it appears Martin has been very +fortunate, and owns a great many silver-mines"-- + +"A 'great many' silver-mines!" cried Lady Theobald. "Are you mad, Belinda +Bassett? I am ashamed of you. At your time of life too!" + +Miss Belinda almost shed tears. + +"She said 'some silver-mines,' I am sure," she faltered; "for I remember +how astonished and bewildered I was. The fact is, that she is such a very +singular girl, and has told me so many wonderful things, in the +strangest, cool way, that I am quite uncertain of myself. Murderers, and +gold-diggers, and silver-mines, and camps full of men without women, +making presents of gold girdles and dog-collars, and ear-rings that drag +your ears down. It is enough to upset any one." + +"I should think so," responded her ladyship. "Open the carriage-door, +Belinda, and let me get out." + +She felt that this matter must be inquired into at once, and not allowed +to go too far. She had ruled Slowbridge too long to allow such +innovations to remain uninvestigated. She would not be likely to be +"upset," at least. She descended from her landau, with her most rigorous +air. Her stout, rich black _moire-antique_ gown rustled severely; the +yellow ostrich feather in her bonnet waved majestically. (Being a +brunette, and Lady Theobald, she wore yellow.) As she tramped up the +gravel walk, she held up her dress with both hands, as an example to +vulgar and reckless young people who wore trains and left them to +take care of themselves. Octavia was arranging afresh the bunch of +long-stemmed, swaying buds at her waist, and she was giving all her +attention to her task when her visitor first addressed her. + +"How do you do?" remarked her ladyship, in a fine, deep voice. + +Miss Belinda followed her meekly. + +"Octavia," she explained, "this is Lady Theobald, whom you will be very +glad to know. She knew your father." + +"Yes," returned my lady, "years ago. He has had time to improve since +then. How do you do?" + +Octavia's limpid eyes rested serenely upon her. + +"How do you do?" she said, rather indifferently. + +"You are from Nevada?" asked Lady Theobald. + +"Yes." + +"It is not long since you left there?" + +Octavia smiled faintly. + +"Do I look like that?" she inquired. + +"Like what?" said my lady. + +"As if I had not long lived in a civilized place. I dare say I do, +because it is true that I haven't." + +"You don't look like an English girl," remarked her ladyship. + +Octavia smiled again. She looked at the yellow feather and stout _moire +antique_ dress, but quite as if by accident, and without any mental +deduction; then she glanced at the rosebuds in her hand. + +"I suppose I ought to be sorry for that," she observed. "I dare say I +shall be in time--when I have been longer away from Nevada." + +"I must confess," admitted her ladyship, and evidently without the +least regret or embarrassment, "I must confess that I don't know where +Nevada is." + +"It isn't in Europe," replied Octavia, with a soft, light laugh. "You +know that, don't you?" + +The words themselves sounded to Lady Theobald like the most outrageous +impudence; but when she looked at the pretty, lovelock-shaded face, she +was staggered the look it wore was such a very innocent and undisturbed +one. At the moment, the only solution to be reached seemed to be that +this was the style of young people in Nevada, and that it was ignorance +and not insolence she had to do battle with--which, indeed, was +partially true. + +"I have not had any occasion to inquire where it is situated, so far," +she responded firmly. "It is not so necessary for English people to know +America as it is for Americans to know England." + +"Isn't it?" said Octavia, without any great show of interest. "Why not?" + +"For--for a great many reasons it would be fatiguing to explain," she +answered courageously. "How is your father?" + +"He is very sea-sick now," was the smiling answer,--"deadly sea-sick. He +has been out just twenty-four hours." + +"Out? What does that mean?" + +"Out on the Atlantic. He was called back suddenly, and obliged to leave +me. That is why I came here alone." + +"Pray do come into the parlor, and sit down, dear Lady Theobald," +ventured Miss Belinda. "Octavia"-- + +"Don't you think it is nicer out here?" said Octavia. + +"My dear," answered Miss Belinda. "Lady Theobald"--She was really quite +shocked. + +"Ah!" interposed Octavia. "I only thought it was cooler." + +She preceded them, without seeming to be at all conscious that she was +taking the lead. + +"You had better pick up your dress, Miss Octavia," said Lady Theobald +rather acidly. + +The girl glanced over her shoulder at the length of train sweeping the +path, but she made no movement toward picking it up. + +"It is too much trouble, and one has to duck down so," she said. "It is +bad enough to have to keep doing it when one is on the street. Besides, +they would never wear out if one took too much care of them." + +When they went into the parlor, and sat down, Lady Theobald made +excellent use of her time, and managed to hear again all that had tried +and bewildered Miss Belinda. She had no hesitation in asking questions +boldly; she considered it her privilege to do so: she had catechised +Slowbridge for forty years, and meant to maintain her rights until Time +played her the knave's trick of disabling her. + +In half an hour she had heard about the silver-mines, the gold-diggers, +and L'Argentville; she knew that Martin Bassett was a millionnaire, if +the news he had heard had not left him penniless; that he would return to +England, and visit Slowbridge, as soon as his affairs were settled. The +precarious condition of his finances did not seem to cause Octavia much +concern. She had asked no questions when he went away, and seemed quite +at ease regarding the future. + +"People will always lend him money, and then he is lucky with it," she +said. + +She bore the catechising very well. Her replies were frequently rather +trying to her interlocutor, but she never seemed troubled, or ashamed of +any thing she had to say; and she wore, from first to last, that +inscrutably innocent and indifferent little air. + +She did not even show confusion when Lady Theobald, on going away, made +her farewell comment:-- + +"You are a very fortunate girl to own such jewels," she said, glancing +critically at the diamonds in her ears; "but if you take my advice, my +dear, you will put them away, and save them until you are a married +woman. It is not customary, on this side of the water, for young girls to +wear such things--particularly on ordinary occasions. People will think +you are odd." + +"It is not exactly customary in America," replied Octavia, with her +undisturbed smile. "There are not many girls who have such things. +Perhaps they would wear them if they had them. I don't care a very great +deal about them, but I mean to wear them." + +Lady Theobald went away in a dudgeon. + +"You will have to exercise your authority, Belinda, and _make_ her put +them away," she said to Miss Bassett. "It is absurd--besides being +atrocious." + +"Make her!" faltered Miss Bassett. + +"Yes, 'make her'--though I see you will have your hands full. I never +heard such romancing stories in my life. It is just what one might expect +from your brother Martin." + +When Miss Bassett returned, Octavia was standing before the window, +watching the carriage drive away, and playing absently with one of her +ear-rings as she did so. + +"What an old fright she is!" was her first guileless remark. + +Miss Belinda quite bridled. + +"My dear," she said, with dignity, "no one in Slowbridge would think of +applying such a phrase to Lady Theobald." + +Octavia turned around, and looked at her. + +"But don't you think she is one?" she exclaimed. "Perhaps I oughtn't to +have said it; but you know we haven't any thing as bad as that, even out +in Nevada--really!" + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, "different countries contain different +people; and in Slowbridge _we_ have our standards,"--her best cap +trembling a little with her repressed excitement. + +But Octavia did not appear overwhelmed by the existence of the standards +in question. She turned to the window again. + +"Well, anyway," she said, "I think it was pretty cool in her to order me +to take off my diamonds, and save them until I was married. How does she +know whether I mean to be married, or not? I don't know that I care +about it." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LUCIA. + + +In this manner Slowbridge received the shock which shook it to +its foundations, and it was a shock from which it did not recover for +some time. Before ten o'clock the next morning, everybody knew of the +arrival of Martin Bassett's daughter. + +The very boarding-school (Miss Pilcher's select seminary for young +ladies, "combining the comforts of a home," as the circular said, +"with all the advantages of genteel education") was on fire with it, +highly colored versions of the stories told being circulated from +the "first class" downward, even taking the form of an Indian princess, +tattooed blue, and with difficulty restrained from indulging in +war-whoops,--which last feature so alarmed little Miss Bigbee, aged +seven, that she retired in fear and trembling, and shed tears under the +bedclothes; her terror and anguish being much increased by the stirring +recitals of scalping-stories by pretty Miss Phipps, of the first +class--a young person who possessed a vivid imagination, and delighted in +romances of a tragic turn. + +"I have not the slightest doubt," said Miss Phipps, "that when she is at +home she lives in a wampum." + +"What is a wampum?" inquired one of her admiring audience. + +"A tent," replied Miss Phipps, with some impatience. "I should +think any goose would know that. It is a kind of tent hung with +scalps and--and--moccasins, and--lariats--and things of that sort." + +"I don't believe that is the right name for it," put in Miss Smith, who +was a pert member of the third class. + +"Ah!" commented Miss Phipps, "that was Miss Smith who spoke, of course. +We may always expect information from Miss Smith. I trust that I may be +allowed to say that I _think_ I _have_ a brother"-- + +"He doesn't know much about it, if he calls a wigwam a wampum," +interposed Miss Smith, with still greater pertness. "I have a brother who +knows better than that, if I am only in the third class." For a moment +Miss Phipps appeared to be meditating. Perhaps she was a trifle +discomfited; but she recovered herself after a brief pause, and returned +to the charge. + +"Well," she remarked, "perhaps it is a wigwam. Who cares if it is? And +at any rate, whatever it is, I haven't the slightest doubt that she +lives in one." + +This comparatively tame version was, however, entirely discarded when the +diamonds and silver-mines began to figure more largely in the reports. +Certainly, pretty, overdressed, jewel-bedecked Octavia gave Slowbridge +abundant cause for excitement. + +After leaving her, Lady Theobald drove home to Oldclough Hall, rather +out of humor. She had been rather out of humor for some time, having +never quite recovered from her anger at the daring of that cheerful +builder of mills, Mr. John Burmistone. Mr. Burmistone had been one +innovation, and Octavia Bassett was another. She had not been able to +manage Mr. Burmistone, and she was not at all sure that she had managed +Octavia Bassett. + +She entered the dining-room with an ominous frown on her forehead. + +At the end of the table, opposite her own seat, was a vacant chair, and +her frown deepened when she saw it. + +"Where is Miss Gaston?" she demanded of the servant. + +Before the man had time to reply, the door opened, and a girl came in +hurriedly, with a somewhat frightened air. + +"I beg pardon, grandmamma dear," she said, going to her seat quickly. "I +did not know you had come home." + +"We have a dinner-hour," announced her ladyship, "and _I_ do not +disregard it." + +"I am very sorry," faltered the culprit. + +"That is enough, Lucia," interrupted Lady Theobald; and Lucia dropped her +eyes, and began to eat her soup with nervous haste. In fact, she was glad +to escape so easily. + +She was a very pretty creature, with brown eyes, a soft white skin, and +a slight figure with a reed-like grace. A great quantity of brown hair +was twisted into an ugly coil on the top of her delicate little head; +and she wore an ugly muslin gown of Miss Chickie's make. For some time +the meal progressed in dead silence; but at length Lucia ventured to +raise her eyes. + +"I have been walking in Slowbridge, grandmamma," she said, "and I met Mr. +Burmistone, who told me that Miss Bassett has a visitor--a young lady +from America." + +Lady Theobald laid her knife and fork down deliberately. + +"Mr. Burmistone?" she said. "Did I understand you to say that you stopped +on the roadside to converse with Mr. Burmistone?" + +Lucia colored up to her delicate eyebrows and above them. + +"I was trying to reach a flower growing on the bank," she said, "and he +was so kind as to stop to get it for me. I did not know he was near at +first. And then he inquired how you were--and told me he had just heard +about the young lady." + +"Naturally!" remarked her ladyship sardonically. "It is as I anticipated +it would be. We shall find Mr. Burmistone at our elbows upon all +occasions. And he will not allow himself to be easily driven away. He is +as determined as persons of his class usually are." + +"O grandmamma!" protested Lucia, with innocent fervor. "I really do not +think he is--like that at all. I could not help thinking he was very +gentlemanly and kind. He is so much interested in your school, and so +anxious that it should prosper." + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, "how long a time this generous +expression of his sentiments occupied? Was this the reason of your +forgetting the dinner-hour?" + +"We did not"--said Lucia guiltily: "it did not take many minutes. I--I do +not think that made me late." + +Lady Theobald dismissed this paltry excuse with one remark,--a remark +made in the deep tones referred to once before. + +"I should scarcely have expected," she observed, "that a granddaughter of +mine would have spent half an hour conversing on the public road with the +proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, the tears rising in her eyes: "it was +not half an hour." + +"I should scarcely have expected," replied her ladyship, "that a +granddaughter of mine would have spent five minutes conversing on the +public road with the proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +To this assault there seemed to be no reply to make. Lady Theobald had +her granddaughter under excellent control. Under her rigorous rule, the +girl--whose mother had died at her birth--had been brought up. At +nineteen she was simple, sensitive, shy. She had been permitted to have +no companions, and the greatest excitements of her life had been the +Slowbridge tea-parties. Of the late Sir Gilbert Theobald, the less said +the better. He had spent very little of his married life at Oldclough +Hall, and upon his death his widow had found herself possessed of a +substantial, gloomy mansion, an exalted position in Slowbridge society, +and a small marriage-settlement, upon which she might make all the +efforts she chose to sustain her state. So Lucia wore her dresses a much +longer time than any other Slowbridge young lady: she was obliged to mend +her little gloves again and again; and her hats were retrimmed so often +that even Slowbridge thought them old-fashioned. But she was too simple +and sweet-natured to be much troubled, and indeed thought very little +about the matter. She was only troubled when Lady Theobald scolded her, +which was by no means infrequently. Perhaps the straits to which, at +times, her ladyship was put to maintain her dignity imbittered her +somewhat. + +"Lucia is neither a Theobald nor a Barold," she had been heard to say +once, and she had said it with much rigor. + +A subject of much conversation in private circles had been Lucia's +future. It had been discussed in whispers since her seventeenth year, but +no one had seemed to approach any solution of the difficulty. Upon the +subject of her plans for her granddaughter, Lady Theobald had preserved +stern silence. Once, and once only, she had allowed herself to be +betrayed into the expression of a sentiment connected with the matter. + +"If Miss Lucia marries"--a matron of reckless proclivities had remarked. + +Lady Theobald turned upon her, slowly and majestically. + +"_If_ Miss Gaston marries," she repeated. "Does it seem likely that Miss +Gaston will _not_ marry?" + +This settled the matter finally. Lucia was to be married when Lady +Theobald thought fit. So far, however, she had not thought fit: indeed, +there had been nobody for Lucia to marry,--nobody whom her grandmother +would have allowed her to marry, at least. There were very few young men +in Slowbridge; and the very few were scarcely eligible according to Lady +Theobald's standard, and--if such a thing should be mentioned--to +Lucia's, if she had known she had one, which she certainly did not. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ACCIDENTAL. + + +When dinner was over, Lady Theobald rose, and proceeded to the +drawing-room, Lucia following in her wake. From her very babyhood Lucia +had disliked the drawing-room, which was an imposing apartment of great +length and height, containing much massive furniture, upholstered in +faded blue satin. All the girl's evenings, since her fifth year, had been +spent sitting opposite her grandmother, in one of the straightest of the +blue chairs: all the most scathing reproofs she had received had been +administered to her at such times. She had a secret theory, indeed, that +all unpleasant things occurred in the drawing-room after dinner. + +Just as they had seated themselves, and Lady Theobald was on the point of +drawing toward her the little basket containing the gray woollen mittens +she made a duty of employing herself by knitting each evening, Dobson, +the coachman, in his character of footman, threw open the door, and +announced a visitor. + +"Capt. Barold." + +Lady Theobald dropped her gray mitten, the steel needles falling upon the +table with a clink. She rose to her feet at once, and met half-way the +young man who had entered. + +"My dear Francis," she remarked, "I am exceedingly glad to see you at +last," with a slight emphasis upon the "at last." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold, rather languidly. "You're very good, I'm +sure." + +Then he glanced at Lucia, and Lady Theobald addressed her:-- + +"Lucia," she said, "this is Francis Barold, who is your cousin." + +Capt. Barold shook hands feebly. + +"I have been trying to find out whether it is third or fourth," he said. + +"It is third," said my lady. + +Lucia had never seen her display such cordiality to anybody. But Capt. +Francis Barold did not seem much impressed by it. It struck Lucia that he +would not be likely to be impressed by any thing. He seated himself near +her grandmother's chair, and proceeded to explain his presence on the +spot, without exhibiting much interest even in his own relation of facts. + +"I promised the Rathburns that I would spend a week at their place; and +Slowbridge was on the way, so it occurred to me I would drop off in +passing. The Rathburns' place, Broadoaks, is about ten miles farther on; +not far, you see." + +"Then," said Lady Theobald, "I am to understand that your visit is +accidental." + +Capt. Barold was not embarrassed. He did not attempt to avoid her +ladyship's rather stern eye, as he made his cool reply. + +"Well, yes," he said. "I beg pardon, but it is accidental, rather." + +Lucia gave him a pretty, frightened look, as if she felt that, after such +an audacious confession, something very serious must happen; but nothing +serious happened at all. Singularly enough, it was Lady Theobald herself +who looked ill at ease, and as though she had not been prepared for such +a contingency. + +During the whole of the evening, in fact, it was always Lady Theobald +who was placed at a disadvantage, Lucia discovered. She could hardly +realize the fact at first; but before an hour had passed, its truth was +forced upon her. + +Capt. Barold was a very striking-looking man, upon the whole. He was +large, gracefully built, and fair: his eyes were gray, and noticeable for +the coldness of their expression, his features regular and aquiline, his +movements leisurely. + +As he conversed with her grandmother, Lucia wondered at him privately. It +seemed to her innocent mind that he had been everywhere, and seen every +thing and everybody, without caring for or enjoying his privileges. The +truth was, that he had seen and experienced a great deal too much. As an +only child, the heir to a large property, and heir prospective to one of +the oldest titles in the country, he had exhausted life early. He saw in +Lady Theobald, not the imposing head and social front of Slowbridge +social life, the power who rewarded with approval and punished with a +frown, but a tiresome, pretentious old woman, whom his mother had asked +him, for some feminine reason, to visit. "She feels she has a claim upon +us, Francis," she had said appealingly. + +"Well," he had remarked, "that is rather deuced cool, isn't it? We have +people enough on our hands without cultivating Slowbridge, you know." + +His mother sighed faintly. + +"It is true we have a great many people to consider; but I wish you would +do it, my dear." + +She did not say any thing at all about Lucia: above all, she did not +mention that a year ago she herself had spent two or three days at +Slowbridge, and had been charmed beyond measure by the girl's innocent +freshness, and that she had said, rather absently, to Lady Theobald,-- + +"What a charming wife Lucia would make for a man to whom gentleness and a +yielding disposition were necessary! We do not find such girls in society +nowadays, my dear Lady Theobald. It is very difficult of late years to +find a girl who is not spoken of as 'fast,' and who is not disposed to +take the reins in her own hands. Our young men are flattered and courted +until they become a little dictatorial, and our girls are spoiled at +home. And the result is a great deal of domestic unhappiness +afterward--and even a great deal of scandal, which is dreadful to +contemplate. I cannot help feeling the greatest anxiety in secret +concerning Francis. Young men so seldom consider these matters until it +is too late." + +"Girls are not trained as they were in my young days, or even in yours," +said Lady Theobald. "They are allowed too much liberty. Lucia has been +brought up immediately under my own eye." + +"I feel that it is fortunate," remarked Mrs. Barold, quite incidentally, +"that Francis need not make a point of money." + +For a few moments Lady Theobald did not respond; but afterward, in the +course of the conversation which followed, she made an observation which +was, of course, purely incidental. + +"If Lucia makes a marriage which pleases her great-uncle, old Mr. Dugald +Binnie, of Glasgow, she will be a very fortunate girl. He has intimated, +in his eccentric fashion, that his immense fortune will either be hers, +or will be spent in building charitable asylums of various kinds. He is a +remarkable and singular man." + +When Capt. Barold had entered his distinguished relative's drawing-room, +he had not regarded his third cousin with a very great deal of interest. +He had seen too many beauties in his thirty years to be greatly moved by +the sight of one; and here was only a girl who had soft eyes, and looked +young for her age, and who wore an ugly muslin gown, that most girls +could not have carried off at all. + +"You have spent the greater part of your life in Slowbridge?" he +condescended to say in the course of the evening. + +"I have lived here always," Lucia answered. "I have never been away more +than a week at a time." + +"Ah?" interrogatively. "I hope you have not found it dull." + +"No," smiling a little. "Not very. You see, I have known nothing gayer." + +"There is society enough of a harmless kind here," spoke up Lady Theobald +virtuously. "I do not approve of a round of gayeties for young people: it +unfits them for the duties of life." + +But Capt. Barold was not as favorably impressed by these remarks as might +have been anticipated. + +"What an old fool she is!" was his polite inward comment. And he resolved +at once to make his visit as brief as possible, and not to be induced to +run down again during his stay at Broadoaks. He did not even take the +trouble to appear to enjoy his evening. From his earliest infancy, he had +always found it easier to please himself than to please other people. In +fact, the world had devoted itself to endeavoring to please him, and win +his--toleration, we may say, instead of admiration, since it could not +hope for the latter. At home he had been adored rapturously by a large +circle of affectionate male and female relatives; at school his tutors +had been singularly indulgent of his faults and admiring of his talents; +even among his fellow-pupils he had been a sort of autocrat. + +Why not, indeed, with such birthrights and such prospects? When he had +entered society, he had met with even more amiable treatment from +affectionate mothers, from innocent daughters, from cordial paternal +parents, who voted him an exceedingly fine fellow. Why should he bore +himself by taking the trouble to seem pleased by a stupid evening with an +old grenadier in petticoats and a badly dressed country girl? + +Lucia was very glad when, in answer to a timidly appealing glance, Lady +Theobald said,-- + +"It is half-past ten. You may wish us good-night, Lucia." + +Lucia obeyed, as if she had been half-past ten herself, instead of nearly +twenty; and Barold was not long in following her example. + +Dobson led him to a stately chamber at the top of the staircase, and left +him there. The captain chose the largest and most luxurious chair, sat +down in it, and lighted a cigar at his leisure. + +"Confoundedly stupid hole!" he said with a refined vigor one would +scarcely have expected from an individual of his birth and breeding. "I +shall leave to-morrow, of course. What was my mother thinking of? Stupid +business from first to last." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +"I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE." + + +When he announced at breakfast his intention of taking his departure on +the midday train, Lucia wondered again what would happen; and again, to +her relief, Lady Theobald was astonishingly lenient. + +"As your friends expect you, of course we cannot overrule them," she +said. "We will, however, hope to see something of you during your stay at +Broadoaks. It will be very easy for you to run down and give us a few +hours now and then." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold. + +He was decently civil, if not enthusiastic, during the few remaining +hours of his stay. He sauntered through the grounds with Lucia, who took +charge of him in obedience to her grandmother's wish. He did not find her +particularly troublesome when she was away from her ladyship's side. When +she came out to him in her simple cotton gown and straw hat, it occurred +to him that she was much prettier than he had thought her at first. For +economical reasons she had made the little morning-dress herself, without +the slightest regard for the designs of Miss Chickie; and as it was not +trimmed at all, and had only a black-velvet ribbon at the waist, there +was nothing to place her charming figure at a disadvantage. It could not +be said that her shyness and simplicity delighted Capt. Barold, but, at +least, they did not displease him; and this was really as much as could +be expected. + +"She does not expect a fellow to exert himself, at all events," was his +inward comment; and he did not exert himself. + +But, when on the point of taking his departure, he went so far as to make +a very gracious remark to her. + +"I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you in London for a season, +before very long," he said: "my mother will have great pleasure in taking +charge of you, if Lady Theobald cannot be induced to leave Slowbridge." + +"Lucia never goes from home alone," said Lady Theobald; "but I should +certainly be obliged to call upon your mother for her good offices, in +the case of our spending a season in London. I am too old a woman to +alter my mode of life altogether." + +In obedience to her ladyship's orders, the venerable landau was brought +to the door; and the two ladies drove to the station with him. + +It was during this drive that a very curious incident occurred,--an +incident to which, perhaps, this story owes its existence, since, if it +had not taken place, there might, very possibly, have been no events of a +stirring nature to chronicle. Just as Dobson drove rather slowly up the +part of High Street distinguished by the presence of Miss Belinda +Bassett's house, Capt. Barold suddenly appeared to be attracted by some +figure he discovered in the garden appertaining to that modest structure. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed, in an undertone, "there is Miss Octavia." + +For the moment he was almost roused to a display of interest. A faint +smile lighted his face, and his cold, handsome eyes slightly brightened. + +Lady Theobald sat bolt upright. + +"That is Miss Bassett's niece, from America," she said. "Do I understand +you know her?" + +Capt. Barold turned to confront her, evidently annoyed at having allowed +a surprise to get the better of him. All expression died out of his face. + +"I travelled with her from Framwich to Stamford," he said. "I suppose we +should have reached Slowbridge together, but that I dropped off at +Stamford to get a newspaper, and the train left me behind." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, who had turned to look, "how very pretty +she is!" + +Miss Octavia certainly was amazingly so this morning. She was standing by +a rosebush again, and was dressed in a cashmere morning-robe of the +finest texture and the faintest pink: it had a Watteau plait down the +back, _jabot_ of lace down the front, and the close, high frills of lace +around the throat which seemed to be a weakness with her. Her hair was +dressed high upon her head, and showed to advantage her little ears and +as much of her slim white neck as the frills did not conceal. + +But Lady Theobald did not share Lucia's enthusiasm. + +"She looks like an actress," she said. "If the trees were painted canvas +and the roses artificial, one might have some patience with her. That +kind of thing is scarcely what we expect in Slowbridge." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"I had the pleasure of meeting her yesterday, not long after she +arrived," she said. "She had diamonds in her ears as big as peas, and +rings to match. Her manner is just what one might expect from a young +woman brought up among gold-diggers and silver-miners." + +"It struck me as being a very unique and interesting manner," said Capt. +Barold. "It is chiefly noticeable for a _sang-froid_ which might be +regarded as rather enviable. She was good enough to tell me all about her +papa and the silver-mines, and I really found the conversation +entertaining." + +"It is scarcely customary for English young women to confide in their +masculine travelling companions to such an extent," remarked my lady +grimly. + +"She did not confide in me at all," said Barold. "Therein lay her +attraction. One cannot submit to being 'confided in' by a strange young +woman, however charming. This young lady's remarks were flavored solely +with an adorably cool candor. She evidently did not desire to appeal to +any emotion whatever." + +And as he leaned back in his seat, he still looked at the picturesque +figure which they had passed, as if he would not have been sorry to see +it turn its head toward him. + +In fact, it seemed that, notwithstanding his usual good fortune, Capt. +Barold was doomed this morning to make remarks of a nature objectionable +to his revered relation. On their way they passed Mr. Burmistone's mill, +which was at work in all its vigor, with a whir and buzz of machinery, +and a slight odor of oil in its surrounding atmosphere. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Barold, putting his single eyeglass into his eye, and +scanning it after the manner of experts. "I did not think you had any +thing of that sort here. Who put it up?" + +"The man's name," replied Lady Theobald severely, "is Burmistone." + +"Pretty good idea, isn't it?" remarked Barold. "Good for the place--and +all that sort of thing." + +"To my mind," answered my lady, "it is the worst possible thing which +could have happened." + +Mr. Francis Barold dropped his eyeglass dexterously, and at once lapsed +into his normal condition--which was a condition by no means favorable +to argument. + +"Think so?" he said slowly. "Pity, isn't it, under the circumstances?" + +And really there was nothing at all for her ladyship to do but preserve a +lofty silence. She had scarcely recovered herself when they reached the +station, and it was necessary to say farewell as complacently as +possible. + +"We will hope to see you again before many days," she said with dignity, +if not with warmth. + +Mr. Francis Barold was silent for a second, and a slightly reflective +expression flitted across his face. + +"Thanks, yes," he said at last. "Certainly. It is easy to come down, and +I should like to see more of Slowbridge." + +When the train had puffed in and out of the station, and Dobson was +driving down High Street again, her ladyship's feelings rather got the +better of her. + +"If Belinda Bassett is a wise woman," she remarked, "she will take my +advice, and get rid of this young lady as soon as possible. It appears to +me," she continued, with exalted piety, "that every well-trained English +girl has reason to thank her Maker that she was born in a civilized +land." + +"Perhaps," suggested Lucia softly, "Miss Octavia Bassett has had no one +to train her at all; and it may be that--that she even feels it deeply." + +The feathers in her ladyship's bonnet trembled. + +"She does not feel it at all!" she announced. "She is an +impertinent--minx!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SHARES LOOKING UP. + + +There were others who echoed her ladyship's words afterward, though they +echoed them privately, and with more caution than my lady felt necessary. +It is certain that Miss Octavia Bassett did not improve as time +progressed, and she had enlarged opportunities for studying the noble +example set before her by Slowbridge. + +On his arrival in New York, Martin Bassett telegraphed to his daughter +and sister, per Atlantic cable, informing them that he might be detained +a couple of months, and bidding them to be of good cheer. The arrival of +the message in its official envelope so alarmed Miss Belinda, that she +was supported by Mary Anne while it was read to her by Octavia, who +received it without any surprise whatever. For some time after its +completion, Slowbridge had privately disbelieved in the Atlantic cable, +and, until this occasion, had certainly disbelieved in the existence of +people who received messages through it. In fact, on first finding that +she was the recipient of such a message, Miss Belinda had made immediate +preparations for fainting quietly away, being fully convinced that a +shipwreck had occurred, which had resulted in her brother's death, and +that his executors had chosen this delicate method of breaking the news. + +"A message by Atlantic cable?" she had gasped. "Don't--don't read it, my +love. L-let some one else do that. Poor--poor child! Trust in Providence, +my love, and--and bear up. Ah, how I wish I had a stronger mind, and +could be of more service to you!" + +"It's a message from father," said Octavia. "Nothing is the matter. He's +all right. He got in on Saturday." + +"Ah!" panted Miss Belinda. "Are you _quite_ sure, my dear--are you quite +sure?" + +"That's what he says. Listen." + +"Got in Saturday. Piper met me. Shares looking up. May be kept here two +months. Will write. Keep up your spirits. MARTIN BASSETT." + +"Thank Heaven!" sighed Miss Belinda. "Thank Heaven!" + +"Why?" said Octavia. + +"Why?" echoed Miss Belinda. "Ah, my dear, if you knew how terrified I +was! I felt sure that something had happened. A _cable_ message, my dear! +I never received a telegram in my life before, and to receive a _cable_ +message was really a _shock_." + +"Well, I don't see why," said Octavia. "It seems to me it is pretty much +like any other message." + +Miss Belinda regarded her timidly. + +"Does your papa _often_ send them?" she inquired. "Surely it must be +expensive." + +"I don't suppose it's cheap," Octavia replied, "but it saves time and +worry. I should have had to wait twelve days for a letter." + +"Very true," said Miss Belinda, "but"-- + +She broke off with rather a distressed shake of the head. Her simple +ideas of economy and quiet living were frequently upset in these times. +She had begun to regard her niece with a slight feeling of awe; and yet +Octavia had not been doing any thing at all remarkable in her own eyes, +and considered her life pretty dull. + +If the elder Miss Bassett, her parents and grandparents, had not been so +thoroughly well known, and so universally respected; if their social +position had not been so firmly established, and their quiet lives not +quite so highly respectable,--there is an awful possibility that +Slowbridge might even have gone so far as not to ask Octavia out to tea +at all. But even Lady Theobald felt that it would not do to slight +Belinda Bassett's niece and guest. To omit the customary state teas +would have been to crush innocent Miss Belinda at a blow, and place +her--through the medium of this young lady, who alone deserved +condemnation--beyond the pale of all social law. + +"It is only to be regretted," said her ladyship, "that Belinda Bassett +has not arranged things better. Relatives of such an order are certainly +to be deplored." + +In secret Lucia felt much soft-hearted sympathy for both Miss Bassett and +her guest. She could not help wondering how Miss Belinda became +responsible for the calamity which had fallen upon her. It really did not +seem probable that she had been previously consulted as to the kind of +niece she desired, or that she had, in a distinct manner, evinced a +preference for a niece of this description. + +"Perhaps, dear grandmamma," the girl ventured, "it is because Miss +Octavia Bassett is so young that"-- + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, in fell tones, "how old you are?" + +"I was nineteen in--in December." + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said her ladyship, "was nineteen last October, +and it is now June. I have not yet found it necessary to apologize for +you on the score of youth." + +But it was her ladyship who took the initiative, and set an evening for +entertaining Miss Belinda and her niece, in company with several other +ladies, with the best bohea, thin bread and butter, plum-cake, and +various other delicacies. + +"What do they do at such places?" asked Octavia. "Half-past five is +pretty early." + +"We spend some time at the tea-table, my dear," explained Miss Belinda. +"And afterward we--we converse. A few of us play whist. I do not. I feel +as if I were not clever enough, and I get flurried too easily by--by +differences of opinion." + +"I should think it wasn't very exciting," said Octavia. "I don't fancy +I ever went to an entertainment where they did nothing but drink tea, +and talk." + +"It is not our intention or desire to be exciting, my dear," Miss Belinda +replied with mild dignity. "And an improving conversation is frequently +most beneficial to the parties engaged in it." + +"I'm afraid," Octavia observed, "that I never heard much improving +conversation." + +She was really no fonder of masculine society than the generality of +girls; but she could not help wondering if there would be any young men +present, and if, indeed, there were any young men in Slowbridge who might +possibly be produced upon festive occasions, even though ordinarily kept +in the background. She had not heard Miss Belinda mention any masculine +name so far, but that of the curate of St. James's; and, when she had +seen him pass the house, she had not found his slim, black figure, and +faint, ecclesiastic whiskers, especially interesting. + +It must be confessed that Miss Belinda suffered many pangs of anxiety in +looking forward to her young kinswoman's first appearance in society. A +tea at Lady Theobald's house constituted formal presentation to the +Slowbridge world. Each young lady within the pale of genteel society, +having arrived at years of discretion, on returning home from +boarding-school, was invited to tea at Oldclough Hall. During an entire +evening she was the subject of watchful criticism. Her deportment was +remarked, her accomplishments displayed, she performed her last new +"pieces" upon the piano, she was drawn into conversation by her hostess; +and upon the timid modesty of her replies, and the reverence of her +listening attitudes, depended her future social status. So it was very +natural indeed that Miss Belinda should be anxious. + +"I would wear something rather quiet and--and simple, my dear Octavia," +she said. "A white muslin perhaps, with blue ribbons." + +"Would you?" answered Octavia. Then, after appearing to reflect upon the +matter a few seconds, "I've got one that would do, if it's warm enough +to wear it. I bought it in New York, but it came from Paris. I've never +worn it yet." + +"It would be nicer than any thing else, my love," said Miss Belinda, +delighted to find her difficulty so easily disposed of. "Nothing is so +charming in the dress of a young girl as pure simplicity. Our Slowbridge +young ladies rarely wear any thing but white for evening. Miss Chickie +assured me, a few weeks ago, that she had made fifteen white-muslin +dresses, all after one simple design of her own." + +"I shouldn't think that was particularly nice, myself," remarked Octavia +impartially. "I should be glad one of the fifteen didn't belong to me. I +should feel as if people might say, when I came into a room, 'Good +gracious, there's another!'" + +"The first was made for Miss Lucia Gaston, who is Lady Theobald's niece," +replied Miss Belinda mildly. "And there are few young ladies in +Slowbridge who would not emulate her example." + +"Oh!" said Octavia, "I dare say she is very nice, and all that; but I +don't believe I should care to copy her dresses. I think I should draw +the line there." + +But she said it without any ill-nature; and, sensitive as Miss Belinda +was upon the subject of her cherished ideals, she could not take offence. + +When the eventful evening arrived, there was excitement in more than one +establishment upon High Street and the streets in its vicinity. The +stories of the diamonds, the gold-diggers, and the silver-mines, had been +added to, and embellished, in the most ornate and startling manner. It +was well known that only Lady Theobald's fine appreciation of Miss +Belinda Bassett's feelings had induced her to extend her hospitalities to +that lady's niece. + +"I would prefer, my dear," said more than one discreet matron to her +daughter, as they attired themselves,--"I would much prefer that you +would remain near me during the earlier part of the evening, before we +know how this young lady may turn out. Let your manner toward her be +kind, but not familiar. It is well to be upon the safe side." + +What precise line of conduct it was generally anticipated that this +gold-digging and silver-mining young person would adopt, it would be +difficult to say: it is sufficient that the general sentiments regarding +her were of a distrustful, if not timorous, nature. + +To Miss Bassett, who felt all this in the very air she breathed, the +girl's innocence of the condition of affairs was even a little touching. +With all her splendor, she was not at all hard to please, and had quite +awakened to an interest in the impending social event. She seemed in good +spirits, and talked more than was her custom, giving Miss Belinda graphic +descriptions of various festal gatherings she had attended in New York, +when she seemed to have been very gay indeed, and to have worn very +beautiful dresses, and also to have had rather more than her share of +partners. The phrases she used, and the dances she described, were all +strange to Miss Belinda, and tended to reducing her to a bewildered +condition, in which she felt much timid amazement at the intrepidity of +the New-York young ladies, and no slight suspicion of the "German"--as a +theatrical kind of dance, involving extraordinary figures, and an +extraordinary amount of attention from partners of the stronger sex. + +It must be admitted, however, that by this time, notwithstanding the +various shocks she had received, Miss Belinda had begun to discover in +her young guest divers good qualities which appealed to her +affectionate and susceptible old heart. In the first place, the girl +had no small affectations: indeed, if she had been less unaffected she +might have been less subject to severe comment. She was good-natured, +and generous to extravagance. Her manner toward Mary Anne never ceased +to arouse Miss Belinda to interest. There was not any condescension +whatever in it, and yet it could not be called a vulgarly familiar +manner: it was rather an astonishingly simple manner, somehow +suggestive of a subtile recognition of Mary Anne's youth, and ill-luck +in not having before her more lively prospects. She gave Mary Anne +presents in the shape of articles of clothing at which Slowbridge +would have exclaimed in horror if the recipient had dared to wear them; +but, when Miss Belinda expressed her regret at these indiscretions, +Octavia was quite willing to rectify her mistakes. + +"Ah, well!" she said, "I can give her some money, and she can buy some +things for herself." Which she proceeded to do; and when, under her +mistress's direction, Mary Anne purchased a stout brown merino, she took +quite an interest in her struggles at making it. + +"I wouldn't make it so short in the waist and so full in the skirt, if I +were you," she said. "There's no reason why it shouldn't fit, you know," +thereby winning the house-maiden's undying adoration, and adding much to +the shapeliness of the garment. + +"I am sure she has a good heart," Miss Belinda said to herself, as the +days went by. "She is like Martin in that. I dare say she finds me very +ignorant and silly. I often see in her face that she is unable to +understand my feeling about things; but she never seems to laugh at me, +nor think of me unkindly. And she is very, very pretty, though perhaps I +ought not to think of that at all." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHITE MUSLIN. + + +As the good little spinster was arraying herself on this particular +evening, having laid upon the bed the greater portion of her modest +splendor, she went to her wardrobe, and took therefrom the scored bandbox +containing her best cap. All the ladies of Slowbridge wore caps; and all +being respectfully plagiarized from Lady Theobald, without any reference +to age, size, complexion, or demeanor, the result was sometimes a little +trying. Lady Theobald's head-dresses were of a severe and bristling +order. The lace of which they were composed was induced by some ingenious +device to form itself into aggressive quillings, the bows seemed lined +with buckram, the strings neither floated nor fluttered. + +"To a majestic person the style is very appropriate," Miss Belinda had +said to Octavia that very day; "but to one who is not so, it is rather +trying. Sometimes, indeed, I have _almost_ wished that Miss Chickie would +vary a _little_ more in her designs." + +Perhaps the sight of the various articles contained in two of the five +trunks had inspired these doubts in the dear old lady's breast: it is +certain, at least, that, as she took the best cap up, a faint sigh +fluttered upon her lips. + +"It is very large for a small person," she said. "And I am not at all +sure that amber is becoming to me." + +And just at that moment there came a tap at the door, which she knew was +from Octavia. + +She laid the cap back, in some confusion at being surprised in a moment +of weakness. + +"Come in, my love," she said. + +Octavia pushed the door open, and came in. She had not dressed yet, and +had on her wrapper and slippers, which were both of quilted gray silk, +gayly embroidered with carnations. But Miss Belinda had seen both wrapper +and slippers before, and had become used to their sumptuousness: what she +had not seen was the trifle the girl held in her hand. "See here," she +said. "See what I have been making for you!" + +She looked quite elated, and laughed triumphantly. + +"I did not know I could do it until I tried," she said. "I had seen some +in New York, and I had the lace by me. And I have enough left to make +ruffles for your neck and wrists. It's Mechlin." + +"My dear!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "My dear!" + +Octavia laughed again. + +"Don't you know what it is?" she said. "It isn't like a Slowbridge cap; +but it's a cap, nevertheless. They wear them like this in New York, and I +think they are ever so much prettier." + +It was true that it was not like a Slowbridge cap, and was also true that +it was prettier. It was a delicate affair of softly quilled lace, adorned +here and there with loops of pale satin ribbon. + +"Let me try it on," said Octavia, advancing; and in a minute she had done +so, and turned Miss Bassett about to face herself in the glass. "There!" +she said. "Isn't that better than--well, than emulating Lady Theobald?" + +It was so pretty and so becoming, and Miss Belinda was so touched by the +girl's innocent enjoyment, that the tears came into her eyes. + +"My--my love," she faltered, "it is so beautiful, and so expensive, +that--though indeed I don't know how to thank you--I am afraid I should +not dare to wear it." + +"Oh!" answered Octavia, "that's nonsense, you know. I'm sure there's no +reason why people shouldn't wear becoming things. Besides, I should be +awfully disappointed. I didn't think I could make it, and I'm real proud +of it. You don't know how becoming it is!" + +Miss Belinda looked at her reflection, and faltered. It was becoming. + +"My love," she protested faintly, "real Mechlin! There is really no such +lace in Slowbridge." + +"All the better," said Octavia cheerfully. "I'm glad to hear that. It +isn't one bit too nice for you." + +To Miss Belinda's astonishment, she drew a step nearer to her, and gave +one of the satin loops a queer, caressing little touch, which actually +seemed to mean something. And then suddenly the girl stooped, with a +little laugh, and gave her aunt a light kiss on her cheek. + +"There!" she said. "You must take it from me for a present. I'll go and +make the ruffles this minute; and you must wear those too, and let people +see how stylish you can be." + +And, without giving Miss Bassett time to speak, she ran out of the room, +and left the dear old lady warmed to the heart, tearful, delighted, +frightened. + +A coach from the Blue Lion had been ordered to present itself at a +quarter past five, promptly; and at the time specified it rattled up to +the door with much spirit,--with so much spirit, indeed, that Miss +Belinda was a little alarmed. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "I hope the driver will be able to control the +horse, and will not allow him to go too fast. One hears of such terrible +accidents." + +Then Mary Anne was sent to announce the arrival of the equipage to Miss +Octavia, and, having performed the errand, came back beaming with smiles. + +"Oh, mum," she exclaimed, "you never see nothin' like her! Her gownd is +'evingly. An' lor'! how you do look yourself, to be sure!" + +Indeed, the lace ruffles on her "best" black silk, and the little cap on +her smooth hair, had done a great deal for Miss Bassett; and she had only +just been reproaching herself for her vanity in recognizing this fact. +But Mary Anne's words awakened a new train of thought. + +"Is--is Miss Octavia's dress a showy one, Mary Anne?" she inquired. "Dear +me, I do hope it is not a showy dress!" + +"I never see nothin' no eleganter, mum," said Mary Anne: "she wants +nothin' but a veil to make a bride out of her--an' a becominer thing she +never has wore." + +They heard the soft sweep of skirts at that moment, and Octavia came in. + +"There!" she said, stopping when she had reached the middle of the room. +"Is that simple enough?" Miss Belinda could only look at her helplessly. +The "white muslin" was composed almost entirely of Valenciennes lace; the +blue ribbons were embroidered with field-daisies; the air of delicate +elaborateness about the whole was something which her innocent mind could +not have believed possible in orthodox white and blue. + +"I don't think I should call it exactly simple," she said. "My love, what +a quantity of lace!" + +Octavia glanced down at her _jabots_ and frills complacently. + +"There _is_ a good deal of it," she remarked; "but then, it is nice, and +one can stand a good deal of nice Valenciennes on white. They said Worth +made the dress. I hope he did. It cost enough. The ribbon was embroidered +by hand, I suppose. And there is plenty of it cut up into these bows." + +There was no more to be said. Miss Belinda led the way to the coach, +which they entered under the admiring or critical eyes of several most +respectable families, who had been lying in wait behind their +window-curtains since they had been summoned there by the sound of +the wheels. + +As the vehicle rattled past the boarding-school, all the young ladies in +the first class rushed to the window. They were rewarded for their zeal +by a glimpse of a cloud of muslin and lace, a charmingly dressed +yellow-brown head, and a pretty face, whose eyes favored them with a +frank stare of interest. + +"She had diamonds in her ears!" cried Miss Phipps, wildly excited. "I saw +them flash. Ah, how I should like to see her without her wraps! I have no +doubt she is a perfect blaze!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD. + + +Lady Theobald's invited guests sat in the faded blue drawing-room, +waiting. Everybody had been unusually prompt, perhaps because +everybody wished to be on the ground in time to see Miss Octavia +Bassett make her entrance. + +"I should think it would be rather a trial, even to such a girl as she is +said to be," remarked one matron. + +"It is but natural that she should feel that Lady Theobald will regard +her rather critically, and that she should know that American manners +will hardly be the thing for a genteel and conservative English country +town." + +"We saw her a few days ago," said Lucia, who chanced to hear this +speech, "and she is very pretty. I think I never saw any one so very +pretty before." + +"But in quite a theatrical way, I think, my dear," the matron replied, in +a tone of gentle correction. + +"I have seen so very few theatrical people," Lucia answered sweetly, +"that I scarcely know what the theatrical way is, dear Mrs. Burnham. Her +dress was very beautiful, and not like what we wear in Slowbridge; but +she seemed to me to be very bright and pretty, in a way quite new to me, +and so just a little odd." + +"I have heard that her dress is most extravagant and wasteful," put in +Miss Pilcher, whose educational position entitled her to the +condescending respect of her patronesses. "She has lace on her morning +gowns, which"-- + +"Miss Bassett and Miss Octavia Bassett," announced Dobson, throwing +open the door. + +Lady Theobald rose from her seat. A slight rustle made itself heard +through the company, as the ladies all turned toward the entrance; and, +after they had so turned, there were evidences of a positive thrill. +Before the eyes of all, Belinda Bassett advanced with rich ruffles of +Mechlin at her neck and wrists, with a delicate and distinctly novel cap +upon her head, her niece following her with an unabashed face, twenty +pounds' worth of lace on her dress, and unmistakable diamonds in her +little ears. + +"There is not a _shadow_ of timidity about her," cried Mrs. Burnham under +her breath. "This is actual boldness." + +But this was a very severe term to use, notwithstanding that it was born +of righteous indignation. It was not boldness at all: it was only the +serenity of a young person who was quite unconscious that there was any +thing to fear in the rather unimposing party before her. Octavia was +accustomed to entering rooms full of strangers. She had spent several +years of her life in hotels, where she had been stared out of countenance +by a few score new people every day. She was even used to being, in some +sort, a young person of note. It was nothing unusual for her to know that +she was being pointed out. "That pretty blonde," she often heard it said, +"is Martin Bassett's daughter: sharp fellow, Bassett,--and lucky fellow +too; more money than he can count." + +So she was not at all frightened when she walked in behind Miss Belinda. +She glanced about her cheerfully, and, catching sight of Lucia, smiled at +her as she advanced up the room. The call of state Lady Theobald had made +with her grand-daughter had been a very brief one; but Octavia had taken +a decided fancy to Lucia, and was glad to see her again. + +"I am glad to see you, Belinda," said her ladyship, shaking hands. "And +you also, Miss Octavia." + +"Thank you," responded Octavia. + +"You are very kind," Miss Belinda murmured gratefully. + +"I hope you are both well?" said Lady Theobald with majestic +condescension, and in tones to be heard all over the room. + +"Quite well, thank you," murmured Miss Belinda again. "_Very_ well +indeed;" rather as if this fortunate state of affairs was the result of +her ladyship's kind intervention with the fates. + +She felt terribly conscious of being the centre of observation, and +rather overpowered by the novelty of her attire, which was plainly +creating a sensation. Octavia, however, who was far more looked at, was +entirely oblivious of the painful prominence of her position. She +remained standing in the middle of the room, talking to Lucia, who had +approached to greet her. She was so much taller than Lucia, that she +looked very tall indeed by contrast, and also very wonderfully dressed. +Lucia's white muslin was one of Miss Chickie's fifteen, and was, in a +"genteel" way, very suggestive of Slowbridge. Suspended from Octavia's +waist by a long loop of the embroidered ribbon, was a little round fan, +of downy pale-blue feathers, and with this she played as she talked; but +Lucia, having nothing to play with, could only stand with her little +hands hanging at her sides. + +"I have never been to an afternoon tea like this before," Octavia said. +"It is nothing like a kettle-drum." + +"I am not sure that I know what a kettle-drum is," Lucia answered. "They +have them in London, I think; but I have never been to London." + +"They have them in New York," said Octavia; "and they are a crowded sort +of afternoon parties, where ladies go in carriage-toilet, not evening +dress. People are rushing in and out all the time." + +Lucia glanced around the room and smiled. + +"That is very unlike this," she remarked. + +"Well," said Octavia, "I should think that, after all, this might be +nicer." + +Which was very civil. + +Lucia glanced around again--this time rather stealthily--at Lady +Theobald. Then she glanced back at Octavia. + +"But it isn't," she said, in an undertone. + +Octavia began to laugh. They were on a new and familiar footing from +that moment. + +"I said 'it might,'" she answered. + +She was not afraid, any longer, of finding the evening stupid. If there +were no young men, there was at least a young woman who was in sympathy +with her. She said,-- + +"I hope that I shall behave myself pretty well, and do the things I am +expected to do." + +"Oh!" said Lucia, with a rather alarmed expression, "I hope so. I--I am +afraid you would not be comfortable if you didn't." + +Octavia opened her eyes, as she often did at Miss Belinda's remarks, and +then suddenly she began to laugh again. + +"What would they do?" she said disrespectfully. "Would they turn me out, +without giving me any tea?" + +Lucia looked still more frightened. + +"Don't let them see you laughing," she said. "They--they will say you +are giddy." + +"Giddy!" replied Octavia. "I don't think there is any thing to make me +giddy here." + +"If they say you are giddy," said Lucia, "your fate will be sealed; and, +if you are to stay here, it really will be better to try to please them +a little." + +Octavia reflected a moment. + +"I don't mean to _dis_please them," she said, "unless they are very +easily displeased. I suppose I don't think very much about what people +are saying of me. I don't seem to notice." + +"Will you come now and let me introduce Miss Egerton and her sister?" +suggested Lucia hurriedly. "Grandmamma is looking at us." + +In the innocence of her heart Octavia glanced at Lady Theobald, and +saw that she was looking at them, and with a disapproving air. "I +wonder what that's for?" she said to herself; but she followed Lucia +across the room. + +She made the acquaintance of the Misses Egerton, who seemed rather +fluttered, and, after the first exchange of civilities, subsided into +monosyllables and attentive stares. They were, indeed, very anxious to +hear Octavia converse, but had not the courage to attempt to draw her +out, unless a sudden query of Miss Lydia's could be considered such an +attempt. + +"Do you like England?" she asked. + +"Is this England?" inquired Octavia. + +"It is a part of England, of course," replied the young lady, with calm +literalness. + +"Then, of course, I like it very much," said Octavia, slightly waving her +fan and smiling. + +Miss Lydia Egerton and Miss Violet Egerton each regarded her in dubious +silence for a moment. They did not think she looked as if she were +"clever;" but the speech sounded to both as if she were, and as if she +meant to be clever a little at their expense. + +Naturally, after that they felt slightly uncomfortable, and said less +than before; and conversation lagged to such an extent that Octavia was +not sorry when tea was announced. + +And it so happened that tea was not the only thing announced. The ladies +had all just risen from their seats with a gentle rustle, and Lady +Theobald was moving forward to marshal her procession into the +dining-room, when Dobson appeared at the door again. + +"Mr. Barold, my lady," he said, "and Mr. Burmistone." + +Everybody glanced first at the door, and then at Lady Theobald. Mr. +Francis Barold crossed the threshold, followed by the tall, +square-shouldered builder of mills, who was a strong, handsome man, and +bore himself very well, not seeming to mind at all the numerous eyes +fixed upon him. + +"I did not know," said Barold, "that we should find you had guests. Beg +pardon, I'm sure, and so does Burmistone, whom I had the pleasure of +meeting at Broadoaks, and who was good enough to invite me to return with +him." Lady Theobald extended her hand to the gentleman specified. + +"I am glad," she said rigidly, "to see Mr. Burmistone." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"This is very fortunate," she announced. "We are just going in to take +tea, in which I hope you will join us. Lucia"-- + +Mr. Francis Barold naturally turned, as her ladyship uttered her +granddaughter's name in a tone of command. It may be supposed that his +first intention in turning was to look at Lucia; but he had scarcely done +so, when his attention was attracted by the figure nearest to her,--the +figure of a young lady, who was playing with a little blue fan, and +smiling at him brilliantly and unmistakably. + +The next moment he was standing at Octavia Bassett's side, looking rather +pleased, and the blood of Slowbridge was congealing, as the significance +of the situation was realized. + +One instant of breathless--of awful--suspense, and her ladyship +recovered herself. + +"We will go in to tea," she said. "May I ask you, Mr. Burmistone, to +accompany Miss Pilcher?" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SLIGHT INDISCRETION. + + +During the remainder of the evening, Miss Belinda was a prey to +wretchedness and despair. When she raised her eyes to her hostess, she +met with a glance full of icy significance; when she looked across the +tea-table, she saw Octavia seated next to Mr. Francis Barold, +monopolizing his attention, and apparently in the very best possible +spirits. It only made matters worse, that Mr. Francis Barold seemed to +find her remarks worthy of his attention. He drank very little tea, and +now and then appeared much interested and amused. In fact, he found Miss +Octavia even more entertaining than he had found her during their +journey. She did not hesitate at all to tell him that she was delighted +to see him again at this particular juncture. + +"You don't know how glad I was to see you come in," she said. + +She met his rather startled glance with the most open candor as she +spoke. + +"It is very civil of you to say so," he said; "but you can hardly expect +me to believe it, you know. It is too good to be true." + +"I thought it was too good to be true when the door opened," she answered +cheerfully. "I should have been glad to see _anybody_, almost"-- + +"Well, that," he interposed, "isn't quite so civil." + +"It is not quite so civil to"-- + +But there she checked herself, and asked him a question with the most +_naive_ seriousness. + +"Are you a great friend of Lady Theobald's?" she said. + +"No," he answered. "I am a relative." + +"That's worse," she remarked. + +"It is," he replied. "Very much worse." + +"I asked you," she proceeded, with an entrancing little smile of +irreverent approval, "because I was going to say that my last speech was +not quite so civil to Lady Theobald." + +"That is perfectly true," he responded. "It wasn't civil to her at all." + +He was passing his time very comfortably, and was really surprised to +feel that he was more interested in these simple audacities than he had +been in any conversation for some time. Perhaps it was because his +companion was so wonderfully pretty, but it is not unlikely that there +were also other reasons. She looked him straight in the eyes, she +comported herself after the manner of a young lady who was enjoying +herself, and yet he felt vaguely that she might have enjoyed herself +quite as much with Burmistone, and that it was probable that she would +not think a second time of him, or of what she said to him. + +After tea, when they returned to the drawing-room, the opportunities +afforded for conversation were not numerous. The piano was opened, and +one after another of the young ladies were invited to exhibit their +prowess. Upon its musical education Slowbridge prided itself. "Few +towns," Miss Pilcher frequently remarked, "could be congratulated upon +the possession of _such_ talent and _such_ cultivation." The Misses +Egerton played a duet, the Misses Loftus sang, Miss Abercrombie +"executed" a sonata with such effect as to melt Miss Pilcher to tears; +and still Octavia had not been called upon. There might have been a +reason for this, or there might not; but the moment arrived, at length, +when Lady Theobald moved toward Miss Belinda with evidently fell intent. + +"Perhaps," she said, "perhaps your niece, Miss Octavia, will favor us." + +Miss Belinda replied in a deprecatory and uncertain murmur. + +"I--am not sure. I really don't know. Perhaps--Octavia, my dear." + +Octavia raised a smiling face. + +"I don't play," she said. "I never learned." + +"You do not play!" exclaimed Lady Theobald. "You do not play at all!" + +"No," answered Octavia. "Not a note. And I think I am rather glad of it; +because, if I tried, I should be sure to do it worse than other people. I +would rather," with unimpaired cheerfulness, "let some one else do it." + +There were a few seconds of dead silence. A dozen people seated around +her had heard. Miss Pilcher shuddered; Miss Belinda looked down; Mr. +Francis Barold preserved an entirely unmoved countenance, the general +impression being that he was very much shocked, and concealed his disgust +with an effort. + +"My dear," said Lady Theobald, with an air of much condescension and some +grave pity, "I should advise you to try to learn. I can assure you that +you would find it a great source of pleasure." + +"If you could assure me that my friends would find it a great source of +pleasure, I might begin," answered the mistaken young person, still +cheerfully; "but I am afraid they wouldn't." + +It seemed that fate had marked her for disgrace. In half an hour from +that time she capped the climax of her indiscretions. + +The evening being warm, the French windows had been left open; and, in +passing one of them, she stopped a moment to look out at the brightly +moonlit grounds. + +Barold, who was with her, paused too. + +"Looks rather nice, doesn't it?" he said. + +"Yes," she replied. "Suppose we go out on the terrace." + +He laughed in an amused fashion she did not understand. + +"Suppose we do," he said. "By Jove, that's a good idea!" + +He laughed as he followed her. + +"What amuses you so?" she inquired. + +"Oh!" he replied, "I am merely thinking of Lady Theobald." + +"Well," she commented, "I think it's rather disrespectful in you to +laugh. Isn't it a lovely night? I didn't think you had such moonlight +nights in England. What a night for a drive!" + +"Is that one of the things you do in America--drive by moonlight?" + +"Yes. Do you mean to say you don't do it in England?" + +"Not often. Is it young ladies who drive by moonlight in America?" + +"Well, you don't suppose they go alone, do you?" quite ironically. "Of +course they have some one with them." + +"Ah! Their papas?" + +"No." + +"Their mammas?" + +"No." + +"Their governesses, their uncles, their aunts?" + +"No," with a little smile. + +He smiled also. + +"That is another good idea," he said. "You have a great many nice ideas +in America." + +She was silent a moment or so, swinging her fan slowly to and fro by its +ribbon, and appearing to reflect. + +"Does that mean," she said at length, "that it wouldn't be considered +proper in England?" + +"I hope you won't hold me responsible for English fallacies," was his +sole answer. + +"I don't hold anybody responsible for them," she returned with some +spirit. "I don't care one thing about them." + +"That is fortunate," he commented. "I am happy to say I don't, either. I +take the liberty of pleasing myself. I find it pays best." + +"Perhaps," she said, returning to the charge, "perhaps Lady Theobald will +think _this_ is improper." + +He put his hand up, and stroked his mustache lightly, without replying. + +"But it is _not_," she added emphatically: "it is _not!_" + +"No," he admitted, with a touch of irony, "it is not!" + +"Are _you_ any the worse for it?" she demanded. + +"Well, really, I think not--as yet," he replied. + +"Then we won't go in," she said, the smile returning to her lips again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN INVITATION. + + +In the mean time Mr. Burmistone was improving his opportunities within +doors. He had listened to the music with the most serious attention; and +on its conclusion he had turned to Mrs. Burnham, and made himself very +agreeable indeed. At length, however, he arose, and sauntered across the +room to a table at which Lucia Gaston chanced to be standing alone, +having just been deserted by a young lady whose mamma had summoned her. +She wore, Mr. Burmistone regretted to see, as he advanced, a troubled and +anxious expression; the truth being that she had a moment before remarked +the exit of Miss Belinda's niece and her companion. It happened oddly +that Mr. Burmistone's first words touched upon the subject of her +thought. He began quite abruptly with it. + +"It seems to me," he said, "that Miss Octavia Bassett"-- + +Lucia stopped him with a courage which surprised herself. + +"Oh, if you please," she implored, "don't say any thing unkind about +her!" + +Mr. Burmistone looked down into her soft eyes with a good deal of +feeling. + +"I was not going to say any thing unkind," he answered. "Why should I?" + +"Everybody seems to find a reason for speaking severely of her," Lucia +faltered. "I have heard so many unkind things tonight, that I am quite +unhappy. I am sure--I am _sure_ she is very candid and simple." + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone, "I am sure she is very candid and +simple." + +"Why should we expect her to be exactly like ourselves?" Lucia went on. +"How can we be sure that our way is better than any other? Why should +they be angry because her dress is so expensive and pretty? Indeed, I +only wish I had such a dress. It is a thousand times prettier than any we +ever wear. Look around the room, and see if it is not. And as to her not +having learned to play on the piano, or to speak French--why should she +be obliged to do things she feels she would not be clever at? I am not +clever, and have been a sort of slave all my life, and have been scolded +and blamed for what I could not help at all, until I have felt as if I +must be a criminal. How happy she must have been to be let alone!" + +She had clasped her little hands, and, though she spoke in a low +voice, was quite impassioned in an unconscious way. Her brief girlish +life had not been a very happy one, as may be easily imagined; and a +glimpse of the liberty for which she had suffered roused her to a +sense of her own wrongs. + +"We are all cut out after the same pattern," she said. "We learn the same +things, and wear the same dresses, one might say. What Lydia Egerton has +been taught, I have been taught; yet what two creatures could be more +unlike each other, by nature, than we are?" + +Mr. Burmistone glanced across the room at Miss Egerton. She was a fine, +robust young woman, with a high nose and a stolid expression of +countenance. + +"That is true," he remarked. + +"We are afraid of every thing," said Lucia bitterly. "Lydia Egerton is +afraid--though you might not think so. And, as for me, nobody knows what +a coward I am but myself. Yes, I am a coward! When grandmamma looks at +me, I tremble. I dare not speak my mind, and differ with her, when I know +she is unjust and in the wrong. No one could say that of Miss Octavia +Bassett." + +"That is perfectly true," said Mr. Burmistone; and he even went so far as +to laugh as he thought of Miss Octavia trembling in the august presence +of Lady Theobald. + +The laugh checked Lucia at once in her little outburst of eloquence. She +began to blush, the color mounting to her forehead. + +"Oh!" she began, "I did not mean to--to say so much. I"-- + +There was something so innocent and touching in her sudden timidity and +confusion, that Mr. Burmistone forgot altogether that they were not very +old friends, and that Lady Theobald might be looking. + +He bent slightly forward, and looked into her upraised, alarmed eyes. + +"Don't be afraid of _me_" he said; "don't, for pity's sake!" + +He could not have hit upon a luckier speech, and also he could not have +uttered it more feelingly than he did. It helped her to recover herself, +and gave her courage. + +"There," she said, with a slight catch of the breath, "does not that +prove what I said to be true? I was afraid, the very moment I ceased to +forget myself. I was afraid of you and of myself. I have no courage at +all." + +"You will gain it in time," he said. + +"I shall try to gain it," she answered. "I am nearly twenty, and it is +time that I should learn to respect myself. I think it must be because I +have no self-respect that I am such a coward." + +It seemed that her resolution was to be tried immediately; for at that +very moment Lady Theobald turned, and, on recognizing the full +significance of Lucia's position, was apparently struck temporarily dumb +and motionless. When she recovered from the shock, she made a majestic +gesture of command. + +Mr. Burmistone glanced at the girl's face, and saw that it changed color +a little. "Lady Theobald appears to wish to speak to you," he said. + +Lucia left her seat, and walked across the room with a steady air. Lady +Theobald did not remove her eye from her until she stopped within three +feet of her. Then she asked a rather unnecessary question:-- + +"With whom have you been conversing?" + +"With Mr. Burmistone." + +"Upon what subject?" + +"We were speaking of Miss Octavia Bassett." + +Her ladyship glanced around the room, as if a new idea had occurred to +her, and said,-- + +"Where _is_ Miss Octavia Bassett?" + +Here it must be confessed that Lucia faltered. + +"She is on the terrace with Mr. Barold." + +"She is on"-- + +Her ladyship stopped short in the middle of her sentence. This was too +much for her. She left Lucia, and crossed the room to Miss Belinda. + +"Belinda," she said, in an awful undertone, "your niece is out upon the +terrace with Mr. Barold. Perhaps it would be as well for you to +intimate to her that in England it is not customary--that--Belinda, go +and bring her in." + +Miss Belinda arose, actually looking pale. She had been making such +strenuous efforts to converse with Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham, that +she had been betrayed into forgetting her charge. She could scarcely +believe her ears. She went to the open window, and looked out, and then +turned paler than before. + +"Octavia, my dear," she said faintly. + +"Francis!" said Lady Theobald, over her shoulder. + +Mr. Francis Barold turned a rather bored countenance toward them; but it +was evidently not Octavia who had bored him. + +"Octavia," said Miss Belinda, "how imprudent! In that thin dress--the +night air! How could you, my dear, how could you?" + +"Oh! I shall not catch cold," Octavia answered. "I am used to it. I have +been out hours and hours, on moonlight nights, at home." + +But she moved toward them. + +"You must remember," said Lady Theobald, "that there are many things +which may be done in America which would not be safe in England." + +And she made the remark in an almost sepulchral tone of warning. + +How Miss Belinda would have supported herself if the coach had not been +announced at this juncture, it would be difficult to say. The coach was +announced, and they took their departure. Mr. Barold happening to make +his adieus at the same time, they were escorted by him down to the +vehicle from the Blue Lion. + +When he had assisted them in, and closed the door, Octavia bent forward, +so that the moonlight fell full on her pretty, lace-covered head, and the +sparkling drops in her ears. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed, "if you stay here at all, you must come and see +us.--Aunt Belinda, ask him to come and see us." + +Miss Belinda could scarcely speak. + +"I shall be most--most happy," she fluttered, "Any--friend of dear Lady +Theobald's, of course"-- + +"Don't forget," said Octavia, waving her hand. + +The coach moved off, and Miss Belinda sank back into a dark corner. + +"My dear," she gasped, "what will he think?" + +Octavia was winding her lace scarf around her throat. + +"He'll think I want him to call," she said serenely. "And I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +INTENTIONS. + + +The position in which Lady Theobald found herself placed, after these +occurrences, was certainly a difficult and unpleasant one. It was Mr. +Francis Barold's caprice, for the time being, to develop an intimacy with +Mr. Burmistone. He had, it seemed, chosen to become interested in him +during their sojourn at Broadoaks. He had discovered him to be a +desirable companion, and a clever, amiable fellow. This much he +condescended to explain incidentally to her ladyship's self. + +"I can't say I expected to meet a nice fellow or a companionable fellow," +he remarked, "and I was agreeably surprised to find him both. Never says +too much or too little. Never bores a man." + +To this Lady Theobald could make no reply. Singularly enough, she had +discovered early in their acquaintance that her wonted weapons were +likely to dull their edges upon the steely coldness of Mr. Francis +Barold's impassibility. In the presence of this fortunate young man, +before whom his world had bowed the knee from his tenderest infancy, she +lost the majesty of her demeanor. He refused to be affected by it: he was +even implacable enough to show openly that it bored him, and to insinuate +by his manner that he did not intend to submit to it. He entirely ignored +the claim of relationship, and acted according to the promptings of his +own moods. He did not feel it at all incumbent upon him to remain at +Oldclough Hall, and subject himself to the time-honored customs there +in vogue. He preferred to accept Mr. Burmistone's invitation to become +his guest at the handsome house he had just completed, in which he lived +in bachelor splendor. Accordingly he installed himself there, and thereby +complicated matters greatly. + +Slowbridge found itself in a position as difficult as, and far more +delicate than, Lady Theobald's. The tea-drinkings in honor of that +troublesome young person, Miss Octavia Bassett, having been inaugurated +by her ladyship, must go the social rounds, according to ancient custom. +But what, in discretion's name, was to be done concerning Mr. Francis +Barold? There was no doubt whatever that he must not be ignored; and, in +that case, what difficulties presented themselves! + +The mamma of the two Misses Egerton, who was a nervous and easily +subjugated person, was so excited and overwrought by the prospect before +her, that, in contemplating it when she wrote her invitations, she was +affected to tears. + +"I can assure you, Lydia," she said, "that I have not slept for three +nights, I have been so harassed. Here, on one hand, is Mr. Francis +Barold, who must be invited; and on the other is Mr. Burmistone, whom we +cannot pass over; and here is Lady Theobald, who will turn to stone the +moment she sees him,--though, goodness knows, I am sure he seems a very +quiet, respectable man, and said some of the most complimentary things +about your playing. And here is that dreadful girl, who is enough to give +one cold chills, and who may do all sorts of dreadful things, and is +certainly a living example to all respectable, well-educated girls. And +the blindest of the blind could see that nothing would offend Lady +Theobald more fatally than to let her be thrown with Francis Barold; +and how one is to invite them into the same room, and keep them apart, +I'm sure I don't know how. Lady Theobald herself could not do it, and how +can we be expected to? And the refreshments on my mind too; and Forbes +failing on her tea-cakes, and bringing up Sally Lunns like lead." + +That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer in +prospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs. +Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs. +Egerton upon the subject. + +Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising, +the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter over +in solemn conclave. + +"I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson," +announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arrive +at any conclusion." + +Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully. + +"Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,--"don't, I beg of you! I +have thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydia +has been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave it +up at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one and +all, let the consequences be what they may." + +Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at Miss +Pilcher. + +"Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as well +for you to mention your impressions." + +Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forward +slightly. + +"My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald has +any--intentions, so to speak?" + +"Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton. + +"Yes," with deep significance,--"so to speak. With regard to Lucia." + +Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless. + +"Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think of +it. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!" + +Mrs. Burnham became more significant still. + +"_And_" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold." + +Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact in +her countenance. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever." + +"It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be a +desirable one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr. +Francis Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited to +make her house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he has +not done so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicable +reluctance upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald once +plainly intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, a +matrimonial alliance." + +"Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is all +very well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if the +young man has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likely +to result in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold is +not in the mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely to +entertain himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in the +moonlight, and make herself agreeable to him in her American style." + +Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Burnham, "he has called upon her twice since Lady +Theobald's tea. They say she invites him herself, and flirts with him +openly in the garden." + +"Her conduct is such," said Miss Pilcher, with a shudder, "that the +blinds upon the side of the seminary which faces Miss Bassett's garden +are kept closed by my orders. I have young ladies under my care whose +characters are in process of formation, and whose parents repose +confidence in me." + +"Nothing but my friendship for Belinda Bassett," remarked Mrs. Burnham, +"would induce me to invite the girl to my house." Then she turned to Mrs. +Egerton. "But--ahem--have you included them _all_ in your invitations?" +she observed. + +Mrs. Egerton became plaintive again. + +"I don't see how I could be expected to do any thing else," she said. +"Lady Theobald herself could not invite Mr. Francis Barold from Mr. +Burmistone's house, and leave Mr. Burmistone at home. And, after all, I +must say it is my opinion nobody would have objected to Mr. Burmistone, +in the first place, if Lady Theobald had not insisted upon it." + +Mrs. Burnham reflected. + +"Perhaps that is true," she admitted cautiously at length. "And it must +be confessed that a man in his position is not entirely without his +advantages--particularly in a place where there are but few gentlemen, +and those scarcely desirable as"-- + +She paused there discreetly, but Mrs. Egerton was not so discreet. + +"There are a great many young ladies in Slowbridge," she said, shaking +her head,--"a great many! And with five in a family, all old enough to be +out of school, I am sure it is flying in the face of Providence to +neglect one's opportunities." + +When the two ladies took their departure, Mrs. Burnham seemed reflective. +Finally she said,--"Poor Mrs. Egerton's mind is not what it was, and it +never was remarkably strong. It must be admitted, too, that there is a +lack of--of delicacy. Those great plain girls of hers must be a trial to +her." + +As she spoke they were passing the privet hedge which surrounded Miss +Bassett's house and garden; and a sound caused both to glance around. The +front door had just been opened; and a gentleman was descending the +steps,--a young gentleman in neat clerical garb, his guileless +ecclesiastical countenance suffused with mantling blushes of confusion +and delight. He stopped on the gravel path to receive the last words of +Miss Octavia Bassett, who stood on the threshold, smiling down upon him +in the prettiest way in the world. + +"Tuesday afternoon," she said. "Now don't forget; because I shall ask Mr. +Barold and Miss Gaston, on purpose to play against us. Even St. James +can't object to croquet." + +"I--indeed, I shall be _most_ happy and--and delighted," stammered her +departing guest, "if you will be so kind as to--to instruct me, and +forgive my awkwardness." + +"Oh! I'll instruct you," said Octavia. "I have instructed people before, +and I know how." + +Mrs. Burnham clutched Miss Pilcher's arm. + +"Do you see who _that_ is?" she demanded. "Would you have believed it?" + +Miss Pilcher preserved a stony demeanor. + +"I would believe any thing of Miss Octavia Bassett," she replied. "There +would be nothing at all remarkable, to my mind, in her flirting with the +bishop himself! Why should she hesitate to endeavor to entangle the +curate of St. James?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A CLERICAL VISIT. + + +It was indeed true that the Rev. Arthur Poppleton had spent the greater +part of his afternoon in Miss Belinda Bassett's front parlor, and that +Octavia had entertained him in such a manner that he had been beguiled +into forgetting the clerical visits he had intended to make, and had +finally committed himself by a promise to return a day or two later to +play croquet. His object in calling had been to request Miss Belinda's +assistance in a parochial matter. His natural timorousness of nature had +indeed led him to put off making the visit for as long a time as +possible. The reports he had heard of Miss Octavia Bassett had inspired +him with great dread. Consequently he had presented himself at Miss +Belinda's front door with secret anguish. + +"Will you say," he had faltered to Mary Anne, "that it is Mr. Poppleton, +to see _Miss_ Bassett--Miss _Belinda_ Bassett?" + +And then he had been handed into the parlor, the door had been closed +behind him, and he had found himself shut up entirely alone in the room +with Miss Octavia Bassett herself. + +His first impulse was to turn, and flee precipitately: indeed, he even +went so far as to turn, and clutch the handle of the door; but somehow a +second thought arrived in time to lead him to control himself. + +This second thought came with his second glance at Octavia. + +She was not at all what he had pictured her. Singularly enough, no one +had told him that she was pretty; and he had thought of her as a gaunt +young person, with a determined and manly air. She struck him, on the +contrary, as being extremely girlish and charming to look upon. She wore +the pale pink gown; and as he entered he saw her give a furtive little +dab to her eyes with a lace handkerchief, and hurriedly crush an open +letter into her pocket. Then, seeming to dismiss her emotion with +enviable facility, she rose to greet him. + +"If you want to see aunt Belinda," she said, "perhaps you had better sit +down. She will be here directly." He plucked up spirit to take a seat, +suddenly feeling his terror take wing. He was amazed at his own courage. + +"Th-thank you," he said. "I have the pleasure of"--There, it is true, he +stopped, looked at her, blushed, and finished somewhat disjointedly. +"Miss Octavia Bassett, I believe." + +"Yes," she answered, and sat down near him. + +When Miss Belinda descended the stairs, a short time afterward, her ears +were greeted by the sound of brisk conversation, in which the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton appeared to be taking part with before-unheard-of spirit. When +he arose at her entrance, there was in his manner an air of mild buoyancy +which astonished her beyond measure. When he re-seated himself, he seemed +quite to forget the object of his visit for some minutes, and was thus +placed in the embarrassing position of having to refer to his note-book. + +Having done so, and found that he had called to ask assistance for the +family of one of his parishioners, he recovered himself somewhat. As he +explained the exigencies of the case, Octavia listened. + +"Well," she said, "I should think it would make you quite uncomfortable, +if you see things like that often." + +"I regret to say I do see such things only too frequently," he answered. + +"Gracious!" she said; but that was all. + +He was conscious of being slightly disappointed at her apathy; and +perhaps it is to be deplored that he forgot it afterward, when Miss +Belinda had bestowed her mite, and the case was dismissed for the time +being. He really did forget it, and was beguiled into making a very long +call, and enjoying himself as he had never enjoyed himself before. + +When, at length, he was recalled to a sense of duty by a glance at the +clock, he had already before his eyes an opening vista of delights, +taking the form of future calls, and games of croquet played upon Miss +Belinda's neatly-shaven grass-plat. He had bidden the ladies adieu in the +parlor, and, having stepped into the hall, was fumbling rather excitedly +in the umbrella-stand for his own especially slender clerical umbrella, +when he was awakened to new rapture by hearing Miss Octavia's tone again. + +He turned, and saw her standing quite near him, looking at him with +rather an odd expression, and holding something in her hand. + +"Oh!" she said. "See here,--those people." + +"I--beg pardon," he hesitated. "I don't quite understand." + +"Oh, yes!" she answered. "Those desperately poor wretches, you know, with +fever, and leaks in their house, and all sorts of disagreeable things the +matter with them. Give them this, won't you?" + +"This" was a pretty silk purse, through whose meshes he saw the gleam of +gold coin. + +"That?" he said. "You don't mean--isn't there a good deal--I beg +pardon--but really"-- + +"Well, if they are as poor as you say they are, it won't be too much," +she replied. "I don't suppose they'll object to it: do you?" + +She extended it to him as if she rather wished to get it out of her +hands. + +"You'd better take it," she said. "I shall spend it on something I don't +need, if you don't. I'm always spending money on things I don't care for +afterward." + +He was filled with remorse, remembering that he had thought her +apathetic. + +"I--I really thought you were not interested at all," he burst forth. +"Pray forgive me. This is generous indeed." + +She looked down at some particularly brilliant rings on her hand, instead +of looking at him. + +"Oh, well!" she said, "I think it must be simply horrid to have to do +without things. I can't see how people live. Besides, I haven't denied +myself any thing. It would be worth talking about if I had, I suppose. +Oh! By the by, never mind telling any one, will you?" + +Then, without giving him time to reply, she raised her eyes to his face, +and plunged into the subject of the croquet again, pursuing it until the +final moment of his exit and departure, which was when Mrs. Burnham and +Miss Pilcher had been scandalized at the easy freedom of her adieus. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES. + + +When Mr. Francis Barold called to pay his respects to Lady Theobald, +after partaking of her hospitality, Mr. Burmistone accompanied him; and, +upon almost every other occasion of his presenting himself to her +ladyship, Mr. Burmistone was his companion. + +It may as well be explained at the outset, that the mill-owner of +Burmistone Mills was a man of decided determination of character, and +that, upon the evening of Lady Theobald's tea, he had arrived at the +conclusion that he would spare no effort to gain a certain end he felt it +would add to his happiness to accomplish. + +"I stand rather in awe of Lady Theobald, as any ordinary man would," he +had said dryly to Barold, on their return to his house. "But my awe of +her is not so great yet that I shall allow it to interfere with any of +my plans." + +"Have you any especial plan?" inquired Barold carelessly, after a pause. + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone,--"several. I should like to go to +Oldclough rather often." + +"I feel it the civil thing to go to Oldclough oftener than I like. Go +with me." + +"I should like to be included in all the invitations to tea for the next +six months." + +"I shall be included in all the invitations so long as I remain here; and +it is not likely you will be left out in the cold. After you have gone +the rounds once, you won't be dropped." + +"Upon the whole, it appears so," said Mr. Burmistone. "Thanks." + +So, at each of the tea-parties following Lady Theobald's, the two men +appeared together. The small end of the wedge being inserted into the +social stratum, the rest was not so difficult. Mrs. Burnham was at once +surprised and overjoyed by her discoveries of the many excellences of the +man they had so hastily determined to ignore. Mrs. Abercrombie found Mr. +Burmistone's manner all that could be desired. Miss Pilcher expressed the +highest appreciation of his views upon feminine education and "our duty +to the young in our charge." Indeed, after Mrs. Egerton's evening, the +tide of public opinion turned suddenly in his favor. + +Public opinion did not change, however, as far as Octavia was concerned. +Having had her anxiety set at rest by several encouraging paternal +letters from Nevada, she began to make up her mind to enjoy herself, and +was, it is to be regretted, betrayed by her youthful high spirits into +the committing of numerous indiscretions. Upon each festal occasion she +appeared in a new and elaborate costume: she accepted the attentions of +Mr. Francis Barold, as if it were the most natural thing in the world +that they should be offered; she joked--in what Mrs. Burnham designated +"her Nevada way"--with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, who appeared more +frequently than had been his habit at the high teas. She played croquet +with that gentleman and Mr. Barold day after day, upon the grass-plat, +before all the eyes gazing down upon her from the neighboring windows; +she managed to coerce Mr. Burmistone into joining these innocent orgies; +and, in fact, to quote Miss Pilcher, there was "no limit to the +shamelessness of her unfeminine conduct." + +Several times much comment had been aroused by the fact that Lucia Gaston +had been observed to form one of the party of players. She had indeed +played with Barold, against Octavia and Mr. Poppleton, on the memorable +day upon which that gentleman had taken his first lesson. + +Barold had availed himself of the invitation extended to him by Octavia, +upon several occasions, greatly to Miss Belinda's embarrassment. He had +dropped in the evening after the curate's first call. + +"Is Lady Theobald very fond of you?" Octavia had asked, in the course of +this visit. + +"It is very kind of her, if she is," he replied with languid irony. + +"Isn't she fond enough of you to do any thing you ask her?" Octavia +inquired. + +"Really, I think not," he replied. "Imagine the degree of affection it +requires! I am not fond enough of any one to do any thing they ask me." + +Octavia bestowed a long look upon him. + +"Well," she remarked, after a pause, "I believe you are not. I shouldn't +think so." + +Barold colored very faintly. + +"I say," he said, "is that an imputation, or something of that character? +It sounds like it, you know." + +Octavia did not reply directly. She laughed a little. + +"I want you to ask Lady Theobald to do something," she said. + +"I am afraid I am not in such favor as you imagine," he said, looking +slightly annoyed. + +"Well, I think she won't refuse you this thing," she went on. "If she +didn't loathe me so, I would ask her myself." + +He deigned to smile. + +"Does she loathe you?" he inquired. + +"Yes," nodding. "She would not speak to me if it weren't for aunt +Belinda. She thinks I am fast and loud. Do _you_ think I am fast and +loud?" + +He was taken aback, and not for the first time, either. She had startled +and discomposed him several times in the course of their brief +acquaintance; and he always resented it, priding himself in private, as +he did, upon his coolness and immobility. He could not think of the right +thing to say just now, so he was silent for a second. + +"Tell me the truth," she persisted. "I shall not care--much." + +"I do not think you would care at all." + +"Well, perhaps I shouldn't. Go on. Do you think I am fast?" + +"I am happy to say I do not find you slow." + +She fixed her eyes on him, smiling faintly. + +"That means I am fast," she said. "Well, no matter. Will you ask Lady +Theobald what I want you to ask her?" + +"I should not say you were fast at all," he said rather stiffly. "You +have not been educated as--as Lady Theobald has educated Miss Gaston, for +instance." + +"I should rather think not," she replied. Then she added, very +deliberately, "She has had what you might call very superior advantages, +I suppose." + +Her expression was totally incomprehensible to him. She spoke with the +utmost seriousness, and looked down at the table. "That is derision, I +suppose," he remarked restively. + +She glanced up again. + +"At all events," she said, "there is nothing to laugh at in Lucia Gaston. +Will you ask Lady Theobald? I want you to ask her to let Lucia Gaston +come and play croquet with us on Tuesday. She is to play with you against +Mr. Poppleton and me." + +"Who is Mr. Poppleton?" he asked, with some reserve. He did not exactly +fancy sharing his entertainment with any ordinary outsider. After all, +there was no knowing what this little American might do. + +"He is the curate of the church," she replied, undisturbed. "He is very +nice, and little, and neat, and blushes all over to the toes of his +boots. He came to see aunt Belinda, and I asked him to come and be +taught to play." + +"Who is to teach him?" + +"I am. I have taught at least twenty men in New York and San Francisco." + +"I hope he appreciates your kindness." + +"I mean to try if I can make him forget to be frightened," she said, with +a gay laugh. + +It was certainly nettling to find his air of reserve and displeasure met +with such inconsequent lightness. She never seemed to recognize the +subtle changes of temperature expressed in his manner. Only his sense of +what was due to himself prevented his being very chilly indeed; but as +she went on with her gay chat, in utter ignorance of his mood, and +indulged in some very pretty airy nonsense, he soon recovered himself, +and almost forgot his private grievance. + +Before going away, he promised to ask Lady Theobald's indulgence in the +matter of Lucia's joining them in their game. One speech of Octavia's, +connected with the subject, he had thought very pretty, as well as kind. + +"I like Miss Gaston," she said. "I think we might be friends if Lady +Theobald would let us. Her superior advantages might do me good. They +might improve me," she went on, with a little laugh, "and I suppose I +need improving very much. All my advantages have been of one kind." + +When he had left her, she startled Miss Belinda by saying,-- + +"I have been asking Mr. Barold if he thought I was fast; and I believe he +does--in fact, I am sure he does." + +"Ah, my dear, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda, "what a terrible thing +to say to a gentleman! What will he think?" + +Octavia smiled one of her calmest smiles. + +"Isn't it queer how often you say that!" she remarked. "I think I should +perish if I had to pull myself up that way as you do. I just go right on, +and never worry. I don't mean to do any thing queer, and I don't see why +any one should think I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CROQUET. + + +Lucia was permitted to form one of the players in the game of croquet, +being escorted to and from the scene by Francis Barold. Perhaps it +occurred to Lady Theobald that the contrast of English reserve and +maidenliness with the free-and-easy manners of young women from Nevada +might lead to some good result. + +"I trust your conduct will be such as to show that you at least have +resided in a civilized land," she said. "The men of the present day may +permit themselves to be amused by young persons whose demeanor might +bring a blush to the cheek of a woman of forty, but it is not their habit +to regard them with serious intentions." + +Lucia reddened. She did not speak, though she wished very much for the +courage to utter the words which rose to her lips. Lately she had found +that now and then, at times when she was roused to anger, speeches of +quite a clever and sarcastic nature presented themselves to her mind. She +was never equal to uttering them aloud; but she felt that in time she +might, because of course it was quite an advance in spirit to think them, +and face, even in imagination, the probability of astounding and striking +Lady Theobald dumb with their audacity. + +"It ought to make me behave very well," she was saying now to herself, +"to have before me the alternative of not being regarded with serious +intentions. I wonder if it is Mr. Poppleton or Francis Barold who might +not regard me seriously. And I wonder if they are any coarser in America +than we can be in England when we try." + +She enjoyed the afternoon very much, particularly the latter part of it, +when Mr. Burmistone, who was passing, came in, being invited by Octavia +across the privet hedge. Having paid his respects to Miss Belinda, who +sat playing propriety under a laburnum-tree, Mr. Burmistone crossed the +grass-plat to Lucia herself. She was awaiting her "turn," and laughing at +the ardent enthusiasm of Mr. Poppleton, who, under Octavia's direction, +was devoting all his energies to the game: her eyes were bright, and she +had lost, for the time being, her timid air of feeling herself somehow in +the wrong. + +"I am glad to see you here," said Mr. Burmistone. + +"I am glad to be here," she answered. "It has been such a happy +afternoon. Every thing has seemed so bright and--and different!" + +"'Different' is a very good word," he said, laughing. + +"It isn't a very bad one," she returned, "and it expresses a good deal." + +"It does indeed," he commented. + +"Look at Mr. Poppleton and Octavia," she began. + +"Have you got to 'Octavia'?" he inquired. + +She looked down and blushed. + +"I shall not say 'Octavia' to grandmamma." + +Then suddenly she glanced up at him. + +"That is sly, isn't it?" she said. "Sometimes I think I am very sly, +though I am sure it is not my nature to be so. I would rather be open +and candid." + +"It would be better," he remarked. + +"You think so?" she asked eagerly. + +He could not help smiling. + +"Do you ever tell untruths to Lady Theobald?" he inquired. "If you do, I +shall begin to be alarmed." + +"I act them," she said, blushing more deeply. "I really do--paltry sorts +of untruths, you know; pretending to agree with her when I don't; +pretending to like things a little when I hate them. I have been trying +to improve myself lately, and once or twice it has made her very angry. +She says I am disobedient and disrespectful. She asked me, one day, if it +was my intention to emulate Miss Octavia Bassett. That was when I said I +could not help feeling that I had wasted time in practising." + +She sighed softly as she ended. + +In the mean time Octavia had Mr. Poppleton and Mr. Francis Barold upon +her hands, and was endeavoring to do her duty as hostess by both of them. +If it had been her intention to captivate these gentlemen, she could not +have complained that Mr. Poppleton was wary or difficult game. His first +fears allayed, his downward path was smooth, and rapid in proportion. +When he had taken his departure with the little silk purse in his +keeping, he had carried under his clerical vest a warmed and thrilled +heart. It was a heart which, it must be confessed, was of the most +inexperienced and susceptible nature. A little man of affectionate and +gentle disposition, he had been given from his earliest youth to +indulging in timid dreams of mild future bliss,--of bliss represented by +some lovely being whose ideals were similar to his own, and who preferred +the wealth of a true affection to the glitter of the giddy throng. Upon +one or two occasions, he had even worshipped from afar; but as on each of +these occasions his hopes had been nipped in the bud by the union of +their object with some hollow worldling, his dream had, so far, never +attained very serious proportions. Since he had taken up his abode in +Slowbridge, he had felt himself a little overpowered by circumstances. It +had been a source of painful embarrassment to him, to find his innocent +presence capable of producing confusion in the breasts of young ladies +who were certainly not more guileless than himself. He had been conscious +that the Misses Egerton did not continue their conversation with freedom +when he chanced to approach the group they graced; and he had observed +the same thing in their companions,--an additional circumspection of +demeanor, so to speak, a touch of new decorum, whose object seemed to be +to protect them from any appearance of imprudence. + +"It is almost as if they were afraid of me," he had said to himself once +or twice. "Dear me! I hope there is nothing in my appearance to lead +them to"-- + +He was so much alarmed by this dreadful thought, that he had ever +afterward approached any of these young ladies with a fear and trembling +which had not added either to his comfort or their own; consequently his +path had not been a very smooth one. + +"I respect the young ladies of Slowbridge," he remarked to Octavia that +very afternoon. "There are some very remarkable young ladies here,--very +remarkable indeed. They are interested in the church, and the poor, and +the schools, and, indeed, in every thing, which is most unselfish and +amiable. Young ladies have usually so much to distract their attention +from such matters." + +"If I stay long enough in Slowbridge," said Octavia, "I shall be +interested in the church, and the poor, and the schools." + +It seemed to the curate that there had never been any thing so delightful +in the world as her laugh and her unusual remarks. She seemed to him so +beautiful, and so exhilarating, that he forgot all else but his +admiration for her. He enjoyed himself so much this afternoon, that he +was almost brilliant, and excited the sarcastic comment of Mr. Francis +Barold, who was not enjoying himself at all. + +"Confound it!" said that gentleman to himself, as he looked on. "What did +I come here for? This style of thing is just what I might have expected. +She is amusing herself with that poor little cad now, and I am left in +the cold. I suppose that is her habit with the young men in Nevada." + +He had no intention of entering the lists with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, +or of concealing the fact that he felt that this little Nevada flirt was +making a blunder. The sooner she knew it, the better for herself; so he +played his game as badly as possible, and with much dignity. + +But Octavia was so deeply interested in Mr. Poppleton's ardent efforts +to do credit to her teaching, that she was apparently unconscious of +all else. She played with great cleverness, and carried her partner to +the terminus, with an eager enjoyment of her skill quite pleasant to +behold. She made little darts here and there, advised, directed, and +controlled his movements, and was quite dramatic in a small way when he +made a failure. + +Mrs. Burnham, who was superintending the proceeding, seated in her own +easy-chair behind her window-curtains, was roused to virtuous indignation +by her energy. + +"There is no repose whatever in her manner," she said. "No dignity. Is a +game of croquet a matter of deep moment? It seems to me that it is almost +impious to devote one's mind so wholly to a mere means of recreation." + +"She seems to be enjoying it, mamma," said Miss Laura Burnham, with a +faint sigh. Miss Laura had been looking on over her parent's shoulder. +"They all seem to be enjoying it. See how Lucia Gaston and Mr. Burmistone +are laughing. I never saw Lucia look like that before. The only one who +seems a little dull is Mr. Barold." + +"He is probably disgusted by a freedom of manner to which he is not +accustomed," replied Mrs. Burnham. "The only wonder is that he has not +been disgusted by it before." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ADVANTAGES. + + +The game over, Octavia deserted her partner. She walked lightly, and with +the air of a victor, to where Barold was standing. She was smiling, and +slightly flushed, and for a moment or so stood fanning herself with a gay +Japanese fan. + +"Don't you think I am a good teacher?" she asked at length. + +"I should say so," replied Barold, without enthusiasm. "I am afraid I am +not a judge." + +She waved her fan airily. + +"I had a good pupil," she said. Then she held her fan still for a moment, +and turned fully toward him. "I have done something you don't like," she +said. "I knew I had." + +Mr. Francis Barold retired within himself at once. In his present mood +it really appeared that she was assuming that he was very much interested +indeed. + +"I should scarcely take the liberty upon a limited acquaintance," he +began. + +She looked at him steadily, fanning herself with slow, regular movements. + +"Yes," she remarked. "You're mad. I knew you were." + +He was so evidently disgusted by this observation, that she caught at the +meaning of his look, and laughed a little. + +"Ah!" she said, "that's an American word, ain't it? It sounds queer to +you. You say 'vexed' instead of 'mad.' Well, then, you are vexed." + +"If I have been so clumsy as to appear ill-humored," he said, "I beg +pardon. Certainly I have no right to exhibit such unusual interest in +your conduct." + +He felt that this was rather decidedly to the point, but she did not seem +overpowered at all. She smiled anew. + +"Anybody has a right to be mad--I mean vexed," she observed. "I should +like to know how people would live if they hadn't. I am mad--I mean +vexed--twenty times a day." + +"Indeed?" was his sole reply. + +"Well," she said, "I think it's real mean in you to be so cool about it +when you remember what I told you the other day." + +"I regret to say I don't remember just now. I hope it was nothing very +serious." + +To his astonishment she looked down at her fan, and spoke in a slightly +lowered voice:-- + +"I told you that I wanted to be improved." + +It must be confessed that he was mollified. There was a softness in her +manner which amazed him. He was at once embarrassed and delighted. But, +at the same time, it would not do to commit himself to too great a +seriousness. + +"Oh!" he answered, "that was a rather good joke, I thought." + +"No, it wasn't," she said, perhaps even half a tone lower. "I was +in earnest." + +Then she raised her eyes. + +"If you told me when I did any thing wrong, I think it might be a good +thing," she said. + +He felt that this was quite possible, and was also struck with the idea +that he might find the task of mentor--so long as he remained entirely +non-committal--rather interesting. Still, he could not afford to descend +at once from the elevated stand he had taken. + +"I am afraid you would find it rather tiresome," he remarked. + +"I am afraid _you_ would," she answered. "You would have to tell me of +things so often." + +"Do you mean seriously to tell me that you would take my advice?" he +inquired. + +"I mightn't take all of it," was her reply; "but I should take +some--perhaps a great deal." + +"Thanks," he remarked. "I scarcely think I should give you a great deal." + +She simply smiled. +"I have never had any advice at all," she said. "I don't know that I +should have taken it if I had--just as likely as not I shouldn't; but I +have never had any. Father spoiled me. He gave me all my own way. He said +he didn't care, so long as I had a good time; and I must say I have +generally had a good time. I don't see how I could help it--with all my +own way, and no one to worry. I wasn't sick, and I could buy any thing I +liked, and all that: so I had a good time. I've read of girls, in books, +wishing they had mothers to take care of them. I don't know that I ever +wished for one particularly. I can take care of myself. I must say, too, +that I don't think some mothers are much of an institution. I know girls +who have them, and they are always worrying." + +He laughed in spite of himself; and though she had been speaking with the +utmost seriousness and _naivete_, she joined him. + +When they ceased, she returned suddenly to the charge. + +"Now tell me what I have done this afternoon that isn't right," she +said,--"that Lucia Gaston wouldn't have done, for instance. I say +that, because I shouldn't mind being a little like Lucia Gaston--in +some things." + +"Lucia ought to feel gratified," he commented. + +"She does," she answered. "We had a little talk about it, and she was as +pleased as could be. I didn't think of it in that way until I saw her +begin to blush. Guess what she said." + +"I am afraid I can't." + +"She said she saw so many things to envy in me, that she could scarcely +believe I wanted to be at all like her." + +"It was a very civil speech," said Barold ironically. "I scarcely thought +Lady Theobald had trained her so well." + +"She meant it," said Octavia. "You mayn't believe it, but she did. I know +when people mean things, and when they don't." + +"I wish I did," said Barold. + +Octavia turned her attention to her fan. + +"Well, I am waiting," she said. + +"Waiting?" he repeated. + +"To be told of my faults." + +"But I scarcely see of what importance my opinion can be." + +"It is of some importance to me--just now." + +The last two words rendered him really impatient, and, it may be, spurred +him up. + +"If we are to take Lucia Gaston as a model," he said, "Lucia Gaston would +possibly not have been so complaisant in her demeanor toward our clerical +friend." + +"Complaisant!" she exclaimed, opening her lovely eyes. "When I was +actually plunging about the garden, trying to teach him to play. Well, I +shouldn't call that being complaisant." + +"Lucia Gaston," he replied, "would not say that she had been 'plunging' +about the garden." + +She gave herself a moment for reflection. + +"That's true," she remarked, when it was over: "she wouldn't. When I +compare myself with the Slowbridge girls, I begin to think I must say +some pretty awful things." + +Barold made no reply, which caused her to laugh a little again. + +"You daren't tell me," she said. "Now, do I? Well, I don't think I want +to know very particularly. What Lady Theobald thinks will last quite a +good while. Complaisant!" + +"I am sorry you object to the word," he said. + +"Oh, I don't!" she answered. "I like it. It sounds so much more polite +than to say I was flirting and being fast." + +"Were you flirting?" he inquired coldly. + +He objected to her ready serenity very much. + +She looked a little puzzled. + +"You are very like aunt Belinda," she said. + +He drew himself up. He did not think there was any point of resemblance +at all between Miss Belinda and himself. + +She went on, without observing his movement. + +"You think every thing means something, or is of some importance. You +said that just as aunt Belinda says, 'What will they think?' It never +occurs to me that they'll think at all. Gracious! Why should they?" + +"You will find they do," he said. + +"Well," she said, glancing at the group gathered under the laburnum-tree, +"just now aunt Belinda thinks we had better go over to her; so, suppose +we do it? At any rate, I found out that I was too complaisant to Mr. +Poppleton." + +When the party separated for the afternoon, Barold took Lucia home, and +Mr. Burmistone and the curate walked down the street together. + +Mr. Poppleton was indeed most agreeably exhilarated. His expressive +little countenance beamed with delight. + +"What a very charming person Miss Bassett is!" he exclaimed, after they +had left the gate. "What a very charming person indeed!" + +"Very charming," said Mr. Burmistone with much seriousness. "A +prettier young person I certainly have never seen; and those wonderful +gowns of hers"-- + +"Oh!" interrupted Mr. Poppleton, with natural confusion, "I--referred to +Miss Belinda Bassett; though, really, what you say is very true. Miss +Octavia Bassett--indeed--I think--in fact, Miss Octavia Bassett is +_quite_, one might almost say even _more_, charming than her aunt." + +"Yes," admitted Mr. Burmistone; "perhaps one might. She is less ripe, it +is true; but that is an objection time will remove." + +"There is such a delightful gayety in her manner!" said Mr. Poppleton; +"such an ingenuous frankness! such a--a--such spirit! It quite carries me +away with it,--quite." + +He walked a few steps, thinking over this delightful gayety and ingenuous +frankness; and then burst out afresh,-- + +"And what a remarkable life she has had too! She actually told me, that, +once in her childhood, she lived for months in a gold-diggers' camp,--the +only woman there. She says the men were kind to her, and made a pet of +her. She has known the most extraordinary people." + +In the mean time Francis Barold returned Lucia to Lady Theobald's safe +keeping. Having done so, he made his adieus, and left the two to +themselves. Her ladyship was, it must be confessed, a little at a loss to +explain to herself what she saw, or fancied she saw, in the manner and +appearance of her young relative. She was persuaded that she had never +seen Lucia look as she looked this afternoon. She had a brighter color in +her cheeks than usual, her pretty figure seemed more erect, her eyes had +a spirit in them which was quite new. She had chatted and laughed gayly +with Francis Barold, as she approached the house; and after his departure +she moved to and fro with a freedom not habitual to her. + +"He has been making himself agreeable to her," said my lady, with grim +pleasure. "He can do it if he chooses; and he is just the man to please a +girl,--good-looking, and with a fine, domineering air." + +"How did you enjoy yourself?" she asked. + +"Very much," said Lucia; "never more, thank you." + +"Oh!" ejaculated my lady. "And which of her smart New York gowns did Miss +Octavia Bassett wear?" + +They were at the dinner-table; and, instead of looking down at her soup, +Lucia looked quietly and steadily across the table at her grandmother. + +"She wore a very pretty one," she said: "it was pale fawn-color, and +fitted her like a glove. She made me feel very old-fashioned and +badly dressed." + +Lady Theobald laid down her spoon. + +"She made you feel old-fashioned and badly dressed,--you!" + +"Yes," responded Lucia: "she always does. I wonder what she thinks of the +things we wear in Slowbridge." And she even went to the length of smiling +a little. + +"What _she_ thinks of what is worn in Slowbridge!" Lady Theobald +ejaculated. "She! may I ask what weight the opinion of a young woman from +America--from Nevada--is supposed to have in Slowbridge?" + +Lucia took a spoonful of soup in a leisurely manner. + +"I don't think it is supposed to have any; but--but I don't think she +minds that. I feel as if I shouldn't if I were in her place. I have +always thought her very lucky." + +"You have thought her lucky!" cried my lady. "You have envied a Nevada +young woman, who dresses like an actress, and loads herself with jewels +like a barbarian? A girl whose conduct toward men is of a character +to--to chill one's blood!" + +"They admire her," said Lucia simply, "more than they admire Lydia +Egerton, and more than they admire me." + +"Do _you_ admire her?" demanded my lady. + +"Yes, grandmamma," replied Lucia courageously. "I think I do." + +Never had my lady been so astounded in her life. For a moment she could +scarcely speak. When she recovered herself she pointed to the door. + +"Go to your room," she commanded. "This is American freedom of speech, I +suppose. Go to your room." + +Lucia rose obediently. She could not help wondering what her ladyship's +course would be if she had the hardihood to disregard her order. She +really looked quite capable of carrying it out forcibly herself. When the +girl stood at her bedroom window, a few minutes later, her cheeks were +burning and her hands trembling. + +"I am afraid it was very badly done," she said to herself. "I am sure it +was; but--but it will be a kind of practice. I was in such a hurry to try +if I were equal to it, that I didn't seem to balance things quite +rightly. I ought to have waited until I had more reason to speak out. +Perhaps there wasn't enough reason then, and I was more aggressive than I +ought to have been. Octavia is never aggressive. I wonder if I was at all +pert. I don't think Octavia ever means to be pert. I felt a little as if +I meant to be pert. I must learn to balance myself, and only be cool and +frank." + +Then she looked out of the window, and reflected a little. + +"I was not so very brave, after all," she said, rather reluctantly. "I +didn't tell her Mr. Burmistone was there. I daren't have done that. I am +afraid I _am_ sly--that sounds sly, I am sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CONTRAST. + + +"Lady Theobald will put a stop to it," was the general remark. "It will +certainly not occur again." + +This was said upon the evening of the first gathering upon Miss Belinda's +grass-plat, and at the same time it was prophesied that Mr. Francis +Barold would soon go away. + +But neither of the prophecies proved true. Mr. Francis Barold did _not_ +return to London; and, strange to say, Lucia was seen again and again +playing croquet with Octavia Bassett, and was even known to spend +evenings with her. + +Perhaps it might be that an appeal made by Miss Belinda to her ladyship +had caused her to allow of these things. Miss Belinda had, in fact, made +a private call upon my lady, to lay her case before her. + +"I feel so very timid about every thing," she said, almost with tears, +"and so fearful of trusting myself, that I really find it quite a trial. +The dear child has such a kind heart--I assure you she has a kind heart, +dear Lady Theobald,--and is so innocent of any intention to do wrong--I +am sure she is innocent,--that it seems cruel to judge her severely. If +she had had the benefit of such training as dear Lucia's. I am convinced +that her conduct would have been most exemplary. She sees herself that +she has faults: I am sure she does. She said to me only last night, in +that odd way of hers,--she had been sitting, evidently thinking deeply, +for some minutes,--and she said, 'I wonder if I shouldn't be nicer if I +were more like Lucia Gaston.' You see what turn her mind must have taken. +She admires Lucia so much." + +"Yesterday evening at dinner," said Lady Theobald severely, "Lucia +informed me that _she_ admired your niece. The feeling seems to be +mutual." + +Miss Belinda colored, and brightened visibly. + +"Did she, indeed?" she exclaimed. "How pleased Octavia will be to hear +it! Did she, indeed?" Then, warned by a chilliness, and lack of response, +in her ladyship's manner, she modified her delight, and became apologetic +again. "These young people are more--are less critical than we are," she +sighed. "Octavia's great prettiness"-- + +"I think," Lady Theobald interposed, "that Lucia has been taught to feel +that the body is corruptible, and subject to decay, and that mere beauty +is of small moment." + +Miss Belinda sighed again. + +"That is very true," she admitted deprecatingly; "very true indeed." + +"It is to be hoped that Octavia's stay in Slowbridge will prove +beneficial to her," said her ladyship in her most judicial manner. "The +atmosphere is wholly unlike that which has surrounded her during her +previous life." + +"I am sure it will prove beneficial to her," said Miss Belinda eagerly. +"The companionship of well-trained and refined young people cannot fail +to be of use to her. Such a companion as Lucia would be, if you would +kindly permit her to spend an evening with us now and then, would +certainly improve and modify her greatly. Mr. Francis Barold is--is, I +think, of the same opinion; at least, I fancied I gathered as much from a +few words he let fall." + +"Francis Barold?" repeated Lady Theobald. "And what did Francis Barold +say?" + +"Of course it was but very little," hesitated Miss Belinda; "but--but I +could not help seeing that he was drawing comparisons, as it were. +Octavia was teaching Mr. Poppleton to play croquet; and she was rather +exhilarated, and perhaps exhibited more--freedom of manner, in an +innocent way,--quite in an innocent, thoughtless way,--than is exactly +customary; and I saw Mr. Barold glance from her to Lucia, who stood near; +and when I said, 'You are thinking of the contrast between them,' he +answered, 'Yes, they differ very greatly, it is true;' and of course I +knew that my poor Octavia could not have the advantage in his eyes. She +feels this herself, I know. She shocked me the other day, beyond +expression, by telling me that she had asked him if he thought she was +really fast, and that she was sure he did. Poor child! she evidently did +not comprehend the dreadful significance of such terms." + +"A man like Francis Barold does understand their significance," said Lady +Theobald; "and it is to be deplored that your niece cannot be taught what +her position in society will be if such a reputation attaches itself to +her. The men of the present day fight shy of such characters." + +This dread clause so impressed poor Miss Belinda by its solemnity, that +she could not forbear repeating it to Octavia afterward, though it is to +be regretted that it did not produce the effect she had hoped. + +"Well, I must say," she observed, "that if some men fought a little shyer +than they do, I shouldn't mind it. You always _do_ have about half a +dozen dangling around, who only bore you, and who will keep asking you to +go to places, and sending you bouquets, and asking you to dance when they +can't dance at all, and only tear your dress, and stand on your feet. If +they would 'fight shy,' it would be splendid." + +To Miss Belinda, who certainly had never been guilty of the indecorum of +having any member of the stronger sex "dangling about" at all, this was +very trying. + +"My dear," she said, "don't say 'you always have;' it--it really seems to +make it so personal." + +Octavia turned around, and fixed her eyes wonderingly upon her blushing +countenance. For a moment she made no remark, a marvellous thought +shaping itself slowly in her mind. + +"Aunt Belinda," she said at length, "did nobody ever"-- + +"Ah, no, my dear! No, no, I assure you!" cried Miss Belinda, in the +greatest possible trepidation. "Ah, dear, no! Such--such things +rarely--very rarely happen in--Slowbridge; and, besides, I couldn't +possibly have thought of it. I couldn't, indeed!" + +She was so overwhelmed with maidenly confusion at the appalling thought, +that she did not recover herself for half an hour at least. Octavia, +feeling that it would not be safe to pursue the subject, only uttered one +word of comment,-- + +"Gracious!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN EXPERIMENT. + + +Much to her own astonishment, Lucia found herself allowed new liberty. +She was permitted to spend the afternoon frequently with Octavia; and on +several occasions that young lady and Miss Bassett were invited to +partake of tea at Oldclough in company with no other guest than Francis +Barold. + +"I don't know what it means, and I think it must mean something," said +Lucia to Octavia; "but it is very pleasant. I never was allowed to be so +intimate with any one before." + +"Perhaps," suggested Octavia sagely, "she thinks, that, if you see me +often enough, you will get sick of me, and it will be a lesson to you." + +"The more I see of you," answered Lucia with a serious little air, "the +fonder I am of you. I understand you better. You are not at all like what +I thought you at first, Octavia." + +"But I don't know that there's much to understand in me." + +"There is a great deal to understand in you," she replied. "You are a +puzzle to me often. You seem so frank, and yet one knows so little about +you after all. For instance," Lucia went on, "who would imagine that you +are so affectionate?" + +"Am I affectionate?" she asked. + +"Yes," answered Lucia: "I am sure you are very affectionate. I have found +it out gradually. You would suffer things for any one you loved." + +Octavia thought the matter over. + +"Yes," she said at length, "I would." + +"You are very fond of Miss Bassett," proceeded Lucia, as if arraigning +her at the bar of justice. "You are _very_ fond of your father; and I am +sure there are other people you are very fond of--_very_ fond of indeed." + +Octavia pondered seriously again. + +"Yes, there are," she remarked; "but no one would care about them here, +and so I'm not going to make a fuss. You don't want to make a fuss over +people you l-like." + +"_You_ don't," said Lucia. "You are like Francis Barold in one way, but +you are altogether different in another. Francis Barold does not wish to +show emotion; and he is so determined to hedge himself around, that one +can't help suspecting that he is always guarding himself against one. He +seems always to be resenting any interference; but you do not appear to +care at all, and so it is not natural that one should suspect you. I did +not suspect you." + +"What do you suspect me of now?" + +"Of thinking a great deal," answered Lucia affectionately. "And of being +very clever and very good." + +Octavia was silent for a few moments. + +"I think," she said after the pause,--"I think you'll find out that it's +a mistake." + +"No, I shall not," returned Lucia, quite glowing with enthusiasm. "And I +know I shall learn a great deal from you." + +This was such a startling proposition that Octavia felt decidedly +uncomfortable. She flushed rosy red. + +"I'm the one who ought to learn things, I think," she said. "I'm always +doing things that frighten aunt Belinda, and you know how the rest +regard me." + +"Octavia," said Lucia, very naively indeed, "suppose we try to help each +other. If you will tell me when I am wrong, I will try to--to have the +courage to tell you. That will be good practice for me. What I want most +is courage and frankness, and I am sure it will take courage to make up +my mind to tell you of your--of your mistakes." + +Octavia regarded her with mingled admiration and respect. + +"I think that's a splendid idea," she said. + +"Are you sure," faltered Lucia, "are you sure you won't mind the +things I may have to say? Really, they are quite little things in +themselves--hardly worth mentioning"-- + +"Tell me one of them, right now," said Octavia, point-blank. + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Lucia, starting. "I'd rather not--just now." + +"Well," commented Octavia, "that sounds as if they must be pretty +unpleasant. Why don't you want to? They will be quite as bad to-morrow. +And to refuse to tell me one is a bad beginning. It looks as if you were +frightened; and it isn't good practice for you to be frightened at such a +little thing." + +Lucia felt convicted. She made an effort to regain her composure. + +"No, it is not," she said. "But that is always the way. I am continually +telling myself that I _will_ be courageous and candid; and, the first +time any thing happens, I fail. I _will_ tell you one thing." + +She stopped short here, and looked at Octavia guiltily. + +"It is something--I think I would do if--if I were in your place," Lucia +stammered. "A very little thing indeed." + +"Well?" remarked Octavia anxiously. + +Lucia lost her breath, caught it again, and proceeded cautiously, and +with blushes at her own daring. + +"If I were in your place," she said, "I think--that, perhaps--only +perhaps, you know--I would not wear--my hair--_quite_ so low down--over +my forehead." + +Octavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the pier-glass over the mantle. +She glanced at the reflection of her own startled, pretty face, and +then, putting her hand up to the soft blonde "bang" which met her brows, +turned to Lucia. + +"Isn't it becoming?" she asked breathlessly. + +"Oh, yes!" Lucia answered. "Very." + +Octavia started. + +"Then, why wouldn't you wear it?" she cried. "What do you mean?" + +Lucia felt her position truly a delicate one. She locked her hands, and +braced herself; but she blushed vividly. + +"It may sound rather silly when I tell you why, Octavia," she said; "but +I really do think it is a sort of reason. You know, in those absurd +pictures of actresses, bangs always seem to be the principal feature. I +saw some in the shop-windows when I went to Harriford with grandmamma. +And they were such dreadful women,--some of them,--and had so very few +clothes on, that I can't help thinking I shouldn't like to look like +them, and"-- + +"Does it make me look like them?" + +"Oh, very little!" answered Lucia; "very little indeed, of course; but"-- + +"But it's the same thing after all," put in Octavia. "That's what you +mean." + +"It is so very little," faltered Lucia, "that--that perhaps it isn't +a reason." + +Octavia looked at herself in the glass again. + +"It isn't a very good reason," she remarked, "but I suppose it will do." + +She paused, and looked Lucia in the face. + +"I don't think that's a little thing," she said. "To be told you look +like an _opera bouffe_ actress." + +"I did not mean to say so," cried Lucia, filled with the most poignant +distress. "I beg your pardon, indeed--I--oh, dear! I was afraid you +wouldn't like it. I felt that it was taking a great liberty." + +"I don't like it," answered Octavia; "but that can't be helped. I didn't +exactly suppose I should. But I wasn't going to say any thing about +_your_ hair when _I_ began," glancing at poor Lucia's coiffure, "though I +suppose I might." + +"You might say a thousand things about it!" cried Lucia piteously. "I +know that mine is not only in bad taste, but it is ugly and unbecoming." +"Yes," said Octavia cruelly, "it is." + +"And yours is neither the one nor the other," protested Lucia. "You know +I told you it was pretty, Octavia." + +Octavia walked over to the table, upon which stood Miss Belinda's +work-basket, and took therefrom a small and gleaming pair of scissors, +returning to the mantle-glass with them. + +"How short shall I cut it?" she demanded. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lucia, "don't, don't!" + +For answer, Octavia raised the scissors, and gave a snip. It was a savage +snip, and half the length and width of her love-locks fell on the mantle; +then she gave another snip, and the other half fell. + +Lucia scarcely dared to breathe. + +For a moment Octavia stood gazing at herself, with pale face and dilated +eyes. Then suddenly the folly of the deed she had done seemed to reveal +itself to her. + +"Oh!" she cried out. "Oh, how diabolical it looks!" + +She turned upon Lucia. + +"Why did you make me do it?" she exclaimed. "It's all your fault--every +bit of it;" and, flinging the scissors to the other end of the room, she +threw herself into a chair, and burst into tears. + +Lucia's anguish of mind was almost more than she could bear. For at least +three minutes she felt herself a criminal of the deepest dye; after the +three minutes had elapsed, however, she began to reason, and called to +mind the fact that she was failing as usual under her crisis. + +"This is being a coward again," she said to herself. "It is worse than to +have said nothing. It is true that she will look more refined, now one +can see a little of her forehead; and it is cowardly to be afraid to +stand firm when I really think so. I--yes, I will say something to her." + +"Octavia," she began aloud, "I am sure you are making a mistake again." +This as decidedly as possible, which was not very decidedly. "You--you +look very much--nicer." + +"I look _ghastly_!" said Octavia, who began to feel rather absurd. + +"You do not. Your forehead--you have the prettiest forehead I ever saw, +Octavia," said Lucia eagerly; "and your eyebrows are perfect. I--wish you +would look at yourself again." + +Rather to her surprise, Octavia began to laugh under cover of her +handkerchief: reaction had set in, and, though the laugh was a trifle +hysterical, it was still a laugh. Next she gave her eyes a final little +dab, and rose to go to the glass again. She looked at herself, touched up +the short, waving fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia, with +a resigned expression. + +"Do you think that any one who was used to seeing it the other way +would--would think I looked horrid?" she inquired anxiously. + +"They would think you prettier,--a great deal," Lucia answered earnestly. +"Don't you know, Octavia, that nothing could be really unbecoming to you? +You have that kind of face." + +For a few seconds Octavia seemed to lose herself in thought of a +speculative nature. + +"Jack always said so," she remarked at length. + +"Jack!" repeated Lucia timidly. + +Octavia roused herself, and smiled with candid sweetness. + +"He is some one I knew in Nevada," she explained. "He worked in father's +mine once." + +"You must have known him very well," suggested Lucia, somewhat awed. + +"I did," she replied calmly. "Very well." + +She tucked away her pocket-handkerchief in the jaunty pocket at the back +of her basque, and returned to her chair. Then she turned again to Lucia. + +"Well," she said, "I think you have found out that you _were_ mistaken, +haven't you, dear? Suppose you tell me of something else." + +Lucia colored. + +"No," she answered: "that is enough for to-day." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PECULIAR TO NEVADA. + + +Whether, or not, Lucia was right in accusing Octavia Bassett of being +clever, and thinking a great deal, is a riddle which those who are +interested in her must unravel as they read; but, whether the surmise was +correct or incorrect, it seemed possible that she had thought a little +after the interview. When Barold saw her next, he was struck by a slight +but distinctly definable change he recognized in her dress and coiffure. +Her pretty hair had a rather less "professional" appearance: he had the +pleasure of observing, for the first time, how very white her forehead +was, and how delicate the arch of her eyebrows; her dress had a novel air +of simplicity, and the diamond rings were nowhere to be seen. + +"She's better dressed than usual," he said to himself. "And she's always +well dressed,--rather too well dressed, fact is, for a place like this. +This sort of thing is in better form, under the circumstances." It was +so much "better form," and he so far approved of it, that he quite +thawed, and was very amiable and very entertaining indeed. + +Octavia was entertaining too. She asked several most interesting +questions. + +"Do you think," she inquired, "that it is bad taste to wear diamonds?" + +"My mother wears them--occasionally." + +"Have you any sisters?" + +"No." + +"Any cousins--as young as I am?" + +"Ya-as." + +"Do they wear them?" + +"I must admit," he replied, "that they don't. In the first place, you +know, they haven't any; and, in the second, I am under the impression +that Lady Beauchamp--their mamma, you know--wouldn't permit it if they +had." + +"Wouldn't permit it!" said Octavia. "I suppose they always do as she +tells them?" + +He smiled a little. + +"They would be very courageous young women if they didn't," he remarked. + +"What would she do if they tried it?" she inquired. "She couldn't beat +them." + +"They will never try it," he answered dryly. "And though I have never +seen her beat them, or heard their lamentations under chastisement, I +should not like to say that Lady Beauchamp could not do any thing. She is +a very determined person--for a gentlewoman." + +Octavia laughed. + +"You are joking," she said. + +"Lady Beauchamp is a serious subject for jokes," he responded. "My +cousins think so, at least." + +"I wonder if she is as bad as Lady Theobald," Octavia reflected aloud. +"She says I have no right to wear diamonds at all until I am married. But +I don't mind Lady Theobald," she added, as a cheerful afterthought. "I am +not fond enough of her to care about what she says." + +"Are you fond of any one?" Barold inquired, speaking with a languid air, +but at the same time glancing at her with some slight interest from under +his eyelids. + +"Lucia says I am," she returned, with the calmness of a young person who +wished to regard the matter from an unembarrassed point of view. "Lucia +says I am affectionate." + +"Ah!" deliberately. "Are you?" + +She turned, and looked at him serenely. + +"Should _you_ think so?" she asked. + +This was making such a personal matter of the question, that he did not +exactly enjoy it. It was certainly not "good form" to pull a man up in +such cool style. + +"Really," he replied, "I--ah--have had no opportunity of judging." + +He had not the slightest intention of being amusing, but to his infinite +disgust he discovered as soon as he spoke that she was amused. She +laughed outright, and evidently only checked herself because he looked so +furious. In consideration for his feelings she assumed an air of mild but +preternatural seriousness. + +"No," she remarked, "that is true: you haven't, of course." + +He was silent. He did not enjoy being amusing at all, and he made no +pretence of appearing to submit to the indignity calmly. + +She bent forward a little. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, "you are mad again--I mean, you are vexed. I am +always vexing you." + +There was a hint of appeal in her voice, which rather pleased him; but he +had no intention of relenting at once. + +"I confess I am at a loss to know why you laughed," he said. + +"Are you," she asked, "really?" letting her eyes rest upon him anxiously +for a moment. Then she actually gave vent to a little sigh. "We look at +things so differently, that's it," she said. + +"I suppose it is," he responded, still chillingly. + +In spite of this, she suddenly assumed a comparatively cheerful aspect. A +happy thought occurred to her. + +"Lucia would beg your pardon," she said. "I am learning good manners from +Lucia. Suppose I beg your pardon." + +"It is quite unnecessary," he replied. + +"Lucia wouldn't think so," she said. "And why shouldn't I be as +well-behaved as Lucia? I beg your pardon." + +He felt rather absurd, and yet somewhat mollified. She had a way of +looking at him, sometimes, when she had been unpleasant, which rather +soothed him. In fact, he had found of late, a little to his private +annoyance, that it was very easy for her either to soothe or disturb him. + +And now, just as Octavia had settled down into one of the prettiest and +least difficult of her moods, there came a knock at the front door, +which, being answered by Mary Anne, was found to announce the curate of +St. James. + +Enter, consequently, the Rev. Arthur Poppleton,--blushing, a trifle +timorous perhaps, but happy beyond measure to find himself in Miss +Belinda's parlor again, with Miss Belinda's niece. + +Perhaps the least possible shade of his joyousness died out when he +caught sight of Mr. Francis Barold, and certainly Mr. Francis Barold was +not at all delighted to see him. + +"What does the fellow want?" that gentleman was saying inwardly. "What +does he come simpering and turning pink here for? Why doesn't he go and +see some of his old women, and read tracts to them? That's _his_ +business." Octavia's manner toward her visitor formed a fresh +grievance for Barold. She treated the curate very well indeed. She +seemed glad to see him, she was wholly at her ease with him, she made no +trying remarks to him, she never stopped to fix her eyes upon him in +that inexplicable style, and she did not laugh when there seemed nothing +to laugh at. She was so gay and good-humored that the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton beamed and flourished under her treatment, and forgot to +change color, and even ventured to talk a good deal, and make divers +quite presentable little jokes. + +"I should like to know," thought Barold, growing sulkier as the others +grew merrier,--"I should like to know what she finds so interesting in +him, and why she chooses to treat him better than she treats me; for she +certainly does treat him better." + +It was hardly fair, however, that he should complain; for, at times, he +was treated extremely well, and his intimacy with Octavia progressed +quite rapidly. Perhaps, if the truth were told, it was always himself who +was the first means of checking it, by some suddenly prudent instinct +which led him to feel that perhaps he was in rather a delicate position, +and had better not indulge in too much of a good thing. He had not been +an eligible and unimpeachable desirable _parti_ for ten years without +acquiring some of that discretion which is said to be the better part of +valor. The matter-of-fact air with which Octavia accepted his attentions +caused him to pull himself up sometimes. If he had been Brown, or Jones, +or even Robinson, she could not have appeared to regard them as more +entirely natural. When--he had gone so far, once or twice--he had deigned +to make a more than usually agreeable speech to her, it was received with +none of that charming sensitive tremor to which he was accustomed. +Octavia neither blushed, nor dropped her eyes. + +It did not add to Barold's satisfaction to find her as cheerful and ready +to be amused by a mild little curate, who blushed and stammered, and was +neither brilliant, graceful, nor distinguished. Could not Octavia see the +wide difference between the two? Regarding the matter in this light, and +watching Octavia as she encouraged her visitor, and laughed at his jokes, +and never once tripped him up by asking him a startling question, did +not, as already has been said, improve Mr. Francis Barold's temper; and, +by the time his visit was over, he had lapsed into his coldest and most +haughty manner. As soon as Miss Belinda entered, and engaged Mr. +Poppleton for a moment, he rose, and crossed the little room to Octavia's +side. + +"I must bid you good-afternoon," he said. + +Octavia did not rise. + +"Sit down a minute, while aunt Belinda is talking about red-flannel +nightcaps and lumbago," she said. "I wanted to ask you something. By the +way, what _is_ lumbago?" + +"Is that what you wished to ask me?" he inquired stiffly. + +"No. I just thought of that. Have you ever had it? and what is it like? +All the old people in Slowbridge have it, and they tell you all about it +when you go to see them. Aunt Belinda says so. What I wanted to ask you +was different"-- + +"Possibly Miss Bassett might be able to tell you," he remarked. + +"About the lumbago? Well, perhaps she might. I'll ask her. Do you think +it bad taste in _me_ to wear diamonds?" + +She said this with the most delightful seriousness, fixing her eyes upon +him with her very prettiest look of candid appeal, as if it were the most +natural thing in the world that she should apply to him for information. +He felt himself faltering again. How white that bit of forehead was! How +soft that blonde, waving fringe of hair! What a lovely shape her eyes +were, and how large and clear as she raised them! + +"Why do you ask _me_?" he inquired. + +"Because I think you are an unprejudiced person. Lady Theobald is not. I +have confidence in you. Tell me." + +There was a slight pause. + +"Really," he said, after it, "I can scarcely believe that my opinion can +be of any value in your eyes. I am--can only tell you that it is hardly +customary in--an--in England for young people to wear a profusion of +ornament." + +"I wonder if I wear a profusion." + +"You don't need any," he condescended. "You are too young, and--all that +sort of thing." + +She glanced down at her slim, unringed hands for a moment, her expression +quite thoughtful. + +"Lucia and I almost quarrelled the other day," she said--"at least, I +almost quarrelled. It isn't so nice to be told of things, after all. I +must say I don't like it as much as I thought I should." + +He kept his seat longer than, he had intended; and, when he rose to go, +the Rev. Arthur Poppleton was shaking hands with Miss Belinda, and so it +fell out that they left the house together. + +"You know Miss Octavia Bassett well, I suppose," remarked Barold, with +condescension, as they passed through the gate. "You clergymen are +fortunate fellows." + +"I wish that others knew her as well, sir," said the little gentleman, +kindling. "I wish they knew her--her generosity and kindness of heart and +ready sympathy with misfortune!" + +"Ah!" commented Mr. Barold, twisting his mustache with somewhat of an +incredulous air. This was not at all the sort of thing he had expected to +hear. For his own part, it would not have occurred to him to suspect her +of the possession of such desirable and orthodox qualities. + +"There are those who--misunderstand her," cried the curate, warming with +his subject, "who misunderstand, and--yes, and apply harsh terms to her +innocent gayety and freedom of speech: if they knew her as I do, they +would cease to do so." + +"I should scarcely have thought"--began Barold. + +"There are many who scarcely think it,--if you will pardon my +interrupting you," said the curate. "I think they would scarcely believe +it if I felt at liberty to tell them, which I regret to say I do not. I +am almost breaking my word in saying what I cannot help saying to +yourself. The poor under my care are better off since she came, and there +are some who have seen her more than once, though she did not go as a +teacher or to reprove them for faults; and her way of doing what she did +was new to them, and perhaps much less serious than they were accustomed +to, and they liked it all the better." + +"Ah!" commented Barold again. "Flannel under-garments, and--that sort +of thing." + +"No," with much spirit, "not at all, sir; but what, as I said, they liked +much better. It is not often they meet a beautiful creature who comes +among them with open hands, and the natural, ungrudging way of giving +which she has. Sometimes they are at a loss to understand, as well as the +rest. They have been used to what is narrower and more--more exacting." + +"They have been used to Lady Theobald," observed Barold, with a faint +smile. + +"It would not become me to--to mention Lady Theobald in any disparaging +manner," replied the curate: "but the best and most charitable among us +do not always carry out our good intentions in the best way. I dare say +Lady Theobald would consider Miss Octavia Bassett too readily influenced +and too lavish." + +"She is as generous with her money as with her diamonds perhaps," said +Barold. "Possibly the quality is peculiar to Nevada. We part here, Mr. +Poppleton, I believe. Good-morning." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +LORD LANSDOWNE. + + +One morning in the following week Mrs. Burnham attired herself in her +second-best black silk, and, leaving the Misses Burnham practising +diligently, turned her steps toward Oldclough Hall. Arriving there, she +was ushered into the blue drawing-room by Dobson, in his character of +footman; and in a few minutes Lucia appeared. + +When Mrs. Burnham saw her, she assumed a slight air of surprise. + +"Why, my dear," she said, as she shook hands, "I should scarcely have +known you." + +And, though this was something of an exaggeration, there was some excuse +for the exclamation. Lucia was looking very charming, and several changes +might be noted in her attire and appearance. The ugly twist had +disappeared from her delicate head; and in its place were soft, loose +waves and light puffs; she had even ventured on allowing a few ringed +locks to stray on to her forehead; her white morning-dress no longer wore +the trade-mark of Miss Chickie, but had been remodelled by some one of +more taste. + +"What a pretty gown, my dear!" said Mrs. Burnham, glancing at it +curiously. "A Watteau plait down the back--isn't it a Watteau plait?--and +little ruffles down the front, and pale pink bows. It is quite like some +of Miss Octavia Bassett's dresses, only not so over-trimmed." + +"I do not think Octavia's dresses would seem over-trimmed if she wore +them in London or Paris," said Lucia bravely. "It is only because we are +so very quiet, and dress so little in Slowbridge, that they seem so." + +"And your hair!" remarked Mrs. Burnham. "You drew your idea of that from +some style of hers, I suppose. Very becoming, indeed. Well, well! And how +does Lady Theobald like all this, my dear?" + +"I am not sure that"--Lucia was beginning, when her ladyship interrupted +her by entering. + +"My dear Lady Theobald," cried her visitor, rising, "I hope you are well. +I have just been complimenting Lucia upon her pretty dress, and her new +style of dressing her hair. Miss Octavia Bassett has been giving her the +benefit of her experience, it appears. We have not been doing her +justice. Who would have believed that she had come from Nevada to improve +us?" + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said my lady sonorously, "has come from Nevada to +teach our young people a great many things,--new fashions in duty, and +demeanor, and respect for their elders. Let us hope they will be +benefited." + +"If you will excuse me, grandmamma," said Lucia, speaking in a soft, +steady voice, "I will go and write the letters you wished written." + +"Go," said my lady with majesty; and, having bidden Mrs. Burnham +good-morning, Lucia went. + +If Mrs. Burnham had expected any explanation of her ladyship's evident +displeasure, she was doomed to disappointment. That excellent and +rigorous gentlewoman had a stern sense of dignity, which forbade her +condescending to the confidential weakness of mere ordinary mortals. +Instead of referring to Lucia, she broached a more commonplace topic. + +"I hope your rheumatism does not threaten you again, Mrs. Burnham," +she remarked. + +"I am very well, thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Burnham; "so well, that I +am thinking quite seriously of taking the dear girls to the garden-party, +when it comes off." + +"To the garden-party!" repeated her ladyship. "May I ask who thinks of +giving a garden-party in Slowbridge?" + +"It is no one in Slowbridge," replied this lady cheerfully. "Some one who +lives a little out of Slowbridge,--Mr. Burmistone, my dear Lady Theobald, +at his new place." + +"Mr. Burmistone!" + +"Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to +believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. +Barold." + +"Mr. Barold has not been to Oldclough for several days." + +"Then, he will tell you when he comes; for I suppose he has as much to do +with it as Mr. Burmistone." + +"I have heard before," announced my lady, "of men of Mr. Burmistone's +class securing the services of persons of established position in society +when they wished to spend their money upon entertainments; but I should +scarcely have imagined that Francis Barold would have allowed himself to +be made a party to such a transaction." + +"But," put in Mrs. Burnham rather eagerly, "it appears that Mr. +Burmistone is not such an obscure person, after all. He is an Oxford man, +and came off with honors: he is quite a well-born man, and gives this +entertainment in honor of his friend and relation, Lord Lansdowne." + +"Lord Lansdowne!" echoed her ladyship, sternly. + +"Son of the Marquis of Lauderdale, whose wife was Lady Honora Erroll." + +"Did Mr. Burmistone give you this information?" asked Lady Theobald with +ironic calmness. + +Mrs. Burnham colored never so faintly. + +"I--that is to say--there is a sort of acquaintance between one of my +maids and the butler at the Burmistone place; and, when the girl was +doing Lydia's hair, she told her the story. Lord Lansdowne and his father +are quite fond of Mr. Burmistone, it is said." + +"It seems rather singular to my mind that we should not have known of +this before." + +"But how should we learn? We none of us know Lord Lansdowne, or even the +marquis. I think he is only a second or third cousin. We are a +little--just a little _set_ in Slowbridge, you know, my dear: at least, I +have thought so sometimes lately." + +"I must confess," remarked my lady, "that _I_ have not regarded the +matter in that light." + +"That is because you have a better right to--to be a little set than the +rest of us," was the amiable response. + +Lady Theobald did not disclaim the privilege. She felt the sentiment an +extremely correct one. But she was not very warm in her manner during the +remainder of the call; and, incongruous as such a statement may appear, +it must be confessed that she felt that Miss Octavia Bassett must have +something to do with, these defections on all sides, and that +garden-parties, and all such swervings from established Slowbridge +custom, were the natural result of Nevada frivolity and freedom of +manners. It may be that she felt remotely that even Lord Lansdowne and +the Marquis of Lauderdale were to be referred to the same reprehensible +cause, and that, but for Octavia Bassett, Mr. Burmistone would not have +been educated at Oxford and have come off with honors, and have turned +out to be related to respectable people, but would have remained in +appropriate obscurity. + +"I suppose," she said afterward to Lucia, "that your friend Miss Octavia +Bassett is in Mr. Burmistone's confidence, if no one else has been +permitted to have that honor. I have no doubt _she_ has known of this +approaching entertainment for some weeks." + +"I do not know, grandmamma," replied Lucia, putting her letters together, +and gaining color as she bent over them. She was wondering, with inward +trepidation, what her ladyship would say if she knew the whole truth,--if +she knew that it was her granddaughter, and not Octavia Bassett, who +enjoyed Mr. Burmistone's confidence. + +"Ah!" she thought, "how could I ever dare to tell her?" + +The same day Francis Barold sauntered up to pay them a visit; and then, +as Mrs. Burnham had prophesied, Lady Theobald heard all she wished to +hear, and, indeed, a great deal more. + +"What is this I am told of Mr. Burmistone, Francis?" she inquired. +"That he intends to give a garden-party, and that Lord Lansdowne is to +be one of the guests, and that he has caused it to be circulated that +they are cousins." + +"That Lansdowne has caused it to be circulated--or Burmistone?" + +"It is scarcely likely that Lord Lansdowne"-- + +"Beg pardon," he interrupted, fixing his single glass dexterously in his +right eye, and gazing at her ladyship through it. "Can't see why +Lansdowne should object. Fact is, he is a great deal fonder of Burmistone +than relations usually are of each other. Now, I often find that kind of +thing a bore; but Lansdowne doesn't seem to. They were at school +together, it seems, and at Oxford too; and Burmistone is supposed to have +behaved pretty well towards Lansdowne at one time, when he was rather a +wild fellow--so the father and mother say. As to Burmistone 'causing it +to be circulated,' that sort of thing is rather absurd. The man isn't a +cad, you know." + +"Pray don't say 'you know,' Francis," said her ladyship. "I know very +little but what I have chanced to see, and I must confess I have not +been prepossessed in Mr. Burmistone's favor. Why did he not choose to +inform us"-- + +"That he was Lord Lansdowne's second cousin, and knew the Marquis of +Lauderdale, grandmamma?" broke in Lucia, with very pretty spirit. "Would +that have prepossessed you in his favor? Would you have forgiven him for +building the mills, on Lord Lansdowne's account? I--I wish I was related +to a marquis," which was very bold indeed. + +"May I ask," said her ladyship, in her most monumental manner, "when +_you_ became Mr. Burmistone's champion?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +"YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER." + + +When she had become Mr. Burmistone's champion, indeed! She could scarcely +have told when, unless, perhaps, she had fixed the date at the first time +she had heard his name introduced at a high tea, with every politely +opprobrious epithet affixed. She had defended him in her own mind then, +and felt sure that he deserved very little that was said against him, and +very likely nothing at all. And, the first time she had seen and spoken +to him, she had been convinced that she had not made a mistake, and that +he had been treated with cruel injustice. How kind he was, how manly, how +clever, and how well he bore himself under the popular adverse criticism! +She only wondered that anybody could be so blind and stupid and wilful as +to assail him. + +And if this had been the case in those early days, imagine what she felt +now, when--ah, well!--when her friendship had had time and opportunity to +become a much deeper sentiment. Must it be confessed that she had seen +Mr. Burmistone even oftener than Octavia and Miss Belinda knew of? Of +course it had all been quite accidental; but it had happened that now and +then, when she had been taking a quiet walk in the lanes about Oldclough, +she had encountered a gentleman, who had dismounted, and led his horse by +the bridle, as he sauntered by her side. She had always been very timid +at such times, and had felt rather like a criminal; but Mr. Burmistone +had not been timid at all, and would, indeed, as soon have met Lady +Theobald as not, for which courage his companion admired him more than +ever. It was not very long before to be with this hero re-assured her, +and made her feel stronger and more self-reliant. She was never afraid to +open her soft little heart to him, and show him innocently all its +goodness, and ignorance of worldliness. She warmed and brightened under +his kindly influence, and was often surprised in secret at her own simple +readiness of wit and speech. + +"It is odd that I am such a different girl when--when I am with you," she +said to him one day. "I even make little jokes. I never should think of +making even the tiniest joke before grandmamma. Somehow, she never seems +quite to understand jokes. She never laughs at them. You always laugh, +and I am sure it is very kind of you to encourage me so; but you must not +encourage me too much, or I might forget, and make a little joke at +dinner, and I think, if I did, she would choke over her soup." + +Perhaps, when she dressed her hair, and adorned herself with pale pink +bows and like appurtenances, this artful young person had privately in +mind other beholders than Mrs. Burnham, and other commendation than that +to be bestowed by that most excellent matron. + +"Do you mind my telling you that you have put on an enchanted garment?" +said Mr. Burmistone, the first time they met when she wore one of the +old-new gowns. "I thought I knew before how"-- + +"I don't mind it at all," said Lucia, blushing brilliantly. "I rather +like it. It rewards me for my industry. My hair is dressed in a new way. +I hope you like that too. Grandmamma does not." + +It had been Lady Theobald's habit to treat Lucia severely from a sense of +duty. Her manner toward her had always rather the tone of implying that +she was naturally at fault, and yet her ladyship could not have told +wherein she wished the girl changed. In the good old school in which my +lady had been trained, it was customary to regard young people as weak, +foolish, and, if left to their own desires, frequently sinful. Lucia had +not been left to her own desires. She had been taught to view herself as +rather a bad case, and to feel that she was far from being what her +relatives had a right to expect. To be thrown with a person who did not +find her silly or dull or commonplace, was a new experience. + +"If I had been clever," Lucia said once to Mr. Burmistone,--"if I had +been clever, perhaps grandmamma would have been more satisfied with me. I +have often wished I had been clever." + +"If you had been a boy," replied Mr. Burmistone rather grimly, "and had +squandered her money, and run into debt, and bullied her, you would have +been her idol, and she would have pinched and starved herself to supply +your highness's extravagance." + +When the garden-party rumor began to take definite form, and there was no +doubt as to Mr. Burmistone's intentions, a discussion arose at once, and +went on in every genteel parlor. Would Lady Theobald allow Lucia to go? +and, if she did not allow her, would not such a course appear very +pointed indeed? It was universally decided that it would appear pointed, +but that Lady Theobald would not mind that in the least, and perhaps +would rather enjoy it than otherwise; and it was thought Lucia would not +go. And it is very likely that Lucia would have remained at home, if it +had not been for the influence of Mr. Francis Barold. + +Making a call at Oldclough, he found his august relative in a very +majestic mood, and she applied to him again for information. + +"Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me whether it is true that +Belinda Bassett--_Belinda Bassett_," with emphasis, "has been invited by +Mr. Burmistone to assist him to receive his guests." + +"Yes, it is true," was the reply: "I think I advised it myself. +Burmistone is fond of her. They are great friends. Man needs a woman at +such times." + +"And he chose Belinda Bassett?" + +"In the first place, he is on friendly terms with her, as I said before," +replied Barold; "in the second, she's just what he wants--well-bred, +kind-hearted, not likely to make rows, _et caetera_." There was a slight +pause before he finished, adding quietly, "He's not the man to submit to +being refused--Burmistone." + +Lady Theobald did not reply, or raise her eyes from her work: she knew he +was looking at her with calm fixedness, through the glass he held in its +place so cleverly; and she detested this more than any thing else, +perhaps because she was invariably quelled by it, and found she had +nothing to say. + +He did not address her again immediately, but turned to Lucia, dropping +the eyeglass, and resuming his normal condition. + +"You will go, of course?" he said. + +Lucia glanced across at my lady. + +"I--do not know. Grandmamma"-- + +"Oh!" interposed Barold, "you must go. There is no reason for your +refusing the invitation, unless you wish to imply something +unpleasant--which is, of course, out of the question." + +"But there may be reasons"--began her ladyship. + +"Burmistone is my friend," put in Barold, in his coolest tone; "and I am +your relative, which would make my position in his house a delicate one, +if he has offended you." + +When Lucia saw Octavia again, she was able to tell her that they had +received invitations to the _fete_, and that Lady Theobald had accepted +them. + +"She has not spoken a word to me about it, but she has accepted them," +said Lucia. "I don't quite understand her lately, Octavia. She must be +very fond of Francis Barold. He never gives way to her in the least, and +she always seems to submit to him. I know she would not have let me go, +if he had not insisted on it, in that taking-it-for-granted way of his." + +Naturally Mr. Burmistone's _fete_ caused great excitement. Miss Chickie +was never so busy in her life, and there were rumors that her feelings +had been outraged by the discovery that Mrs. Burnham had sent to +Harriford for costumes for her daughters. + +"Slowbridge is changing, mem," said Miss Chickie, with brilliant sarcasm. +"Our ladies is led in their fashions by a Nevada young person. We're +improving most rapid--more rapid than I'd ever have dared to hope. Do you +prefer a frill, or a flounce, mem?" + +Octavia was in great good spirits at the prospect of the gayeties in +question. She had been in remarkably good spirits for some weeks. She had +received letters from Nevada, containing good news she said. Shares had +gone up again; and her father had almost settled his affairs, and it +would not be long before he would come to England. She looked so +exhilarated over the matter, that Lucia felt a little aggrieved. "Will +you be so glad to leave us, Octavia?" she asked. "We shall not be so glad +to let you go. We have grown very fond of you." + +"I shall be sorry to leave you, and aunt Belinda is going with us. You +don't expect me to be very fond of Slowbridge, do you, and to be sorry I +can't take Mrs. Burnham--and the rest?" + +Barold was present when she made this speech, and it rather rankled. + +"Am I one of 'the rest'?" he inquired, the first time he found himself +alone with her. He was sufficiently piqued to forget his usual _hauteur_ +and discretion. + +"Would you like to be?" she said. + +"Oh! Very much--very much--naturally," he replied severely. + +They were standing near a rose-bush in the garden; and she plucked a +rose, and regarded it with deep interest. + +"Well," she said, next, "I must say I think I shouldn't have had such a +good time if you hadn't been here. You have made it livelier." + +"Tha-anks," he remarked. "You are most kind." + +"Oh!" she answered, "it's true. If it wasn't, I shouldn't say it. You and +Mr. Burmistone and Mr. Poppleton have certainly made it livelier." + +He went home in such a bad humor that his host, who was rather happier +than usual, commented upon his grave aspect at dinner. + +"You look as if you had heard ill news, old fellow," he said. "What's +up?" + +"Oh, nothing!" he was answered sardonically; "nothing whatever--unless +that I have been rather snubbed by a young lady from Nevada." + +"Ah!" with great seriousness: "that's rather cool, isn't it?" + +"It's her little way," said Barold. "It seems to be one of the customs +of Nevada." + +In fact, he was very savage indeed. He felt that he had condescended a +good deal lately. He seldom bestowed his time on women; and when he did +so, at rare intervals, he chose those who would do the most honor to his +taste at the least cost of trouble. And he was obliged to confess to +himself that he had broken his rule in this case. Upon analyzing his +motives and necessities, he found, that, after all, he must have extended +his visit simply because he chose to see more of this young woman from +Nevada, and that really, upon the whole, he had borne a good deal from +her. Sometimes he had been much pleased with her, and very well +entertained; but often enough--in fact, rather too often--she had made +him exceedingly uncomfortable. Her manners were not what he was +accustomed to: she did not consider that all men were not to be regarded +from the same point of view. Perhaps he did not put into definite words +the noble and patriotic sentiment that an Englishman was not to be +regarded from the same point of view as an American, and that, though all +this sort of thing might do with fellows in New York, it was scarcely +what an Englishman would stand. Perhaps, as I say, he had not put this +sentiment into words; but it is quite certain that it had been uppermost +in his mind upon more occasions than one. As he thought their +acquaintance over, this evening, he was rather severe upon Octavia. He +even was roused so far as to condescend to talk her over with Burmistone. + +"If she had been well brought up," he said, "she would have been a +different creature." + +"Very different, I have no doubt," said Burmistone thoughtfully. "When +you say well brought up, by the way, do you mean brought up like your +cousin, Miss Gaston?" + +"There is a medium," said Barold loftily. "I regret to say Lady Theobald +has not hit upon it." + +"Well, as you say," commented Mr. Burmistone, "I suppose there is a +medium." + +"A charming wife she would make, for a man with a position to maintain," +remarked Barold, with a short and somewhat savage laugh. + +"Octavia Bassett?" queried Burmistone. "That's true. But I am afraid she +wouldn't enjoy it--if you are supposing the man to be an Englishman, +brought up in the regulation groove." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Barold impatiently: "I was not looking at it from her +point of view, but from his." + +Mr. Burmistone slipped his hands in his pockets, and jingled his keys +slightly, as he did once before in an earlier part of this narrative. + +"Ah! from his," he repeated. "Not from hers. His point of view would +differ from hers--naturally." + +Barold flashed a little, and took his cigar from his mouth to knock off +the ashes. + +"A man is not necessarily a snob," he said, "because he is cool enough +not to lose his head where a woman is concerned. You can't marry a woman +who will make mistakes, and attract universal attention by her conduct." + +"Has it struck you that Octavia Bassett would?" inquired Burmistone. + +"She would do as she chose," said Barold petulantly. "She would do things +which were unusual; but I was not referring to her in particular. Why +should I?" + +"Ah!" said Burmistone. "I only thought of her because it did not strike +me that one would ever feel she had exactly blundered. She is not easily +embarrassed. There is a _sang-froid_ about her which carries things off." + +"Ah!" deigned Barold: "she has _sang-froid_ enough and to spare." + +He was silent for some time afterward, and sat smoking later than usual. +When he was about to leave the room for the night, he made an +announcement for which his host was not altogether prepared. + +"When the _fete_ is over, my dear fellow," he said, "I must go back to +London, and I shall be deucedly sorry to do it." + +"Look here!" said Burmistone, "that's a new idea, isn't it?" + +"No, an old one; but I have been putting the thing off from day to day. +By Jove! I did not think it likely that I should put it off, the day I +landed here." + +And he laughed rather uneasily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +"MAY I GO?" + + +The very day after this, Octavia opened the fourth trunk. She had had it +brought down from the garret, when there came a summons on the door, and +Lucia Gaston appeared. + +Lucia was very pale; and her large, soft eyes wore a decidedly frightened +look. She seemed to have walked fast, and was out of breath. Evidently +something had happened. + +"Octavia," she said, "Mr. Dugald Binnie is at Oldclough." + +"Who is he?" + +"He is my grand-uncle," explained Lucia tremulously. "He has a great deal +of money. Grandmamma"--She stopped short, and colored, and drew her +slight figure up. "I do not quite understand grandmamma, Octavia," she +said. "Last night she came to my room to talk to me; and this morning she +came again, and--oh!" she broke out indignantly, "how could she speak to +me in such a manner!" + +"What did she say?" inquired Octavia. + +"She said a great many things," with great spirit. "It took her a long +time to say them, and I do not wonder at it. It would have taken me a +hundred years, if I had been in her place. I--I was wrong to say I did +not understand her: I did--before she had finished." + +"What did you understand?" + +"She was afraid to tell me in plain words.--I never saw her afraid +before, but she was afraid. She has been arranging my future for me, and +it does not occur to her that I dare object. That is because she knows I +am a coward, and despises me for it--and it is what I deserve. If I make +the marriage she chooses, she thinks Mr. Binnie will leave me his money. +I am to run after a man who does not care for me, and make myself +attractive, in the hope that he will condescend to marry me because Mr. +Binnie may leave me his money. Do you wonder that it took even Lady +Theobald a long time to say that?" + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "you won't do it, I suppose. I wouldn't worry. +She wants you to marry Mr. Barold, I suppose." + +Lucia started. + +"How did you guess?" she exclaimed. + +"Oh! I always knew it. I didn't guess." And she smiled ever so faintly. +"That is one of the reasons why she loathes me so," she added. + +Lucia thought deeply for a moment: she recognized, all at once, several +things she had been mystified by before. + +"Oh, it is! It is!" she said. "And she has thought of it all the time, +when I never suspected her." + +Octavia smiled a little again. Lucia sat thinking, her hands clasped +tightly. + +"I am glad I came here," she said, at length. "I _am_ angry now, and I +see things more clearly. If she had only thought of it because Mr. Binnie +came, I could have forgiven her more easily; but she has been making +coarse plans all the time, and treating me with contempt. Octavia," she +added, turning upon her, with flushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, "I +think that, for the first time in my life, I am in a passion,--a real +passion. I think I shall never be afraid of her any more." Her delicate +nostrils were dilated, she held her head up, her breath came fast. There +was a hint of exultation in her tone. "Yes," she said, "I am in a +passion. And I am not afraid of her at all. I will go home and tell her +what I think." + +And it is quite probable that she would have done so, but for a trifling +incident which occurred before she reached her ladyship. + +She walked very fast, after she left the house. She wanted to reach +Oldclough before one whit of her anger cooled down; though, somehow, she +felt quite sure, that, even when her anger died out, her courage would +not take flight with it. Mr. Dugald Binnie had not proved to be a very +fascinating person. He was an acrid, dictatorial old man: he contradicted +Lady Theobald flatly every five minutes, and bullied his man-servant. But +it was not against him that Lucia's indignation was aroused. She felt +that Lady Theobald was quite capable of suggesting to him that Francis +Barold would be a good match for her; and, if she had done so, it was +scarcely his fault if he had accepted the idea. She understood now why +she had been allowed to visit Octavia, and why divers other things had +happened. She had been sent to walk with Francis Barold; he had been +almost reproached when he had not called; perhaps her ladyship had been +good enough to suggest to him that it was his duty to further her plans. +She was as capable of that as of any thing else which would assist her to +gain her point. The girl's cheeks grew hotter and hotter, her eyes +brighter, at every step, because every step brought some new thought: her +hands trembled, and her heart beat. + +"I shall never be afraid of her again," she said, as she turned the +corner into the road. "Never! never!" + +And at that very moment a gentleman stepped out of the wood at her right, +and stopped before her. + +She started back, with a cry. + +"Mr. Burmistone!" she said: "Mr. Burmistone!" + +She wondered if he had heard her last words: she fancied he had. He took +hold of her shaking little hand, and looked down at her excited face. + +"I am glad I waited for you," he said, in the quietest possible tone. +"Something is the matter." + +She knew there would be no use in trying to conceal the truth, and she +was not in the mood to make the effort. She scarcely knew herself. + +She gave quite a fierce little laugh. + +"I am angry!" she said. "You have never seen me angry before. I am on my +way to my--to Lady Theobald." + +He held her hand as calmly as before. He understood a great deal more +than she could have imagined. + +"What are you going to say to her?" he asked. She laughed again. + +"I am going to ask her what she means. I am going to tell her she has +made a mistake. I am going to prove to her that I am not such a coward, +after all. I am going to tell her that I dare disobey her,--_that_ is +what I am going to say to her," she concluded decisively. + +He held her hand rather closer. + +"Let us take a stroll in the copse, and talk it over," he said. "It is +deliciously cool there." + +"I don't want to be cool," she said. But he drew her gently with him; and +a few steps took them into the shade of the young oaks and pines, and +there he paused. + +"She has made you very angry?" he said. + +And then, almost before she knew what she was doing, she was pouring +forth the whole of her story, even more of it than she had told Octavia. +She had not at all intended to do it; but she did it, nevertheless. + +"I am to marry Mr. Francis Barold, if he will take me," she said, with a +bitter little smile,--"Mr. Francis Barold, who is so much in love with +me, as you know. His mother approves of the match, and sent him here to +make love to me, which he has done, as you have seen. I have no money of +my own; but, if I make a marriage which pleases him, Dugald Binnie will +probably leave me his--which it is thought will be an inducement to my +cousin, who needs one. If I marry him, or rather he marries me, Lady +Theobald thinks Mr. Binnie will be pleased. It does not even matter +whether Francis is pleased or not, and of course I am out of the +question; but it is hoped that it will please Mr. Binnie. The two ladies +have talked it over, and decided the matter. I dare say they have offered +me to Francis, who has very likely refused me, though perhaps he may be +persuaded to relent in time,--if I am very humble, and he is shown the +advantage of having Mr. Binnie's money added to his own,--but I have no +doubt I shall have to be very humble indeed. That is what I learned from +Lady Theobald last night, and it is what I am going to talk to her about. +Is it enough to make one angry, do you think? Is it enough?" + +He did not tell her whether he thought it enough, or not. He looked at +her with steady eyes. + +"Lucia," he said, "I wish you would let me go and talk with Lady +Theobald." + +"You?" she said with a little start. + +"Yes," he answered. "Let me go to her. Let me tell her, that, instead of +marrying Francis Barold, you will marry _me_. If you will say yes to +that, I think I can promise that you need never be afraid of her any +more." The fierce color died out of her cheeks, and the tears rushed to +her eyes. She raised her face with a pathetic look. + +"Oh!" she whispered, "you must be very sorry for me. I think you have +been sorry for me from the first." + +"I am desperately in love with you," he answered, in his quietest way. "I +have been desperately in love with you from the first. May I go?" + +She looked at him for a moment, incredulously. Then she faltered,-- + +"Yes." + +She still looked up at him; and then, in spite of her happiness, or +perhaps because of it, she suddenly began to cry softly, and forgot she +had been angry at all, as he took her into his strong, kind arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GARDEN-PARTY. + + +The morning of the garden-party arose bright and clear, and Slowbridge +awakened in a great state of excitement. Miss Chickie, having worked +until midnight that all her orders might be completed, was so overpowered +by her labors as to have to take her tea and toast in bed. + +At Oldclough varied sentiments prevailed. Lady Theobald's manner was +chiefly distinguished by an implacable rigidity. She had chosen, as an +appropriate festal costume, a funereal-black _moire antique_, enlivened +by massive fringes and ornaments of jet; her jewelry being chains and +manacles of the latter, which rattled as she moved, with a sound somewhat +suggestive of bones. + +Mr. Dugald Binnie, who had received an invitation, had as yet amiably +forborne to say whether he would accept it, or not. He had been out when +Mr. Burmistone called, and had not seen him. + +When Lady Theobald descended to breakfast, she found him growling over +his newspaper; and he glanced up at her with a polite scowl. + +"Going to a funeral?" he demanded. + +"I accompany my granddaughter to this--this entertainment," her ladyship +responded. "It is scarcely a joyous occasion, to my mind." + +"No need to dress yourself like that, if it isn't," ejaculated Mr. +Binnie. "Why don't you stay at home, if you don't want to go? Man's all +right, isn't he? Once knew a man by the name of Burmistone, myself. One +of the few decent fellows I've met. If I were sure this was the same man, +I'd go myself. When I find a fellow who's neither knave nor fool, I stick +to him. Believe I'll send to find out. Where's Lucia?" + +What his opinion of Lucia was, it was difficult to discover. He had an +agreeable habit of staring at her over the top of his paper, and over his +dinner. The only time he had made any comment upon her, was the first +time he saw her in the dress she had copied from Octavia's. "Nice gown +that," he blurted out: "didn't get it here, I'll wager." + +"It's an old dress I remodelled," answered Lucia somewhat alarmed. "I +made it myself." + +"Doesn't look like it," he said gruffly. + +Lucia had touched up another dress, and was very happy in the prospect of +wearing it at the garden-party. + +"Don't call on grandmamma until after Wednesday," she had said to Mr. +Burmistone: "perhaps she wouldn't let me go. She will be very angry, +I am sure." + +"And you are not afraid?" + +"No," she answered: "I am not afraid at all. I shall not be afraid +again." + +In fact, she had perfectly confounded her ladyship by her demeanor. She +bore her fiercest glance without quailing in the least, or making any +effort to evade it: under her most scathing comments she was composed and +unmoved. On the first occasion of my lady's referring to her plans for +her future, she received a blow which fairly stunned her. The girl rose +from her chair, and looked her straight in the face unflinchingly, and +with a suggestion of _hauteur_ not easy to confront. + +"I beg you will not speak to me of that again," she said: "I will not +listen." And turning about, she walked out of the room. + +"This," her ladyship had said in sepulchral tones, when she recovered her +breath, "this is one of the results of Miss Octavia Bassett." And nothing +more had been said on the subject since. + +No one in Slowbridge was in more brilliant spirits than Octavia herself +on the morning of the _fete_. Before breakfast Miss Belinda was startled +by the arrival of another telegram, which ran as follows:-- + +"Arrived to-day, per 'Russia.' Be with you tomorrow evening. Friend with +me. + +"MARTIN BASSETT." + +On reading this communication, Miss Belinda burst into floods of +delighted tears. + +"Dear, dear Martin," she wept; "to think that we should meet again! _Why_ +didn't he let us know he was on the way? I should have been so anxious +that I should not have slept at all." + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "I suppose that would have been an advantage." + +Suddenly she approached Miss Belinda, kissed her, and disappeared out of +the room as if by magic, not returning for a quarter of an hour, looking +rather soft and moist and brilliant about the eyes when she did return. + +Octavia was a marked figure upon the grounds at that garden-party. + +"Another dress, my dear," remarked Mrs. Burnham. "And what a charming +color she has, I declare! She is usually paler. Perhaps we owe this to +Lord Lansdowne." + +"Her dress is becoming, at all events," privately remarked Miss Lydia +Burnham, whose tastes had not been consulted about her own. + +"It is she who is becoming," said her sister: "it is not the dress so +much, though her clothes always have a _look_, some way. She's prettier +than ever to-day, and is enjoying herself." + +She was enjoying herself. Mr. Francis Barold observed it rather gloomily +as he stood apart. She was enjoying herself so much, that she did not +seem to notice that he had avoided her, instead of going up to claim her +attention. Half a dozen men were standing about her, and making +themselves agreeable; and she was apparently quite equal to the +emergencies of the occasion. The young men from Broadoaks had at once +attached themselves to her train. + +"I say, Barold," they had said to him, "why didn't you tell us about +this? Jolly good fellow you are, to come mooning here for a couple of +months, and keep it all to yourself." + +And then had come Lord Lansdowne, who, in crossing the lawn to shake +hands with his host, had been observed to keep his eye fixed upon one +particular point. + +"Burmistone," he said, after having spoken his first words, "who is that +tall girl in white?" + +And in ten minutes Lady Theobald, Mrs. Burnham, Mr. Barold, and divers +others too numerous to mention, saw him standing at Octavia's side, +evidently with no intention of leaving it. + +Not long after this Francis Barold found his way to Miss Belinda, who was +very busy and rather nervous. + +"Your niece is evidently enjoying herself," he remarked. + +"Octavia is most happy to-day," answered Miss Belinda. "Her father will +reach Slowbridge this evening. She has been looking forward to his coming +with great anxiety." + +"Ah!" commented Barold. + +"Very few people understand Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "I'm not sure +that I follow all her moods myself. She is more affectionate than people +fancy. She--she has very pretty ways. I am very fond of her. She is not +as frivolous as she appears to those who don't know her well." + +Barold stood gnawing his mustache, and made no reply. He was not very +comfortable. He felt himself ill-used by Fate, and rather wished he had +returned to London from Broadoaks, instead of loitering in Slowbridge. He +had amused himself at first, but in time he had been surprised to find +his amusement lose something of its zest. He glowered across the lawn at +the group under a certain beech-tree; and, as he did so, Octavia turned +her face a little and saw him. She stood waving her fan slowly, and +smiling at him in a calm way, which reminded him very much of the time he +had first caught sight of her at Lady Theobald's high tea. + +He condescended to saunter over the grass to where she stood. Once there, +he proceeded to make himself as disagreeable as possible, in a silent and +lofty way. He felt it only due to himself that he should. He did not +approve at all of the manner in which Lansdowne kept by her. + +"It's deucedly bad form on his part," he said mentally. "What does he +mean by it?" + +Octavia, on the contrary, did not ask what he meant by it. She chose to +seem rather well entertained, and did not notice that she was being +frowned down. There was no reason why she should not find Lord Lansdowne +entertaining: he was an agreeable young fellow, with an inexhaustible +fund of good spirits, and no nonsense about him. + +He was fond of all pleasant novelty, and Octavia was a pleasant novelty. +He had been thinking of paying a visit to America; and he asked +innumerable questions concerning that country, all of which Octavia +answered. + +"I know half a dozen fellows who have been there," he said. "And they all +enjoyed it tremendously." + +"If you go to Nevada, you must visit the mines at Bloody Gulch," she +said. + +"Where?" he ejaculated. "I say, what a name! Don't deride my youth and +ignorance, Miss Bassett." + +"You can call it L'Argentville, if you would rather," she replied. + +"I would rather try the other, thank you," he laughed. "It has a more +hilarious sound. Will they despise me at Bloody Gulch, Miss Bassett? I +never killed a man in my life." + +Barold turned, and walked away, angry, and more melancholy than he could +have believed. + +"It is time I went back to London," he chose to put it. "The place begins +to be deucedly dull." + +"Mr. Francis Barold seems rather out of spirits," said Mrs. Burnham to +Lady Theobald. "Lord Lansdowne interferes with his pleasure." + +"I had not observed it," answered her ladyship. "And it is scarcely +likely that Mr. Francis Barold would permit his pleasure to be interfered +with, even by the son of the Marquis of Lauderdale." + +But she glared at Barold as he passed, and beckoned to him. + +"Where is Lucia?" she demanded.-- + +"I saw her with Burmistone half an hour ago," he answered coldly. "Have +you any message for my mother? I shall return to London to-morrow, +leaving here early." + +She turned quite pale. She had not counted upon this at all, and it was +extremely inopportune. + +"What has happened?" she asked rigidly. + +He looked slightly surprised. + +"Nothing whatever," he replied. "I have remained here longer than I +intended." + +She began to move the manacles on her right wrist. He made not the +smallest profession of reluctance to go. She said, at last, "If you will +find Lucia, you will oblige me." She was almost uncivil to Miss Pilcher, +who chanced to join her after he was gone. She had not the slightest +intention of allowing her plans to be frustrated, and was only roused to +fresh obstinacy by encountering indifference on one side and rebellion on +the other. She had not brought Lucia up under her own eye for nothing. +She had been disturbed of late, but by no means considered herself +baffled. With the assistance of Mr. Dugald Binnie, she could certainly +subdue Lucia, though Mr. Dugald Binnie had been of no great help so far. +She would do her duty unflinchingly. In fact, she chose to persuade +herself, that, if Lucia was brought to a proper frame of mind, there +could be no real trouble with Francis Barold. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +"SOMEBODY ELSE." + + +But Barold did not make any very ardent search for Lucia. He stopped to +watch a game of lawn-tennis, in which Octavia and Lord Lansdowne had +joined, and finally forgot Lady Theobald's errand altogether. + +For some time Octavia did not see him. She was playing with great spirit, +and Lord Lansdowne was following her delightedly. + +Finally a chance of the game bringing her to him, she turned suddenly, +and found Barold's eyes fixed upon her. + +"How long have you been there?" she asked. + +"Some time," he answered. "When you are at liberty, I wish to speak to +you." + +"Do you?" she said. + +She seemed a little unprepared for the repressed energy of his manner, +which, he strove to cover by a greater amount of coldness than usual. + +"Well," she said, after thinking a moment, "the game will soon be ended. +I am going through the conservatories with Lord Lansdowne in course of +time; but I dare say he can wait." + +She went back, and finished her game, apparently enjoying it as much as +ever. When it was over, Barold made his way to her. + +He had resented her remaining oblivious of his presence when he stood +near her, and he had resented her enjoyment of her surroundings; and now, +as he led her away, leaving Lord Lansdowne rather disconsolate, he +resented the fact that she did not seem nervous, or at all impressed by +his silence. + +"What do you want to say to me?" she asked. "Let us go and sit down in +one of the arbors. I believe I am a little tired--not that I mind it, +though. I've been having a lovely time." + +Then she began to talk about Lord Lansdowne. + +"I like him ever so much," she said. "Do you think he will really go to +America? I wish he would; but if he does, I hope it won't be for a year +or so--I mean, until we go back from Europe. Still, it's rather uncertain +when we _shall_ go back. Did I tell you I had persuaded aunt Belinda to +travel with us? She's horribly frightened, but I mean to make her go. +She'll get over being frightened after a little while." + +Suddenly she turned, and looked at him. + +"Why don't you say something?" she demanded. "What's the matter?" + +"It is not necessary for me to say any thing." + +She laughed. + +"Do you mean because I am saying every thing myself? Well, I suppose I +am. I am--awfully happy to-day, and can't help talking. It seems to make +the time go." + +Her face had lighted up curiously. There was a delighted excitement in +her eyes, puzzling him. + +"Are you so fond of your father as all that?" + +She laughed again,--a clear, exultant laugh. + +"Yes," she answered, "of course I am as fond of him as all that. It's +quite natural, isn't it?" + +"I haven't observed the same degree of enthusiasm in all the young ladies +of my acquaintance," he returned dryly. + +He thought such rapture disproportionate to the cause, and regarded it +grudgingly. + +They turned into an arbor; and Octavia sat down, and leaned forward on +the rustic table. Then she turned her face up to look at the vines +covering the roof. + +"It looks rather spidery, doesn't it?" she remarked. "I hope it isn't; +don't you?" + +The light fell bewitchingly on her round little chin and white throat; +and a bar of sunlight struck on her upturned eyes, and the blonde rings +on her forehead. + +"There is nothing I hate more than spiders," she said, with a little +shiver, "unless," seriously, "it's caterpillars--and caterpillars I +loathe." + +Then she lowered her gaze, and gave her hat--a large white Rubens, all +soft, curling feathers and satin bows--a charming tip over her eyes. + +"The brim is broad," she said. "If any thing drops, I hope it will drop +on it, instead of on me. Now, what did you want to say?" He had not sat +down, but stood leaning against the rustic wood-work. He looked pale, and +was evidently trying to be cooler than usual. + +"I brought you here to ask you a question." + +"Well," she remarked, "I hope it's an important one. You look serious +enough." + +"It is important,--rather," he responded, with a tone of sarcasm. "You +will probably go away soon?" + +"That isn't exactly a question," she commented, "and it's not as +important to you as to me." + +He paused a moment, annoyed because he found it difficult to go on; +annoyed because she waited with such undisturbed serenity. But at length +he managed to begin again. + +"I do not think you are expecting the question I am going to ask," he +said. "I--do not think I expected to ask it myself,--until to-day. I do +not know why--why I should ask it so awkwardly, and feel--at such a +disadvantage. I brought you here to ask you--to marry me." + +He had scarcely spoken four words before all her airy manner had taken +flight, and she had settled herself down to listen. He had noticed this, +and had felt it quite natural. When he stopped, she was looking straight +into his face. Her eyes were singularly large and bright and clear. + +"You did not expect to ask me to marry you?" she said. "Why didn't you?" + +It was not at all what he had expected. He did not understand her manner +at all. + +"I--must confess," he said stiffly, "that I felt at first that there +were--obstacles in the way of my doing so." + +"What were the obstacles?" + +He flushed, and drew himself up. + +"I have been unfortunate in my mode of expressing myself," he said. "I +told you I was conscious of my own awkwardness." + +"Yes," she said quietly: "you have been unfortunate. That is a good way +of putting it." + +Then she let her eyes rest on the table a few seconds, and thought a +little. + +"After all," she said, "I have the consolation of knowing that you must +have been very much in love with me. If you had not been very much in +love with me, you would never have asked me to marry you. You would have +considered the obstacles." + +"I am very much in love with you," he said vehemently, his feelings +getting the better of his pride for once. "However badly I may have +expressed myself, I am very much in love with you. I have been wretched +for days." + +"Was it because you felt obliged to ask me to marry you?" she inquired. + +The delicate touch of spirit in her tone and words fired him to fresh +admiration, strange to say. It suggested to him possibilities he had not +suspected hitherto. He drew nearer to her. + +"Don't be too severe on me," he said--quite humbly, considering all +things. + +And he stretched out his hand, as if to take hers. + +But she drew it back, smiling ever so faintly. + +"Do you think I don't know what the obstacles are?" she said. "I will +tell you." + +"My affection was strong enough to sweep them away," he said, "or I +should not be here." + +She smiled slightly again. + +"I know all about them, as well as you do," she said. "I rather laughed +at them at first, but I don't now. I suppose I'm 'impressed by their +seriousness,' as aunt Belinda says. I suppose they _are_ pretty +serious--to you." + +"Nothing would be so serious to me as that you should let them interfere +with my happiness," he answered, thrown back upon himself, and bewildered +by her logical manner. "Let us forget them. I was a fool to speak as I +did. Won't you answer my question?" + +She paused a second, and then answered,-- + +"You didn't expect to ask me to marry you," she said. "And I didn't +expect you to"-- + +"But now"--he broke in impatiently. + +"Now--I wish you hadn't done it." + +"You wish"-- + +"You don't want _me_," she said. "You want somebody meeker,--somebody +who would respect you very much, and obey you. I'm not used to obeying +people." + +"Do you mean also that you would not respect me?" he inquired bitterly. + +"Oh," she replied, "you haven't respected me much!" + +"Excuse me"--he began, in his loftiest manner. + +"You didn't respect me enough to think me worth marrying," she said. "I +was not the kind of girl you would have chosen of your own will." + +"You are treating me unfairly!" he cried. + +"You were going to give me a great deal, I suppose--looking at it in your +way," she went on; "but, if I _wasn't_ exactly what you wanted, I had +something to give too. I'm young enough to have a good many years to +live; and I should have to live them with you, if I married you. That's +something, you know." + +He rose from his seat pale with wrath and wounded feeling. + +"Does this mean that you refuse me?" he demanded, "that your answer is +'no'?" + +She rose, too--not exultant, not confused, neither pale nor flushed. He +had never seen her prettier, more charming, or more natural. + +"It would have been 'no,' even if there hadn't been any obstacle," +she answered. + +"Then," he said, "I need say no more. I see that I have--humiliated +myself in vain; and it is rather bitter, I must confess." + +"It wasn't my fault," she remarked. + +He stepped back, with a haughty wave of the hand, signifying that she +should pass out of the arbor before him. + +She did so; but just as she reached the entrance, she turned, and stood +for a second, framed in by the swinging vines and their blossoms. + +"There's another reason why it should be 'no,'" she said. "I suppose I +may as well tell you of it. I'm engaged to somebody else." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"JACK." + + +The first person they saw, when they reached the lawn, was Mr. Dugald +Binnie, who had deigned to present himself, and was talking to Mr. +Burmistone, Lucia, and Miss Belinda. + +"I'll go to them," said Octavia. "Aunt Belinda will wonder where I have +been." + +But, before they reached the group, they were intercepted by Lord +Lansdowne; and Barold had the pleasure of surrendering his charge, and +watching her, with some rather sharp pangs, as she was borne off to the +conservatories. + +"What is the matter with Mr. Barold?" exclaimed Miss Pilcher. "Pray +look at him." + +"He has been talking to Miss Octavia Bassett, in one of the arbors," put +in Miss Lydia Burnham. "Emily and I passed them a few minutes ago, and +they were so absorbed that they did not see us. There is no knowing what +has happened." + +"Lydia!" exclaimed Mrs. Burnham, in stern reproof of such flippancy. + +But, the next moment, she exchanged a glance with Miss Pilcher. + +"Do you think"--she suggested. "Is it possible"-- + +"It really looks very like it," said Miss Pilcher; "though it is scarcely +to be credited. See how pale and angry he looks." + +Mrs. Burnham glanced toward him, and then a slight smile illuminated her +countenance. + +"How furious," she remarked cheerfully, "how furious Lady Theobald will +be!" + +Naturally, it was not very long before the attention of numerous other +ladies was directed to Mr. Francis Barold. It was observed that he took +no share in the festivities, that he did not regain his natural air of +enviable indifference to his surroundings,--that he did not approach +Octavia Bassett until all was over, and she was on the point of going +home. What he said to her then, no one heard. + +"I am going to London to-morrow. Good-by." + +"Good-by," she answered, holding out her hand to him. Then she added +quickly, in an under-tone, "You oughtn't to think badly of me. You won't, +after a while." + +As they drove homeward, she was rather silent, and Miss Belinda remarked +it. + +"I am afraid you are tired, Octavia," she said. "It is a pity that Martin +should come, and find you tired." + +"Oh! I'm not tired. I was only--thinking. It has been a queer day." + +"A queer day, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda. "I thought it a charming +day." + +"So it has been," said Octavia, which Miss Belinda thought rather +inconsistent. + +Both of them grew rather restless as they neared the house. + +"To think," said Miss Belinda, "of my seeing poor Martin again!" + +"Suppose," said Octavia nervously, as they drew up, "suppose they are +here--already." + +"They?" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Who"--but she got no farther. A cry +burst from Octavia,--a queer, soft little cry. "They are here," she +said: "they are! Jack--Jack!" + +And she was out of the carriage; and Miss Belinda, following her +closely, was horrified to see her caught at once in the embrace of a +tall, bronzed young man, who, a moment after, drew her into the little +parlor, and shut the door. + +Mr. Martin Bassett, who was big and sunburned, and prosperous-looking, +stood in the passage, smiling triumphantly. + +"M--M--Martin!" gasped Miss Belinda. "What--oh, what does this mean?" + +Martin Bassett led her to a seat, and smiled more triumphantly still. + +"Never mind, Belinda," he said. "Don't be frightened. It's Jack +Belasys, and he's the finest fellow in the West. And she hasn't seen +him for two years." + +"Martin," Miss Belinda fluttered, "it is not proper--it really isn't." + +"Yes, it is," answered Mr. Bassett; "for he's going to marry her before +we go abroad." + +It was an eventful day for all parties concerned. At its close Lady +Theobald found herself in an utterly bewildered and thunderstruck +condition. And to Mr. Dugald Binnie, more than to any one else, her +demoralization was due. That gentleman got into the carriage, in rather a +better humor than usual. + +"Same man I used to know," he remarked. "Glad to see him. I knew him as +soon as I set eyes on him." + +"Do you allude to Mr. Burmistone?" + +"Yes. Had a long talk with him. He's coming to see you to-morrow. Told +him he might come, myself. Appears he's taken a fancy to Lucia. Wants to +talk it over. Suits me exactly, and suppose it suits her. Looks as if it +does. Glad she hasn't taken a fancy to some haw-haw fellow, like that +fool Barold. Girls generally do. Burmistone's worth ten of him." + +Lucia, who had been looking steadily out of the carriage-window, turned, +with an amazed expression. Lady Theobald had received a shock which made +all her manacles rattle. She could scarcely support herself under it. + +"Do I"--she said. "Am I to understand that Mr. Francis Barold does not +meet with your approval?" Mr. Binnie struck his stick sharply upon the +floor of the carriage. + +"Yes, by George!" he said. "I'll have nothing to do with chaps like that. +If she'd taken up with him, she'd never have heard from _me_ again. Make +sure of that." + +When they reached Oldclough, her ladyship followed Lucia to her room. She +stood before her, arranging the manacles on her wrists nervously. + +"I begin to understand now," she said. "I find I was mistaken in my +impressions of Mr. Dugald Binnie's tastes--and in my impressions of +_you_. You are to marry Mr. Burmistone. My rule is over. Permit me to +congratulate you." + +The tears rose to Lucia's eyes. + +"Grandmamma," she said, her voice soft and broken, "I think I should have +been more frank, if--if you had been kinder sometimes." + +"I have done my duty by you," said my lady. + +Lucia looked at her pathetically. + +"I have been ashamed to keep things from you," she hesitated. "And I have +often told myself that--that it was sly to do it--but I could not help +it." + +"I trust," said my lady, "that you will be more candid with Mr. +Burmistone." + +Lucia blushed guiltily. + +"I--think I shall, grandmamma," she said. + +It was the Rev. Alfred Poppleton who assisted the rector of St. James to +marry Jack Belasys and Octavia Bassett; and it was observed that he was +almost as pale as his surplice. + +Slowbridge had never seen such a wedding, or such a bride as Octavia. It +was even admitted that Jack Belasys was a singularly handsome fellow, and +had a dashing, adventurous air, which carried all before it. There was a +rumor that he owned silver-mines himself, and had even done something in +diamonds, in Brazil, where he had spent the last two years. At all +events, it was ascertained beyond doubt, that, being at last a married +woman, and entitled to splendors of the kind, Octavia would not lack +them. Her present to Lucia, who was one of her bridesmaids, dazzled all +beholders. When she was borne away by the train, with her father and +husband, and Miss Belinda, whose bonnet-strings were bedewed with tears, +the Rev. Alfred Poppleton was the last man who shook hands with her. He +held in his hand a large bouquet, which Octavia herself had given him out +of her abundance. "Slowbridge will miss you, Miss--Mrs. Belasys," he +faltered. "I--I shall miss you. Perhaps we--may even meet again. I have +thought that, perhaps, I should like to go to America." + +And, as the train puffed out of the station and disappeared, he stood +motionless for several seconds; and a large and brilliant drop of +moisture appeared on the calyx of the lily which formed the centre-piece +of his bouquet. + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Fair Barbarian, by Francis Hodgson Burnett + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + +***** This file should be named 9487.txt or 9487.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/8/9487/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG +Distributed Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Fair Barbarian + +Author: Francis Hodgson Burnett + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9487] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 5, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + A FAIR BARBARIAN + + BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT + + 1881 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT + + II. "AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY" + + III. L'ARGENTVILLE + + IV. LADY THEOBALD + + V. LUCIA + + VI. ACCIDENTAL + + VII. "I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE" + + VIII. SHARES LOOKING UP + + IX. WHITE MUSLIN + + X. ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD + + XI. A SLIGHT INDISCRETION + + XII. AN INVITATION + + XIII. INTENTIONS + + XIV. A CLERICAL VISIT + + XV. SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES + + XVI. CROQUET + + XVII. ADVANTAGES + + XVIII. CONTRAST + + XIX. AN EXPERIMENT + + XX. PECULIAR TO NEVADA + + XXI. LORD LANSDOWNE + + XXII. "YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER" + + XXIII. "MAY I GO?" + + XXIV. THE GARDEN PARTY + + XXV. "SOMEBODY ELSE" + + XXVI. "JACK" + + + + +A FAIR BARBARIAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT. + + +Slowbridge had been shaken to its foundations. + +It may as well be explained, however, at the outset, that it would not +take much of a sensation to give Slowbridge a great shock. In the first +place, Slowbridge was not used to sensations, and was used to going on +the even and respectable tenor of its way, regarding the outside world +with private distrust, if not with open disfavor. The new mills had been +a trial to Slowbridge,--a sore trial. On being told of the owners' plan +of building them, old Lady Theobald, who was the corner-stone of the +social edifice of Slowbridge, was said, by a spectator, to have turned +deathly pale with rage; and, on the first day of their being opened in +working order, she had taken to her bed, and remained shut up in her +darkened room for a week, refusing to see anybody, and even going so far +as to send a scathing message to the curate of St. James, who called in +fear and trembling, because he was afraid to stay away. + +"With mills and mill-hands," her ladyship announced to Mr. Laurence, the +mill-owner, when chance first threw them together, "with mills and +mill-hands come murder, massacre, and mob law." And she said it so loud, +and with so stern an air of conviction, that the two Misses Briarton, who +were of a timorous and fearful nature, dropped their buttered muffins (it +was at one of the tea-parties which were Slowbridge's only dissipation), +and shuddered hysterically, feeling that their fate was sealed, and that +they might, any night, find three masculine mill-hands secreted under +their beds, with bludgeons. But as no massacres took place, and the +mill-hands were pretty regular in their habits, and even went so far as +to send their children to Lady Theobald's free school, and accepted the +tracts left weekly at their doors, whether they could read or not, +Slowbridge gradually recovered from the shock of finding itself forced to +exist in close proximity to mills, and was just settling itself to +sleep--the sleep of the just--again, when, as I have said, it was shaken +to its foundations. + +It was Miss Belinda Bassett who received the first shock. Miss Belinda +Bassett was a decorous little maiden lady, who lived in a decorous little +house on High Street (which was considered a very genteel street in +Slowbridge). She had lived in the same house all her life, her father had +lived in it, and so also had her grandfather. She had gone out, to take +tea, from its doors two or three times a week, ever since she had been +twenty; and she had had her little tea-parties in its front parlor as +often as any other genteel Slowbridge entertainer. She had risen at +seven, breakfasted at eight, dined at two, taken tea at five, and gone to +bed at ten, with such regularity for fifty years, that to rise at eight, +breakfast at nine, dine at three, and take tea at six, and go to bed at +eleven, would, she was firmly convinced, be but "to fly in the face of +Providence," as she put it, and sign her own death-warrant. Consequently, +it is easy to imagine what a tremor and excitement seized her when, one +afternoon, as she sat waiting for her tea, a coach from the Blue Lion +dashed--or, at least, _almost_ dashed--up to the front door, a young lady +got out, and the next minute the handmaiden, Mary Anne, threw open the +door of the parlor, announcing, without the least preface,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker." + +Miss Belinda got up, feeling that her knees really trembled beneath her. + +In Slowbridge, America was not approved of--in fact, was almost entirely +ignored, as a country where, to quote Lady Theobald, "the laws were +loose, and the prevailing sentiments revolutionary." It was not +considered good taste to know Americans,--which was not unfortunate, as +there were none to know; and Miss Belinda Bassett had always felt a +delicacy in mentioning her only brother, who had emigrated to the United +States in his youth, having first disgraced himself by the utterance of +the blasphemous remark that "he wanted to get to a place where a fellow +could stretch himself, and not be bullied by a lot of old tabbies." From +the day of his departure, when he had left Miss Belinda bathed in tears +of anguish, she had heard nothing of him; and here upon the threshold +stood Mary Anne, with delighted eagerness in her countenance, +repeating,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker!" + +And, with the words, her niece entered. + +Miss Belinda put her hand to her heart. + +The young lady thus announced was the prettiest, and at the same time the +most extraordinary-looking, young lady she had ever seen in her life. +Slowbridge contained nothing approaching this niece. Her dress was so +very stylish that it was quite startling in its effect; her forehead was +covered down to her large, pretty eyes themselves, with curls of +yellow-brown hair; and her slender throat was swathed round and round +with a grand scarf of black lace. + +She made a step forward, and then stopped, looking at Miss Belinda. Her +eyes suddenly, to Miss Belinda's amazement, filled with tears. + +"Didn't you," she said,--"oh, dear! _Didn't_ you get the letter?" + +"The--the letter!" faltered Miss Belinda. "What letter, my--my dear?" + +"Pa's," was the answer. "Oh! I see you didn't." + +And she sank into the nearest chair, putting her hands up to her face, +and beginning to cry outright. + +"I--am Octavia B-bassett," she said. "We were coming to surp-prise you, +and travel in Europe; but the mines went wrong, and p-pa was obliged to +go back to Nevada." + +"The mines?" gasped Miss Belinda. + +"S-silver-mines," wept Octavia. "And we had scarcely landed when Piper +cabled, and pa had to turn back. It was something about shares, and he +may have lost his last dollar." + +Miss Belinda sank into a chair herself. + +"Mary Anne," she said faintly, "bring me a glass of water." + +Her tone was such that Octavia removed her handkerchief from her eyes, +and sat up to examine her. + +"Are you frightened?" she asked, in some alarm. + +Miss Belinda took a sip of the water brought by her handmaiden, replaced +the glass upon the salver, and shook her head deprecatingly. + +"Not exactly frightened, my dear," she said, "but so amazed that I find +it difficult to--to collect myself." + +Octavia put up her handkerchief again to wipe away a sudden new gush of +tears. + +"If shares intended to go down," she said, "I don't see why they couldn't +go down before we started, instead of waiting until we got over here, and +then spoiling every thing." + +"Providence, my dear"--began Miss Belinda. + +But she was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mary Anne. + +"The man from the Lion, mum, wants to know what's to be done with the +trunks. There's six of 'em, an' they're all that 'eavy as he says he +wouldn't lift one alone for ten shilling." + +"Six!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Whose are they?" + +"Mine," replied Octavia. "Wait a minute. I'll go out to him." + +Miss Belinda was astounded afresh by the alacrity with which her niece +seemed to forget her troubles, and rise to the occasion. The girl ran to +the front door as if she was quite used to directing her own affairs, and +began to issue her orders. + +"You will have to get another man," she said. "You might have known that. +Go and get one somewhere." + +And when the man went off, grumbling a little, and evidently rather at a +loss before such peremptory coolness, she turned to Miss Belinda. + +"Where must he put them?" she asked. + +It did not seem to have occurred to her once that her identity might be +doubted, and some slight obstacles arise before her. + +"I am afraid," faltered Miss Belinda, "that five of them will have to be +put in the attic." + +And in fifteen minutes five of them _were_ put into the attic, and the +sixth--the biggest of all--stood in the trim little spare chamber, and +pretty Miss Octavia had sunk into a puffy little chintz-covered +easy-chair, while her newly found relative stood before her, making the +most laudable efforts to recover her equilibrium, and not to feel as if +her head were spinning round and round. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +"AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY." + + +The natural result of these efforts was, that Miss Belinda was moved to +shed a few tears. + +"I hope you will excuse my being too startled to say I was glad to see +you," she said. "I have not seen my brother for thirty years, and I was +very fond of him." + +"He said you were," answered Octavia; "and he was very fond of you too. +He didn't write to you, because he made up his mind not to let you hear +from him until he was a rich man; and then he thought he would wait until +he could come home, and surprise you. He was awfully disappointed when he +had to go back without seeing you." + +"Poor, dear Martin!" wept Miss Belinda gently. "Such a journey!" + +Octavia opened her charming eyes in surprise. + +"Oh, he'll come back again!" she said. "And he doesn't mind the journey. +The journey is nothing, you know." + +"Nothing!" echoed Miss Belinda. "A voyage across the Atlantic nothing? +When one thinks of the danger, my dear"-- + +Octavia's eyes opened a shade wider. + +"We have made the trip to the States, across the Isthmus, twelve times, +and that takes a month," she remarked. "So we don't think ten days much." + +"Twelve times!" said Miss Belinda, quite appalled. "Dear, dear, dear!" + +And for some moments she could do nothing but look at her young relative +in doubtful wonder, shaking her head with actual sadness. + +But she finally recovered herself, with a little start. + +"What am I thinking of," she exclaimed remorsefully, "to let you sit here +in this way? Pray excuse me, my dear. You see I am so upset." + +She left her chair in a great hurry, and proceeded to embrace her young +guest tenderly, though with a little timorousness. The young lady +submitted to the caress with much composure. + +"Did I upset you?" she inquired calmly. + +The fact was, that she could not see why the simple advent of a relative +from Nevada should seem to have the effect of an earthquake, and result +in tremor, confusion, and tears. It was true, she herself had shed a tear +or so, but then her troubles had been accumulating for several days; and +she had not felt confused yet. + +When Miss Belinda went down-stairs to superintend Mary Anne in the +tea-making, and left her guest alone, that young person glanced about her +with a rather dubious expression. + +"It is a queer, nice little place," she said. "But I don't wonder that pa +emigrated, if they always get into such a flurry about little things. I +might have been a ghost." + +Then she proceeded to unlock the big trunk, and attire herself. + +Down-stairs, Miss Belinda was wavering between the kitchen and the +parlor, in a kindly flutter. + +"Toast some muffins, Mary Anne, and bring in the cold roast fowl," she +said. "And I will put out some strawberry-jam, and some of the preserved +ginger. Dear me! Just to think how fond of preserved ginger poor Martin +was, and how little of it he was allowed to eat! There really seems a +special Providence in my having such a nice stock of it in the house when +his daughter comes home." + +In the course of half an hour every thing was in readiness; and then Mary +Anne, who had been sent up-stairs to announce the fact, came down in a +most remarkable state of delighted agitation, suppressed ecstasy and +amazement exclaiming aloud in every feature. + +"She's dressed, mum," she announced, "an' 'll be down immediate," and +retired to a shadowy corner of the kitchen passage, that she might lie in +wait unobserved. + +Miss Belinda, sitting behind the tea-service, heard a soft, flowing, +silken rustle sweeping down the staircase, and across the hall, and then +her niece entered. + +"Don't you think I've dressed pretty quick?" she said, and swept across +the little parlor, and sat down in her place, with the calmest and most +unconscious air in the world. + +There was in Slowbridge but one dressmaking establishment. The head of +the establishment--Miss Letitia Chickie--designed the costumes of every +woman in Slowbridge, from Lady Theobald down. There were legends that she +received her patterns from London, and modified them to suit the +Slowbridge taste. Possibly this was true; but in that case her labors as +modifier must have been severe indeed, since they were so far modified as +to be altogether unrecognizable when they left Miss Chickie's +establishment, and were borne home in triumph to the houses of her +patrons. The taste of Slowbridge was quiet,--upon this Slowbridge prided +itself especially,--and, at the same time, tended toward economy. When +gores came into fashion, Slowbridge clung firmly, and with some pride, to +substantial breadths, which did not cut good silk into useless strips +which could not be utilized in after-time; and it was only when, after a +visit to London, Lady Theobald walked into St. James's one Sunday with +two gores on each side, that Miss Chickie regretfully put scissors into +her first breadth. Each matronly member of good society possessed a +substantial silk gown of some sober color, which gown, having done duty +at two years' tea-parties, descended to the grade of "second-best," and +so descended, year by year, until it disappeared into the dim distance of +the past. The young ladies had their white muslins and natural flowers; +which latter decorations invariably collapsed in the course of the +evening, and were worn during the latter half of any festive occasion in +a flabby and hopeless condition. Miss Chickie made the muslins, +festooning and adorning them after designs emanating from her fertile +imagination. If they were a little short in the body, and not very +generously proportioned in the matter of train, there was no rival +establishment to sneer, and Miss Chickie had it all her own way; and, at +least, it could never be said that Slowbridge was vulgar or overdressed. + +Judge, then, of Miss Belinda Bassett's condition of mind when her fair +relative took her seat before her. + +What the material of her niece's dress was, Miss Belinda could not have +told. It was a silken and soft fabric of a pale blue color; it clung to +the slender, lissome young figure like a glove; a fan-like train of great +length almost covered the hearth-rug; there were plaitings and frillings +all over it, and yards of delicate satin ribbon cut into loops in the +most recklessly extravagant manner. + +Miss Belinda saw all this at the first glance, as Mary Anne had seen it, +and, like Mary Anne, lost her breath; but, on her second glance, she saw +something more. On the pretty, slight hands were three wonderful, +sparkling rings, composed of diamonds set in clusters: there were great +solitaires in the neat little ears, and the thickly-plaited lace at the +throat was fastened by a diamond clasp. + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, clutching helplessly at the teapot, "are +you--surely it is a--a little dangerous to wear such--such priceless +ornaments on ordinary occasions." + +Octavia stared at her for a moment uncomprehendingly. + +"Your jewels, I mean, my love," fluttered Miss Belinda. "Surely you don't +wear them often. I declare, it quite frightens me to think of having such +things in the house." + +"Does it?" said Octavia. "That's queer." + +And she looked puzzled for a moment again. + +Then she glanced down at her rings. + +"I nearly always wear these," she remarked. "Father gave them to me. He +gave me one each birthday for three years. He says diamonds are an +investment, anyway, and I might as well have them. These," touching the +ear-rings and clasp, "were given to my mother when she was on the stage. +A lot of people clubbed together, and bought them for her. She was a +great favorite." + +Miss Belinda made another clutch at the handle of the teapot. + +"Your mother!" she exclaimed faintly. "On the--did you say, on the"-- + +"Stage," answered Octavia. "San Francisco. Father married her there. She +was awfully pretty. I don't remember her. She died when I was born. She +was only nineteen." + +The utter calmness, and freedom from embarrassment, with which these +announcements were made, almost shook Miss Belinda's faith in her own +identity. Strange to say, until this moment she had scarcely given a +thought to her brother's wife; and to find herself sitting in her own +genteel little parlor, behind her own tea-service, with her hand upon her +own teapot, hearing that this wife had been a young person who had been +"a great favorite" upon the stage, in a region peopled, as she had been +led to suppose, by gold-diggers and escaped convicts, was almost too much +for her to support herself under. But she did support herself bravely, +when she had time to rally. + +"Help yourself to some fowl, my dear," she said hospitably, even though +very faintly indeed, "and take a muffin." + +Octavia did so, her over-splendid hands flashing in the light as she +moved them. + +"American girls always have more things than English girls," she +observed, with admirable coolness. "They dress more. I have been told so +by girls who have been in Europe. And I have more things than most +American girls. Father had more money than most people; that was one +reason; and he spoiled me, I suppose. He had no one else to give things +to, and he said I should have every thing I took a fancy to. He often +laughed at me for buying things, but he never said I shouldn't buy them." + +"He was always generous," sighed Miss Belinda. "Poor, dear Martin!" + +Octavia scarcely entered into the spirit of this mournful sympathy. She +was fond of her father, but her recollections of him were not pathetic or +sentimental. + +"He took me with him wherever he went," she proceeded. "And we had a +teacher from the States, who travelled with us sometimes. He never sent +me away from him. I wouldn't have gone if he had wanted to send me--and +he didn't want to," she added, with a satisfied little laugh. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +L'ARGENTVILLE. + + +Miss Belinda sat, looking at her niece, with a sense of being at once +stunned and fascinated. To see a creature so young, so pretty, so +luxuriously splendid, and at the same time so simply and completely at +ease with herself and her surroundings, was a revelation quite beyond her +comprehension. The best-bred and nicest girls Slowbridge could produce +were apt to look a trifle conscious and timid when they found themselves +attired in the white muslin and floral decorations; but this slender +creature sat in her gorgeous attire, her train flowing over the modest +carpet, her rings flashing, her ear-pendants twinkling, apparently +entirely oblivious of, or indifferent to, the fact that all her +belongings were sufficiently out of place to be startling beyond measure. + +Her chief characteristic, however, seemed to be her excessive frankness. +She did not hesitate at all to make the most remarkable statements +concerning her own and her father's past career. She made them, too, as +if there was nothing unusual about them. Twice, in her childhood, a +luckless speculation had left her father penniless; and once he had taken +her to a Californian gold-diggers' camp, where she had been the only +female member of the somewhat reckless community. + +"But they were pretty good-natured, and made a pet of me," she said; +"and we did not stay very long. Father had a stroke of luck, and we +went away. I was sorry when we had to go, and so were the men. They made +me a present of a set of jewelry made out of the gold they had got +themselves. There is a breastpin like a breastplate, and a necklace like +a dog-collar: the bracelets tire my arms, and the ear-rings pull my ears; +but I wear them sometimes--gold girdle and all." + +"Did I," inquired Miss Belinda timidly, "did I understand you to say, my +dear, that your father's business was in some way connected with +silver-mining?" + +"It _is_ silver-mining," was the response. "He owns some mines, you +know"-- + +"Owns?" said Miss Belinda, much fluttered; "owns some silver-mines? He +must be a very rich man,--a very rich man. I declare, it quite takes my +breath away." + +"Oh! he is rich," said Octavia; "awfully rich sometimes. And then again +he isn't. Shares go up, you know; and then they go down, and you don't +seem to have any thing. But father generally comes out right, because he +is lucky, and knows how to manage." + +"But--but how uncertain!" gasped Miss Belinda: "I should be perfectly +miserable. Poor, dear Mar"-- + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't!" said Octavia: "you'd get used to it, and wouldn't +mind much, particularly if you were lucky as father is. There is every +thing in being lucky, and knowing how to manage. When we first went to +Bloody Gulch"-- + +"My dear!" cried Miss Belinda, aghast. "I--I beg of you"-- + +Octavia stopped short: she gazed at Miss Belinda in bewilderment, as she +had done several times before. + +"Is any thing the matter?" she inquired placidly. + +"My dear love," explained Miss Belinda innocently, determined at least to +do her duty, "it is not customary in--in Slowbridge,--in fact, I think I +may say in England,--to use such--such exceedingly--I don't want to wound +your feelings, my dear,--but such exceedingly strong expressions! I +refer, my dear, to the one which began with a B. It is really considered +profane, as well as dreadful beyond measure." + +"'The one which began with a B,'" repeated Octavia, still staring at her. +"That is the name of a place; but I didn't name it, you know. It was +called that, in the first place, because a party of men were surprised +and murdered there, while they were asleep in their camp at night. It +isn't a very nice name, of course, but I'm not responsible for it; and +besides, now the place is growing, they are going to call it Athens or +Magnolia Vale. They tried L'Argentville for a while; but people would +call it Lodginville, and nobody liked it." + +"I trust you never lived there," said Miss Belinda. "I beg your pardon +for being so horrified, but I really could not refrain from starting when +you spoke; and I cannot help hoping you never lived there." + +"I live there now, when I am at home," Octavia replied. "The mines are +there; and father has built a house, and had the furniture brought on +from New York." + +Miss Belinda tried not to shudder, but almost failed. + +"Won't you take another muffin, my love?" she said, with a sigh. "Do take +another muffin." + +"No, thank you," answered Octavia; and it must be confessed that she +looked a little bored, as she leaned back in her chair, and glanced down +at the train of her dress. It seemed to her that her simplest statement +or remark created a sensation. + +Having at last risen from the tea-table, she wandered to the window, and +stood there, looking out at Miss Belinda's flower-garden. It was quite a +pretty flower-garden, and a good-sized one considering the dimensions of +the house. There were an oval grass-plot, divers gravel paths, heart and +diamond shaped beds aglow with brilliant annuals, a great many +rose-bushes, several laburnums and lilacs, and a trim hedge of holly +surrounding it. + +"I think I should like to go out and walk around there," remarked +Octavia, smothering a little yawn behind her hand. "Suppose we go--if you +don't care." + +"Certainly, my dear," assented Miss Belinda. "But perhaps," with a +delicately dubious glance at her attire, "you would like to make some +little alteration in your dress--to put something a little--dark over +it." + +Octavia glanced down also. + +"Oh, no!" she replied: "it will do well enough. I will throw a scarf over +my head, though; not because I need it," unblushingly, "but because I +have a lace one that is very becoming." + +She went up to her room for the article in question, and in three minutes +was down again. When she first caught sight of her, Miss Belinda found +herself obliged to clear her throat quite suddenly. What Slowbridge would +think of seeing such a toilet in her front garden, upon an ordinary +occasion, she could not imagine. The scarf truly was becoming. It was a +long affair of rich white lace, and was thrown over the girl's head, +wound around her throat, and the ends tossed over her shoulders, with the +most picturesque air of carelessness in the world. + +"You look quite like a bride, my dear Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "We +are scarcely used to such things in Slowbridge." + +But Octavia only laughed a little. + +"I am going to get some pink roses, and fasten the ends with them, when +we get into the garden," she said. + +She stopped for this purpose at the first rose-bush they reached. She +gathered half a dozen slender-stemmed, heavy-headed buds, and, having +fastened the lace with some, was carelessly placing the rest at her +waist, when Miss Belinda started violently. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LADY THEOBALD. + + +"Oh, dear!" she exclaimed nervously, "there is Lady Theobald." + +Lady Theobald, having been making calls of state, was returning home +rather later than usual, when, in driving up High Street, her eye fell +upon Miss Bassett's garden. She put up her eyeglasses, and gazed through +them severely; then she issued a mandate to her coachman. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive more slowly." + +She could not believe the evidence of her own eyeglasses. In Miss +Bassett's garden she saw a tall girl, "dressed," as she put it, "like an +actress," her delicate dress trailing upon the grass, a white lace scarf +about her head and shoulders, roses in that scarf, roses at her waist. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed: "is Belinda Bassett giving a party, +without so much as mentioning it to _me_?" + +Then she issued another mandate. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive faster, and drive me to Miss Bassett's." + +Miss Belinda came out to the gate to meet her, quaking inwardly. Octavia +simply turned slightly where she stood, and looked at her ladyship, +without any pretence of concealing her curiosity. + +Lady Theobald bent forward in her landau. + +"Belinda," she said, "how do you do? I did not know you intended to +introduce garden-parties into Slowbridge." + +"Dear Lady Theobald"--began Miss Belinda. + +"Who is that young person?" demanded her ladyship. + +"She is poor dear Martin's daughter," answered Miss Belinda. "She arrived +to-day--from Nevada, where--where it appears Martin has been very +fortunate, and owns a great many silver-mines"-- + +"A 'great many' silver-mines!" cried Lady Theobald. "Are you mad, Belinda +Bassett? I am ashamed of you. At your time of life too!" + +Miss Belinda almost shed tears. + +"She said 'some silver-mines,' I am sure," she faltered; "for I remember +how astonished and bewildered I was. The fact is, that she is such a very +singular girl, and has told me so many wonderful things, in the +strangest, cool way, that I am quite uncertain of myself. Murderers, and +gold-diggers, and silver-mines, and camps full of men without women, +making presents of gold girdles and dog-collars, and ear-rings that drag +your ears down. It is enough to upset any one." + +"I should think so," responded her ladyship. "Open the carriage-door, +Belinda, and let me get out." + +She felt that this matter must be inquired into at once, and not allowed +to go too far. She had ruled Slowbridge too long to allow such +innovations to remain uninvestigated. She would not be likely to be +"upset," at least. She descended from her landau, with her most rigorous +air. Her stout, rich black _moire-antique_ gown rustled severely; the +yellow ostrich feather in her bonnet waved majestically. (Being a +brunette, and Lady Theobald, she wore yellow.) As she tramped up the +gravel walk, she held up her dress with both hands, as an example to +vulgar and reckless young people who wore trains and left them to +take care of themselves. Octavia was arranging afresh the bunch of +long-stemmed, swaying buds at her waist, and she was giving all her +attention to her task when her visitor first addressed her. + +"How do you do?" remarked her ladyship, in a fine, deep voice. + +Miss Belinda followed her meekly. + +"Octavia," she explained, "this is Lady Theobald, whom you will be very +glad to know. She knew your father." + +"Yes," returned my lady, "years ago. He has had time to improve since +then. How do you do?" + +Octavia's limpid eyes rested serenely upon her. + +"How do you do?" she said, rather indifferently. + +"You are from Nevada?" asked Lady Theobald. + +"Yes." + +"It is not long since you left there?" + +Octavia smiled faintly. + +"Do I look like that?" she inquired. + +"Like what?" said my lady. + +"As if I had not long lived in a civilized place. I dare say I do, +because it is true that I haven't." + +"You don't look like an English girl," remarked her ladyship. + +Octavia smiled again. She looked at the yellow feather and stout _moire +antique_ dress, but quite as if by accident, and without any mental +deduction; then she glanced at the rosebuds in her hand. + +"I suppose I ought to be sorry for that," she observed. "I dare say I +shall be in time--when I have been longer away from Nevada." + +"I must confess," admitted her ladyship, and evidently without the +least regret or embarrassment, "I must confess that I don't know where +Nevada is." + +"It isn't in Europe," replied Octavia, with a soft, light laugh. "You +know that, don't you?" + +The words themselves sounded to Lady Theobald like the most outrageous +impudence; but when she looked at the pretty, lovelock-shaded face, she +was staggered the look it wore was such a very innocent and undisturbed +one. At the moment, the only solution to be reached seemed to be that +this was the style of young people in Nevada, and that it was ignorance +and not insolence she had to do battle with--which, indeed, was +partially true. + +"I have not had any occasion to inquire where it is situated, so far," +she responded firmly. "It is not so necessary for English people to know +America as it is for Americans to know England." + +"Isn't it?" said Octavia, without any great show of interest. "Why not?" + +"For--for a great many reasons it would be fatiguing to explain," she +answered courageously. "How is your father?" + +"He is very sea-sick now," was the smiling answer,--"deadly sea-sick. He +has been out just twenty-four hours." + +"Out? What does that mean?" + +"Out on the Atlantic. He was called back suddenly, and obliged to leave +me. That is why I came here alone." + +"Pray do come into the parlor, and sit down, dear Lady Theobald," +ventured Miss Belinda. "Octavia"-- + +"Don't you think it is nicer out here?" said Octavia. + +"My dear," answered Miss Belinda. "Lady Theobald"--She was really quite +shocked. + +"Ah!" interposed Octavia. "I only thought it was cooler." + +She preceded them, without seeming to be at all conscious that she was +taking the lead. + +"You had better pick up your dress, Miss Octavia," said Lady Theobald +rather acidly. + +The girl glanced over her shoulder at the length of train sweeping the +path, but she made no movement toward picking it up. + +"It is too much trouble, and one has to duck down so," she said. "It is +bad enough to have to keep doing it when one is on the street. Besides, +they would never wear out if one took too much care of them." + +When they went into the parlor, and sat down, Lady Theobald made +excellent use of her time, and managed to hear again all that had tried +and bewildered Miss Belinda. She had no hesitation in asking questions +boldly; she considered it her privilege to do so: she had catechised +Slowbridge for forty years, and meant to maintain her rights until Time +played her the knave's trick of disabling her. + +In half an hour she had heard about the silver-mines, the gold-diggers, +and L'Argentville; she knew that Martin Bassett was a millionnaire, if +the news he had heard had not left him penniless; that he would return to +England, and visit Slowbridge, as soon as his affairs were settled. The +precarious condition of his finances did not seem to cause Octavia much +concern. She had asked no questions when he went away, and seemed quite +at ease regarding the future. + +"People will always lend him money, and then he is lucky with it," she +said. + +She bore the catechising very well. Her replies were frequently rather +trying to her interlocutor, but she never seemed troubled, or ashamed of +any thing she had to say; and she wore, from first to last, that +inscrutably innocent and indifferent little air. + +She did not even show confusion when Lady Theobald, on going away, made +her farewell comment:-- + +"You are a very fortunate girl to own such jewels," she said, glancing +critically at the diamonds in her ears; "but if you take my advice, my +dear, you will put them away, and save them until you are a married +woman. It is not customary, on this side of the water, for young girls to +wear such things--particularly on ordinary occasions. People will think +you are odd." + +"It is not exactly customary in America," replied Octavia, with her +undisturbed smile. "There are not many girls who have such things. +Perhaps they would wear them if they had them. I don't care a very great +deal about them, but I mean to wear them." + +Lady Theobald went away in a dudgeon. + +"You will have to exercise your authority, Belinda, and _make_ her put +them away," she said to Miss Bassett. "It is absurd--besides being +atrocious." + +"Make her!" faltered Miss Bassett. + +"Yes, 'make her'--though I see you will have your hands full. I never +heard such romancing stories in my life. It is just what one might expect +from your brother Martin." + +When Miss Bassett returned, Octavia was standing before the window, +watching the carriage drive away, and playing absently with one of her +ear-rings as she did so. + +"What an old fright she is!" was her first guileless remark. + +Miss Belinda quite bridled. + +"My dear," she said, with dignity, "no one in Slowbridge would think of +applying such a phrase to Lady Theobald." + +Octavia turned around, and looked at her. + +"But don't you think she is one?" she exclaimed. "Perhaps I oughtn't to +have said it; but you know we haven't any thing as bad as that, even out +in Nevada--really!" + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, "different countries contain different +people; and in Slowbridge _we_ have our standards,"--her best cap +trembling a little with her repressed excitement. + +But Octavia did not appear overwhelmed by the existence of the standards +in question. She turned to the window again. + +"Well, anyway," she said, "I think it was pretty cool in her to order me +to take off my diamonds, and save them until I was married. How does she +know whether I mean to be married, or not? I don't know that I care +about it." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LUCIA. + + +In this manner Slowbridge received the shock which shook it to +its foundations, and it was a shock from which it did not recover for +some time. Before ten o'clock the next morning, everybody knew of the +arrival of Martin Bassett's daughter. + +The very boarding-school (Miss Pilcher's select seminary for young +ladies, "combining the comforts of a home," as the circular said, +"with all the advantages of genteel education") was on fire with it, +highly colored versions of the stories told being circulated from +the "first class" downward, even taking the form of an Indian princess, +tattooed blue, and with difficulty restrained from indulging in +war-whoops,--which last feature so alarmed little Miss Bigbee, aged +seven, that she retired in fear and trembling, and shed tears under the +bedclothes; her terror and anguish being much increased by the stirring +recitals of scalping-stories by pretty Miss Phipps, of the first +class--a young person who possessed a vivid imagination, and delighted in +romances of a tragic turn. + +"I have not the slightest doubt," said Miss Phipps, "that when she is at +home she lives in a wampum." + +"What is a wampum?" inquired one of her admiring audience. + +"A tent," replied Miss Phipps, with some impatience. "I should +think any goose would know that. It is a kind of tent hung with +scalps and--and--moccasins, and--lariats--and things of that sort." + +"I don't believe that is the right name for it," put in Miss Smith, who +was a pert member of the third class. + +"Ah!" commented Miss Phipps, "that was Miss Smith who spoke, of course. +We may always expect information from Miss Smith. I trust that I may be +allowed to say that I _think_ I _have_ a brother"-- + +"He doesn't know much about it, if he calls a wigwam a wampum," +interposed Miss Smith, with still greater pertness. "I have a brother who +knows better than that, if I am only in the third class." For a moment +Miss Phipps appeared to be meditating. Perhaps she was a trifle +discomfited; but she recovered herself after a brief pause, and returned +to the charge. + +"Well," she remarked, "perhaps it is a wigwam. Who cares if it is? And +at any rate, whatever it is, I haven't the slightest doubt that she +lives in one." + +This comparatively tame version was, however, entirely discarded when the +diamonds and silver-mines began to figure more largely in the reports. +Certainly, pretty, overdressed, jewel-bedecked Octavia gave Slowbridge +abundant cause for excitement. + +After leaving her, Lady Theobald drove home to Oldclough Hall, rather +out of humor. She had been rather out of humor for some time, having +never quite recovered from her anger at the daring of that cheerful +builder of mills, Mr. John Burmistone. Mr. Burmistone had been one +innovation, and Octavia Bassett was another. She had not been able to +manage Mr. Burmistone, and she was not at all sure that she had managed +Octavia Bassett. + +She entered the dining-room with an ominous frown on her forehead. + +At the end of the table, opposite her own seat, was a vacant chair, and +her frown deepened when she saw it. + +"Where is Miss Gaston?" she demanded of the servant. + +Before the man had time to reply, the door opened, and a girl came in +hurriedly, with a somewhat frightened air. + +"I beg pardon, grandmamma dear," she said, going to her seat quickly. "I +did not know you had come home." + +"We have a dinner-hour," announced her ladyship, "and _I_ do not +disregard it." + +"I am very sorry," faltered the culprit. + +"That is enough, Lucia," interrupted Lady Theobald; and Lucia dropped her +eyes, and began to eat her soup with nervous haste. In fact, she was glad +to escape so easily. + +She was a very pretty creature, with brown eyes, a soft white skin, and +a slight figure with a reed-like grace. A great quantity of brown hair +was twisted into an ugly coil on the top of her delicate little head; +and she wore an ugly muslin gown of Miss Chickie's make. For some time +the meal progressed in dead silence; but at length Lucia ventured to +raise her eyes. + +"I have been walking in Slowbridge, grandmamma," she said, "and I met Mr. +Burmistone, who told me that Miss Bassett has a visitor--a young lady +from America." + +Lady Theobald laid her knife and fork down deliberately. + +"Mr. Burmistone?" she said. "Did I understand you to say that you stopped +on the roadside to converse with Mr. Burmistone?" + +Lucia colored up to her delicate eyebrows and above them. + +"I was trying to reach a flower growing on the bank," she said, "and he +was so kind as to stop to get it for me. I did not know he was near at +first. And then he inquired how you were--and told me he had just heard +about the young lady." + +"Naturally!" remarked her ladyship sardonically. "It is as I anticipated +it would be. We shall find Mr. Burmistone at our elbows upon all +occasions. And he will not allow himself to be easily driven away. He is +as determined as persons of his class usually are." + +"O grandmamma!" protested Lucia, with innocent fervor. "I really do not +think he is--like that at all. I could not help thinking he was very +gentlemanly and kind. He is so much interested in your school, and so +anxious that it should prosper." + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, "how long a time this generous +expression of his sentiments occupied? Was this the reason of your +forgetting the dinner-hour?" + +"We did not"--said Lucia guiltily: "it did not take many minutes. I--I do +not think that made me late." + +Lady Theobald dismissed this paltry excuse with one remark,--a remark +made in the deep tones referred to once before. + +"I should scarcely have expected," she observed, "that a granddaughter of +mine would have spent half an hour conversing on the public road with the +proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, the tears rising in her eyes: "it was +not half an hour." + +"I should scarcely have expected," replied her ladyship, "that a +granddaughter of mine would have spent five minutes conversing on the +public road with the proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +To this assault there seemed to be no reply to make. Lady Theobald had +her granddaughter under excellent control. Under her rigorous rule, the +girl--whose mother had died at her birth--had been brought up. At +nineteen she was simple, sensitive, shy. She had been permitted to have +no companions, and the greatest excitements of her life had been the +Slowbridge tea-parties. Of the late Sir Gilbert Theobald, the less said +the better. He had spent very little of his married life at Oldclough +Hall, and upon his death his widow had found herself possessed of a +substantial, gloomy mansion, an exalted position in Slowbridge society, +and a small marriage-settlement, upon which she might make all the +efforts she chose to sustain her state. So Lucia wore her dresses a much +longer time than any other Slowbridge young lady: she was obliged to mend +her little gloves again and again; and her hats were retrimmed so often +that even Slowbridge thought them old-fashioned. But she was too simple +and sweet-natured to be much troubled, and indeed thought very little +about the matter. She was only troubled when Lady Theobald scolded her, +which was by no means infrequently. Perhaps the straits to which, at +times, her ladyship was put to maintain her dignity imbittered her +somewhat. + +"Lucia is neither a Theobald nor a Barold," she had been heard to say +once, and she had said it with much rigor. + +A subject of much conversation in private circles had been Lucia's +future. It had been discussed in whispers since her seventeenth year, but +no one had seemed to approach any solution of the difficulty. Upon the +subject of her plans for her granddaughter, Lady Theobald had preserved +stern silence. Once, and once only, she had allowed herself to be +betrayed into the expression of a sentiment connected with the matter. + +"If Miss Lucia marries"--a matron of reckless proclivities had remarked. + +Lady Theobald turned upon her, slowly and majestically. + +"_If_ Miss Gaston marries," she repeated. "Does it seem likely that Miss +Gaston will _not_ marry?" + +This settled the matter finally. Lucia was to be married when Lady +Theobald thought fit. So far, however, she had not thought fit: indeed, +there had been nobody for Lucia to marry,--nobody whom her grandmother +would have allowed her to marry, at least. There were very few young men +in Slowbridge; and the very few were scarcely eligible according to Lady +Theobald's standard, and--if such a thing should be mentioned--to +Lucia's, if she had known she had one, which she certainly did not. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ACCIDENTAL. + + +When dinner was over, Lady Theobald rose, and proceeded to the +drawing-room, Lucia following in her wake. From her very babyhood Lucia +had disliked the drawing-room, which was an imposing apartment of great +length and height, containing much massive furniture, upholstered in +faded blue satin. All the girl's evenings, since her fifth year, had been +spent sitting opposite her grandmother, in one of the straightest of the +blue chairs: all the most scathing reproofs she had received had been +administered to her at such times. She had a secret theory, indeed, that +all unpleasant things occurred in the drawing-room after dinner. + +Just as they had seated themselves, and Lady Theobald was on the point of +drawing toward her the little basket containing the gray woollen mittens +she made a duty of employing herself by knitting each evening, Dobson, +the coachman, in his character of footman, threw open the door, and +announced a visitor. + +"Capt. Barold." + +Lady Theobald dropped her gray mitten, the steel needles falling upon the +table with a clink. She rose to her feet at once, and met half-way the +young man who had entered. + +"My dear Francis," she remarked, "I am exceedingly glad to see you at +last," with a slight emphasis upon the "at last." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold, rather languidly. "You're very good, I'm +sure." + +Then he glanced at Lucia, and Lady Theobald addressed her:-- + +"Lucia," she said, "this is Francis Barold, who is your cousin." + +Capt. Barold shook hands feebly. + +"I have been trying to find out whether it is third or fourth," he said. + +"It is third," said my lady. + +Lucia had never seen her display such cordiality to anybody. But Capt. +Francis Barold did not seem much impressed by it. It struck Lucia that he +would not be likely to be impressed by any thing. He seated himself near +her grandmother's chair, and proceeded to explain his presence on the +spot, without exhibiting much interest even in his own relation of facts. + +"I promised the Rathburns that I would spend a week at their place; and +Slowbridge was on the way, so it occurred to me I would drop off in +passing. The Rathburns' place, Broadoaks, is about ten miles farther on; +not far, you see." + +"Then," said Lady Theobald, "I am to understand that your visit is +accidental." + +Capt. Barold was not embarrassed. He did not attempt to avoid her +ladyship's rather stern eye, as he made his cool reply. + +"Well, yes," he said. "I beg pardon, but it is accidental, rather." + +Lucia gave him a pretty, frightened look, as if she felt that, after such +an audacious confession, something very serious must happen; but nothing +serious happened at all. Singularly enough, it was Lady Theobald herself +who looked ill at ease, and as though she had not been prepared for such +a contingency. + +During the whole of the evening, in fact, it was always Lady Theobald +who was placed at a disadvantage, Lucia discovered. She could hardly +realize the fact at first; but before an hour had passed, its truth was +forced upon her. + +Capt. Barold was a very striking-looking man, upon the whole. He was +large, gracefully built, and fair: his eyes were gray, and noticeable for +the coldness of their expression, his features regular and aquiline, his +movements leisurely. + +As he conversed with her grandmother, Lucia wondered at him privately. It +seemed to her innocent mind that he had been everywhere, and seen every +thing and everybody, without caring for or enjoying his privileges. The +truth was, that he had seen and experienced a great deal too much. As an +only child, the heir to a large property, and heir prospective to one of +the oldest titles in the country, he had exhausted life early. He saw in +Lady Theobald, not the imposing head and social front of Slowbridge +social life, the power who rewarded with approval and punished with a +frown, but a tiresome, pretentious old woman, whom his mother had asked +him, for some feminine reason, to visit. "She feels she has a claim upon +us, Francis," she had said appealingly. + +"Well," he had remarked, "that is rather deuced cool, isn't it? We have +people enough on our hands without cultivating Slowbridge, you know." + +His mother sighed faintly. + +"It is true we have a great many people to consider; but I wish you would +do it, my dear." + +She did not say any thing at all about Lucia: above all, she did not +mention that a year ago she herself had spent two or three days at +Slowbridge, and had been charmed beyond measure by the girl's innocent +freshness, and that she had said, rather absently, to Lady Theobald,-- + +"What a charming wife Lucia would make for a man to whom gentleness and a +yielding disposition were necessary! We do not find such girls in society +nowadays, my dear Lady Theobald. It is very difficult of late years to +find a girl who is not spoken of as 'fast,' and who is not disposed to +take the reins in her own hands. Our young men are flattered and courted +until they become a little dictatorial, and our girls are spoiled at +home. And the result is a great deal of domestic unhappiness +afterward--and even a great deal of scandal, which is dreadful to +contemplate. I cannot help feeling the greatest anxiety in secret +concerning Francis. Young men so seldom consider these matters until it +is too late." + +"Girls are not trained as they were in my young days, or even in yours," +said Lady Theobald. "They are allowed too much liberty. Lucia has been +brought up immediately under my own eye." + +"I feel that it is fortunate," remarked Mrs. Barold, quite incidentally, +"that Francis need not make a point of money." + +For a few moments Lady Theobald did not respond; but afterward, in the +course of the conversation which followed, she made an observation which +was, of course, purely incidental. + +"If Lucia makes a marriage which pleases her great-uncle, old Mr. Dugald +Binnie, of Glasgow, she will be a very fortunate girl. He has intimated, +in his eccentric fashion, that his immense fortune will either be hers, +or will be spent in building charitable asylums of various kinds. He is a +remarkable and singular man." + +When Capt. Barold had entered his distinguished relative's drawing-room, +he had not regarded his third cousin with a very great deal of interest. +He had seen too many beauties in his thirty years to be greatly moved by +the sight of one; and here was only a girl who had soft eyes, and looked +young for her age, and who wore an ugly muslin gown, that most girls +could not have carried off at all. + +"You have spent the greater part of your life in Slowbridge?" he +condescended to say in the course of the evening. + +"I have lived here always," Lucia answered. "I have never been away more +than a week at a time." + +"Ah?" interrogatively. "I hope you have not found it dull." + +"No," smiling a little. "Not very. You see, I have known nothing gayer." + +"There is society enough of a harmless kind here," spoke up Lady Theobald +virtuously. "I do not approve of a round of gayeties for young people: it +unfits them for the duties of life." + +But Capt. Barold was not as favorably impressed by these remarks as might +have been anticipated. + +"What an old fool she is!" was his polite inward comment. And he resolved +at once to make his visit as brief as possible, and not to be induced to +run down again during his stay at Broadoaks. He did not even take the +trouble to appear to enjoy his evening. From his earliest infancy, he had +always found it easier to please himself than to please other people. In +fact, the world had devoted itself to endeavoring to please him, and win +his--toleration, we may say, instead of admiration, since it could not +hope for the latter. At home he had been adored rapturously by a large +circle of affectionate male and female relatives; at school his tutors +had been singularly indulgent of his faults and admiring of his talents; +even among his fellow-pupils he had been a sort of autocrat. + +Why not, indeed, with such birthrights and such prospects? When he had +entered society, he had met with even more amiable treatment from +affectionate mothers, from innocent daughters, from cordial paternal +parents, who voted him an exceedingly fine fellow. Why should he bore +himself by taking the trouble to seem pleased by a stupid evening with an +old grenadier in petticoats and a badly dressed country girl? + +Lucia was very glad when, in answer to a timidly appealing glance, Lady +Theobald said,-- + +"It is half-past ten. You may wish us good-night, Lucia." + +Lucia obeyed, as if she had been half-past ten herself, instead of nearly +twenty; and Barold was not long in following her example. + +Dobson led him to a stately chamber at the top of the staircase, and left +him there. The captain chose the largest and most luxurious chair, sat +down in it, and lighted a cigar at his leisure. + +"Confoundedly stupid hole!" he said with a refined vigor one would +scarcely have expected from an individual of his birth and breeding. "I +shall leave to-morrow, of course. What was my mother thinking of? Stupid +business from first to last." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +"I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE." + + +When he announced at breakfast his intention of taking his departure on +the midday train, Lucia wondered again what would happen; and again, to +her relief, Lady Theobald was astonishingly lenient. + +"As your friends expect you, of course we cannot overrule them," she +said. "We will, however, hope to see something of you during your stay at +Broadoaks. It will be very easy for you to run down and give us a few +hours now and then." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold. + +He was decently civil, if not enthusiastic, during the few remaining +hours of his stay. He sauntered through the grounds with Lucia, who took +charge of him in obedience to her grandmother's wish. He did not find her +particularly troublesome when she was away from her ladyship's side. When +she came out to him in her simple cotton gown and straw hat, it occurred +to him that she was much prettier than he had thought her at first. For +economical reasons she had made the little morning-dress herself, without +the slightest regard for the designs of Miss Chickie; and as it was not +trimmed at all, and had only a black-velvet ribbon at the waist, there +was nothing to place her charming figure at a disadvantage. It could not +be said that her shyness and simplicity delighted Capt. Barold, but, at +least, they did not displease him; and this was really as much as could +be expected. + +"She does not expect a fellow to exert himself, at all events," was his +inward comment; and he did not exert himself. + +But, when on the point of taking his departure, he went so far as to make +a very gracious remark to her. + +"I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you in London for a season, +before very long," he said: "my mother will have great pleasure in taking +charge of you, if Lady Theobald cannot be induced to leave Slowbridge." + +"Lucia never goes from home alone," said Lady Theobald; "but I should +certainly be obliged to call upon your mother for her good offices, in +the case of our spending a season in London. I am too old a woman to +alter my mode of life altogether." + +In obedience to her ladyship's orders, the venerable landau was brought +to the door; and the two ladies drove to the station with him. + +It was during this drive that a very curious incident occurred,--an +incident to which, perhaps, this story owes its existence, since, if it +had not taken place, there might, very possibly, have been no events of a +stirring nature to chronicle. Just as Dobson drove rather slowly up the +part of High Street distinguished by the presence of Miss Belinda +Bassett's house, Capt. Barold suddenly appeared to be attracted by some +figure he discovered in the garden appertaining to that modest structure. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed, in an undertone, "there is Miss Octavia." + +For the moment he was almost roused to a display of interest. A faint +smile lighted his face, and his cold, handsome eyes slightly brightened. + +Lady Theobald sat bolt upright. + +"That is Miss Bassett's niece, from America," she said. "Do I understand +you know her?" + +Capt. Barold turned to confront her, evidently annoyed at having allowed +a surprise to get the better of him. All expression died out of his face. + +"I travelled with her from Framwich to Stamford," he said. "I suppose we +should have reached Slowbridge together, but that I dropped off at +Stamford to get a newspaper, and the train left me behind." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, who had turned to look, "how very pretty +she is!" + +Miss Octavia certainly was amazingly so this morning. She was standing by +a rosebush again, and was dressed in a cashmere morning-robe of the +finest texture and the faintest pink: it had a Watteau plait down the +back, _jabot_ of lace down the front, and the close, high frills of lace +around the throat which seemed to be a weakness with her. Her hair was +dressed high upon her head, and showed to advantage her little ears and +as much of her slim white neck as the frills did not conceal. + +But Lady Theobald did not share Lucia's enthusiasm. + +"She looks like an actress," she said. "If the trees were painted canvas +and the roses artificial, one might have some patience with her. That +kind of thing is scarcely what we expect in Slowbridge." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"I had the pleasure of meeting her yesterday, not long after she +arrived," she said. "She had diamonds in her ears as big as peas, and +rings to match. Her manner is just what one might expect from a young +woman brought up among gold-diggers and silver-miners." + +"It struck me as being a very unique and interesting manner," said Capt. +Barold. "It is chiefly noticeable for a _sang-froid_ which might be +regarded as rather enviable. She was good enough to tell me all about her +papa and the silver-mines, and I really found the conversation +entertaining." + +"It is scarcely customary for English young women to confide in their +masculine travelling companions to such an extent," remarked my lady +grimly. + +"She did not confide in me at all," said Barold. "Therein lay her +attraction. One cannot submit to being 'confided in' by a strange young +woman, however charming. This young lady's remarks were flavored solely +with an adorably cool candor. She evidently did not desire to appeal to +any emotion whatever." + +And as he leaned back in his seat, he still looked at the picturesque +figure which they had passed, as if he would not have been sorry to see +it turn its head toward him. + +In fact, it seemed that, notwithstanding his usual good fortune, Capt. +Barold was doomed this morning to make remarks of a nature objectionable +to his revered relation. On their way they passed Mr. Burmistone's mill, +which was at work in all its vigor, with a whir and buzz of machinery, +and a slight odor of oil in its surrounding atmosphere. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Barold, putting his single eyeglass into his eye, and +scanning it after the manner of experts. "I did not think you had any +thing of that sort here. Who put it up?" + +"The man's name," replied Lady Theobald severely, "is Burmistone." + +"Pretty good idea, isn't it?" remarked Barold. "Good for the place--and +all that sort of thing." + +"To my mind," answered my lady, "it is the worst possible thing which +could have happened." + +Mr. Francis Barold dropped his eyeglass dexterously, and at once lapsed +into his normal condition--which was a condition by no means favorable +to argument. + +"Think so?" he said slowly. "Pity, isn't it, under the circumstances?" + +And really there was nothing at all for her ladyship to do but preserve a +lofty silence. She had scarcely recovered herself when they reached the +station, and it was necessary to say farewell as complacently as +possible. + +"We will hope to see you again before many days," she said with dignity, +if not with warmth. + +Mr. Francis Barold was silent for a second, and a slightly reflective +expression flitted across his face. + +"Thanks, yes," he said at last. "Certainly. It is easy to come down, and +I should like to see more of Slowbridge." + +When the train had puffed in and out of the station, and Dobson was +driving down High Street again, her ladyship's feelings rather got the +better of her. + +"If Belinda Bassett is a wise woman," she remarked, "she will take my +advice, and get rid of this young lady as soon as possible. It appears to +me," she continued, with exalted piety, "that every well-trained English +girl has reason to thank her Maker that she was born in a civilized +land." + +"Perhaps," suggested Lucia softly, "Miss Octavia Bassett has had no one +to train her at all; and it may be that--that she even feels it deeply." + +The feathers in her ladyship's bonnet trembled. + +"She does not feel it at all!" she announced. "She is an +impertinent--minx!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SHARES LOOKING UP. + + +There were others who echoed her ladyship's words afterward, though they +echoed them privately, and with more caution than my lady felt necessary. +It is certain that Miss Octavia Bassett did not improve as time +progressed, and she had enlarged opportunities for studying the noble +example set before her by Slowbridge. + +On his arrival in New York, Martin Bassett telegraphed to his daughter +and sister, per Atlantic cable, informing them that he might be detained +a couple of months, and bidding them to be of good cheer. The arrival of +the message in its official envelope so alarmed Miss Belinda, that she +was supported by Mary Anne while it was read to her by Octavia, who +received it without any surprise whatever. For some time after its +completion, Slowbridge had privately disbelieved in the Atlantic cable, +and, until this occasion, had certainly disbelieved in the existence of +people who received messages through it. In fact, on first finding that +she was the recipient of such a message, Miss Belinda had made immediate +preparations for fainting quietly away, being fully convinced that a +shipwreck had occurred, which had resulted in her brother's death, and +that his executors had chosen this delicate method of breaking the news. + +"A message by Atlantic cable?" she had gasped. "Don't--don't read it, my +love. L-let some one else do that. Poor--poor child! Trust in Providence, +my love, and--and bear up. Ah, how I wish I had a stronger mind, and +could be of more service to you!" + +"It's a message from father," said Octavia. "Nothing is the matter. He's +all right. He got in on Saturday." + +"Ah!" panted Miss Belinda. "Are you _quite_ sure, my dear--are you quite +sure?" + +"That's what he says. Listen." + +"Got in Saturday. Piper met me. Shares looking up. May be kept here two +months. Will write. Keep up your spirits. MARTIN BASSETT." + +"Thank Heaven!" sighed Miss Belinda. "Thank Heaven!" + +"Why?" said Octavia. + +"Why?" echoed Miss Belinda. "Ah, my dear, if you knew how terrified I +was! I felt sure that something had happened. A _cable_ message, my dear! +I never received a telegram in my life before, and to receive a _cable_ +message was really a _shock_." + +"Well, I don't see why," said Octavia. "It seems to me it is pretty much +like any other message." + +Miss Belinda regarded her timidly. + +"Does your papa _often_ send them?" she inquired. "Surely it must be +expensive." + +"I don't suppose it's cheap," Octavia replied, "but it saves time and +worry. I should have had to wait twelve days for a letter." + +"Very true," said Miss Belinda, "but"-- + +She broke off with rather a distressed shake of the head. Her simple +ideas of economy and quiet living were frequently upset in these times. +She had begun to regard her niece with a slight feeling of awe; and yet +Octavia had not been doing any thing at all remarkable in her own eyes, +and considered her life pretty dull. + +If the elder Miss Bassett, her parents and grandparents, had not been so +thoroughly well known, and so universally respected; if their social +position had not been so firmly established, and their quiet lives not +quite so highly respectable,--there is an awful possibility that +Slowbridge might even have gone so far as not to ask Octavia out to tea +at all. But even Lady Theobald felt that it would not do to slight +Belinda Bassett's niece and guest. To omit the customary state teas +would have been to crush innocent Miss Belinda at a blow, and place +her--through the medium of this young lady, who alone deserved +condemnation--beyond the pale of all social law. + +"It is only to be regretted," said her ladyship, "that Belinda Bassett +has not arranged things better. Relatives of such an order are certainly +to be deplored." + +In secret Lucia felt much soft-hearted sympathy for both Miss Bassett and +her guest. She could not help wondering how Miss Belinda became +responsible for the calamity which had fallen upon her. It really did not +seem probable that she had been previously consulted as to the kind of +niece she desired, or that she had, in a distinct manner, evinced a +preference for a niece of this description. + +"Perhaps, dear grandmamma," the girl ventured, "it is because Miss +Octavia Bassett is so young that"-- + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, in fell tones, "how old you are?" + +"I was nineteen in--in December." + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said her ladyship, "was nineteen last October, +and it is now June. I have not yet found it necessary to apologize for +you on the score of youth." + +But it was her ladyship who took the initiative, and set an evening for +entertaining Miss Belinda and her niece, in company with several other +ladies, with the best bohea, thin bread and butter, plum-cake, and +various other delicacies. + +"What do they do at such places?" asked Octavia. "Half-past five is +pretty early." + +"We spend some time at the tea-table, my dear," explained Miss Belinda. +"And afterward we--we converse. A few of us play whist. I do not. I feel +as if I were not clever enough, and I get flurried too easily by--by +differences of opinion." + +"I should think it wasn't very exciting," said Octavia. "I don't fancy +I ever went to an entertainment where they did nothing but drink tea, +and talk." + +"It is not our intention or desire to be exciting, my dear," Miss Belinda +replied with mild dignity. "And an improving conversation is frequently +most beneficial to the parties engaged in it." + +"I'm afraid," Octavia observed, "that I never heard much improving +conversation." + +She was really no fonder of masculine society than the generality of +girls; but she could not help wondering if there would be any young men +present, and if, indeed, there were any young men in Slowbridge who might +possibly be produced upon festive occasions, even though ordinarily kept +in the background. She had not heard Miss Belinda mention any masculine +name so far, but that of the curate of St. James's; and, when she had +seen him pass the house, she had not found his slim, black figure, and +faint, ecclesiastic whiskers, especially interesting. + +It must be confessed that Miss Belinda suffered many pangs of anxiety in +looking forward to her young kinswoman's first appearance in society. A +tea at Lady Theobald's house constituted formal presentation to the +Slowbridge world. Each young lady within the pale of genteel society, +having arrived at years of discretion, on returning home from +boarding-school, was invited to tea at Oldclough Hall. During an entire +evening she was the subject of watchful criticism. Her deportment was +remarked, her accomplishments displayed, she performed her last new +"pieces" upon the piano, she was drawn into conversation by her hostess; +and upon the timid modesty of her replies, and the reverence of her +listening attitudes, depended her future social status. So it was very +natural indeed that Miss Belinda should be anxious. + +"I would wear something rather quiet and--and simple, my dear Octavia," +she said. "A white muslin perhaps, with blue ribbons." + +"Would you?" answered Octavia. Then, after appearing to reflect upon the +matter a few seconds, "I've got one that would do, if it's warm enough +to wear it. I bought it in New York, but it came from Paris. I've never +worn it yet." + +"It would be nicer than any thing else, my love," said Miss Belinda, +delighted to find her difficulty so easily disposed of. "Nothing is so +charming in the dress of a young girl as pure simplicity. Our Slowbridge +young ladies rarely wear any thing but white for evening. Miss Chickie +assured me, a few weeks ago, that she had made fifteen white-muslin +dresses, all after one simple design of her own." + +"I shouldn't think that was particularly nice, myself," remarked Octavia +impartially. "I should be glad one of the fifteen didn't belong to me. I +should feel as if people might say, when I came into a room, 'Good +gracious, there's another!'" + +"The first was made for Miss Lucia Gaston, who is Lady Theobald's niece," +replied Miss Belinda mildly. "And there are few young ladies in +Slowbridge who would not emulate her example." + +"Oh!" said Octavia, "I dare say she is very nice, and all that; but I +don't believe I should care to copy her dresses. I think I should draw +the line there." + +But she said it without any ill-nature; and, sensitive as Miss Belinda +was upon the subject of her cherished ideals, she could not take offence. + +When the eventful evening arrived, there was excitement in more than one +establishment upon High Street and the streets in its vicinity. The +stories of the diamonds, the gold-diggers, and the silver-mines, had been +added to, and embellished, in the most ornate and startling manner. It +was well known that only Lady Theobald's fine appreciation of Miss +Belinda Bassett's feelings had induced her to extend her hospitalities to +that lady's niece. + +"I would prefer, my dear," said more than one discreet matron to her +daughter, as they attired themselves,--"I would much prefer that you +would remain near me during the earlier part of the evening, before we +know how this young lady may turn out. Let your manner toward her be +kind, but not familiar. It is well to be upon the safe side." + +What precise line of conduct it was generally anticipated that this +gold-digging and silver-mining young person would adopt, it would be +difficult to say: it is sufficient that the general sentiments regarding +her were of a distrustful, if not timorous, nature. + +To Miss Bassett, who felt all this in the very air she breathed, the +girl's innocence of the condition of affairs was even a little touching. +With all her splendor, she was not at all hard to please, and had quite +awakened to an interest in the impending social event. She seemed in good +spirits, and talked more than was her custom, giving Miss Belinda graphic +descriptions of various festal gatherings she had attended in New York, +when she seemed to have been very gay indeed, and to have worn very +beautiful dresses, and also to have had rather more than her share of +partners. The phrases she used, and the dances she described, were all +strange to Miss Belinda, and tended to reducing her to a bewildered +condition, in which she felt much timid amazement at the intrepidity of +the New-York young ladies, and no slight suspicion of the "German"--as a +theatrical kind of dance, involving extraordinary figures, and an +extraordinary amount of attention from partners of the stronger sex. + +It must be admitted, however, that by this time, notwithstanding the +various shocks she had received, Miss Belinda had begun to discover in +her young guest divers good qualities which appealed to her +affectionate and susceptible old heart. In the first place, the girl +had no small affectations: indeed, if she had been less unaffected she +might have been less subject to severe comment. She was good-natured, +and generous to extravagance. Her manner toward Mary Anne never ceased +to arouse Miss Belinda to interest. There was not any condescension +whatever in it, and yet it could not be called a vulgarly familiar +manner: it was rather an astonishingly simple manner, somehow +suggestive of a subtile recognition of Mary Anne's youth, and ill-luck +in not having before her more lively prospects. She gave Mary Anne +presents in the shape of articles of clothing at which Slowbridge +would have exclaimed in horror if the recipient had dared to wear them; +but, when Miss Belinda expressed her regret at these indiscretions, +Octavia was quite willing to rectify her mistakes. + +"Ah, well!" she said, "I can give her some money, and she can buy some +things for herself." Which she proceeded to do; and when, under her +mistress's direction, Mary Anne purchased a stout brown merino, she took +quite an interest in her struggles at making it. + +"I wouldn't make it so short in the waist and so full in the skirt, if I +were you," she said. "There's no reason why it shouldn't fit, you know," +thereby winning the house-maiden's undying adoration, and adding much to +the shapeliness of the garment. + +"I am sure she has a good heart," Miss Belinda said to herself, as the +days went by. "She is like Martin in that. I dare say she finds me very +ignorant and silly. I often see in her face that she is unable to +understand my feeling about things; but she never seems to laugh at me, +nor think of me unkindly. And she is very, very pretty, though perhaps I +ought not to think of that at all." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHITE MUSLIN. + + +As the good little spinster was arraying herself on this particular +evening, having laid upon the bed the greater portion of her modest +splendor, she went to her wardrobe, and took therefrom the scored bandbox +containing her best cap. All the ladies of Slowbridge wore caps; and all +being respectfully plagiarized from Lady Theobald, without any reference +to age, size, complexion, or demeanor, the result was sometimes a little +trying. Lady Theobald's head-dresses were of a severe and bristling +order. The lace of which they were composed was induced by some ingenious +device to form itself into aggressive quillings, the bows seemed lined +with buckram, the strings neither floated nor fluttered. + +"To a majestic person the style is very appropriate," Miss Belinda had +said to Octavia that very day; "but to one who is not so, it is rather +trying. Sometimes, indeed, I have _almost_ wished that Miss Chickie would +vary a _little_ more in her designs." + +Perhaps the sight of the various articles contained in two of the five +trunks had inspired these doubts in the dear old lady's breast: it is +certain, at least, that, as she took the best cap up, a faint sigh +fluttered upon her lips. + +"It is very large for a small person," she said. "And I am not at all +sure that amber is becoming to me." + +And just at that moment there came a tap at the door, which she knew was +from Octavia. + +She laid the cap back, in some confusion at being surprised in a moment +of weakness. + +"Come in, my love," she said. + +Octavia pushed the door open, and came in. She had not dressed yet, and +had on her wrapper and slippers, which were both of quilted gray silk, +gayly embroidered with carnations. But Miss Belinda had seen both wrapper +and slippers before, and had become used to their sumptuousness: what she +had not seen was the trifle the girl held in her hand. "See here," she +said. "See what I have been making for you!" + +She looked quite elated, and laughed triumphantly. + +"I did not know I could do it until I tried," she said. "I had seen some +in New York, and I had the lace by me. And I have enough left to make +ruffles for your neck and wrists. It's Mechlin." + +"My dear!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "My dear!" + +Octavia laughed again. + +"Don't you know what it is?" she said. "It isn't like a Slowbridge cap; +but it's a cap, nevertheless. They wear them like this in New York, and I +think they are ever so much prettier." + +It was true that it was not like a Slowbridge cap, and was also true that +it was prettier. It was a delicate affair of softly quilled lace, adorned +here and there with loops of pale satin ribbon. + +"Let me try it on," said Octavia, advancing; and in a minute she had done +so, and turned Miss Bassett about to face herself in the glass. "There!" +she said. "Isn't that better than--well, than emulating Lady Theobald?" + +It was so pretty and so becoming, and Miss Belinda was so touched by the +girl's innocent enjoyment, that the tears came into her eyes. + +"My--my love," she faltered, "it is so beautiful, and so expensive, +that--though indeed I don't know how to thank you--I am afraid I should +not dare to wear it." + +"Oh!" answered Octavia, "that's nonsense, you know. I'm sure there's no +reason why people shouldn't wear becoming things. Besides, I should be +awfully disappointed. I didn't think I could make it, and I'm real proud +of it. You don't know how becoming it is!" + +Miss Belinda looked at her reflection, and faltered. It was becoming. + +"My love," she protested faintly, "real Mechlin! There is really no such +lace in Slowbridge." + +"All the better," said Octavia cheerfully. "I'm glad to hear that. It +isn't one bit too nice for you." + +To Miss Belinda's astonishment, she drew a step nearer to her, and gave +one of the satin loops a queer, caressing little touch, which actually +seemed to mean something. And then suddenly the girl stooped, with a +little laugh, and gave her aunt a light kiss on her cheek. + +"There!" she said. "You must take it from me for a present. I'll go and +make the ruffles this minute; and you must wear those too, and let people +see how stylish you can be." + +And, without giving Miss Bassett time to speak, she ran out of the room, +and left the dear old lady warmed to the heart, tearful, delighted, +frightened. + +A coach from the Blue Lion had been ordered to present itself at a +quarter past five, promptly; and at the time specified it rattled up to +the door with much spirit,--with so much spirit, indeed, that Miss +Belinda was a little alarmed. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "I hope the driver will be able to control the +horse, and will not allow him to go too fast. One hears of such terrible +accidents." + +Then Mary Anne was sent to announce the arrival of the equipage to Miss +Octavia, and, having performed the errand, came back beaming with smiles. + +"Oh, mum," she exclaimed, "you never see nothin' like her! Her gownd is +'evingly. An' lor'! how you do look yourself, to be sure!" + +Indeed, the lace ruffles on her "best" black silk, and the little cap on +her smooth hair, had done a great deal for Miss Bassett; and she had only +just been reproaching herself for her vanity in recognizing this fact. +But Mary Anne's words awakened a new train of thought. + +"Is--is Miss Octavia's dress a showy one, Mary Anne?" she inquired. "Dear +me, I do hope it is not a showy dress!" + +"I never see nothin' no eleganter, mum," said Mary Anne: "she wants +nothin' but a veil to make a bride out of her--an' a becominer thing she +never has wore." + +They heard the soft sweep of skirts at that moment, and Octavia came in. + +"There!" she said, stopping when she had reached the middle of the room. +"Is that simple enough?" Miss Belinda could only look at her helplessly. +The "white muslin" was composed almost entirely of Valenciennes lace; the +blue ribbons were embroidered with field-daisies; the air of delicate +elaborateness about the whole was something which her innocent mind could +not have believed possible in orthodox white and blue. + +"I don't think I should call it exactly simple," she said. "My love, what +a quantity of lace!" + +Octavia glanced down at her _jabots_ and frills complacently. + +"There _is_ a good deal of it," she remarked; "but then, it is nice, and +one can stand a good deal of nice Valenciennes on white. They said Worth +made the dress. I hope he did. It cost enough. The ribbon was embroidered +by hand, I suppose. And there is plenty of it cut up into these bows." + +There was no more to be said. Miss Belinda led the way to the coach, +which they entered under the admiring or critical eyes of several most +respectable families, who had been lying in wait behind their +window-curtains since they had been summoned there by the sound of +the wheels. + +As the vehicle rattled past the boarding-school, all the young ladies in +the first class rushed to the window. They were rewarded for their zeal +by a glimpse of a cloud of muslin and lace, a charmingly dressed +yellow-brown head, and a pretty face, whose eyes favored them with a +frank stare of interest. + +"She had diamonds in her ears!" cried Miss Phipps, wildly excited. "I saw +them flash. Ah, how I should like to see her without her wraps! I have no +doubt she is a perfect blaze!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD. + + +Lady Theobald's invited guests sat in the faded blue drawing-room, +waiting. Everybody had been unusually prompt, perhaps because +everybody wished to be on the ground in time to see Miss Octavia +Bassett make her entrance. + +"I should think it would be rather a trial, even to such a girl as she is +said to be," remarked one matron. + +"It is but natural that she should feel that Lady Theobald will regard +her rather critically, and that she should know that American manners +will hardly be the thing for a genteel and conservative English country +town." + +"We saw her a few days ago," said Lucia, who chanced to hear this +speech, "and she is very pretty. I think I never saw any one so very +pretty before." + +"But in quite a theatrical way, I think, my dear," the matron replied, in +a tone of gentle correction. + +"I have seen so very few theatrical people," Lucia answered sweetly, +"that I scarcely know what the theatrical way is, dear Mrs. Burnham. Her +dress was very beautiful, and not like what we wear in Slowbridge; but +she seemed to me to be very bright and pretty, in a way quite new to me, +and so just a little odd." + +"I have heard that her dress is most extravagant and wasteful," put in +Miss Pilcher, whose educational position entitled her to the +condescending respect of her patronesses. "She has lace on her morning +gowns, which"-- + +"Miss Bassett and Miss Octavia Bassett," announced Dobson, throwing +open the door. + +Lady Theobald rose from her seat. A slight rustle made itself heard +through the company, as the ladies all turned toward the entrance; and, +after they had so turned, there were evidences of a positive thrill. +Before the eyes of all, Belinda Bassett advanced with rich ruffles of +Mechlin at her neck and wrists, with a delicate and distinctly novel cap +upon her head, her niece following her with an unabashed face, twenty +pounds' worth of lace on her dress, and unmistakable diamonds in her +little ears. + +"There is not a _shadow_ of timidity about her," cried Mrs. Burnham under +her breath. "This is actual boldness." + +But this was a very severe term to use, notwithstanding that it was born +of righteous indignation. It was not boldness at all: it was only the +serenity of a young person who was quite unconscious that there was any +thing to fear in the rather unimposing party before her. Octavia was +accustomed to entering rooms full of strangers. She had spent several +years of her life in hotels, where she had been stared out of countenance +by a few score new people every day. She was even used to being, in some +sort, a young person of note. It was nothing unusual for her to know that +she was being pointed out. "That pretty blonde," she often heard it said, +"is Martin Bassett's daughter: sharp fellow, Bassett,--and lucky fellow +too; more money than he can count." + +So she was not at all frightened when she walked in behind Miss Belinda. +She glanced about her cheerfully, and, catching sight of Lucia, smiled at +her as she advanced up the room. The call of state Lady Theobald had made +with her grand-daughter had been a very brief one; but Octavia had taken +a decided fancy to Lucia, and was glad to see her again. + +"I am glad to see you, Belinda," said her ladyship, shaking hands. "And +you also, Miss Octavia." + +"Thank you," responded Octavia. + +"You are very kind," Miss Belinda murmured gratefully. + +"I hope you are both well?" said Lady Theobald with majestic +condescension, and in tones to be heard all over the room. + +"Quite well, thank you," murmured Miss Belinda again. "_Very_ well +indeed;" rather as if this fortunate state of affairs was the result of +her ladyship's kind intervention with the fates. + +She felt terribly conscious of being the centre of observation, and +rather overpowered by the novelty of her attire, which was plainly +creating a sensation. Octavia, however, who was far more looked at, was +entirely oblivious of the painful prominence of her position. She +remained standing in the middle of the room, talking to Lucia, who had +approached to greet her. She was so much taller than Lucia, that she +looked very tall indeed by contrast, and also very wonderfully dressed. +Lucia's white muslin was one of Miss Chickie's fifteen, and was, in a +"genteel" way, very suggestive of Slowbridge. Suspended from Octavia's +waist by a long loop of the embroidered ribbon, was a little round fan, +of downy pale-blue feathers, and with this she played as she talked; but +Lucia, having nothing to play with, could only stand with her little +hands hanging at her sides. + +"I have never been to an afternoon tea like this before," Octavia said. +"It is nothing like a kettle-drum." + +"I am not sure that I know what a kettle-drum is," Lucia answered. "They +have them in London, I think; but I have never been to London." + +"They have them in New York," said Octavia; "and they are a crowded sort +of afternoon parties, where ladies go in carriage-toilet, not evening +dress. People are rushing in and out all the time." + +Lucia glanced around the room and smiled. + +"That is very unlike this," she remarked. + +"Well," said Octavia, "I should think that, after all, this might be +nicer." + +Which was very civil. + +Lucia glanced around again--this time rather stealthily--at Lady +Theobald. Then she glanced back at Octavia. + +"But it isn't," she said, in an undertone. + +Octavia began to laugh. They were on a new and familiar footing from +that moment. + +"I said 'it might,'" she answered. + +She was not afraid, any longer, of finding the evening stupid. If there +were no young men, there was at least a young woman who was in sympathy +with her. She said,-- + +"I hope that I shall behave myself pretty well, and do the things I am +expected to do." + +"Oh!" said Lucia, with a rather alarmed expression, "I hope so. I--I am +afraid you would not be comfortable if you didn't." + +Octavia opened her eyes, as she often did at Miss Belinda's remarks, and +then suddenly she began to laugh again. + +"What would they do?" she said disrespectfully. "Would they turn me out, +without giving me any tea?" + +Lucia looked still more frightened. + +"Don't let them see you laughing," she said. "They--they will say you +are giddy." + +"Giddy!" replied Octavia. "I don't think there is any thing to make me +giddy here." + +"If they say you are giddy," said Lucia, "your fate will be sealed; and, +if you are to stay here, it really will be better to try to please them +a little." + +Octavia reflected a moment. + +"I don't mean to _dis_please them," she said, "unless they are very +easily displeased. I suppose I don't think very much about what people +are saying of me. I don't seem to notice." + +"Will you come now and let me introduce Miss Egerton and her sister?" +suggested Lucia hurriedly. "Grandmamma is looking at us." + +In the innocence of her heart Octavia glanced at Lady Theobald, and +saw that she was looking at them, and with a disapproving air. "I +wonder what that's for?" she said to herself; but she followed Lucia +across the room. + +She made the acquaintance of the Misses Egerton, who seemed rather +fluttered, and, after the first exchange of civilities, subsided into +monosyllables and attentive stares. They were, indeed, very anxious to +hear Octavia converse, but had not the courage to attempt to draw her +out, unless a sudden query of Miss Lydia's could be considered such an +attempt. + +"Do you like England?" she asked. + +"Is this England?" inquired Octavia. + +"It is a part of England, of course," replied the young lady, with calm +literalness. + +"Then, of course, I like it very much," said Octavia, slightly waving her +fan and smiling. + +Miss Lydia Egerton and Miss Violet Egerton each regarded her in dubious +silence for a moment. They did not think she looked as if she were +"clever;" but the speech sounded to both as if she were, and as if she +meant to be clever a little at their expense. + +Naturally, after that they felt slightly uncomfortable, and said less +than before; and conversation lagged to such an extent that Octavia was +not sorry when tea was announced. + +And it so happened that tea was not the only thing announced. The ladies +had all just risen from their seats with a gentle rustle, and Lady +Theobald was moving forward to marshal her procession into the +dining-room, when Dobson appeared at the door again. + +"Mr. Barold, my lady," he said, "and Mr. Burmistone." + +Everybody glanced first at the door, and then at Lady Theobald. Mr. +Francis Barold crossed the threshold, followed by the tall, +square-shouldered builder of mills, who was a strong, handsome man, and +bore himself very well, not seeming to mind at all the numerous eyes +fixed upon him. + +"I did not know," said Barold, "that we should find you had guests. Beg +pardon, I'm sure, and so does Burmistone, whom I had the pleasure of +meeting at Broadoaks, and who was good enough to invite me to return with +him." Lady Theobald extended her hand to the gentleman specified. + +"I am glad," she said rigidly, "to see Mr. Burmistone." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"This is very fortunate," she announced. "We are just going in to take +tea, in which I hope you will join us. Lucia"-- + +Mr. Francis Barold naturally turned, as her ladyship uttered her +granddaughter's name in a tone of command. It may be supposed that his +first intention in turning was to look at Lucia; but he had scarcely done +so, when his attention was attracted by the figure nearest to her,--the +figure of a young lady, who was playing with a little blue fan, and +smiling at him brilliantly and unmistakably. + +The next moment he was standing at Octavia Bassett's side, looking rather +pleased, and the blood of Slowbridge was congealing, as the significance +of the situation was realized. + +One instant of breathless--of awful--suspense, and her ladyship +recovered herself. + +"We will go in to tea," she said. "May I ask you, Mr. Burmistone, to +accompany Miss Pilcher?" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SLIGHT INDISCRETION. + + +During the remainder of the evening, Miss Belinda was a prey to +wretchedness and despair. When she raised her eyes to her hostess, she +met with a glance full of icy significance; when she looked across the +tea-table, she saw Octavia seated next to Mr. Francis Barold, +monopolizing his attention, and apparently in the very best possible +spirits. It only made matters worse, that Mr. Francis Barold seemed to +find her remarks worthy of his attention. He drank very little tea, and +now and then appeared much interested and amused. In fact, he found Miss +Octavia even more entertaining than he had found her during their +journey. She did not hesitate at all to tell him that she was delighted +to see him again at this particular juncture. + +"You don't know how glad I was to see you come in," she said. + +She met his rather startled glance with the most open candor as she +spoke. + +"It is very civil of you to say so," he said; "but you can hardly expect +me to believe it, you know. It is too good to be true." + +"I thought it was too good to be true when the door opened," she answered +cheerfully. "I should have been glad to see _anybody_, almost"-- + +"Well, that," he interposed, "isn't quite so civil." + +"It is not quite so civil to"-- + +But there she checked herself, and asked him a question with the most +_naive_ seriousness. + +"Are you a great friend of Lady Theobald's?" she said. + +"No," he answered. "I am a relative." + +"That's worse," she remarked. + +"It is," he replied. "Very much worse." + +"I asked you," she proceeded, with an entrancing little smile of +irreverent approval, "because I was going to say that my last speech was +not quite so civil to Lady Theobald." + +"That is perfectly true," he responded. "It wasn't civil to her at all." + +He was passing his time very comfortably, and was really surprised to +feel that he was more interested in these simple audacities than he had +been in any conversation for some time. Perhaps it was because his +companion was so wonderfully pretty, but it is not unlikely that there +were also other reasons. She looked him straight in the eyes, she +comported herself after the manner of a young lady who was enjoying +herself, and yet he felt vaguely that she might have enjoyed herself +quite as much with Burmistone, and that it was probable that she would +not think a second time of him, or of what she said to him. + +After tea, when they returned to the drawing-room, the opportunities +afforded for conversation were not numerous. The piano was opened, and +one after another of the young ladies were invited to exhibit their +prowess. Upon its musical education Slowbridge prided itself. "Few +towns," Miss Pilcher frequently remarked, "could be congratulated upon +the possession of _such_ talent and _such_ cultivation." The Misses +Egerton played a duet, the Misses Loftus sang, Miss Abercrombie +"executed" a sonata with such effect as to melt Miss Pilcher to tears; +and still Octavia had not been called upon. There might have been a +reason for this, or there might not; but the moment arrived, at length, +when Lady Theobald moved toward Miss Belinda with evidently fell intent. + +"Perhaps," she said, "perhaps your niece, Miss Octavia, will favor us." + +Miss Belinda replied in a deprecatory and uncertain murmur. + +"I--am not sure. I really don't know. Perhaps--Octavia, my dear." + +Octavia raised a smiling face. + +"I don't play," she said. "I never learned." + +"You do not play!" exclaimed Lady Theobald. "You do not play at all!" + +"No," answered Octavia. "Not a note. And I think I am rather glad of it; +because, if I tried, I should be sure to do it worse than other people. I +would rather," with unimpaired cheerfulness, "let some one else do it." + +There were a few seconds of dead silence. A dozen people seated around +her had heard. Miss Pilcher shuddered; Miss Belinda looked down; Mr. +Francis Barold preserved an entirely unmoved countenance, the general +impression being that he was very much shocked, and concealed his disgust +with an effort. + +"My dear," said Lady Theobald, with an air of much condescension and some +grave pity, "I should advise you to try to learn. I can assure you that +you would find it a great source of pleasure." + +"If you could assure me that my friends would find it a great source of +pleasure, I might begin," answered the mistaken young person, still +cheerfully; "but I am afraid they wouldn't." + +It seemed that fate had marked her for disgrace. In half an hour from +that time she capped the climax of her indiscretions. + +The evening being warm, the French windows had been left open; and, in +passing one of them, she stopped a moment to look out at the brightly +moonlit grounds. + +Barold, who was with her, paused too. + +"Looks rather nice, doesn't it?" he said. + +"Yes," she replied. "Suppose we go out on the terrace." + +He laughed in an amused fashion she did not understand. + +"Suppose we do," he said. "By Jove, that's a good idea!" + +He laughed as he followed her. + +"What amuses you so?" she inquired. + +"Oh!" he replied, "I am merely thinking of Lady Theobald." + +"Well," she commented, "I think it's rather disrespectful in you to +laugh. Isn't it a lovely night? I didn't think you had such moonlight +nights in England. What a night for a drive!" + +"Is that one of the things you do in America--drive by moonlight?" + +"Yes. Do you mean to say you don't do it in England?" + +"Not often. Is it young ladies who drive by moonlight in America?" + +"Well, you don't suppose they go alone, do you?" quite ironically. "Of +course they have some one with them." + +"Ah! Their papas?" + +"No." + +"Their mammas?" + +"No." + +"Their governesses, their uncles, their aunts?" + +"No," with a little smile. + +He smiled also. + +"That is another good idea," he said. "You have a great many nice ideas +in America." + +She was silent a moment or so, swinging her fan slowly to and fro by its +ribbon, and appearing to reflect. + +"Does that mean," she said at length, "that it wouldn't be considered +proper in England?" + +"I hope you won't hold me responsible for English fallacies," was his +sole answer. + +"I don't hold anybody responsible for them," she returned with some +spirit. "I don't care one thing about them." + +"That is fortunate," he commented. "I am happy to say I don't, either. I +take the liberty of pleasing myself. I find it pays best." + +"Perhaps," she said, returning to the charge, "perhaps Lady Theobald will +think _this_ is improper." + +He put his hand up, and stroked his mustache lightly, without replying. + +"But it is _not_," she added emphatically: "it is _not!_" + +"No," he admitted, with a touch of irony, "it is not!" + +"Are _you_ any the worse for it?" she demanded. + +"Well, really, I think not--as yet," he replied. + +"Then we won't go in," she said, the smile returning to her lips again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN INVITATION. + + +In the mean time Mr. Burmistone was improving his opportunities within +doors. He had listened to the music with the most serious attention; and +on its conclusion he had turned to Mrs. Burnham, and made himself very +agreeable indeed. At length, however, he arose, and sauntered across the +room to a table at which Lucia Gaston chanced to be standing alone, +having just been deserted by a young lady whose mamma had summoned her. +She wore, Mr. Burmistone regretted to see, as he advanced, a troubled and +anxious expression; the truth being that she had a moment before remarked +the exit of Miss Belinda's niece and her companion. It happened oddly +that Mr. Burmistone's first words touched upon the subject of her +thought. He began quite abruptly with it. + +"It seems to me," he said, "that Miss Octavia Bassett"-- + +Lucia stopped him with a courage which surprised herself. + +"Oh, if you please," she implored, "don't say any thing unkind about +her!" + +Mr. Burmistone looked down into her soft eyes with a good deal of +feeling. + +"I was not going to say any thing unkind," he answered. "Why should I?" + +"Everybody seems to find a reason for speaking severely of her," Lucia +faltered. "I have heard so many unkind things tonight, that I am quite +unhappy. I am sure--I am _sure_ she is very candid and simple." + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone, "I am sure she is very candid and +simple." + +"Why should we expect her to be exactly like ourselves?" Lucia went on. +"How can we be sure that our way is better than any other? Why should +they be angry because her dress is so expensive and pretty? Indeed, I +only wish I had such a dress. It is a thousand times prettier than any we +ever wear. Look around the room, and see if it is not. And as to her not +having learned to play on the piano, or to speak French--why should she +be obliged to do things she feels she would not be clever at? I am not +clever, and have been a sort of slave all my life, and have been scolded +and blamed for what I could not help at all, until I have felt as if I +must be a criminal. How happy she must have been to be let alone!" + +She had clasped her little hands, and, though she spoke in a low +voice, was quite impassioned in an unconscious way. Her brief girlish +life had not been a very happy one, as may be easily imagined; and a +glimpse of the liberty for which she had suffered roused her to a +sense of her own wrongs. + +"We are all cut out after the same pattern," she said. "We learn the same +things, and wear the same dresses, one might say. What Lydia Egerton has +been taught, I have been taught; yet what two creatures could be more +unlike each other, by nature, than we are?" + +Mr. Burmistone glanced across the room at Miss Egerton. She was a fine, +robust young woman, with a high nose and a stolid expression of +countenance. + +"That is true," he remarked. + +"We are afraid of every thing," said Lucia bitterly. "Lydia Egerton is +afraid--though you might not think so. And, as for me, nobody knows what +a coward I am but myself. Yes, I am a coward! When grandmamma looks at +me, I tremble. I dare not speak my mind, and differ with her, when I know +she is unjust and in the wrong. No one could say that of Miss Octavia +Bassett." + +"That is perfectly true," said Mr. Burmistone; and he even went so far as +to laugh as he thought of Miss Octavia trembling in the august presence +of Lady Theobald. + +The laugh checked Lucia at once in her little outburst of eloquence. She +began to blush, the color mounting to her forehead. + +"Oh!" she began, "I did not mean to--to say so much. I"-- + +There was something so innocent and touching in her sudden timidity and +confusion, that Mr. Burmistone forgot altogether that they were not very +old friends, and that Lady Theobald might be looking. + +He bent slightly forward, and looked into her upraised, alarmed eyes. + +"Don't be afraid of _me_" he said; "don't, for pity's sake!" + +He could not have hit upon a luckier speech, and also he could not have +uttered it more feelingly than he did. It helped her to recover herself, +and gave her courage. + +"There," she said, with a slight catch of the breath, "does not that +prove what I said to be true? I was afraid, the very moment I ceased to +forget myself. I was afraid of you and of myself. I have no courage at +all." + +"You will gain it in time," he said. + +"I shall try to gain it," she answered. "I am nearly twenty, and it is +time that I should learn to respect myself. I think it must be because I +have no self-respect that I am such a coward." + +It seemed that her resolution was to be tried immediately; for at that +very moment Lady Theobald turned, and, on recognizing the full +significance of Lucia's position, was apparently struck temporarily dumb +and motionless. When she recovered from the shock, she made a majestic +gesture of command. + +Mr. Burmistone glanced at the girl's face, and saw that it changed color +a little. "Lady Theobald appears to wish to speak to you," he said. + +Lucia left her seat, and walked across the room with a steady air. Lady +Theobald did not remove her eye from her until she stopped within three +feet of her. Then she asked a rather unnecessary question:-- + +"With whom have you been conversing?" + +"With Mr. Burmistone." + +"Upon what subject?" + +"We were speaking of Miss Octavia Bassett." + +Her ladyship glanced around the room, as if a new idea had occurred to +her, and said,-- + +"Where _is_ Miss Octavia Bassett?" + +Here it must be confessed that Lucia faltered. + +"She is on the terrace with Mr. Barold." + +"She is on"-- + +Her ladyship stopped short in the middle of her sentence. This was too +much for her. She left Lucia, and crossed the room to Miss Belinda. + +"Belinda," she said, in an awful undertone, "your niece is out upon the +terrace with Mr. Barold. Perhaps it would be as well for you to +intimate to her that in England it is not customary--that--Belinda, go +and bring her in." + +Miss Belinda arose, actually looking pale. She had been making such +strenuous efforts to converse with Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham, that +she had been betrayed into forgetting her charge. She could scarcely +believe her ears. She went to the open window, and looked out, and then +turned paler than before. + +"Octavia, my dear," she said faintly. + +"Francis!" said Lady Theobald, over her shoulder. + +Mr. Francis Barold turned a rather bored countenance toward them; but it +was evidently not Octavia who had bored him. + +"Octavia," said Miss Belinda, "how imprudent! In that thin dress--the +night air! How could you, my dear, how could you?" + +"Oh! I shall not catch cold," Octavia answered. "I am used to it. I have +been out hours and hours, on moonlight nights, at home." + +But she moved toward them. + +"You must remember," said Lady Theobald, "that there are many things +which may be done in America which would not be safe in England." + +And she made the remark in an almost sepulchral tone of warning. + +How Miss Belinda would have supported herself if the coach had not been +announced at this juncture, it would be difficult to say. The coach was +announced, and they took their departure. Mr. Barold happening to make +his adieus at the same time, they were escorted by him down to the +vehicle from the Blue Lion. + +When he had assisted them in, and closed the door, Octavia bent forward, +so that the moonlight fell full on her pretty, lace-covered head, and the +sparkling drops in her ears. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed, "if you stay here at all, you must come and see +us.--Aunt Belinda, ask him to come and see us." + +Miss Belinda could scarcely speak. + +"I shall be most--most happy," she fluttered, "Any--friend of dear Lady +Theobald's, of course"-- + +"Don't forget," said Octavia, waving her hand. + +The coach moved off, and Miss Belinda sank back into a dark corner. + +"My dear," she gasped, "what will he think?" + +Octavia was winding her lace scarf around her throat. + +"He'll think I want him to call," she said serenely. "And I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +INTENTIONS. + + +The position in which Lady Theobald found herself placed, after these +occurrences, was certainly a difficult and unpleasant one. It was Mr. +Francis Barold's caprice, for the time being, to develop an intimacy with +Mr. Burmistone. He had, it seemed, chosen to become interested in him +during their sojourn at Broadoaks. He had discovered him to be a +desirable companion, and a clever, amiable fellow. This much he +condescended to explain incidentally to her ladyship's self. + +"I can't say I expected to meet a nice fellow or a companionable fellow," +he remarked, "and I was agreeably surprised to find him both. Never says +too much or too little. Never bores a man." + +To this Lady Theobald could make no reply. Singularly enough, she had +discovered early in their acquaintance that her wonted weapons were +likely to dull their edges upon the steely coldness of Mr. Francis +Barold's impassibility. In the presence of this fortunate young man, +before whom his world had bowed the knee from his tenderest infancy, she +lost the majesty of her demeanor. He refused to be affected by it: he was +even implacable enough to show openly that it bored him, and to insinuate +by his manner that he did not intend to submit to it. He entirely ignored +the claim of relationship, and acted according to the promptings of his +own moods. He did not feel it at all incumbent upon him to remain at +Oldclough Hall, and subject himself to the time-honored customs there +in vogue. He preferred to accept Mr. Burmistone's invitation to become +his guest at the handsome house he had just completed, in which he lived +in bachelor splendor. Accordingly he installed himself there, and thereby +complicated matters greatly. + +Slowbridge found itself in a position as difficult as, and far more +delicate than, Lady Theobald's. The tea-drinkings in honor of that +troublesome young person, Miss Octavia Bassett, having been inaugurated +by her ladyship, must go the social rounds, according to ancient custom. +But what, in discretion's name, was to be done concerning Mr. Francis +Barold? There was no doubt whatever that he must not be ignored; and, in +that case, what difficulties presented themselves! + +The mamma of the two Misses Egerton, who was a nervous and easily +subjugated person, was so excited and overwrought by the prospect before +her, that, in contemplating it when she wrote her invitations, she was +affected to tears. + +"I can assure you, Lydia," she said, "that I have not slept for three +nights, I have been so harassed. Here, on one hand, is Mr. Francis +Barold, who must be invited; and on the other is Mr. Burmistone, whom we +cannot pass over; and here is Lady Theobald, who will turn to stone the +moment she sees him,--though, goodness knows, I am sure he seems a very +quiet, respectable man, and said some of the most complimentary things +about your playing. And here is that dreadful girl, who is enough to give +one cold chills, and who may do all sorts of dreadful things, and is +certainly a living example to all respectable, well-educated girls. And +the blindest of the blind could see that nothing would offend Lady +Theobald more fatally than to let her be thrown with Francis Barold; +and how one is to invite them into the same room, and keep them apart, +I'm sure I don't know how. Lady Theobald herself could not do it, and how +can we be expected to? And the refreshments on my mind too; and Forbes +failing on her tea-cakes, and bringing up Sally Lunns like lead." + +That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer in +prospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs. +Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs. +Egerton upon the subject. + +Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising, +the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter over +in solemn conclave. + +"I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson," +announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arrive +at any conclusion." + +Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully. + +"Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,--"don't, I beg of you! I +have thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydia +has been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave it +up at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one and +all, let the consequences be what they may." + +Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at Miss +Pilcher. + +"Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as well +for you to mention your impressions." + +Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forward +slightly. + +"My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald has +any--intentions, so to speak?" + +"Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton. + +"Yes," with deep significance,--"so to speak. With regard to Lucia." + +Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless. + +"Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think of +it. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!" + +Mrs. Burnham became more significant still. + +"_And_" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold." + +Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact in +her countenance. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever." + +"It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be a +desirable one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr. +Francis Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited to +make her house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he has +not done so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicable +reluctance upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald once +plainly intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, a +matrimonial alliance." + +"Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is all +very well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if the +young man has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likely +to result in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold is +not in the mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely to +entertain himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in the +moonlight, and make herself agreeable to him in her American style." + +Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Burnham, "he has called upon her twice since Lady +Theobald's tea. They say she invites him herself, and flirts with him +openly in the garden." + +"Her conduct is such," said Miss Pilcher, with a shudder, "that the +blinds upon the side of the seminary which faces Miss Bassett's garden +are kept closed by my orders. I have young ladies under my care whose +characters are in process of formation, and whose parents repose +confidence in me." + +"Nothing but my friendship for Belinda Bassett," remarked Mrs. Burnham, +"would induce me to invite the girl to my house." Then she turned to Mrs. +Egerton. "But--ahem--have you included them _all_ in your invitations?" +she observed. + +Mrs. Egerton became plaintive again. + +"I don't see how I could be expected to do any thing else," she said. +"Lady Theobald herself could not invite Mr. Francis Barold from Mr. +Burmistone's house, and leave Mr. Burmistone at home. And, after all, I +must say it is my opinion nobody would have objected to Mr. Burmistone, +in the first place, if Lady Theobald had not insisted upon it." + +Mrs. Burnham reflected. + +"Perhaps that is true," she admitted cautiously at length. "And it must +be confessed that a man in his position is not entirely without his +advantages--particularly in a place where there are but few gentlemen, +and those scarcely desirable as"-- + +She paused there discreetly, but Mrs. Egerton was not so discreet. + +"There are a great many young ladies in Slowbridge," she said, shaking +her head,--"a great many! And with five in a family, all old enough to be +out of school, I am sure it is flying in the face of Providence to +neglect one's opportunities." + +When the two ladies took their departure, Mrs. Burnham seemed reflective. +Finally she said,--"Poor Mrs. Egerton's mind is not what it was, and it +never was remarkably strong. It must be admitted, too, that there is a +lack of--of delicacy. Those great plain girls of hers must be a trial to +her." + +As she spoke they were passing the privet hedge which surrounded Miss +Bassett's house and garden; and a sound caused both to glance around. The +front door had just been opened; and a gentleman was descending the +steps,--a young gentleman in neat clerical garb, his guileless +ecclesiastical countenance suffused with mantling blushes of confusion +and delight. He stopped on the gravel path to receive the last words of +Miss Octavia Bassett, who stood on the threshold, smiling down upon him +in the prettiest way in the world. + +"Tuesday afternoon," she said. "Now don't forget; because I shall ask Mr. +Barold and Miss Gaston, on purpose to play against us. Even St. James +can't object to croquet." + +"I--indeed, I shall be _most_ happy and--and delighted," stammered her +departing guest, "if you will be so kind as to--to instruct me, and +forgive my awkwardness." + +"Oh! I'll instruct you," said Octavia. "I have instructed people before, +and I know how." + +Mrs. Burnham clutched Miss Pilcher's arm. + +"Do you see who _that_ is?" she demanded. "Would you have believed it?" + +Miss Pilcher preserved a stony demeanor. + +"I would believe any thing of Miss Octavia Bassett," she replied. "There +would be nothing at all remarkable, to my mind, in her flirting with the +bishop himself! Why should she hesitate to endeavor to entangle the +curate of St. James?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A CLERICAL VISIT. + + +It was indeed true that the Rev. Arthur Poppleton had spent the greater +part of his afternoon in Miss Belinda Bassett's front parlor, and that +Octavia had entertained him in such a manner that he had been beguiled +into forgetting the clerical visits he had intended to make, and had +finally committed himself by a promise to return a day or two later to +play croquet. His object in calling had been to request Miss Belinda's +assistance in a parochial matter. His natural timorousness of nature had +indeed led him to put off making the visit for as long a time as +possible. The reports he had heard of Miss Octavia Bassett had inspired +him with great dread. Consequently he had presented himself at Miss +Belinda's front door with secret anguish. + +"Will you say," he had faltered to Mary Anne, "that it is Mr. Poppleton, +to see _Miss_ Bassett--Miss _Belinda_ Bassett?" + +And then he had been handed into the parlor, the door had been closed +behind him, and he had found himself shut up entirely alone in the room +with Miss Octavia Bassett herself. + +His first impulse was to turn, and flee precipitately: indeed, he even +went so far as to turn, and clutch the handle of the door; but somehow a +second thought arrived in time to lead him to control himself. + +This second thought came with his second glance at Octavia. + +She was not at all what he had pictured her. Singularly enough, no one +had told him that she was pretty; and he had thought of her as a gaunt +young person, with a determined and manly air. She struck him, on the +contrary, as being extremely girlish and charming to look upon. She wore +the pale pink gown; and as he entered he saw her give a furtive little +dab to her eyes with a lace handkerchief, and hurriedly crush an open +letter into her pocket. Then, seeming to dismiss her emotion with +enviable facility, she rose to greet him. + +"If you want to see aunt Belinda," she said, "perhaps you had better sit +down. She will be here directly." He plucked up spirit to take a seat, +suddenly feeling his terror take wing. He was amazed at his own courage. + +"Th-thank you," he said. "I have the pleasure of"--There, it is true, he +stopped, looked at her, blushed, and finished somewhat disjointedly. +"Miss Octavia Bassett, I believe." + +"Yes," she answered, and sat down near him. + +When Miss Belinda descended the stairs, a short time afterward, her ears +were greeted by the sound of brisk conversation, in which the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton appeared to be taking part with before-unheard-of spirit. When +he arose at her entrance, there was in his manner an air of mild buoyancy +which astonished her beyond measure. When he re-seated himself, he seemed +quite to forget the object of his visit for some minutes, and was thus +placed in the embarrassing position of having to refer to his note-book. + +Having done so, and found that he had called to ask assistance for the +family of one of his parishioners, he recovered himself somewhat. As he +explained the exigencies of the case, Octavia listened. + +"Well," she said, "I should think it would make you quite uncomfortable, +if you see things like that often." + +"I regret to say I do see such things only too frequently," he answered. + +"Gracious!" she said; but that was all. + +He was conscious of being slightly disappointed at her apathy; and +perhaps it is to be deplored that he forgot it afterward, when Miss +Belinda had bestowed her mite, and the case was dismissed for the time +being. He really did forget it, and was beguiled into making a very long +call, and enjoying himself as he had never enjoyed himself before. + +When, at length, he was recalled to a sense of duty by a glance at the +clock, he had already before his eyes an opening vista of delights, +taking the form of future calls, and games of croquet played upon Miss +Belinda's neatly-shaven grass-plat. He had bidden the ladies adieu in the +parlor, and, having stepped into the hall, was fumbling rather excitedly +in the umbrella-stand for his own especially slender clerical umbrella, +when he was awakened to new rapture by hearing Miss Octavia's tone again. + +He turned, and saw her standing quite near him, looking at him with +rather an odd expression, and holding something in her hand. + +"Oh!" she said. "See here,--those people." + +"I--beg pardon," he hesitated. "I don't quite understand." + +"Oh, yes!" she answered. "Those desperately poor wretches, you know, with +fever, and leaks in their house, and all sorts of disagreeable things the +matter with them. Give them this, won't you?" + +"This" was a pretty silk purse, through whose meshes he saw the gleam of +gold coin. + +"That?" he said. "You don't mean--isn't there a good deal--I beg +pardon--but really"-- + +"Well, if they are as poor as you say they are, it won't be too much," +she replied. "I don't suppose they'll object to it: do you?" + +She extended it to him as if she rather wished to get it out of her +hands. + +"You'd better take it," she said. "I shall spend it on something I don't +need, if you don't. I'm always spending money on things I don't care for +afterward." + +He was filled with remorse, remembering that he had thought her +apathetic. + +"I--I really thought you were not interested at all," he burst forth. +"Pray forgive me. This is generous indeed." + +She looked down at some particularly brilliant rings on her hand, instead +of looking at him. + +"Oh, well!" she said, "I think it must be simply horrid to have to do +without things. I can't see how people live. Besides, I haven't denied +myself any thing. It would be worth talking about if I had, I suppose. +Oh! By the by, never mind telling any one, will you?" + +Then, without giving him time to reply, she raised her eyes to his face, +and plunged into the subject of the croquet again, pursuing it until the +final moment of his exit and departure, which was when Mrs. Burnham and +Miss Pilcher had been scandalized at the easy freedom of her adieus. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES. + + +When Mr. Francis Barold called to pay his respects to Lady Theobald, +after partaking of her hospitality, Mr. Burmistone accompanied him; and, +upon almost every other occasion of his presenting himself to her +ladyship, Mr. Burmistone was his companion. + +It may as well be explained at the outset, that the mill-owner of +Burmistone Mills was a man of decided determination of character, and +that, upon the evening of Lady Theobald's tea, he had arrived at the +conclusion that he would spare no effort to gain a certain end he felt it +would add to his happiness to accomplish. + +"I stand rather in awe of Lady Theobald, as any ordinary man would," he +had said dryly to Barold, on their return to his house. "But my awe of +her is not so great yet that I shall allow it to interfere with any of +my plans." + +"Have you any especial plan?" inquired Barold carelessly, after a pause. + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone,--"several. I should like to go to +Oldclough rather often." + +"I feel it the civil thing to go to Oldclough oftener than I like. Go +with me." + +"I should like to be included in all the invitations to tea for the next +six months." + +"I shall be included in all the invitations so long as I remain here; and +it is not likely you will be left out in the cold. After you have gone +the rounds once, you won't be dropped." + +"Upon the whole, it appears so," said Mr. Burmistone. "Thanks." + +So, at each of the tea-parties following Lady Theobald's, the two men +appeared together. The small end of the wedge being inserted into the +social stratum, the rest was not so difficult. Mrs. Burnham was at once +surprised and overjoyed by her discoveries of the many excellences of the +man they had so hastily determined to ignore. Mrs. Abercrombie found Mr. +Burmistone's manner all that could be desired. Miss Pilcher expressed the +highest appreciation of his views upon feminine education and "our duty +to the young in our charge." Indeed, after Mrs. Egerton's evening, the +tide of public opinion turned suddenly in his favor. + +Public opinion did not change, however, as far as Octavia was concerned. +Having had her anxiety set at rest by several encouraging paternal +letters from Nevada, she began to make up her mind to enjoy herself, and +was, it is to be regretted, betrayed by her youthful high spirits into +the committing of numerous indiscretions. Upon each festal occasion she +appeared in a new and elaborate costume: she accepted the attentions of +Mr. Francis Barold, as if it were the most natural thing in the world +that they should be offered; she joked--in what Mrs. Burnham designated +"her Nevada way"--with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, who appeared more +frequently than had been his habit at the high teas. She played croquet +with that gentleman and Mr. Barold day after day, upon the grass-plat, +before all the eyes gazing down upon her from the neighboring windows; +she managed to coerce Mr. Burmistone into joining these innocent orgies; +and, in fact, to quote Miss Pilcher, there was "no limit to the +shamelessness of her unfeminine conduct." + +Several times much comment had been aroused by the fact that Lucia Gaston +had been observed to form one of the party of players. She had indeed +played with Barold, against Octavia and Mr. Poppleton, on the memorable +day upon which that gentleman had taken his first lesson. + +Barold had availed himself of the invitation extended to him by Octavia, +upon several occasions, greatly to Miss Belinda's embarrassment. He had +dropped in the evening after the curate's first call. + +"Is Lady Theobald very fond of you?" Octavia had asked, in the course of +this visit. + +"It is very kind of her, if she is," he replied with languid irony. + +"Isn't she fond enough of you to do any thing you ask her?" Octavia +inquired. + +"Really, I think not," he replied. "Imagine the degree of affection it +requires! I am not fond enough of any one to do any thing they ask me." + +Octavia bestowed a long look upon him. + +"Well," she remarked, after a pause, "I believe you are not. I shouldn't +think so." + +Barold colored very faintly. + +"I say," he said, "is that an imputation, or something of that character? +It sounds like it, you know." + +Octavia did not reply directly. She laughed a little. + +"I want you to ask Lady Theobald to do something," she said. + +"I am afraid I am not in such favor as you imagine," he said, looking +slightly annoyed. + +"Well, I think she won't refuse you this thing," she went on. "If she +didn't loathe me so, I would ask her myself." + +He deigned to smile. + +"Does she loathe you?" he inquired. + +"Yes," nodding. "She would not speak to me if it weren't for aunt +Belinda. She thinks I am fast and loud. Do _you_ think I am fast and +loud?" + +He was taken aback, and not for the first time, either. She had startled +and discomposed him several times in the course of their brief +acquaintance; and he always resented it, priding himself in private, as +he did, upon his coolness and immobility. He could not think of the right +thing to say just now, so he was silent for a second. + +"Tell me the truth," she persisted. "I shall not care--much." + +"I do not think you would care at all." + +"Well, perhaps I shouldn't. Go on. Do you think I am fast?" + +"I am happy to say I do not find you slow." + +She fixed her eyes on him, smiling faintly. + +"That means I am fast," she said. "Well, no matter. Will you ask Lady +Theobald what I want you to ask her?" + +"I should not say you were fast at all," he said rather stiffly. "You +have not been educated as--as Lady Theobald has educated Miss Gaston, for +instance." + +"I should rather think not," she replied. Then she added, very +deliberately, "She has had what you might call very superior advantages, +I suppose." + +Her expression was totally incomprehensible to him. She spoke with the +utmost seriousness, and looked down at the table. "That is derision, I +suppose," he remarked restively. + +She glanced up again. + +"At all events," she said, "there is nothing to laugh at in Lucia Gaston. +Will you ask Lady Theobald? I want you to ask her to let Lucia Gaston +come and play croquet with us on Tuesday. She is to play with you against +Mr. Poppleton and me." + +"Who is Mr. Poppleton?" he asked, with some reserve. He did not exactly +fancy sharing his entertainment with any ordinary outsider. After all, +there was no knowing what this little American might do. + +"He is the curate of the church," she replied, undisturbed. "He is very +nice, and little, and neat, and blushes all over to the toes of his +boots. He came to see aunt Belinda, and I asked him to come and be +taught to play." + +"Who is to teach him?" + +"I am. I have taught at least twenty men in New York and San Francisco." + +"I hope he appreciates your kindness." + +"I mean to try if I can make him forget to be frightened," she said, with +a gay laugh. + +It was certainly nettling to find his air of reserve and displeasure met +with such inconsequent lightness. She never seemed to recognize the +subtle changes of temperature expressed in his manner. Only his sense of +what was due to himself prevented his being very chilly indeed; but as +she went on with her gay chat, in utter ignorance of his mood, and +indulged in some very pretty airy nonsense, he soon recovered himself, +and almost forgot his private grievance. + +Before going away, he promised to ask Lady Theobald's indulgence in the +matter of Lucia's joining them in their game. One speech of Octavia's, +connected with the subject, he had thought very pretty, as well as kind. + +"I like Miss Gaston," she said. "I think we might be friends if Lady +Theobald would let us. Her superior advantages might do me good. They +might improve me," she went on, with a little laugh, "and I suppose I +need improving very much. All my advantages have been of one kind." + +When he had left her, she startled Miss Belinda by saying,-- + +"I have been asking Mr. Barold if he thought I was fast; and I believe he +does--in fact, I am sure he does." + +"Ah, my dear, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda, "what a terrible thing +to say to a gentleman! What will he think?" + +Octavia smiled one of her calmest smiles. + +"Isn't it queer how often you say that!" she remarked. "I think I should +perish if I had to pull myself up that way as you do. I just go right on, +and never worry. I don't mean to do any thing queer, and I don't see why +any one should think I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CROQUET. + + +Lucia was permitted to form one of the players in the game of croquet, +being escorted to and from the scene by Francis Barold. Perhaps it +occurred to Lady Theobald that the contrast of English reserve and +maidenliness with the free-and-easy manners of young women from Nevada +might lead to some good result. + +"I trust your conduct will be such as to show that you at least have +resided in a civilized land," she said. "The men of the present day may +permit themselves to be amused by young persons whose demeanor might +bring a blush to the cheek of a woman of forty, but it is not their habit +to regard them with serious intentions." + +Lucia reddened. She did not speak, though she wished very much for the +courage to utter the words which rose to her lips. Lately she had found +that now and then, at times when she was roused to anger, speeches of +quite a clever and sarcastic nature presented themselves to her mind. She +was never equal to uttering them aloud; but she felt that in time she +might, because of course it was quite an advance in spirit to think them, +and face, even in imagination, the probability of astounding and striking +Lady Theobald dumb with their audacity. + +"It ought to make me behave very well," she was saying now to herself, +"to have before me the alternative of not being regarded with serious +intentions. I wonder if it is Mr. Poppleton or Francis Barold who might +not regard me seriously. And I wonder if they are any coarser in America +than we can be in England when we try." + +She enjoyed the afternoon very much, particularly the latter part of it, +when Mr. Burmistone, who was passing, came in, being invited by Octavia +across the privet hedge. Having paid his respects to Miss Belinda, who +sat playing propriety under a laburnum-tree, Mr. Burmistone crossed the +grass-plat to Lucia herself. She was awaiting her "turn," and laughing at +the ardent enthusiasm of Mr. Poppleton, who, under Octavia's direction, +was devoting all his energies to the game: her eyes were bright, and she +had lost, for the time being, her timid air of feeling herself somehow in +the wrong. + +"I am glad to see you here," said Mr. Burmistone. + +"I am glad to be here," she answered. "It has been such a happy +afternoon. Every thing has seemed so bright and--and different!" + +"'Different' is a very good word," he said, laughing. + +"It isn't a very bad one," she returned, "and it expresses a good deal." + +"It does indeed," he commented. + +"Look at Mr. Poppleton and Octavia," she began. + +"Have you got to 'Octavia'?" he inquired. + +She looked down and blushed. + +"I shall not say 'Octavia' to grandmamma." + +Then suddenly she glanced up at him. + +"That is sly, isn't it?" she said. "Sometimes I think I am very sly, +though I am sure it is not my nature to be so. I would rather be open +and candid." + +"It would be better," he remarked. + +"You think so?" she asked eagerly. + +He could not help smiling. + +"Do you ever tell untruths to Lady Theobald?" he inquired. "If you do, I +shall begin to be alarmed." + +"I act them," she said, blushing more deeply. "I really do--paltry sorts +of untruths, you know; pretending to agree with her when I don't; +pretending to like things a little when I hate them. I have been trying +to improve myself lately, and once or twice it has made her very angry. +She says I am disobedient and disrespectful. She asked me, one day, if it +was my intention to emulate Miss Octavia Bassett. That was when I said I +could not help feeling that I had wasted time in practising." + +She sighed softly as she ended. + +In the mean time Octavia had Mr. Poppleton and Mr. Francis Barold upon +her hands, and was endeavoring to do her duty as hostess by both of them. +If it had been her intention to captivate these gentlemen, she could not +have complained that Mr. Poppleton was wary or difficult game. His first +fears allayed, his downward path was smooth, and rapid in proportion. +When he had taken his departure with the little silk purse in his +keeping, he had carried under his clerical vest a warmed and thrilled +heart. It was a heart which, it must be confessed, was of the most +inexperienced and susceptible nature. A little man of affectionate and +gentle disposition, he had been given from his earliest youth to +indulging in timid dreams of mild future bliss,--of bliss represented by +some lovely being whose ideals were similar to his own, and who preferred +the wealth of a true affection to the glitter of the giddy throng. Upon +one or two occasions, he had even worshipped from afar; but as on each of +these occasions his hopes had been nipped in the bud by the union of +their object with some hollow worldling, his dream had, so far, never +attained very serious proportions. Since he had taken up his abode in +Slowbridge, he had felt himself a little overpowered by circumstances. It +had been a source of painful embarrassment to him, to find his innocent +presence capable of producing confusion in the breasts of young ladies +who were certainly not more guileless than himself. He had been conscious +that the Misses Egerton did not continue their conversation with freedom +when he chanced to approach the group they graced; and he had observed +the same thing in their companions,--an additional circumspection of +demeanor, so to speak, a touch of new decorum, whose object seemed to be +to protect them from any appearance of imprudence. + +"It is almost as if they were afraid of me," he had said to himself once +or twice. "Dear me! I hope there is nothing in my appearance to lead +them to"-- + +He was so much alarmed by this dreadful thought, that he had ever +afterward approached any of these young ladies with a fear and trembling +which had not added either to his comfort or their own; consequently his +path had not been a very smooth one. + +"I respect the young ladies of Slowbridge," he remarked to Octavia that +very afternoon. "There are some very remarkable young ladies here,--very +remarkable indeed. They are interested in the church, and the poor, and +the schools, and, indeed, in every thing, which is most unselfish and +amiable. Young ladies have usually so much to distract their attention +from such matters." + +"If I stay long enough in Slowbridge," said Octavia, "I shall be +interested in the church, and the poor, and the schools." + +It seemed to the curate that there had never been any thing so delightful +in the world as her laugh and her unusual remarks. She seemed to him so +beautiful, and so exhilarating, that he forgot all else but his +admiration for her. He enjoyed himself so much this afternoon, that he +was almost brilliant, and excited the sarcastic comment of Mr. Francis +Barold, who was not enjoying himself at all. + +"Confound it!" said that gentleman to himself, as he looked on. "What did +I come here for? This style of thing is just what I might have expected. +She is amusing herself with that poor little cad now, and I am left in +the cold. I suppose that is her habit with the young men in Nevada." + +He had no intention of entering the lists with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, +or of concealing the fact that he felt that this little Nevada flirt was +making a blunder. The sooner she knew it, the better for herself; so he +played his game as badly as possible, and with much dignity. + +But Octavia was so deeply interested in Mr. Poppleton's ardent efforts +to do credit to her teaching, that she was apparently unconscious of +all else. She played with great cleverness, and carried her partner to +the terminus, with an eager enjoyment of her skill quite pleasant to +behold. She made little darts here and there, advised, directed, and +controlled his movements, and was quite dramatic in a small way when he +made a failure. + +Mrs. Burnham, who was superintending the proceeding, seated in her own +easy-chair behind her window-curtains, was roused to virtuous indignation +by her energy. + +"There is no repose whatever in her manner," she said. "No dignity. Is a +game of croquet a matter of deep moment? It seems to me that it is almost +impious to devote one's mind so wholly to a mere means of recreation." + +"She seems to be enjoying it, mamma," said Miss Laura Burnham, with a +faint sigh. Miss Laura had been looking on over her parent's shoulder. +"They all seem to be enjoying it. See how Lucia Gaston and Mr. Burmistone +are laughing. I never saw Lucia look like that before. The only one who +seems a little dull is Mr. Barold." + +"He is probably disgusted by a freedom of manner to which he is not +accustomed," replied Mrs. Burnham. "The only wonder is that he has not +been disgusted by it before." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ADVANTAGES. + + +The game over, Octavia deserted her partner. She walked lightly, and with +the air of a victor, to where Barold was standing. She was smiling, and +slightly flushed, and for a moment or so stood fanning herself with a gay +Japanese fan. + +"Don't you think I am a good teacher?" she asked at length. + +"I should say so," replied Barold, without enthusiasm. "I am afraid I am +not a judge." + +She waved her fan airily. + +"I had a good pupil," she said. Then she held her fan still for a moment, +and turned fully toward him. "I have done something you don't like," she +said. "I knew I had." + +Mr. Francis Barold retired within himself at once. In his present mood +it really appeared that she was assuming that he was very much interested +indeed. + +"I should scarcely take the liberty upon a limited acquaintance," he +began. + +She looked at him steadily, fanning herself with slow, regular movements. + +"Yes," she remarked. "You're mad. I knew you were." + +He was so evidently disgusted by this observation, that she caught at the +meaning of his look, and laughed a little. + +"Ah!" she said, "that's an American word, ain't it? It sounds queer to +you. You say 'vexed' instead of 'mad.' Well, then, you are vexed." + +"If I have been so clumsy as to appear ill-humored," he said, "I beg +pardon. Certainly I have no right to exhibit such unusual interest in +your conduct." + +He felt that this was rather decidedly to the point, but she did not seem +overpowered at all. She smiled anew. + +"Anybody has a right to be mad--I mean vexed," she observed. "I should +like to know how people would live if they hadn't. I am mad--I mean +vexed--twenty times a day." + +"Indeed?" was his sole reply. + +"Well," she said, "I think it's real mean in you to be so cool about it +when you remember what I told you the other day." + +"I regret to say I don't remember just now. I hope it was nothing very +serious." + +To his astonishment she looked down at her fan, and spoke in a slightly +lowered voice:-- + +"I told you that I wanted to be improved." + +It must be confessed that he was mollified. There was a softness in her +manner which amazed him. He was at once embarrassed and delighted. But, +at the same time, it would not do to commit himself to too great a +seriousness. + +"Oh!" he answered, "that was a rather good joke, I thought." + +"No, it wasn't," she said, perhaps even half a tone lower. "I was +in earnest." + +Then she raised her eyes. + +"If you told me when I did any thing wrong, I think it might be a good +thing," she said. + +He felt that this was quite possible, and was also struck with the idea +that he might find the task of mentor--so long as he remained entirely +non-committal--rather interesting. Still, he could not afford to descend +at once from the elevated stand he had taken. + +"I am afraid you would find it rather tiresome," he remarked. + +"I am afraid _you_ would," she answered. "You would have to tell me of +things so often." + +"Do you mean seriously to tell me that you would take my advice?" he +inquired. + +"I mightn't take all of it," was her reply; "but I should take +some--perhaps a great deal." + +"Thanks," he remarked. "I scarcely think I should give you a great deal." + +She simply smiled. +"I have never had any advice at all," she said. "I don't know that I +should have taken it if I had--just as likely as not I shouldn't; but I +have never had any. Father spoiled me. He gave me all my own way. He said +he didn't care, so long as I had a good time; and I must say I have +generally had a good time. I don't see how I could help it--with all my +own way, and no one to worry. I wasn't sick, and I could buy any thing I +liked, and all that: so I had a good time. I've read of girls, in books, +wishing they had mothers to take care of them. I don't know that I ever +wished for one particularly. I can take care of myself. I must say, too, +that I don't think some mothers are much of an institution. I know girls +who have them, and they are always worrying." + +He laughed in spite of himself; and though she had been speaking with the +utmost seriousness and _naivete_, she joined him. + +When they ceased, she returned suddenly to the charge. + +"Now tell me what I have done this afternoon that isn't right," she +said,--"that Lucia Gaston wouldn't have done, for instance. I say +that, because I shouldn't mind being a little like Lucia Gaston--in +some things." + +"Lucia ought to feel gratified," he commented. + +"She does," she answered. "We had a little talk about it, and she was as +pleased as could be. I didn't think of it in that way until I saw her +begin to blush. Guess what she said." + +"I am afraid I can't." + +"She said she saw so many things to envy in me, that she could scarcely +believe I wanted to be at all like her." + +"It was a very civil speech," said Barold ironically. "I scarcely thought +Lady Theobald had trained her so well." + +"She meant it," said Octavia. "You mayn't believe it, but she did. I know +when people mean things, and when they don't." + +"I wish I did," said Barold. + +Octavia turned her attention to her fan. + +"Well, I am waiting," she said. + +"Waiting?" he repeated. + +"To be told of my faults." + +"But I scarcely see of what importance my opinion can be." + +"It is of some importance to me--just now." + +The last two words rendered him really impatient, and, it may be, spurred +him up. + +"If we are to take Lucia Gaston as a model," he said, "Lucia Gaston would +possibly not have been so complaisant in her demeanor toward our clerical +friend." + +"Complaisant!" she exclaimed, opening her lovely eyes. "When I was +actually plunging about the garden, trying to teach him to play. Well, I +shouldn't call that being complaisant." + +"Lucia Gaston," he replied, "would not say that she had been 'plunging' +about the garden." + +She gave herself a moment for reflection. + +"That's true," she remarked, when it was over: "she wouldn't. When I +compare myself with the Slowbridge girls, I begin to think I must say +some pretty awful things." + +Barold made no reply, which caused her to laugh a little again. + +"You daren't tell me," she said. "Now, do I? Well, I don't think I want +to know very particularly. What Lady Theobald thinks will last quite a +good while. Complaisant!" + +"I am sorry you object to the word," he said. + +"Oh, I don't!" she answered. "I like it. It sounds so much more polite +than to say I was flirting and being fast." + +"Were you flirting?" he inquired coldly. + +He objected to her ready serenity very much. + +She looked a little puzzled. + +"You are very like aunt Belinda," she said. + +He drew himself up. He did not think there was any point of resemblance +at all between Miss Belinda and himself. + +She went on, without observing his movement. + +"You think every thing means something, or is of some importance. You +said that just as aunt Belinda says, 'What will they think?' It never +occurs to me that they'll think at all. Gracious! Why should they?" + +"You will find they do," he said. + +"Well," she said, glancing at the group gathered under the laburnum-tree, +"just now aunt Belinda thinks we had better go over to her; so, suppose +we do it? At any rate, I found out that I was too complaisant to Mr. +Poppleton." + +When the party separated for the afternoon, Barold took Lucia home, and +Mr. Burmistone and the curate walked down the street together. + +Mr. Poppleton was indeed most agreeably exhilarated. His expressive +little countenance beamed with delight. + +"What a very charming person Miss Bassett is!" he exclaimed, after they +had left the gate. "What a very charming person indeed!" + +"Very charming," said Mr. Burmistone with much seriousness. "A +prettier young person I certainly have never seen; and those wonderful +gowns of hers"-- + +"Oh!" interrupted Mr. Poppleton, with natural confusion, "I--referred to +Miss Belinda Bassett; though, really, what you say is very true. Miss +Octavia Bassett--indeed--I think--in fact, Miss Octavia Bassett is +_quite_, one might almost say even _more_, charming than her aunt." + +"Yes," admitted Mr. Burmistone; "perhaps one might. She is less ripe, it +is true; but that is an objection time will remove." + +"There is such a delightful gayety in her manner!" said Mr. Poppleton; +"such an ingenuous frankness! such a--a--such spirit! It quite carries me +away with it,--quite." + +He walked a few steps, thinking over this delightful gayety and ingenuous +frankness; and then burst out afresh,-- + +"And what a remarkable life she has had too! She actually told me, that, +once in her childhood, she lived for months in a gold-diggers' camp,--the +only woman there. She says the men were kind to her, and made a pet of +her. She has known the most extraordinary people." + +In the mean time Francis Barold returned Lucia to Lady Theobald's safe +keeping. Having done so, he made his adieus, and left the two to +themselves. Her ladyship was, it must be confessed, a little at a loss to +explain to herself what she saw, or fancied she saw, in the manner and +appearance of her young relative. She was persuaded that she had never +seen Lucia look as she looked this afternoon. She had a brighter color in +her cheeks than usual, her pretty figure seemed more erect, her eyes had +a spirit in them which was quite new. She had chatted and laughed gayly +with Francis Barold, as she approached the house; and after his departure +she moved to and fro with a freedom not habitual to her. + +"He has been making himself agreeable to her," said my lady, with grim +pleasure. "He can do it if he chooses; and he is just the man to please a +girl,--good-looking, and with a fine, domineering air." + +"How did you enjoy yourself?" she asked. + +"Very much," said Lucia; "never more, thank you." + +"Oh!" ejaculated my lady. "And which of her smart New York gowns did Miss +Octavia Bassett wear?" + +They were at the dinner-table; and, instead of looking down at her soup, +Lucia looked quietly and steadily across the table at her grandmother. + +"She wore a very pretty one," she said: "it was pale fawn-color, and +fitted her like a glove. She made me feel very old-fashioned and +badly dressed." + +Lady Theobald laid down her spoon. + +"She made you feel old-fashioned and badly dressed,--you!" + +"Yes," responded Lucia: "she always does. I wonder what she thinks of the +things we wear in Slowbridge." And she even went to the length of smiling +a little. + +"What _she_ thinks of what is worn in Slowbridge!" Lady Theobald +ejaculated. "She! may I ask what weight the opinion of a young woman from +America--from Nevada--is supposed to have in Slowbridge?" + +Lucia took a spoonful of soup in a leisurely manner. + +"I don't think it is supposed to have any; but--but I don't think she +minds that. I feel as if I shouldn't if I were in her place. I have +always thought her very lucky." + +"You have thought her lucky!" cried my lady. "You have envied a Nevada +young woman, who dresses like an actress, and loads herself with jewels +like a barbarian? A girl whose conduct toward men is of a character +to--to chill one's blood!" + +"They admire her," said Lucia simply, "more than they admire Lydia +Egerton, and more than they admire me." + +"Do _you_ admire her?" demanded my lady. + +"Yes, grandmamma," replied Lucia courageously. "I think I do." + +Never had my lady been so astounded in her life. For a moment she could +scarcely speak. When she recovered herself she pointed to the door. + +"Go to your room," she commanded. "This is American freedom of speech, I +suppose. Go to your room." + +Lucia rose obediently. She could not help wondering what her ladyship's +course would be if she had the hardihood to disregard her order. She +really looked quite capable of carrying it out forcibly herself. When the +girl stood at her bedroom window, a few minutes later, her cheeks were +burning and her hands trembling. + +"I am afraid it was very badly done," she said to herself. "I am sure it +was; but--but it will be a kind of practice. I was in such a hurry to try +if I were equal to it, that I didn't seem to balance things quite +rightly. I ought to have waited until I had more reason to speak out. +Perhaps there wasn't enough reason then, and I was more aggressive than I +ought to have been. Octavia is never aggressive. I wonder if I was at all +pert. I don't think Octavia ever means to be pert. I felt a little as if +I meant to be pert. I must learn to balance myself, and only be cool and +frank." + +Then she looked out of the window, and reflected a little. + +"I was not so very brave, after all," she said, rather reluctantly. "I +didn't tell her Mr. Burmistone was there. I daren't have done that. I am +afraid I _am_ sly--that sounds sly, I am sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CONTRAST. + + +"Lady Theobald will put a stop to it," was the general remark. "It will +certainly not occur again." + +This was said upon the evening of the first gathering upon Miss Belinda's +grass-plat, and at the same time it was prophesied that Mr. Francis +Barold would soon go away. + +But neither of the prophecies proved true. Mr. Francis Barold did _not_ +return to London; and, strange to say, Lucia was seen again and again +playing croquet with Octavia Bassett, and was even known to spend +evenings with her. + +Perhaps it might be that an appeal made by Miss Belinda to her ladyship +had caused her to allow of these things. Miss Belinda had, in fact, made +a private call upon my lady, to lay her case before her. + +"I feel so very timid about every thing," she said, almost with tears, +"and so fearful of trusting myself, that I really find it quite a trial. +The dear child has such a kind heart--I assure you she has a kind heart, +dear Lady Theobald,--and is so innocent of any intention to do wrong--I +am sure she is innocent,--that it seems cruel to judge her severely. If +she had had the benefit of such training as dear Lucia's. I am convinced +that her conduct would have been most exemplary. She sees herself that +she has faults: I am sure she does. She said to me only last night, in +that odd way of hers,--she had been sitting, evidently thinking deeply, +for some minutes,--and she said, 'I wonder if I shouldn't be nicer if I +were more like Lucia Gaston.' You see what turn her mind must have taken. +She admires Lucia so much." + +"Yesterday evening at dinner," said Lady Theobald severely, "Lucia +informed me that _she_ admired your niece. The feeling seems to be +mutual." + +Miss Belinda colored, and brightened visibly. + +"Did she, indeed?" she exclaimed. "How pleased Octavia will be to hear +it! Did she, indeed?" Then, warned by a chilliness, and lack of response, +in her ladyship's manner, she modified her delight, and became apologetic +again. "These young people are more--are less critical than we are," she +sighed. "Octavia's great prettiness"-- + +"I think," Lady Theobald interposed, "that Lucia has been taught to feel +that the body is corruptible, and subject to decay, and that mere beauty +is of small moment." + +Miss Belinda sighed again. + +"That is very true," she admitted deprecatingly; "very true indeed." + +"It is to be hoped that Octavia's stay in Slowbridge will prove +beneficial to her," said her ladyship in her most judicial manner. "The +atmosphere is wholly unlike that which has surrounded her during her +previous life." + +"I am sure it will prove beneficial to her," said Miss Belinda eagerly. +"The companionship of well-trained and refined young people cannot fail +to be of use to her. Such a companion as Lucia would be, if you would +kindly permit her to spend an evening with us now and then, would +certainly improve and modify her greatly. Mr. Francis Barold is--is, I +think, of the same opinion; at least, I fancied I gathered as much from a +few words he let fall." + +"Francis Barold?" repeated Lady Theobald. "And what did Francis Barold +say?" + +"Of course it was but very little," hesitated Miss Belinda; "but--but I +could not help seeing that he was drawing comparisons, as it were. +Octavia was teaching Mr. Poppleton to play croquet; and she was rather +exhilarated, and perhaps exhibited more--freedom of manner, in an +innocent way,--quite in an innocent, thoughtless way,--than is exactly +customary; and I saw Mr. Barold glance from her to Lucia, who stood near; +and when I said, 'You are thinking of the contrast between them,' he +answered, 'Yes, they differ very greatly, it is true;' and of course I +knew that my poor Octavia could not have the advantage in his eyes. She +feels this herself, I know. She shocked me the other day, beyond +expression, by telling me that she had asked him if he thought she was +really fast, and that she was sure he did. Poor child! she evidently did +not comprehend the dreadful significance of such terms." + +"A man like Francis Barold does understand their significance," said Lady +Theobald; "and it is to be deplored that your niece cannot be taught what +her position in society will be if such a reputation attaches itself to +her. The men of the present day fight shy of such characters." + +This dread clause so impressed poor Miss Belinda by its solemnity, that +she could not forbear repeating it to Octavia afterward, though it is to +be regretted that it did not produce the effect she had hoped. + +"Well, I must say," she observed, "that if some men fought a little shyer +than they do, I shouldn't mind it. You always _do_ have about half a +dozen dangling around, who only bore you, and who will keep asking you to +go to places, and sending you bouquets, and asking you to dance when they +can't dance at all, and only tear your dress, and stand on your feet. If +they would 'fight shy,' it would be splendid." + +To Miss Belinda, who certainly had never been guilty of the indecorum of +having any member of the stronger sex "dangling about" at all, this was +very trying. + +"My dear," she said, "don't say 'you always have;' it--it really seems to +make it so personal." + +Octavia turned around, and fixed her eyes wonderingly upon her blushing +countenance. For a moment she made no remark, a marvellous thought +shaping itself slowly in her mind. + +"Aunt Belinda," she said at length, "did nobody ever"-- + +"Ah, no, my dear! No, no, I assure you!" cried Miss Belinda, in the +greatest possible trepidation. "Ah, dear, no! Such--such things +rarely--very rarely happen in--Slowbridge; and, besides, I couldn't +possibly have thought of it. I couldn't, indeed!" + +She was so overwhelmed with maidenly confusion at the appalling thought, +that she did not recover herself for half an hour at least. Octavia, +feeling that it would not be safe to pursue the subject, only uttered one +word of comment,-- + +"Gracious!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN EXPERIMENT. + + +Much to her own astonishment, Lucia found herself allowed new liberty. +She was permitted to spend the afternoon frequently with Octavia; and on +several occasions that young lady and Miss Bassett were invited to +partake of tea at Oldclough in company with no other guest than Francis +Barold. + +"I don't know what it means, and I think it must mean something," said +Lucia to Octavia; "but it is very pleasant. I never was allowed to be so +intimate with any one before." + +"Perhaps," suggested Octavia sagely, "she thinks, that, if you see me +often enough, you will get sick of me, and it will be a lesson to you." + +"The more I see of you," answered Lucia with a serious little air, "the +fonder I am of you. I understand you better. You are not at all like what +I thought you at first, Octavia." + +"But I don't know that there's much to understand in me." + +"There is a great deal to understand in you," she replied. "You are a +puzzle to me often. You seem so frank, and yet one knows so little about +you after all. For instance," Lucia went on, "who would imagine that you +are so affectionate?" + +"Am I affectionate?" she asked. + +"Yes," answered Lucia: "I am sure you are very affectionate. I have found +it out gradually. You would suffer things for any one you loved." + +Octavia thought the matter over. + +"Yes," she said at length, "I would." + +"You are very fond of Miss Bassett," proceeded Lucia, as if arraigning +her at the bar of justice. "You are _very_ fond of your father; and I am +sure there are other people you are very fond of--_very_ fond of indeed." + +Octavia pondered seriously again. + +"Yes, there are," she remarked; "but no one would care about them here, +and so I'm not going to make a fuss. You don't want to make a fuss over +people you l-like." + +"_You_ don't," said Lucia. "You are like Francis Barold in one way, but +you are altogether different in another. Francis Barold does not wish to +show emotion; and he is so determined to hedge himself around, that one +can't help suspecting that he is always guarding himself against one. He +seems always to be resenting any interference; but you do not appear to +care at all, and so it is not natural that one should suspect you. I did +not suspect you." + +"What do you suspect me of now?" + +"Of thinking a great deal," answered Lucia affectionately. "And of being +very clever and very good." + +Octavia was silent for a few moments. + +"I think," she said after the pause,--"I think you'll find out that it's +a mistake." + +"No, I shall not," returned Lucia, quite glowing with enthusiasm. "And I +know I shall learn a great deal from you." + +This was such a startling proposition that Octavia felt decidedly +uncomfortable. She flushed rosy red. + +"I'm the one who ought to learn things, I think," she said. "I'm always +doing things that frighten aunt Belinda, and you know how the rest +regard me." + +"Octavia," said Lucia, very naively indeed, "suppose we try to help each +other. If you will tell me when I am wrong, I will try to--to have the +courage to tell you. That will be good practice for me. What I want most +is courage and frankness, and I am sure it will take courage to make up +my mind to tell you of your--of your mistakes." + +Octavia regarded her with mingled admiration and respect. + +"I think that's a splendid idea," she said. + +"Are you sure," faltered Lucia, "are you sure you won't mind the +things I may have to say? Really, they are quite little things in +themselves--hardly worth mentioning"-- + +"Tell me one of them, right now," said Octavia, point-blank. + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Lucia, starting. "I'd rather not--just now." + +"Well," commented Octavia, "that sounds as if they must be pretty +unpleasant. Why don't you want to? They will be quite as bad to-morrow. +And to refuse to tell me one is a bad beginning. It looks as if you were +frightened; and it isn't good practice for you to be frightened at such a +little thing." + +Lucia felt convicted. She made an effort to regain her composure. + +"No, it is not," she said. "But that is always the way. I am continually +telling myself that I _will_ be courageous and candid; and, the first +time any thing happens, I fail. I _will_ tell you one thing." + +She stopped short here, and looked at Octavia guiltily. + +"It is something--I think I would do if--if I were in your place," Lucia +stammered. "A very little thing indeed." + +"Well?" remarked Octavia anxiously. + +Lucia lost her breath, caught it again, and proceeded cautiously, and +with blushes at her own daring. + +"If I were in your place," she said, "I think--that, perhaps--only +perhaps, you know--I would not wear--my hair--_quite_ so low down--over +my forehead." + +Octavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the pier-glass over the mantle. +She glanced at the reflection of her own startled, pretty face, and +then, putting her hand up to the soft blonde "bang" which met her brows, +turned to Lucia. + +"Isn't it becoming?" she asked breathlessly. + +"Oh, yes!" Lucia answered. "Very." + +Octavia started. + +"Then, why wouldn't you wear it?" she cried. "What do you mean?" + +Lucia felt her position truly a delicate one. She locked her hands, and +braced herself; but she blushed vividly. + +"It may sound rather silly when I tell you why, Octavia," she said; "but +I really do think it is a sort of reason. You know, in those absurd +pictures of actresses, bangs always seem to be the principal feature. I +saw some in the shop-windows when I went to Harriford with grandmamma. +And they were such dreadful women,--some of them,--and had so very few +clothes on, that I can't help thinking I shouldn't like to look like +them, and"-- + +"Does it make me look like them?" + +"Oh, very little!" answered Lucia; "very little indeed, of course; but"-- + +"But it's the same thing after all," put in Octavia. "That's what you +mean." + +"It is so very little," faltered Lucia, "that--that perhaps it isn't +a reason." + +Octavia looked at herself in the glass again. + +"It isn't a very good reason," she remarked, "but I suppose it will do." + +She paused, and looked Lucia in the face. + +"I don't think that's a little thing," she said. "To be told you look +like an _opera bouffe_ actress." + +"I did not mean to say so," cried Lucia, filled with the most poignant +distress. "I beg your pardon, indeed--I--oh, dear! I was afraid you +wouldn't like it. I felt that it was taking a great liberty." + +"I don't like it," answered Octavia; "but that can't be helped. I didn't +exactly suppose I should. But I wasn't going to say any thing about +_your_ hair when _I_ began," glancing at poor Lucia's coiffure, "though I +suppose I might." + +"You might say a thousand things about it!" cried Lucia piteously. "I +know that mine is not only in bad taste, but it is ugly and unbecoming." +"Yes," said Octavia cruelly, "it is." + +"And yours is neither the one nor the other," protested Lucia. "You know +I told you it was pretty, Octavia." + +Octavia walked over to the table, upon which stood Miss Belinda's +work-basket, and took therefrom a small and gleaming pair of scissors, +returning to the mantle-glass with them. + +"How short shall I cut it?" she demanded. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lucia, "don't, don't!" + +For answer, Octavia raised the scissors, and gave a snip. It was a savage +snip, and half the length and width of her love-locks fell on the mantle; +then she gave another snip, and the other half fell. + +Lucia scarcely dared to breathe. + +For a moment Octavia stood gazing at herself, with pale face and dilated +eyes. Then suddenly the folly of the deed she had done seemed to reveal +itself to her. + +"Oh!" she cried out. "Oh, how diabolical it looks!" + +She turned upon Lucia. + +"Why did you make me do it?" she exclaimed. "It's all your fault--every +bit of it;" and, flinging the scissors to the other end of the room, she +threw herself into a chair, and burst into tears. + +Lucia's anguish of mind was almost more than she could bear. For at least +three minutes she felt herself a criminal of the deepest dye; after the +three minutes had elapsed, however, she began to reason, and called to +mind the fact that she was failing as usual under her crisis. + +"This is being a coward again," she said to herself. "It is worse than to +have said nothing. It is true that she will look more refined, now one +can see a little of her forehead; and it is cowardly to be afraid to +stand firm when I really think so. I--yes, I will say something to her." + +"Octavia," she began aloud, "I am sure you are making a mistake again." +This as decidedly as possible, which was not very decidedly. "You--you +look very much--nicer." + +"I look _ghastly_!" said Octavia, who began to feel rather absurd. + +"You do not. Your forehead--you have the prettiest forehead I ever saw, +Octavia," said Lucia eagerly; "and your eyebrows are perfect. I--wish you +would look at yourself again." + +Rather to her surprise, Octavia began to laugh under cover of her +handkerchief: reaction had set in, and, though the laugh was a trifle +hysterical, it was still a laugh. Next she gave her eyes a final little +dab, and rose to go to the glass again. She looked at herself, touched up +the short, waving fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia, with +a resigned expression. + +"Do you think that any one who was used to seeing it the other way +would--would think I looked horrid?" she inquired anxiously. + +"They would think you prettier,--a great deal," Lucia answered earnestly. +"Don't you know, Octavia, that nothing could be really unbecoming to you? +You have that kind of face." + +For a few seconds Octavia seemed to lose herself in thought of a +speculative nature. + +"Jack always said so," she remarked at length. + +"Jack!" repeated Lucia timidly. + +Octavia roused herself, and smiled with candid sweetness. + +"He is some one I knew in Nevada," she explained. "He worked in father's +mine once." + +"You must have known him very well," suggested Lucia, somewhat awed. + +"I did," she replied calmly. "Very well." + +She tucked away her pocket-handkerchief in the jaunty pocket at the back +of her basque, and returned to her chair. Then she turned again to Lucia. + +"Well," she said, "I think you have found out that you _were_ mistaken, +haven't you, dear? Suppose you tell me of something else." + +Lucia colored. + +"No," she answered: "that is enough for to-day." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PECULIAR TO NEVADA. + + +Whether, or not, Lucia was right in accusing Octavia Bassett of being +clever, and thinking a great deal, is a riddle which those who are +interested in her must unravel as they read; but, whether the surmise was +correct or incorrect, it seemed possible that she had thought a little +after the interview. When Barold saw her next, he was struck by a slight +but distinctly definable change he recognized in her dress and coiffure. +Her pretty hair had a rather less "professional" appearance: he had the +pleasure of observing, for the first time, how very white her forehead +was, and how delicate the arch of her eyebrows; her dress had a novel air +of simplicity, and the diamond rings were nowhere to be seen. + +"She's better dressed than usual," he said to himself. "And she's always +well dressed,--rather too well dressed, fact is, for a place like this. +This sort of thing is in better form, under the circumstances." It was +so much "better form," and he so far approved of it, that he quite +thawed, and was very amiable and very entertaining indeed. + +Octavia was entertaining too. She asked several most interesting +questions. + +"Do you think," she inquired, "that it is bad taste to wear diamonds?" + +"My mother wears them--occasionally." + +"Have you any sisters?" + +"No." + +"Any cousins--as young as I am?" + +"Ya-as." + +"Do they wear them?" + +"I must admit," he replied, "that they don't. In the first place, you +know, they haven't any; and, in the second, I am under the impression +that Lady Beauchamp--their mamma, you know--wouldn't permit it if they +had." + +"Wouldn't permit it!" said Octavia. "I suppose they always do as she +tells them?" + +He smiled a little. + +"They would be very courageous young women if they didn't," he remarked. + +"What would she do if they tried it?" she inquired. "She couldn't beat +them." + +"They will never try it," he answered dryly. "And though I have never +seen her beat them, or heard their lamentations under chastisement, I +should not like to say that Lady Beauchamp could not do any thing. She is +a very determined person--for a gentlewoman." + +Octavia laughed. + +"You are joking," she said. + +"Lady Beauchamp is a serious subject for jokes," he responded. "My +cousins think so, at least." + +"I wonder if she is as bad as Lady Theobald," Octavia reflected aloud. +"She says I have no right to wear diamonds at all until I am married. But +I don't mind Lady Theobald," she added, as a cheerful afterthought. "I am +not fond enough of her to care about what she says." + +"Are you fond of any one?" Barold inquired, speaking with a languid air, +but at the same time glancing at her with some slight interest from under +his eyelids. + +"Lucia says I am," she returned, with the calmness of a young person who +wished to regard the matter from an unembarrassed point of view. "Lucia +says I am affectionate." + +"Ah!" deliberately. "Are you?" + +She turned, and looked at him serenely. + +"Should _you_ think so?" she asked. + +This was making such a personal matter of the question, that he did not +exactly enjoy it. It was certainly not "good form" to pull a man up in +such cool style. + +"Really," he replied, "I--ah--have had no opportunity of judging." + +He had not the slightest intention of being amusing, but to his infinite +disgust he discovered as soon as he spoke that she was amused. She +laughed outright, and evidently only checked herself because he looked so +furious. In consideration for his feelings she assumed an air of mild but +preternatural seriousness. + +"No," she remarked, "that is true: you haven't, of course." + +He was silent. He did not enjoy being amusing at all, and he made no +pretence of appearing to submit to the indignity calmly. + +She bent forward a little. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, "you are mad again--I mean, you are vexed. I am +always vexing you." + +There was a hint of appeal in her voice, which rather pleased him; but he +had no intention of relenting at once. + +"I confess I am at a loss to know why you laughed," he said. + +"Are you," she asked, "really?" letting her eyes rest upon him anxiously +for a moment. Then she actually gave vent to a little sigh. "We look at +things so differently, that's it," she said. + +"I suppose it is," he responded, still chillingly. + +In spite of this, she suddenly assumed a comparatively cheerful aspect. A +happy thought occurred to her. + +"Lucia would beg your pardon," she said. "I am learning good manners from +Lucia. Suppose I beg your pardon." + +"It is quite unnecessary," he replied. + +"Lucia wouldn't think so," she said. "And why shouldn't I be as +well-behaved as Lucia? I beg your pardon." + +He felt rather absurd, and yet somewhat mollified. She had a way of +looking at him, sometimes, when she had been unpleasant, which rather +soothed him. In fact, he had found of late, a little to his private +annoyance, that it was very easy for her either to soothe or disturb him. + +And now, just as Octavia had settled down into one of the prettiest and +least difficult of her moods, there came a knock at the front door, +which, being answered by Mary Anne, was found to announce the curate of +St. James. + +Enter, consequently, the Rev. Arthur Poppleton,--blushing, a trifle +timorous perhaps, but happy beyond measure to find himself in Miss +Belinda's parlor again, with Miss Belinda's niece. + +Perhaps the least possible shade of his joyousness died out when he +caught sight of Mr. Francis Barold, and certainly Mr. Francis Barold was +not at all delighted to see him. + +"What does the fellow want?" that gentleman was saying inwardly. "What +does he come simpering and turning pink here for? Why doesn't he go and +see some of his old women, and read tracts to them? That's _his_ +business." Octavia's manner toward her visitor formed a fresh +grievance for Barold. She treated the curate very well indeed. She +seemed glad to see him, she was wholly at her ease with him, she made no +trying remarks to him, she never stopped to fix her eyes upon him in +that inexplicable style, and she did not laugh when there seemed nothing +to laugh at. She was so gay and good-humored that the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton beamed and flourished under her treatment, and forgot to +change color, and even ventured to talk a good deal, and make divers +quite presentable little jokes. + +"I should like to know," thought Barold, growing sulkier as the others +grew merrier,--"I should like to know what she finds so interesting in +him, and why she chooses to treat him better than she treats me; for she +certainly does treat him better." + +It was hardly fair, however, that he should complain; for, at times, he +was treated extremely well, and his intimacy with Octavia progressed +quite rapidly. Perhaps, if the truth were told, it was always himself who +was the first means of checking it, by some suddenly prudent instinct +which led him to feel that perhaps he was in rather a delicate position, +and had better not indulge in too much of a good thing. He had not been +an eligible and unimpeachable desirable _parti_ for ten years without +acquiring some of that discretion which is said to be the better part of +valor. The matter-of-fact air with which Octavia accepted his attentions +caused him to pull himself up sometimes. If he had been Brown, or Jones, +or even Robinson, she could not have appeared to regard them as more +entirely natural. When--he had gone so far, once or twice--he had deigned +to make a more than usually agreeable speech to her, it was received with +none of that charming sensitive tremor to which he was accustomed. +Octavia neither blushed, nor dropped her eyes. + +It did not add to Barold's satisfaction to find her as cheerful and ready +to be amused by a mild little curate, who blushed and stammered, and was +neither brilliant, graceful, nor distinguished. Could not Octavia see the +wide difference between the two? Regarding the matter in this light, and +watching Octavia as she encouraged her visitor, and laughed at his jokes, +and never once tripped him up by asking him a startling question, did +not, as already has been said, improve Mr. Francis Barold's temper; and, +by the time his visit was over, he had lapsed into his coldest and most +haughty manner. As soon as Miss Belinda entered, and engaged Mr. +Poppleton for a moment, he rose, and crossed the little room to Octavia's +side. + +"I must bid you good-afternoon," he said. + +Octavia did not rise. + +"Sit down a minute, while aunt Belinda is talking about red-flannel +nightcaps and lumbago," she said. "I wanted to ask you something. By the +way, what _is_ lumbago?" + +"Is that what you wished to ask me?" he inquired stiffly. + +"No. I just thought of that. Have you ever had it? and what is it like? +All the old people in Slowbridge have it, and they tell you all about it +when you go to see them. Aunt Belinda says so. What I wanted to ask you +was different"-- + +"Possibly Miss Bassett might be able to tell you," he remarked. + +"About the lumbago? Well, perhaps she might. I'll ask her. Do you think +it bad taste in _me_ to wear diamonds?" + +She said this with the most delightful seriousness, fixing her eyes upon +him with her very prettiest look of candid appeal, as if it were the most +natural thing in the world that she should apply to him for information. +He felt himself faltering again. How white that bit of forehead was! How +soft that blonde, waving fringe of hair! What a lovely shape her eyes +were, and how large and clear as she raised them! + +"Why do you ask _me_?" he inquired. + +"Because I think you are an unprejudiced person. Lady Theobald is not. I +have confidence in you. Tell me." + +There was a slight pause. + +"Really," he said, after it, "I can scarcely believe that my opinion can +be of any value in your eyes. I am--can only tell you that it is hardly +customary in--an--in England for young people to wear a profusion of +ornament." + +"I wonder if I wear a profusion." + +"You don't need any," he condescended. "You are too young, and--all that +sort of thing." + +She glanced down at her slim, unringed hands for a moment, her expression +quite thoughtful. + +"Lucia and I almost quarrelled the other day," she said--"at least, I +almost quarrelled. It isn't so nice to be told of things, after all. I +must say I don't like it as much as I thought I should." + +He kept his seat longer than, he had intended; and, when he rose to go, +the Rev. Arthur Poppleton was shaking hands with Miss Belinda, and so it +fell out that they left the house together. + +"You know Miss Octavia Bassett well, I suppose," remarked Barold, with +condescension, as they passed through the gate. "You clergymen are +fortunate fellows." + +"I wish that others knew her as well, sir," said the little gentleman, +kindling. "I wish they knew her--her generosity and kindness of heart and +ready sympathy with misfortune!" + +"Ah!" commented Mr. Barold, twisting his mustache with somewhat of an +incredulous air. This was not at all the sort of thing he had expected to +hear. For his own part, it would not have occurred to him to suspect her +of the possession of such desirable and orthodox qualities. + +"There are those who--misunderstand her," cried the curate, warming with +his subject, "who misunderstand, and--yes, and apply harsh terms to her +innocent gayety and freedom of speech: if they knew her as I do, they +would cease to do so." + +"I should scarcely have thought"--began Barold. + +"There are many who scarcely think it,--if you will pardon my +interrupting you," said the curate. "I think they would scarcely believe +it if I felt at liberty to tell them, which I regret to say I do not. I +am almost breaking my word in saying what I cannot help saying to +yourself. The poor under my care are better off since she came, and there +are some who have seen her more than once, though she did not go as a +teacher or to reprove them for faults; and her way of doing what she did +was new to them, and perhaps much less serious than they were accustomed +to, and they liked it all the better." + +"Ah!" commented Barold again. "Flannel under-garments, and--that sort +of thing." + +"No," with much spirit, "not at all, sir; but what, as I said, they liked +much better. It is not often they meet a beautiful creature who comes +among them with open hands, and the natural, ungrudging way of giving +which she has. Sometimes they are at a loss to understand, as well as the +rest. They have been used to what is narrower and more--more exacting." + +"They have been used to Lady Theobald," observed Barold, with a faint +smile. + +"It would not become me to--to mention Lady Theobald in any disparaging +manner," replied the curate: "but the best and most charitable among us +do not always carry out our good intentions in the best way. I dare say +Lady Theobald would consider Miss Octavia Bassett too readily influenced +and too lavish." + +"She is as generous with her money as with her diamonds perhaps," said +Barold. "Possibly the quality is peculiar to Nevada. We part here, Mr. +Poppleton, I believe. Good-morning." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +LORD LANSDOWNE. + + +One morning in the following week Mrs. Burnham attired herself in her +second-best black silk, and, leaving the Misses Burnham practising +diligently, turned her steps toward Oldclough Hall. Arriving there, she +was ushered into the blue drawing-room by Dobson, in his character of +footman; and in a few minutes Lucia appeared. + +When Mrs. Burnham saw her, she assumed a slight air of surprise. + +"Why, my dear," she said, as she shook hands, "I should scarcely have +known you." + +And, though this was something of an exaggeration, there was some excuse +for the exclamation. Lucia was looking very charming, and several changes +might be noted in her attire and appearance. The ugly twist had +disappeared from her delicate head; and in its place were soft, loose +waves and light puffs; she had even ventured on allowing a few ringed +locks to stray on to her forehead; her white morning-dress no longer wore +the trade-mark of Miss Chickie, but had been remodelled by some one of +more taste. + +"What a pretty gown, my dear!" said Mrs. Burnham, glancing at it +curiously. "A Watteau plait down the back--isn't it a Watteau plait?--and +little ruffles down the front, and pale pink bows. It is quite like some +of Miss Octavia Bassett's dresses, only not so over-trimmed." + +"I do not think Octavia's dresses would seem over-trimmed if she wore +them in London or Paris," said Lucia bravely. "It is only because we are +so very quiet, and dress so little in Slowbridge, that they seem so." + +"And your hair!" remarked Mrs. Burnham. "You drew your idea of that from +some style of hers, I suppose. Very becoming, indeed. Well, well! And how +does Lady Theobald like all this, my dear?" + +"I am not sure that"--Lucia was beginning, when her ladyship interrupted +her by entering. + +"My dear Lady Theobald," cried her visitor, rising, "I hope you are well. +I have just been complimenting Lucia upon her pretty dress, and her new +style of dressing her hair. Miss Octavia Bassett has been giving her the +benefit of her experience, it appears. We have not been doing her +justice. Who would have believed that she had come from Nevada to improve +us?" + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said my lady sonorously, "has come from Nevada to +teach our young people a great many things,--new fashions in duty, and +demeanor, and respect for their elders. Let us hope they will be +benefited." + +"If you will excuse me, grandmamma," said Lucia, speaking in a soft, +steady voice, "I will go and write the letters you wished written." + +"Go," said my lady with majesty; and, having bidden Mrs. Burnham +good-morning, Lucia went. + +If Mrs. Burnham had expected any explanation of her ladyship's evident +displeasure, she was doomed to disappointment. That excellent and +rigorous gentlewoman had a stern sense of dignity, which forbade her +condescending to the confidential weakness of mere ordinary mortals. +Instead of referring to Lucia, she broached a more commonplace topic. + +"I hope your rheumatism does not threaten you again, Mrs. Burnham," +she remarked. + +"I am very well, thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Burnham; "so well, that I +am thinking quite seriously of taking the dear girls to the garden-party, +when it comes off." + +"To the garden-party!" repeated her ladyship. "May I ask who thinks of +giving a garden-party in Slowbridge?" + +"It is no one in Slowbridge," replied this lady cheerfully. "Some one who +lives a little out of Slowbridge,--Mr. Burmistone, my dear Lady Theobald, +at his new place." + +"Mr. Burmistone!" + +"Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to +believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. +Barold." + +"Mr. Barold has not been to Oldclough for several days." + +"Then, he will tell you when he comes; for I suppose he has as much to do +with it as Mr. Burmistone." + +"I have heard before," announced my lady, "of men of Mr. Burmistone's +class securing the services of persons of established position in society +when they wished to spend their money upon entertainments; but I should +scarcely have imagined that Francis Barold would have allowed himself to +be made a party to such a transaction." + +"But," put in Mrs. Burnham rather eagerly, "it appears that Mr. +Burmistone is not such an obscure person, after all. He is an Oxford man, +and came off with honors: he is quite a well-born man, and gives this +entertainment in honor of his friend and relation, Lord Lansdowne." + +"Lord Lansdowne!" echoed her ladyship, sternly. + +"Son of the Marquis of Lauderdale, whose wife was Lady Honora Erroll." + +"Did Mr. Burmistone give you this information?" asked Lady Theobald with +ironic calmness. + +Mrs. Burnham colored never so faintly. + +"I--that is to say--there is a sort of acquaintance between one of my +maids and the butler at the Burmistone place; and, when the girl was +doing Lydia's hair, she told her the story. Lord Lansdowne and his father +are quite fond of Mr. Burmistone, it is said." + +"It seems rather singular to my mind that we should not have known of +this before." + +"But how should we learn? We none of us know Lord Lansdowne, or even the +marquis. I think he is only a second or third cousin. We are a +little--just a little _set_ in Slowbridge, you know, my dear: at least, I +have thought so sometimes lately." + +"I must confess," remarked my lady, "that _I_ have not regarded the +matter in that light." + +"That is because you have a better right to--to be a little set than the +rest of us," was the amiable response. + +Lady Theobald did not disclaim the privilege. She felt the sentiment an +extremely correct one. But she was not very warm in her manner during the +remainder of the call; and, incongruous as such a statement may appear, +it must be confessed that she felt that Miss Octavia Bassett must have +something to do with, these defections on all sides, and that +garden-parties, and all such swervings from established Slowbridge +custom, were the natural result of Nevada frivolity and freedom of +manners. It may be that she felt remotely that even Lord Lansdowne and +the Marquis of Lauderdale were to be referred to the same reprehensible +cause, and that, but for Octavia Bassett, Mr. Burmistone would not have +been educated at Oxford and have come off with honors, and have turned +out to be related to respectable people, but would have remained in +appropriate obscurity. + +"I suppose," she said afterward to Lucia, "that your friend Miss Octavia +Bassett is in Mr. Burmistone's confidence, if no one else has been +permitted to have that honor. I have no doubt _she_ has known of this +approaching entertainment for some weeks." + +"I do not know, grandmamma," replied Lucia, putting her letters together, +and gaining color as she bent over them. She was wondering, with inward +trepidation, what her ladyship would say if she knew the whole truth,--if +she knew that it was her granddaughter, and not Octavia Bassett, who +enjoyed Mr. Burmistone's confidence. + +"Ah!" she thought, "how could I ever dare to tell her?" + +The same day Francis Barold sauntered up to pay them a visit; and then, +as Mrs. Burnham had prophesied, Lady Theobald heard all she wished to +hear, and, indeed, a great deal more. + +"What is this I am told of Mr. Burmistone, Francis?" she inquired. +"That he intends to give a garden-party, and that Lord Lansdowne is to +be one of the guests, and that he has caused it to be circulated that +they are cousins." + +"That Lansdowne has caused it to be circulated--or Burmistone?" + +"It is scarcely likely that Lord Lansdowne"-- + +"Beg pardon," he interrupted, fixing his single glass dexterously in his +right eye, and gazing at her ladyship through it. "Can't see why +Lansdowne should object. Fact is, he is a great deal fonder of Burmistone +than relations usually are of each other. Now, I often find that kind of +thing a bore; but Lansdowne doesn't seem to. They were at school +together, it seems, and at Oxford too; and Burmistone is supposed to have +behaved pretty well towards Lansdowne at one time, when he was rather a +wild fellow--so the father and mother say. As to Burmistone 'causing it +to be circulated,' that sort of thing is rather absurd. The man isn't a +cad, you know." + +"Pray don't say 'you know,' Francis," said her ladyship. "I know very +little but what I have chanced to see, and I must confess I have not +been prepossessed in Mr. Burmistone's favor. Why did he not choose to +inform us"-- + +"That he was Lord Lansdowne's second cousin, and knew the Marquis of +Lauderdale, grandmamma?" broke in Lucia, with very pretty spirit. "Would +that have prepossessed you in his favor? Would you have forgiven him for +building the mills, on Lord Lansdowne's account? I--I wish I was related +to a marquis," which was very bold indeed. + +"May I ask," said her ladyship, in her most monumental manner, "when +_you_ became Mr. Burmistone's champion?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +"YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER." + + +When she had become Mr. Burmistone's champion, indeed! She could scarcely +have told when, unless, perhaps, she had fixed the date at the first time +she had heard his name introduced at a high tea, with every politely +opprobrious epithet affixed. She had defended him in her own mind then, +and felt sure that he deserved very little that was said against him, and +very likely nothing at all. And, the first time she had seen and spoken +to him, she had been convinced that she had not made a mistake, and that +he had been treated with cruel injustice. How kind he was, how manly, how +clever, and how well he bore himself under the popular adverse criticism! +She only wondered that anybody could be so blind and stupid and wilful as +to assail him. + +And if this had been the case in those early days, imagine what she felt +now, when--ah, well!--when her friendship had had time and opportunity to +become a much deeper sentiment. Must it be confessed that she had seen +Mr. Burmistone even oftener than Octavia and Miss Belinda knew of? Of +course it had all been quite accidental; but it had happened that now and +then, when she had been taking a quiet walk in the lanes about Oldclough, +she had encountered a gentleman, who had dismounted, and led his horse by +the bridle, as he sauntered by her side. She had always been very timid +at such times, and had felt rather like a criminal; but Mr. Burmistone +had not been timid at all, and would, indeed, as soon have met Lady +Theobald as not, for which courage his companion admired him more than +ever. It was not very long before to be with this hero re-assured her, +and made her feel stronger and more self-reliant. She was never afraid to +open her soft little heart to him, and show him innocently all its +goodness, and ignorance of worldliness. She warmed and brightened under +his kindly influence, and was often surprised in secret at her own simple +readiness of wit and speech. + +"It is odd that I am such a different girl when--when I am with you," she +said to him one day. "I even make little jokes. I never should think of +making even the tiniest joke before grandmamma. Somehow, she never seems +quite to understand jokes. She never laughs at them. You always laugh, +and I am sure it is very kind of you to encourage me so; but you must not +encourage me too much, or I might forget, and make a little joke at +dinner, and I think, if I did, she would choke over her soup." + +Perhaps, when she dressed her hair, and adorned herself with pale pink +bows and like appurtenances, this artful young person had privately in +mind other beholders than Mrs. Burnham, and other commendation than that +to be bestowed by that most excellent matron. + +"Do you mind my telling you that you have put on an enchanted garment?" +said Mr. Burmistone, the first time they met when she wore one of the +old-new gowns. "I thought I knew before how"-- + +"I don't mind it at all," said Lucia, blushing brilliantly. "I rather +like it. It rewards me for my industry. My hair is dressed in a new way. +I hope you like that too. Grandmamma does not." + +It had been Lady Theobald's habit to treat Lucia severely from a sense of +duty. Her manner toward her had always rather the tone of implying that +she was naturally at fault, and yet her ladyship could not have told +wherein she wished the girl changed. In the good old school in which my +lady had been trained, it was customary to regard young people as weak, +foolish, and, if left to their own desires, frequently sinful. Lucia had +not been left to her own desires. She had been taught to view herself as +rather a bad case, and to feel that she was far from being what her +relatives had a right to expect. To be thrown with a person who did not +find her silly or dull or commonplace, was a new experience. + +"If I had been clever," Lucia said once to Mr. Burmistone,--"if I had +been clever, perhaps grandmamma would have been more satisfied with me. I +have often wished I had been clever." + +"If you had been a boy," replied Mr. Burmistone rather grimly, "and had +squandered her money, and run into debt, and bullied her, you would have +been her idol, and she would have pinched and starved herself to supply +your highness's extravagance." + +When the garden-party rumor began to take definite form, and there was no +doubt as to Mr. Burmistone's intentions, a discussion arose at once, and +went on in every genteel parlor. Would Lady Theobald allow Lucia to go? +and, if she did not allow her, would not such a course appear very +pointed indeed? It was universally decided that it would appear pointed, +but that Lady Theobald would not mind that in the least, and perhaps +would rather enjoy it than otherwise; and it was thought Lucia would not +go. And it is very likely that Lucia would have remained at home, if it +had not been for the influence of Mr. Francis Barold. + +Making a call at Oldclough, he found his august relative in a very +majestic mood, and she applied to him again for information. + +"Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me whether it is true that +Belinda Bassett--_Belinda Bassett_," with emphasis, "has been invited by +Mr. Burmistone to assist him to receive his guests." + +"Yes, it is true," was the reply: "I think I advised it myself. +Burmistone is fond of her. They are great friends. Man needs a woman at +such times." + +"And he chose Belinda Bassett?" + +"In the first place, he is on friendly terms with her, as I said before," +replied Barold; "in the second, she's just what he wants--well-bred, +kind-hearted, not likely to make rows, _et caetera_." There was a slight +pause before he finished, adding quietly, "He's not the man to submit to +being refused--Burmistone." + +Lady Theobald did not reply, or raise her eyes from her work: she knew he +was looking at her with calm fixedness, through the glass he held in its +place so cleverly; and she detested this more than any thing else, +perhaps because she was invariably quelled by it, and found she had +nothing to say. + +He did not address her again immediately, but turned to Lucia, dropping +the eyeglass, and resuming his normal condition. + +"You will go, of course?" he said. + +Lucia glanced across at my lady. + +"I--do not know. Grandmamma"-- + +"Oh!" interposed Barold, "you must go. There is no reason for your +refusing the invitation, unless you wish to imply something +unpleasant--which is, of course, out of the question." + +"But there may be reasons"--began her ladyship. + +"Burmistone is my friend," put in Barold, in his coolest tone; "and I am +your relative, which would make my position in his house a delicate one, +if he has offended you." + +When Lucia saw Octavia again, she was able to tell her that they had +received invitations to the _fete_, and that Lady Theobald had accepted +them. + +"She has not spoken a word to me about it, but she has accepted them," +said Lucia. "I don't quite understand her lately, Octavia. She must be +very fond of Francis Barold. He never gives way to her in the least, and +she always seems to submit to him. I know she would not have let me go, +if he had not insisted on it, in that taking-it-for-granted way of his." + +Naturally Mr. Burmistone's _fete_ caused great excitement. Miss Chickie +was never so busy in her life, and there were rumors that her feelings +had been outraged by the discovery that Mrs. Burnham had sent to +Harriford for costumes for her daughters. + +"Slowbridge is changing, mem," said Miss Chickie. with brilliant sarcasm. +"Our ladies is led in their fashions by a Nevada young person. We're +improving most rapid--more rapid than I'd ever have dared to hope. Do you +prefer a frill, or a flounce, mem?" + +Octavia was in great good spirits at the prospect of the gayeties in +question. She had been in remarkably good spirits for some weeks. She had +received letters from Nevada, containing good news she said. Shares had +gone up again; and her father had almost settled his affairs, and it +would not be long before he would come to England. She looked so +exhilarated over the matter, that Lucia felt a little aggrieved. "Will +you be so glad to leave us, Octavia?" she asked. "We shall not be so glad +to let you go. We have grown very fond of you." + +"I shall be sorry to leave you, and aunt Belinda is going with us. You +don't expect me to be very fond of Slowbridge, do you, and to be sorry I +can't take Mrs. Burnham--and the rest?" + +Barold was present when she made this speech, and it rather rankled. + +"Am I one of 'the rest'?" he inquired, the first time he found himself +alone with her. He was sufficiently piqued to forget his usual _hauteur_ +and discretion. + +"Would you like to be?" she said. + +"Oh! Very much--very much--naturally," he replied severely. + +They were standing near a rose-bush in the garden; and she plucked a +rose, and regarded it with deep interest. + +"Well," she said, next, "I must say I think I shouldn't have had such a +good time if you hadn't been here. You have made it livelier." + +"Tha-anks," he remarked. "You are most kind." + +"Oh!" she answered, "it's true. If it wasn't, I shouldn't say it. You and +Mr. Burmistone and Mr. Poppleton have certainly made it livelier." + +He went home in such a bad humor that his host, who was rather happier +than usual, commented upon his grave aspect at dinner. + +"You look as if you had heard ill news, old fellow," he said. "What's +up?" + +"Oh, nothing!" he was answered sardonically; "nothing whatever--unless +that I have been rather snubbed by a young lady from Nevada." + +"Ah!" with great seriousness: "that's rather cool, isn't it?" + +"It's her little way," said Barold. "It seems to be one of the customs +of Nevada." + +In fact, he was very savage indeed. He felt that he had condescended a +good deal lately. He seldom bestowed his time on women; and when he did +so, at rare intervals, he chose those who would do the most honor to his +taste at the least cost of trouble. And he was obliged to confess to +himself that he had broken his rule in this case. Upon analyzing his +motives and necessities, he found, that, after all, he must have extended +his visit simply because he chose to see more of this young woman from +Nevada, and that really, upon the whole, he had borne a good deal from +her. Sometimes he had been much pleased with her, and very well +entertained; but often enough--in fact, rather too often--she had made +him exceedingly uncomfortable. Her manners were not what he was +accustomed to: she did not consider that all men were not to be regarded +from the same point of view. Perhaps he did not put into definite words +the noble and patriotic sentiment that an Englishman was not to be +regarded from the same point of view as an American, and that, though all +this sort of thing might do with fellows in New York, it was scarcely +what an Englishman would stand. Perhaps, as I say, he had not put this +sentiment into words; but it is quite certain that it had been uppermost +in his mind upon more occasions than one. As he thought their +acquaintance over, this evening, he was rather severe upon Octavia. He +even was roused so far as to condescend to talk her over with Burmistone. + +"If she had been well brought up," he said, "she would have been a +different creature." + +"Very different, I have no doubt," said Burmistone thoughtfully. "When +you say well brought up, by the way, do you mean brought up like your +cousin, Miss Gaston?" + +"There is a medium," said Barold loftily. "I regret to say Lady Theobald +has not hit upon it." + +"Well, as you say," commented Mr. Burmistone, "I suppose there is a +medium." + +"A charming wife she would make, for a man with a position to maintain," +remarked Barold, with a short and somewhat savage laugh. + +"Octavia Bassett?" queried Burmistone. "That's true. But I am afraid she +wouldn't enjoy it--if you are supposing the man to be an Englishman, +brought up in the regulation groove." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Barold impatiently: "I was not looking at it from her +point of view, but from his." + +Mr. Burmistone slipped his hands in his pockets, and jingled his keys +slightly, as he did once before in an earlier part of this narrative. + +"Ah! from his," he repeated. "Not from hers. His point of view would +differ from hers--naturally." + +Barold flashed a little, and took his cigar from his mouth to knock off +the ashes. + +"A man is not necessarily a snob," he said, "because he is cool enough +not to lose his head where a woman is concerned. You can't marry a woman +who will make mistakes, and attract universal attention by her conduct." + +"Has it struck you that Octavia Bassett would?" inquired Burmistone. + +"She would do as she chose," said Barold petulantly. "She would do things +which were unusual; but I was not referring to her in particular. Why +should I?" + +"Ah!" said Burmistone. "I only thought of her because it did not strike +me that one would ever feel she had exactly blundered. She is not easily +embarrassed. There is a _sang-froid_ about her which carries things off." + +"Ah!" deigned Barold: "she has _sang-froid_ enough and to spare." + +He was silent for some time afterward, and sat smoking later than usual. +When he was about to leave the room for the night, he made an +announcement for which his host was not altogether prepared. + +"When the _fete_ is over, my dear fellow," he said, "I must go back to +London, and I shall be deucedly sorry to do it." + +"Look here!" said Burmistone, "that's a new idea, isn't it?" + +"No, an old one; but I have been putting the thing off from day to day. +By Jove! I did not think it likely that I should put it off, the day I +landed here." + +And he laughed rather uneasily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +"MAY I GO?" + + +The very day after this, Octavia opened the fourth trunk. She had had it +brought down from the garret, when there came a summons on the door, and +Lucia Gaston appeared. + +Lucia was very pale; and her large, soft eyes wore a decidedly frightened +look. She seemed to have walked fast, and was out of breath. Evidently +something had happened. + +"Octavia," she said, "Mr. Dugald Binnie is at Oldclough." + +"Who is he?" + +"He is my grand-uncle," explained Lucia tremulously. "He has a great deal +of money. Grandmamma"--She stopped short, and colored, and drew her +slight figure up. "I do not quite understand grandmamma, Octavia," she +said. "Last night she came to my room to talk to me; and this morning she +came again, and--oh!" she broke out indignantly, "how could she speak to +me in such a manner!" + +"What did she say?" inquired Octavia. + +"She said a great many things," with great spirit. "It took her a long +time to say them, and I do not wonder at it. It would have taken me a +hundred years, if I had been in her place. I--I was wrong to say I did +not understand her: I did--before she had finished." + +"What did you understand?" + +"She was afraid to tell me in plain words.--I never saw her afraid +before, but she was afraid. She has been arranging my future for me, and +it does not occur to her that I dare object. That is because she knows I +am a coward, and despises me for it--and it is what I deserve. If I make +the marriage she chooses, she thinks Mr. Binnie will leave me his money. +I am to run after a man who does not care for me, and make myself +attractive, in the hope that he will condescend to marry me because Mr. +Binnie may leave me his money. Do you wonder that it took even Lady +Theobald a long time to say that?" + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "you won't do it, I suppose. I wouldn't worry. +She wants you to marry Mr. Barold, I suppose." + +Lucia started. + +"How did you guess?" she exclaimed. + +"Oh! I always knew it. I didn't guess." And she smiled ever so faintly. +"That is one of the reasons why she loathes me so," she added. + +Lucia thought deeply for a moment: she recognized, all at once, several +things she had been mystified by before. + +"Oh, it is! It is!" she said. "And she has thought of it all the time, +when I never suspected her." + +Octavia smiled a little again. Lucia sat thinking, her hands clasped +tightly. + +"I am glad I came here," she said, at length. "I _am_ angry now, and I +see things more clearly. If she had only thought of it because Mr. Binnie +came, I could have forgiven her more easily; but she has been making +coarse plans all the time, and treating me with contempt. Octavia," she +added, turning upon her, with flushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, "I +think that, for the first time in my life, I am in a passion,--a real +passion. I think I shall never be afraid of her any more." Her delicate +nostrils were dilated, she held her head up, her breath came fast. There +was a hint of exultation in her tone. "Yes," she said, "I am in a +passion. And I am not afraid of her at all. I will go home and tell her +what I think." + +And it is quite probable that she would have done so, but for a trifling +incident which occurred before she reached her ladyship. + +She walked very fast, after she left the house. She wanted to reach +Oldclough before one whit of her anger cooled down; though, somehow, she +felt quite sure, that, even when her anger died out, her courage would +not take flight with it. Mr. Dugald Binnie had not proved to be a very +fascinating person. He was an acrid, dictatorial old man: he contradicted +Lady Theobald flatly every five minutes, and bullied his man-servant. But +it was not against him that Lucia's indignation was aroused. She felt +that Lady Theobald was quite capable of suggesting to him that Francis +Barold would be a good match for her; and, if she had done so, it was +scarcely his fault if he had accepted the idea. She understood now why +she had been allowed to visit Octavia, and why divers other things had +happened. She had been sent to walk with Francis Barold; he had been +almost reproached when he had not called; perhaps her ladyship had been +good enough to suggest to him that it was his duty to further her plans. +She was as capable of that as of any thing else which would assist her to +gain her point. The girl's cheeks grew hotter and hotter, her eyes +brighter, at every step, because every step brought some new thought: her +hands trembled, and her heart beat. + +"I shall never be afraid of her again," she said, as she turned the +corner into the road. "Never! never!" + +And at that very moment a gentleman stepped out of the wood at her right, +and stopped before her. + +She started back, with a cry. + +"Mr. Burmistone!" she said: "Mr. Burmistone!" + +She wondered if he had heard her last words: she fancied he had. He took +hold of her shaking little hand, and looked down at her excited face. + +"I am glad I waited for you," he said, in the quietest possible tone. +"Something is the matter." + +She knew there would be no use in trying to conceal the truth, and she +was not in the mood to make the effort. She scarcely knew herself. + +She gave quite a fierce little laugh. + +"I am angry!" she said. "You have never seen me angry before. I am on my +way to my--to Lady Theobald." + +He held her hand as calmly as before. He understood a great deal more +than she could have imagined. + +"What are you going to say to her?" he asked. She laughed again. + +"I am going to ask her what she means. I am going to tell her she has +made a mistake. I am going to prove to her that I am not such a coward, +after all. I am going to tell her that I dare disobey her,--_that_ is +what I am going to say to her," she concluded decisively. + +He held her hand rather closer. + +"Let us take a stroll in the copse, and talk it over," he said. "It is +deliciously cool there." + +"I don't want to be cool," she said. But he drew her gently with him; and +a few steps took them into the shade of the young oaks and pines, and +there he paused. + +"She has made you very angry?" he said. + +And then, almost before she knew what she was doing, she was pouring +forth the whole of her story, even more of it than she had told Octavia. +She had not at all intended to do it; but she did it, nevertheless. + +"I am to marry Mr. Francis Barold, if he will take me," she said, with a +bitter little smile,--"Mr. Francis Barold, who is so much in love with +me, as you know. His mother approves of the match, and sent him here to +make love to me, which he has done, as you have seen. I have no money of +my own; but, if I make a marriage which pleases him, Dugald Binnie will +probably leave me his--which it is thought will be an inducement to my +cousin, who needs one. If I marry him, or rather he marries me, Lady +Theobald thinks Mr. Binnie will be pleased. It does not even matter +whether Francis is pleased or not, and of course I am out of the +question; but it is hoped that it will please Mr. Binnie. The two ladies +have talked it over, and decided the matter. I dare say they have offered +me to Francis, who has very likely refused me, though perhaps he may be +persuaded to relent in time,--if I am very humble, and he is shown the +advantage of having Mr. Binnie's money added to his own,--but I have no +doubt I shall have to be very humble indeed. That is what I learned from +Lady Theobald last night, and it is what I am going to talk to her about. +Is it enough to make one angry, do you think? Is it enough?" + +He did not tell her whether he thought it enough, or not. He looked at +her with steady eyes. + +"Lucia," he said, "I wish you would let me go and talk with Lady +Theobald." + +"You?" she said with a little start. + +"Yes," he answered. "Let me go to her. Let me tell her, that, instead of +marrying Francis Barold, you will marry _me_. If you will say yes to +that, I think I can promise that you need never be afraid of her any +more." The fierce color died out of her cheeks, and the tears rushed to +her eyes. She raised her face with a pathetic look. + +"Oh!" she whispered, "you must be very sorry for me. I think you have +been sorry for me from the first." + +"I am desperately in love with you," he answered, in his quietest way. "I +have been desperately in love with you from the first. May I go?" + +She looked at him for a moment, incredulously. Then she faltered,-- + +"Yes." + +She still looked up at him; and then, in spite of her happiness, or +perhaps because of it, she suddenly began to cry softly, and forgot she +had been angry at all, as he took her into his strong, kind arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GARDEN-PARTY. + + +The morning of the garden-party arose bright and clear, and Slowbridge +awakened in a great state of excitement. Miss Chickie, having worked +until midnight that all her orders might be completed, was so overpowered +by her labors as to have to take her tea and toast in bed. + +At Oldclough varied sentiments prevailed. Lady Theobald's manner was +chiefly distinguished by an implacable rigidity. She had chosen, as an +appropriate festal costume, a funereal-black _moire antique_, enlivened +by massive fringes and ornaments of jet; her jewelry being chains and +manacles of the latter, which rattled as she moved, with a sound somewhat +suggestive of bones. + +Mr. Dugald Binnie, who had received an invitation, had as yet amiably +forborne to say whether he would accept it, or not. He had been out when +Mr. Burmistone called, and had not seen him. + +When Lady Theobald descended to breakfast, she found him growling over +his newspaper; and he glanced up at her with a polite scowl. + +"Going to a funeral?" he demanded. + +"I accompany my granddaughter to this--this entertainment," her ladyship +responded. "It is scarcely a joyous occasion, to my mind." + +"No need to dress yourself like that, if it isn't," ejaculated Mr. +Binnie. "Why don't you stay at home, if you don't want to go? Man's all +right, isn't he? Once knew a man by the name of Burmistone, myself. One +of the few decent fellows I've met. If I were sure this was the same man, +I'd go myself. When I find a fellow who's neither knave nor fool, I stick +to him. Believe I'll send to find out. Where's Lucia?" + +What his opinion of Lucia was, it was difficult to discover. He had an +agreeable habit of staring at her over the top of his paper, and over his +dinner. The only time he had made any comment upon her, was the first +time he saw her in the dress she had copied from Octavia's. "Nice gown +that," he blurted out: "didn't get it here, I'll wager." + +"It's an old dress I remodelled," answered Lucia somewhat alarmed. "I +made it myself." + +"Doesn't look like it," he said gruffly. + +Lucia had touched up another dress, and was very happy in the prospect of +wearing it at the garden-party. + +"Don't call on grandmamma until after Wednesday," she had said to Mr. +Burmistone: "perhaps she wouldn't let me go. She will be very angry, +I am sure." + +"And you are not afraid?" + +"No," she answered: "I am not afraid at all. I shall not be afraid +again." + +In fact, she had perfectly confounded her ladyship by her demeanor. She +bore her fiercest glance without quailing in the least, or making any +effort to evade it: under her most scathing comments she was composed and +unmoved. On the first occasion of my lady's referring to her plans for +her future, she received a blow which fairly stunned her. The girl rose +from her chair, and looked her straight in the face unflinchingly, and +with a suggestion of _hauteur_ not easy to confront. + +"I beg you will not speak to me of that again," she said: "I will not +listen." And turning about, she walked out of the room. + +"This," her ladyship had said in sepulchral tones, when she recovered her +breath, "this is one of the results of Miss Octavia Bassett." And nothing +more had been said on the subject since. + +No one in Slowbridge was in more brilliant spirits than Octavia herself +on the morning of the _fete_. Before breakfast Miss Belinda was startled +by the arrival of another telegram, which ran as follows:-- + +"Arrived to-day, per 'Russia.' Be with you tomorrow evening. Friend with +me. + +"MARTIN BASSETT." + +On reading this communication, Miss Belinda burst into floods of +delighted tears. + +"Dear, dear Martin," she wept; "to think that we should meet again! _Why_ +didn't he let us know he was on the way? I should have been so anxious +that I should not have slept at all." + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "I suppose that would have been an advantage." + +Suddenly she approached Miss Belinda, kissed her, and disappeared out of +the room as if by magic, not returning for a quarter of an hour, looking +rather soft and moist and brilliant about the eyes when she did return. + +Octavia was a marked figure upon the grounds at that garden-party. + +"Another dress, my dear," remarked Mrs. Burnham. "And what a charming +color she has, I declare! She is usually paler. Perhaps we owe this to +Lord Lansdowne." + +"Her dress is becoming, at all events," privately remarked Miss Lydia +Burnham, whose tastes had not been consulted about her own. + +"It is she who is becoming," said her sister: "it is not the dress so +much, though her clothes always have a _look_, some way. She's prettier +than ever to-day, and is enjoying herself." + +She was enjoying herself. Mr. Francis Barold observed it rather gloomily +as he stood apart. She was enjoying herself so much, that she did not +seem to notice that he had avoided her, instead of going up to claim her +attention. Half a dozen men were standing about her, and making +themselves agreeable; and she was apparently quite equal to the +emergencies of the occasion. The young men from Broadoaks had at once +attached themselves to her train. + +"I say, Barold," they had said to him, "why didn't you tell us about +this? Jolly good fellow you are, to come mooning here for a couple of +months, and keep it all to yourself." + +And then had come Lord Lansdowne, who, in crossing the lawn to shake +hands with his host, had been observed to keep his eye fixed upon one +particular point. + +"Burmistone," he said, after having spoken his first words, "who is that +tall girl in white?" + +And in ten minutes Lady Theobald, Mrs. Burnham, Mr. Barold, and divers +others too numerous to mention, saw him standing at Octavia's side, +evidently with no intention of leaving it. + +Not long after this Francis Barold found his way to Miss Belinda, who was +very busy and rather nervous. + +"Your niece is evidently enjoying herself," he remarked. + +"Octavia is most happy to-day," answered Miss Belinda. "Her father will +reach Slowbridge this evening. She has been looking forward to his coming +with great anxiety." + +"Ah!" commented Barold. + +"Very few people understand Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "I'm not sure +that I follow all her moods myself. She is more affectionate than people +fancy. She--she has very pretty ways. I am very fond of her. She is not +as frivolous as she appears to those who don't know her well." + +Barold stood gnawing his mustache, and made no reply. He was not very +comfortable. He felt himself ill-used by Fate, and rather wished he had +returned to London from Broadoaks, instead of loitering in Slowbridge. He +had amused himself at first, but in time he had been surprised to find +his amusement lose something of its zest. He glowered across the lawn at +the group under a certain beech-tree; and, as he did so, Octavia turned +her face a little and saw him. She stood waving her fan slowly, and +smiling at him in a calm way, which reminded him very much of the time he +had first caught sight of her at Lady Theobald's high tea. + +He condescended to saunter over the grass to where she stood. Once there, +he proceeded to make himself as disagreeable as possible, in a silent and +lofty way. He felt it only due to himself that he should. He did not +approve at all of the manner in which Lansdowne kept by her. + +"It's deucedly bad form on his part," he said mentally. "What does he +mean by it?" + +Octavia, on the contrary, did not ask what he meant by it. She chose to +seem rather well entertained, and did not notice that she was being +frowned down. There was no reason why she should not find Lord Lansdowne +entertaining: he was an agreeable young fellow, with an inexhaustible +fund of good spirits, and no nonsense about him. + +He was fond of all pleasant novelty, and Octavia was a pleasant novelty. +He had been thinking of paying a visit to America; and he asked +innumerable questions concerning that country, all of which Octavia +answered. + +"I know half a dozen fellows who have been there," he said. "And they all +enjoyed it tremendously." + +"If you go to Nevada, you must visit the mines at Bloody Gulch," she +said. + +"Where?" he ejaculated. "I say, what a name! Don't deride my youth and +ignorance, Miss Bassett." + +"You can call it L'Argentville, if you would rather," she replied. + +"I would rather try the other, thank you," he laughed. "It has a more +hilarious sound. Will they despise me at Bloody Gulch, Miss Bassett? I +never killed a man in my life." + +Barold turned, and walked away, angry, and more melancholy than he could +have believed. + +"It is time I went back to London," he chose to put it. "The place begins +to be deucedly dull." + +"Mr. Francis Barold seems rather out of spirits," said Mrs. Burnham to +Lady Theobald. "Lord Lansdowne interferes with his pleasure." + +"I had not observed it," answered her ladyship. "And it is scarcely +likely that Mr. Francis Barold would permit his pleasure to be interfered +with, even by the son of the Marquis of Lauderdale." + +But she glared at Barold as he passed, and beckoned to him. + +"Where is Lucia?" she demanded.-- + +"I saw her with Burmistone half an hour ago," he answered coldly. "Have +you any message for my mother? I shall return to London to-morrow, +leaving here early." + +She turned quite pale. She had not counted upon this at all, and it was +extremely inopportune. + +"What has happened?" she asked rigidly. + +He looked slightly surprised. + +"Nothing whatever," he replied. "I have remained here longer than I +intended." + +She began to move the manacles on her right wrist. He made not the +smallest profession of reluctance to go. She said, at last, "If you will +find Lucia, you will oblige me." She was almost uncivil to Miss Pilcher, +who chanced to join her after he was gone. She had not the slightest +intention of allowing her plans to be frustrated, and was only roused to +fresh obstinacy by encountering indifference on one side and rebellion on +the other. She had not brought Lucia up under her own eye for nothing. +She had been disturbed of late, but by no means considered herself +baffled. With the assistance of Mr. Dugald Binnie, she could certainly +subdue Lucia, though Mr. Dugald Binnie had been of no great help so far. +She would do her duty unflinchingly. In fact, she chose to persuade +herself, that, if Lucia was brought to a proper frame of mind, there +could be no real trouble with Francis Barold. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +"SOMEBODY ELSE." + + +But Barold did not make any very ardent search for Lucia. He stopped to +watch a game of lawn-tennis, in which Octavia and Lord Lansdowne had +joined, and finally forgot Lady Theobald's errand altogether. + +For some time Octavia did not see him. She was playing with great spirit, +and Lord Lansdowne was following her delightedly. + +Finally a chance of the game bringing her to him, she turned suddenly, +and found Barold's eyes fixed upon her. + +"How long have you been there?" she asked. + +"Some time," he answered. "When you are at liberty, I wish to speak to +you." + +"Do you?" she said. + +She seemed a little unprepared for the repressed energy of his manner, +which, he strove to cover by a greater amount of coldness than usual. + +"Well," she said, after thinking a moment, "the game will soon be ended. +I am going through the conservatories with Lord Lansdowne in course of +time; but I dare say he can wait." + +She went back, and finished her game, apparently enjoying it as much as +ever. When it was over, Barold made his way to her. + +He had resented her remaining oblivious of his presence when he stood +near her, and he had resented her enjoyment of her surroundings; and now, +as he led her away, leaving Lord Lansdowne rather disconsolate, he +resented the fact that she did not seem nervous, or at all impressed by +his silence. + +"What do you want to say to me?" she asked. "Let us go and sit down in +one of the arbors. I believe I am a little tired--not that I mind it, +though. I've been having a lovely time." + +Then she began to talk about Lord Lansdowne. + +"I like him ever so much," she said. "Do you think he will really go to +America? I wish he would; but if he does, I hope it won't be for a year +or so--I mean, until we go back from Europe. Still, it's rather uncertain +when we _shall_ go back. Did I tell you I had persuaded aunt Belinda to +travel with us? She's horribly frightened, but I mean to make her go. +She'll get over being frightened after a little while." + +Suddenly she turned, and looked at him. + +"Why don't you say something?" she demanded. "What's the matter?" + +"It is not necessary for me to say any thing." + +She laughed. + +"Do you mean because I am saying every thing myself? Well, I suppose I +am. I am--awfully happy to-day, and can't help talking. It seems to make +the time go." + +Her face had lighted up curiously. There was a delighted excitement in +her eyes, puzzling him. + +"Are you so fond of your father as all that?" + +She laughed again,--a clear, exultant laugh. + +"Yes," she answered, "of course I am as fond of him as all that. It's +quite natural, isn't it?" + +"I haven't observed the same degree of enthusiasm in all the young ladies +of my acquaintance," he returned dryly. + +He thought such rapture disproportionate to the cause, and regarded it +grudgingly. + +They turned into an arbor; and Octavia sat down, and leaned forward on +the rustic table. Then she turned her face up to look at the vines +covering the roof. + +"It looks rather spidery, doesn't it?" she remarked. "I hope it isn't; +don't you?" + +The light fell bewitchingly on her round little chin and white throat; +and a bar of sunlight struck on her upturned eyes, and the blonde rings +on her forehead. + +"There is nothing I hate more than spiders," she said, with a little +shiver, "unless," seriously, "it's caterpillars--and caterpillars I +loathe." + +Then she lowered her gaze, and gave her hat--a large white Rubens, all +soft, curling feathers and satin bows--a charming tip over her eyes. + +"The brim is broad," she said. "If any thing drops, I hope it will drop +on it, instead of on me. Now, what did you want to say?" He had not sat +down, but stood leaning against the rustic wood-work. He looked pale, and +was evidently trying to be cooler than usual. + +"I brought you here to ask you a question." + +"Well," she remarked, "I hope it's an important one. You look serious +enough." + +"It is important,--rather," he responded, with a tone of sarcasm. "You +will probably go away soon?" + +"That isn't exactly a question," she commented, "and it's not as +important to you as to me." + +He paused a moment, annoyed because he found it difficult to go on; +annoyed because she waited with such undisturbed serenity. But at length +he managed to begin again. + +"I do not think you are expecting the question I am going to ask," he +said. "I--do not think I expected to ask it myself,--until to-day. I do +not know why--why I should ask it so awkwardly, and feel--at such a +disadvantage. I brought you here to ask you--to marry me." + +He had scarcely spoken four words before all her airy manner had taken +flight, and she had settled herself down to listen. He had noticed this, +and had felt it quite natural. When he stopped, she was looking straight +into his face. Her eyes were singularly large and bright and clear. + +"You did not expect to ask me to marry you?" she said. "Why didn't you?" + +It was not at all what he had expected. He did not understand her manner +at all. + +"I--must confess," he said stiffly, "that I felt at first that there +were--obstacles in the way of my doing so." + +"What were the obstacles?" + +He flushed, and drew himself up. + +"I have been unfortunate in my mode of expressing myself," he said. "I +told you I was conscious of my own awkwardness." + +"Yes," she said quietly: "you have been unfortunate. That is a good way +of putting it." + +Then she let her eyes rest on the table a few seconds, and thought a +little. + +"After all," she said, "I have the consolation of knowing that you must +have been very much in love with me. If you had not been very much in +love with me, you would never have asked me to marry you. You would have +considered the obstacles." + +"I am very much in love with you," he said vehemently, his feelings +getting the better of his pride for once. "However badly I may have +expressed myself, I am very much in love with you. I have been wretched +for days." + +"Was it because you felt obliged to ask me to marry you?" she inquired. + +The delicate touch of spirit in her tone and words fired him to fresh +admiration, strange to say. It suggested to him possibilities he had not +suspected hitherto. He drew nearer to her. + +"Don't be too severe on me," he said--quite humbly, considering all +things. + +And he stretched out his hand, as if to take hers. + +But she drew it back, smiling ever so faintly. + +"Do you think I don't know what the obstacles are?" she said. "I will +tell you." + +"My affection was strong enough to sweep them away," he said, "or I +should not be here." + +She smiled slightly again. + +"I know all about them, as well as you do," she said. "I rather laughed +at them at first, but I don't now. I suppose I'm 'impressed by their +seriousness,' as aunt Belinda says. I suppose they _are_ pretty +serious--to you." + +"Nothing would be so serious to me as that you should let them interfere +with my happiness," he answered, thrown back upon himself, and bewildered +by her logical manner. "Let us forget them. I was a fool to speak as I +did. Won't you answer my question?" + +She paused a second, and then answered,-- + +"You didn't expect to ask me to marry you," she said. "And I didn't +expect you to"-- + +"But now"--he broke in impatiently. + +"Now--I wish you hadn't done it." + +"You wish"-- + +"You don't want _me_," she said. "You want somebody meeker,--somebody +who would respect you very much, and obey you. I'm not used to obeying +people." + +"Do you mean also that you would not respect me?" he inquired bitterly. + +"Oh," she replied, "you haven't respected me much!" + +"Excuse me"--he began, in his loftiest manner. + +"You didn't respect me enough to think me worth marrying," she said. "I +was not the kind of girl you would have chosen of your own will." + +"You are treating me unfairly!" he cried. + +"You were going to give me a great deal, I suppose--looking at it in your +way," she went on; "but, if I _wasn't_ exactly what you wanted, I had +something to give too. I'm young enough to have a good many years to +live; and I should have to live them with you, if I married you. That's +something, you know." + +He rose from his seat pale with wrath and wounded feeling. + +"Does this mean that you refuse me?" he demanded, "that your answer is +'no'?" + +She rose, too--not exultant, not confused, neither pale nor flushed. He +had never seen her prettier, more charming, or more natural. + +"It would have been 'no,' even if there hadn't been any obstacle," +she answered. + +"Then," he said, "I need say no more. I see that I have--humiliated +myself in vain; and it is rather bitter, I must confess." + +"It wasn't my fault," she remarked. + +He stepped back, with a haughty wave of the hand, signifying that she +should pass out of the arbor before him. + +She did so; but just as she reached the entrance, she turned, and stood +for a second, framed in by the swinging vines and their blossoms. + +"There's another reason why it should be 'no,'" she said. "I suppose I +may as well tell you of it. I'm engaged to somebody else." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"JACK." + + +The first person they saw, when they reached the lawn, was Mr. Dugald +Binnie, who had deigned to present himself, and was talking to Mr. +Burmistone, Lucia, and Miss Belinda. + +"I'll go to them," said Octavia. "Aunt Belinda will wonder where I have +been." + +But, before they reached the group, they were intercepted by Lord +Lansdowne; and Barold had the pleasure of surrendering his charge, and +watching her, with some rather sharp pangs, as she was borne off to the +conservatories. + +"What is the matter with Mr. Barold?" exclaimed Miss Pilcher. "Pray +look at him." + +"He has been talking to Miss Octavia Bassett, in one of the arbors," put +in Miss Lydia Burnham. "Emily and I passed them a few minutes ago, and +they were so absorbed that they did not see us. There is no knowing what +has happened." + +"Lydia!" exclaimed Mrs. Burnham, in stern reproof of such flippancy. + +But, the next moment, she exchanged a glance with Miss Pilcher. + +"Do you think"--she suggested. "Is it possible"-- + +"It really looks very like it," said Miss Pilcher; "though it is scarcely +to be credited. See how pale and angry he looks." + +Mrs. Burnham glanced toward him, and then a slight smile illuminated her +countenance. + +"How furious," she remarked cheerfully, "how furious Lady Theobald will +be!" + +Naturally, it was not very long before the attention of numerous other +ladies was directed to Mr. Francis Barold. It was observed that he took +no share in the festivities, that he did not regain his natural air of +enviable indifference to his surroundings,--that he did not approach +Octavia Bassett until all was over, and she was on the point of going +home. What he said to her then, no one heard. + +"I am going to London to-morrow. Good-by." + +"Good-by," she answered, holding out her hand to him. Then she added +quickly, in an under-tone, "You oughtn't to think badly of me. You won't, +after a while." + +As they drove homeward, she was rather silent, and Miss Belinda remarked +it. + +"I am afraid you are tired, Octavia," she said. "It is a pity that Martin +should come, and find you tired." + +"Oh! I'm not tired. I was only--thinking. It has been a queer day." + +"A queer day, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda. "I thought it a charming +day." + +"So it has been," said Octavia, which Miss Belinda thought rather +inconsistent. + +Both of them grew rather restless as they neared the house. + +"To think," said Miss Belinda, "of my seeing poor Martin again!" + +"Suppose," said Octavia nervously, as they drew up, "suppose they are +here--already." + +"They?" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Who"--but she got no farther. A cry +burst from Octavia,--a queer, soft little cry. "They are here," she +said: "they are! Jack--Jack!" + +And she was out of the carriage; and Miss Belinda, following her +closely, was horrified to see her caught at once in the embrace of a +tall, bronzed young man, who, a moment after, drew her into the little +parlor, and shut the door. + +Mr. Martin Bassett, who was big and sunburned, and prosperous-looking, +stood in the passage, smiling triumphantly. + +"M--M--Martin!" gasped Miss Belinda. "What--oh, what does this mean?" + +Martin Bassett led her to a seat, and smiled more triumphantly still. + +"Never mind, Belinda," he said. "Don't be frightened. It's Jack +Belasys, and he's the finest fellow in the West. And she hasn't seen +him for two years." + +"Martin," Miss Belinda fluttered, "it is not proper--it really isn't." + +"Yes, it is," answered Mr. Bassett; "for he's going to marry her before +we go abroad." + +It was an eventful day for all parties concerned. At its close Lady +Theobald found herself in an utterly bewildered and thunderstruck +condition. And to Mr. Dugald Binnie, more than to any one else, her +demoralization was due. That gentleman got into the carriage, in rather a +better humor than usual. + +"Same man I used to know," he remarked. "Glad to see him. I knew him as +soon as I set eyes on him." + +"Do you allude to Mr. Burmistone?" + +"Yes. Had a long talk with him. He's coming to see you to-morrow. Told +him he might come, myself. Appears he's taken a fancy to Lucia. Wants to +talk it over. Suits me exactly, and suppose it suits her. Looks as if it +does. Glad she hasn't taken a fancy to some haw-haw fellow, like that +fool Barold. Girls generally do. Burmistone's worth ten of him." + +Lucia, who had been looking steadily out of the carriage-window, turned, +with an amazed expression. Lady Theobald had received a shock which made +all her manacles rattle. She could scarcely support herself under it. + +"Do I"--she said. "Am I to understand that Mr. Francis Barold does not +meet with your approval?" Mr. Binnie struck his stick sharply upon the +floor of the carriage. + +"Yes, by George!" he said. "I'll have nothing to do with chaps like that. +If she'd taken up with him, she'd never have heard from _me_ again. Make +sure of that." + +When they reached Oldclough, her ladyship followed Lucia to her room. She +stood before her, arranging the manacles on her wrists nervously. + +"I begin to understand now," she said. "I find I was mistaken in my +impressions of Mr. Dugald Binnie's tastes--and in my impressions of +_you_. You are to marry Mr. Burmistone. My rule is over. Permit me to +congratulate you." + +The tears rose to Lucia's eyes. + +"Grandmamma," she said, her voice soft and broken, "I think I should have +been more frank, if--if you had been kinder sometimes." + +"I have done my duty by you," said my lady. + +Lucia looked at her pathetically. + +"I have been ashamed to keep things from you," she hesitated. "And I have +often told myself that--that it was sly to do it--but I could not help +it." + +"I trust," said my lady, "that you will be more candid with Mr. +Burmistone." + +Lucia blushed guiltily. + +"I--think I shall, grandmamma," she said. + +It was the Rev. Alfred Poppleton who assisted the rector of St. James to +marry Jack Belasys and Octavia Bassett; and it was observed that he was +almost as pale as his surplice. + +Slowbridge had never seen such a wedding, or such a bride as Octavia. It +was even admitted that Jack Belasys was a singularly handsome fellow, and +had a dashing, adventurous air, which carried all before it. There was a +rumor that he owned silver-mines himself, and had even done something in +diamonds, in Brazil, where he had spent the last two years. At all +events, it was ascertained beyond doubt, that, being at last a married +woman, and entitled to splendors of the kind, Octavia would not lack +them. Her present to Lucia, who was one of her bridesmaids, dazzled all +beholders. When she was borne away by the train, with her father and +husband, and Miss Belinda, whose bonnet-strings were bedewed with tears, +the Rev. Alfred Poppleton was the last man who shook hands with her. He +held in his hand a large bouquet, which Octavia herself had given him out +of her abundance. "Slowbridge will miss you, Miss--Mrs. Belasys," he +faltered. "I--I shall miss you. Perhaps we--may even meet again. I have +thought that, perhaps, I should like to go to America." + +And, as the train puffed out of the station and disappeared, he stood +motionless for several seconds; and a large and brilliant drop of +moisture appeared on the calyx of the lily which formed the centre-piece +of his bouquet. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Fair Barbarian, by Francis Hodgson Burnett + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + +This file should be named 7barb10.txt or 7barb10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7barb11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7barb10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: A Fair Barbarian + +Author: Francis Hodgson Burnett + +Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9487] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 5, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + A FAIR BARBARIAN + + BY FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT + + 1881 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT + + II. "AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY" + + III. L'ARGENTVILLE + + IV. LADY THEOBALD + + V. LUCIA + + VI. ACCIDENTAL + + VII. "I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE" + + VIII. SHARES LOOKING UP + + IX. WHITE MUSLIN + + X. ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD + + XI. A SLIGHT INDISCRETION + + XII. AN INVITATION + + XIII. INTENTIONS + + XIV. A CLERICAL VISIT + + XV. SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES + + XVI. CROQUET + + XVII. ADVANTAGES + + XVIII. CONTRAST + + XIX. AN EXPERIMENT + + XX. PECULIAR TO NEVADA + + XXI. LORD LANSDOWNE + + XXII. "YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER" + + XXIII. "MAY I GO?" + + XXIV. THE GARDEN PARTY + + XXV. "SOMEBODY ELSE" + + XXVI. "JACK" + + + + +A FAIR BARBARIAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +MISS OCTAVIA BASSETT. + + +Slowbridge had been shaken to its foundations. + +It may as well be explained, however, at the outset, that it would not +take much of a sensation to give Slowbridge a great shock. In the first +place, Slowbridge was not used to sensations, and was used to going on +the even and respectable tenor of its way, regarding the outside world +with private distrust, if not with open disfavor. The new mills had been +a trial to Slowbridge,--a sore trial. On being told of the owners' plan +of building them, old Lady Theobald, who was the corner-stone of the +social edifice of Slowbridge, was said, by a spectator, to have turned +deathly pale with rage; and, on the first day of their being opened in +working order, she had taken to her bed, and remained shut up in her +darkened room for a week, refusing to see anybody, and even going so far +as to send a scathing message to the curate of St. James, who called in +fear and trembling, because he was afraid to stay away. + +"With mills and mill-hands," her ladyship announced to Mr. Laurence, the +mill-owner, when chance first threw them together, "with mills and +mill-hands come murder, massacre, and mob law." And she said it so loud, +and with so stern an air of conviction, that the two Misses Briarton, who +were of a timorous and fearful nature, dropped their buttered muffins (it +was at one of the tea-parties which were Slowbridge's only dissipation), +and shuddered hysterically, feeling that their fate was sealed, and that +they might, any night, find three masculine mill-hands secreted under +their beds, with bludgeons. But as no massacres took place, and the +mill-hands were pretty regular in their habits, and even went so far as +to send their children to Lady Theobald's free school, and accepted the +tracts left weekly at their doors, whether they could read or not, +Slowbridge gradually recovered from the shock of finding itself forced to +exist in close proximity to mills, and was just settling itself to +sleep--the sleep of the just--again, when, as I have said, it was shaken +to its foundations. + +It was Miss Belinda Bassett who received the first shock. Miss Belinda +Bassett was a decorous little maiden lady, who lived in a decorous little +house on High Street (which was considered a very genteel street in +Slowbridge). She had lived in the same house all her life, her father had +lived in it, and so also had her grandfather. She had gone out, to take +tea, from its doors two or three times a week, ever since she had been +twenty; and she had had her little tea-parties in its front parlor as +often as any other genteel Slowbridge entertainer. She had risen at +seven, breakfasted at eight, dined at two, taken tea at five, and gone to +bed at ten, with such regularity for fifty years, that to rise at eight, +breakfast at nine, dine at three, and take tea at six, and go to bed at +eleven, would, she was firmly convinced, be but "to fly in the face of +Providence," as she put it, and sign her own death-warrant. Consequently, +it is easy to imagine what a tremor and excitement seized her when, one +afternoon, as she sat waiting for her tea, a coach from the Blue Lion +dashed--or, at least, _almost_ dashed--up to the front door, a young lady +got out, and the next minute the handmaiden, Mary Anne, threw open the +door of the parlor, announcing, without the least preface,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker." + +Miss Belinda got up, feeling that her knees really trembled beneath her. + +In Slowbridge, America was not approved of--in fact, was almost entirely +ignored, as a country where, to quote Lady Theobald, "the laws were +loose, and the prevailing sentiments revolutionary." It was not +considered good taste to know Americans,--which was not unfortunate, as +there were none to know; and Miss Belinda Bassett had always felt a +delicacy in mentioning her only brother, who had emigrated to the United +States in his youth, having first disgraced himself by the utterance of +the blasphemous remark that "he wanted to get to a place where a fellow +could stretch himself, and not be bullied by a lot of old tabbies." From +the day of his departure, when he had left Miss Belinda bathed in tears +of anguish, she had heard nothing of him; and here upon the threshold +stood Mary Anne, with delighted eagerness in her countenance, +repeating,-- + +"Your niece, mum, from 'Meriker!" + +And, with the words, her niece entered. + +Miss Belinda put her hand to her heart. + +The young lady thus announced was the prettiest, and at the same time the +most extraordinary-looking, young lady she had ever seen in her life. +Slowbridge contained nothing approaching this niece. Her dress was so +very stylish that it was quite startling in its effect; her forehead was +covered down to her large, pretty eyes themselves, with curls of +yellow-brown hair; and her slender throat was swathed round and round +with a grand scarf of black lace. + +She made a step forward, and then stopped, looking at Miss Belinda. Her +eyes suddenly, to Miss Belinda's amazement, filled with tears. + +"Didn't you," she said,--"oh, dear! _Didn't_ you get the letter?" + +"The--the letter!" faltered Miss Belinda. "What letter, my--my dear?" + +"Pa's," was the answer. "Oh! I see you didn't." + +And she sank into the nearest chair, putting her hands up to her face, +and beginning to cry outright. + +"I--am Octavia B-bassett," she said. "We were coming to surp-prise you, +and travel in Europe; but the mines went wrong, and p-pa was obliged to +go back to Nevada." + +"The mines?" gasped Miss Belinda. + +"S-silver-mines," wept Octavia. "And we had scarcely landed when Piper +cabled, and pa had to turn back. It was something about shares, and he +may have lost his last dollar." + +Miss Belinda sank into a chair herself. + +"Mary Anne," she said faintly, "bring me a glass of water." + +Her tone was such that Octavia removed her handkerchief from her eyes, +and sat up to examine her. + +"Are you frightened?" she asked, in some alarm. + +Miss Belinda took a sip of the water brought by her handmaiden, replaced +the glass upon the salver, and shook her head deprecatingly. + +"Not exactly frightened, my dear," she said, "but so amazed that I find +it difficult to--to collect myself." + +Octavia put up her handkerchief again to wipe away a sudden new gush of +tears. + +"If shares intended to go down," she said, "I don't see why they couldn't +go down before we started, instead of waiting until we got over here, and +then spoiling every thing." + +"Providence, my dear"--began Miss Belinda. + +But she was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mary Anne. + +"The man from the Lion, mum, wants to know what's to be done with the +trunks. There's six of 'em, an' they're all that 'eavy as he says he +wouldn't lift one alone for ten shilling." + +"Six!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Whose are they?" + +"Mine," replied Octavia. "Wait a minute. I'll go out to him." + +Miss Belinda was astounded afresh by the alacrity with which her niece +seemed to forget her troubles, and rise to the occasion. The girl ran to +the front door as if she was quite used to directing her own affairs, and +began to issue her orders. + +"You will have to get another man," she said. "You might have known that. +Go and get one somewhere." + +And when the man went off, grumbling a little, and evidently rather at a +loss before such peremptory coolness, she turned to Miss Belinda. + +"Where must he put them?" she asked. + +It did not seem to have occurred to her once that her identity might be +doubted, and some slight obstacles arise before her. + +"I am afraid," faltered Miss Belinda, "that five of them will have to be +put in the attic." + +And in fifteen minutes five of them _were_ put into the attic, and the +sixth--the biggest of all--stood in the trim little spare chamber, and +pretty Miss Octavia had sunk into a puffy little chintz-covered +easy-chair, while her newly found relative stood before her, making the +most laudable efforts to recover her equilibrium, and not to feel as if +her head were spinning round and round. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +"AN INVESTMENT, ANYWAY." + + +The natural result of these efforts was, that Miss Belinda was moved to +shed a few tears. + +"I hope you will excuse my being too startled to say I was glad to see +you," she said. "I have not seen my brother for thirty years, and I was +very fond of him." + +"He said you were," answered Octavia; "and he was very fond of you too. +He didn't write to you, because he made up his mind not to let you hear +from him until he was a rich man; and then he thought he would wait until +he could come home, and surprise you. He was awfully disappointed when he +had to go back without seeing you." + +"Poor, dear Martin!" wept Miss Belinda gently. "Such a journey!" + +Octavia opened her charming eyes in surprise. + +"Oh, he'll come back again!" she said. "And he doesn't mind the journey. +The journey is nothing, you know." + +"Nothing!" echoed Miss Belinda. "A voyage across the Atlantic nothing? +When one thinks of the danger, my dear"-- + +Octavia's eyes opened a shade wider. + +"We have made the trip to the States, across the Isthmus, twelve times, +and that takes a month," she remarked. "So we don't think ten days much." + +"Twelve times!" said Miss Belinda, quite appalled. "Dear, dear, dear!" + +And for some moments she could do nothing but look at her young relative +in doubtful wonder, shaking her head with actual sadness. + +But she finally recovered herself, with a little start. + +"What am I thinking of," she exclaimed remorsefully, "to let you sit here +in this way? Pray excuse me, my dear. You see I am so upset." + +She left her chair in a great hurry, and proceeded to embrace her young +guest tenderly, though with a little timorousness. The young lady +submitted to the caress with much composure. + +"Did I upset you?" she inquired calmly. + +The fact was, that she could not see why the simple advent of a relative +from Nevada should seem to have the effect of an earthquake, and result +in tremor, confusion, and tears. It was true, she herself had shed a tear +or so, but then her troubles had been accumulating for several days; and +she had not felt confused yet. + +When Miss Belinda went down-stairs to superintend Mary Anne in the +tea-making, and left her guest alone, that young person glanced about her +with a rather dubious expression. + +"It is a queer, nice little place," she said. "But I don't wonder that pa +emigrated, if they always get into such a flurry about little things. I +might have been a ghost." + +Then she proceeded to unlock the big trunk, and attire herself. + +Down-stairs, Miss Belinda was wavering between the kitchen and the +parlor, in a kindly flutter. + +"Toast some muffins, Mary Anne, and bring in the cold roast fowl," she +said. "And I will put out some strawberry-jam, and some of the preserved +ginger. Dear me! Just to think how fond of preserved ginger poor Martin +was, and how little of it he was allowed to eat! There really seems a +special Providence in my having such a nice stock of it in the house when +his daughter comes home." + +In the course of half an hour every thing was in readiness; and then Mary +Anne, who had been sent up-stairs to announce the fact, came down in a +most remarkable state of delighted agitation, suppressed ecstasy and +amazement exclaiming aloud in every feature. + +"She's dressed, mum," she announced, "an' 'll be down immediate," and +retired to a shadowy corner of the kitchen passage, that she might lie in +wait unobserved. + +Miss Belinda, sitting behind the tea-service, heard a soft, flowing, +silken rustle sweeping down the staircase, and across the hall, and then +her niece entered. + +"Don't you think I've dressed pretty quick?" she said, and swept across +the little parlor, and sat down in her place, with the calmest and most +unconscious air in the world. + +There was in Slowbridge but one dressmaking establishment. The head of +the establishment--Miss Letitia Chickie--designed the costumes of every +woman in Slowbridge, from Lady Theobald down. There were legends that she +received her patterns from London, and modified them to suit the +Slowbridge taste. Possibly this was true; but in that case her labors as +modifier must have been severe indeed, since they were so far modified as +to be altogether unrecognizable when they left Miss Chickie's +establishment, and were borne home in triumph to the houses of her +patrons. The taste of Slowbridge was quiet,--upon this Slowbridge prided +itself especially,--and, at the same time, tended toward economy. When +gores came into fashion, Slowbridge clung firmly, and with some pride, to +substantial breadths, which did not cut good silk into useless strips +which could not be utilized in after-time; and it was only when, after a +visit to London, Lady Theobald walked into St. James's one Sunday with +two gores on each side, that Miss Chickie regretfully put scissors into +her first breadth. Each matronly member of good society possessed a +substantial silk gown of some sober color, which gown, having done duty +at two years' tea-parties, descended to the grade of "second-best," and +so descended, year by year, until it disappeared into the dim distance of +the past. The young ladies had their white muslins and natural flowers; +which latter decorations invariably collapsed in the course of the +evening, and were worn during the latter half of any festive occasion in +a flabby and hopeless condition. Miss Chickie made the muslins, +festooning and adorning them after designs emanating from her fertile +imagination. If they were a little short in the body, and not very +generously proportioned in the matter of train, there was no rival +establishment to sneer, and Miss Chickie had it all her own way; and, at +least, it could never be said that Slowbridge was vulgar or overdressed. + +Judge, then, of Miss Belinda Bassett's condition of mind when her fair +relative took her seat before her. + +What the material of her niece's dress was, Miss Belinda could not have +told. It was a silken and soft fabric of a pale blue color; it clung to +the slender, lissome young figure like a glove; a fan-like train of great +length almost covered the hearth-rug; there were plaitings and frillings +all over it, and yards of delicate satin ribbon cut into loops in the +most recklessly extravagant manner. + +Miss Belinda saw all this at the first glance, as Mary Anne had seen it, +and, like Mary Anne, lost her breath; but, on her second glance, she saw +something more. On the pretty, slight hands were three wonderful, +sparkling rings, composed of diamonds set in clusters: there were great +solitaires in the neat little ears, and the thickly-plaited lace at the +throat was fastened by a diamond clasp. + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, clutching helplessly at the teapot, "are +you--surely it is a--a little dangerous to wear such--such priceless +ornaments on ordinary occasions." + +Octavia stared at her for a moment uncomprehendingly. + +"Your jewels, I mean, my love," fluttered Miss Belinda. "Surely you don't +wear them often. I declare, it quite frightens me to think of having such +things in the house." + +"Does it?" said Octavia. "That's queer." + +And she looked puzzled for a moment again. + +Then she glanced down at her rings. + +"I nearly always wear these," she remarked. "Father gave them to me. He +gave me one each birthday for three years. He says diamonds are an +investment, anyway, and I might as well have them. These," touching the +ear-rings and clasp, "were given to my mother when she was on the stage. +A lot of people clubbed together, and bought them for her. She was a +great favorite." + +Miss Belinda made another clutch at the handle of the teapot. + +"Your mother!" she exclaimed faintly. "On the--did you say, on the"-- + +"Stage," answered Octavia. "San Francisco. Father married her there. She +was awfully pretty. I don't remember her. She died when I was born. She +was only nineteen." + +The utter calmness, and freedom from embarrassment, with which these +announcements were made, almost shook Miss Belinda's faith in her own +identity. Strange to say, until this moment she had scarcely given a +thought to her brother's wife; and to find herself sitting in her own +genteel little parlor, behind her own tea-service, with her hand upon her +own teapot, hearing that this wife had been a young person who had been +"a great favorite" upon the stage, in a region peopled, as she had been +led to suppose, by gold-diggers and escaped convicts, was almost too much +for her to support herself under. But she did support herself bravely, +when she had time to rally. + +"Help yourself to some fowl, my dear," she said hospitably, even though +very faintly indeed, "and take a muffin." + +Octavia did so, her over-splendid hands flashing in the light as she +moved them. + +"American girls always have more things than English girls," she +observed, with admirable coolness. "They dress more. I have been told so +by girls who have been in Europe. And I have more things than most +American girls. Father had more money than most people; that was one +reason; and he spoiled me, I suppose. He had no one else to give things +to, and he said I should have every thing I took a fancy to. He often +laughed at me for buying things, but he never said I shouldn't buy them." + +"He was always generous," sighed Miss Belinda. "Poor, dear Martin!" + +Octavia scarcely entered into the spirit of this mournful sympathy. She +was fond of her father, but her recollections of him were not pathetic or +sentimental. + +"He took me with him wherever he went," she proceeded. "And we had a +teacher from the States, who travelled with us sometimes. He never sent +me away from him. I wouldn't have gone if he had wanted to send me--and +he didn't want to," she added, with a satisfied little laugh. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +L'ARGENTVILLE. + + +Miss Belinda sat, looking at her niece, with a sense of being at once +stunned and fascinated. To see a creature so young, so pretty, so +luxuriously splendid, and at the same time so simply and completely at +ease with herself and her surroundings, was a revelation quite beyond her +comprehension. The best-bred and nicest girls Slowbridge could produce +were apt to look a trifle conscious and timid when they found themselves +attired in the white muslin and floral decorations; but this slender +creature sat in her gorgeous attire, her train flowing over the modest +carpet, her rings flashing, her ear-pendants twinkling, apparently +entirely oblivious of, or indifferent to, the fact that all her +belongings were sufficiently out of place to be startling beyond measure. + +Her chief characteristic, however, seemed to be her excessive frankness. +She did not hesitate at all to make the most remarkable statements +concerning her own and her father's past career. She made them, too, as +if there was nothing unusual about them. Twice, in her childhood, a +luckless speculation had left her father penniless; and once he had taken +her to a Californian gold-diggers' camp, where she had been the only +female member of the somewhat reckless community. + +"But they were pretty good-natured, and made a pet of me," she said; +"and we did not stay very long. Father had a stroke of luck, and we +went away. I was sorry when we had to go, and so were the men. They made +me a present of a set of jewelry made out of the gold they had got +themselves. There is a breastpin like a breastplate, and a necklace like +a dog-collar: the bracelets tire my arms, and the ear-rings pull my ears; +but I wear them sometimes--gold girdle and all." + +"Did I," inquired Miss Belinda timidly, "did I understand you to say, my +dear, that your father's business was in some way connected with +silver-mining?" + +"It _is_ silver-mining," was the response. "He owns some mines, you +know"-- + +"Owns?" said Miss Belinda, much fluttered; "owns some silver-mines? He +must be a very rich man,--a very rich man. I declare, it quite takes my +breath away." + +"Oh! he is rich," said Octavia; "awfully rich sometimes. And then again +he isn't. Shares go up, you know; and then they go down, and you don't +seem to have any thing. But father generally comes out right, because he +is lucky, and knows how to manage." + +"But--but how uncertain!" gasped Miss Belinda: "I should be perfectly +miserable. Poor, dear Mar"-- + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't!" said Octavia: "you'd get used to it, and wouldn't +mind much, particularly if you were lucky as father is. There is every +thing in being lucky, and knowing how to manage. When we first went to +Bloody Gulch"-- + +"My dear!" cried Miss Belinda, aghast. "I--I beg of you"-- + +Octavia stopped short: she gazed at Miss Belinda in bewilderment, as she +had done several times before. + +"Is any thing the matter?" she inquired placidly. + +"My dear love," explained Miss Belinda innocently, determined at least to +do her duty, "it is not customary in--in Slowbridge,--in fact, I think I +may say in England,--to use such--such exceedingly--I don't want to wound +your feelings, my dear,--but such exceedingly strong expressions! I +refer, my dear, to the one which began with a B. It is really considered +profane, as well as dreadful beyond measure." + +"'The one which began with a B,'" repeated Octavia, still staring at her. +"That is the name of a place; but I didn't name it, you know. It was +called that, in the first place, because a party of men were surprised +and murdered there, while they were asleep in their camp at night. It +isn't a very nice name, of course, but I'm not responsible for it; and +besides, now the place is growing, they are going to call it Athens or +Magnolia Vale. They tried L'Argentville for a while; but people would +call it Lodginville, and nobody liked it." + +"I trust you never lived there," said Miss Belinda. "I beg your pardon +for being so horrified, but I really could not refrain from starting when +you spoke; and I cannot help hoping you never lived there." + +"I live there now, when I am at home," Octavia replied. "The mines are +there; and father has built a house, and had the furniture brought on +from New York." + +Miss Belinda tried not to shudder, but almost failed. + +"Won't you take another muffin, my love?" she said, with a sigh. "Do take +another muffin." + +"No, thank you," answered Octavia; and it must be confessed that she +looked a little bored, as she leaned back in her chair, and glanced down +at the train of her dress. It seemed to her that her simplest statement +or remark created a sensation. + +Having at last risen from the tea-table, she wandered to the window, and +stood there, looking out at Miss Belinda's flower-garden. It was quite a +pretty flower-garden, and a good-sized one considering the dimensions of +the house. There were an oval grass-plot, divers gravel paths, heart and +diamond shaped beds aglow with brilliant annuals, a great many +rose-bushes, several laburnums and lilacs, and a trim hedge of holly +surrounding it. + +"I think I should like to go out and walk around there," remarked +Octavia, smothering a little yawn behind her hand. "Suppose we go--if you +don't care." + +"Certainly, my dear," assented Miss Belinda. "But perhaps," with a +delicately dubious glance at her attire, "you would like to make some +little alteration in your dress--to put something a little--dark over +it." + +Octavia glanced down also. + +"Oh, no!" she replied: "it will do well enough. I will throw a scarf over +my head, though; not because I need it," unblushingly, "but because I +have a lace one that is very becoming." + +She went up to her room for the article in question, and in three minutes +was down again. When she first caught sight of her, Miss Belinda found +herself obliged to clear her throat quite suddenly. What Slowbridge would +think of seeing such a toilet in her front garden, upon an ordinary +occasion, she could not imagine. The scarf truly was becoming. It was a +long affair of rich white lace, and was thrown over the girl's head, +wound around her throat, and the ends tossed over her shoulders, with the +most picturesque air of carelessness in the world. + +"You look quite like a bride, my dear Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "We +are scarcely used to such things in Slowbridge." + +But Octavia only laughed a little. + +"I am going to get some pink roses, and fasten the ends with them, when +we get into the garden," she said. + +She stopped for this purpose at the first rose-bush they reached. She +gathered half a dozen slender-stemmed, heavy-headed buds, and, having +fastened the lace with some, was carelessly placing the rest at her +waist, when Miss Belinda started violently. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LADY THEOBALD. + + +"Oh, dear!" she exclaimed nervously, "there is Lady Theobald." + +Lady Theobald, having been making calls of state, was returning home +rather later than usual, when, in driving up High Street, her eye fell +upon Miss Bassett's garden. She put up her eyeglasses, and gazed through +them severely; then she issued a mandate to her coachman. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive more slowly." + +She could not believe the evidence of her own eyeglasses. In Miss +Bassett's garden she saw a tall girl, "dressed," as she put it, "like an +actress," her delicate dress trailing upon the grass, a white lace scarf +about her head and shoulders, roses in that scarf, roses at her waist. + +"Good heavens!" she exclaimed: "is Belinda Bassett giving a party, +without so much as mentioning it to _me_?" + +Then she issued another mandate. + +"Dobson," she said, "drive faster, and drive me to Miss Bassett's." + +Miss Belinda came out to the gate to meet her, quaking inwardly. Octavia +simply turned slightly where she stood, and looked at her ladyship, +without any pretence of concealing her curiosity. + +Lady Theobald bent forward in her landau. + +"Belinda," she said, "how do you do? I did not know you intended to +introduce garden-parties into Slowbridge." + +"Dear Lady Theobald"--began Miss Belinda. + +"Who is that young person?" demanded her ladyship. + +"She is poor dear Martin's daughter," answered Miss Belinda. "She arrived +to-day--from Nevada, where--where it appears Martin has been very +fortunate, and owns a great many silver-mines"-- + +"A 'great many' silver-mines!" cried Lady Theobald. "Are you mad, Belinda +Bassett? I am ashamed of you. At your time of life too!" + +Miss Belinda almost shed tears. + +"She said 'some silver-mines,' I am sure," she faltered; "for I remember +how astonished and bewildered I was. The fact is, that she is such a very +singular girl, and has told me so many wonderful things, in the +strangest, cool way, that I am quite uncertain of myself. Murderers, and +gold-diggers, and silver-mines, and camps full of men without women, +making presents of gold girdles and dog-collars, and ear-rings that drag +your ears down. It is enough to upset any one." + +"I should think so," responded her ladyship. "Open the carriage-door, +Belinda, and let me get out." + +She felt that this matter must be inquired into at once, and not allowed +to go too far. She had ruled Slowbridge too long to allow such +innovations to remain uninvestigated. She would not be likely to be +"upset," at least. She descended from her landau, with her most rigorous +air. Her stout, rich black _moire-antique_ gown rustled severely; the +yellow ostrich feather in her bonnet waved majestically. (Being a +brunette, and Lady Theobald, she wore yellow.) As she tramped up the +gravel walk, she held up her dress with both hands, as an example to +vulgar and reckless young people who wore trains and left them to +take care of themselves. Octavia was arranging afresh the bunch of +long-stemmed, swaying buds at her waist, and she was giving all her +attention to her task when her visitor first addressed her. + +"How do you do?" remarked her ladyship, in a fine, deep voice. + +Miss Belinda followed her meekly. + +"Octavia," she explained, "this is Lady Theobald, whom you will be very +glad to know. She knew your father." + +"Yes," returned my lady, "years ago. He has had time to improve since +then. How do you do?" + +Octavia's limpid eyes rested serenely upon her. + +"How do you do?" she said, rather indifferently. + +"You are from Nevada?" asked Lady Theobald. + +"Yes." + +"It is not long since you left there?" + +Octavia smiled faintly. + +"Do I look like that?" she inquired. + +"Like what?" said my lady. + +"As if I had not long lived in a civilized place. I dare say I do, +because it is true that I haven't." + +"You don't look like an English girl," remarked her ladyship. + +Octavia smiled again. She looked at the yellow feather and stout _moire +antique_ dress, but quite as if by accident, and without any mental +deduction; then she glanced at the rosebuds in her hand. + +"I suppose I ought to be sorry for that," she observed. "I dare say I +shall be in time--when I have been longer away from Nevada." + +"I must confess," admitted her ladyship, and evidently without the +least regret or embarrassment, "I must confess that I don't know where +Nevada is." + +"It isn't in Europe," replied Octavia, with a soft, light laugh. "You +know that, don't you?" + +The words themselves sounded to Lady Theobald like the most outrageous +impudence; but when she looked at the pretty, lovelock-shaded face, she +was staggered the look it wore was such a very innocent and undisturbed +one. At the moment, the only solution to be reached seemed to be that +this was the style of young people in Nevada, and that it was ignorance +and not insolence she had to do battle with--which, indeed, was +partially true. + +"I have not had any occasion to inquire where it is situated, so far," +she responded firmly. "It is not so necessary for English people to know +America as it is for Americans to know England." + +"Isn't it?" said Octavia, without any great show of interest. "Why not?" + +"For--for a great many reasons it would be fatiguing to explain," she +answered courageously. "How is your father?" + +"He is very sea-sick now," was the smiling answer,--"deadly sea-sick. He +has been out just twenty-four hours." + +"Out? What does that mean?" + +"Out on the Atlantic. He was called back suddenly, and obliged to leave +me. That is why I came here alone." + +"Pray do come into the parlor, and sit down, dear Lady Theobald," +ventured Miss Belinda. "Octavia"-- + +"Don't you think it is nicer out here?" said Octavia. + +"My dear," answered Miss Belinda. "Lady Theobald"--She was really quite +shocked. + +"Ah!" interposed Octavia. "I only thought it was cooler." + +She preceded them, without seeming to be at all conscious that she was +taking the lead. + +"You had better pick up your dress, Miss Octavia," said Lady Theobald +rather acidly. + +The girl glanced over her shoulder at the length of train sweeping the +path, but she made no movement toward picking it up. + +"It is too much trouble, and one has to duck down so," she said. "It is +bad enough to have to keep doing it when one is on the street. Besides, +they would never wear out if one took too much care of them." + +When they went into the parlor, and sat down, Lady Theobald made +excellent use of her time, and managed to hear again all that had tried +and bewildered Miss Belinda. She had no hesitation in asking questions +boldly; she considered it her privilege to do so: she had catechised +Slowbridge for forty years, and meant to maintain her rights until Time +played her the knave's trick of disabling her. + +In half an hour she had heard about the silver-mines, the gold-diggers, +and L'Argentville; she knew that Martin Bassett was a millionnaire, if +the news he had heard had not left him penniless; that he would return to +England, and visit Slowbridge, as soon as his affairs were settled. The +precarious condition of his finances did not seem to cause Octavia much +concern. She had asked no questions when he went away, and seemed quite +at ease regarding the future. + +"People will always lend him money, and then he is lucky with it," she +said. + +She bore the catechising very well. Her replies were frequently rather +trying to her interlocutor, but she never seemed troubled, or ashamed of +any thing she had to say; and she wore, from first to last, that +inscrutably innocent and indifferent little air. + +She did not even show confusion when Lady Theobald, on going away, made +her farewell comment:-- + +"You are a very fortunate girl to own such jewels," she said, glancing +critically at the diamonds in her ears; "but if you take my advice, my +dear, you will put them away, and save them until you are a married +woman. It is not customary, on this side of the water, for young girls to +wear such things--particularly on ordinary occasions. People will think +you are odd." + +"It is not exactly customary in America," replied Octavia, with her +undisturbed smile. "There are not many girls who have such things. +Perhaps they would wear them if they had them. I don't care a very great +deal about them, but I mean to wear them." + +Lady Theobald went away in a dudgeon. + +"You will have to exercise your authority, Belinda, and _make_ her put +them away," she said to Miss Bassett. "It is absurd--besides being +atrocious." + +"Make her!" faltered Miss Bassett. + +"Yes, 'make her'--though I see you will have your hands full. I never +heard such romancing stories in my life. It is just what one might expect +from your brother Martin." + +When Miss Bassett returned, Octavia was standing before the window, +watching the carriage drive away, and playing absently with one of her +ear-rings as she did so. + +"What an old fright she is!" was her first guileless remark. + +Miss Belinda quite bridled. + +"My dear," she said, with dignity, "no one in Slowbridge would think of +applying such a phrase to Lady Theobald." + +Octavia turned around, and looked at her. + +"But don't you think she is one?" she exclaimed. "Perhaps I oughtn't to +have said it; but you know we haven't any thing as bad as that, even out +in Nevada--really!" + +"My dear," said Miss Belinda, "different countries contain different +people; and in Slowbridge _we_ have our standards,"--her best cap +trembling a little with her repressed excitement. + +But Octavia did not appear overwhelmed by the existence of the standards +in question. She turned to the window again. + +"Well, anyway," she said, "I think it was pretty cool in her to order me +to take off my diamonds, and save them until I was married. How does she +know whether I mean to be married, or not? I don't know that I care +about it." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LUCIA. + + +In this manner Slowbridge received the shock which shook it to +its foundations, and it was a shock from which it did not recover for +some time. Before ten o'clock the next morning, everybody knew of the +arrival of Martin Bassett's daughter. + +The very boarding-school (Miss Pilcher's select seminary for young +ladies, "combining the comforts of a home," as the circular said, +"with all the advantages of genteel education") was on fire with it, +highly colored versions of the stories told being circulated from +the "first class" downward, even taking the form of an Indian princess, +tattooed blue, and with difficulty restrained from indulging in +war-whoops,--which last feature so alarmed little Miss Bigbee, aged +seven, that she retired in fear and trembling, and shed tears under the +bedclothes; her terror and anguish being much increased by the stirring +recitals of scalping-stories by pretty Miss Phipps, of the first +class--a young person who possessed a vivid imagination, and delighted in +romances of a tragic turn. + +"I have not the slightest doubt," said Miss Phipps, "that when she is at +home she lives in a wampum." + +"What is a wampum?" inquired one of her admiring audience. + +"A tent," replied Miss Phipps, with some impatience. "I should +think any goose would know that. It is a kind of tent hung with +scalps and--and--moccasins, and--lariats--and things of that sort." + +"I don't believe that is the right name for it," put in Miss Smith, who +was a pert member of the third class. + +"Ah!" commented Miss Phipps, "that was Miss Smith who spoke, of course. +We may always expect information from Miss Smith. I trust that I may be +allowed to say that I _think_ I _have_ a brother"-- + +"He doesn't know much about it, if he calls a wigwam a wampum," +interposed Miss Smith, with still greater pertness. "I have a brother who +knows better than that, if I am only in the third class." For a moment +Miss Phipps appeared to be meditating. Perhaps she was a trifle +discomfited; but she recovered herself after a brief pause, and returned +to the charge. + +"Well," she remarked, "perhaps it is a wigwam. Who cares if it is? And +at any rate, whatever it is, I haven't the slightest doubt that she +lives in one." + +This comparatively tame version was, however, entirely discarded when the +diamonds and silver-mines began to figure more largely in the reports. +Certainly, pretty, overdressed, jewel-bedecked Octavia gave Slowbridge +abundant cause for excitement. + +After leaving her, Lady Theobald drove home to Oldclough Hall, rather +out of humor. She had been rather out of humor for some time, having +never quite recovered from her anger at the daring of that cheerful +builder of mills, Mr. John Burmistone. Mr. Burmistone had been one +innovation, and Octavia Bassett was another. She had not been able to +manage Mr. Burmistone, and she was not at all sure that she had managed +Octavia Bassett. + +She entered the dining-room with an ominous frown on her forehead. + +At the end of the table, opposite her own seat, was a vacant chair, and +her frown deepened when she saw it. + +"Where is Miss Gaston?" she demanded of the servant. + +Before the man had time to reply, the door opened, and a girl came in +hurriedly, with a somewhat frightened air. + +"I beg pardon, grandmamma dear," she said, going to her seat quickly. "I +did not know you had come home." + +"We have a dinner-hour," announced her ladyship, "and _I_ do not +disregard it." + +"I am very sorry," faltered the culprit. + +"That is enough, Lucia," interrupted Lady Theobald; and Lucia dropped her +eyes, and began to eat her soup with nervous haste. In fact, she was glad +to escape so easily. + +She was a very pretty creature, with brown eyes, a soft white skin, and +a slight figure with a reed-like grace. A great quantity of brown hair +was twisted into an ugly coil on the top of her delicate little head; +and she wore an ugly muslin gown of Miss Chickie's make. For some time +the meal progressed in dead silence; but at length Lucia ventured to +raise her eyes. + +"I have been walking in Slowbridge, grandmamma," she said, "and I met Mr. +Burmistone, who told me that Miss Bassett has a visitor--a young lady +from America." + +Lady Theobald laid her knife and fork down deliberately. + +"Mr. Burmistone?" she said. "Did I understand you to say that you stopped +on the roadside to converse with Mr. Burmistone?" + +Lucia colored up to her delicate eyebrows and above them. + +"I was trying to reach a flower growing on the bank," she said, "and he +was so kind as to stop to get it for me. I did not know he was near at +first. And then he inquired how you were--and told me he had just heard +about the young lady." + +"Naturally!" remarked her ladyship sardonically. "It is as I anticipated +it would be. We shall find Mr. Burmistone at our elbows upon all +occasions. And he will not allow himself to be easily driven away. He is +as determined as persons of his class usually are." + +"O grandmamma!" protested Lucia, with innocent fervor. "I really do not +think he is--like that at all. I could not help thinking he was very +gentlemanly and kind. He is so much interested in your school, and so +anxious that it should prosper." + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, "how long a time this generous +expression of his sentiments occupied? Was this the reason of your +forgetting the dinner-hour?" + +"We did not"--said Lucia guiltily: "it did not take many minutes. I--I do +not think that made me late." + +Lady Theobald dismissed this paltry excuse with one remark,--a remark +made in the deep tones referred to once before. + +"I should scarcely have expected," she observed, "that a granddaughter of +mine would have spent half an hour conversing on the public road with the +proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, the tears rising in her eyes: "it was +not half an hour." + +"I should scarcely have expected," replied her ladyship, "that a +granddaughter of mine would have spent five minutes conversing on the +public road with the proprietor of Slowbridge Mills." + +To this assault there seemed to be no reply to make. Lady Theobald had +her granddaughter under excellent control. Under her rigorous rule, the +girl--whose mother had died at her birth--had been brought up. At +nineteen she was simple, sensitive, shy. She had been permitted to have +no companions, and the greatest excitements of her life had been the +Slowbridge tea-parties. Of the late Sir Gilbert Theobald, the less said +the better. He had spent very little of his married life at Oldclough +Hall, and upon his death his widow had found herself possessed of a +substantial, gloomy mansion, an exalted position in Slowbridge society, +and a small marriage-settlement, upon which she might make all the +efforts she chose to sustain her state. So Lucia wore her dresses a much +longer time than any other Slowbridge young lady: she was obliged to mend +her little gloves again and again; and her hats were retrimmed so often +that even Slowbridge thought them old-fashioned. But she was too simple +and sweet-natured to be much troubled, and indeed thought very little +about the matter. She was only troubled when Lady Theobald scolded her, +which was by no means infrequently. Perhaps the straits to which, at +times, her ladyship was put to maintain her dignity imbittered her +somewhat. + +"Lucia is neither a Theobald nor a Barold," she had been heard to say +once, and she had said it with much rigor. + +A subject of much conversation in private circles had been Lucia's +future. It had been discussed in whispers since her seventeenth year, but +no one had seemed to approach any solution of the difficulty. Upon the +subject of her plans for her granddaughter, Lady Theobald had preserved +stern silence. Once, and once only, she had allowed herself to be +betrayed into the expression of a sentiment connected with the matter. + +"If Miss Lucia marries"--a matron of reckless proclivities had remarked. + +Lady Theobald turned upon her, slowly and majestically. + +"_If_ Miss Gaston marries," she repeated. "Does it seem likely that Miss +Gaston will _not_ marry?" + +This settled the matter finally. Lucia was to be married when Lady +Theobald thought fit. So far, however, she had not thought fit: indeed, +there had been nobody for Lucia to marry,--nobody whom her grandmother +would have allowed her to marry, at least. There were very few young men +in Slowbridge; and the very few were scarcely eligible according to Lady +Theobald's standard, and--if such a thing should be mentioned--to +Lucia's, if she had known she had one, which she certainly did not. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ACCIDENTAL. + + +When dinner was over, Lady Theobald rose, and proceeded to the +drawing-room, Lucia following in her wake. From her very babyhood Lucia +had disliked the drawing-room, which was an imposing apartment of great +length and height, containing much massive furniture, upholstered in +faded blue satin. All the girl's evenings, since her fifth year, had been +spent sitting opposite her grandmother, in one of the straightest of the +blue chairs: all the most scathing reproofs she had received had been +administered to her at such times. She had a secret theory, indeed, that +all unpleasant things occurred in the drawing-room after dinner. + +Just as they had seated themselves, and Lady Theobald was on the point of +drawing toward her the little basket containing the gray woollen mittens +she made a duty of employing herself by knitting each evening, Dobson, +the coachman, in his character of footman, threw open the door, and +announced a visitor. + +"Capt. Barold." + +Lady Theobald dropped her gray mitten, the steel needles falling upon the +table with a clink. She rose to her feet at once, and met half-way the +young man who had entered. + +"My dear Francis," she remarked, "I am exceedingly glad to see you at +last," with a slight emphasis upon the "at last." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold, rather languidly. "You're very good, I'm +sure." + +Then he glanced at Lucia, and Lady Theobald addressed her:-- + +"Lucia," she said, "this is Francis Barold, who is your cousin." + +Capt. Barold shook hands feebly. + +"I have been trying to find out whether it is third or fourth," he said. + +"It is third," said my lady. + +Lucia had never seen her display such cordiality to anybody. But Capt. +Francis Barold did not seem much impressed by it. It struck Lucia that he +would not be likely to be impressed by any thing. He seated himself near +her grandmother's chair, and proceeded to explain his presence on the +spot, without exhibiting much interest even in his own relation of facts. + +"I promised the Rathburns that I would spend a week at their place; and +Slowbridge was on the way, so it occurred to me I would drop off in +passing. The Rathburns' place, Broadoaks, is about ten miles farther on; +not far, you see." + +"Then," said Lady Theobald, "I am to understand that your visit is +accidental." + +Capt. Barold was not embarrassed. He did not attempt to avoid her +ladyship's rather stern eye, as he made his cool reply. + +"Well, yes," he said. "I beg pardon, but it is accidental, rather." + +Lucia gave him a pretty, frightened look, as if she felt that, after such +an audacious confession, something very serious must happen; but nothing +serious happened at all. Singularly enough, it was Lady Theobald herself +who looked ill at ease, and as though she had not been prepared for such +a contingency. + +During the whole of the evening, in fact, it was always Lady Theobald +who was placed at a disadvantage, Lucia discovered. She could hardly +realize the fact at first; but before an hour had passed, its truth was +forced upon her. + +Capt. Barold was a very striking-looking man, upon the whole. He was +large, gracefully built, and fair: his eyes were gray, and noticeable for +the coldness of their expression, his features regular and aquiline, his +movements leisurely. + +As he conversed with her grandmother, Lucia wondered at him privately. It +seemed to her innocent mind that he had been everywhere, and seen every +thing and everybody, without caring for or enjoying his privileges. The +truth was, that he had seen and experienced a great deal too much. As an +only child, the heir to a large property, and heir prospective to one of +the oldest titles in the country, he had exhausted life early. He saw in +Lady Theobald, not the imposing head and social front of Slowbridge +social life, the power who rewarded with approval and punished with a +frown, but a tiresome, pretentious old woman, whom his mother had asked +him, for some feminine reason, to visit. "She feels she has a claim upon +us, Francis," she had said appealingly. + +"Well," he had remarked, "that is rather deuced cool, isn't it? We have +people enough on our hands without cultivating Slowbridge, you know." + +His mother sighed faintly. + +"It is true we have a great many people to consider; but I wish you would +do it, my dear." + +She did not say any thing at all about Lucia: above all, she did not +mention that a year ago she herself had spent two or three days at +Slowbridge, and had been charmed beyond measure by the girl's innocent +freshness, and that she had said, rather absently, to Lady Theobald,-- + +"What a charming wife Lucia would make for a man to whom gentleness and a +yielding disposition were necessary! We do not find such girls in society +nowadays, my dear Lady Theobald. It is very difficult of late years to +find a girl who is not spoken of as 'fast,' and who is not disposed to +take the reins in her own hands. Our young men are flattered and courted +until they become a little dictatorial, and our girls are spoiled at +home. And the result is a great deal of domestic unhappiness +afterward--and even a great deal of scandal, which is dreadful to +contemplate. I cannot help feeling the greatest anxiety in secret +concerning Francis. Young men so seldom consider these matters until it +is too late." + +"Girls are not trained as they were in my young days, or even in yours," +said Lady Theobald. "They are allowed too much liberty. Lucia has been +brought up immediately under my own eye." + +"I feel that it is fortunate," remarked Mrs. Barold, quite incidentally, +"that Francis need not make a point of money." + +For a few moments Lady Theobald did not respond; but afterward, in the +course of the conversation which followed, she made an observation which +was, of course, purely incidental. + +"If Lucia makes a marriage which pleases her great-uncle, old Mr. Dugald +Binnie, of Glasgow, she will be a very fortunate girl. He has intimated, +in his eccentric fashion, that his immense fortune will either be hers, +or will be spent in building charitable asylums of various kinds. He is a +remarkable and singular man." + +When Capt. Barold had entered his distinguished relative's drawing-room, +he had not regarded his third cousin with a very great deal of interest. +He had seen too many beauties in his thirty years to be greatly moved by +the sight of one; and here was only a girl who had soft eyes, and looked +young for her age, and who wore an ugly muslin gown, that most girls +could not have carried off at all. + +"You have spent the greater part of your life in Slowbridge?" he +condescended to say in the course of the evening. + +"I have lived here always," Lucia answered. "I have never been away more +than a week at a time." + +"Ah?" interrogatively. "I hope you have not found it dull." + +"No," smiling a little. "Not very. You see, I have known nothing gayer." + +"There is society enough of a harmless kind here," spoke up Lady Theobald +virtuously. "I do not approve of a round of gayeties for young people: it +unfits them for the duties of life." + +But Capt. Barold was not as favorably impressed by these remarks as might +have been anticipated. + +"What an old fool she is!" was his polite inward comment. And he resolved +at once to make his visit as brief as possible, and not to be induced to +run down again during his stay at Broadoaks. He did not even take the +trouble to appear to enjoy his evening. From his earliest infancy, he had +always found it easier to please himself than to please other people. In +fact, the world had devoted itself to endeavoring to please him, and win +his--toleration, we may say, instead of admiration, since it could not +hope for the latter. At home he had been adored rapturously by a large +circle of affectionate male and female relatives; at school his tutors +had been singularly indulgent of his faults and admiring of his talents; +even among his fellow-pupils he had been a sort of autocrat. + +Why not, indeed, with such birthrights and such prospects? When he had +entered society, he had met with even more amiable treatment from +affectionate mothers, from innocent daughters, from cordial paternal +parents, who voted him an exceedingly fine fellow. Why should he bore +himself by taking the trouble to seem pleased by a stupid evening with an +old grenadier in petticoats and a badly dressed country girl? + +Lucia was very glad when, in answer to a timidly appealing glance, Lady +Theobald said,-- + +"It is half-past ten. You may wish us good-night, Lucia." + +Lucia obeyed, as if she had been half-past ten herself, instead of nearly +twenty; and Barold was not long in following her example. + +Dobson led him to a stately chamber at the top of the staircase, and left +him there. The captain chose the largest and most luxurious chair, sat +down in it, and lighted a cigar at his leisure. + +"Confoundedly stupid hole!" he said with a refined vigor one would +scarcely have expected from an individual of his birth and breeding. "I +shall leave to-morrow, of course. What was my mother thinking of? Stupid +business from first to last." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +"I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF SLOWBRIDGE." + + +When he announced at breakfast his intention of taking his departure on +the midday train, Lucia wondered again what would happen; and again, to +her relief, Lady Theobald was astonishingly lenient. + +"As your friends expect you, of course we cannot overrule them," she +said. "We will, however, hope to see something of you during your stay at +Broadoaks. It will be very easy for you to run down and give us a few +hours now and then." + +"Tha-anks," said Capt. Barold. + +He was decently civil, if not enthusiastic, during the few remaining +hours of his stay. He sauntered through the grounds with Lucia, who took +charge of him in obedience to her grandmother's wish. He did not find her +particularly troublesome when she was away from her ladyship's side. When +she came out to him in her simple cotton gown and straw hat, it occurred +to him that she was much prettier than he had thought her at first. For +economical reasons she had made the little morning-dress herself, without +the slightest regard for the designs of Miss Chickie; and as it was not +trimmed at all, and had only a black-velvet ribbon at the waist, there +was nothing to place her charming figure at a disadvantage. It could not +be said that her shyness and simplicity delighted Capt. Barold, but, at +least, they did not displease him; and this was really as much as could +be expected. + +"She does not expect a fellow to exert himself, at all events," was his +inward comment; and he did not exert himself. + +But, when on the point of taking his departure, he went so far as to make +a very gracious remark to her. + +"I hope we shall have the pleasure of seeing you in London for a season, +before very long," he said: "my mother will have great pleasure in taking +charge of you, if Lady Theobald cannot be induced to leave Slowbridge." + +"Lucia never goes from home alone," said Lady Theobald; "but I should +certainly be obliged to call upon your mother for her good offices, in +the case of our spending a season in London. I am too old a woman to +alter my mode of life altogether." + +In obedience to her ladyship's orders, the venerable landau was brought +to the door; and the two ladies drove to the station with him. + +It was during this drive that a very curious incident occurred,--an +incident to which, perhaps, this story owes its existence, since, if it +had not taken place, there might, very possibly, have been no events of a +stirring nature to chronicle. Just as Dobson drove rather slowly up the +part of High Street distinguished by the presence of Miss Belinda +Bassett's house, Capt. Barold suddenly appeared to be attracted by some +figure he discovered in the garden appertaining to that modest structure. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed, in an undertone, "there is Miss Octavia." + +For the moment he was almost roused to a display of interest. A faint +smile lighted his face, and his cold, handsome eyes slightly brightened. + +Lady Theobald sat bolt upright. + +"That is Miss Bassett's niece, from America," she said. "Do I understand +you know her?" + +Capt. Barold turned to confront her, evidently annoyed at having allowed +a surprise to get the better of him. All expression died out of his face. + +"I travelled with her from Framwich to Stamford," he said. "I suppose we +should have reached Slowbridge together, but that I dropped off at +Stamford to get a newspaper, and the train left me behind." + +"O grandmamma!" exclaimed Lucia, who had turned to look, "how very pretty +she is!" + +Miss Octavia certainly was amazingly so this morning. She was standing by +a rosebush again, and was dressed in a cashmere morning-robe of the +finest texture and the faintest pink: it had a Watteau plait down the +back, _jabot_ of lace down the front, and the close, high frills of lace +around the throat which seemed to be a weakness with her. Her hair was +dressed high upon her head, and showed to advantage her little ears and +as much of her slim white neck as the frills did not conceal. + +But Lady Theobald did not share Lucia's enthusiasm. + +"She looks like an actress," she said. "If the trees were painted canvas +and the roses artificial, one might have some patience with her. That +kind of thing is scarcely what we expect in Slowbridge." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"I had the pleasure of meeting her yesterday, not long after she +arrived," she said. "She had diamonds in her ears as big as peas, and +rings to match. Her manner is just what one might expect from a young +woman brought up among gold-diggers and silver-miners." + +"It struck me as being a very unique and interesting manner," said Capt. +Barold. "It is chiefly noticeable for a _sang-froid_ which might be +regarded as rather enviable. She was good enough to tell me all about her +papa and the silver-mines, and I really found the conversation +entertaining." + +"It is scarcely customary for English young women to confide in their +masculine travelling companions to such an extent," remarked my lady +grimly. + +"She did not confide in me at all," said Barold. "Therein lay her +attraction. One cannot submit to being 'confided in' by a strange young +woman, however charming. This young lady's remarks were flavored solely +with an adorably cool candor. She evidently did not desire to appeal to +any emotion whatever." + +And as he leaned back in his seat, he still looked at the picturesque +figure which they had passed, as if he would not have been sorry to see +it turn its head toward him. + +In fact, it seemed that, notwithstanding his usual good fortune, Capt. +Barold was doomed this morning to make remarks of a nature objectionable +to his revered relation. On their way they passed Mr. Burmistone's mill, +which was at work in all its vigor, with a whir and buzz of machinery, +and a slight odor of oil in its surrounding atmosphere. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Barold, putting his single eyeglass into his eye, and +scanning it after the manner of experts. "I did not think you had any +thing of that sort here. Who put it up?" + +"The man's name," replied Lady Theobald severely, "is Burmistone." + +"Pretty good idea, isn't it?" remarked Barold. "Good for the place--and +all that sort of thing." + +"To my mind," answered my lady, "it is the worst possible thing which +could have happened." + +Mr. Francis Barold dropped his eyeglass dexterously, and at once lapsed +into his normal condition--which was a condition by no means favorable +to argument. + +"Think so?" he said slowly. "Pity, isn't it, under the circumstances?" + +And really there was nothing at all for her ladyship to do but preserve a +lofty silence. She had scarcely recovered herself when they reached the +station, and it was necessary to say farewell as complacently as +possible. + +"We will hope to see you again before many days," she said with dignity, +if not with warmth. + +Mr. Francis Barold was silent for a second, and a slightly reflective +expression flitted across his face. + +"Thanks, yes," he said at last. "Certainly. It is easy to come down, and +I should like to see more of Slowbridge." + +When the train had puffed in and out of the station, and Dobson was +driving down High Street again, her ladyship's feelings rather got the +better of her. + +"If Belinda Bassett is a wise woman," she remarked, "she will take my +advice, and get rid of this young lady as soon as possible. It appears to +me," she continued, with exalted piety, "that every well-trained English +girl has reason to thank her Maker that she was born in a civilized +land." + +"Perhaps," suggested Lucia softly, "Miss Octavia Bassett has had no one +to train her at all; and it may be that--that she even feels it deeply." + +The feathers in her ladyship's bonnet trembled. + +"She does not feel it at all!" she announced. "She is an +impertinent--minx!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SHARES LOOKING UP. + + +There were others who echoed her ladyship's words afterward, though they +echoed them privately, and with more caution than my lady felt necessary. +It is certain that Miss Octavia Bassett did not improve as time +progressed, and she had enlarged opportunities for studying the noble +example set before her by Slowbridge. + +On his arrival in New York, Martin Bassett telegraphed to his daughter +and sister, per Atlantic cable, informing them that he might be detained +a couple of months, and bidding them to be of good cheer. The arrival of +the message in its official envelope so alarmed Miss Belinda, that she +was supported by Mary Anne while it was read to her by Octavia, who +received it without any surprise whatever. For some time after its +completion, Slowbridge had privately disbelieved in the Atlantic cable, +and, until this occasion, had certainly disbelieved in the existence of +people who received messages through it. In fact, on first finding that +she was the recipient of such a message, Miss Belinda had made immediate +preparations for fainting quietly away, being fully convinced that a +shipwreck had occurred, which had resulted in her brother's death, and +that his executors had chosen this delicate method of breaking the news. + +"A message by Atlantic cable?" she had gasped. "Don't--don't read it, my +love. L-let some one else do that. Poor--poor child! Trust in Providence, +my love, and--and bear up. Ah, how I wish I had a stronger mind, and +could be of more service to you!" + +"It's a message from father," said Octavia. "Nothing is the matter. He's +all right. He got in on Saturday." + +"Ah!" panted Miss Belinda. "Are you _quite_ sure, my dear--are you quite +sure?" + +"That's what he says. Listen." + +"Got in Saturday. Piper met me. Shares looking up. May be kept here two +months. Will write. Keep up your spirits. MARTIN BASSETT." + +"Thank Heaven!" sighed Miss Belinda. "Thank Heaven!" + +"Why?" said Octavia. + +"Why?" echoed Miss Belinda. "Ah, my dear, if you knew how terrified I +was! I felt sure that something had happened. A _cable_ message, my dear! +I never received a telegram in my life before, and to receive a _cable_ +message was really a _shock_." + +"Well, I don't see why," said Octavia. "It seems to me it is pretty much +like any other message." + +Miss Belinda regarded her timidly. + +"Does your papa _often_ send them?" she inquired. "Surely it must be +expensive." + +"I don't suppose it's cheap," Octavia replied, "but it saves time and +worry. I should have had to wait twelve days for a letter." + +"Very true," said Miss Belinda, "but"-- + +She broke off with rather a distressed shake of the head. Her simple +ideas of economy and quiet living were frequently upset in these times. +She had begun to regard her niece with a slight feeling of awe; and yet +Octavia had not been doing any thing at all remarkable in her own eyes, +and considered her life pretty dull. + +If the elder Miss Bassett, her parents and grandparents, had not been so +thoroughly well known, and so universally respected; if their social +position had not been so firmly established, and their quiet lives not +quite so highly respectable,--there is an awful possibility that +Slowbridge might even have gone so far as not to ask Octavia out to tea +at all. But even Lady Theobald felt that it would not do to slight +Belinda Bassett's niece and guest. To omit the customary state teas +would have been to crush innocent Miss Belinda at a blow, and place +her--through the medium of this young lady, who alone deserved +condemnation--beyond the pale of all social law. + +"It is only to be regretted," said her ladyship, "that Belinda Bassett +has not arranged things better. Relatives of such an order are certainly +to be deplored." + +In secret Lucia felt much soft-hearted sympathy for both Miss Bassett and +her guest. She could not help wondering how Miss Belinda became +responsible for the calamity which had fallen upon her. It really did not +seem probable that she had been previously consulted as to the kind of +niece she desired, or that she had, in a distinct manner, evinced a +preference for a niece of this description. + +"Perhaps, dear grandmamma," the girl ventured, "it is because Miss +Octavia Bassett is so young that"-- + +"May I ask," inquired Lady Theobald, in fell tones, "how old you are?" + +"I was nineteen in--in December." + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said her ladyship, "was nineteen last October, +and it is now June. I have not yet found it necessary to apologize for +you on the score of youth." + +But it was her ladyship who took the initiative, and set an evening for +entertaining Miss Belinda and her niece, in company with several other +ladies, with the best bohea, thin bread and butter, plum-cake, and +various other delicacies. + +"What do they do at such places?" asked Octavia. "Half-past five is +pretty early." + +"We spend some time at the tea-table, my dear," explained Miss Belinda. +"And afterward we--we converse. A few of us play whist. I do not. I feel +as if I were not clever enough, and I get flurried too easily by--by +differences of opinion." + +"I should think it wasn't very exciting," said Octavia. "I don't fancy +I ever went to an entertainment where they did nothing but drink tea, +and talk." + +"It is not our intention or desire to be exciting, my dear," Miss Belinda +replied with mild dignity. "And an improving conversation is frequently +most beneficial to the parties engaged in it." + +"I'm afraid," Octavia observed, "that I never heard much improving +conversation." + +She was really no fonder of masculine society than the generality of +girls; but she could not help wondering if there would be any young men +present, and if, indeed, there were any young men in Slowbridge who might +possibly be produced upon festive occasions, even though ordinarily kept +in the background. She had not heard Miss Belinda mention any masculine +name so far, but that of the curate of St. James's; and, when she had +seen him pass the house, she had not found his slim, black figure, and +faint, ecclesiastic whiskers, especially interesting. + +It must be confessed that Miss Belinda suffered many pangs of anxiety in +looking forward to her young kinswoman's first appearance in society. A +tea at Lady Theobald's house constituted formal presentation to the +Slowbridge world. Each young lady within the pale of genteel society, +having arrived at years of discretion, on returning home from +boarding-school, was invited to tea at Oldclough Hall. During an entire +evening she was the subject of watchful criticism. Her deportment was +remarked, her accomplishments displayed, she performed her last new +"pieces" upon the piano, she was drawn into conversation by her hostess; +and upon the timid modesty of her replies, and the reverence of her +listening attitudes, depended her future social status. So it was very +natural indeed that Miss Belinda should be anxious. + +"I would wear something rather quiet and--and simple, my dear Octavia," +she said. "A white muslin perhaps, with blue ribbons." + +"Would you?" answered Octavia. Then, after appearing to reflect upon the +matter a few seconds, "I've got one that would do, if it's warm enough +to wear it. I bought it in New York, but it came from Paris. I've never +worn it yet." + +"It would be nicer than any thing else, my love," said Miss Belinda, +delighted to find her difficulty so easily disposed of. "Nothing is so +charming in the dress of a young girl as pure simplicity. Our Slowbridge +young ladies rarely wear any thing but white for evening. Miss Chickie +assured me, a few weeks ago, that she had made fifteen white-muslin +dresses, all after one simple design of her own." + +"I shouldn't think that was particularly nice, myself," remarked Octavia +impartially. "I should be glad one of the fifteen didn't belong to me. I +should feel as if people might say, when I came into a room, 'Good +gracious, there's another!'" + +"The first was made for Miss Lucia Gaston, who is Lady Theobald's niece," +replied Miss Belinda mildly. "And there are few young ladies in +Slowbridge who would not emulate her example." + +"Oh!" said Octavia, "I dare say she is very nice, and all that; but I +don't believe I should care to copy her dresses. I think I should draw +the line there." + +But she said it without any ill-nature; and, sensitive as Miss Belinda +was upon the subject of her cherished ideals, she could not take offence. + +When the eventful evening arrived, there was excitement in more than one +establishment upon High Street and the streets in its vicinity. The +stories of the diamonds, the gold-diggers, and the silver-mines, had been +added to, and embellished, in the most ornate and startling manner. It +was well known that only Lady Theobald's fine appreciation of Miss +Belinda Bassett's feelings had induced her to extend her hospitalities to +that lady's niece. + +"I would prefer, my dear," said more than one discreet matron to her +daughter, as they attired themselves,--"I would much prefer that you +would remain near me during the earlier part of the evening, before we +know how this young lady may turn out. Let your manner toward her be +kind, but not familiar. It is well to be upon the safe side." + +What precise line of conduct it was generally anticipated that this +gold-digging and silver-mining young person would adopt, it would be +difficult to say: it is sufficient that the general sentiments regarding +her were of a distrustful, if not timorous, nature. + +To Miss Bassett, who felt all this in the very air she breathed, the +girl's innocence of the condition of affairs was even a little touching. +With all her splendor, she was not at all hard to please, and had quite +awakened to an interest in the impending social event. She seemed in good +spirits, and talked more than was her custom, giving Miss Belinda graphic +descriptions of various festal gatherings she had attended in New York, +when she seemed to have been very gay indeed, and to have worn very +beautiful dresses, and also to have had rather more than her share of +partners. The phrases she used, and the dances she described, were all +strange to Miss Belinda, and tended to reducing her to a bewildered +condition, in which she felt much timid amazement at the intrepidity of +the New-York young ladies, and no slight suspicion of the "German"--as a +theatrical kind of dance, involving extraordinary figures, and an +extraordinary amount of attention from partners of the stronger sex. + +It must be admitted, however, that by this time, notwithstanding the +various shocks she had received, Miss Belinda had begun to discover in +her young guest divers good qualities which appealed to her +affectionate and susceptible old heart. In the first place, the girl +had no small affectations: indeed, if she had been less unaffected she +might have been less subject to severe comment. She was good-natured, +and generous to extravagance. Her manner toward Mary Anne never ceased +to arouse Miss Belinda to interest. There was not any condescension +whatever in it, and yet it could not be called a vulgarly familiar +manner: it was rather an astonishingly simple manner, somehow +suggestive of a subtile recognition of Mary Anne's youth, and ill-luck +in not having before her more lively prospects. She gave Mary Anne +presents in the shape of articles of clothing at which Slowbridge +would have exclaimed in horror if the recipient had dared to wear them; +but, when Miss Belinda expressed her regret at these indiscretions, +Octavia was quite willing to rectify her mistakes. + +"Ah, well!" she said, "I can give her some money, and she can buy some +things for herself." Which she proceeded to do; and when, under her +mistress's direction, Mary Anne purchased a stout brown merino, she took +quite an interest in her struggles at making it. + +"I wouldn't make it so short in the waist and so full in the skirt, if I +were you," she said. "There's no reason why it shouldn't fit, you know," +thereby winning the house-maiden's undying adoration, and adding much to +the shapeliness of the garment. + +"I am sure she has a good heart," Miss Belinda said to herself, as the +days went by. "She is like Martin in that. I dare say she finds me very +ignorant and silly. I often see in her face that she is unable to +understand my feeling about things; but she never seems to laugh at me, +nor think of me unkindly. And she is very, very pretty, though perhaps I +ought not to think of that at all." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHITE MUSLIN. + + +As the good little spinster was arraying herself on this particular +evening, having laid upon the bed the greater portion of her modest +splendor, she went to her wardrobe, and took therefrom the scored bandbox +containing her best cap. All the ladies of Slowbridge wore caps; and all +being respectfully plagiarized from Lady Theobald, without any reference +to age, size, complexion, or demeanor, the result was sometimes a little +trying. Lady Theobald's head-dresses were of a severe and bristling +order. The lace of which they were composed was induced by some ingenious +device to form itself into aggressive quillings, the bows seemed lined +with buckram, the strings neither floated nor fluttered. + +"To a majestic person the style is very appropriate," Miss Belinda had +said to Octavia that very day; "but to one who is not so, it is rather +trying. Sometimes, indeed, I have _almost_ wished that Miss Chickie would +vary a _little_ more in her designs." + +Perhaps the sight of the various articles contained in two of the five +trunks had inspired these doubts in the dear old lady's breast: it is +certain, at least, that, as she took the best cap up, a faint sigh +fluttered upon her lips. + +"It is very large for a small person," she said. "And I am not at all +sure that amber is becoming to me." + +And just at that moment there came a tap at the door, which she knew was +from Octavia. + +She laid the cap back, in some confusion at being surprised in a moment +of weakness. + +"Come in, my love," she said. + +Octavia pushed the door open, and came in. She had not dressed yet, and +had on her wrapper and slippers, which were both of quilted gray silk, +gayly embroidered with carnations. But Miss Belinda had seen both wrapper +and slippers before, and had become used to their sumptuousness: what she +had not seen was the trifle the girl held in her hand. "See here," she +said. "See what I have been making for you!" + +She looked quite elated, and laughed triumphantly. + +"I did not know I could do it until I tried," she said. "I had seen some +in New York, and I had the lace by me. And I have enough left to make +ruffles for your neck and wrists. It's Mechlin." + +"My dear!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "My dear!" + +Octavia laughed again. + +"Don't you know what it is?" she said. "It isn't like a Slowbridge cap; +but it's a cap, nevertheless. They wear them like this in New York, and I +think they are ever so much prettier." + +It was true that it was not like a Slowbridge cap, and was also true that +it was prettier. It was a delicate affair of softly quilled lace, adorned +here and there with loops of pale satin ribbon. + +"Let me try it on," said Octavia, advancing; and in a minute she had done +so, and turned Miss Bassett about to face herself in the glass. "There!" +she said. "Isn't that better than--well, than emulating Lady Theobald?" + +It was so pretty and so becoming, and Miss Belinda was so touched by the +girl's innocent enjoyment, that the tears came into her eyes. + +"My--my love," she faltered, "it is so beautiful, and so expensive, +that--though indeed I don't know how to thank you--I am afraid I should +not dare to wear it." + +"Oh!" answered Octavia, "that's nonsense, you know. I'm sure there's no +reason why people shouldn't wear becoming things. Besides, I should be +awfully disappointed. I didn't think I could make it, and I'm real proud +of it. You don't know how becoming it is!" + +Miss Belinda looked at her reflection, and faltered. It was becoming. + +"My love," she protested faintly, "real Mechlin! There is really no such +lace in Slowbridge." + +"All the better," said Octavia cheerfully. "I'm glad to hear that. It +isn't one bit too nice for you." + +To Miss Belinda's astonishment, she drew a step nearer to her, and gave +one of the satin loops a queer, caressing little touch, which actually +seemed to mean something. And then suddenly the girl stooped, with a +little laugh, and gave her aunt a light kiss on her cheek. + +"There!" she said. "You must take it from me for a present. I'll go and +make the ruffles this minute; and you must wear those too, and let people +see how stylish you can be." + +And, without giving Miss Bassett time to speak, she ran out of the room, +and left the dear old lady warmed to the heart, tearful, delighted, +frightened. + +A coach from the Blue Lion had been ordered to present itself at a +quarter past five, promptly; and at the time specified it rattled up to +the door with much spirit,--with so much spirit, indeed, that Miss +Belinda was a little alarmed. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "I hope the driver will be able to control the +horse, and will not allow him to go too fast. One hears of such terrible +accidents." + +Then Mary Anne was sent to announce the arrival of the equipage to Miss +Octavia, and, having performed the errand, came back beaming with smiles. + +"Oh, mum," she exclaimed, "you never see nothin' like her! Her gownd is +'evingly. An' lor'! how you do look yourself, to be sure!" + +Indeed, the lace ruffles on her "best" black silk, and the little cap on +her smooth hair, had done a great deal for Miss Bassett; and she had only +just been reproaching herself for her vanity in recognizing this fact. +But Mary Anne's words awakened a new train of thought. + +"Is--is Miss Octavia's dress a showy one, Mary Anne?" she inquired. "Dear +me, I do hope it is not a showy dress!" + +"I never see nothin' no eleganter, mum," said Mary Anne: "she wants +nothin' but a veil to make a bride out of her--an' a becominer thing she +never has wore." + +They heard the soft sweep of skirts at that moment, and Octavia came in. + +"There!" she said, stopping when she had reached the middle of the room. +"Is that simple enough?" Miss Belinda could only look at her helplessly. +The "white muslin" was composed almost entirely of Valenciennes lace; the +blue ribbons were embroidered with field-daisies; the air of delicate +elaborateness about the whole was something which her innocent mind could +not have believed possible in orthodox white and blue. + +"I don't think I should call it exactly simple," she said. "My love, what +a quantity of lace!" + +Octavia glanced down at her _jabots_ and frills complacently. + +"There _is_ a good deal of it," she remarked; "but then, it is nice, and +one can stand a good deal of nice Valenciennes on white. They said Worth +made the dress. I hope he did. It cost enough. The ribbon was embroidered +by hand, I suppose. And there is plenty of it cut up into these bows." + +There was no more to be said. Miss Belinda led the way to the coach, +which they entered under the admiring or critical eyes of several most +respectable families, who had been lying in wait behind their +window-curtains since they had been summoned there by the sound of +the wheels. + +As the vehicle rattled past the boarding-school, all the young ladies in +the first class rushed to the window. They were rewarded for their zeal +by a glimpse of a cloud of muslin and lace, a charmingly dressed +yellow-brown head, and a pretty face, whose eyes favored them with a +frank stare of interest. + +"She had diamonds in her ears!" cried Miss Phipps, wildly excited. "I saw +them flash. Ah, how I should like to see her without her wraps! I have no +doubt she is a perfect blaze!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ANNOUNCING MR. BAROLD. + + +Lady Theobald's invited guests sat in the faded blue drawing-room, +waiting. Everybody had been unusually prompt, perhaps because +everybody wished to be on the ground in time to see Miss Octavia +Bassett make her entrance. + +"I should think it would be rather a trial, even to such a girl as she is +said to be," remarked one matron. + +"It is but natural that she should feel that Lady Theobald will regard +her rather critically, and that she should know that American manners +will hardly be the thing for a genteel and conservative English country +town." + +"We saw her a few days ago," said Lucia, who chanced to hear this +speech, "and she is very pretty. I think I never saw any one so very +pretty before." + +"But in quite a theatrical way, I think, my dear," the matron replied, in +a tone of gentle correction. + +"I have seen so very few theatrical people," Lucia answered sweetly, +"that I scarcely know what the theatrical way is, dear Mrs. Burnham. Her +dress was very beautiful, and not like what we wear in Slowbridge; but +she seemed to me to be very bright and pretty, in a way quite new to me, +and so just a little odd." + +"I have heard that her dress is most extravagant and wasteful," put in +Miss Pilcher, whose educational position entitled her to the +condescending respect of her patronesses. "She has lace on her morning +gowns, which"-- + +"Miss Bassett and Miss Octavia Bassett," announced Dobson, throwing +open the door. + +Lady Theobald rose from her seat. A slight rustle made itself heard +through the company, as the ladies all turned toward the entrance; and, +after they had so turned, there were evidences of a positive thrill. +Before the eyes of all, Belinda Bassett advanced with rich ruffles of +Mechlin at her neck and wrists, with a delicate and distinctly novel cap +upon her head, her niece following her with an unabashed face, twenty +pounds' worth of lace on her dress, and unmistakable diamonds in her +little ears. + +"There is not a _shadow_ of timidity about her," cried Mrs. Burnham under +her breath. "This is actual boldness." + +But this was a very severe term to use, notwithstanding that it was born +of righteous indignation. It was not boldness at all: it was only the +serenity of a young person who was quite unconscious that there was any +thing to fear in the rather unimposing party before her. Octavia was +accustomed to entering rooms full of strangers. She had spent several +years of her life in hotels, where she had been stared out of countenance +by a few score new people every day. She was even used to being, in some +sort, a young person of note. It was nothing unusual for her to know that +she was being pointed out. "That pretty blonde," she often heard it said, +"is Martin Bassett's daughter: sharp fellow, Bassett,--and lucky fellow +too; more money than he can count." + +So she was not at all frightened when she walked in behind Miss Belinda. +She glanced about her cheerfully, and, catching sight of Lucia, smiled at +her as she advanced up the room. The call of state Lady Theobald had made +with her grand-daughter had been a very brief one; but Octavia had taken +a decided fancy to Lucia, and was glad to see her again. + +"I am glad to see you, Belinda," said her ladyship, shaking hands. "And +you also, Miss Octavia." + +"Thank you," responded Octavia. + +"You are very kind," Miss Belinda murmured gratefully. + +"I hope you are both well?" said Lady Theobald with majestic +condescension, and in tones to be heard all over the room. + +"Quite well, thank you," murmured Miss Belinda again. "_Very_ well +indeed;" rather as if this fortunate state of affairs was the result of +her ladyship's kind intervention with the fates. + +She felt terribly conscious of being the centre of observation, and +rather overpowered by the novelty of her attire, which was plainly +creating a sensation. Octavia, however, who was far more looked at, was +entirely oblivious of the painful prominence of her position. She +remained standing in the middle of the room, talking to Lucia, who had +approached to greet her. She was so much taller than Lucia, that she +looked very tall indeed by contrast, and also very wonderfully dressed. +Lucia's white muslin was one of Miss Chickie's fifteen, and was, in a +"genteel" way, very suggestive of Slowbridge. Suspended from Octavia's +waist by a long loop of the embroidered ribbon, was a little round fan, +of downy pale-blue feathers, and with this she played as she talked; but +Lucia, having nothing to play with, could only stand with her little +hands hanging at her sides. + +"I have never been to an afternoon tea like this before," Octavia said. +"It is nothing like a kettle-drum." + +"I am not sure that I know what a kettle-drum is," Lucia answered. "They +have them in London, I think; but I have never been to London." + +"They have them in New York," said Octavia; "and they are a crowded sort +of afternoon parties, where ladies go in carriage-toilet, not evening +dress. People are rushing in and out all the time." + +Lucia glanced around the room and smiled. + +"That is very unlike this," she remarked. + +"Well," said Octavia, "I should think that, after all, this might be +nicer." + +Which was very civil. + +Lucia glanced around again--this time rather stealthily--at Lady +Theobald. Then she glanced back at Octavia. + +"But it isn't," she said, in an undertone. + +Octavia began to laugh. They were on a new and familiar footing from +that moment. + +"I said 'it might,'" she answered. + +She was not afraid, any longer, of finding the evening stupid. If there +were no young men, there was at least a young woman who was in sympathy +with her. She said,-- + +"I hope that I shall behave myself pretty well, and do the things I am +expected to do." + +"Oh!" said Lucia, with a rather alarmed expression, "I hope so. I--I am +afraid you would not be comfortable if you didn't." + +Octavia opened her eyes, as she often did at Miss Belinda's remarks, and +then suddenly she began to laugh again. + +"What would they do?" she said disrespectfully. "Would they turn me out, +without giving me any tea?" + +Lucia looked still more frightened. + +"Don't let them see you laughing," she said. "They--they will say you +are giddy." + +"Giddy!" replied Octavia. "I don't think there is any thing to make me +giddy here." + +"If they say you are giddy," said Lucia, "your fate will be sealed; and, +if you are to stay here, it really will be better to try to please them +a little." + +Octavia reflected a moment. + +"I don't mean to _dis_please them," she said, "unless they are very +easily displeased. I suppose I don't think very much about what people +are saying of me. I don't seem to notice." + +"Will you come now and let me introduce Miss Egerton and her sister?" +suggested Lucia hurriedly. "Grandmamma is looking at us." + +In the innocence of her heart Octavia glanced at Lady Theobald, and +saw that she was looking at them, and with a disapproving air. "I +wonder what that's for?" she said to herself; but she followed Lucia +across the room. + +She made the acquaintance of the Misses Egerton, who seemed rather +fluttered, and, after the first exchange of civilities, subsided into +monosyllables and attentive stares. They were, indeed, very anxious to +hear Octavia converse, but had not the courage to attempt to draw her +out, unless a sudden query of Miss Lydia's could be considered such an +attempt. + +"Do you like England?" she asked. + +"Is this England?" inquired Octavia. + +"It is a part of England, of course," replied the young lady, with calm +literalness. + +"Then, of course, I like it very much," said Octavia, slightly waving her +fan and smiling. + +Miss Lydia Egerton and Miss Violet Egerton each regarded her in dubious +silence for a moment. They did not think she looked as if she were +"clever;" but the speech sounded to both as if she were, and as if she +meant to be clever a little at their expense. + +Naturally, after that they felt slightly uncomfortable, and said less +than before; and conversation lagged to such an extent that Octavia was +not sorry when tea was announced. + +And it so happened that tea was not the only thing announced. The ladies +had all just risen from their seats with a gentle rustle, and Lady +Theobald was moving forward to marshal her procession into the +dining-room, when Dobson appeared at the door again. + +"Mr. Barold, my lady," he said, "and Mr. Burmistone." + +Everybody glanced first at the door, and then at Lady Theobald. Mr. +Francis Barold crossed the threshold, followed by the tall, +square-shouldered builder of mills, who was a strong, handsome man, and +bore himself very well, not seeming to mind at all the numerous eyes +fixed upon him. + +"I did not know," said Barold, "that we should find you had guests. Beg +pardon, I'm sure, and so does Burmistone, whom I had the pleasure of +meeting at Broadoaks, and who was good enough to invite me to return with +him." Lady Theobald extended her hand to the gentleman specified. + +"I am glad," she said rigidly, "to see Mr. Burmistone." + +Then she turned to Barold. + +"This is very fortunate," she announced. "We are just going in to take +tea, in which I hope you will join us. Lucia"-- + +Mr. Francis Barold naturally turned, as her ladyship uttered her +granddaughter's name in a tone of command. It may be supposed that his +first intention in turning was to look at Lucia; but he had scarcely done +so, when his attention was attracted by the figure nearest to her,--the +figure of a young lady, who was playing with a little blue fan, and +smiling at him brilliantly and unmistakably. + +The next moment he was standing at Octavia Bassett's side, looking rather +pleased, and the blood of Slowbridge was congealing, as the significance +of the situation was realized. + +One instant of breathless--of awful--suspense, and her ladyship +recovered herself. + +"We will go in to tea," she said. "May I ask you, Mr. Burmistone, to +accompany Miss Pilcher?" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A SLIGHT INDISCRETION. + + +During the remainder of the evening, Miss Belinda was a prey to +wretchedness and despair. When she raised her eyes to her hostess, she +met with a glance full of icy significance; when she looked across the +tea-table, she saw Octavia seated next to Mr. Francis Barold, +monopolizing his attention, and apparently in the very best possible +spirits. It only made matters worse, that Mr. Francis Barold seemed to +find her remarks worthy of his attention. He drank very little tea, and +now and then appeared much interested and amused. In fact, he found Miss +Octavia even more entertaining than he had found her during their +journey. She did not hesitate at all to tell him that she was delighted +to see him again at this particular juncture. + +"You don't know how glad I was to see you come in," she said. + +She met his rather startled glance with the most open candor as she +spoke. + +"It is very civil of you to say so," he said; "but you can hardly expect +me to believe it, you know. It is too good to be true." + +"I thought it was too good to be true when the door opened," she answered +cheerfully. "I should have been glad to see _anybody_, almost"-- + +"Well, that," he interposed, "isn't quite so civil." + +"It is not quite so civil to"-- + +But there she checked herself, and asked him a question with the most +_naive_ seriousness. + +"Are you a great friend of Lady Theobald's?" she said. + +"No," he answered. "I am a relative." + +"That's worse," she remarked. + +"It is," he replied. "Very much worse." + +"I asked you," she proceeded, with an entrancing little smile of +irreverent approval, "because I was going to say that my last speech was +not quite so civil to Lady Theobald." + +"That is perfectly true," he responded. "It wasn't civil to her at all." + +He was passing his time very comfortably, and was really surprised to +feel that he was more interested in these simple audacities than he had +been in any conversation for some time. Perhaps it was because his +companion was so wonderfully pretty, but it is not unlikely that there +were also other reasons. She looked him straight in the eyes, she +comported herself after the manner of a young lady who was enjoying +herself, and yet he felt vaguely that she might have enjoyed herself +quite as much with Burmistone, and that it was probable that she would +not think a second time of him, or of what she said to him. + +After tea, when they returned to the drawing-room, the opportunities +afforded for conversation were not numerous. The piano was opened, and +one after another of the young ladies were invited to exhibit their +prowess. Upon its musical education Slowbridge prided itself. "Few +towns," Miss Pilcher frequently remarked, "could be congratulated upon +the possession of _such_ talent and _such_ cultivation." The Misses +Egerton played a duet, the Misses Loftus sang, Miss Abercrombie +"executed" a sonata with such effect as to melt Miss Pilcher to tears; +and still Octavia had not been called upon. There might have been a +reason for this, or there might not; but the moment arrived, at length, +when Lady Theobald moved toward Miss Belinda with evidently fell intent. + +"Perhaps," she said, "perhaps your niece, Miss Octavia, will favor us." + +Miss Belinda replied in a deprecatory and uncertain murmur. + +"I--am not sure. I really don't know. Perhaps--Octavia, my dear." + +Octavia raised a smiling face. + +"I don't play," she said. "I never learned." + +"You do not play!" exclaimed Lady Theobald. "You do not play at all!" + +"No," answered Octavia. "Not a note. And I think I am rather glad of it; +because, if I tried, I should be sure to do it worse than other people. I +would rather," with unimpaired cheerfulness, "let some one else do it." + +There were a few seconds of dead silence. A dozen people seated around +her had heard. Miss Pilcher shuddered; Miss Belinda looked down; Mr. +Francis Barold preserved an entirely unmoved countenance, the general +impression being that he was very much shocked, and concealed his disgust +with an effort. + +"My dear," said Lady Theobald, with an air of much condescension and some +grave pity, "I should advise you to try to learn. I can assure you that +you would find it a great source of pleasure." + +"If you could assure me that my friends would find it a great source of +pleasure, I might begin," answered the mistaken young person, still +cheerfully; "but I am afraid they wouldn't." + +It seemed that fate had marked her for disgrace. In half an hour from +that time she capped the climax of her indiscretions. + +The evening being warm, the French windows had been left open; and, in +passing one of them, she stopped a moment to look out at the brightly +moonlit grounds. + +Barold, who was with her, paused too. + +"Looks rather nice, doesn't it?" he said. + +"Yes," she replied. "Suppose we go out on the terrace." + +He laughed in an amused fashion she did not understand. + +"Suppose we do," he said. "By Jove, that's a good idea!" + +He laughed as he followed her. + +"What amuses you so?" she inquired. + +"Oh!" he replied, "I am merely thinking of Lady Theobald." + +"Well," she commented, "I think it's rather disrespectful in you to +laugh. Isn't it a lovely night? I didn't think you had such moonlight +nights in England. What a night for a drive!" + +"Is that one of the things you do in America--drive by moonlight?" + +"Yes. Do you mean to say you don't do it in England?" + +"Not often. Is it young ladies who drive by moonlight in America?" + +"Well, you don't suppose they go alone, do you?" quite ironically. "Of +course they have some one with them." + +"Ah! Their papas?" + +"No." + +"Their mammas?" + +"No." + +"Their governesses, their uncles, their aunts?" + +"No," with a little smile. + +He smiled also. + +"That is another good idea," he said. "You have a great many nice ideas +in America." + +She was silent a moment or so, swinging her fan slowly to and fro by its +ribbon, and appearing to reflect. + +"Does that mean," she said at length, "that it wouldn't be considered +proper in England?" + +"I hope you won't hold me responsible for English fallacies," was his +sole answer. + +"I don't hold anybody responsible for them," she returned with some +spirit. "I don't care one thing about them." + +"That is fortunate," he commented. "I am happy to say I don't, either. I +take the liberty of pleasing myself. I find it pays best." + +"Perhaps," she said, returning to the charge, "perhaps Lady Theobald will +think _this_ is improper." + +He put his hand up, and stroked his mustache lightly, without replying. + +"But it is _not_," she added emphatically: "it is _not!_" + +"No," he admitted, with a touch of irony, "it is not!" + +"Are _you_ any the worse for it?" she demanded. + +"Well, really, I think not--as yet," he replied. + +"Then we won't go in," she said, the smile returning to her lips again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AN INVITATION. + + +In the mean time Mr. Burmistone was improving his opportunities within +doors. He had listened to the music with the most serious attention; and +on its conclusion he had turned to Mrs. Burnham, and made himself very +agreeable indeed. At length, however, he arose, and sauntered across the +room to a table at which Lucia Gaston chanced to be standing alone, +having just been deserted by a young lady whose mamma had summoned her. +She wore, Mr. Burmistone regretted to see, as he advanced, a troubled and +anxious expression; the truth being that she had a moment before remarked +the exit of Miss Belinda's niece and her companion. It happened oddly +that Mr. Burmistone's first words touched upon the subject of her +thought. He began quite abruptly with it. + +"It seems to me," he said, "that Miss Octavia Bassett"-- + +Lucia stopped him with a courage which surprised herself. + +"Oh, if you please," she implored, "don't say any thing unkind about +her!" + +Mr. Burmistone looked down into her soft eyes with a good deal of +feeling. + +"I was not going to say any thing unkind," he answered. "Why should I?" + +"Everybody seems to find a reason for speaking severely of her," Lucia +faltered. "I have heard so many unkind things tonight, that I am quite +unhappy. I am sure--I am _sure_ she is very candid and simple." + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone, "I am sure she is very candid and +simple." + +"Why should we expect her to be exactly like ourselves?" Lucia went on. +"How can we be sure that our way is better than any other? Why should +they be angry because her dress is so expensive and pretty? Indeed, I +only wish I had such a dress. It is a thousand times prettier than any we +ever wear. Look around the room, and see if it is not. And as to her not +having learned to play on the piano, or to speak French--why should she +be obliged to do things she feels she would not be clever at? I am not +clever, and have been a sort of slave all my life, and have been scolded +and blamed for what I could not help at all, until I have felt as if I +must be a criminal. How happy she must have been to be let alone!" + +She had clasped her little hands, and, though she spoke in a low +voice, was quite impassioned in an unconscious way. Her brief girlish +life had not been a very happy one, as may be easily imagined; and a +glimpse of the liberty for which she had suffered roused her to a +sense of her own wrongs. + +"We are all cut out after the same pattern," she said. "We learn the same +things, and wear the same dresses, one might say. What Lydia Egerton has +been taught, I have been taught; yet what two creatures could be more +unlike each other, by nature, than we are?" + +Mr. Burmistone glanced across the room at Miss Egerton. She was a fine, +robust young woman, with a high nose and a stolid expression of +countenance. + +"That is true," he remarked. + +"We are afraid of every thing," said Lucia bitterly. "Lydia Egerton is +afraid--though you might not think so. And, as for me, nobody knows what +a coward I am but myself. Yes, I am a coward! When grandmamma looks at +me, I tremble. I dare not speak my mind, and differ with her, when I know +she is unjust and in the wrong. No one could say that of Miss Octavia +Bassett." + +"That is perfectly true," said Mr. Burmistone; and he even went so far as +to laugh as he thought of Miss Octavia trembling in the august presence +of Lady Theobald. + +The laugh checked Lucia at once in her little outburst of eloquence. She +began to blush, the color mounting to her forehead. + +"Oh!" she began, "I did not mean to--to say so much. I"-- + +There was something so innocent and touching in her sudden timidity and +confusion, that Mr. Burmistone forgot altogether that they were not very +old friends, and that Lady Theobald might be looking. + +He bent slightly forward, and looked into her upraised, alarmed eyes. + +"Don't be afraid of _me_" he said; "don't, for pity's sake!" + +He could not have hit upon a luckier speech, and also he could not have +uttered it more feelingly than he did. It helped her to recover herself, +and gave her courage. + +"There," she said, with a slight catch of the breath, "does not that +prove what I said to be true? I was afraid, the very moment I ceased to +forget myself. I was afraid of you and of myself. I have no courage at +all." + +"You will gain it in time," he said. + +"I shall try to gain it," she answered. "I am nearly twenty, and it is +time that I should learn to respect myself. I think it must be because I +have no self-respect that I am such a coward." + +It seemed that her resolution was to be tried immediately; for at that +very moment Lady Theobald turned, and, on recognizing the full +significance of Lucia's position, was apparently struck temporarily dumb +and motionless. When she recovered from the shock, she made a majestic +gesture of command. + +Mr. Burmistone glanced at the girl's face, and saw that it changed color +a little. "Lady Theobald appears to wish to speak to you," he said. + +Lucia left her seat, and walked across the room with a steady air. Lady +Theobald did not remove her eye from her until she stopped within three +feet of her. Then she asked a rather unnecessary question:-- + +"With whom have you been conversing?" + +"With Mr. Burmistone." + +"Upon what subject?" + +"We were speaking of Miss Octavia Bassett." + +Her ladyship glanced around the room, as if a new idea had occurred to +her, and said,-- + +"Where _is_ Miss Octavia Bassett?" + +Here it must be confessed that Lucia faltered. + +"She is on the terrace with Mr. Barold." + +"She is on"-- + +Her ladyship stopped short in the middle of her sentence. This was too +much for her. She left Lucia, and crossed the room to Miss Belinda. + +"Belinda," she said, in an awful undertone, "your niece is out upon the +terrace with Mr. Barold. Perhaps it would be as well for you to +intimate to her that in England it is not customary--that--Belinda, go +and bring her in." + +Miss Belinda arose, actually looking pale. She had been making such +strenuous efforts to converse with Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham, that +she had been betrayed into forgetting her charge. She could scarcely +believe her ears. She went to the open window, and looked out, and then +turned paler than before. + +"Octavia, my dear," she said faintly. + +"Francis!" said Lady Theobald, over her shoulder. + +Mr. Francis Barold turned a rather bored countenance toward them; but it +was evidently not Octavia who had bored him. + +"Octavia," said Miss Belinda, "how imprudent! In that thin dress--the +night air! How could you, my dear, how could you?" + +"Oh! I shall not catch cold," Octavia answered. "I am used to it. I have +been out hours and hours, on moonlight nights, at home." + +But she moved toward them. + +"You must remember," said Lady Theobald, "that there are many things +which may be done in America which would not be safe in England." + +And she made the remark in an almost sepulchral tone of warning. + +How Miss Belinda would have supported herself if the coach had not been +announced at this juncture, it would be difficult to say. The coach was +announced, and they took their departure. Mr. Barold happening to make +his adieus at the same time, they were escorted by him down to the +vehicle from the Blue Lion. + +When he had assisted them in, and closed the door, Octavia bent forward, +so that the moonlight fell full on her pretty, lace-covered head, and the +sparkling drops in her ears. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed, "if you stay here at all, you must come and see +us.--Aunt Belinda, ask him to come and see us." + +Miss Belinda could scarcely speak. + +"I shall be most--most happy," she fluttered, "Any--friend of dear Lady +Theobald's, of course"-- + +"Don't forget," said Octavia, waving her hand. + +The coach moved off, and Miss Belinda sank back into a dark corner. + +"My dear," she gasped, "what will he think?" + +Octavia was winding her lace scarf around her throat. + +"He'll think I want him to call," she said serenely. "And I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +INTENTIONS. + + +The position in which Lady Theobald found herself placed, after these +occurrences, was certainly a difficult and unpleasant one. It was Mr. +Francis Barold's caprice, for the time being, to develop an intimacy with +Mr. Burmistone. He had, it seemed, chosen to become interested in him +during their sojourn at Broadoaks. He had discovered him to be a +desirable companion, and a clever, amiable fellow. This much he +condescended to explain incidentally to her ladyship's self. + +"I can't say I expected to meet a nice fellow or a companionable fellow," +he remarked, "and I was agreeably surprised to find him both. Never says +too much or too little. Never bores a man." + +To this Lady Theobald could make no reply. Singularly enough, she had +discovered early in their acquaintance that her wonted weapons were +likely to dull their edges upon the steely coldness of Mr. Francis +Barold's impassibility. In the presence of this fortunate young man, +before whom his world had bowed the knee from his tenderest infancy, she +lost the majesty of her demeanor. He refused to be affected by it: he was +even implacable enough to show openly that it bored him, and to insinuate +by his manner that he did not intend to submit to it. He entirely ignored +the claim of relationship, and acted according to the promptings of his +own moods. He did not feel it at all incumbent upon him to remain at +Oldclough Hall, and subject himself to the time-honored customs there +in vogue. He preferred to accept Mr. Burmistone's invitation to become +his guest at the handsome house he had just completed, in which he lived +in bachelor splendor. Accordingly he installed himself there, and thereby +complicated matters greatly. + +Slowbridge found itself in a position as difficult as, and far more +delicate than, Lady Theobald's. The tea-drinkings in honor of that +troublesome young person, Miss Octavia Bassett, having been inaugurated +by her ladyship, must go the social rounds, according to ancient custom. +But what, in discretion's name, was to be done concerning Mr. Francis +Barold? There was no doubt whatever that he must not be ignored; and, in +that case, what difficulties presented themselves! + +The mamma of the two Misses Egerton, who was a nervous and easily +subjugated person, was so excited and overwrought by the prospect before +her, that, in contemplating it when she wrote her invitations, she was +affected to tears. + +"I can assure you, Lydia," she said, "that I have not slept for three +nights, I have been so harassed. Here, on one hand, is Mr. Francis +Barold, who must be invited; and on the other is Mr. Burmistone, whom we +cannot pass over; and here is Lady Theobald, who will turn to stone the +moment she sees him,--though, goodness knows, I am sure he seems a very +quiet, respectable man, and said some of the most complimentary things +about your playing. And here is that dreadful girl, who is enough to give +one cold chills, and who may do all sorts of dreadful things, and is +certainly a living example to all respectable, well-educated girls. And +the blindest of the blind could see that nothing would offend Lady +Theobald more fatally than to let her be thrown with Francis Barold; +and how one is to invite them into the same room, and keep them apart, +I'm sure I don't know how. Lady Theobald herself could not do it, and how +can we be expected to? And the refreshments on my mind too; and Forbes +failing on her tea-cakes, and bringing up Sally Lunns like lead." + +That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer in +prospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs. +Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs. +Egerton upon the subject. + +Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising, +the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter over +in solemn conclave. + +"I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson," +announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arrive +at any conclusion." + +Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully. + +"Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,--"don't, I beg of you! I +have thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydia +has been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave it +up at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one and +all, let the consequences be what they may." + +Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at Miss +Pilcher. + +"Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as well +for you to mention your impressions." + +Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forward +slightly. + +"My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald has +any--intentions, so to speak?" + +"Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton. + +"Yes," with deep significance,--"so to speak. With regard to Lucia." + +Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless. + +"Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think of +it. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!" + +Mrs. Burnham became more significant still. + +"_And_" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold." + +Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact in +her countenance. + +"Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever." + +"It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be a +desirable one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr. +Francis Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited to +make her house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he has +not done so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicable +reluctance upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald once +plainly intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, a +matrimonial alliance." + +"Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is all +very well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if the +young man has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likely +to result in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold is +not in the mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely to +entertain himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in the +moonlight, and make herself agreeable to him in her American style." + +Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Burnham, "he has called upon her twice since Lady +Theobald's tea. They say she invites him herself, and flirts with him +openly in the garden." + +"Her conduct is such," said Miss Pilcher, with a shudder, "that the +blinds upon the side of the seminary which faces Miss Bassett's garden +are kept closed by my orders. I have young ladies under my care whose +characters are in process of formation, and whose parents repose +confidence in me." + +"Nothing but my friendship for Belinda Bassett," remarked Mrs. Burnham, +"would induce me to invite the girl to my house." Then she turned to Mrs. +Egerton. "But--ahem--have you included them _all_ in your invitations?" +she observed. + +Mrs. Egerton became plaintive again. + +"I don't see how I could be expected to do any thing else," she said. +"Lady Theobald herself could not invite Mr. Francis Barold from Mr. +Burmistone's house, and leave Mr. Burmistone at home. And, after all, I +must say it is my opinion nobody would have objected to Mr. Burmistone, +in the first place, if Lady Theobald had not insisted upon it." + +Mrs. Burnham reflected. + +"Perhaps that is true," she admitted cautiously at length. "And it must +be confessed that a man in his position is not entirely without his +advantages--particularly in a place where there are but few gentlemen, +and those scarcely desirable as"-- + +She paused there discreetly, but Mrs. Egerton was not so discreet. + +"There are a great many young ladies in Slowbridge," she said, shaking +her head,--"a great many! And with five in a family, all old enough to be +out of school, I am sure it is flying in the face of Providence to +neglect one's opportunities." + +When the two ladies took their departure, Mrs. Burnham seemed reflective. +Finally she said,--"Poor Mrs. Egerton's mind is not what it was, and it +never was remarkably strong. It must be admitted, too, that there is a +lack of--of delicacy. Those great plain girls of hers must be a trial to +her." + +As she spoke they were passing the privet hedge which surrounded Miss +Bassett's house and garden; and a sound caused both to glance around. The +front door had just been opened; and a gentleman was descending the +steps,--a young gentleman in neat clerical garb, his guileless +ecclesiastical countenance suffused with mantling blushes of confusion +and delight. He stopped on the gravel path to receive the last words of +Miss Octavia Bassett, who stood on the threshold, smiling down upon him +in the prettiest way in the world. + +"Tuesday afternoon," she said. "Now don't forget; because I shall ask Mr. +Barold and Miss Gaston, on purpose to play against us. Even St. James +can't object to croquet." + +"I--indeed, I shall be _most_ happy and--and delighted," stammered her +departing guest, "if you will be so kind as to--to instruct me, and +forgive my awkwardness." + +"Oh! I'll instruct you," said Octavia. "I have instructed people before, +and I know how." + +Mrs. Burnham clutched Miss Pilcher's arm. + +"Do you see who _that_ is?" she demanded. "Would you have believed it?" + +Miss Pilcher preserved a stony demeanor. + +"I would believe any thing of Miss Octavia Bassett," she replied. "There +would be nothing at all remarkable, to my mind, in her flirting with the +bishop himself! Why should she hesitate to endeavor to entangle the +curate of St. James?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A CLERICAL VISIT. + + +It was indeed true that the Rev. Arthur Poppleton had spent the greater +part of his afternoon in Miss Belinda Bassett's front parlor, and that +Octavia had entertained him in such a manner that he had been beguiled +into forgetting the clerical visits he had intended to make, and had +finally committed himself by a promise to return a day or two later to +play croquet. His object in calling had been to request Miss Belinda's +assistance in a parochial matter. His natural timorousness of nature had +indeed led him to put off making the visit for as long a time as +possible. The reports he had heard of Miss Octavia Bassett had inspired +him with great dread. Consequently he had presented himself at Miss +Belinda's front door with secret anguish. + +"Will you say," he had faltered to Mary Anne, "that it is Mr. Poppleton, +to see _Miss_ Bassett--Miss _Belinda_ Bassett?" + +And then he had been handed into the parlor, the door had been closed +behind him, and he had found himself shut up entirely alone in the room +with Miss Octavia Bassett herself. + +His first impulse was to turn, and flee precipitately: indeed, he even +went so far as to turn, and clutch the handle of the door; but somehow a +second thought arrived in time to lead him to control himself. + +This second thought came with his second glance at Octavia. + +She was not at all what he had pictured her. Singularly enough, no one +had told him that she was pretty; and he had thought of her as a gaunt +young person, with a determined and manly air. She struck him, on the +contrary, as being extremely girlish and charming to look upon. She wore +the pale pink gown; and as he entered he saw her give a furtive little +dab to her eyes with a lace handkerchief, and hurriedly crush an open +letter into her pocket. Then, seeming to dismiss her emotion with +enviable facility, she rose to greet him. + +"If you want to see aunt Belinda," she said, "perhaps you had better sit +down. She will be here directly." He plucked up spirit to take a seat, +suddenly feeling his terror take wing. He was amazed at his own courage. + +"Th-thank you," he said. "I have the pleasure of"--There, it is true, he +stopped, looked at her, blushed, and finished somewhat disjointedly. +"Miss Octavia Bassett, I believe." + +"Yes," she answered, and sat down near him. + +When Miss Belinda descended the stairs, a short time afterward, her ears +were greeted by the sound of brisk conversation, in which the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton appeared to be taking part with before-unheard-of spirit. When +he arose at her entrance, there was in his manner an air of mild buoyancy +which astonished her beyond measure. When he re-seated himself, he seemed +quite to forget the object of his visit for some minutes, and was thus +placed in the embarrassing position of having to refer to his note-book. + +Having done so, and found that he had called to ask assistance for the +family of one of his parishioners, he recovered himself somewhat. As he +explained the exigencies of the case, Octavia listened. + +"Well," she said, "I should think it would make you quite uncomfortable, +if you see things like that often." + +"I regret to say I do see such things only too frequently," he answered. + +"Gracious!" she said; but that was all. + +He was conscious of being slightly disappointed at her apathy; and +perhaps it is to be deplored that he forgot it afterward, when Miss +Belinda had bestowed her mite, and the case was dismissed for the time +being. He really did forget it, and was beguiled into making a very long +call, and enjoying himself as he had never enjoyed himself before. + +When, at length, he was recalled to a sense of duty by a glance at the +clock, he had already before his eyes an opening vista of delights, +taking the form of future calls, and games of croquet played upon Miss +Belinda's neatly-shaven grass-plat. He had bidden the ladies adieu in the +parlor, and, having stepped into the hall, was fumbling rather excitedly +in the umbrella-stand for his own especially slender clerical umbrella, +when he was awakened to new rapture by hearing Miss Octavia's tone again. + +He turned, and saw her standing quite near him, looking at him with +rather an odd expression, and holding something in her hand. + +"Oh!" she said. "See here,--those people." + +"I--beg pardon," he hesitated. "I don't quite understand." + +"Oh, yes!" she answered. "Those desperately poor wretches, you know, with +fever, and leaks in their house, and all sorts of disagreeable things the +matter with them. Give them this, won't you?" + +"This" was a pretty silk purse, through whose meshes he saw the gleam of +gold coin. + +"That?" he said. "You don't mean--isn't there a good deal--I beg +pardon--but really"-- + +"Well, if they are as poor as you say they are, it won't be too much," +she replied. "I don't suppose they'll object to it: do you?" + +She extended it to him as if she rather wished to get it out of her +hands. + +"You'd better take it," she said. "I shall spend it on something I don't +need, if you don't. I'm always spending money on things I don't care for +afterward." + +He was filled with remorse, remembering that he had thought her +apathetic. + +"I--I really thought you were not interested at all," he burst forth. +"Pray forgive me. This is generous indeed." + +She looked down at some particularly brilliant rings on her hand, instead +of looking at him. + +"Oh, well!" she said, "I think it must be simply horrid to have to do +without things. I can't see how people live. Besides, I haven't denied +myself any thing. It would be worth talking about if I had, I suppose. +Oh! By the by, never mind telling any one, will you?" + +Then, without giving him time to reply, she raised her eyes to his face, +and plunged into the subject of the croquet again, pursuing it until the +final moment of his exit and departure, which was when Mrs. Burnham and +Miss Pilcher had been scandalized at the easy freedom of her adieus. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES. + + +When Mr. Francis Barold called to pay his respects to Lady Theobald, +after partaking of her hospitality, Mr. Burmistone accompanied him; and, +upon almost every other occasion of his presenting himself to her +ladyship, Mr. Burmistone was his companion. + +It may as well be explained at the outset, that the mill-owner of +Burmistone Mills was a man of decided determination of character, and +that, upon the evening of Lady Theobald's tea, he had arrived at the +conclusion that he would spare no effort to gain a certain end he felt it +would add to his happiness to accomplish. + +"I stand rather in awe of Lady Theobald, as any ordinary man would," he +had said dryly to Barold, on their return to his house. "But my awe of +her is not so great yet that I shall allow it to interfere with any of +my plans." + +"Have you any especial plan?" inquired Barold carelessly, after a pause. + +"Yes," answered Mr. Burmistone,--"several. I should like to go to +Oldclough rather often." + +"I feel it the civil thing to go to Oldclough oftener than I like. Go +with me." + +"I should like to be included in all the invitations to tea for the next +six months." + +"I shall be included in all the invitations so long as I remain here; and +it is not likely you will be left out in the cold. After you have gone +the rounds once, you won't be dropped." + +"Upon the whole, it appears so," said Mr. Burmistone. "Thanks." + +So, at each of the tea-parties following Lady Theobald's, the two men +appeared together. The small end of the wedge being inserted into the +social stratum, the rest was not so difficult. Mrs. Burnham was at once +surprised and overjoyed by her discoveries of the many excellences of the +man they had so hastily determined to ignore. Mrs. Abercrombie found Mr. +Burmistone's manner all that could be desired. Miss Pilcher expressed the +highest appreciation of his views upon feminine education and "our duty +to the young in our charge." Indeed, after Mrs. Egerton's evening, the +tide of public opinion turned suddenly in his favor. + +Public opinion did not change, however, as far as Octavia was concerned. +Having had her anxiety set at rest by several encouraging paternal +letters from Nevada, she began to make up her mind to enjoy herself, and +was, it is to be regretted, betrayed by her youthful high spirits into +the committing of numerous indiscretions. Upon each festal occasion she +appeared in a new and elaborate costume: she accepted the attentions of +Mr. Francis Barold, as if it were the most natural thing in the world +that they should be offered; she joked--in what Mrs. Burnham designated +"her Nevada way"--with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, who appeared more +frequently than had been his habit at the high teas. She played croquet +with that gentleman and Mr. Barold day after day, upon the grass-plat, +before all the eyes gazing down upon her from the neighboring windows; +she managed to coerce Mr. Burmistone into joining these innocent orgies; +and, in fact, to quote Miss Pilcher, there was "no limit to the +shamelessness of her unfeminine conduct." + +Several times much comment had been aroused by the fact that Lucia Gaston +had been observed to form one of the party of players. She had indeed +played with Barold, against Octavia and Mr. Poppleton, on the memorable +day upon which that gentleman had taken his first lesson. + +Barold had availed himself of the invitation extended to him by Octavia, +upon several occasions, greatly to Miss Belinda's embarrassment. He had +dropped in the evening after the curate's first call. + +"Is Lady Theobald very fond of you?" Octavia had asked, in the course of +this visit. + +"It is very kind of her, if she is," he replied with languid irony. + +"Isn't she fond enough of you to do any thing you ask her?" Octavia +inquired. + +"Really, I think not," he replied. "Imagine the degree of affection it +requires! I am not fond enough of any one to do any thing they ask me." + +Octavia bestowed a long look upon him. + +"Well," she remarked, after a pause, "I believe you are not. I shouldn't +think so." + +Barold colored very faintly. + +"I say," he said, "is that an imputation, or something of that character? +It sounds like it, you know." + +Octavia did not reply directly. She laughed a little. + +"I want you to ask Lady Theobald to do something," she said. + +"I am afraid I am not in such favor as you imagine," he said, looking +slightly annoyed. + +"Well, I think she won't refuse you this thing," she went on. "If she +didn't loathe me so, I would ask her myself." + +He deigned to smile. + +"Does she loathe you?" he inquired. + +"Yes," nodding. "She would not speak to me if it weren't for aunt +Belinda. She thinks I am fast and loud. Do _you_ think I am fast and +loud?" + +He was taken aback, and not for the first time, either. She had startled +and discomposed him several times in the course of their brief +acquaintance; and he always resented it, priding himself in private, as +he did, upon his coolness and immobility. He could not think of the right +thing to say just now, so he was silent for a second. + +"Tell me the truth," she persisted. "I shall not care--much." + +"I do not think you would care at all." + +"Well, perhaps I shouldn't. Go on. Do you think I am fast?" + +"I am happy to say I do not find you slow." + +She fixed her eyes on him, smiling faintly. + +"That means I am fast," she said. "Well, no matter. Will you ask Lady +Theobald what I want you to ask her?" + +"I should not say you were fast at all," he said rather stiffly. "You +have not been educated as--as Lady Theobald has educated Miss Gaston, for +instance." + +"I should rather think not," she replied. Then she added, very +deliberately, "She has had what you might call very superior advantages, +I suppose." + +Her expression was totally incomprehensible to him. She spoke with the +utmost seriousness, and looked down at the table. "That is derision, I +suppose," he remarked restively. + +She glanced up again. + +"At all events," she said, "there is nothing to laugh at in Lucia Gaston. +Will you ask Lady Theobald? I want you to ask her to let Lucia Gaston +come and play croquet with us on Tuesday. She is to play with you against +Mr. Poppleton and me." + +"Who is Mr. Poppleton?" he asked, with some reserve. He did not exactly +fancy sharing his entertainment with any ordinary outsider. After all, +there was no knowing what this little American might do. + +"He is the curate of the church," she replied, undisturbed. "He is very +nice, and little, and neat, and blushes all over to the toes of his +boots. He came to see aunt Belinda, and I asked him to come and be +taught to play." + +"Who is to teach him?" + +"I am. I have taught at least twenty men in New York and San Francisco." + +"I hope he appreciates your kindness." + +"I mean to try if I can make him forget to be frightened," she said, with +a gay laugh. + +It was certainly nettling to find his air of reserve and displeasure met +with such inconsequent lightness. She never seemed to recognize the +subtle changes of temperature expressed in his manner. Only his sense of +what was due to himself prevented his being very chilly indeed; but as +she went on with her gay chat, in utter ignorance of his mood, and +indulged in some very pretty airy nonsense, he soon recovered himself, +and almost forgot his private grievance. + +Before going away, he promised to ask Lady Theobald's indulgence in the +matter of Lucia's joining them in their game. One speech of Octavia's, +connected with the subject, he had thought very pretty, as well as kind. + +"I like Miss Gaston," she said. "I think we might be friends if Lady +Theobald would let us. Her superior advantages might do me good. They +might improve me," she went on, with a little laugh, "and I suppose I +need improving very much. All my advantages have been of one kind." + +When he had left her, she startled Miss Belinda by saying,-- + +"I have been asking Mr. Barold if he thought I was fast; and I believe he +does--in fact, I am sure he does." + +"Ah, my dear, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda, "what a terrible thing +to say to a gentleman! What will he think?" + +Octavia smiled one of her calmest smiles. + +"Isn't it queer how often you say that!" she remarked. "I think I should +perish if I had to pull myself up that way as you do. I just go right on, +and never worry. I don't mean to do any thing queer, and I don't see why +any one should think I do." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CROQUET. + + +Lucia was permitted to form one of the players in the game of croquet, +being escorted to and from the scene by Francis Barold. Perhaps it +occurred to Lady Theobald that the contrast of English reserve and +maidenliness with the free-and-easy manners of young women from Nevada +might lead to some good result. + +"I trust your conduct will be such as to show that you at least have +resided in a civilized land," she said. "The men of the present day may +permit themselves to be amused by young persons whose demeanor might +bring a blush to the cheek of a woman of forty, but it is not their habit +to regard them with serious intentions." + +Lucia reddened. She did not speak, though she wished very much for the +courage to utter the words which rose to her lips. Lately she had found +that now and then, at times when she was roused to anger, speeches of +quite a clever and sarcastic nature presented themselves to her mind. She +was never equal to uttering them aloud; but she felt that in time she +might, because of course it was quite an advance in spirit to think them, +and face, even in imagination, the probability of astounding and striking +Lady Theobald dumb with their audacity. + +"It ought to make me behave very well," she was saying now to herself, +"to have before me the alternative of not being regarded with serious +intentions. I wonder if it is Mr. Poppleton or Francis Barold who might +not regard me seriously. And I wonder if they are any coarser in America +than we can be in England when we try." + +She enjoyed the afternoon very much, particularly the latter part of it, +when Mr. Burmistone, who was passing, came in, being invited by Octavia +across the privet hedge. Having paid his respects to Miss Belinda, who +sat playing propriety under a laburnum-tree, Mr. Burmistone crossed the +grass-plat to Lucia herself. She was awaiting her "turn," and laughing at +the ardent enthusiasm of Mr. Poppleton, who, under Octavia's direction, +was devoting all his energies to the game: her eyes were bright, and she +had lost, for the time being, her timid air of feeling herself somehow in +the wrong. + +"I am glad to see you here," said Mr. Burmistone. + +"I am glad to be here," she answered. "It has been such a happy +afternoon. Every thing has seemed so bright and--and different!" + +"'Different' is a very good word," he said, laughing. + +"It isn't a very bad one," she returned, "and it expresses a good deal." + +"It does indeed," he commented. + +"Look at Mr. Poppleton and Octavia," she began. + +"Have you got to 'Octavia'?" he inquired. + +She looked down and blushed. + +"I shall not say 'Octavia' to grandmamma." + +Then suddenly she glanced up at him. + +"That is sly, isn't it?" she said. "Sometimes I think I am very sly, +though I am sure it is not my nature to be so. I would rather be open +and candid." + +"It would be better," he remarked. + +"You think so?" she asked eagerly. + +He could not help smiling. + +"Do you ever tell untruths to Lady Theobald?" he inquired. "If you do, I +shall begin to be alarmed." + +"I act them," she said, blushing more deeply. "I really do--paltry sorts +of untruths, you know; pretending to agree with her when I don't; +pretending to like things a little when I hate them. I have been trying +to improve myself lately, and once or twice it has made her very angry. +She says I am disobedient and disrespectful. She asked me, one day, if it +was my intention to emulate Miss Octavia Bassett. That was when I said I +could not help feeling that I had wasted time in practising." + +She sighed softly as she ended. + +In the mean time Octavia had Mr. Poppleton and Mr. Francis Barold upon +her hands, and was endeavoring to do her duty as hostess by both of them. +If it had been her intention to captivate these gentlemen, she could not +have complained that Mr. Poppleton was wary or difficult game. His first +fears allayed, his downward path was smooth, and rapid in proportion. +When he had taken his departure with the little silk purse in his +keeping, he had carried under his clerical vest a warmed and thrilled +heart. It was a heart which, it must be confessed, was of the most +inexperienced and susceptible nature. A little man of affectionate and +gentle disposition, he had been given from his earliest youth to +indulging in timid dreams of mild future bliss,--of bliss represented by +some lovely being whose ideals were similar to his own, and who preferred +the wealth of a true affection to the glitter of the giddy throng. Upon +one or two occasions, he had even worshipped from afar; but as on each of +these occasions his hopes had been nipped in the bud by the union of +their object with some hollow worldling, his dream had, so far, never +attained very serious proportions. Since he had taken up his abode in +Slowbridge, he had felt himself a little overpowered by circumstances. It +had been a source of painful embarrassment to him, to find his innocent +presence capable of producing confusion in the breasts of young ladies +who were certainly not more guileless than himself. He had been conscious +that the Misses Egerton did not continue their conversation with freedom +when he chanced to approach the group they graced; and he had observed +the same thing in their companions,--an additional circumspection of +demeanor, so to speak, a touch of new decorum, whose object seemed to be +to protect them from any appearance of imprudence. + +"It is almost as if they were afraid of me," he had said to himself once +or twice. "Dear me! I hope there is nothing in my appearance to lead +them to"-- + +He was so much alarmed by this dreadful thought, that he had ever +afterward approached any of these young ladies with a fear and trembling +which had not added either to his comfort or their own; consequently his +path had not been a very smooth one. + +"I respect the young ladies of Slowbridge," he remarked to Octavia that +very afternoon. "There are some very remarkable young ladies here,--very +remarkable indeed. They are interested in the church, and the poor, and +the schools, and, indeed, in every thing, which is most unselfish and +amiable. Young ladies have usually so much to distract their attention +from such matters." + +"If I stay long enough in Slowbridge," said Octavia, "I shall be +interested in the church, and the poor, and the schools." + +It seemed to the curate that there had never been any thing so delightful +in the world as her laugh and her unusual remarks. She seemed to him so +beautiful, and so exhilarating, that he forgot all else but his +admiration for her. He enjoyed himself so much this afternoon, that he +was almost brilliant, and excited the sarcastic comment of Mr. Francis +Barold, who was not enjoying himself at all. + +"Confound it!" said that gentleman to himself, as he looked on. "What did +I come here for? This style of thing is just what I might have expected. +She is amusing herself with that poor little cad now, and I am left in +the cold. I suppose that is her habit with the young men in Nevada." + +He had no intention of entering the lists with the Rev. Arthur Poppleton, +or of concealing the fact that he felt that this little Nevada flirt was +making a blunder. The sooner she knew it, the better for herself; so he +played his game as badly as possible, and with much dignity. + +But Octavia was so deeply interested in Mr. Poppleton's ardent efforts +to do credit to her teaching, that she was apparently unconscious of +all else. She played with great cleverness, and carried her partner to +the terminus, with an eager enjoyment of her skill quite pleasant to +behold. She made little darts here and there, advised, directed, and +controlled his movements, and was quite dramatic in a small way when he +made a failure. + +Mrs. Burnham, who was superintending the proceeding, seated in her own +easy-chair behind her window-curtains, was roused to virtuous indignation +by her energy. + +"There is no repose whatever in her manner," she said. "No dignity. Is a +game of croquet a matter of deep moment? It seems to me that it is almost +impious to devote one's mind so wholly to a mere means of recreation." + +"She seems to be enjoying it, mamma," said Miss Laura Burnham, with a +faint sigh. Miss Laura had been looking on over her parent's shoulder. +"They all seem to be enjoying it. See how Lucia Gaston and Mr. Burmistone +are laughing. I never saw Lucia look like that before. The only one who +seems a little dull is Mr. Barold." + +"He is probably disgusted by a freedom of manner to which he is not +accustomed," replied Mrs. Burnham. "The only wonder is that he has not +been disgusted by it before." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ADVANTAGES. + + +The game over, Octavia deserted her partner. She walked lightly, and with +the air of a victor, to where Barold was standing. She was smiling, and +slightly flushed, and for a moment or so stood fanning herself with a gay +Japanese fan. + +"Don't you think I am a good teacher?" she asked at length. + +"I should say so," replied Barold, without enthusiasm. "I am afraid I am +not a judge." + +She waved her fan airily. + +"I had a good pupil," she said. Then she held her fan still for a moment, +and turned fully toward him. "I have done something you don't like," she +said. "I knew I had." + +Mr. Francis Barold retired within himself at once. In his present mood +it really appeared that she was assuming that he was very much interested +indeed. + +"I should scarcely take the liberty upon a limited acquaintance," he +began. + +She looked at him steadily, fanning herself with slow, regular movements. + +"Yes," she remarked. "You're mad. I knew you were." + +He was so evidently disgusted by this observation, that she caught at the +meaning of his look, and laughed a little. + +"Ah!" she said, "that's an American word, ain't it? It sounds queer to +you. You say 'vexed' instead of 'mad.' Well, then, you are vexed." + +"If I have been so clumsy as to appear ill-humored," he said, "I beg +pardon. Certainly I have no right to exhibit such unusual interest in +your conduct." + +He felt that this was rather decidedly to the point, but she did not seem +overpowered at all. She smiled anew. + +"Anybody has a right to be mad--I mean vexed," she observed. "I should +like to know how people would live if they hadn't. I am mad--I mean +vexed--twenty times a day." + +"Indeed?" was his sole reply. + +"Well," she said, "I think it's real mean in you to be so cool about it +when you remember what I told you the other day." + +"I regret to say I don't remember just now. I hope it was nothing very +serious." + +To his astonishment she looked down at her fan, and spoke in a slightly +lowered voice:-- + +"I told you that I wanted to be improved." + +It must be confessed that he was mollified. There was a softness in her +manner which amazed him. He was at once embarrassed and delighted. But, +at the same time, it would not do to commit himself to too great a +seriousness. + +"Oh!" he answered, "that was a rather good joke, I thought." + +"No, it wasn't," she said, perhaps even half a tone lower. "I was +in earnest." + +Then she raised her eyes. + +"If you told me when I did any thing wrong, I think it might be a good +thing," she said. + +He felt that this was quite possible, and was also struck with the idea +that he might find the task of mentor--so long as he remained entirely +non-committal--rather interesting. Still, he could not afford to descend +at once from the elevated stand he had taken. + +"I am afraid you would find it rather tiresome," he remarked. + +"I am afraid _you_ would," she answered. "You would have to tell me of +things so often." + +"Do you mean seriously to tell me that you would take my advice?" he +inquired. + +"I mightn't take all of it," was her reply; "but I should take +some--perhaps a great deal." + +"Thanks," he remarked. "I scarcely think I should give you a great deal." + +She simply smiled. +"I have never had any advice at all," she said. "I don't know that I +should have taken it if I had--just as likely as not I shouldn't; but I +have never had any. Father spoiled me. He gave me all my own way. He said +he didn't care, so long as I had a good time; and I must say I have +generally had a good time. I don't see how I could help it--with all my +own way, and no one to worry. I wasn't sick, and I could buy any thing I +liked, and all that: so I had a good time. I've read of girls, in books, +wishing they had mothers to take care of them. I don't know that I ever +wished for one particularly. I can take care of myself. I must say, too, +that I don't think some mothers are much of an institution. I know girls +who have them, and they are always worrying." + +He laughed in spite of himself; and though she had been speaking with the +utmost seriousness and _naiveté_, she joined him. + +When they ceased, she returned suddenly to the charge. + +"Now tell me what I have done this afternoon that isn't right," she +said,--"that Lucia Gaston wouldn't have done, for instance. I say +that, because I shouldn't mind being a little like Lucia Gaston--in +some things." + +"Lucia ought to feel gratified," he commented. + +"She does," she answered. "We had a little talk about it, and she was as +pleased as could be. I didn't think of it in that way until I saw her +begin to blush. Guess what she said." + +"I am afraid I can't." + +"She said she saw so many things to envy in me, that she could scarcely +believe I wanted to be at all like her." + +"It was a very civil speech," said Barold ironically. "I scarcely thought +Lady Theobald had trained her so well." + +"She meant it," said Octavia. "You mayn't believe it, but she did. I know +when people mean things, and when they don't." + +"I wish I did," said Barold. + +Octavia turned her attention to her fan. + +"Well, I am waiting," she said. + +"Waiting?" he repeated. + +"To be told of my faults." + +"But I scarcely see of what importance my opinion can be." + +"It is of some importance to me--just now." + +The last two words rendered him really impatient, and, it may be, spurred +him up. + +"If we are to take Lucia Gaston as a model," he said, "Lucia Gaston would +possibly not have been so complaisant in her demeanor toward our clerical +friend." + +"Complaisant!" she exclaimed, opening her lovely eyes. "When I was +actually plunging about the garden, trying to teach him to play. Well, I +shouldn't call that being complaisant." + +"Lucia Gaston," he replied, "would not say that she had been 'plunging' +about the garden." + +She gave herself a moment for reflection. + +"That's true," she remarked, when it was over: "she wouldn't. When I +compare myself with the Slowbridge girls, I begin to think I must say +some pretty awful things." + +Barold made no reply, which caused her to laugh a little again. + +"You daren't tell me," she said. "Now, do I? Well, I don't think I want +to know very particularly. What Lady Theobald thinks will last quite a +good while. Complaisant!" + +"I am sorry you object to the word," he said. + +"Oh, I don't!" she answered. "I like it. It sounds so much more polite +than to say I was flirting and being fast." + +"Were you flirting?" he inquired coldly. + +He objected to her ready serenity very much. + +She looked a little puzzled. + +"You are very like aunt Belinda," she said. + +He drew himself up. He did not think there was any point of resemblance +at all between Miss Belinda and himself. + +She went on, without observing his movement. + +"You think every thing means something, or is of some importance. You +said that just as aunt Belinda says, 'What will they think?' It never +occurs to me that they'll think at all. Gracious! Why should they?" + +"You will find they do," he said. + +"Well," she said, glancing at the group gathered under the laburnum-tree, +"just now aunt Belinda thinks we had better go over to her; so, suppose +we do it? At any rate, I found out that I was too complaisant to Mr. +Poppleton." + +When the party separated for the afternoon, Barold took Lucia home, and +Mr. Burmistone and the curate walked down the street together. + +Mr. Poppleton was indeed most agreeably exhilarated. His expressive +little countenance beamed with delight. + +"What a very charming person Miss Bassett is!" he exclaimed, after they +had left the gate. "What a very charming person indeed!" + +"Very charming," said Mr. Burmistone with much seriousness. "A +prettier young person I certainly have never seen; and those wonderful +gowns of hers"-- + +"Oh!" interrupted Mr. Poppleton, with natural confusion, "I--referred to +Miss Belinda Bassett; though, really, what you say is very true. Miss +Octavia Bassett--indeed--I think--in fact, Miss Octavia Bassett is +_quite_, one might almost say even _more_, charming than her aunt." + +"Yes," admitted Mr. Burmistone; "perhaps one might. She is less ripe, it +is true; but that is an objection time will remove." + +"There is such a delightful gayety in her manner!" said Mr. Poppleton; +"such an ingenuous frankness! such a--a--such spirit! It quite carries me +away with it,--quite." + +He walked a few steps, thinking over this delightful gayety and ingenuous +frankness; and then burst out afresh,-- + +"And what a remarkable life she has had too! She actually told me, that, +once in her childhood, she lived for months in a gold-diggers' camp,--the +only woman there. She says the men were kind to her, and made a pet of +her. She has known the most extraordinary people." + +In the mean time Francis Barold returned Lucia to Lady Theobald's safe +keeping. Having done so, he made his adieus, and left the two to +themselves. Her ladyship was, it must be confessed, a little at a loss to +explain to herself what she saw, or fancied she saw, in the manner and +appearance of her young relative. She was persuaded that she had never +seen Lucia look as she looked this afternoon. She had a brighter color in +her cheeks than usual, her pretty figure seemed more erect, her eyes had +a spirit in them which was quite new. She had chatted and laughed gayly +with Francis Barold, as she approached the house; and after his departure +she moved to and fro with a freedom not habitual to her. + +"He has been making himself agreeable to her," said my lady, with grim +pleasure. "He can do it if he chooses; and he is just the man to please a +girl,--good-looking, and with a fine, domineering air." + +"How did you enjoy yourself?" she asked. + +"Very much," said Lucia; "never more, thank you." + +"Oh!" ejaculated my lady. "And which of her smart New York gowns did Miss +Octavia Bassett wear?" + +They were at the dinner-table; and, instead of looking down at her soup, +Lucia looked quietly and steadily across the table at her grandmother. + +"She wore a very pretty one," she said: "it was pale fawn-color, and +fitted her like a glove. She made me feel very old-fashioned and +badly dressed." + +Lady Theobald laid down her spoon. + +"She made you feel old-fashioned and badly dressed,--you!" + +"Yes," responded Lucia: "she always does. I wonder what she thinks of the +things we wear in Slowbridge." And she even went to the length of smiling +a little. + +"What _she_ thinks of what is worn in Slowbridge!" Lady Theobald +ejaculated. "She! may I ask what weight the opinion of a young woman from +America--from Nevada--is supposed to have in Slowbridge?" + +Lucia took a spoonful of soup in a leisurely manner. + +"I don't think it is supposed to have any; but--but I don't think she +minds that. I feel as if I shouldn't if I were in her place. I have +always thought her very lucky." + +"You have thought her lucky!" cried my lady. "You have envied a Nevada +young woman, who dresses like an actress, and loads herself with jewels +like a barbarian? A girl whose conduct toward men is of a character +to--to chill one's blood!" + +"They admire her," said Lucia simply, "more than they admire Lydia +Egerton, and more than they admire me." + +"Do _you_ admire her?" demanded my lady. + +"Yes, grandmamma," replied Lucia courageously. "I think I do." + +Never had my lady been so astounded in her life. For a moment she could +scarcely speak. When she recovered herself she pointed to the door. + +"Go to your room," she commanded. "This is American freedom of speech, I +suppose. Go to your room." + +Lucia rose obediently. She could not help wondering what her ladyship's +course would be if she had the hardihood to disregard her order. She +really looked quite capable of carrying it out forcibly herself. When the +girl stood at her bedroom window, a few minutes later, her cheeks were +burning and her hands trembling. + +"I am afraid it was very badly done," she said to herself. "I am sure it +was; but--but it will be a kind of practice. I was in such a hurry to try +if I were equal to it, that I didn't seem to balance things quite +rightly. I ought to have waited until I had more reason to speak out. +Perhaps there wasn't enough reason then, and I was more aggressive than I +ought to have been. Octavia is never aggressive. I wonder if I was at all +pert. I don't think Octavia ever means to be pert. I felt a little as if +I meant to be pert. I must learn to balance myself, and only be cool and +frank." + +Then she looked out of the window, and reflected a little. + +"I was not so very brave, after all," she said, rather reluctantly. "I +didn't tell her Mr. Burmistone was there. I daren't have done that. I am +afraid I _am_ sly--that sounds sly, I am sure." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CONTRAST. + + +"Lady Theobald will put a stop to it," was the general remark. "It will +certainly not occur again." + +This was said upon the evening of the first gathering upon Miss Belinda's +grass-plat, and at the same time it was prophesied that Mr. Francis +Barold would soon go away. + +But neither of the prophecies proved true. Mr. Francis Barold did _not_ +return to London; and, strange to say, Lucia was seen again and again +playing croquet with Octavia Bassett, and was even known to spend +evenings with her. + +Perhaps it might be that an appeal made by Miss Belinda to her ladyship +had caused her to allow of these things. Miss Belinda had, in fact, made +a private call upon my lady, to lay her case before her. + +"I feel so very timid about every thing," she said, almost with tears, +"and so fearful of trusting myself, that I really find it quite a trial. +The dear child has such a kind heart--I assure you she has a kind heart, +dear Lady Theobald,--and is so innocent of any intention to do wrong--I +am sure she is innocent,--that it seems cruel to judge her severely. If +she had had the benefit of such training as dear Lucia's. I am convinced +that her conduct would have been most exemplary. She sees herself that +she has faults: I am sure she does. She said to me only last night, in +that odd way of hers,--she had been sitting, evidently thinking deeply, +for some minutes,--and she said, 'I wonder if I shouldn't be nicer if I +were more like Lucia Gaston.' You see what turn her mind must have taken. +She admires Lucia so much." + +"Yesterday evening at dinner," said Lady Theobald severely, "Lucia +informed me that _she_ admired your niece. The feeling seems to be +mutual." + +Miss Belinda colored, and brightened visibly. + +"Did she, indeed?" she exclaimed. "How pleased Octavia will be to hear +it! Did she, indeed?" Then, warned by a chilliness, and lack of response, +in her ladyship's manner, she modified her delight, and became apologetic +again. "These young people are more--are less critical than we are," she +sighed. "Octavia's great prettiness"-- + +"I think," Lady Theobald interposed, "that Lucia has been taught to feel +that the body is corruptible, and subject to decay, and that mere beauty +is of small moment." + +Miss Belinda sighed again. + +"That is very true," she admitted deprecatingly; "very true indeed." + +"It is to be hoped that Octavia's stay in Slowbridge will prove +beneficial to her," said her ladyship in her most judicial manner. "The +atmosphere is wholly unlike that which has surrounded her during her +previous life." + +"I am sure it will prove beneficial to her," said Miss Belinda eagerly. +"The companionship of well-trained and refined young people cannot fail +to be of use to her. Such a companion as Lucia would be, if you would +kindly permit her to spend an evening with us now and then, would +certainly improve and modify her greatly. Mr. Francis Barold is--is, I +think, of the same opinion; at least, I fancied I gathered as much from a +few words he let fall." + +"Francis Barold?" repeated Lady Theobald. "And what did Francis Barold +say?" + +"Of course it was but very little," hesitated Miss Belinda; "but--but I +could not help seeing that he was drawing comparisons, as it were. +Octavia was teaching Mr. Poppleton to play croquet; and she was rather +exhilarated, and perhaps exhibited more--freedom of manner, in an +innocent way,--quite in an innocent, thoughtless way,--than is exactly +customary; and I saw Mr. Barold glance from her to Lucia, who stood near; +and when I said, 'You are thinking of the contrast between them,' he +answered, 'Yes, they differ very greatly, it is true;' and of course I +knew that my poor Octavia could not have the advantage in his eyes. She +feels this herself, I know. She shocked me the other day, beyond +expression, by telling me that she had asked him if he thought she was +really fast, and that she was sure he did. Poor child! she evidently did +not comprehend the dreadful significance of such terms." + +"A man like Francis Barold does understand their significance," said Lady +Theobald; "and it is to be deplored that your niece cannot be taught what +her position in society will be if such a reputation attaches itself to +her. The men of the present day fight shy of such characters." + +This dread clause so impressed poor Miss Belinda by its solemnity, that +she could not forbear repeating it to Octavia afterward, though it is to +be regretted that it did not produce the effect she had hoped. + +"Well, I must say," she observed, "that if some men fought a little shyer +than they do, I shouldn't mind it. You always _do_ have about half a +dozen dangling around, who only bore you, and who will keep asking you to +go to places, and sending you bouquets, and asking you to dance when they +can't dance at all, and only tear your dress, and stand on your feet. If +they would 'fight shy,' it would be splendid." + +To Miss Belinda, who certainly had never been guilty of the indecorum of +having any member of the stronger sex "dangling about" at all, this was +very trying. + +"My dear," she said, "don't say 'you always have;' it--it really seems to +make it so personal." + +Octavia turned around, and fixed her eyes wonderingly upon her blushing +countenance. For a moment she made no remark, a marvellous thought +shaping itself slowly in her mind. + +"Aunt Belinda," she said at length, "did nobody ever"-- + +"Ah, no, my dear! No, no, I assure you!" cried Miss Belinda, in the +greatest possible trepidation. "Ah, dear, no! Such--such things +rarely--very rarely happen in--Slowbridge; and, besides, I couldn't +possibly have thought of it. I couldn't, indeed!" + +She was so overwhelmed with maidenly confusion at the appalling thought, +that she did not recover herself for half an hour at least. Octavia, +feeling that it would not be safe to pursue the subject, only uttered one +word of comment,-- + +"Gracious!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN EXPERIMENT. + + +Much to her own astonishment, Lucia found herself allowed new liberty. +She was permitted to spend the afternoon frequently with Octavia; and on +several occasions that young lady and Miss Bassett were invited to +partake of tea at Oldclough in company with no other guest than Francis +Barold. + +"I don't know what it means, and I think it must mean something," said +Lucia to Octavia; "but it is very pleasant. I never was allowed to be so +intimate with any one before." + +"Perhaps," suggested Octavia sagely, "she thinks, that, if you see me +often enough, you will get sick of me, and it will be a lesson to you." + +"The more I see of you," answered Lucia with a serious little air, "the +fonder I am of you. I understand you better. You are not at all like what +I thought you at first, Octavia." + +"But I don't know that there's much to understand in me." + +"There is a great deal to understand in you," she replied. "You are a +puzzle to me often. You seem so frank, and yet one knows so little about +you after all. For instance," Lucia went on, "who would imagine that you +are so affectionate?" + +"Am I affectionate?" she asked. + +"Yes," answered Lucia: "I am sure you are very affectionate. I have found +it out gradually. You would suffer things for any one you loved." + +Octavia thought the matter over. + +"Yes," she said at length, "I would." + +"You are very fond of Miss Bassett," proceeded Lucia, as if arraigning +her at the bar of justice. "You are _very_ fond of your father; and I am +sure there are other people you are very fond of--_very_ fond of indeed." + +Octavia pondered seriously again. + +"Yes, there are," she remarked; "but no one would care about them here, +and so I'm not going to make a fuss. You don't want to make a fuss over +people you l-like." + +"_You_ don't," said Lucia. "You are like Francis Barold in one way, but +you are altogether different in another. Francis Barold does not wish to +show emotion; and he is so determined to hedge himself around, that one +can't help suspecting that he is always guarding himself against one. He +seems always to be resenting any interference; but you do not appear to +care at all, and so it is not natural that one should suspect you. I did +not suspect you." + +"What do you suspect me of now?" + +"Of thinking a great deal," answered Lucia affectionately. "And of being +very clever and very good." + +Octavia was silent for a few moments. + +"I think," she said after the pause,--"I think you'll find out that it's +a mistake." + +"No, I shall not," returned Lucia, quite glowing with enthusiasm. "And I +know I shall learn a great deal from you." + +This was such a startling proposition that Octavia felt decidedly +uncomfortable. She flushed rosy red. + +"I'm the one who ought to learn things, I think," she said. "I'm always +doing things that frighten aunt Belinda, and you know how the rest +regard me." + +"Octavia," said Lucia, very naively indeed, "suppose we try to help each +other. If you will tell me when I am wrong, I will try to--to have the +courage to tell you. That will be good practice for me. What I want most +is courage and frankness, and I am sure it will take courage to make up +my mind to tell you of your--of your mistakes." + +Octavia regarded her with mingled admiration and respect. + +"I think that's a splendid idea," she said. + +"Are you sure," faltered Lucia, "are you sure you won't mind the +things I may have to say? Really, they are quite little things in +themselves--hardly worth mentioning"-- + +"Tell me one of them, right now," said Octavia, point-blank. + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed Lucia, starting. "I'd rather not--just now." + +"Well," commented Octavia, "that sounds as if they must be pretty +unpleasant. Why don't you want to? They will be quite as bad to-morrow. +And to refuse to tell me one is a bad beginning. It looks as if you were +frightened; and it isn't good practice for you to be frightened at such a +little thing." + +Lucia felt convicted. She made an effort to regain her composure. + +"No, it is not," she said. "But that is always the way. I am continually +telling myself that I _will_ be courageous and candid; and, the first +time any thing happens, I fail. I _will_ tell you one thing." + +She stopped short here, and looked at Octavia guiltily. + +"It is something--I think I would do if--if I were in your place," Lucia +stammered. "A very little thing indeed." + +"Well?" remarked Octavia anxiously. + +Lucia lost her breath, caught it again, and proceeded cautiously, and +with blushes at her own daring. + +"If I were in your place," she said, "I think--that, perhaps--only +perhaps, you know--I would not wear--my hair--_quite_ so low down--over +my forehead." + +Octavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the pier-glass over the mantle. +She glanced at the reflection of her own startled, pretty face, and +then, putting her hand up to the soft blonde "bang" which met her brows, +turned to Lucia. + +"Isn't it becoming?" she asked breathlessly. + +"Oh, yes!" Lucia answered. "Very." + +Octavia started. + +"Then, why wouldn't you wear it?" she cried. "What do you mean?" + +Lucia felt her position truly a delicate one. She locked her hands, and +braced herself; but she blushed vividly. + +"It may sound rather silly when I tell you why, Octavia," she said; "but +I really do think it is a sort of reason. You know, in those absurd +pictures of actresses, bangs always seem to be the principal feature. I +saw some in the shop-windows when I went to Harriford with grandmamma. +And they were such dreadful women,--some of them,--and had so very few +clothes on, that I can't help thinking I shouldn't like to look like +them, and"-- + +"Does it make me look like them?" + +"Oh, very little!" answered Lucia; "very little indeed, of course; but"-- + +"But it's the same thing after all," put in Octavia. "That's what you +mean." + +"It is so very little," faltered Lucia, "that--that perhaps it isn't +a reason." + +Octavia looked at herself in the glass again. + +"It isn't a very good reason," she remarked, "but I suppose it will do." + +She paused, and looked Lucia in the face. + +"I don't think that's a little thing," she said. "To be told you look +like an _opéra bouffe_ actress." + +"I did not mean to say so," cried Lucia, filled with the most poignant +distress. "I beg your pardon, indeed--I--oh, dear! I was afraid you +wouldn't like it. I felt that it was taking a great liberty." + +"I don't like it," answered Octavia; "but that can't be helped. I didn't +exactly suppose I should. But I wasn't going to say any thing about +_your_ hair when _I_ began," glancing at poor Lucia's coiffure, "though I +suppose I might." + +"You might say a thousand things about it!" cried Lucia piteously. "I +know that mine is not only in bad taste, but it is ugly and unbecoming." +"Yes," said Octavia cruelly, "it is." + +"And yours is neither the one nor the other," protested Lucia. "You know +I told you it was pretty, Octavia." + +Octavia walked over to the table, upon which stood Miss Belinda's +work-basket, and took therefrom a small and gleaming pair of scissors, +returning to the mantle-glass with them. + +"How short shall I cut it?" she demanded. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lucia, "don't, don't!" + +For answer, Octavia raised the scissors, and gave a snip. It was a savage +snip, and half the length and width of her love-locks fell on the mantle; +then she gave another snip, and the other half fell. + +Lucia scarcely dared to breathe. + +For a moment Octavia stood gazing at herself, with pale face and dilated +eyes. Then suddenly the folly of the deed she had done seemed to reveal +itself to her. + +"Oh!" she cried out. "Oh, how diabolical it looks!" + +She turned upon Lucia. + +"Why did you make me do it?" she exclaimed. "It's all your fault--every +bit of it;" and, flinging the scissors to the other end of the room, she +threw herself into a chair, and burst into tears. + +Lucia's anguish of mind was almost more than she could bear. For at least +three minutes she felt herself a criminal of the deepest dye; after the +three minutes had elapsed, however, she began to reason, and called to +mind the fact that she was failing as usual under her crisis. + +"This is being a coward again," she said to herself. "It is worse than to +have said nothing. It is true that she will look more refined, now one +can see a little of her forehead; and it is cowardly to be afraid to +stand firm when I really think so. I--yes, I will say something to her." + +"Octavia," she began aloud, "I am sure you are making a mistake again." +This as decidedly as possible, which was not very decidedly. "You--you +look very much--nicer." + +"I look _ghastly_!" said Octavia, who began to feel rather absurd. + +"You do not. Your forehead--you have the prettiest forehead I ever saw, +Octavia," said Lucia eagerly; "and your eyebrows are perfect. I--wish you +would look at yourself again." + +Rather to her surprise, Octavia began to laugh under cover of her +handkerchief: reaction had set in, and, though the laugh was a trifle +hysterical, it was still a laugh. Next she gave her eyes a final little +dab, and rose to go to the glass again. She looked at herself, touched up +the short, waving fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia, with +a resigned expression. + +"Do you think that any one who was used to seeing it the other way +would--would think I looked horrid?" she inquired anxiously. + +"They would think you prettier,--a great deal," Lucia answered earnestly. +"Don't you know, Octavia, that nothing could be really unbecoming to you? +You have that kind of face." + +For a few seconds Octavia seemed to lose herself in thought of a +speculative nature. + +"Jack always said so," she remarked at length. + +"Jack!" repeated Lucia timidly. + +Octavia roused herself, and smiled with candid sweetness. + +"He is some one I knew in Nevada," she explained. "He worked in father's +mine once." + +"You must have known him very well," suggested Lucia, somewhat awed. + +"I did," she replied calmly. "Very well." + +She tucked away her pocket-handkerchief in the jaunty pocket at the back +of her basque, and returned to her chair. Then she turned again to Lucia. + +"Well," she said, "I think you have found out that you _were_ mistaken, +haven't you, dear? Suppose you tell me of something else." + +Lucia colored. + +"No," she answered: "that is enough for to-day." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +PECULIAR TO NEVADA. + + +Whether, or not, Lucia was right in accusing Octavia Bassett of being +clever, and thinking a great deal, is a riddle which those who are +interested in her must unravel as they read; but, whether the surmise was +correct or incorrect, it seemed possible that she had thought a little +after the interview. When Barold saw her next, he was struck by a slight +but distinctly definable change he recognized in her dress and coiffure. +Her pretty hair had a rather less "professional" appearance: he had the +pleasure of observing, for the first time, how very white her forehead +was, and how delicate the arch of her eyebrows; her dress had a novel air +of simplicity, and the diamond rings were nowhere to be seen. + +"She's better dressed than usual," he said to himself. "And she's always +well dressed,--rather too well dressed, fact is, for a place like this. +This sort of thing is in better form, under the circumstances." It was +so much "better form," and he so far approved of it, that he quite +thawed, and was very amiable and very entertaining indeed. + +Octavia was entertaining too. She asked several most interesting +questions. + +"Do you think," she inquired, "that it is bad taste to wear diamonds?" + +"My mother wears them--occasionally." + +"Have you any sisters?" + +"No." + +"Any cousins--as young as I am?" + +"Ya-as." + +"Do they wear them?" + +"I must admit," he replied, "that they don't. In the first place, you +know, they haven't any; and, in the second, I am under the impression +that Lady Beauchamp--their mamma, you know--wouldn't permit it if they +had." + +"Wouldn't permit it!" said Octavia. "I suppose they always do as she +tells them?" + +He smiled a little. + +"They would be very courageous young women if they didn't," he remarked. + +"What would she do if they tried it?" she inquired. "She couldn't beat +them." + +"They will never try it," he answered dryly. "And though I have never +seen her beat them, or heard their lamentations under chastisement, I +should not like to say that Lady Beauchamp could not do any thing. She is +a very determined person--for a gentlewoman." + +Octavia laughed. + +"You are joking," she said. + +"Lady Beauchamp is a serious subject for jokes," he responded. "My +cousins think so, at least." + +"I wonder if she is as bad as Lady Theobald," Octavia reflected aloud. +"She says I have no right to wear diamonds at all until I am married. But +I don't mind Lady Theobald," she added, as a cheerful afterthought. "I am +not fond enough of her to care about what she says." + +"Are you fond of any one?" Barold inquired, speaking with a languid air, +but at the same time glancing at her with some slight interest from under +his eyelids. + +"Lucia says I am," she returned, with the calmness of a young person who +wished to regard the matter from an unembarrassed point of view. "Lucia +says I am affectionate." + +"Ah!" deliberately. "Are you?" + +She turned, and looked at him serenely. + +"Should _you_ think so?" she asked. + +This was making such a personal matter of the question, that he did not +exactly enjoy it. It was certainly not "good form" to pull a man up in +such cool style. + +"Really," he replied, "I--ah--have had no opportunity of judging." + +He had not the slightest intention of being amusing, but to his infinite +disgust he discovered as soon as he spoke that she was amused. She +laughed outright, and evidently only checked herself because he looked so +furious. In consideration for his feelings she assumed an air of mild but +preternatural seriousness. + +"No," she remarked, "that is true: you haven't, of course." + +He was silent. He did not enjoy being amusing at all, and he made no +pretence of appearing to submit to the indignity calmly. + +She bent forward a little. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, "you are mad again--I mean, you are vexed. I am +always vexing you." + +There was a hint of appeal in her voice, which rather pleased him; but he +had no intention of relenting at once. + +"I confess I am at a loss to know why you laughed," he said. + +"Are you," she asked, "really?" letting her eyes rest upon him anxiously +for a moment. Then she actually gave vent to a little sigh. "We look at +things so differently, that's it," she said. + +"I suppose it is," he responded, still chillingly. + +In spite of this, she suddenly assumed a comparatively cheerful aspect. A +happy thought occurred to her. + +"Lucia would beg your pardon," she said. "I am learning good manners from +Lucia. Suppose I beg your pardon." + +"It is quite unnecessary," he replied. + +"Lucia wouldn't think so," she said. "And why shouldn't I be as +well-behaved as Lucia? I beg your pardon." + +He felt rather absurd, and yet somewhat mollified. She had a way of +looking at him, sometimes, when she had been unpleasant, which rather +soothed him. In fact, he had found of late, a little to his private +annoyance, that it was very easy for her either to soothe or disturb him. + +And now, just as Octavia had settled down into one of the prettiest and +least difficult of her moods, there came a knock at the front door, +which, being answered by Mary Anne, was found to announce the curate of +St. James. + +Enter, consequently, the Rev. Arthur Poppleton,--blushing, a trifle +timorous perhaps, but happy beyond measure to find himself in Miss +Belinda's parlor again, with Miss Belinda's niece. + +Perhaps the least possible shade of his joyousness died out when he +caught sight of Mr. Francis Barold, and certainly Mr. Francis Barold was +not at all delighted to see him. + +"What does the fellow want?" that gentleman was saying inwardly. "What +does he come simpering and turning pink here for? Why doesn't he go and +see some of his old women, and read tracts to them? That's _his_ +business." Octavia's manner toward her visitor formed a fresh +grievance for Barold. She treated the curate very well indeed. She +seemed glad to see him, she was wholly at her ease with him, she made no +trying remarks to him, she never stopped to fix her eyes upon him in +that inexplicable style, and she did not laugh when there seemed nothing +to laugh at. She was so gay and good-humored that the Rev. Arthur +Poppleton beamed and flourished under her treatment, and forgot to +change color, and even ventured to talk a good deal, and make divers +quite presentable little jokes. + +"I should like to know," thought Barold, growing sulkier as the others +grew merrier,--"I should like to know what she finds so interesting in +him, and why she chooses to treat him better than she treats me; for she +certainly does treat him better." + +It was hardly fair, however, that he should complain; for, at times, he +was treated extremely well, and his intimacy with Octavia progressed +quite rapidly. Perhaps, if the truth were told, it was always himself who +was the first means of checking it, by some suddenly prudent instinct +which led him to feel that perhaps he was in rather a delicate position, +and had better not indulge in too much of a good thing. He had not been +an eligible and unimpeachable desirable _parti_ for ten years without +acquiring some of that discretion which is said to be the better part of +valor. The matter-of-fact air with which Octavia accepted his attentions +caused him to pull himself up sometimes. If he had been Brown, or Jones, +or even Robinson, she could not have appeared to regard them as more +entirely natural. When--he had gone so far, once or twice--he had deigned +to make a more than usually agreeable speech to her, it was received with +none of that charming sensitive tremor to which he was accustomed. +Octavia neither blushed, nor dropped her eyes. + +It did not add to Barold's satisfaction to find her as cheerful and ready +to be amused by a mild little curate, who blushed and stammered, and was +neither brilliant, graceful, nor distinguished. Could not Octavia see the +wide difference between the two? Regarding the matter in this light, and +watching Octavia as she encouraged her visitor, and laughed at his jokes, +and never once tripped him up by asking him a startling question, did +not, as already has been said, improve Mr. Francis Barold's temper; and, +by the time his visit was over, he had lapsed into his coldest and most +haughty manner. As soon as Miss Belinda entered, and engaged Mr. +Poppleton for a moment, he rose, and crossed the little room to Octavia's +side. + +"I must bid you good-afternoon," he said. + +Octavia did not rise. + +"Sit down a minute, while aunt Belinda is talking about red-flannel +nightcaps and lumbago," she said. "I wanted to ask you something. By the +way, what _is_ lumbago?" + +"Is that what you wished to ask me?" he inquired stiffly. + +"No. I just thought of that. Have you ever had it? and what is it like? +All the old people in Slowbridge have it, and they tell you all about it +when you go to see them. Aunt Belinda says so. What I wanted to ask you +was different"-- + +"Possibly Miss Bassett might be able to tell you," he remarked. + +"About the lumbago? Well, perhaps she might. I'll ask her. Do you think +it bad taste in _me_ to wear diamonds?" + +She said this with the most delightful seriousness, fixing her eyes upon +him with her very prettiest look of candid appeal, as if it were the most +natural thing in the world that she should apply to him for information. +He felt himself faltering again. How white that bit of forehead was! How +soft that blonde, waving fringe of hair! What a lovely shape her eyes +were, and how large and clear as she raised them! + +"Why do you ask _me_?" he inquired. + +"Because I think you are an unprejudiced person. Lady Theobald is not. I +have confidence in you. Tell me." + +There was a slight pause. + +"Really," he said, after it, "I can scarcely believe that my opinion can +be of any value in your eyes. I am--can only tell you that it is hardly +customary in--an--in England for young people to wear a profusion of +ornament." + +"I wonder if I wear a profusion." + +"You don't need any," he condescended. "You are too young, and--all that +sort of thing." + +She glanced down at her slim, unringed hands for a moment, her expression +quite thoughtful. + +"Lucia and I almost quarrelled the other day," she said--"at least, I +almost quarrelled. It isn't so nice to be told of things, after all. I +must say I don't like it as much as I thought I should." + +He kept his seat longer than, he had intended; and, when he rose to go, +the Rev. Arthur Poppleton was shaking hands with Miss Belinda, and so it +fell out that they left the house together. + +"You know Miss Octavia Bassett well, I suppose," remarked Barold, with +condescension, as they passed through the gate. "You clergymen are +fortunate fellows." + +"I wish that others knew her as well, sir," said the little gentleman, +kindling. "I wish they knew her--her generosity and kindness of heart and +ready sympathy with misfortune!" + +"Ah!" commented Mr. Barold, twisting his mustache with somewhat of an +incredulous air. This was not at all the sort of thing he had expected to +hear. For his own part, it would not have occurred to him to suspect her +of the possession of such desirable and orthodox qualities. + +"There are those who--misunderstand her," cried the curate, warming with +his subject, "who misunderstand, and--yes, and apply harsh terms to her +innocent gayety and freedom of speech: if they knew her as I do, they +would cease to do so." + +"I should scarcely have thought"--began Barold. + +"There are many who scarcely think it,--if you will pardon my +interrupting you," said the curate. "I think they would scarcely believe +it if I felt at liberty to tell them, which I regret to say I do not. I +am almost breaking my word in saying what I cannot help saying to +yourself. The poor under my care are better off since she came, and there +are some who have seen her more than once, though she did not go as a +teacher or to reprove them for faults; and her way of doing what she did +was new to them, and perhaps much less serious than they were accustomed +to, and they liked it all the better." + +"Ah!" commented Barold again. "Flannel under-garments, and--that sort +of thing." + +"No," with much spirit, "not at all, sir; but what, as I said, they liked +much better. It is not often they meet a beautiful creature who comes +among them with open hands, and the natural, ungrudging way of giving +which she has. Sometimes they are at a loss to understand, as well as the +rest. They have been used to what is narrower and more--more exacting." + +"They have been used to Lady Theobald," observed Barold, with a faint +smile. + +"It would not become me to--to mention Lady Theobald in any disparaging +manner," replied the curate: "but the best and most charitable among us +do not always carry out our good intentions in the best way. I dare say +Lady Theobald would consider Miss Octavia Bassett too readily influenced +and too lavish." + +"She is as generous with her money as with her diamonds perhaps," said +Barold. "Possibly the quality is peculiar to Nevada. We part here, Mr. +Poppleton, I believe. Good-morning." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +LORD LANSDOWNE. + + +One morning in the following week Mrs. Burnham attired herself in her +second-best black silk, and, leaving the Misses Burnham practising +diligently, turned her steps toward Oldclough Hall. Arriving there, she +was ushered into the blue drawing-room by Dobson, in his character of +footman; and in a few minutes Lucia appeared. + +When Mrs. Burnham saw her, she assumed a slight air of surprise. + +"Why, my dear," she said, as she shook hands, "I should scarcely have +known you." + +And, though this was something of an exaggeration, there was some excuse +for the exclamation. Lucia was looking very charming, and several changes +might be noted in her attire and appearance. The ugly twist had +disappeared from her delicate head; and in its place were soft, loose +waves and light puffs; she had even ventured on allowing a few ringed +locks to stray on to her forehead; her white morning-dress no longer wore +the trade-mark of Miss Chickie, but had been remodelled by some one of +more taste. + +"What a pretty gown, my dear!" said Mrs. Burnham, glancing at it +curiously. "A Watteau plait down the back--isn't it a Watteau plait?--and +little ruffles down the front, and pale pink bows. It is quite like some +of Miss Octavia Bassett's dresses, only not so over-trimmed." + +"I do not think Octavia's dresses would seem over-trimmed if she wore +them in London or Paris," said Lucia bravely. "It is only because we are +so very quiet, and dress so little in Slowbridge, that they seem so." + +"And your hair!" remarked Mrs. Burnham. "You drew your idea of that from +some style of hers, I suppose. Very becoming, indeed. Well, well! And how +does Lady Theobald like all this, my dear?" + +"I am not sure that"--Lucia was beginning, when her ladyship interrupted +her by entering. + +"My dear Lady Theobald," cried her visitor, rising, "I hope you are well. +I have just been complimenting Lucia upon her pretty dress, and her new +style of dressing her hair. Miss Octavia Bassett has been giving her the +benefit of her experience, it appears. We have not been doing her +justice. Who would have believed that she had come from Nevada to improve +us?" + +"Miss Octavia Bassett," said my lady sonorously, "has come from Nevada to +teach our young people a great many things,--new fashions in duty, and +demeanor, and respect for their elders. Let us hope they will be +benefited." + +"If you will excuse me, grandmamma," said Lucia, speaking in a soft, +steady voice, "I will go and write the letters you wished written." + +"Go," said my lady with majesty; and, having bidden Mrs. Burnham +good-morning, Lucia went. + +If Mrs. Burnham had expected any explanation of her ladyship's evident +displeasure, she was doomed to disappointment. That excellent and +rigorous gentlewoman had a stern sense of dignity, which forbade her +condescending to the confidential weakness of mere ordinary mortals. +Instead of referring to Lucia, she broached a more commonplace topic. + +"I hope your rheumatism does not threaten you again, Mrs. Burnham," +she remarked. + +"I am very well, thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Burnham; "so well, that I +am thinking quite seriously of taking the dear girls to the garden-party, +when it comes off." + +"To the garden-party!" repeated her ladyship. "May I ask who thinks of +giving a garden-party in Slowbridge?" + +"It is no one in Slowbridge," replied this lady cheerfully. "Some one who +lives a little out of Slowbridge,--Mr. Burmistone, my dear Lady Theobald, +at his new place." + +"Mr. Burmistone!" + +"Yes, my dear; and a most charming affair it is to be, if we are to +believe all we hear. Surely you have heard something of it from Mr. +Barold." + +"Mr. Barold has not been to Oldclough for several days." + +"Then, he will tell you when he comes; for I suppose he has as much to do +with it as Mr. Burmistone." + +"I have heard before," announced my lady, "of men of Mr. Burmistone's +class securing the services of persons of established position in society +when they wished to spend their money upon entertainments; but I should +scarcely have imagined that Francis Barold would have allowed himself to +be made a party to such a transaction." + +"But," put in Mrs. Burnham rather eagerly, "it appears that Mr. +Burmistone is not such an obscure person, after all. He is an Oxford man, +and came off with honors: he is quite a well-born man, and gives this +entertainment in honor of his friend and relation, Lord Lansdowne." + +"Lord Lansdowne!" echoed her ladyship, sternly. + +"Son of the Marquis of Lauderdale, whose wife was Lady Honora Erroll." + +"Did Mr. Burmistone give you this information?" asked Lady Theobald with +ironic calmness. + +Mrs. Burnham colored never so faintly. + +"I--that is to say--there is a sort of acquaintance between one of my +maids and the butler at the Burmistone place; and, when the girl was +doing Lydia's hair, she told her the story. Lord Lansdowne and his father +are quite fond of Mr. Burmistone, it is said." + +"It seems rather singular to my mind that we should not have known of +this before." + +"But how should we learn? We none of us know Lord Lansdowne, or even the +marquis. I think he is only a second or third cousin. We are a +little--just a little _set_ in Slowbridge, you know, my dear: at least, I +have thought so sometimes lately." + +"I must confess," remarked my lady, "that _I_ have not regarded the +matter in that light." + +"That is because you have a better right to--to be a little set than the +rest of us," was the amiable response. + +Lady Theobald did not disclaim the privilege. She felt the sentiment an +extremely correct one. But she was not very warm in her manner during the +remainder of the call; and, incongruous as such a statement may appear, +it must be confessed that she felt that Miss Octavia Bassett must have +something to do with, these defections on all sides, and that +garden-parties, and all such swervings from established Slowbridge +custom, were the natural result of Nevada frivolity and freedom of +manners. It may be that she felt remotely that even Lord Lansdowne and +the Marquis of Lauderdale were to be referred to the same reprehensible +cause, and that, but for Octavia Bassett, Mr. Burmistone would not have +been educated at Oxford and have come off with honors, and have turned +out to be related to respectable people, but would have remained in +appropriate obscurity. + +"I suppose," she said afterward to Lucia, "that your friend Miss Octavia +Bassett is in Mr. Burmistone's confidence, if no one else has been +permitted to have that honor. I have no doubt _she_ has known of this +approaching entertainment for some weeks." + +"I do not know, grandmamma," replied Lucia, putting her letters together, +and gaining color as she bent over them. She was wondering, with inward +trepidation, what her ladyship would say if she knew the whole truth,--if +she knew that it was her granddaughter, and not Octavia Bassett, who +enjoyed Mr. Burmistone's confidence. + +"Ah!" she thought, "how could I ever dare to tell her?" + +The same day Francis Barold sauntered up to pay them a visit; and then, +as Mrs. Burnham had prophesied, Lady Theobald heard all she wished to +hear, and, indeed, a great deal more. + +"What is this I am told of Mr. Burmistone, Francis?" she inquired. +"That he intends to give a garden-party, and that Lord Lansdowne is to +be one of the guests, and that he has caused it to be circulated that +they are cousins." + +"That Lansdowne has caused it to be circulated--or Burmistone?" + +"It is scarcely likely that Lord Lansdowne"-- + +"Beg pardon," he interrupted, fixing his single glass dexterously in his +right eye, and gazing at her ladyship through it. "Can't see why +Lansdowne should object. Fact is, he is a great deal fonder of Burmistone +than relations usually are of each other. Now, I often find that kind of +thing a bore; but Lansdowne doesn't seem to. They were at school +together, it seems, and at Oxford too; and Burmistone is supposed to have +behaved pretty well towards Lansdowne at one time, when he was rather a +wild fellow--so the father and mother say. As to Burmistone 'causing it +to be circulated,' that sort of thing is rather absurd. The man isn't a +cad, you know." + +"Pray don't say 'you know,' Francis," said her ladyship. "I know very +little but what I have chanced to see, and I must confess I have not +been prepossessed in Mr. Burmistone's favor. Why did he not choose to +inform us"-- + +"That he was Lord Lansdowne's second cousin, and knew the Marquis of +Lauderdale, grandmamma?" broke in Lucia, with very pretty spirit. "Would +that have prepossessed you in his favor? Would you have forgiven him for +building the mills, on Lord Lansdowne's account? I--I wish I was related +to a marquis," which was very bold indeed. + +"May I ask," said her ladyship, in her most monumental manner, "when +_you_ became Mr. Burmistone's champion?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +"YOU HAVE MADE IT LIVELIER." + + +When she had become Mr. Burmistone's champion, indeed! She could scarcely +have told when, unless, perhaps, she had fixed the date at the first time +she had heard his name introduced at a high tea, with every politely +opprobrious epithet affixed. She had defended him in her own mind then, +and felt sure that he deserved very little that was said against him, and +very likely nothing at all. And, the first time she had seen and spoken +to him, she had been convinced that she had not made a mistake, and that +he had been treated with cruel injustice. How kind he was, how manly, how +clever, and how well he bore himself under the popular adverse criticism! +She only wondered that anybody could be so blind and stupid and wilful as +to assail him. + +And if this had been the case in those early days, imagine what she felt +now, when--ah, well!--when her friendship had had time and opportunity to +become a much deeper sentiment. Must it be confessed that she had seen +Mr. Burmistone even oftener than Octavia and Miss Belinda knew of? Of +course it had all been quite accidental; but it had happened that now and +then, when she had been taking a quiet walk in the lanes about Oldclough, +she had encountered a gentleman, who had dismounted, and led his horse by +the bridle, as he sauntered by her side. She had always been very timid +at such times, and had felt rather like a criminal; but Mr. Burmistone +had not been timid at all, and would, indeed, as soon have met Lady +Theobald as not, for which courage his companion admired him more than +ever. It was not very long before to be with this hero re-assured her, +and made her feel stronger and more self-reliant. She was never afraid to +open her soft little heart to him, and show him innocently all its +goodness, and ignorance of worldliness. She warmed and brightened under +his kindly influence, and was often surprised in secret at her own simple +readiness of wit and speech. + +"It is odd that I am such a different girl when--when I am with you," she +said to him one day. "I even make little jokes. I never should think of +making even the tiniest joke before grandmamma. Somehow, she never seems +quite to understand jokes. She never laughs at them. You always laugh, +and I am sure it is very kind of you to encourage me so; but you must not +encourage me too much, or I might forget, and make a little joke at +dinner, and I think, if I did, she would choke over her soup." + +Perhaps, when she dressed her hair, and adorned herself with pale pink +bows and like appurtenances, this artful young person had privately in +mind other beholders than Mrs. Burnham, and other commendation than that +to be bestowed by that most excellent matron. + +"Do you mind my telling you that you have put on an enchanted garment?" +said Mr. Burmistone, the first time they met when she wore one of the +old-new gowns. "I thought I knew before how"-- + +"I don't mind it at all," said Lucia, blushing brilliantly. "I rather +like it. It rewards me for my industry. My hair is dressed in a new way. +I hope you like that too. Grandmamma does not." + +It had been Lady Theobald's habit to treat Lucia severely from a sense of +duty. Her manner toward her had always rather the tone of implying that +she was naturally at fault, and yet her ladyship could not have told +wherein she wished the girl changed. In the good old school in which my +lady had been trained, it was customary to regard young people as weak, +foolish, and, if left to their own desires, frequently sinful. Lucia had +not been left to her own desires. She had been taught to view herself as +rather a bad case, and to feel that she was far from being what her +relatives had a right to expect. To be thrown with a person who did not +find her silly or dull or commonplace, was a new experience. + +"If I had been clever," Lucia said once to Mr. Burmistone,--"if I had +been clever, perhaps grandmamma would have been more satisfied with me. I +have often wished I had been clever." + +"If you had been a boy," replied Mr. Burmistone rather grimly, "and had +squandered her money, and run into debt, and bullied her, you would have +been her idol, and she would have pinched and starved herself to supply +your highness's extravagance." + +When the garden-party rumor began to take definite form, and there was no +doubt as to Mr. Burmistone's intentions, a discussion arose at once, and +went on in every genteel parlor. Would Lady Theobald allow Lucia to go? +and, if she did not allow her, would not such a course appear very +pointed indeed? It was universally decided that it would appear pointed, +but that Lady Theobald would not mind that in the least, and perhaps +would rather enjoy it than otherwise; and it was thought Lucia would not +go. And it is very likely that Lucia would have remained at home, if it +had not been for the influence of Mr. Francis Barold. + +Making a call at Oldclough, he found his august relative in a very +majestic mood, and she applied to him again for information. + +"Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me whether it is true that +Belinda Bassett--_Belinda Bassett_," with emphasis, "has been invited by +Mr. Burmistone to assist him to receive his guests." + +"Yes, it is true," was the reply: "I think I advised it myself. +Burmistone is fond of her. They are great friends. Man needs a woman at +such times." + +"And he chose Belinda Bassett?" + +"In the first place, he is on friendly terms with her, as I said before," +replied Barold; "in the second, she's just what he wants--well-bred, +kind-hearted, not likely to make rows, _et caetera_." There was a slight +pause before he finished, adding quietly, "He's not the man to submit to +being refused--Burmistone." + +Lady Theobald did not reply, or raise her eyes from her work: she knew he +was looking at her with calm fixedness, through the glass he held in its +place so cleverly; and she detested this more than any thing else, +perhaps because she was invariably quelled by it, and found she had +nothing to say. + +He did not address her again immediately, but turned to Lucia, dropping +the eyeglass, and resuming his normal condition. + +"You will go, of course?" he said. + +Lucia glanced across at my lady. + +"I--do not know. Grandmamma"-- + +"Oh!" interposed Barold, "you must go. There is no reason for your +refusing the invitation, unless you wish to imply something +unpleasant--which is, of course, out of the question." + +"But there may be reasons"--began her ladyship. + +"Burmistone is my friend," put in Barold, in his coolest tone; "and I am +your relative, which would make my position in his house a delicate one, +if he has offended you." + +When Lucia saw Octavia again, she was able to tell her that they had +received invitations to the _fête_, and that Lady Theobald had accepted +them. + +"She has not spoken a word to me about it, but she has accepted them," +said Lucia. "I don't quite understand her lately, Octavia. She must be +very fond of Francis Barold. He never gives way to her in the least, and +she always seems to submit to him. I know she would not have let me go, +if he had not insisted on it, in that taking-it-for-granted way of his." + +Naturally Mr. Burmistone's _fête_ caused great excitement. Miss Chickie +was never so busy in her life, and there were rumors that her feelings +had been outraged by the discovery that Mrs. Burnham had sent to +Harriford for costumes for her daughters. + +"Slowbridge is changing, mem," said Miss Chickie. with brilliant sarcasm. +"Our ladies is led in their fashions by a Nevada young person. We're +improving most rapid--more rapid than I'd ever have dared to hope. Do you +prefer a frill, or a flounce, mem?" + +Octavia was in great good spirits at the prospect of the gayeties in +question. She had been in remarkably good spirits for some weeks. She had +received letters from Nevada, containing good news she said. Shares had +gone up again; and her father had almost settled his affairs, and it +would not be long before he would come to England. She looked so +exhilarated over the matter, that Lucia felt a little aggrieved. "Will +you be so glad to leave us, Octavia?" she asked. "We shall not be so glad +to let you go. We have grown very fond of you." + +"I shall be sorry to leave you, and aunt Belinda is going with us. You +don't expect me to be very fond of Slowbridge, do you, and to be sorry I +can't take Mrs. Burnham--and the rest?" + +Barold was present when she made this speech, and it rather rankled. + +"Am I one of 'the rest'?" he inquired, the first time he found himself +alone with her. He was sufficiently piqued to forget his usual _hauteur_ +and discretion. + +"Would you like to be?" she said. + +"Oh! Very much--very much--naturally," he replied severely. + +They were standing near a rose-bush in the garden; and she plucked a +rose, and regarded it with deep interest. + +"Well," she said, next, "I must say I think I shouldn't have had such a +good time if you hadn't been here. You have made it livelier." + +"Tha-anks," he remarked. "You are most kind." + +"Oh!" she answered, "it's true. If it wasn't, I shouldn't say it. You and +Mr. Burmistone and Mr. Poppleton have certainly made it livelier." + +He went home in such a bad humor that his host, who was rather happier +than usual, commented upon his grave aspect at dinner. + +"You look as if you had heard ill news, old fellow," he said. "What's +up?" + +"Oh, nothing!" he was answered sardonically; "nothing whatever--unless +that I have been rather snubbed by a young lady from Nevada." + +"Ah!" with great seriousness: "that's rather cool, isn't it?" + +"It's her little way," said Barold. "It seems to be one of the customs +of Nevada." + +In fact, he was very savage indeed. He felt that he had condescended a +good deal lately. He seldom bestowed his time on women; and when he did +so, at rare intervals, he chose those who would do the most honor to his +taste at the least cost of trouble. And he was obliged to confess to +himself that he had broken his rule in this case. Upon analyzing his +motives and necessities, he found, that, after all, he must have extended +his visit simply because he chose to see more of this young woman from +Nevada, and that really, upon the whole, he had borne a good deal from +her. Sometimes he had been much pleased with her, and very well +entertained; but often enough--in fact, rather too often--she had made +him exceedingly uncomfortable. Her manners were not what he was +accustomed to: she did not consider that all men were not to be regarded +from the same point of view. Perhaps he did not put into definite words +the noble and patriotic sentiment that an Englishman was not to be +regarded from the same point of view as an American, and that, though all +this sort of thing might do with fellows in New York, it was scarcely +what an Englishman would stand. Perhaps, as I say, he had not put this +sentiment into words; but it is quite certain that it had been uppermost +in his mind upon more occasions than one. As he thought their +acquaintance over, this evening, he was rather severe upon Octavia. He +even was roused so far as to condescend to talk her over with Burmistone. + +"If she had been well brought up," he said, "she would have been a +different creature." + +"Very different, I have no doubt," said Burmistone thoughtfully. "When +you say well brought up, by the way, do you mean brought up like your +cousin, Miss Gaston?" + +"There is a medium," said Barold loftily. "I regret to say Lady Theobald +has not hit upon it." + +"Well, as you say," commented Mr. Burmistone, "I suppose there is a +medium." + +"A charming wife she would make, for a man with a position to maintain," +remarked Barold, with a short and somewhat savage laugh. + +"Octavia Bassett?" queried Burmistone. "That's true. But I am afraid she +wouldn't enjoy it--if you are supposing the man to be an Englishman, +brought up in the regulation groove." + +"Ah!" exclaimed Barold impatiently: "I was not looking at it from her +point of view, but from his." + +Mr. Burmistone slipped his hands in his pockets, and jingled his keys +slightly, as he did once before in an earlier part of this narrative. + +"Ah! from his," he repeated. "Not from hers. His point of view would +differ from hers--naturally." + +Barold flashed a little, and took his cigar from his mouth to knock off +the ashes. + +"A man is not necessarily a snob," he said, "because he is cool enough +not to lose his head where a woman is concerned. You can't marry a woman +who will make mistakes, and attract universal attention by her conduct." + +"Has it struck you that Octavia Bassett would?" inquired Burmistone. + +"She would do as she chose," said Barold petulantly. "She would do things +which were unusual; but I was not referring to her in particular. Why +should I?" + +"Ah!" said Burmistone. "I only thought of her because it did not strike +me that one would ever feel she had exactly blundered. She is not easily +embarrassed. There is a _sang-froid_ about her which carries things off." + +"Ah!" deigned Barold: "she has _sang-froid_ enough and to spare." + +He was silent for some time afterward, and sat smoking later than usual. +When he was about to leave the room for the night, he made an +announcement for which his host was not altogether prepared. + +"When the _fête_ is over, my dear fellow," he said, "I must go back to +London, and I shall be deucedly sorry to do it." + +"Look here!" said Burmistone, "that's a new idea, isn't it?" + +"No, an old one; but I have been putting the thing off from day to day. +By Jove! I did not think it likely that I should put it off, the day I +landed here." + +And he laughed rather uneasily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +"MAY I GO?" + + +The very day after this, Octavia opened the fourth trunk. She had had it +brought down from the garret, when there came a summons on the door, and +Lucia Gaston appeared. + +Lucia was very pale; and her large, soft eyes wore a decidedly frightened +look. She seemed to have walked fast, and was out of breath. Evidently +something had happened. + +"Octavia," she said, "Mr. Dugald Binnie is at Oldclough." + +"Who is he?" + +"He is my grand-uncle," explained Lucia tremulously. "He has a great deal +of money. Grandmamma"--She stopped short, and colored, and drew her +slight figure up. "I do not quite understand grandmamma, Octavia," she +said. "Last night she came to my room to talk to me; and this morning she +came again, and--oh!" she broke out indignantly, "how could she speak to +me in such a manner!" + +"What did she say?" inquired Octavia. + +"She said a great many things," with great spirit. "It took her a long +time to say them, and I do not wonder at it. It would have taken me a +hundred years, if I had been in her place. I--I was wrong to say I did +not understand her: I did--before she had finished." + +"What did you understand?" + +"She was afraid to tell me in plain words.--I never saw her afraid +before, but she was afraid. She has been arranging my future for me, and +it does not occur to her that I dare object. That is because she knows I +am a coward, and despises me for it--and it is what I deserve. If I make +the marriage she chooses, she thinks Mr. Binnie will leave me his money. +I am to run after a man who does not care for me, and make myself +attractive, in the hope that he will condescend to marry me because Mr. +Binnie may leave me his money. Do you wonder that it took even Lady +Theobald a long time to say that?" + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "you won't do it, I suppose. I wouldn't worry. +She wants you to marry Mr. Barold, I suppose." + +Lucia started. + +"How did you guess?" she exclaimed. + +"Oh! I always knew it. I didn't guess." And she smiled ever so faintly. +"That is one of the reasons why she loathes me so," she added. + +Lucia thought deeply for a moment: she recognized, all at once, several +things she had been mystified by before. + +"Oh, it is! It is!" she said. "And she has thought of it all the time, +when I never suspected her." + +Octavia smiled a little again. Lucia sat thinking, her hands clasped +tightly. + +"I am glad I came here," she said, at length. "I _am_ angry now, and I +see things more clearly. If she had only thought of it because Mr. Binnie +came, I could have forgiven her more easily; but she has been making +coarse plans all the time, and treating me with contempt. Octavia," she +added, turning upon her, with flushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, "I +think that, for the first time in my life, I am in a passion,--a real +passion. I think I shall never be afraid of her any more." Her delicate +nostrils were dilated, she held her head up, her breath came fast. There +was a hint of exultation in her tone. "Yes," she said, "I am in a +passion. And I am not afraid of her at all. I will go home and tell her +what I think." + +And it is quite probable that she would have done so, but for a trifling +incident which occurred before she reached her ladyship. + +She walked very fast, after she left the house. She wanted to reach +Oldclough before one whit of her anger cooled down; though, somehow, she +felt quite sure, that, even when her anger died out, her courage would +not take flight with it. Mr. Dugald Binnie had not proved to be a very +fascinating person. He was an acrid, dictatorial old man: he contradicted +Lady Theobald flatly every five minutes, and bullied his man-servant. But +it was not against him that Lucia's indignation was aroused. She felt +that Lady Theobald was quite capable of suggesting to him that Francis +Barold would be a good match for her; and, if she had done so, it was +scarcely his fault if he had accepted the idea. She understood now why +she had been allowed to visit Octavia, and why divers other things had +happened. She had been sent to walk with Francis Barold; he had been +almost reproached when he had not called; perhaps her ladyship had been +good enough to suggest to him that it was his duty to further her plans. +She was as capable of that as of any thing else which would assist her to +gain her point. The girl's cheeks grew hotter and hotter, her eyes +brighter, at every step, because every step brought some new thought: her +hands trembled, and her heart beat. + +"I shall never be afraid of her again," she said, as she turned the +corner into the road. "Never! never!" + +And at that very moment a gentleman stepped out of the wood at her right, +and stopped before her. + +She started back, with a cry. + +"Mr. Burmistone!" she said: "Mr. Burmistone!" + +She wondered if he had heard her last words: she fancied he had. He took +hold of her shaking little hand, and looked down at her excited face. + +"I am glad I waited for you," he said, in the quietest possible tone. +"Something is the matter." + +She knew there would be no use in trying to conceal the truth, and she +was not in the mood to make the effort. She scarcely knew herself. + +She gave quite a fierce little laugh. + +"I am angry!" she said. "You have never seen me angry before. I am on my +way to my--to Lady Theobald." + +He held her hand as calmly as before. He understood a great deal more +than she could have imagined. + +"What are you going to say to her?" he asked. She laughed again. + +"I am going to ask her what she means. I am going to tell her she has +made a mistake. I am going to prove to her that I am not such a coward, +after all. I am going to tell her that I dare disobey her,--_that_ is +what I am going to say to her," she concluded decisively. + +He held her hand rather closer. + +"Let us take a stroll in the copse, and talk it over," he said. "It is +deliciously cool there." + +"I don't want to be cool," she said. But he drew her gently with him; and +a few steps took them into the shade of the young oaks and pines, and +there he paused. + +"She has made you very angry?" he said. + +And then, almost before she knew what she was doing, she was pouring +forth the whole of her story, even more of it than she had told Octavia. +She had not at all intended to do it; but she did it, nevertheless. + +"I am to marry Mr. Francis Barold, if he will take me," she said, with a +bitter little smile,--"Mr. Francis Barold, who is so much in love with +me, as you know. His mother approves of the match, and sent him here to +make love to me, which he has done, as you have seen. I have no money of +my own; but, if I make a marriage which pleases him, Dugald Binnie will +probably leave me his--which it is thought will be an inducement to my +cousin, who needs one. If I marry him, or rather he marries me, Lady +Theobald thinks Mr. Binnie will be pleased. It does not even matter +whether Francis is pleased or not, and of course I am out of the +question; but it is hoped that it will please Mr. Binnie. The two ladies +have talked it over, and decided the matter. I dare say they have offered +me to Francis, who has very likely refused me, though perhaps he may be +persuaded to relent in time,--if I am very humble, and he is shown the +advantage of having Mr. Binnie's money added to his own,--but I have no +doubt I shall have to be very humble indeed. That is what I learned from +Lady Theobald last night, and it is what I am going to talk to her about. +Is it enough to make one angry, do you think? Is it enough?" + +He did not tell her whether he thought it enough, or not. He looked at +her with steady eyes. + +"Lucia," he said, "I wish you would let me go and talk with Lady +Theobald." + +"You?" she said with a little start. + +"Yes," he answered. "Let me go to her. Let me tell her, that, instead of +marrying Francis Barold, you will marry _me_. If you will say yes to +that, I think I can promise that you need never be afraid of her any +more." The fierce color died out of her cheeks, and the tears rushed to +her eyes. She raised her face with a pathetic look. + +"Oh!" she whispered, "you must be very sorry for me. I think you have +been sorry for me from the first." + +"I am desperately in love with you," he answered, in his quietest way. "I +have been desperately in love with you from the first. May I go?" + +She looked at him for a moment, incredulously. Then she faltered,-- + +"Yes." + +She still looked up at him; and then, in spite of her happiness, or +perhaps because of it, she suddenly began to cry softly, and forgot she +had been angry at all, as he took her into his strong, kind arms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GARDEN-PARTY. + + +The morning of the garden-party arose bright and clear, and Slowbridge +awakened in a great state of excitement. Miss Chickie, having worked +until midnight that all her orders might be completed, was so overpowered +by her labors as to have to take her tea and toast in bed. + +At Oldclough varied sentiments prevailed. Lady Theobald's manner was +chiefly distinguished by an implacable rigidity. She had chosen, as an +appropriate festal costume, a funereal-black _moire antique_, enlivened +by massive fringes and ornaments of jet; her jewelry being chains and +manacles of the latter, which rattled as she moved, with a sound somewhat +suggestive of bones. + +Mr. Dugald Binnie, who had received an invitation, had as yet amiably +forborne to say whether he would accept it, or not. He had been out when +Mr. Burmistone called, and had not seen him. + +When Lady Theobald descended to breakfast, she found him growling over +his newspaper; and he glanced up at her with a polite scowl. + +"Going to a funeral?" he demanded. + +"I accompany my granddaughter to this--this entertainment," her ladyship +responded. "It is scarcely a joyous occasion, to my mind." + +"No need to dress yourself like that, if it isn't," ejaculated Mr. +Binnie. "Why don't you stay at home, if you don't want to go? Man's all +right, isn't he? Once knew a man by the name of Burmistone, myself. One +of the few decent fellows I've met. If I were sure this was the same man, +I'd go myself. When I find a fellow who's neither knave nor fool, I stick +to him. Believe I'll send to find out. Where's Lucia?" + +What his opinion of Lucia was, it was difficult to discover. He had an +agreeable habit of staring at her over the top of his paper, and over his +dinner. The only time he had made any comment upon her, was the first +time he saw her in the dress she had copied from Octavia's. "Nice gown +that," he blurted out: "didn't get it here, I'll wager." + +"It's an old dress I remodelled," answered Lucia somewhat alarmed. "I +made it myself." + +"Doesn't look like it," he said gruffly. + +Lucia had touched up another dress, and was very happy in the prospect of +wearing it at the garden-party. + +"Don't call on grandmamma until after Wednesday," she had said to Mr. +Burmistone: "perhaps she wouldn't let me go. She will be very angry, +I am sure." + +"And you are not afraid?" + +"No," she answered: "I am not afraid at all. I shall not be afraid +again." + +In fact, she had perfectly confounded her ladyship by her demeanor. She +bore her fiercest glance without quailing in the least, or making any +effort to evade it: under her most scathing comments she was composed and +unmoved. On the first occasion of my lady's referring to her plans for +her future, she received a blow which fairly stunned her. The girl rose +from her chair, and looked her straight in the face unflinchingly, and +with a suggestion of _hauteur_ not easy to confront. + +"I beg you will not speak to me of that again," she said: "I will not +listen." And turning about, she walked out of the room. + +"This," her ladyship had said in sepulchral tones, when she recovered her +breath, "this is one of the results of Miss Octavia Bassett." And nothing +more had been said on the subject since. + +No one in Slowbridge was in more brilliant spirits than Octavia herself +on the morning of the _fête_. Before breakfast Miss Belinda was startled +by the arrival of another telegram, which ran as follows:-- + +"Arrived to-day, per 'Russia.' Be with you tomorrow evening. Friend with +me. + +"MARTIN BASSETT." + +On reading this communication, Miss Belinda burst into floods of +delighted tears. + +"Dear, dear Martin," she wept; "to think that we should meet again! _Why_ +didn't he let us know he was on the way? I should have been so anxious +that I should not have slept at all." + +"Well," remarked Octavia, "I suppose that would have been an advantage." + +Suddenly she approached Miss Belinda, kissed her, and disappeared out of +the room as if by magic, not returning for a quarter of an hour, looking +rather soft and moist and brilliant about the eyes when she did return. + +Octavia was a marked figure upon the grounds at that garden-party. + +"Another dress, my dear," remarked Mrs. Burnham. "And what a charming +color she has, I declare! She is usually paler. Perhaps we owe this to +Lord Lansdowne." + +"Her dress is becoming, at all events," privately remarked Miss Lydia +Burnham, whose tastes had not been consulted about her own. + +"It is she who is becoming," said her sister: "it is not the dress so +much, though her clothes always have a _look_, some way. She's prettier +than ever to-day, and is enjoying herself." + +She was enjoying herself. Mr. Francis Barold observed it rather gloomily +as he stood apart. She was enjoying herself so much, that she did not +seem to notice that he had avoided her, instead of going up to claim her +attention. Half a dozen men were standing about her, and making +themselves agreeable; and she was apparently quite equal to the +emergencies of the occasion. The young men from Broadoaks had at once +attached themselves to her train. + +"I say, Barold," they had said to him, "why didn't you tell us about +this? Jolly good fellow you are, to come mooning here for a couple of +months, and keep it all to yourself." + +And then had come Lord Lansdowne, who, in crossing the lawn to shake +hands with his host, had been observed to keep his eye fixed upon one +particular point. + +"Burmistone," he said, after having spoken his first words, "who is that +tall girl in white?" + +And in ten minutes Lady Theobald, Mrs. Burnham, Mr. Barold, and divers +others too numerous to mention, saw him standing at Octavia's side, +evidently with no intention of leaving it. + +Not long after this Francis Barold found his way to Miss Belinda, who was +very busy and rather nervous. + +"Your niece is evidently enjoying herself," he remarked. + +"Octavia is most happy to-day," answered Miss Belinda. "Her father will +reach Slowbridge this evening. She has been looking forward to his coming +with great anxiety." + +"Ah!" commented Barold. + +"Very few people understand Octavia," said Miss Belinda. "I'm not sure +that I follow all her moods myself. She is more affectionate than people +fancy. She--she has very pretty ways. I am very fond of her. She is not +as frivolous as she appears to those who don't know her well." + +Barold stood gnawing his mustache, and made no reply. He was not very +comfortable. He felt himself ill-used by Fate, and rather wished he had +returned to London from Broadoaks, instead of loitering in Slowbridge. He +had amused himself at first, but in time he had been surprised to find +his amusement lose something of its zest. He glowered across the lawn at +the group under a certain beech-tree; and, as he did so, Octavia turned +her face a little and saw him. She stood waving her fan slowly, and +smiling at him in a calm way, which reminded him very much of the time he +had first caught sight of her at Lady Theobald's high tea. + +He condescended to saunter over the grass to where she stood. Once there, +he proceeded to make himself as disagreeable as possible, in a silent and +lofty way. He felt it only due to himself that he should. He did not +approve at all of the manner in which Lansdowne kept by her. + +"It's deucedly bad form on his part," he said mentally. "What does he +mean by it?" + +Octavia, on the contrary, did not ask what he meant by it. She chose to +seem rather well entertained, and did not notice that she was being +frowned down. There was no reason why she should not find Lord Lansdowne +entertaining: he was an agreeable young fellow, with an inexhaustible +fund of good spirits, and no nonsense about him. + +He was fond of all pleasant novelty, and Octavia was a pleasant novelty. +He had been thinking of paying a visit to America; and he asked +innumerable questions concerning that country, all of which Octavia +answered. + +"I know half a dozen fellows who have been there," he said. "And they all +enjoyed it tremendously." + +"If you go to Nevada, you must visit the mines at Bloody Gulch," she +said. + +"Where?" he ejaculated. "I say, what a name! Don't deride my youth and +ignorance, Miss Bassett." + +"You can call it L'Argentville, if you would rather," she replied. + +"I would rather try the other, thank you," he laughed. "It has a more +hilarious sound. Will they despise me at Bloody Gulch, Miss Bassett? I +never killed a man in my life." + +Barold turned, and walked away, angry, and more melancholy than he could +have believed. + +"It is time I went back to London," he chose to put it. "The place begins +to be deucedly dull." + +"Mr. Francis Barold seems rather out of spirits," said Mrs. Burnham to +Lady Theobald. "Lord Lansdowne interferes with his pleasure." + +"I had not observed it," answered her ladyship. "And it is scarcely +likely that Mr. Francis Barold would permit his pleasure to be interfered +with, even by the son of the Marquis of Lauderdale." + +But she glared at Barold as he passed, and beckoned to him. + +"Where is Lucia?" she demanded.-- + +"I saw her with Burmistone half an hour ago," he answered coldly. "Have +you any message for my mother? I shall return to London to-morrow, +leaving here early." + +She turned quite pale. She had not counted upon this at all, and it was +extremely inopportune. + +"What has happened?" she asked rigidly. + +He looked slightly surprised. + +"Nothing whatever," he replied. "I have remained here longer than I +intended." + +She began to move the manacles on her right wrist. He made not the +smallest profession of reluctance to go. She said, at last, "If you will +find Lucia, you will oblige me." She was almost uncivil to Miss Pilcher, +who chanced to join her after he was gone. She had not the slightest +intention of allowing her plans to be frustrated, and was only roused to +fresh obstinacy by encountering indifference on one side and rebellion on +the other. She had not brought Lucia up under her own eye for nothing. +She had been disturbed of late, but by no means considered herself +baffled. With the assistance of Mr. Dugald Binnie, she could certainly +subdue Lucia, though Mr. Dugald Binnie had been of no great help so far. +She would do her duty unflinchingly. In fact, she chose to persuade +herself, that, if Lucia was brought to a proper frame of mind, there +could be no real trouble with Francis Barold. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +"SOMEBODY ELSE." + + +But Barold did not make any very ardent search for Lucia. He stopped to +watch a game of lawn-tennis, in which Octavia and Lord Lansdowne had +joined, and finally forgot Lady Theobald's errand altogether. + +For some time Octavia did not see him. She was playing with great spirit, +and Lord Lansdowne was following her delightedly. + +Finally a chance of the game bringing her to him, she turned suddenly, +and found Barold's eyes fixed upon her. + +"How long have you been there?" she asked. + +"Some time," he answered. "When you are at liberty, I wish to speak to +you." + +"Do you?" she said. + +She seemed a little unprepared for the repressed energy of his manner, +which, he strove to cover by a greater amount of coldness than usual. + +"Well," she said, after thinking a moment, "the game will soon be ended. +I am going through the conservatories with Lord Lansdowne in course of +time; but I dare say he can wait." + +She went back, and finished her game, apparently enjoying it as much as +ever. When it was over, Barold made his way to her. + +He had resented her remaining oblivious of his presence when he stood +near her, and he had resented her enjoyment of her surroundings; and now, +as he led her away, leaving Lord Lansdowne rather disconsolate, he +resented the fact that she did not seem nervous, or at all impressed by +his silence. + +"What do you want to say to me?" she asked. "Let us go and sit down in +one of the arbors. I believe I am a little tired--not that I mind it, +though. I've been having a lovely time." + +Then she began to talk about Lord Lansdowne. + +"I like him ever so much," she said. "Do you think he will really go to +America? I wish he would; but if he does, I hope it won't be for a year +or so--I mean, until we go back from Europe. Still, it's rather uncertain +when we _shall_ go back. Did I tell you I had persuaded aunt Belinda to +travel with us? She's horribly frightened, but I mean to make her go. +She'll get over being frightened after a little while." + +Suddenly she turned, and looked at him. + +"Why don't you say something?" she demanded. "What's the matter?" + +"It is not necessary for me to say any thing." + +She laughed. + +"Do you mean because I am saying every thing myself? Well, I suppose I +am. I am--awfully happy to-day, and can't help talking. It seems to make +the time go." + +Her face had lighted up curiously. There was a delighted excitement in +her eyes, puzzling him. + +"Are you so fond of your father as all that?" + +She laughed again,--a clear, exultant laugh. + +"Yes," she answered, "of course I am as fond of him as all that. It's +quite natural, isn't it?" + +"I haven't observed the same degree of enthusiasm in all the young ladies +of my acquaintance," he returned dryly. + +He thought such rapture disproportionate to the cause, and regarded it +grudgingly. + +They turned into an arbor; and Octavia sat down, and leaned forward on +the rustic table. Then she turned her face up to look at the vines +covering the roof. + +"It looks rather spidery, doesn't it?" she remarked. "I hope it isn't; +don't you?" + +The light fell bewitchingly on her round little chin and white throat; +and a bar of sunlight struck on her upturned eyes, and the blonde rings +on her forehead. + +"There is nothing I hate more than spiders," she said, with a little +shiver, "unless," seriously, "it's caterpillars--and caterpillars I +loathe." + +Then she lowered her gaze, and gave her hat--a large white Rubens, all +soft, curling feathers and satin bows--a charming tip over her eyes. + +"The brim is broad," she said. "If any thing drops, I hope it will drop +on it, instead of on me. Now, what did you want to say?" He had not sat +down, but stood leaning against the rustic wood-work. He looked pale, and +was evidently trying to be cooler than usual. + +"I brought you here to ask you a question." + +"Well," she remarked, "I hope it's an important one. You look serious +enough." + +"It is important,--rather," he responded, with a tone of sarcasm. "You +will probably go away soon?" + +"That isn't exactly a question," she commented, "and it's not as +important to you as to me." + +He paused a moment, annoyed because he found it difficult to go on; +annoyed because she waited with such undisturbed serenity. But at length +he managed to begin again. + +"I do not think you are expecting the question I am going to ask," he +said. "I--do not think I expected to ask it myself,--until to-day. I do +not know why--why I should ask it so awkwardly, and feel--at such a +disadvantage. I brought you here to ask you--to marry me." + +He had scarcely spoken four words before all her airy manner had taken +flight, and she had settled herself down to listen. He had noticed this, +and had felt it quite natural. When he stopped, she was looking straight +into his face. Her eyes were singularly large and bright and clear. + +"You did not expect to ask me to marry you?" she said. "Why didn't you?" + +It was not at all what he had expected. He did not understand her manner +at all. + +"I--must confess," he said stiffly, "that I felt at first that there +were--obstacles in the way of my doing so." + +"What were the obstacles?" + +He flushed, and drew himself up. + +"I have been unfortunate in my mode of expressing myself," he said. "I +told you I was conscious of my own awkwardness." + +"Yes," she said quietly: "you have been unfortunate. That is a good way +of putting it." + +Then she let her eyes rest on the table a few seconds, and thought a +little. + +"After all," she said, "I have the consolation of knowing that you must +have been very much in love with me. If you had not been very much in +love with me, you would never have asked me to marry you. You would have +considered the obstacles." + +"I am very much in love with you," he said vehemently, his feelings +getting the better of his pride for once. "However badly I may have +expressed myself, I am very much in love with you. I have been wretched +for days." + +"Was it because you felt obliged to ask me to marry you?" she inquired. + +The delicate touch of spirit in her tone and words fired him to fresh +admiration, strange to say. It suggested to him possibilities he had not +suspected hitherto. He drew nearer to her. + +"Don't be too severe on me," he said--quite humbly, considering all +things. + +And he stretched out his hand, as if to take hers. + +But she drew it back, smiling ever so faintly. + +"Do you think I don't know what the obstacles are?" she said. "I will +tell you." + +"My affection was strong enough to sweep them away," he said, "or I +should not be here." + +She smiled slightly again. + +"I know all about them, as well as you do," she said. "I rather laughed +at them at first, but I don't now. I suppose I'm 'impressed by their +seriousness,' as aunt Belinda says. I suppose they _are_ pretty +serious--to you." + +"Nothing would be so serious to me as that you should let them interfere +with my happiness," he answered, thrown back upon himself, and bewildered +by her logical manner. "Let us forget them. I was a fool to speak as I +did. Won't you answer my question?" + +She paused a second, and then answered,-- + +"You didn't expect to ask me to marry you," she said. "And I didn't +expect you to"-- + +"But now"--he broke in impatiently. + +"Now--I wish you hadn't done it." + +"You wish"-- + +"You don't want _me_," she said. "You want somebody meeker,--somebody +who would respect you very much, and obey you. I'm not used to obeying +people." + +"Do you mean also that you would not respect me?" he inquired bitterly. + +"Oh," she replied, "you haven't respected me much!" + +"Excuse me"--he began, in his loftiest manner. + +"You didn't respect me enough to think me worth marrying," she said. "I +was not the kind of girl you would have chosen of your own will." + +"You are treating me unfairly!" he cried. + +"You were going to give me a great deal, I suppose--looking at it in your +way," she went on; "but, if I _wasn't_ exactly what you wanted, I had +something to give too. I'm young enough to have a good many years to +live; and I should have to live them with you, if I married you. That's +something, you know." + +He rose from his seat pale with wrath and wounded feeling. + +"Does this mean that you refuse me?" he demanded, "that your answer is +'no'?" + +She rose, too--not exultant, not confused, neither pale nor flushed. He +had never seen her prettier, more charming, or more natural. + +"It would have been 'no,' even if there hadn't been any obstacle," +she answered. + +"Then," he said, "I need say no more. I see that I have--humiliated +myself in vain; and it is rather bitter, I must confess." + +"It wasn't my fault," she remarked. + +He stepped back, with a haughty wave of the hand, signifying that she +should pass out of the arbor before him. + +She did so; but just as she reached the entrance, she turned, and stood +for a second, framed in by the swinging vines and their blossoms. + +"There's another reason why it should be 'no,'" she said. "I suppose I +may as well tell you of it. I'm engaged to somebody else." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"JACK." + + +The first person they saw, when they reached the lawn, was Mr. Dugald +Binnie, who had deigned to present himself, and was talking to Mr. +Burmistone, Lucia, and Miss Belinda. + +"I'll go to them," said Octavia. "Aunt Belinda will wonder where I have +been." + +But, before they reached the group, they were intercepted by Lord +Lansdowne; and Barold had the pleasure of surrendering his charge, and +watching her, with some rather sharp pangs, as she was borne off to the +conservatories. + +"What is the matter with Mr. Barold?" exclaimed Miss Pilcher. "Pray +look at him." + +"He has been talking to Miss Octavia Bassett, in one of the arbors," put +in Miss Lydia Burnham. "Emily and I passed them a few minutes ago, and +they were so absorbed that they did not see us. There is no knowing what +has happened." + +"Lydia!" exclaimed Mrs. Burnham, in stern reproof of such flippancy. + +But, the next moment, she exchanged a glance with Miss Pilcher. + +"Do you think"--she suggested. "Is it possible"-- + +"It really looks very like it," said Miss Pilcher; "though it is scarcely +to be credited. See how pale and angry he looks." + +Mrs. Burnham glanced toward him, and then a slight smile illuminated her +countenance. + +"How furious," she remarked cheerfully, "how furious Lady Theobald will +be!" + +Naturally, it was not very long before the attention of numerous other +ladies was directed to Mr. Francis Barold. It was observed that he took +no share in the festivities, that he did not regain his natural air of +enviable indifference to his surroundings,--that he did not approach +Octavia Bassett until all was over, and she was on the point of going +home. What he said to her then, no one heard. + +"I am going to London to-morrow. Good-by." + +"Good-by," she answered, holding out her hand to him. Then she added +quickly, in an under-tone, "You oughtn't to think badly of me. You won't, +after a while." + +As they drove homeward, she was rather silent, and Miss Belinda remarked +it. + +"I am afraid you are tired, Octavia," she said. "It is a pity that Martin +should come, and find you tired." + +"Oh! I'm not tired. I was only--thinking. It has been a queer day." + +"A queer day, my dear!" ejaculated Miss Belinda. "I thought it a charming +day." + +"So it has been," said Octavia, which Miss Belinda thought rather +inconsistent. + +Both of them grew rather restless as they neared the house. + +"To think," said Miss Belinda, "of my seeing poor Martin again!" + +"Suppose," said Octavia nervously, as they drew up, "suppose they are +here--already." + +"They?" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Who"--but she got no farther. A cry +burst from Octavia,--a queer, soft little cry. "They are here," she +said: "they are! Jack--Jack!" + +And she was out of the carriage; and Miss Belinda, following her +closely, was horrified to see her caught at once in the embrace of a +tall, bronzed young man, who, a moment after, drew her into the little +parlor, and shut the door. + +Mr. Martin Bassett, who was big and sunburned, and prosperous-looking, +stood in the passage, smiling triumphantly. + +"M--M--Martin!" gasped Miss Belinda. "What--oh, what does this mean?" + +Martin Bassett led her to a seat, and smiled more triumphantly still. + +"Never mind, Belinda," he said. "Don't be frightened. It's Jack +Belasys, and he's the finest fellow in the West. And she hasn't seen +him for two years." + +"Martin," Miss Belinda fluttered, "it is not proper--it really isn't." + +"Yes, it is," answered Mr. Bassett; "for he's going to marry her before +we go abroad." + +It was an eventful day for all parties concerned. At its close Lady +Theobald found herself in an utterly bewildered and thunderstruck +condition. And to Mr. Dugald Binnie, more than to any one else, her +demoralization was due. That gentleman got into the carriage, in rather a +better humor than usual. + +"Same man I used to know," he remarked. "Glad to see him. I knew him as +soon as I set eyes on him." + +"Do you allude to Mr. Burmistone?" + +"Yes. Had a long talk with him. He's coming to see you to-morrow. Told +him he might come, myself. Appears he's taken a fancy to Lucia. Wants to +talk it over. Suits me exactly, and suppose it suits her. Looks as if it +does. Glad she hasn't taken a fancy to some haw-haw fellow, like that +fool Barold. Girls generally do. Burmistone's worth ten of him." + +Lucia, who had been looking steadily out of the carriage-window, turned, +with an amazed expression. Lady Theobald had received a shock which made +all her manacles rattle. She could scarcely support herself under it. + +"Do I"--she said. "Am I to understand that Mr. Francis Barold does not +meet with your approval?" Mr. Binnie struck his stick sharply upon the +floor of the carriage. + +"Yes, by George!" he said. "I'll have nothing to do with chaps like that. +If she'd taken up with him, she'd never have heard from _me_ again. Make +sure of that." + +When they reached Oldclough, her ladyship followed Lucia to her room. She +stood before her, arranging the manacles on her wrists nervously. + +"I begin to understand now," she said. "I find I was mistaken in my +impressions of Mr. Dugald Binnie's tastes--and in my impressions of +_you_. You are to marry Mr. Burmistone. My rule is over. Permit me to +congratulate you." + +The tears rose to Lucia's eyes. + +"Grandmamma," she said, her voice soft and broken, "I think I should have +been more frank, if--if you had been kinder sometimes." + +"I have done my duty by you," said my lady. + +Lucia looked at her pathetically. + +"I have been ashamed to keep things from you," she hesitated. "And I have +often told myself that--that it was sly to do it--but I could not help +it." + +"I trust," said my lady, "that you will be more candid with Mr. +Burmistone." + +Lucia blushed guiltily. + +"I--think I shall, grandmamma," she said. + +It was the Rev. Alfred Poppleton who assisted the rector of St. James to +marry Jack Belasys and Octavia Bassett; and it was observed that he was +almost as pale as his surplice. + +Slowbridge had never seen such a wedding, or such a bride as Octavia. It +was even admitted that Jack Belasys was a singularly handsome fellow, and +had a dashing, adventurous air, which carried all before it. There was a +rumor that he owned silver-mines himself, and had even done something in +diamonds, in Brazil, where he had spent the last two years. At all +events, it was ascertained beyond doubt, that, being at last a married +woman, and entitled to splendors of the kind, Octavia would not lack +them. Her present to Lucia, who was one of her bridesmaids, dazzled all +beholders. When she was borne away by the train, with her father and +husband, and Miss Belinda, whose bonnet-strings were bedewed with tears, +the Rev. Alfred Poppleton was the last man who shook hands with her. He +held in his hand a large bouquet, which Octavia herself had given him out +of her abundance. "Slowbridge will miss you, Miss--Mrs. Belasys," he +faltered. "I--I shall miss you. Perhaps we--may even meet again. I have +thought that, perhaps, I should like to go to America." + +And, as the train puffed out of the station and disappeared, he stood +motionless for several seconds; and a large and brilliant drop of +moisture appeared on the calyx of the lily which formed the centre-piece +of his bouquet. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Fair Barbarian, by Francis Hodgson Burnett + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FAIR BARBARIAN *** + +This file should be named 8barb10.txt or 8barb10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8barb11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8barb10a.txt + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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