Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

"Well, Mr. Eastwood, here's my wild girl making fun of us both," said Batty, "without even giving me a chance of introducing you. Manda, this is Mr. Eastwood, as of course you have found out." "Don't say Mr. Eastwood, papa.”

"No, you're right. Mr. Frederick, that's what I mean, and a deal nicer a gentleman," said the father. "You see, Mr. Frederick, 'Manda has been, so to speak, brought up with nothing but Eastwoods. All the young 'uns from Sir Geoffrey downwards, rode into Sterborne on their ponies to have their lessons with our old curate, and 'Manda being his prime favourite, and partly brought up with him

a kind of hazel eye, very bright, very | know no other that would convey what I splendid, in which there is hung a subtle mean. I suppose it was what we, with little danger-signal to all mankind. These our limited powers of expression, call are the eyes that have a spark of red in love at first sight. It was certainly adothem, flashing out now and then from the ration at first sight, which is a different warm, translucent brown, a spark which thing. tells of temper, of passion, of headstrong will, and impulse. 'Manda Batty had these eyes. They were lamps of light, and it seemed to the looker-on, if any one remarked it at all, that this fiery gleam was necessary to give them character, and keep them from losing their due importance in the brilliant and sweet glow of colour that surrounded them. This, if it really was, as I think, an indication of danger, was the only one. At this moment her face was full of suppressed laughter. She had a finger lifted to her lip like a statue of Silence, but how unlike a statue of Silence was she otherwise! or, indeed, a statue of anything; everything about her was warm and soft, breathing a lavish life. When Frederick "You don't suppose, papa, that any turned round upon her so suddenly, the one but ourselves cares for all these delaughter in her face burst forth. Per-tails. Pray forgive me for laughing at haps it was louder and more uncultivated you," said Miss Amanda, turning to than if she had been, as people say, a Frederick, "you were so comfortable and lady. She threw herself down in a chair, so much at your ease reading your Times. and laughed till the water sparkled on What can gentlemen find in the Times her pretty eyelashes, and she put her always, morning, noon, and night? Papa hands to her waist with such a rendering is never done with his paper; first there of "Laughter holding both his sides" as is one thing, then another. I suppose voa never entered into any painter's imagina- had been reading it all the morning, Mr. tion. "Oh," she cried, "I shall die of Frederick Eastwood, and the first thing laughing; come and stop me, come, you do is to take it up here." papa."

It struck Frederick with a shock of surprise and pain when Mr. Batty came in by another door, also inarticulate with laughter. The idea of this wonderful creature being Batty's daughter appalled and struck him dumb. Not to say that he was very deeply embarrassed by the situation altogether, by the laughter of the new-comer, and his own semi-ridiculous attitude her beauty had struck him at once with one of those impressions which are not to be shaken off, which count, slight and superficial as is often the instrument, among the great things of life. Never before had Frederick been so profoundly moved. He did not understand the effect, nor what it meant. He ceased to be himself for the moment, and become the subject of a strange and subtle experiment, which stamped her reflection upon him. No,

he was

not himself; he was a mirror of her, a sensitive plate, upon which that sudden light had painted her likeness. These may seem fantastic similes, but I

[ocr errors]

"I did not know there was any one observing me," said Frederick, standing confused and humble before her. He who was very lofty and dignified to his mother and sister, was ready to be abject with Amanda. He listened to her with absolute reverence, though all that she had to say was common-place enough. When he was placed beside her at dinner, and found himself at liberty to look at her and listen to her undisturbed, it seemed to Frederick that he had never been so blessed. He took in all her chatter without losing a word. Miss Batty was in full dress. Those were the days when English ladies were supposed always to appear with bare shoulders in the evening, and her beautiful shoulders and arms were bare. Her dress was blue, with a long train, which was considerably in her way. If there was anything wanting in her it was this-she moved about in a manner that did not suit the dignity of her beauty; her movements were quick, jerky, and without grace; she bustled like a notable housewife,

rather than a fine lady. Perhaps if her a drama (I do not know it, I may be doing dress had not been much too fine for the it injustice) the chief point in which was Occasion, this would have been less the terrific situation of the hero or heroremarkable, but as it was, Frederick'sine, who was bound down on the line of dream was disturbed a little when she a railway when the train was coming. It jumped up to help herself. "Oh, I can't was this lofty representation which she sit and wait if I want a bit of bread till had set her heart on seeing. Frederick the servant comes," she cried. Fred-handed her into the cab which was imerick did not like the words, nor the tone of them, but she was lovelier than ever when she said them. Thus he did not lose his senses instantly, or suppose that everything that fell from her lips was divine. But his admiration, or adoration, mastered all his criticism and swept away his good sense. What she said might be foolish or flippant, but how she said it was heavenly. He could not take his eyes from her. He made what effort he could to keep up the ordinary decorum, and look as if he were capable of eating, and drinking, and talking, as he had been the day before, but the effort was very little successful. Miss Amanda saw her victory, and almost disdained it, it was so easy; and her father saw it, and was satisfied.

"Now take me to the play," she said, when dinner was over. "It isn't often I am in town, and I mean to enjoy myself. Oh, we may be late, but it does not matter. If it is only for the afterpiece I am determined to go."

mediately sent for. He sat by her in it; he breathed in the atmosphere of "Ess. bouquet" which surrounded her. Now and then he thought with a glimmer of horror, of meeting somebody whom he knew; but his mind was only at intervals sufficiently free to harbour this thought. It was, however, with a certain fright that he found himself in the stage-box, which it appeared had been provided beforehand for Miss Amanda's pleasure. "I prefer a box," she said to Frederick, "here one can be comfortable, and papa if he likes can fall asleep in a comfortable chair; but I can't understand a lady making herself happy down there." She pointed to the stalls, where Frederick was too happy not to be. There was, of course, somebody he knew in the second row who found him out he feared in the dignity of his box, where Miss Amanda had no idea of hiding herself. "She objected to her gentlemen," she said, "taking refuge behind a curtain," and she did no such injustice to her own beauty as to conceal it. She dropped her cloak from her shoulders, and gave the house all the benefit; and she kept calling Frederick's attention to one thing and another, insisting that he should crane his neck round "He can come too," said Amanda. "I the corner to look at this or that. Her like to have two gentlemen. There is al- beauty and her dress and evident willingways plenty for two gentlemen to do. ness to be admired drew many eyes, and Won't you come, Mr. Frederick East- Frederick felt that he had a share in the wood? But anyhow I must go," she con- succès which he could very well have distinued, turning to her father, who was al- pensed with. He had experienced a most as abject in his devotion as Fred-good many adventures, but very few like erick was. Had she been anything short of perfection Frederick would have hesitated much before he consented to show himself in public with Mr. Batty and his daughter; indeed, the possibility of such a thing would have driven him frantic. But now he had no such thoughts. If he hesitated it was but to calculate what was going on in the theatrical world; what there was worthy to be seen by her. He was not much of a theatre-goer, but he knew what was being played, and where. He suggested one or two of what were supposed to be the best plays; but she put him down quite calmly. She had already decided that she was going to see one of the sensational pieces of the day,

"Was there ever so imperious a girl?" cried her father. "You ought to remember, 'Manda, here is Mr. Eastwood. You can't send away a gentleman that has but just eaten his dinner."

this. He had always been very respectable under the eyes of the world; to be sure, he was quite respectable now; there was no fault to be found with the party - his beautiful companion, indeed, was something quite new, and not very much used to her present position; but there was nothing wrong in that. Nevertheless, Frederick felt that there was something to pay for the strange confusion of blessedness in which he seemed to have lost himself. He felt this by intervals, and he kept as much as he could behind the curtains, behind her. She was perfectly willing to occupy the centre of the box, to rain down influence, to be seen and admired. "Mr. Eastwood,

I wish you would not keep behind me. | woods behaved very nicely to us, and Do let people see that I have some one ever since he met with you Papa his to take care of me. Papa has gone to been telling me of all your good qualities, sleep, of course," said the beauty, and You have put a spell upon him, I think” she turned round upon Frederick with "He is very good, I am sure," said such a look that he remembered nothing Frederick, stiffening in spite of himself. any more but her loveliness, and the de- "Oh, I know," said Amanda, with a light of being near her. She chattered toss of her head. "We are not so fine as through all the play, and he listened. you are, we don't visit with county peoShe said a great deal that was silly, and ple, nor that sort of thing. But we have some things that were slightly vulgar, plenty of people come to see us who are and he noted them, yet was not less sub- better off than the Eastwoods, and better jugated by a spell which was beyond re- blood too, so you need not be afraid. sistance. I cannot be supposed to under- Papa has dealings with the very best. stand this, nor to explain it. In such We don't like to be slighted," said the matters I can only record facts. He was beauty, with a gleam of that red light not under the delusion that she was a from her beautiful eyes; "and when peolofty, or noble, or refined being, though ple put on airs, like your cousin has done, she was Batty's daughter. He presumed it sets Papa's back up. That was why that she was Batty's daughter heart and soul; made of the same pâte, full of the same thoughts. She was "not a lady," beautiful, splendid, and well dressed as she was the humble, little snub-nosed girl in the stalls below who looked up at this vision of loveliness with a girl's admiration, had something which all the wealth of the Indies could not have given to Miss Amanda. And Frederick Eastwood saw this quite plainly, yet fell in love, or in madness, exactly as if he had not seen it. The feeling, such as it was, was too genuine to make him capable of many words; but he did his best to amuse her, and he listened to all she said which was a very good way of pleasing this young woman.

"I hope you mean to stay in town for some time," he said, in one of the pauses of her abundant talk.

66

"Not very long," said Miss 'Manda. Papa likes to live well, and to do things in the best sort of way; so he spends a deal of money, and that can't last long. Our hotel isn't like Mivart's, and that sort of thing: but it is dreadfully dear. We spend as much as-oh, I couldn't venture to tell you how much we spend a day. Papa likes to have everything of the best, and so do I."

"And so you ought," said Frederick, adoring. "Pardon me if I am saying too

much."

"Oh, you are not saying very much, Mr. Eastwood. It is I that am talking," said Amanda, "and as for our staying long here that does not much matter, for Papa wants you to come to Sterborne. He has been talking of it ever since he came back from Paris. What did you do to him to make him take such a fancy to you? We don't think the other East

we went against Sir Geoffrey at the election. But I hope you will come, Mr. Eastwood; Papa took such a fancy to you."

"I have just been away from the office for a month. I fear I shall not have leisure again for some time," said Frederick, feeling that an invitation from Batty was to be resisted, even when conveyed by such lovely lips.

"How hideous it must be not to be one's own master; to have to ask for 'leave' like a servant," cried 'Manda with a laugh; which speech set all Frederick's nerves ajar, and almost released him from the syren. He withdrew into the shade of the curtains, and drew to him all the succour of his pride.

"Yes, it is a pitiful position," he said, with an angry laugh; “but I may comfort myself that a great many people share it with me. Do you know I am afraid I must leave you. This performance is endless, and rather dull."

"Upon my word!" cried Miss Batty, "you are free-spoken, Mr. Frederick. To tell a lady you are dull when she is doing her best to amuse you!"

"Pardon me, I spoke of the performance."

66

66

Oh, I don't care much for the performance,” said Amanda, with a beaming smile. "I like the lights and the music, and the feeling of being out in the world. But you wouldn't go off, and leave me with Papa asleep, and no one to talk to?" I have an engagement at my club." "Oh, if you wish to go away, Mr. Eastwood The beauty turned away pouting, turning her lovely shoulders upon him, and tossing her beautiful head. Frederick had risen partly in the liveli ness of personal offence, partly with an

impulse of prudence, to escape while he have to be fought for, and held with the might. But his heart failed him when he exercise of all his powers. He felt himSaw the averted head, the resentful move- self pitted against not Lord Hunterston ment. Batty dozed peacefully in his only, but all the world. It seemed imchair, interfering with no one. And possible to imagine that this syren, who something tugged at the unfortunate had conquered himself by a glance, young man, who stood undecided whether should not attract everybody that had the to fly or to stay. To leave a lovely crea- happiness of approaching her. Terror, ture like this, the most beautiful woman jealousy, and pride, all came in to aid the he had ever seen, alone without any one strongest passion of all, which had alto amuse her to leave the place vacant ready taken possession of him-terror which a hundred no doubt would give of losing her, jealousy of everybody who their ears for! What harm could it do looked at her, and all the amour propre him to stay? It was pleasant to spend and determination to elevate himself over an hour or two by the side of anything so the heads of his rivals that could lend pretty. Come of it what could come warmth to a young man's determination, of it? It was an accidental delight en- No prize is fully estimated until the sense tirely, without connection with the rest of that it will be hotly contested bursts upon his life; an isolated event, without either the competitor's mind. Frederick grew origin or issue. Why should not he like half wild when the time came for him to others enjoy himself for the moment? leave the theatre. He secured her arm While he was thus hesitating Amanda to lead her down stairs, but only by dint turned her head round with a sudden provoking glance. "Oh, have you not gone yet?" she asked. Frederick felt as it were, on his knees before her.

"Must I go? have I proved so unworthy of my privilege?" he cried, humbly, taking his seat with deprecating looks. Miss Batty did not wish him to go, and said so freely with unflattering plainness of speech.

"I should be left to listen to Papa's snores, which I can hear at home," she said. "I always prefer some one to talk to. I daresay, however, I should not have been left long by myself, for there is Lord Hunterston down below in those horrid stalls looking up. He is trying to catch my eye. No; I don't care to have too many. I shan't see him as long as you stay."

"Then I shall stay forever," said Frederick, inspired by that touch of rivalship. Lord Hunterston, however, did manage to find his way up to the box, whether by Miss 'Manda's permission or not, and Frederick grew stiff and resentful while the other foolish youth paid his homage. Lord Hunterston pricked him into double eagerness, and sent all the suggestions of prudence to the winds. Amanda proved herself thoroughly equal to the occasion. She kept the two young men in hand with perfect skill, though she allowed herself to be slightly insolent to Frederick, referring again to the "leave" without which he could not budge. This time, however, the reference did not make him angry, but only impressed him with the fact that his admiration was nothing to her, and that every step of vantage ground would

of having all his wits about him, and taking his rival unawares. And then he was dismissed at the cab door, with all his nerves tingling, his heart beating, his whole frame in a ferment. He walked home all the way, following the path which her vehicle, so ignoble, and unfit for her to enter, must have taken; he passed under the windows he supposed to be hers. In short, he did everything that a foolish young man, mad with sudden excitement, and what is called passion, is expected to do, and worked himself into a higher and higher strain of excitement, as with his head full of thoughts of her he made his way home, longing impatiently for the morning, when he might see her again.

CHAPTER XX.

WHAT IT IS TO BE "IN LOVE."

THE story of such suddens passion as this, which had come upon Frederick Eastwood, are common enough and well known. Love is a subject which concerns and interests the whole world, and though there is not much that is novel to be said about it, it is the event or accident in life of which the gentle reader never tires. Let not that kind listener be shocked if I call it an accident. Sometimes it is the influence which shapes our lives, but sometimes, also, it is so slight an episode that we are disposed to smile or to sneer at the prevailing human prejudice which makes it the chief centre of existence in all song and story. A pure and genuine love, however, has something of attraction in it for every crea

Nelly and Dick came to a height. As for Mrs. Eastwood, she had a mother's nitural certainty that her son's manners were always agreeable, except when something had disturbed him. Nothing, it was evident, had disturbed him this morning, and he could show himself in his true colours. He was very communicative and conciliatory, and told them how he had been persuaded to accompany some people whom he met to the play, and that the piece was very stupid, like so many pieces now-a-days.

"That's all very well for you who were there," said Dick, “I should like to find out for myself. All pieces are stupid to a fellow that can see them whenever he likes."

ture. It recalls the most delicious mo- | pleasant and friendly, the surprise of ments of life, those in which the dream of perfect happiness, never to be fully realized, is forming in the youthful imagination, and all heaven and earth thrills and quickens with visionary hopes and aspirations; or it suggests, more sweetly and more vaguely even than those dreams themselves, the visions that are to come. The ignoble love which it is my evil fortune to have now in hand, would, no doubt, could I enter into it, recall its own ignoble yet exciting memories to the minds which are capable of such feelings. Frederick Eastwood scarcely slept all night, and when he did drop into a feverish doze, the image of Miss Manda, her golden hair dropping warm and bright upon her beautiful shoulders, the soft rose-white of her hand supporting the milky rose of her cheek, the curves of her face, the splendour and glow of beauty about her, haunted his dreams. Better visions, I hope, haunt the pillows of most lovers, but this was how Frederick loved, or rather how he fell into passion and frenzy, suddenly, without warning or thought over the attractions of Mr. Batty's daughter, whom the day before he would have thought quite beneath his lightest thought. Thus Love, even when of the least worthy kind, laughs at prejudice and class distinctions, and at all those con- "I am sick of golden hair," said Dick, ventional restraints which are stronger who was moved by a spirit of contrathan the suggestions of wisdom. I do diction. "There are so many of 'em not think that any generous or exalted in novels, great, sleek, indolent, catemotion would have led Frederick East-like

"You might have had my share and welcome, old fellow,"s id Frederick, with undiminished amiability. "I didn't pay much attention, to tell the truth. There was the loveliest girl in the box-a Miss Batty. Her father is a- -country-doctor, I think; but such a beautiful creature!"

"I don't know what tempted him to make this confidence; probably the desire to be talking of her. And then he described her, which raised a discussion round the table.

[ocr errors]

wood to commit himself, to depart from “And rather improper," said Mrs. what he thought becoming to his own Eastwood; "doing things that one canelevated position and character; and not approve of girls doing. In my day this being the case there may be a certain what you call golden hair was known human satisfaction in the thought that as red. Raven locks were the right something does exist which is capable of thing for a heroine, very smooth and plucking the intellectualist from his emi-glossy nence, and the man of social pretence "Well plastered down with pomade, from his position, as well as the prince and not safe to touch," said Nelly, shakfrom his throne. Love, that conquers all ing her own brown locks. But I agree things, conquers in this way even the with you, Frederick, there is no hair so predominant influence of self. Frederick lovely as golden hair. Is your beauty for once was superior to that determined going to stay long in town? adherence to his own will and pleasure know any one who knows her? Has she which had accompanied him through his come for the season?" whole life. His first thought in the morning was for her. He got up earlier than usual, though he had been late on the previous night. He had no wish to sleep; it was sweeter to wander about the garden in the morning sunshine and think of her, which was a proceeding which filled the family with consternation. When he was discovered at the breakfast table making himself very

Do we

"They are staying at a hotel," said Frederick, very seriously. "I met the father in Paris, quite by chance, when I was getting better. That is how I came to know them. They are not quite in your set, I suppose. But she is simply the most radiant dazzling creature

"All red and white and green and blue," said the irrepressible Dick, "with her hair growing down to her eyes — oh,

« VorigeDoorgaan »