Yes, answered Isobel happily. I will tell him all that.
And please add that I should wish to come down to Eastbourne, as soon as convenient to him, and put all the facts before him. I want first to get his consent, and I know I am asking it under peculiar circumstances.
A slight cloud gathered over the girls lovely face. I am quite sure of my darling old dad, she said. Im a little afraid of yours.
Theres nothing to be frightened of, sweetheart, said her lover confidently. Whether he gives his consent or not, you are going to be my wife. Im quite independent of him. But, as I said just now, I would prefer to bring him round before, instead of after.
But do you think that possible? inquired Isobel anxiously.
Guy reflected. Its a pretty even chance, he said presently. And, you see. Ive got Mary on my side.
Isobel lifted questioning eyes. You have never spoken of Mary before. Who is she? I suppose your sister?
Yes, my sister, and the sweetest, dearest girl in the wide world. Just an angel without the wings, and they are growing, I believe. Not that she is meek and mild, and all that sort of thing. She can hit out as straight from the shoulder as a man when she chooses. But tell her a tale of two true lovers, and she will never be happy till she brings them together.
What a darling! cried Isobel, in deep admiration. How I should love to meet her.
No difficulty about that, answered Guy easily. As soon as I have arranged matters with the General, we will fix up a little lunch in London. You bring your father up; Ill bring Mary up.
How lovely! sighed Isobel. Truly, a new world, a delightful world, was opening to her.
The Clandons returned to their modest little nest at Eastbourne. On the first evening of their return, Isobel, sitting on a low footstool close to the Generals chair, told him the wonderful story of Guy Rossetts love for her, of her love for Guy.
Her father listened sympathetically. He was intensely proud that his beloved daughter had chanced upon a wooer worthy of her. He had never dared to hope for such an alliance. Isobel was deserving of any Fairy Prince, but where was the Fairy Prince to come from?
But he was wise and experienced. It would not be all fair sailing, there were rocks ahead. Guy had himself admitted that the Earl of Saxham would prove a formidable obstacle. The General agreed that, were he in Lord Saxhams place, he would not give his consent too readily.
He kissed his daughter tenderly, half pleased, half regretful to see the intense lovelight in her eyes as she spoke of her adored lover.
Yes, tell Guy to come and see me as soon as he likes, and we will talk over the difficulties, he said kindly. I liked the young fellow very much, from the little I saw of him. I am sure he is a gentleman, and I believe him to be straight.
Isobel looked up a little reproachfully. Her fathers guarded words seemed to convey very faint praise of her peerless lover.
Oh, dad, she cried reproachfully. Guy is the soul of honour.
Rossett came down, and had a long interview with General Clandon. He was quite frank and manly. He would marry Isobel whether his father consented or not; so far as financial matters stood, he was perfectly independent. Still, for many reasons, it was better to exercise a little prudence, and coax the Earl into agreement.
The General agreed. Much better, Rossett. The question of her being received by your family or not will make a great difference to her at the start. In the years to come, it may make a great difference to you. You dont want to cut yourself off from your kith and kin.
Rossett was of the same opinion. The General agreed to a private engagement. Guy gave his betrothed a beautiful ring which she did not dare openly to display. She looked at it several times a day, and kissed it every night before she went to sleep.
Guy had lost no time in approaching his father, and the Earl had received the news in the worst spirit. He had stormed, and broken out into one of his furious, ungovernable rages.
You are simply an idiot. With my influence with the Government, there is no knowing where I can push you to. He seemed to take it for granted that his son could not help himself. You must marry a woman in your own class, a woman who can help you in your career. And then you propose to me some obscure chit of a girl, who lives in a cottage at Eastbourne.
Guy argued calmly that Isobel was a lady, and of good family. Certainly her father was not a rich man, this much he had to admit.
The Earl would not listen to reason. He brushed aside all his sons pleadings. He recovered from his first rage, but he wound up the discussion in a voice of deadly calm.
You can do as you choose, Guy. You are quite independent, and I daresay if you married a shop girl it would make no difference to your aunt. But please understand this. From the day you make Isobel Clandon your wife, all is over between us. I wash my hands of you. Not a penny of my money, not an atom of my influence. You understand.
I quite understand, sir. You force me to choose between yourself and Isobel. Well, if you persist in your determination, I shall choose Isobel. But I am in hopes you will change your mind.
Never, snapped out the Earl viciously. Go to the devil your own way, as soon as you like. Fancy a manlike you being caught by a baby face. But Guy smiled to himself. Lord Saxham was a very obstinate man, also a very irritable one. But his bark was worse than his bite. He had often climbed down before. And there was Lady Mary to be reckoned with, who, as a rule, could twist her father round her little finger, even if the process involved some time.
Lord Saxham betook himself next day to the all-powerful Mr Greatorex. He hinted to that impassive gentleman that he wanted to get his son abroad. Mr Greatorex elevated his finely arched eyebrows. The usual thing, I suppose? An entanglement of some sort?
Wants to marry a woman who will ruin his career, answered the Earl tersely.
A chorus-girl or something of that sort? queried Greatorex. He knew that Guy Rossett had mixed in a somewhat fast set, and was prepared to expect the worst of him. Or, perhaps, a doubtful widow? He had heard rumours of him and Violet Hargrave.
Lord Saxham shook his head. No, neither; but just as bad from my point of view. A girl, technically a lady, but no family to speak of, no fortune. Hed marry for love, and tire of her in six months, misery for her as well as for him.
The Honourable Rupert Greatorex was the scion of a very ancient family himself. He had a proper detestation of mésalliances.
I will do my best, he said cordially. He shall have the first thing going.
He had watched the career of young Rossett, as he had watched the career of every young man in the Foreign Office. Guy had not shown himself, up to the present, very zealous. He was more inclined to play than to work, and he foregathered with some very queer people.
But he did not lack brains. From some of the strange people with whom he associated, he had gleaned some rather valuable information which he had placed at Mr Greatorexs disposal.
If he was sent to Spain, he might turn out a useful member of the vast diplomatic corps, and he would be separated from this charming young woman, of no family to speak of, and no fortune. And Greatorex would be obliging a staunch supporter of the Government. Hence the appointment which Guy fondly believed he had secured through his own merits.
While his father was scheming to thwart what he considered his sons ill-advised wooing, Guy had enlisted Mary for an ally.
Mary, the friend of all true lovers, only asked two questions. First, Was she a lady? Second, Were they quite sure they really loved each other?
Her brother was able to answer both questions in the affirmative. And she was sure, this time, he was in earnest. She had been the recipient of previous confidences, hence a little caution on her part.
I should like to meet her, and judge for myself, said Mary decidedly. She knew, of course, of her fathers obstinate refusal to entertain the idea. She would like to meet Isobel, to be sure if she was justified in opposing the Earl. For Mary was, above all things, conscientious. She adored Guy, but she also loved her father, and she had a duty towards him. She must be certain that Isobel was worthy, no mere adventuress, luring a sorely love-stricken man.
Guy unfolded his cunning little plan.
Run up to London one day for some shopping. Ill get up Isobel and her father, and we can all lunch together. Where shall we go? The Ritz for preference, but we should meet too many people we knew, and it might get to the Governors ears. Well lunch at the Savoy.
So that was arranged. There came that delightful day when the General and his daughter travelled up from Eastbourne, and met Guy and his sister in the vestibule of the famous London restaurant.
Isobel was dreadfully nervous, but quite excitedly happy. What a lovely new life! The tepid gaieties of Eastbourne paled their ineffectual fires in comparison with the present festivity.
The two women took to each other at once. It did not take the shrewd Mary long to discover that this beautiful girl was genuinely in love with the equally good-looking Guy, that here was no artful and designing maiden.
The General, simple and dignified, made an equally good impression upon her. In manner and bearing he was the true type of aristocrat, as much so as Lord Saxham himself. Fortunately for others, he lacked the Earls somewhat explosive qualities.
They lingered in the lounge some time after lunch, and here the two women had a little private chat together, with the view of cementing their acquaintance.
Mary promised to be their friend, and to use all her influence to wear down her fathers opposition.
Isobel thanked her warmly. It seems an unkind thing to say, she added, at the conclusion of her little outburst of gratitude. But I almost wish that Guy were a poor man.
Mary looked at her questioningly; she did not, for the moment, catch the drift of her thoughts.
There couldnt, then, be all this fuss and trouble, explained Isobel, with a little catch in her voice. People wouldnt be able to think that I had run after him, they would know I only cared for him for himself. Now, whatever happens, they will always think the worst of me.
Mary whispered back the consoling answer, There are two people who will never think that, myself and Guy.
The happy hours passed. They all saw Mary off by her train, and a little later the General and his daughter went back to Eastbourne.
There were many delightful days to follow, days when Guy ran down, dined with the General, and put up for the night at the Queens.
And then the time drew near for Guy to take up his new post, to leave London for Madrid. Still, things were not any further advanced. In spite of Lady Marys powerful and persistent advocacy, the Earl remained as obdurate as ever. If Guy insisted upon making Isobel Clandon his wife, all friendly relations between father and son would be suspended.
On the night preceding the young diplomatists departure, there was a farewell dinner, this time at a less public restaurant than the Savoy. The party was the same, Guy and his sister, Isobel and her father.
Lady Mary would have to stay the night in London. This she had arranged to do with an old girl friend, now married, Lady May Brendon.
The Earl, with that uncanny sense which distinguishes some people, suddenly had an inkling of the truth. Guy had said good-bye to them the day before. I believe its all a blind, he burst out angrily, a few minutes before Marys departure. You may be staying with May Brendon for the night, but she is not the reason of your visit. You are going to meet that wretched girl.
Mary could never bring herself to tell a lie. She had already admitted she had made the acquaintance of Isobel Clandon, and had taken a great liking to her.
To tell the truth, I am. Guy is giving a dinner to-night, in order to bid her farewell. It is only right he should have the support of some member of his family.
You deliberately go against my wishes, thundered her father, in his most irate tones.
In this instance, I fear I must, replied his daughter very quietly and firmly. I love you very dearly, but I love Guy too. He has chosen for himself, and in my opinion he has chosen wisely.
I love Guy too, said the Earl in a less aggressive tone. I would like also to see him happy. But a man in his position must marry according to the traditions of his family. You are a weak sentimentalist, Mary.
A rather sad smile crept over the sweet face.
Perhaps I am, too much for my own peace of mind. But, what I do feel strongly is this you have no right to dictate to Guy in this matter. He is a second son, he is independent of you. With Ticehurst, it may be different. He has to transmit the family honours, to maintain the family traditions as you call them. In his case, interference may be justifiable. In Guys case, I say emphatically not. The Earl began to splutter again. My word, the world is coming to something. You talk as if a father had no right, no authority over his children. Look what I have done for him. I wrung this appointment from Greatorex, with my own personal influence.
Lady Mary laid a light, cool kiss upon his inflamed cheek.
Dearest father, do try and be just for once. You did not get this appointment solely for Guys benefit. You know you dont care a straw whether he succeeds in his profession. Your real motive was to drive him out of England, so that he should be separated from Isobel Clandon.
This was too much for Lord Saxham. He burst into volcanic language, inveighing against ungrateful sons and undutiful daughters, and stamped from the room in a blind rage.
Lady Mary smiled a little when he left. How many of these domestic storms had she witnessed! Her father would give way in the end. But there would be a long period of waiting. She got into the car, and drove to the railway station.
The dinner-party was a great success, even if it was slightly overcast with the sadness of farewell. Two people alone can be quite comfortably sad; there is a luxury in woe. But melancholy cannot be permanently maintained amongst four persons. The lovers would not see each other for some time, but, as Mary cheerfully reminded them, Madrid was not quite as far as the Antipodes, and they could write to each other every day, if they wished.
Half-way through the meal, two men entered and took their seats at a small adjoining table; they were both in evening dress. One was a tall, slim Englishman of the well-groomed type. His companion was short and swarthy, evidently a foreigner.
Isobel was the first to observe them. She leaned across the table, and addressed the General in a low voice.
Maurice has just come in, father. Just there, on your left, with a foreign-looking man.
The General looked in the direction indicated, and caught the eye of the tall young man, who rose, and advanced hesitatingly to their table.
He shook hands with Isobel and her father. The General effected a hasty introduction.
My nephew, Mr Farquhar, Lady Mary Rossett, Mr Rossett.