Hugh looked at the gentleman to whom they were so indebted. Then do you happen to know, sir, what your friend means to do with his spoil?
The question got itself but dryly treated, as if it might be a commercially calculating or interested one. Oh, not sell it again.
Then ship it to New York? the inquirer pursued, defining himself somehow as not snubbed and, from this point, not snubbable.
That appearance failed none the less to deprive Lord John of a betrayed relish for being able to displease Lady Graces odd guest by large assent. As fast as ever he canand you can land things there now, cant you? in three or four days.
I dare say. But cant he be induced to have a little mercy? Hugh sturdily pursued.
Lord John pushed out his lips. A little? How much do you want?
Well, one wants to be able somehow to stay his hand.
I doubt if you can any more stay Mr. Benders hand than you can empty his purse.
Ah, the Despoilers! said Crimble with strong expression. But its we, he added, who are base.
Base?and Lord Johns surprise was apparently genuine.
To want only to do business, I mean, with our treasures, with our glories.
Hughs words exhaled such a sense of peril as to draw at once Lady Grace. Ah, but if were above that here, as you know!
He stood smilingly corrected and contrite. Of course I knowbut you must forgive me if I have it on the brain. And show me first of all, wont you? the Moretto of Brescia.
You know then about the Moretto of Brescia?
Why, didnt you tell me yourself? It went on between them for the moment quite as if there had been no Lord John.
Probably, yes, she recalled; so how I must have swaggered! After which she turned to the other visitor with a kindness strained clear of urgency. Will you also come?
He confessed to a difficultywhich his whole face begged her also to take account of. I hoped youd be at leisurefor something Ive so at heart!
This had its effect; she took a rapid decision and turned persuasively to Crimblefor whom, in like manner, there must have been something in her face. Let Mr. Bender himself then show you. And there are things in the library too.
Oh yes, there are things in the library. Lord John, happy in his gained advantage and addressing Hugh from the strong ground of an initiation already complete, quite sped him on the way.
Hugh clearly made no attempt to veil the penetration with which he was moved to look from one of these counsellors to the other, though with a ready Thank-you! for Lady Grace he the next instant started in pursuit of Mr. Bender.
V
Your friend seems remarkably hot! Lord John remarked to his young hostess as soon as they had been left together.
He has cycled twenty miles. And indeed, she smiled, he does appear to care for what he cares for!
Her companion then, during a moments silence, might have been noting the emphasis of her assent. Have you known him long?
Nonot long.
Nor seen him often?
Only oncetill now.
Oh! said Lord John with another pause. But he soon proceeded. Let us leave him then to cool! I havent cycled twenty miles, but Ive motored forty very much in the hope of this, Lady Gracethe chance of being able to assure you that I too care very much for what I care for. To which he added on an easier note, as to carry off a slight awkwardness while she only waited: You certainly mustnt let yourselfbetween us allbe worked to death.
Oh, such days as thisI She made light enough of her burden.
They dont come often to me at least, Lady Grace! I hadnt grasped in advance the scale of your fête, he went on; but since Ive the great luck to find you alone! He paused for breath, however, before the full sequence.
She helped him out as through common kindness, but it was a trifle colourless. Alone or in company, Lord John, Im always very glad to see you.
Then that assurance helps me to wonder if you dont perhaps gently guess what it is I want to say. This time indeed she left him to his wonder, so that he had to support himself. Ive tried, all consideratelythese three monthsto let you see for yourself how I feel. I feel very strongly, Lady Grace; so that at lastand his impatient sincerity took after another instant the jumpwell, I regularly worship you. Youre my absolute ideal. I think of you the whole time.
She measured out consideration as if it had been a yard of pretty ribbon. Are you sure you know me enough?
I think I know a perfect woman when I see one! Nothing now at least could have been more prompt, and while a decent pity for such a mistake showed in her smile he followed it up. Isnt what you rather mean that you havent cared sufficiently to know me? If so, that can be little by little mended, Lady Grace. He was in fact altogether gallant about it. Im aware of the limits of what I have to show or to offer, but I defy you to find a limit to my possible devotion.
She deferred to that, but taking it in a lower key. I believe youd be very good to me.
Well, isnt that something to start with?he fairly pounced on it. Ill do any blest thing in life you like, Ill accept any condition you impose, if youll only tell me you see your way.
Shouldnt I have a little more first to see yours? she asked. When you say youll do anything in life I like, isnt there anything you yourself want strongly enough to do?
He cast a stare about on the suggestions of the scene. Anything that will make money, you mean?
Make money or make reputationor even just make the time pass.
Oh, what I have to look to in the way of a career? If that was her meaning he could show after an instant that he didnt fear it. Well, your father, dear delightful man, has been so good as to give me to understand that he backs me for a decent deserving creature; and Ive noticed, as you doubtless yourself have, that when Lord Theign backs a fellow!
He left the obvious moral for her to take upwhich she did, but all interrogatively. The fellow at once comes in for something awfully good?
I dont in the least mind your laughing at me, Lord John returned, for when I put him the question of the lift hed give me by speaking to you first he bade me simply remember the complete personal liberty in which he leaves you, and yet which doesnt cometake my word! said the young man sagelyfrom his being at all indifferent.
No, she answeredfather isnt indifferent. But fathers great
Great indeed!her friend took it as with full comprehension. This appeared not to prevent, however, a second and more anxious thought. Too great for you?
Well, he makes me feeleven as his daughtermy extreme comparative smallness.
It was easy, Lord John indicated, to see what she meant Hes a grand seigneur, and a serious onethats what he is: the very type and model of it, down to the ground. So you can imagine, the young man said, what he makes me feelmost of all when hes so awfully good-natured to me. His being as great as you say and yet backing mesuch as I am!doesnt that strike you as a good note for me, the best you could possibly require? For he really would like what I propose to you.
She might have been noting, while she thought, that he had risen to ingenuity, to fineness, on the wings of his argument; under the effect of which her reply had the air of a concession. Yeshe would like it.
Then he has spoken to you? her suitor eagerly asked.
He hasnt neededhe has ways of letting one know.
Yes, yes, he has ways; all his ownlike everything else he has. Hes wonderful.
She fully agreed. Hes wonderful.
The tone of it appeared somehow to shorten at once for Lord John the rest of his approach to a conclusion. So you do see your way?
Ah! she said with a quick sad shrinkage.
I mean, her visitor hastened to explain, if he does put it to you as the very best idea he has for you. When he does thatas I believe him ready to dowill you really and fairly listen to him? Im certain, honestly, that when you know me better! His confidence in short donned a bravery.
Ive been feeling this quarter of an hour, the girl returned, that I do know you better.
Then isnt that all I want?unless indeed I ought perhaps to ask rather if it isnt all you do! At any rate, said Lord John, I may see you again here?
She waited a moment. You must have patience with me.
I am having it But after your fathers appeal.
Well, she said, that must come first.
Then you wont dodge it?
She looked at him straight I dont dodge, Lord John.
He admired the manner of it You look awfully handsome as you say soand you see what that does to me. As to attentuate a little the freedom of which he went on: May I fondly hope that if Lady Imber too should wish to put in another word for me?
Will I listen to her?it brought Lady Grace straight down. No, Lord John, let me tell you at once that Ill do nothing of the sort Kittys quite another affair, and I never listen to her a bit more than I can help.
Lord John appeared to feel, on this, that he mustnt too easily, in honour, abandon a person who had presented herself to him as an ally. Ah, you strike me as a little hard on her. Your father himselfin his looser moments!takes pleasure in what she says.
Our young womans eyes, as they rested on him after this remark, had no mercy for its extreme feebleness. If you mean that shes the most reckless rattle one knows, and that she never looks so beautiful as when shes at her worst, and that, always clever for where she makes out her interest, she has learnt to get round him till he only sees through her eyesif you mean that I understand you perfectly. But even if you think me horrid for reflecting so on my nearest and dearest, its not on the side on which he has most confidence in his elder daughter that his youngest is moved to have most confidence in him.
Lord John stared as if she had shaken some odd bright fluttering object in his face; but then recovering himself: He hasnt perhaps an absolutely boundless confidence
In any one in the world but himself?she had taken him straight up. He hasnt indeed, and thats what we must come to; so that even if he likes you as much as you doubtless very justly feel, it wont be because you are right about your being nice, but because he is!
You mean that if I were wrong about it he would still insist that he isnt?
Lady Grace was indeed sure. Absolutelyif he had begun so! He began so with Kittythat is with allowing her everything.
Lord John appeared struck. Yesand he still allows her two thousand.
Im glad to hear itshe has never told me how much! the girl undisguisedly smiled.
Then perhaps I oughtnt!he glowed with the light of contrition.
Well, you cant help it now, his companion remarked with amusement.
You mean that he ought to allow you as much? Lord John inquired. Im sure youre right, and that he will, he continued quite as in good faith; but I want you to understand that I dont care in the least what it may be!
The subject of his suit took the longest look at him she had taken yet. Youre very good to say so!
If this was ironic the touch fell short, thanks to his perception that they had practically just ceased to be alone. They were in presence of a third figure, who had arrived from the terrace, but whose approach to them was not so immediate as to deprive Lord John of time for another question. Will you let him tell you, at all events, how good he thinks me?and then let me come back and have it from you again?
Lady Graces answer to this was to turn, as he drew nearer, to the person by whom they were now joined. Lord John desires you should tell me, father, how good you think him.
Good, my dear?good for what? said Lord Theign a trifle absurdly, but looking from one of them to the other.
I feel I must ask him to tell you.
Then I shall give him a chanceas I should particularly like you to go back and deal with those overwhelming children.
Ah, they dont overwhelm you, father!the girl put it with some point.
If you mean to say I overwhelmed them, I dare say I did, he repliedfrom my view of that vast collective gape of six hundred painfully plain and perfectly expressionless faces. But that was only for the time: I pumped adviceoh such advice!and they held the large bucket as still as my pet pointer, when I scratch him, holds his back. The bucket, under the stream
Was bound to overflow? Lady Grace suggested.
Well, the strong recoil of the wave of intelligence has been not unnaturally followed by the formidable break. You must really, Lord Theign insisted, go and deal with it.
His daughters smile, for all this, was perceptibly cold. You work people up, father, and then leave others to let them down.
The two things, he promptly replied, require different natures. To which he simply added, as with the habit of authority, though not of harshness, Go!
It was absolute and she yielded; only pausing an instant to look as with a certain gathered meaning from one of the men to the other. Faintly and resignedly sighing she passed away to the terrace and disappeared.
The nature that can let you downI rather like it, you know! Lord John threw off. Which, for an airy elegance in them, were perhaps just slightly rash wordshis companion gave him so sharp a look as the two were left together.
VI
Face to face with his visitor the master of Dedborough betrayed the impression his daughter appeared to have given him. She didnt want to go? And then before Lord John could reply: What the deuce is the matter with her?
Lord John took his time. I think perhaps a little Mr. Crimble.
And who the deuce is a little Mr. Crimble?
A young man who was just with herand whom she appears to have invited.
Where is he then? Lord Theign demanded.
Off there among the pictureswhich he seems partly to have come for.
Oh!it made his lordship easier. Then hes all righton such a day.
His companion could none the less just wonder. Hadnt Lady Grace told you?