I have heard you speak of him, I answered, drinking him in with my glance. I added internally, Not half good enough for you.
Hildas eyes met mine and read my thought. They flashed back word, in the language of eyes, I do not agree with you.
Daphne, meanwhile, was watching me closely. I could see she was anxious to discover what impression her friend Mr. Holsworthy was making on me. Till then, I had no idea she was fond of anyone in particular; but the way her glance wandered from him to me and from me to Hilda showed clearly that she thought much of this gawky visitor.
We sat and talked together, we four, for some time. I found the young man with the lugubrious countenance improved immensely on closer acquaintance. His talk was clever. He turned out to be the son of a politician high in office in the Canadian Government, and he had been educated at Oxford. The father, I gathered, was rich, but he himself was making an income of nothing a year just then as a briefless barrister, and he was hesitating whether to accept a post of secretary that had been offered him in the colony, or to continue his negative career at the Inner Temple, for the honour and glory of it.
Now, which would YOU advise me, Miss Tepping? he inquired, after we had discussed the matter some minutes.
Daphnes face flushed up. It is so hard to decide, she answered. To decide to YOUR best advantage, I mean, of course. For naturally all your English friends would wish to keep you as long as possible in England.
No, do you think so? the gawky young man jerked out with evident pleasure. Now, thats awfully kind of you. Do you know, if YOU tell me I ought to stay in England, Ive half a mind Ill cable over this very day and refuse the appointment.
Daphne flushed once more. Oh, please dont! she exclaimed, looking frightened. I shall be quite distressed if a stray word of mine should debar you from accepting a good offer of a secretaryship.
Why, your least wish the young man beganthen checked himself hastilymust be always important, he went on, in a different voice, to everyone of your acquaintance.
Daphne rose hurriedly. Look here, Hilda, she said, a little tremulously, biting her lip, I have to go out into Westbourne Grove to get those gloves for to-night, and a spray for my hair; will you excuse me for half an hour?
Holsworthy rose too. Maynt I go with you? he asked, eagerly.
Oh, if you like. How very kind of you! Daphne answered, her cheek a blush rose. Hubert, will you come too? and you, Hilda?
It was one of those invitations which are given to be refused. I did not need Hildas warning glance to tell me that my company would be quite superfluous. I felt those two were best left together.
Its no use, though, Dr. Cumberledge! Hilda put in, as soon as they were gone. He WONT propose, though he has had every encouragement. I dont know whats the matter; but Ive been watching them both for weeks, and somehow things seem never to get any forwarder.
You think hes in love with her? I asked.
In love with her! Well, you have eyes in your head, I know; where could they have been looking? Hes madly in lovea very good kind of love, too. He genuinely admires and respects and appreciates all Daphnes sweet and charming qualities.
Then what do you suppose is the matter?
I have an inkling of the truth: I imagine Mr. Cecil must have let himself in for a prior attachment.
If so, why does he hang about Daphne?
Becausehe cant help himself. Hes a good fellow and a chivalrous fellow. He admires your cousin; but he must have got himself into some foolish entanglement elsewhere which he is too honourable to break off; while at the same time hes far too much impressed by Daphnes fine qualities to be able to keep away from her. Its the ordinary case of love versus duty.
Is he well off? Could he afford to marry Daphne?
Oh, his fathers very rich: he has plenty of money; a Canadian millionaire, they say. That makes it all the likelier that some undesirable young woman somewhere may have managed to get hold of him. Just the sort of romantic, impressionable hobbledehoy such women angle for.
I drummed my fingers on the table. Presently Hilda spoke again. Why dont you try to get to know him, and find out precisely whats the matter?
I KNOW whats the matternow youve told me, I answered. Its as clear as day. Daphne is very much smitten with him, too. Im sorry for Daphne! Well, Ill take your advice; Ill try to have some talk with him.
Do, please; I feel sure I have hit upon it. He has got himself engaged in a hurry to some girl he doesnt really care about, and he is far too much of a gentleman to break it off, though hes in love quite another way with Daphne.
Just at that moment the door opened and my aunt entered.
Why, wheres Daphne? she cried, looking about her and arranging her black lace shawl.
She has just run out into Westbourne Grove to get some gloves and a flower for the fete this evening, Hilda answered. Then she added, significantly, Mr. Holsworthy has gone with her.
What? That boys been here again?
Yes, Lady Tepping. He called to see Daphne.
My aunt turned to me with an aggrieved tone. It is a peculiarity of my auntsI have met it elsewherethat if she is angry with Jones, and Jones is not present, she assumes a tone of injured asperity on his account towards Brown or Smith, or any other innocent person whom she happens to be addressing. Now, this is really too bad, Hubert, she burst out, as if I were the culprit. Disgraceful! Abominable! Im sure I cant make out what the young fellow means by it. Here he comes dangling after Daphne every day and all day longand never once says whether he means anything by it or not. In MY young days, such conduct as that would not have been considered respectable.
I nodded and beamed benignly.
Well, why dont you answer me? my aunt went on, warming up. DO you mean to tell me you think his behaviour respectful to a nice girl in Daphnes position?
My dear aunt, I answered, you confound the persons. I am not Mr. Holsworthy. I decline responsibility for him. I meet him here, in YOUR house, for the first time this morning.
Then that shows how often you come to see your relations, Hubert! my aunt burst out, obliquely. The mans been here, to my certain knowledge, every day this six weeks.
Really, Aunt Fanny, I said; you must recollect that a professional man
Oh, yes. THATS the way! Lay it all down to your profession, do, Hubert! Though I KNOW you were at the Thorntons on Saturdaysaw it in the papersthe Morning Postamong the guests were Sir Edward and Lady Burnes, Professor Sebastian, Dr. Hubert Cumberledge, and so forth, and so forth. YOU think you can conceal these things; but you cant. I get to know them!
Conceal them! My dearest aunt! Why, I danced twice with Daphne.
Daphne! Yes, Daphne. They all run after Daphne, my aunt exclaimed, altering the venue once more. But theres no respect for age left. I expect to be neglected. However, thats neither here nor there. The point is this: youre the one man now living in the family. You ought to behave like a brother to Daphne. Why dont you board this Holsworthy person and ask him his intentions?
Goodness gracious! I cried; most excellent of aunts, that epoch has gone past. The late lamented Queen Anne is now dead. Its no use asking the young man of to-day to explain his intentions. He will refer you to the works of the Scandinavian dramatists.
Goodness gracious! I cried; most excellent of aunts, that epoch has gone past. The late lamented Queen Anne is now dead. Its no use asking the young man of to-day to explain his intentions. He will refer you to the works of the Scandinavian dramatists.
My aunt was speechless. She could only gurgle out the words: Well, I can safely say that of all the monstrous behaviour then language failed her and she relapsed into silence.
However, when Daphne and young Holsworthy returned, I had as much talk with him as I could, and when he left the house I left also.
Which way are you walking? I asked, as we turned out into the street.
Towards my rooms in the Temple.
Oh! Im going back to St. Nathaniels, I continued. If youll allow me, Ill walk part way with you.
How very kind of you!
We strode side by side a little distance in silence. Then a thought seemed to strike the lugubrious young man. What a charming girl your cousin is! he exclaimed, abruptly.
You seem to think so, I answered, smiling.
He flushed a little; the lantern jaw grew longer. I admire her, of course, he answered. Who doesnt? She is so extraordinarily handsome.
Well, not exactly handsome, I replied, with more critical and kinsman-like deliberation. Pretty, if you will; and decidedly pleasing and attractive in manner.
He looked me up and down, as if he found me a person singularly deficient in taste and appreciation. Ah, but then, you are her cousin, he said at last, with a compassionate tone. That makes a difference.
I quite see all Daphnes strong points, I answered, still smiling, for I could perceive he was very far gone. She is good-looking, and she is clever.
Clever! he echoed. Profound! She has a most unusual intellect. She stands alone.
Like her mothers silk dresses, I murmured, half under my breath.
He took no notice of my flippant remark, but went on with his rhapsody. Such depth; such penetration! And then, how sympathetic! Why, even to a mere casual acquaintance like myself, she is so kind, so discerning!
ARE you such a casual acquaintance? I inquired, with a smile. (It might have shocked Aunt Fanny to hear me; but THAT is the way we ask a young man his intentions nowadays.)
He stopped short and hesitated. Oh, quite casual, he replied, almost stammering. Most casual, I assure you.... I have never ventured to do myself the honour of supposing that that Miss Tepping could possibly care for me.
There is such a thing as being TOO modest and unassuming, I answered. It sometimes leads to unintentional cruelty.
No, do you think so? he cried, his face falling all at once. I should blame myself bitterly if that were so. Dr. Cumberledge, you are her cousin. DO you gather that I have acted in such a way as toto lead Miss Tepping to suppose I felt any affection for her?
I laughed in his face. My dear boy, I answered, laying one hand on his shoulder, may I say the plain truth? A blind bat could see you are madly in love with her.
His mouth twitched. Thats very serious! he answered, gravely; very serious.
It is, I responded, with my best paternal manner, gazing blankly in front of me.
He stopped short again. Look here, he said, facing me. Are you busy? No? Then come back with me to my rooms; andIll make a clean breast of it.
By all means, I assented. When one is youngand foolishI have often noticed, as a medical man, that a drachm of clean breast is a magnificent prescription.
He walked back by my side, talking all the way of Daphnes many adorable qualities. He exhausted the dictionary for laudatory adjectives. By the time I reached his door it was not HIS fault if I had not learned that the angelic hierarchy were not in the running with my pretty cousin for graces and virtues. I felt that Faith, Hope, and Charity ought to resign at once in favour of Miss Daphne Tepping, promoted.
He took me into his comfortably furnished roomsthe luxurious rooms of a rich young bachelor, with taste as well as moneyand offered me a partaga. Now, I have long observed, in the course of my practice, that a choice cigar assists a man in taking a philosophic outlook on the question under discussion; so I accepted the partaga. He sat down opposite me and pointed to a photograph in the centre of his mantlepiece. I am engaged to that lady, he put in, shortly.
So I anticipated, I answered, lighting up.
He started and looked surprised. Why, what made you guess it? he inquired.
I smiled the calm smile of superior ageI was some eight years or so his senior. My dear fellow, I murmured, what else could prevent you from proposing to Daphnewhen you are so undeniably in love with her?
A great deal, he answered. For example, the sense of my own utter unworthiness.
Ones own unworthiness, I replied, though doubtless realpf, pfis a barrier that most of us can readily get over when our admiration for a particular lady waxes strong enough. So THIS is the prior attachment! I took the portrait down and scanned it.
Unfortunately, yes. What do you think of her?
I scrutinised the features. Seems a nice enough little thing, I answered. It was an innocent face, I admit; very frank and girlish.
He leaned forward eagerly. Thats just it. A nice enough little thing! Nothing in the world to be said against her. While DaphneMiss Tepping, I mean His silence was ecstatic.
I examined the photograph still more closely. It displayed a lady of twenty or thereabouts, with a weak face, small, vacant features, a feeble chin, a good-humoured, simple mouth, and a wealth of golden hair that seemed to strike a keynote.
In the theatrical profession? I inquired at last, looking up.
He hesitated. Well, not exactly, he answered.
I pursed my lips and blew a ring. Music-hall stage? I went on, dubiously.
He nodded. But a girl is not necessarily any the less a lady because she sings at a music-hall, he added, with warmth, displaying an evident desire to be just to his betrothed, however much he admired Daphne.
Certainly not, I admitted. A lady is a lady; no occupation can in itself unladify her.... But on the music-hall stage, the odds, one must admit, are on the whole against her.
Now, THERE you show prejudice!
One may be quite unprejudiced, I answered, and yet allow that connection with the music-halls does not, as such, afford clear proof that a girl is a compound of all the virtues.
I think shes a good girl, he retorted, slowly.
Then why do you want to throw her over? I inquired.
I dont. Thats just it. On the contrary, I mean to keep my word and marry her.
IN ORDER to keep your word? I suggested.
He nodded. Precisely. It is a point of honour.
Thats a poor ground of marriage, I went on. Mind, I dont want for a moment to influence you, as Daphnes cousin. I want to get at the truth of the situation. I dont even know what Daphne thinks of you. But you promised me a clean breast. Be a man and bare it.
He bared it instantly. I thought I was in love with this girl, you see, he went on, till I saw Miss Tepping.
That makes a difference, I admitted.
And I couldnt bear to break her heart.
Heaven forbid! I cried. It is the one unpardonable sin. Better anything than that. Then I grew practical. Fathers consent?