Now, dont say you cant, or wont, for you must. And I shall introduce you to a very pretty girloh! such a pretty oneyouve no ideaand so sweet!
Miss Pritty spoke impressively and with enthusiasm, but as the youth knew himself to be already acquainted with and beloved by the prettiest girl in the town he was not so much impressed as he might have been. However, being a good-natured fellow, he was easily persuaded.
All the way up-stairs, and while they were entering the boudoir, little Miss Prittys tongue never ceased to vibrate, but when she observed her nephew gazing in surprise at her friend, whose usually calm and self-possessed face was covered with confusion, she stopped suddenly.
Good-evening, Miss Hazlit, said Edgar, recovering himself, and holding out his hand as he advanced towards her; I did not anticipate the pleasure of meeting you here.
Then you are acquainted already! exclaimed Miss Pritty, looking as much amazed as if the accident of two young people being acquainted without her knowledge were something tantamount to a miracle.
Yes, I have met Mr Berrington at my fathers several times, said Aileen, resuming her seat, and bestowing a minute examination on the corner of her handkerchief.
If Aileen had added that she had met Mr Berrington every evening for a week past at her fathers, had there renewed the acquaintance begun in London a year before, and had been wooed and won by him before his stern repulse by her father, she would have said nothing beyond the bare truth; but she thought, no doubt, that it was not necessary to add all that.
Well, well, what strange things do happen! said Miss Pritty, resuming her duties at the tea-table. Sugar, Eddy? And cream?Only to think that Aileen and I have known each other so well, and she did not know that you were my nephew; but after all it could not well be otherwise, for now I think of it, I never mentioned your name to her. Out of sight, out of mind, Eddy, you know, and indeed you dont deserve to be remembered. If we all had our deserts, some people that I know of would be in a very different position from what they are, and some people wouldnt be at all.
Why, aunt, said Edgar, laughing. Would you
Some more cake, Eddy?
No, thank you. I was going to say
Have you enough cream? Allow me to
Quite enough, thanks. I was about to remark
Some sugar, Aileen?I beg your pardonyesyou were about to say
Oh! Nothing, replied Edgar, half exasperated by these frequent interruptions, but laughing in spite of himself, only Im surprised that sentence of annihilation should be passed on some people by one so amiable as you are.
Oh! I didnt exactly mean annihilation, returned Miss Pritty, with a pitiful smile; I only mean that I wouldnt have had them come into existence, they seem to be so utterly useless in the world, and so interfering, too, with those who want to be useful.
Surely that quality, or capacity of interference, proves them to be not utterly useless, said Edgar, for does it not give occasion for the exercise of patience and forbearance?
Ah! replied Miss Pritty, with an arch smile, shaking her finger at her nephew, you are a fallacious reasoner. Do you know what that means? I cant help laughing still at the trouble I used to have in trying to find out the meaning of that word fallacious, when I was at Miss Dullandoors seminary for young ladieshi! Hi! Some of us were excessively young ladies, and we were taught everything by rote, explanations of meanings of anything being quite ignored by Miss Dullandoor. Do you remember her sister? Oh! Im so stupid to forget that its exactly thirty years to-day since she died, and you cant be quite that age yet; besides, even if you were, it would require that you should have seen, and recognised, and remembered her on her deathbed about the time of your own birth. Oh! She was so funny, both in face and figure. One of the older girls made a portrait of her for me which I have yet. Ill go fetch it; the expression is irresistibleit is killing. Excuse me a minute.
Miss Pritty rose and trippedshe never walkedfrom the room. During much of the previous conversation our hero had been sorely perplexed in his mind as to his duty in present circumstances. Having been forbidden to hold any intercourse with Aileen, he questioned the propriety of his remaining to spend the evening with her, and had made up his mind to rise and tear himself away when this unlooked-for opportunity for a tête-à-tête occurred. Being a man of quick wit and strong will, he did not neglect it. Turning suddenly to the fair girl, he said, in a voice low and measured
Aileen, your father commanded me to have no further intercourse with you, and he made me aware that he had laid a similar injunction on yourself. I know full well your true-hearted loyalty to him, and do not intend to induce you to disobey. I ask you to make no reply to what I say that is not consistent with your promise to your father. For myself, common courtesy tells me that I may not leave your presence for a distant land without saying at least good-bye. Nay, more, I feel that I break no command in making to you a simple deliberate statement.
Edgar paused for a moment, for, in spite of the powerful restraint put on himself, and the intended sedateness of his words, his feelings were almost too strong for him.
Aileen, he resumed, I may never see you again. Your father intends that I shall not. Your looks seem to say that you fear as much. Now, my heart tells me that I shall; but, whatever betide, or wherever I go, let me assure you that I will continue to love you with unalterable fidelity. More than this I shall not say, less I could not. You said that these New Testamentspointing to a pile of four or five which lay on the tableare meant to be given to poor men. I am a poor man: will you give me one?
Willingly, said Aileen, taking one from the pile.
She handed it to her lover without a single word, but with a tender anxious look that went straight to his heart, and took up its lodging thereto abide for ever!
The youth grasped the book and the hand at once, and, stooping, pressed the latter fervently to his lips.
At that moment Miss Pritty was heard tripping along the passage.
Edgar sprang to intercept her, and closed the door of the boudoir behind him.
Why, Edgar, you seem in haste!
I am, dear aunt; circumstances require that I should be. Come down-stairs with me. I have stayed too long already. I am going abroad, and may not spend more time with you this evening.
Going abroad! exclaimed Miss Pritty, in breathless surprise, where?
I dont know. To China, Japan, New Zealand, the North Poleanywhere. In fact, Ive not quite fixed. Good-bye, dear aunt. Sorry to have seen so little of you. Good-bye.
He stooped, printed a gentle kiss between Miss Prittys wondering eyes, and vanished.
A most remarkable boy, said the disconcerted lady, resuming her seat at the tea-tableso impulsive and volatile. But hes a dear good boy neverthelesswas so kind to his mother while she was alive, and ran away from school when quite youngand no wonder, for it was a dreadful school, where they used to torture the boys,absolutely tortured them. The head-master and ushers were tried for it afterwards, Im told. At all events; Eddy ran away from it after pulling the masters nose and kicking the head usherso it is said, though I cannot believe it, he is usually so gentle and courteous.Do have a little more tea. No? A piece of bun? No? Why, you seem quite flushed, my love. Not unwell, I trust? No? Well, then, let us proceed to business.
Chapter Four.
Divers Matters
Charles Hazlit, Esquire, was a merchant and a shipowner, a landed proprietor, a manager of banks, a member of numerous boards and committees, a guardian of the poor, a volunteer colonel, and a good-humoured man on the whole, but purse-proud and pompous. He was also the father of Aileen.
Behold him seated in an elegant drawing-room, in a splendid mansion at the west end (strange that all aristocratic ends would appear to be west ends!) of the seaport town which owned him. His blooming daughter sat beside him at a table, on which lay a small, peculiar, box. He doated on his daughter, and with good reason. Their attention was so exclusively taken up with the peculiar box that they had failed to observe the entrance, unannounced, of a man of rough exterior, who stood at the door, hat in hand, bowing and coughing attractively, but without success.
My darling, said Mr Hazlit, stooping to kiss his childhis only childwho raised her pretty little three-cornered mouth to receive it, this being your twenty-first birthday, I have at last brought myself to look once again on your sainted mothers jewel-case, in order that I may present it to you. I have not opened it since the day she died. It is now yours, my child.
Aileen opened her eyes in mute amazement. It would seem as though there had been some secret sympathy between her and the man at the door, for he did precisely the same thing. He also crushed his hat somewhat convulsively with both hands, but without doing it any damage, as it was a very hard sailor-like hat. He also did something to his lips with his tongue, which looked a little like licking them.
Oh papa! exclaimed Aileen, seizing his hand, how kind; how
Nay, love, no thanks are due to me. It is your mothers gift. On her deathbed she made me promise to give it you when you came of age, and to train you, up to that age, as far as possible, with a disregard for dress and show. I think your dear mother was wrong, continued Mr Hazlit, with a mournful smile, but, whether right or wrong, you can bear me witness that I have sought to fulfil the second part of her dying request, and I now accomplish the first.
He proceeded to unlock, the fastenings of the little box, which was made of some dark metal resembling iron, and was deeply as well as richly embossed on the lid and sides with quaint figures and devices.
Mr Hazlit had acquired a grand, free-handed way of manipulating treasure. Instead of lifting the magnificent jewels carefully from the casket, he tumbled them out like a gorgeous cataract of light and colour, by the simple process of turning the box upside down.
Oh papa, take care! exclaimed Aileen, spreading her little hands in front of the cataract to stem its progress to the floor, while her two eyes opened in surprise, and shone with a lustre that might have made the insensate gems envious. How exquisite! How inexpressibly beautiful!oh my dear, darling mother!
She stopped abruptly, and tears fluttered from her eyes. In a few seconds she continued, pushing the gems away, almost passionately
But I cannot wear them, papa. They are worthless to me.
She was right. She had no need of such gems. Was not her hair golden and her skin alabaster? Were not her lips coral and her teeth pearls? And were not diamonds of the purest water dropping at that moment from her down-cast eyes?
True, my child, and the sentiment does your heart credit; they are worthless, utterly worthless mere pasteat this point the face of the man at the door visibly changed for the worsemere paste, as regards their power to bring back to us the dear one who wore them. Nevertheless, in a commercial point of viewhere the ears of the man at the door cockedthey are worth some eight or nine thousand pounds sterling, so they may as well be taken care of.
The tongue and lips of the man at the door again became active. He attemptedunsuccessfully, as beforeto crush his hat, and inadvertently coughed.
Mr Hazlits usually pale countenance flushed, and he started up.
Hallo! My man, how came you here?
The man looked at the door and hesitated in his attempt to reply to so useless a question.
How comes it that you enter my house and drawing-room without being announced? asked Mr Hazlit, drawing himself up.
Cause I wanted to see you, an I found the door open, an there warnt nobody down stair to announce me, answered the man in a rather surly tone.
Oh, indeed?ah, said Mr Hazlit, drawing out a large silk handkerchief with a flourish, blowing his nose therewith, and casting it carelessly on the table so as to cover the jewel-box. Well, as you are now ere, pray what have you got to say to me?
Your ship the Seagull has bin wrecked, sir, on Toosday night on the coast of Wales.
I received that unpleasant piece of news on Wednesday morning. What has that to do with your visit?
Only that I thought you might want divers for to go to the wreck, an Im a diverthats all.
The man at the door said this in a very surly tone, for the slight tendency to politeness which had begun to manifest itself while the prospect of a job was hopeful, vanished before the haughty manner of the merchant.
Well, it is just possible that I may require the assistance of divers, said Mr Hazlit, ringing the bell; when I do, I can send for you.John, show this person out.
The hall-footman, who had been listening attentively at the key-hole, and allowed a second or two to elapse before opening the door, bowed with a guilty flush on his face and held the door wide open.
David Maxwellfor it was hepassed out with an angry scowl, and as he strode with noisy tread across the hall, said something uncommonly pithy to the footman about upstarts and puppies, and people who thought they was made o different dirt from others, accompanied with many other words and expressions which we may not repeat.
To all of this John replied with bland smiles and polite bows, hoping that the effects of the interview might not render him feverish, and reminding him that if it did he was in a better position than most men for cooling himself at the bottom of the sea.
Farewell, said John earnestly; and if you should take a fancy to honour us any day with your company to dinner, do send a line to say youre coming.
John did not indulge in this pleasantry until the exasperated diver was just outside of the house, and it was well that he was so prudent, for Maxwell turned round like a tiger and struck with tremendous force at his face. His hard knuckles met the panel of the door, in which they left an indelible print, and at the same time sent a sound like a distant cannon shot into the library.
Im afraid I have been a little too sharp with him, said Mr Hazlit, assisting his daughter to replace the jewels.
Aileen agreed with him, but as nothing could induce her to condemn her father with her lips she made no reply.
But, continued the old gentleman, the rascal had no right to enter my house without ringing. He might have been a thief, you know. He looked rough and coarse enough to be one.
Oh papa, said Aileen entreatingly, dont be too hasty in judging those who are sometimes called rough and coarse. I do assure you Ive met many men in my district who are big and rough and coarse to look at, but who have the feelings and hearts of tender women.
I know it, simple one; you must not suppose that I judged him by his exterior; I judged him by his rude manner and conduct, and I do not extend my opinion of him to the whole class to which he belongs.