CHAPTER XI. Negotiation
The Major and Captain Costigan were old soldiers and accustomed to facethe enemy, so we may presume that they retained their presence of mindperfectly; but the rest of the party assembled in Cos's sitting-roomwere, perhaps, a little flurried at Pendennis's apparition. MissFotheringay's slow heart began to beat no doubt, for her cheek flushedup with a great healthy blush, as Lieutenant Sir Derby Oaks looked ather with a scowl. The little crooked old man in the window-seat, whohad been witnessing the fencing-match between the two gentlemen (whosestamping and jumping had been such as to cause him to give up allattempts to continue writing the theatre music, in the copying of whichhe had been engaged) looked up eagerly towards the new-comer as theMajor of the well-blacked boots entered the apartment distributing themost graceful bows to everybody present.
"Me daughter--me friend, Mr. Bows--me gallant young pupil and friend,I may call 'um, Sir Derby Oaks," said Costigan, splendidly waving hishand, and pointing each of these individuals to the Major's attention."In one moment, Meejor, I'm your humble servant," and to dash into thelittle adjoining chamber where he slept, to give a twist to his lankhair with his hair-brush (a wonderful and ancient piece), to tear offhis old stock and put on a new one which Emily had constructed for him,and to assume a handsome clean collar, and the new coat which had beenordered upon the occasion of Miss Fotheringay's benefit, was with thestill active Costigan the work of a minute.
After him Sir Derby entered, and presently emerged from the sameapartment, where he also cased himself in his little shell-jacket, whichfitted tightly upon the young officer's big person; and which he, andMiss Fotheringay, and poor Pen too, perhaps, admired prodigiously.
Meanwhile conversation was engaged between the actress and thenew-comer; and the usual remarks about the weather had been interchangedbefore Costigan re-entered in his new 'Shoot,' as he called it.
"I needn't apologoise to ye, Meejor," he said, in his richest and mostcourteous manner, "for receiving ye in me shirt-sleeves."
"An old soldier can't be better employed than in teaching a young onethe use of his sword," answered the Major, gallantly. "I remember in oldtimes hearing that you could use yours pretty well, Captain Costigan."
"What, ye've heard of Jack Costigan, Major," said the other, greatly.
The Major had, indeed; he had pumped his nephew concerning his newfriend, the Irish officer; and whether he had no other knowledge of theCaptain than what he had thus gained, or whether he actually rememberedhim, we cannot say. But Major Pendennis was a person of honour andundoubted veracity, and said that he perfectly well recollected meetingMr. Costigan, and hearing him sing at Sir Richard Strachan's table atWalcheren.
At this information, and the bland and cordial manner in which it wasconveyed, Bows looked up, entirely puzzled. "But we will talk of thesematters another time," the Major continued, perhaps not wishing tocommit himself; "it is to Miss Fotheringay that I came to pay myrespects to-day;" and he performed another bow for her, so courtly andgracious, that if she had been a duchess he could not have made it morehandsome.
"I had heard of your performances from my nephew, madam," the Majorsaid, "who raves about you, as I believe you know pretty well. ButArthur is but a boy, and a wild enthusiastic young fellow, whoseopinions one must not take au pied de la lettre; and I confess I wasanxious to judge for myself. Permit me to say your performance delightedand astonished me. I have seen our best actresses, and, on my word, Ithink you surpass them all. You are as majestic as Mrs. Siddons."
"Faith, I always said so," Costigan said, winking at his daughter;"Major, take a chair." Milly rose at this hint, took an unripped satingarment off the only vacant seat, and brought the latter to MajorPendennis with one of her finest curtseys.
"You are as pathetic as Miss O'Neill," he continued, bowing and seatinghimself; "your snatches of song reminded me of Mrs. Jordan in her besttime, when we were young men, Captain Costigan; and your manner remindedme of Mars. Did you ever see the Mars, Miss Fotheringay?"
"There was two Mahers in Crow Street," remarked Miss Emily; "Fanny waswell enough, but Biddy was no great things."
"Sure, the Major means the god of war, Milly, my dear," interposed theparent.
"It is not that Mars I meant, though Venus, I suppose, may be pardonedfor thinking about him," the Major replied with a smile directed in fullto Sir Derby Oaks, who now re-entered in his shell-jacket; but thelady did not understand the words of which he made use, nor did thecompliment at all pacify Sir Derby, who, probably, did not understand iteither, and at any rate received it with great sulkiness and stiffness,scowling uneasily at Miss Fotheringay, with an expression which seemedto ask what the deuce does this man here?
Major Pendennis was not in the least annoyed by the gentleman'sill-humour. On the contrary, it delighted him. "So," thought he, "arival is in the field;" and he offered up vows that Sir Derby might be,not only a rival, but a winner too, in this love-match in which he andPen were engaged.
"I fear I interrupted your fencing lesson; but my stay in Chatterisis very short, and I was anxious to make myself known to my oldfellow-campaigner Captain Costigan, and to see a lady nearer who hadcharmed me so much from the stage. I was not the only man epris lastnight, Miss Fotheringay (if I must call you so, though your own familyname is a very ancient and noble one). There was a reverend friend ofmine, who went home in raptures with Ophelia; and I saw Sir Derby Oaksfling a bouquet which no actress ever merited better. I should havebrought one myself, had I known what I was going to see. Are not thosethe very flowers in a glass of water on the mantelpiece yonder?"
"I am very fond of flowers," said Miss Fotheringay, with a languishingogle at Sir Derby Oaks--but the Baronet still scowled sulkily.
"Sweets to the sweet--isn't that the expression of the play?" Mr.Pendennis asked, bent upon being good-humoured.
"'Pon my life, I don't know. Very likely it is. I ain't much of aliterary man," answered Sir Derby.
"Is it possible?" the Major continued, with an air of surprise. Youdon't inherit your father's love of letters, then, Sir Derby? He was aremarkably fine scholar, and I had the honour of knowing him very well."
"Indeed," said the other, and gave a sulky wag of his head.
"He saved my life," continued Pendennis.
"Did he now?" cried Miss Fotheringay, rolling her eyes first upon theMajor with surprise, then towards Sir Derby with gratitude--but thelatter was proof against those glances: and far from appearing tobe pleased that the Apothecary, his father, should have saved MajorPendennis's life, the young man actually looked as if he wished theevent had turned the other way.
"My father, I believe, was a very good doctor," the young gentleman saidby way of reply. "I'm not in that line myself. I wish you good morning,sir. I've got an appointment--Cos, bye-bye--Miss Fotheringay, goodmorning." And, in spite of the young lady's imploring looks andappealing smiles, the Dragoon bowed stiffly out of the room, and theclatter of his sabre was heard as he strode down the creaking stair;and the angry tones of his voice as he cursed little Tom Creed, who wasdisporting in the passage, and whose peg-top Sir Derby kicked away withan oath into the street.
The Major did not smile in the least, though he had every reason to beamused. "Monstrous handsome young man that--as fine a looking soldier asever I saw," he said to Costigan.
"A credit to the army and to human nature in general," answeredCostigan. "A young man of refoined manners, polite affabilitee, andprincely fortune. His table is sumptuous: he's adawr'd in the regiment:and he rides sixteen stone."
"A perfect champion," said the Major, laughing. "I have no doubt all theladies admire him."
"He's very well, in spite of his weight, now he's young," said Milly;"but he's no conversation."
"He's best on horseback," Mr. Bows said; on which Milly replied,that the Baronet had ridden third in the steeple-chase on his horseTareaways, and the Major began to comprehend that the young lady herselfwas not of a particular genius, and to wonder how she s
hould be sostupid and act so well.
Costigan, with Irish hospitality, of course pressed refreshment upon hisguest: and the Major, who was no more hungry than you are after a LordMayor's dinner, declared that he should like a biscuit and a glass ofwine above all things, as he felt quite faint from long fasting--but heknew that to receive small kindnesses flatters the donors very much, andthat people must needs grow well disposed towards you as they give youtheir hospitality.
"Some of the old Madara, Milly, love," Costigan said, winking to hischild--and that lady, turning to her father a glance of intelligence,went out of the room, and down the stair, where she softly summoned herlittle emissary Master Tommy Creed: and giving him a piece of money,ordered him to go buy a pint of Madara wine at the Grapes, andsixpennyworth of sorted biscuits at the baker's, and to return in ahurry, when he might have two biscuits for himself.
Whilst Tommy Creed was gone on this errand, Miss Costigan sate belowwith Mrs. Creed, telling her landlady how Mr. Arthur Pendennis's uncle,the Major, was above-stairs; a nice, soft-spoken old gentleman; thatbutter wouldn't melt in his mouth: and how Sir Derby had gone out ofthe room in a rage of jealousy, and thinking what must be done to pacifyboth of them.
"She keeps the keys of the cellar, Major," said Mr. Costigan, as thegirl left the room.
"Upon my word you have a very beautiful butler," answered Pendennis,gallantly, "and I don't wonder at the young fellows raving about her.When we were of their age, Captain Costigan, I think plainer women wouldhave done our business."
"Faith, and ye may say that, sir--and lucky is the man who gets her.Ask me friend Bob Bows here whether Miss Fotheringay's moind is not evenshuparior to her person, and whether she does not possess a cultiveatedintellect, a refoined understanding, and an emiable disposition?"
"O of course," said Mr. Bows, rather drily. "Here comes Hebe blushingfrom the cellar. Don't you think it is time to go to rehearsal, MissHebe? You will be fined if you are later"--and he gave the young lady alook, which intimated that they had much better leave the room and thetwo elders together.
At this order Miss Hebe took up her bonnet and shawl, looking uncommonlypretty, good-humoured, and smiling: and Bows gathered up his roll ofpapers, and hobbled across the room for his hat and cane.
"Must you go?" said the Major. "Can't you give us a few minutes more,Miss Fotheringay? Before you leave us, permit an old fellow to shakeyou by the hand, and believe that I am proud to have had the honourof making your acquaintance, and am most sincerely anxious to be yourfriend."
Miss Fotheringay made a low curtsey at the conclusion of this gallantspeech, and the Major followed her retreating steps to the door, wherehe squeezed her hand with the kindest and most paternal pressure. Bowswas puzzled with this exhibition of cordiality: "The lad's relativescan't be really wanting to marry him to her," he thought--and so theydeparted.
"Now for it," thought Major Pendennis; and as for Mr. Costigan heprofited instantaneously by his daughter's absence to drink up the restof the wine; and tossed off one bumper after another of the Madeira fromthe Grapes, with an eager shaking hand. The Major came up to the table,and took up his glass and drained it with a jovial smack. If it had beenLord Steyne's particular, and not public-house Cape, he could not haveappeared to relish it more.
"Capital Madeira, Captain Costigan," he said. "Where do you get it? Idrink the health of that charming creature in a bumper. Faith, Captain,I don't wonder that the men are wild about her. I never saw such eyes inmy life, or such a grand manner. I am sure she is as intellectual as sheis beautiful; and I have no doubt she's as good as she is clever."
"A good girl, sir,--a good girl, sir," said the delighted father; "andI pledge a toast to her with all my heart. Shall I send to the--to thecellar for another pint? It's handy by. No? Well, indeed sir, ye may sayshe is a good girl, and the pride and glory of her father--honest oldJack Costigan. The man who gets her will have a jew'l to a wife, sir;and I drink his health, sir, and ye know who I mean, Major."
"I am not surprised at young or old falling in love with her," said theMajor, "and frankly must tell you, that though I was very angry with mypoor nephew Arthur, when I heard of the boy's passion--now I have seenthe lady I can pardon him any extent of it. By George, I should like toenter for the race myself, if I weren't an old fellow and a poor one."
"And no better man, Major, I'm sure," cried Jack enraptured.
"Your friendship, sir, delights me. Your admiration for my girl bringstears to me eyes--tears, sir--manlee tears--and when she leaves mehumble home for your own more splendid mansion, I hope she'll keep aplace for her poor old father, poor old Jack Costigan."--The Captainsuited the action to the word, and his bloodshot eyes were suffused withwater, as he addressed the Major.
"Your sentiments do you honour," the other said. "But, Captain Costigan,I can't help smiling at one thing you have just said."
"And what's that, sir?" asked Jack, who was at a too heroic andsentimental pitch to descend from it. You were speaking about oursplendid mansion--my sister's house, I mean.
"I mane the park and mansion of Arthur Pendennis, Esquire, of FairoaksPark, whom I hope to see a Mimber of Parliament for his native town ofClavering, when he is of ege to take that responsible stetion," criedthe Captain with much dignity.
The Major smiled as he recognised a shaft of his own bow. It was he whohad set Pen upon the idea of sitting in Parliament for the neighbouringborough--and the poor lad had evidently been bragging on the subject toCostigan and the lady of his affections. "Fairoaks Park, my dear sir,"he said. "Do you know our history? We are of excessively ancient familycertainly, but I began life with scarce enough money to purchase mycommission, and my eldest brother was a country apothecary: who madeevery shilling he died possessed of out of his pestle and mortar."
"I have consented to waive that objection, sir," said Costiganmajestically, "in consideration of the known respectability of yourfamily."
"Curse your impudence," thought the Major; but he only smiled and bowed.
"The Costigans, too, have met with misfortunes; and our house of CastleCostigan is by no manes what it was. I have known very honest menapothecaries, sir, and there's some in Dublin that has had the honour ofdining at the Lord Leftenant's teeble."
"You are very kind to give us the benefit of your charity," the Majorcontinued: "but permit me to say that is not the question. You spokejust now of my little nephew as heir of Fairoaks Park and I don't knowwhat besides."
"Funded property, I've no doubt, Meejor, and something handsomeeventually from yourself."
"My good sir, I tell you the boy is the son of a country apothecary,"cried out Major Pendennis; "and that when he comes of age he won't havea shilling."
"Pooh, Major, you're laughing at me," said Mr. Costigan, "me youngfriend, I make no doubt, is heir to two thousand pounds a year."
"Two thousand fiddlesticks! I beg your pardon, my dear sir; but has theboy been humbugging you?--it is not his habit. Upon my word and honour,as a gentleman and an executor to my brother's will too, he left littlemore than five hundred a year behind him."
"And with aconomy, a handsome sum of money too, sir," the Captainanswered. "Faith, I've known a man drink his clar't, and drive hiscoach-and-four on five hundred a year and strict aconomy, in Ireland,sir. We'll manage on it, sir--trust Jack Costigan for that."
"My dear Captain Costigan--I give you my word that my brother did notleave a shilling to his son Arthur."
"Are ye joking with me, Meejor Pendennis?" cried Jack Costigan. "Are yethrifling with the feelings of a father and a gentleman?"
"I am telling you the honest truth," said Major Pendennis. "Everyshilling my brother had, he left to his widow: with a partial reversion,it is true, to the boy. But she is a young woman, and may marry if heoffends her--or she may outlive him, for she comes of an uncommonlylong-lived family. And I ask you, as a gentleman and a man of the world,what allowance can my sister, Mrs. Pendennis, make to her son out offive hundred a year, which is all her fort
une,--that shall enable himto maintain himself and your daughter in the rank befitting such anaccomplished young lady?"
"Am I to understand, sir, that the young gentleman, your nephew, andwhom I have fosthered and cherished as the son of me bosom, is animposther who has been thrifling with the affections of me belovedchild?" exclaimed the General, with an outbreak of wrath.--"Have youyourself been working upon the feelings of the young man's susceptiblenature to injuice him to break off an engagement, and with it me adoredEmily's heart? Have a care, sir, how you thrifle with the honour of JohnCostigan. If I thought any mortal man meant to do so, be heavens I'dhave his blood, sir--were he old or young."
"Mr. Costigan!" cried out the Major.
"Mr. Costigan can protect his own and his daughter's honour, and will,sir," said the other. "Look at that chest of dthrawers, it containsheaps of letthers that that viper has addressed to that innocent child.There's promises there, sir, enough to fill a bandbox with; and when Ihave dragged the scoundthrel before the Courts of Law, and shown up hisperjury and his dishonour, I have another remedy in yondther mahoganycase, sir, which shall set me right, sir, with any individual--ye markme words, Major Pendennis--with any individual who has counselled yournephew to insult a soldier and a gentleman. What? Me daughter to bejilted, and me grey hairs dishonoured by an apothecary's son. By thelaws of Heaven, Sir, I should like to see the man that shall do it."
"I am to understand then that you threaten in the first place to publishthe letters of a boy of eighteen to a woman of eight-and-twenty: andafterwards to do me the honour of calling me out," the Major said, stillwith perfect coolness.
"You have described my intentions with perfect accuracy, MeejorPendennis," answered the Captain, as he pulled his ragged whiskers overhis chin.
"Well, well; these shall be the subjects of future arrangements, butbefore we come to powder and ball, my good sir,--do have the kindness tothink with yourself in what earthly way I have injured you? I have toldyou that my nephew is dependent upon his mother, who has scarcely morethan five hundred a year."
"I have my own opinion of the correctness of that assertion," said theCaptain.
"Will you go to my sister's lawyers, Messrs. Tatham here, and satisfyyourself?"
"I decline to meet those gentlemen," said the Captain, with rather adisturbed air. "If it be as you say, I have been athrociously deceivedby some one, and on that person I'll be revenged."
"Is it my nephew?" cried the Major, starting up and putting on his hat."Did he ever tell you that his property was two thousand a year? If hedid, I'm mistaken in the boy. To tell lies has not been a habit in ourfamily, Mr. Costigan, and I don't think my brother's son has learnedit as yet. Try and consider whether you have not deceived yourself; oradopted extravagant reports from hearsay--As for me, sir, you are atliberty to understand that I am not afraid of all the Costigans inIreland, and know quite well how to defend myself against any threatsfrom any quarter. I come here as the boy's guardian to protest againsta marriage, most absurd and unequal, that cannot but bring poverty andmisery with it: and in preventing it I conceive I am quite as much yourdaughter's friend (who I have no doubt is an honourable young lady) asthe friend of my own family: and prevent the marriage I will, sir, byevery means in my power. There, I have said my say, sir."
"But I have not said mine, Major Pendennis--and ye shall hear more fromme," Mr. Costigan said, with a look of tremendous severity.
"'Sdeath, sir, what do you mean?" the Major asked, turning round on thethreshold of the door, and looking the intrepid Costigan in the face.
"Ye said, in the coorse of conversation, that ye were at the GeorgeHotel, I think," Mr. Costigan said in a stately manner. "A friend shallwait upon ye there before ye leave town, sir."
"Let him make haste, Mr. Costigan," cried out the Major, almost besidehimself with rage. "I wish you a good morning, sir." And CaptainCostigan bowed a magnificent bow of defiance to Major Pendennis over thelanding-place as the latter retreated down the stairs.
The History of Pendennis Page 13
