to gaze down over the flowers in the balconyat her sister, as she stepped lightly into her carriage, just as manly,handsome Richard Linnell came by on the other side, to raise his hatgravely to each of the sisters in turn, with the effect of making Claireshrink back more into the room, so that she only heard the door of thebritzka banged to, and the horses start off, while Richard Linnell wenton with bended head and knitted brows, thinking of the part he had takenin the serenade on that terrible night.
"Goose!" said May Burnett to herself angrily, as she ordered the footmanto go to Miss Clode's. "I believe she'd be ready to throw herself awayon that penniless fellow. I haven't patience with her, and--"
Here she had to bend to a couple of ladies with a most gracious smile.A few yards further and she encountered Lord Carboro', whose hat wascarefully raised to her, and on turning the bend where the cliff curvedoff to the north, she came suddenly upon a handsome pony carriage,driven by Cora Dean in a dazzling new costume of creamy silk and lace,while her mother leaned back in ruby satin, with her eyes half-closed, asmall groom behind, seated upon a very tiny perch, having his armsclosely folded, and his hat cocked at a wonderful angle.
The driver of the high-stepping pair of ponies stared hard at MayBurnett, while that lady leaned back languidly, and quite ignored thepresence of the handsome actress.
"Little upstart!" muttered Cora, as she gave her ponies a sharp cut,making them tear along. "I'm not good enough for her to even see; butmaybe smuts will fall on the whitest snow. Who knows, my pretty babymadam? Get on with you then!"
_Whish-swish_, and the ponies sent the chalky dust flying as they torealong.
"Now, lookye here, Betsy, once for all," said Mrs Dean angrily; "if youare going to drive like that, I stay at home. I like my bones, thoughthey do ache sometimes, and I'm not going to have them broke to pleaseyou."
Cora frowned, and softly took up the second rein with the effect ofchecking the ponies' rattling gallop just as heads were being turned andgentlemen on horseback were starting off in pursuit.
"I ain't easily frightened, Betsy, you know," said Mrs Dean, panting."Speaking as a woman as has faced a whole company in the bad days ontreasury night, when there's been nothing in the cash-box, and your poorfather off his head, I say I ain't easily frightened."
"Now, mother--I mean mamma--how are we to get into society if you willrefer so constantly to those wretched old days?"
"They weren't wretched old days, my dear, and I was a deal happier thenthan I am now. But never mind; we've got our tickets. I knew oldDenville would get 'em, and my Betsy'll startle some of 'em at the ball,I know. Hold 'em in tighter, my dear, do."
"Don't be so foolishly nervous, mother. I have them well in hand."
"But why does that one keep laying down its ears and squeaking, andtrying to bite t'other one?"
"Play," said Cora shortly.
"Then I wish he'd play in the stable, and behave himself when he comesout on the cliff. My word, look at that old Drelincourt, Bet--Cora,"said the old woman, giving her daughter a nudge. "Look at the nasty oldthing in black. If she'd had any decency, she'd have left the placewhen her old sister was killed, instead of being pushed about in herchair like that."
"But she has a house here of her own," said Cora shortly, as she guidedher ponies in and out among the fashionable equipages, not one of whoselady occupants noticed her.
"Look at 'em," whispered Mrs Dean, nudging her daughter again."They're a-busting with envy, but they shall be civil to you yet. I didgrudge the money for the turn out, and I told Ashley it was a swindle,but they do show off, and I'm glad I bought 'em. Look at the finemadams in that broosh; they're as envious as can be. Hit'm up, Cora,and make 'em go. I should like to see anybody else's gal with such aturn-out."
Too showy, and with a suspicion of the circus in the style of theharness and the colours of the rosettes; but Cora Dean's pony carriage,driven as it was in masterly style, created no little sensation inSaltinville; and if, in addition to the salutes of the gentlemen, whichshe acknowledged very superciliously, only one lady would have bowed inrecognition, Cora Dean would have enjoyed her drive, and probably havegone more slowly.
As it was, in obedience to her mother's nudges and admonitions to "Hit'm up again," she gave the ponies flick after flick with the whip, andincreased the restiveness consequent upon plenty of spirit and too muchcorn.
It was a risky drive with restive beasts along that cliff with so slighta railing, and the archives of the town told how one Sir Rumble Thorntonhad gone over with his curricle and pair on to the shingle below, to bekilled with his horses. But Cora Dean and her mother thought only ofmaking a show, and the well-bred little ponies seemed to be keptthoroughly in hand by their mistress, though they were fretting andchamping their bits and sending flakes of foam all over their satincoats.
"I'm getting used to it now, Cora, my dear," panted the old woman. "Idon't feel so squirmy inside, and as if I should be obliged to go homefor a drop of brandy. Humph! I wish you wouldn't bow to him."
"Why not? He's our neighbour," said Cora tartly, as Richard Linnelltook off his hat. "He's the most thorough gentleman in this town."
"P'raps he is, but I don't think anything of such gentlemen as he is--now Betsy, do a' done. Don't drive like that. I was getting used toit, but now you've made my pore 'art fly up into my mouth."
A sharp snatch at the reins had made the ponies rear up, and RichardLinnell, who was looking after them, started to go to Cora's help, but acut of the whip sent the two ponies on again, and the carriage spunalong, past the wide opening to the pier, down which Richard Linnellturned to think out how he might get over the prejudice he knew that MrDenville had against him, and to wonder why Claire had grown so cold andstrange.
"I am getting well used to it now, Betsy," said Mrs Dean, as they droveright along the London road for a mile or two; "but, I say, hadn't youbetter turn their heads now? Let's get back on the cliff, where theycan see us. I hate these fields and hedges. Let's go back by the otherroad, down by Lord Carboro's house, and through the street down to thepier."
"Very well," said Cora shortly; and she turned the ponies, and took theupper road.
Now, it so happened that after a short promenade Lord Carboro' had foundout that it was going to rain, by a double barometer which he carried inhis boots.
"Confound these corns!" he grumbled. "Ah, Barclay," he cried to athick-set man whom he met at that moment, "collecting your dues? It'sgoing to rain."
"Yes, my lord. My corns shoot horribly."
"So do mine; doosid bad. I'm going to get the carriage and have adrive. Can't walk."
He nodded and went back to his handsome house and grounds, contentinghimself with sitting down in the lodge portico while the gardener's wifeordered the carriage to be got ready.
"It isn't handsome, but it suits me," his lordship used to say, "andit's comfortable. If I can't have things as I like with my money, andat my time of life, why it's doosid strange."
So he waited till a groom brought the carriage down the drive, and thenlooked at it as it came.
"Don't do to go wooing in," he said, with a chuckle, as he got in andtook the reins; and certainly it did not look like the chariot of love,for it was a little, low basket carriage, big enough to hold one, andshaped very much like a bath-chair. It was drawn by a very large, grey,well-clipped donkey with enormous ears, quite an aristocrat of his race,with his well-filled skin and carefully blackened harness.
"Thankye, John. Thankye, Mrs Roberts," said his lordship, as he shookthe reins. "Go on, Balaam."
Balaam went deliberately on, and just as they were going out of thegreat iron gates, and his lordship was indulging in a pinch of snuff,there was the rattle of wheels to his right, and Cora Dean came alongwith her ponies at a smart trot, her mother looking like an over-blownpeony by her side.
"Juno, by Jove!" said his lordship, preparing to raise his hat.
But just then--it was a matter of moments--Balaam stood stoc
k still,drew his great flap ears forward and pointed them at the ponies, andstaring hard, lifted his tail, and, showing his teeth, uttered withoutstretched neck a most discordant roaring--_Hee-haw--Hee-haw_!
Cora's ponies stopped short, trembling and snorting. Then, with a jerkthat threatened to snap the harness, and as if moved by the sameimpulse, they plunged forward and tore down the road that, a hundredyards further on, became busy street, and went down at a sharp angleright for the pier.
"Betsy!"
The Master of the Ceremonies Page 19
