VOLUME II.
CHAPTER XLI.
"I HOPE I'M NOT DISTRUSTED."
Gerard Maule, as the reader has been informed, wrote three lines tohis dearest Adelaide to inform her that his father would not assentto the suggestion respecting Maule Abbey which had been made byLady Chiltern, and then took no further steps in the matter. In thefortnight next after the receipt of his letter nothing was heard ofhim at Harrington Hall, and Adelaide, though she made no complaint,was unhappy. Then came the letter from Mr. Spooner,--with all itsrich offers, and Adelaide's mind was for a while occupied withwrath against her second suitor. But as the egregious folly of Mr.Spooner,--for to her thinking the aspirations of Mr. Spooner wereegregiously foolish,--died out of her mind, her thoughts reverted toher engagement. Why did not the man come to her, or why did he notwrite?
She had received from Lady Chiltern an invitation to remain withthem,--the Chilterns,--till her marriage. "But, dear Lady Chiltern,who knows when it will be?" Adelaide had said. Lady Chiltern hadgood-naturedly replied that the longer it was put off the betterfor herself. "But you'll be going to London or abroad before thatday comes." Lady Chiltern declared that she looked forward tono festivities which could under any circumstances remove herfour-and-twenty hours travelling distance from the kennels. Probablyshe might go up to London for a couple of months as soon as thehunting was over, and the hounds had been drafted, and the horses hadbeen coddled, and every covert had been visited. From the month ofMay till the middle of July she might, perhaps, be allowed to be intown, as communications by telegram could now be made day and night.After that, preparations for cub-hunting would be imminent, and,as a matter of course, it would be necessary that she should be atHarrington Hall at so important a period of the year. During thosecouple of months she would be very happy to have the companionship ofher friend, and she hinted that Gerard Maule would certainly be intown. "I begin to think it would have been better that I should neverhave seen Gerard Maule," said Adelaide Palliser.
This happened about the middle of March, while hunting was still inforce. Gerard's horses were standing in the neighbourhood, but Gerardhimself was not there. Mr. Spooner, since that short, dishearteningnote had been sent to him by Lord Chiltern, had not been seen atHarrington. There was a Harrington Lawn Meet on one occasion, buthe had not appeared till the hounds were at the neighbouring covertside. Nevertheless he had declared that he did not intend to giveup the pursuit, and had even muttered something of the sort to LordChiltern. "I am one of those fellows who stick to a thing, you know,"he said.
"I am afraid you had better give up sticking to her, because she'sgoing to marry somebody else."
"I've heard all about that, my lord. He's a very nice sort of youngman, but I'm told he hasn't got his house ready yet for a family."All which Lord Chiltern repeated to his wife. Neither of them spoketo Adelaide again about Mr. Spooner; but this did cause a feeling inLady Chiltern's mind that perhaps this engagement with young Maulewas a foolish thing, and that, if so, she was in a great measureresponsible for the folly.
"Don't you think you'd better write to him?" she said, one morning.
"Why does he not write to me?"
"But he did,--when he wrote you that his father would not consent togive up the house. You did not answer him then."
"It was two lines,--without a date. I don't even know where helives."
"You know his club?"
"Yes,--I know his club. I do feel, Lady Chiltern, that I have becomeengaged to marry a man as to whom I am altogether in the dark. Idon't like writing to him at his club."
"You have seen more of him here and in Italy than most girls see oftheir future husbands."
"So I have,--but I have seen no one belonging to him. Don't youunderstand what I mean? I feel all at sea about him. I am sure hedoes not mean any harm."
"Certainly he does not."
"But then he hardly means any good."
"I never saw a man more earnestly in love," said Lady Chiltern.
"Oh yes,--he's quite enough in love. But--"
"But what?"
"He'll just remain up in London thinking about it, and never tellhimself that there's anything to be done. And then, down here, whatis my best hope? Not that he'll come to see me, but that he'll cometo see his horse, and that so, perhaps, I may get a word with him."Then Lady Chiltern suggested, with a laugh, that perhaps it mighthave been better that she should have accepted Mr. Spooner. Therewould have been no doubt as to Mr. Spooner's energy and purpose."Only that if there was not another man in the world I wouldn't marryhim, and that I never saw any other man except Gerard Maule whom Ieven fancied I could marry."
About a fortnight after this, when the hunting was all over, in thebeginning of April, she did write to him as follows, and did directher letter to his club. In the meantime Lord Chiltern had intimatedto his wife that if Gerard Maule behaved badly he should considerhimself to be standing in the place of Adelaide's father or brother.His wife pointed out to him that were he her father or her brother hecould do nothing,--that in these days let a man behave ever so badly,no means of punishing was within reach of the lady's friends. ButLord Chiltern would not assent to this. He muttered something abouta horsewhip, and seemed to suggest that one man could, if he were sominded, always have it out with another, if not in this way, then inthat. Lady Chiltern protested, and declared that horsewhips could notunder any circumstances be efficacious. "He had better mind what heis about," said Lord Chiltern. It was after this that Adelaide wroteher letter:--
Harrington Hall, 5th April.
DEAR GERARD,--
I have been thinking that I should hear from you, and have been surprised,--I may say unhappy,--because I have not done so. Perhaps you thought I ought to have answered the three words which you wrote to me about your father; if so, I will apologise; only they did not seem to give me anything to say. I was very sorry that your father should have "cut up rough," as you call it, but you must remember that we both expected that he would refuse, and that we are only therefore where we thought we should be. I suppose we shall have to wait till Providence does something for us,--only, if so, it would be pleasanter to me to hear your own opinion about it.
The Chilterns are surprised that you shouldn't have come back, and seen the end of the season. There were some very good runs just at last;--particularly one on last Monday. But on Wednesday Trumpeton Wood was again blank, and there was some row about wires. I can't explain it all; but you must come, and Lord Chiltern will tell you. I have gone down to see the horses ever so often;--but I don't care to go now as you never write to me. They are all three quite well, and Fan looks as silken and as soft as any lady need do.
Lady Chiltern has been kinder than I can tell you. I go up to town with her in May, and shall remain with her while she is there. So far I have decided. After that my future home must, sir, depend on the resolution and determination, or perhaps on the vagaries and caprices, of him who is to be my future master. Joking apart, I must know to what I am to look forward before I can make up my mind whether I will or will not go back to Italy towards the end of the summer. If I do, I fear I must do so just in the hottest time of the year; but I shall not like to come down here again after leaving London,--unless something by that time has been settled.
I shall send this to your club, and I hope that it will reach you. I suppose that you are in London.
Good-bye, dearest Gerard.
Yours most affectionately,
ADELAIDE.
If there is anything that troubles you, pray tell me. I ask you because I think it would be better for you that I should know. I sometimes think that you would have written if there had not been some misfortune. God bless you.
Gerard was in London, and sent the following note by return ofpost:--
---- Club, Tuesday.
DEAREST ADELAIDE,
All right. If Chiltern can take me for a c
ouple of nights, I'll come down next week, and settle about the horses, and will arrange everything.
Ever your own, with all my heart,
G. M.
"He will settle about his horses, and arrange everything," saidAdelaide, as she showed the letter to Lady Chiltern. "The horsesfirst, and everything afterwards. The everything, of course, includesall my future happiness, the day of my marriage, whether to-morrow orin ten years' time, and the place where we shall live."
"At any rate, he's coming."
"Yes;--but when? He says next week, but he does not name any day. Didyou ever hear or see anything so unsatisfactory?"
"I thought you would be glad to see him."
"So I should be,--if there was any sense in him. I shall be glad, andshall kiss him."
"I dare say you will."
"And let him put his arm round my waist and be happy. He will behappy because he will think of nothing beyond. But what is to be theend of it?"
"He says that he will settle everything."
"But he will have thought of nothing. What must I settle? That isthe question. When he was told to go to his father, he went to hisfather. When he failed there the work was done, and the trouble wasoff his mind. I know him so well."
"If you think so ill of him why did you consent to get into hisboat?" said Lady Chiltern, seriously.
"I don't think ill of him. Why do you say that I think ill of him?I think better of him than of anybody else in the world;--but I knowhis fault, and, as it happens, it is a fault so very prejudicial tomy happiness. You ask me why I got into his boat. Why does any girlget into a man's boat? Why did you get into Lord Chiltern's?"
"I promised to marry him when I was seven years old;--so he says."
"But you wouldn't have done it, if you hadn't had a sort of feelingthat you were born to be his wife. I haven't got into this man's boatyet; but I never can be happy unless I do, simply because--"
"You love him."
"Yes;--just that. I have a feeling that I should like to be in hisboat, and I shouldn't like to be anywhere else. After you have cometo feel like that about a man I don't suppose it makes any differencewhether you think him perfect or imperfect. He's just my own,--atleast I hope so;--the one thing that I've got. If I wear a stufffrock, I'm not going to despise it because it's not silk."
"Mr. Spooner would be the stuff frock."
"No;--Mr. Spooner is shoddy, and very bad shoddy, too."
On the Saturday in the following week Gerard Maule did arrive atHarrington Hall,--and was welcomed as only accepted lovers arewelcomed. Not a word of reproach was uttered as to his delinquencies.No doubt he got the kiss with which Adelaide had herself suggestedthat his coming would be rewarded. He was allowed to stand on the rugbefore the fire with his arm round her waist. Lady Chiltern smiled onhim. His horses had been specially visited that morning, and a livelyreport as to their condition was made to him. Not a word was said onthat occasion which could distress him. Even Lord Chiltern when hecame in was gracious to him. "Well, old fellow," he said, "you'vemissed your hunting."
"Yes; indeed. Things kept me in town."
"We had some uncommonly good runs."
"Have the horses stood pretty well?" asked Gerard.
"I felt uncommonly tempted to borrow yours; and should have done soonce or twice if I hadn't known that I should have been betrayed."
"I wish you had, with all my heart," said Gerard. And then they wentto dress for dinner.
In the evening, when the ladies had gone to bed, Lord Chiltern tookhis friend off to the smoking-room. At Harrington Hall it was notunusual for the ladies and gentlemen to descend together into thevery comfortable Pandemonium which was so called, when,--as was thecase at present,--the terms of intimacy between them were sufficientto warrant such a proceeding. But on this occasion Lady Chilternwent very discreetly upstairs, and Adelaide, with equal discretion,followed her. It had been arranged beforehand that Lord Chilternshould say a salutary word or two to the young man. Maule began aboutthe hunting, asking questions about this and that, but his hoststopped him at once. Lord Chiltern, when he had a task on hand, wasalways inclined to get through it at once,--perhaps with an energythat was too sudden in its effects. "Maule," he said, "you ought tomake up your mind what you mean to do about that girl."
"Do about her! How?"
"You and she are engaged, I suppose?"
"Of course we are. There isn't any doubt about it."
"Just so. But when things come to be like that, all delays are goodfun to the man, but they're the very devil to the girl."
"I thought it was always the other way up, and that girls wanteddelay?"
"That's only a theoretical delicacy which never means much. When agirl is engaged she likes to have the day fixed. When there's a longinterval the man can do pretty much as he pleases, while the girl cando nothing except think about him. Then it sometimes turns out thatwhen he's wanted, he's not there."
"I hope I'm not distrusted," said Gerard, with an air that showedthat he was almost disposed to be offended.
"Not in the least. The women here think you the finest paladin in theworld, and Miss Palliser would fly at my throat if she thought thatI said a word against you. But she's in my house, you see; and I'mbound to do exactly as I should if she were my sister."
"And if she were your sister?"
"I should tell you that I couldn't approve of the engagement unlessyou were prepared to fix the time of your marriage. And I should askyou where you intended to live."
"Wherever she pleases. I can't go to Maule Abbey while my fatherlives, without his sanction."
"And he may live for the next twenty years."
"Or thirty."
"Then you are bound to decide upon something else. It's no use sayingthat you leave it to her. You can't leave it to her. What I meanis this, that now you are here, I think you are bound to settlesomething with her. Good-night, old fellow."
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