“You won’t complain of want of amusement, sir,” remarked Lady Talmash. “Our time has been fully occupied. And to-day we have the Park where Mildred is sure to make a sensation with her new steed.”
“No doubt of it,” said Stanley.
“I have a great favour to ask of you, Stanley,” said Mildred, coming up to him. “Pray accompany me during my ride. I’m sure you will.”
She looked at him so entreatingly that he could not refuse.
“What I feared has occurred,” whispered Lady Starkey to Sir John Lambert.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he replied in the same low tone. “He won’t be entangled again.”
“I’m not sure of that,” said her ladyship.
Rose, who heard what passed, was not without uneasiness.
“Now you must all come and dine with me to-day at the Norwood Hotel,” said the Squire. “Those, who like it, can spend a couple of hours or so previously at the Crystal Palace. What says your lordship? Does the plan suit you? You dine very well, I’m told, at the Norwood Hotel. Sir John, I’m quite sure, will take charge of you and your ladies, and bring you by Tail to the Crystal Palace.”
Lady Starkey would have declined, but Sir John whispered her to accept.
Feeling sure he had some motive for the suggestion, she complied, though rather reluctantly.
All was speedily arranged. Sir John promised to escort Lady Starkey and her friends by rail to the Crystal Palace, and order dinner, at the hour appointed, at the adjacent hotel.
The Squire and his ladies did not stay much longer, and Stanley went with them.
“Now do tell me, dear Sir John,” said Lady Starkey, aside to him, “why you advised me to accept Mr. Warburton’s invitation to dinner. I really want to be quiet to-day, and so does Mrs. Brereton.”
“Don’t you see?” he replied, in a whisper. “I want you to look after Stanley.”
Her ladyship quite understood him.
Having arranged that they should start from the Victoria station at three o’clock, Sir John likewise went his way.
When our peerless equestrienne, on her superb horse, rode into Rotten Row with Stanley beside her, attended by her father and Lady Talmash, and followed by a couple of grooms, she produced quite a sensation.
Everybody wondered who she was, but no immediate information could be obtained. Numbers of young men drew up to see the new beauty pass by, and their expressions of admiration were loud enough to reach her ears.
Stanley heard all these praises, and though he fancied he had become indifferent to the lovely girl’s charms, he soon found out his mistake.
By a variety of little arts, Mildred did her best to revive his passion, and it soon became evident that she had succeeded.
Before he had been an hour by her side he was as much in love with her as ever. Her wondrous fascination of manner, now exerted to the utmost, proved irresistible.
Lady Talmash was not blind to her lovely friend’s success, and was greatly delighted by it. As a well-wisher to Stanley, she had been much put out by the manner in which he was thrown over for Darcy. Now that he had regained his ground, she hoped he would be able to hold it, and resolved to give him all the aid she could.
Never doubting her powers of fascination, Mildred was not surprised by her success. But she scarcely expected it would be so speedy, and so complete.
No doubt the Squire heard the praises lavished upon his lovely daughter, but he seemed quite unconscious of them.
One person, however, witnessed the fair girl’s triumph with very bitter feelings.
This was Darcy.
Never before had he endured the pangs of jealousy so severely. Never had he felt so enraged by a rival’s success. He vowed revenge.
But he could not at the moment exactly see how revenge was to be obtained.
He must wait, and take advantage of the first opportunity that offered. But his resolution was fixed.
The little party had quitted the Park, and were on their way to Norwood. They had ridden quickly as far as Dulwich, but proceeded at a more leisurely pace after quitting that pretty village.
The enchantress and her captive were somewhat in advance, so that it was quite possible for them to hold a little private conversation without being overheard by the others.
“Now do tell me, dear boy,” said the fair creature, with a most bewitching look; “what has been the matter with you? Ever since I came to town you have been quite changed.”
“I might ask the same of you, dearest girl,” he rejoined; “and with much better reason. I really thought you had ceased to care for me, and had transferred your affections to another.”
“Nonsense, dear boy!” she said, laughing. “How could you be so foolish? I own I have flirted a little with that vain and impertinent fellow, Darcy — just to amuse myself — nothing more. But when I found out, as I did yesterday, that he took the matter au sérieux, I gave him an immediate and positive dismissal. Be sure he won’t trouble my poor dear jealous pet again.”
“But some one else may,” rejoined Stanley; “if you flirt with him in the same manner. Dearest Mildred,” he added, with an ardent look, “I love you to distraction, and a smile of encouragement from you, bestowed on any other, makes me frightfully jealous. Tell me! Can you devote yourself to me?’
She looked at him tenderly before she replied.
“Yes, I think I can. I like you better than any one else.”
“Oh! If I felt quite sure of that!” he cried, passionately.
“Well, you may feel quite sure,” she replied, with more earnestness than she had hitherto used. “Still, you must control your feelings of jealousy, or you may cause another rupture.”
“I don’t know how I can manage that,” he cried.
“Cannot matters be settled between us? May I talk to Lady Talmash? May I speak to the Squire?”
“I have no objection whatever to your talking to Lady Talmash, who likes you very much, and will give you advice; but don’t make a formal offer to papa just yet.”
“Why delay, if you love me, as you admit?”
“You will be angry if I tell you the real reason,” she said, hesitating.
“No, I won’t,” he cried.
“Unless you can conquer your feelings of jealousy, I daren’t accept you,” she replied, seriously. “I should always be afraid of a quarrel.”
“I have conquered those feelings — completely conquered them,” he cried.
“Since when?” she asked, incredulously.
“Since our present explanation,” he replied. “You shall have no cause to complain of me in the future.”
“Convince me of this, and I am yours as soon as you please.”
“How am I to convince you,” he rejoined.
“Consult Lady Talmash,” she rejoined, laughing.
At the same time she signed with her whip to the others, and they cantered on till the Crystal Palace rose before them in all its splendour.
CHAPTER XXVII.
A LOVER LOST AND A LOST LOVER REGAINED.
ON arriving at the Norwood Hotel, they found dinner had been ordered for seven o’clock in a private room by Sir John Lambert.
As it was then scarcely half-past six, there was time to join their friends for a few minutes in the Crystal Palace, but Mildred and Lady Talmash declined to go there, as they were in riding costume.
However, the Squire and Stanley set off at once, and soon discovered the party near the central transept.
They were in high spirits, and did not complain of fatigue, though they had seen all that was to be seen — had visited the Pompeian Court, the Egyptian Court, the Greek Court, the Alhambra Court, with the Court of Lions, and many other courts, too numerous to mention — and had just returned from the delightful gardens, where the fountains had displayed their wonders.
Mrs. Brereton and Rose were in ecstacies. The beauties of the Crystal Palace, which were new to them both, far exceeded their expectations.
As
on the visit to Greenwich, Mrs. Brereton was attended by old Minshull, who was wonder-struck by all he beheld.
The smiles with which Rose welcomed Stanley caused that inconstant young gentleman much compunction. He reproached himself for his fickleness, and longed to tell her what had happened. But of course he couldn’t do so just then. However, he felt he was acting a very unworthy part, and didn’t in the least deserve the kind things Rose said to him.
We shall not attempt to defend his conduct, but are bound to state the truth. Poor Rose did not perceive any change, but then she had a great deal to tell, and had almost all the talk to herself.
But both Sir John Lambert and Lady Starkey, who watched him narrowly, formed a much more accurate opinion of the state of things. Stanley felt their eyes were upon him, as well as those of his mother, and was careful, therefore, as to what he said and did.
“How did your daughter enjoy her ride in Rotten Row?” inquired Lady Starkey — not without a certain intention — of the Squire.
“Very much, I fancy,” he replied, guessing her motive. “But your ladyship must ask Stanley. He was with her all the time. I was behind with Lady Talmash.”
“She could not fail to enjoy it,” interposed Stanley, “for she was wonderfully admired. I never saw anything like it.”
“You’ll turn her head if you’re not careful, sir,” observed Mrs. Brereton to the Squire.
“It is not so easily turned as you imagine, ma’am,” he rejoined. “I dare say she paid as little attention as I did myself to those young puppies in Rotten Row.”
“So much the better,” said Mrs. Brereton. “But I’ve no doubt their impertinent remarks reached her cars.”
“I can’t tell,” replied the Squire, gruffly.
“Their remarks were complimentary — highly complimentary — not impertinent,” said Stanley. “They all agreed she is the prettiest girl and the best horsewoman they had seen for an age.”
“If they told her that, I should call it impertinent,” said Rose.
“But you must make some allowances for excitement,” rejoined Stanley. “It was mere homage paid to her beauty and perfect horsemanship.”
“It’s time to go to dinner,” interposed Sir John, looking at his watch, and offering an arm to Mrs. Brereton.
The Squire took charge of her ladyship, and naturally Rose fell to the care of Stanley.
“Did Mildred really look as lovely as you have described her?” she asked, as they walked on.
“You will see her presently, and can judge for yourself,” he rejoined.
Before he set off, the Squire slipped half-a-crown into old Minshull’s hand, and told him he might stop an hour longer in the Palace, but must then come on to the hotel. The old man looked highly pleased.
The meeting of the ladies at the Norwood Hotel was very friendly and cheerful, and Lady Starkey congratulated Mildred on the extraordinary effect she had produced in Rotten Row.
The party had a very nice room, and the dinner, which was served at once, was excellent Stanley sat between Mildred and Rose; but he certainly paid far more attention to the former than the latter.
His manner was so devoted that poor Rose became dreadfully jealous, and Lady Starkey felt that her worst fears were justified.
Sir John, likewise, began to think that the game was up. He didn’t see what could be done, for the Squire appeared perfectly indifferent, and was constantly jesting, and laughing heartily at his own jokes. As to wine, there was no stint of well-iced champagne, but very little else was drunk.
Not more than an hour was allowed for dinner, and then the horses were brought round, and Sir John took the ladies under his charge to the station.
Nothing was fixed for the morrow, as Lady Starkey declared she could not answer for herself, or for Mrs. Brereton.
Poor Rose squeezed Stanley’s hand as they parted, and gave him a slightly reproachful look.
While the neglected girl was whirling by rail towards the Victoria Station, the lover she had lost, and the rival who had won him back, were enjoying a most delightful ride to town.
The evening was charming, and seemed expressly made for them — soft and warm, with just light enough to enable them to distinguish each other’s faces.
Close together they rode — O! very close; while Lady Talmash and the Squire were in front.
The fair coquette had laid aside her coquetry, and treated her lover more frankly than she had hitherto done — so frankly, indeed, that all his doubts vanished, and he entirely believed he had gained her heart.
They talked of the future, and Stanley asked her real opinion of Brereton Hall, and whether she thought she could make up her mind to live there, when it was restored.
“I could live there now — if you wished it,” she replied.
The lover was surprised, and enchanted. He did not expect such a declaration.
“No, no, I won’t put your affection to such a test,” he said. “Still, as a complete restoration of the old place will take up some time, we may fit up a few rooms immediately — if you approve of the plan, and take a house in town, or elsewhere.”
“Delightful,” she exclaimed. “Just the thing I should like!”
Assisted by talk like this, need we say that their ride was pleasant, or that they were sorry when it was over?
The Squire and Lady Talmash did not interfere with their discourse, or even look round; and as to the grooms, they did not trouble themselves about the lovers.
As they were approaching the Grosvenor, the enamoured youth told the object of his regard that it was the most delightful ride he had ever had in his life.
“May I call in the morning?” he asked.
“Certainly,” she replied. “I shall expect you about eleven. Don’t call on Lady Starkey until you have seen me.”
“Have no fear of that,” he replied.
As he assisted her to dismount, and she sprang lightly into his arms, he longed most ardently to press her to his heart.
He led her to the door of the hotel, and then took leave of Lady Talmash and the Squire, promising to see them on the morrow.
“Has he made an offer?” asked Lady Talmash, as she and Mildred went upstairs.
“He has,” replied the other; “but he is coming to-morrow morning to repeat it.”
“And receive your answer,” said her ladyship. “Well, we must be prepared for him. I don’t think there will be any difficulty with papa.”
“I think not,” replied Mildred, laughing.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
STANLEY REPEATS HIS OFFER.
THAT night, Stanley scarcely slept at all, and when he did sink into slumber, his dreams were of Mildred.
Once more she had completely fascinated him, and he felt that his future happiness entirely rested with her.
Everything now seemed secure; but not till they were bound together by holy ties, should he be without anxiety.
Did no thought of Rose intrude itself? It did — but he dismissed it as quickly as possible, and endeavoured to persuade himself that she would soon forget him. At all events, he would not allow himself to dwell upon her image, but in spite of his determination it rose before him, and seemed to warn him that he was advancing on a course that would end in unhappiness.
These thoughts occurred to him as he walked through the Green Park towards the Grosvenor, and he more than once stood still to reflect. But he blamed himself for his indecision, and murmured, “I have made a choice, and must adhere to it, come what may! But I believe it is for the best.”
He could not, however, divest himself of a certain feeling of uneasiness, as he entered the Grosvenor, and was shown into a large and handsome room, where he found Lady Talmash and Mildred seated beside a small table.
The captivating smile with which the latter received him at once dissipated his fears, and he was once more bound hand and foot by the fair enslaver, whose charms were enhanced by an exceedingly pretty morning costume.
Lady Talmash seemed
in a very lively mood, and was likewise most becomingly attired.
In reply to his inquiries Stanley was told that the Squire had just gone out, but would return presently.
After a little pleasant chat about the occurrences of the day before, Lady Talmash rose and said, with a smile —
“I’ll now leave you for a short time. I daresay you have something to say to each other.”
Smiling upon them both in the sweetest manner possible, she then quitted the room — kissing her hand to them as she passed through the door.
The moment she had disappeared Stanley flung himself at Mildred’s feet, and, taking her hand — which she did not attempt to withdraw — pressed it to his lips.
Fixing a passionate look upon her, he once more declared his love, and besought her to make him happy.
“Rise, dearest boy,” she cried, “Some one may come into the room, and then you will look ridiculous.”
“No, I will not quit this posture,” he rejoined, still more passionately, “till you grant my prayer.”
“But I have accepted you,” she rejoined, smiling. “How often do you require the assurance?”
“Once more Only,” he replied, still retaining her hand — still gazing up at her lovely countenance. “Let me hear those tender words pronounced. Say you love me! — say you will wed me!”
“You are very exacting,” she replied with a gratified smile. “But I will grant your request. Hear me, then, dear boy, I do love you, and will marry you, provided papa will give his consent.”
“He will — he does,” cried a loud, cheery voice, which could proceed from no one else but the Squire.
Stanley instantly sprang to his feet, and looking round saw that the worthy personage had entered the room at this critical moment.
“This is too bad, papa,” cried Mildred rising.
But she did not look displeased nor even surprised by the interruption, and Stanley, taking her hand, led her towards her father, who had stopped.
When within a short distance of the Squire, he bowed to him respectfully and said, “Mr. Warburton, I am about to solicit the greatest boon you can bestow upon me — your daughter’s hand. I love her deeply, as you are aware, and will endeavour to make her happy!”
The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth Page 800
