第78章

'I did--but what was it but a wager? which is nothing but a dream; and, when lost, as I am as sinsible as you are that it must be, why, what is it, after all, but a bonus, in a gentleman-like form, to Mordicai? which, I grant you, is more than he deserves, for staying the execution till you be of age; and even for my Lady Clonbrony's sake, though I know she hates me like poison, rather than have her disturbed by an execution, I'd pay the hundred guineas this minute out of my own pocket, if I had'em in it.'

A thundering knock at the door was heard at this moment.

'Never heed it; let 'em thunder,' said Sir Terence; 'whoever it is, they won't get in; for my lord bid them let none in for their life.It's necessary for us to be very particular about the street-door now; and I advise a double chain for it, and to have the footmen well tutored to look before they run to a double rap;for a double rap might be a double trap.'

'My lady and Miss Nugent, my lord,' said a footman, throwing open the door.

'My mother! Miss Nugent!' cried Lord Colambre, springing eagerly forward.

'Colambre! here!' said his mother; 'but it's all too late now, and no matter where you are.'

Lady Clonbrony coldly suffered her son to embrace her; and he, without considering the coldness of her manner, scarcely hearing, and not at all understanding the words she said, fixed his eyes on his cousin, who, with a countenance all radiant with affectionate joy, held out her hand to him.

'Dear cousin Colambre, what an unexpected pleasure!'

He seized the hand; but, as he was going to kiss it, the recollection of ST.OMAR crossed his mind; he checked himself, and said something about joy and pleasure, but his countenance expressed neither; and Miss Nugent, much surprised by the coldness of his manner, withdrew her hand, and, turning away, left the room.

'Grace! darling!' called Lord Clonbrony, 'whither so fast, before you've given me a word or a, kiss?'

She came back, and hastily kissed her uncle, who folded her in his arms.'Why must I let you go? And what makes you so pale, my dear child?'

'I am a little--a little tired.I will be with you again soon.'

Her uncle let her go.

'Your famous Buxton baths don't seem to have agreed with her, by all I can see,' said Lord Clonbrony.

'My lord, the Buxton baths are no way to blame; but I know what is to blame, and who is to blame,' said Lady Clonbrony, in a tone of displeasure, fixing her eyes upon her son.'Yes, you may well look confounded, Colambre; but it is too late now--you should have known your own mind in time.I see you have heard it, then --but I am sure I don't know how; for it was only decided the day I left Buxton.The news could hardly travel faster than I did.

Pray, how did you hear it?'

'Hear what, ma'am?' said Lord Colambre.

'Why, that Miss Broadhurst is going to be married.'

'Oh, is that all, ma'am!' said our hero, much relieved.

'All! Now, Lord Colambre, you REELLY are too much for my patience.But I flatter myself you will feel, when I tell you, that it is your friend, Sir Arthur Berryl, as I always prophesied, who has carried off the prize from you.'

'But for the fear of displeasing my dear mother, I should say, that I do feel sincere pleasure in this marriage--I always wished it: my friend, Sir Arthur, from the first moment, trusted me with the secret of his attachment; he knew that he had my warm good wishes for his success; he knew that I thought most highly of the young lady; but that I never thought of her as a wife for myself.'

'And why did not you? that is the very thing I complain of,'

said Lady Clonbrony.'But it is all over now.You may set your heart at ease, for they are to be married on Thursday; and poor Mrs.Broadhurst is ready to break her heart, for she was set upon a coronet for her daughter; and you, ungrateful as you are, you don't know how she wished you to be the happy man.But only conceive, after all that had passed, Miss Broadhurst had the assurance to expect I would let my niece be her bridesmaid.Oh, I flatly refused; that is, I told Grace it could not be; and, that there might be no affront to Mrs.Broadhurst, who did not deserve it, I pretended Grace had never mentioned it; but ordered my carriage, and left Buxton directly.Grace was hurt, for she is very warm in her friendships.I am sorry to hurt Grace.But REELLY I could not let her be bridesmaid;--and that, if you must know, is what vexed her, and made the tears come in her eyes, Isuppose--and I'm sorry for it; but one must keep up one's dignity a little.After all, Miss Broadhurst was only a citizen--and REELLY now, a very odd girl; never did anything like anybody else; settled her marriage at last in the oddest way.Grace, can you tell the particulars? I own, I am tired of the subject, and tired of my journey.My lord, I shall take leave to dine in my own room to-day,' continued her ladyship, as she quitted the room.

'I hope her ladyship did not notice me,' said Sir Terence O'Fay, coming from behind a window-curtain.

'Why, Terry, what did you hide for?' said Lord Clonbrony.

'Hide! I didn't hide, nor wouldn't from any man living, let alone any woman.[Leaving any woman out of the question.] Hide!

no; but I just stood looking out of the window, behind this curtain, that my poor Lady Clonbrony might not be discomfited and shocked by the sight of one whom she can't abide, the very minute she come home.Oh, I've some consideration--it would have put her out of humour worse with both of you too; and for that there's no need, as far as I see.So I'll take myself off to my coffee-house to dine, and maybe you may get her down and into spirits again.But, for your lives, don't touch upon Ireland the night, nor till she has fairly got the better of the marriage.