"Yes, yes; of course. And how late it is!" cried he, looking at his watch. "Time does fly fast in these regions, no doubt of it."
"You see, Miss Polly, you have made the Colonel forget himself," said M"Cormick, maliciously.
"Don"t be severe on an error so often your own, Major M"Cormick," said she, fiercely, and turned away into the house.
The Colonel, however, was speedily at her side, and in an earnest voice said: "I could hate myself for the impression I am leaving behind me here. I came with those excellent intentions which so often make a man odious, and I am going away with those regrets which follow all failures; but I mean to come back again one of these days, and erase, if I can, the ill impression."
"One who has come out of his way to befriend those who had no claim upon his kindness can have no fear for the estimation he will be held in; for my part, I thank you heartily, even though I do not exactly see the direct road out of this difficulty."
"Let me write to you. One letter--only one," said Hunter.
But M"Cormick had heard the request, and she flushed up with anger at the malicious glee his face exhibited.
"You "ll have to say my good-byes for me to your father, for I am sorely pressed for time; and, even as it is, shall be late for my appointment in Kilkenny." And before Polly could do more than exchange his cordial shake hands, he was gone.
CHAPTER XXI. DARK TIDINGS
If I am not wholly without self-reproach when I bring my reader into uncongenial company, and make him pa.s.s time with Major M"Cormick he had far rather bestow upon a pleasanter companion, I am sustained by the fact--unpalatable fact though it be--that the highway of life is not always smooth, nor its banks flowery, and that, as an old Derry woman once remarked to me, "It takes a" kind o" folk to mak" a world."
Now, although Colonel Hunter did drive twelve weary miles of road with the Major for a fellow-traveller,--thanks to that unsocial conveniency called an Irish jaunting-car,--they rode back to back, and conversed but little. One might actually believe that unpopular men grow to feel a sort of liking for their unpopularity, and become at length delighted with the snubbings they meet with, as though an evidence of the amount of that discomfort they can scatter over the world at large; just, in fact, as a wasp or a scorpion might have a sort of triumphant joy in the consciousness of its power for mischief, and exult in the terror caused by its vicinity.
"Splendid road--one of the best I ever travelled on," said the Colonel, after about ten miles, during which he smoked on without a word.
"Why wouldn"t it be, when they can a.s.sess the county for it? They"re on the Grand Jury, and high up, all about here," croaked out the Major.
"It is a fine country, and abounds in handsome places." "And well mortgaged, too, the most of them." "You "d not see better farming than that in Norfolk, cleaner wheat or neater drills; in fact, one might imagine himself in England."
"So he might, for the matter of taxes. I don"t see much difference."
"Why don"t you smoke? Things look pleasanter through the blue haze of a good Havannah," said Hunter, smiling.
"I don"t want them to look pleasanter than they are," was the dry rejoinder.
Whether Hunter did or did not, he scarcely liked his counsellor, and, re-lighting a cigar, he turned his back once more on him.
"I"m one of those old-fashioned fellows," continued the Major, leaning over towards his companion, "who would rather see things as they are, not as they might be; and when I remarked you awhile ago so pleased with the elegant luncheon and Miss Polly"s talents for housekeeping, I was laughing to myself over it all."
"How do you mean? What did you laugh at?" said Hunter, half fiercely.
"Just at the way you were taken in, that"s all."
"Taken in?--taken in? A very strange expression for an hospitable reception and a most agreeable visit."
"Well, it"s the very word for it, after all; for as to the hospitable reception, it was n"t meant for us, but for that tall Captain,--the dark-complexioned fellow,--Staples, I think they call him."
"Captain Stapylton?"
"Yes, that"s the man. He ordered Healey"s car to take him over here; and I knew when the Dills sent over to Mrs. Brierley for a loan of the two cut decanters and the silver cruet-stand, something was up; and so I strolled down, by way of--to reconnoitre the premises, and see what old Dill was after."
"Well, and then?"
"Just that I saw it all,--the elegant luncheon, and the two bottles of wine, and the ginger cordials, all laid out for the man that never came; for it would seem he changed his mind about it, and went back to head-quarters."
"You puzzle me more and more at every word. What change of mind do you allude to? What purpose do you infer he had in coming over here to-day?"
The only answer M"Cormick vouchsafed to this was by closing one eye and putting his finger significantly to the tip of his nose, while he said, "Catch a weasel asleep!"
"I more than suspect," said Hunter, sternly, "that this half-pay life works badly for a man"s habits, and throws him upon very petty and contemptible modes of getting through his time. What possible business could it be of yours to inquire why Stapylton came, or did not come here to-day, no more than for the reason of _my_ visit?"
"Maybe I could guess that, too, if I was hard pushed," said M"Cormick, whose tone showed no unusual irritation from the late rebuke. "I was in the garden all the time, and heard everything."
"Listened to what I was saying to Miss Dill!" cried Hunter, whose voice of indignation could not now be mistaken.
"Every word of it," replied the unabashed Major. "I heard all you said about a short acquaintance--a few hours you called it--but that your heart was bent upon it, all the same. And then you went on about India; what an elegant place it was, and the fine pay and the great allowances.
And ready enough she was to believe it all, for I suppose she was sworn at Highgate, and would n"t take the Captain if she could get the Colonel."
By this time, and not an instant earlier, it flashed upon Hunter"s mind that M"Cormick imagined he had overheard a proposal of marriage; and so amused was he by the blunder, that he totally drowned his anger in a hearty burst of laughter.
"I hope that, as an old brother-officer, you "ll be discreet, at all events," said he, at last. "You have not come by the secret quite legitimately, and I trust you will preserve it."
"My hearing is good, and my eyesight too, and I mean to use them both as long as they "re spared to me."
"It was your tongue that I referred to," said Hunter, more gravely.
"Ay, I know it was," said the Major, crankily. "My tongue will take care of itself also."
"In order to make its task the easier, then," said Hunter, speaking in a slow and serious voice, "let me tell you that your eaves-dropping has, for once at least, misled you. I made no proposal, such as you suspected, to Miss Dill. Nor did she give me the slightest encouragement to do so. The conversation you so unwarrantably and imperfectly overheard had a totally different object, and I am not at all sorry you should not have guessed it. So much for the past. Now one word for the future. Omit my name, and all that concerns me, from the narrative with which you amuse your friends, or, take my word for it, you "ll have to record more than you have any fancy for. This is strictly between ourselves; but if you have a desire to impart it, bear in mind that I shall be at my quarters in Kilkenny till Tuesday next."
"You may spend your life there, for anything I care," said the Major.
"Stop, Billy; pull up. I"ll get down here." And shuffling off the car, he muttered a "Good-day" without turning his head, and bent his steps towards a narrow lane that led from the high-road.
[Ill.u.s.tration: 242]
"Is this the place they call Lyrath?" asked the Colonel of the driver.
"No, your honor. We"re a good four miles from it yet."
The answer showed Hunter that his fellow-traveller had departed in anger; and such was the generosity of his nature, he found it hard not to overtake him and make his peace with him.
"After all," thought he, "he "s a crusty old fellow, and has hugged his ill-temper so long, it may be more congenial to him now than a pleasanter humor." And he turned his mind to other interests that more closely touched him. Nor was he without cares,--heavier ones, too, than his happy nature had ever yet been called to deal with. There are few more painful situations in life than to find our advancement--the long-wished and strived-for promotion--achieved at the cost of some dearly loved friend; to know that our road to fortune had led us across the fallen figure of an old comrade, and that he who would have been the first to hail our success is already bewailing his own defeat. This was Hunter"s lot at the present moment. He had been sent for to hear of a marvellous piece of good-fortune. His name and character, well known in India, had recommended him for an office of high trust,--the Political Resident of a great native court; a position not alone of power and influence, but as certain to secure, and within a very few years, a considerable fortune. It was the Governor-General who had made choice of him; and the Prince of Wales, in the brief interview he accorded him, was delighted with his frank and soldierlike manner, his natural cheerfulness, and high spirit. "We "re not going to unfrock you, Hunter," said he, gayly, in dismissing him. "You shall have your military rank, and all the steps of your promotion. We only make you a civilian till you have saved some lacs of rupees, which is what I hear your predecessor has forgotten to do."
It was some time before Hunter, overjoyed as he was, even bethought him of asking who that predecessor was. What was his misery when he heard the name of Ormsby Conyers, his oldest, best friend; the man at whose table he had sat for years, whose confidence he had shared, whose heart was open to him to its last secret! "No," said he, "this is impossible.
Advancement at such a price has no temptation for me. I will not accept it" He wrote his refusal at once, not a.s.signing any definite reasons, but declaring that, after much thought and consideration, he had decided the post was one he could not accept of. The Secretary, in whose province the affairs of India lay, sent for him, and, after much pressing and some ingenious cross-questioning, got at his reasons.
"These may be all reasonable scruples on your part," said he, "but they will avail your friend nothing. Conyers must go; for his own interest and character"s sake, he must come home and meet the charges made against him, and which, from their very contradictions, we all hope to see him treat triumphantly: some alleging that he has ama.s.sed untold wealth; others that it is, as a ruined man, he has involved himself in the intrigues of the native rulers. All who know him say that at the first whisper of a charge against him he will throw up his post and come to England to meet his accusers. And now let me own to you that it is the friendship in which he held you lay one of the suggestions for your choice. We all felt that if a man ill-disposed or ungenerously minded to Conyers should go out to Agra, numerous petty and vexatious accusations might be forthcoming; the little local injuries and pressure, so sure to beget grudges, would all rise up as charges, and enemies to the fallen man spring up in every quarter. It is as a successor, then, you can best serve your friend." I need not dwell on the force and ingenuity with which this view was presented; enough that I say it was successful, and Hunter returned to Ireland to take leave of his regiment, and prepare for a speedy departure to India.
Having heard, in a brief note from young Conyers, his intentions respecting Tom Dill, Hunter had hastened off to prevent the possibility of such a scheme being carried out. Not wishing, however, to divulge the circ.u.mstances of his friend"s fortune, he had in his interview with the doctor confined himself to arguments on the score of prudence. His next charge was to break to Fred the tidings of his father"s troubles, and it was an office he shrunk from with a coward"s fear. With every mile he went his heart grew heavier. The more he thought over the matter the more difficult it appeared. To treat the case lightly, might savor of heartlessness and levity; to approach it more seriously, might seem a needless severity. Perhaps, too, Conyers might have written to his son; he almost hoped he had, and that the first news of disaster should not come from him.