With respect to his enquiries relative to Mrs. Arlbery, Mrs. Needham said, that she was a woman far more agreeable to the men, than to her own s.e.x; that she was full of caprice, coquetry, and singularity; yet, though she abused the gift, she possessed an excellent and uncommon understanding. She was guilty of no vices, but utterly careless of appearances, and though her character was wholly unimpeached, she had offended or frightened almost all the county around, by a wilful strangeness of behaviour, resulting from an undaunted determination to follow in every thing the bent of her own humour.
Edgar justly deemed this a dangerous acquaintance for Camilla, whose natural thoughtlessness and vivacity made him dread the least imprudence in the connexions she might form; yet, as the reputation of Mrs. Arlbery was unsullied, he felt how difficult would be the task of demonstrating the perils he feared.
Sir Hugh, during the dinner, was exceedingly disturbed. "What Dr.
Orkborne can be doing with himself," said he, "is more than any man can tell, for he certainly would not stay at the lady"s, when he found you were both come away; so that I begin to think it"s ten to one but he"s gone n.o.body knows where! for why else should he take all those books?
which is a thing I have been thinking of ever since; especially as he owned himself he should never read one half of them. If he has taken something amiss, I am very ready to ask his pardon; though what it can be I don"t pretend to guess."
Miss Margland said, he was so often doing something or other that was ill-bred, that she was not at all surprised he should stay out at dinner time. He had never yet fetched her a chair, nor opened the door for her, since he came to the house; so that she did not know what was too bad to expect.
As they were rising from the table, a note arrived from Mr. Tyrold, with an excuse, that important business would prevent his coming to Cleves till the next day. Camilla then begged permission to go in the chaise that was to fetch him, flattering herself something might occur to detain her, when at Etherington. Sir Hugh readily a.s.sented, and composing himself for his afternoon nap, desired to be awaked if Dr.
Orkborne came back.
All now left the room except Camilla, who, taking up a book, stood still at a window, till she was aroused by the voice of Edgar, who, from the Park, asked her what she was reading.
She turned over the leaves, ashamed at the question, to look for the t.i.tle; she had held the book mechanically, and knew not what it was.
He then produced the promised nosegay, which had been brought by his gardener during her excursion. She softly lifted up the sash, pointing to her sleeping uncle; he gave it her with a silent little bow, and walked away; much disappointed to miss an opportunity from which he had hoped for some explanation.
She held it in her hand some time, scarcely sensible she had taken it, till, presently, she saw its buds bedewed with her falling tears.
She shook them off, and pressed the nosegay to her bosom. "This, at least," she cried, "I may accept, for it was offered me before that barbarous attack. Ah! they know not the innocence of my regard, or they would not so wrong it! The universe could not tempt me to injure my cousin, though it is true, I have valued the kindness of Edgar--and I must always value it!--These flowers are more precious to me, coming from his hands, and reared in his grounds, than all the gems of the East could be from any other possessor. But where is the guilt of such a preference? And who that knows him could help feeling it?"
Sir Hugh now awakening from a short slumber, exclaimed--"I have just found out the reason why this poor gentleman has made off; I mean, provided he is really gone away, which, however, I hope not: but I think, by his bringing down all those books, he meant to give me a broad hint, that he had got no proper book-case to keep them in; which the maids as good as think too."
Then, calling upon Camilla, he asked if she was not of that opinion.
"Y--e--s, Sir," she hesitatingly answered.
"Well, then, my dear, if we all think the same, I"ll give orders immediately for getting the better of that fault."
Miss Margland, curious to know how Camilla was detained, now re-entered the room. Struck with the fond and melancholy air with which she was bending over her nosegay, she abruptly demanded--"Pray, where might you get those flowers?"
Covered with shame, she could make no answer.
"O, Miss Camilla! Miss Camilla!--ought not those flowers to belong to Miss Lynmere?"
"Mr. Mandlebert had promised me them yesterday morning," answered she, in a voice scarce audible.
"And is this fair, Ma"am?--can you reckon it honourable?--I"ll be judged by Sir Hugh himself. Do you think it right, Sir, that Miss Camilla should accept nosegays every day from Mr. Mandlebert, when her cousin has had never a one at all?"
"Why, it"s not her fault, you know, Miss Margland, if young Mr.
Mandlebert chuses to give them to her. However, if that vexes Indiana, I"m sure my niece will make them over to her with the greatest pleasure; for I never knew the thing she would not part with, much more a mere little smell at the nose, which, whether one has it or not, can"t much matter after it"s over."
Miss Margland now exultingly held out her hand: the decision was obliged to be prompt; Camilla delivered up the flowers, and ran into her own room.
The sacrifice, cried she, is now complete! Edgar will conclude I hate him, and believe Indiana loves him!--no matter!--it is fitting he should think both. I will be steady this last evening, and to-morrow I will quit this fatal roof!
CHAPTER V
_An Author"s Opinion of Visiting_
When summoned to tea, Camilla, upon entering the parlour, found Sir Hugh in mournful discourse with Edgar upon the non-appearance of Dr.
Orkborne. Edgar felt a momentary disappointment that she did not honour his flowers with wearing them; but consoled himself with supposing she had preserved them in water. In a few minutes, however, Indiana appeared with them in her bosom.
Almost petrified, he turned towards Camilla, who, affecting an air of unconcern, amused herself with patting a favourite old terrier of her uncle"s.
As soon as he could disengage himself from the Baronet, he leant also over the dog, and, in a low voice, said--"You have discarded, then, my poor flowers?"
"Have I not done right?" answered she, in the same tone; "are they not where you must be far happier to see them?"
"Is it possible," exclaimed he, "Miss Camilla Tyrold can suppose----".
He stopt, for surprised off his guard, he was speaking loud, and he saw Miss Margland approaching.
"Don"t you think, Mr. Mandlebert," said she, "that Miss Lynmere becomes a bouquet very much? she took a fancy to those flowers, and I think they are quite the thing for her."
"She does them," he coldly answered, "too much honour."
Ah, Heaven! he loves her not! thought Camilla, and, while trembling between hope and terror at the suggestion, determined to redouble her circ.u.mspection, not to confirm the suspicion that his indifference was produced by her efforts to attach him to herself.
She had soon what she conceived to be an occasion for its exertion. When he handed her some cakes, he said--"You would think it, I conclude, impertinent to hear anything more concerning Mrs. Arlbery, now you have positively opened an acquaintance with her?"
She felt the justice of this implied reproach of her broken promise; but she saw herself constantly watched by Miss Margland, and repressing the apology she was sighing to offer, only answered--"You have nothing, you own, to say against her reputation--and as to any thing else----"
"True," interrupted he, "my information on that point is all still in her favour: but can it be Miss Camilla Tyrold, who holds that to be the sole question upon which intimacy ought to depend? Does she account as nothing manners, disposition, way of life?"
"No, not absolutely as nothing," said she, rising; "but taste settles all those things, and mine is entirely in her favour."
Edgar gravely begged her pardon, for so officiously resuming an irksome subject; and returning to Sir Hugh, endeavoured to listen to his lamentations and conjectures about Dr. Orkborne.
He felt, however, deeply hurt. In naming Mrs. Arlbery, he had flattered himself he had opened an opportunity for which she must herself be waiting, to explain the motives of her late visit; but her light answer put an end to that hope, and her quitting her seat shewed her impatient of further counsel.
Not a word that fell from Sir Hugh reached his ear: but he bowed from time to time, and the good Baronet had no doubt of his attention. His eyes were perpetually following Camilla, though they met not a glance from her in return. She played with the terrier, talked with Eugenia, looked out of the window, turned over some books, and did everything with an air of negligence, that while it covered absence and anxiety, displayed a studied avoidance of his notice.
The less he could account for this, the more it offended him. And dwells caprice, thought he, while his eye followed her, even there! in that fair composition!--where may I look for singleness of mind, for n.o.bleness of simplicity, if caprice, mere girlish, unmeaning caprice, dwell there!
The moment she had finished her tea, she left the room, to shorten her cruel task. Struck with the broken sentence of "is it possible Miss Camilla Tyrold can suppose----" the soft hope that his heart was untouched by Indiana, seized her delighted imagination; but the recollection of Miss Margland"s a.s.sertions, that it was the real right of her cousin, soon robbed the hope of all happiness, and she could only repeat--To-morrow I will go!--I ought not to think of him!--I had rather be away--to-morrow I will go!
She had hardly quitted the parlour, when the distant sound of a carriage roused Sir Hugh from his fears; and, followed by Edgar and the ladies, he made what haste he could into the courtyard, where, to his infinite satisfaction, he saw his coach driving in.
He ordered it should stop immediately, and called out--"Pray, Dr.
Orkborne, are you there?"
Dr. Orkborne looked out of the window, and bowed respectfully.