"What in the name of wonder, Brans...o...b.., brings you here?"
Turning, he finds himself face to face with Sir James Scrope.
"My presence is hardly an eighth wonder," he says, wearily. "But how is it you are not in Paris?"
"Fate ordained it so, and probably fortune, as I just want a friend with whom to put in an evening."
"You have chosen a dull companion," says Dorian, stupidly. "What brought you home so soon? or, rather, what took you to Paris originally?"
"Business partly, and partly because--er--that is, I felt I needed a little change."
"Ah! just so," says Brans...o...b... But he answers as one might who has heard nothing. Sir James casts upon him a quick penetrating glance.
"Anything wrong with you, Brans...o...b..?" he asks, quietly. "Anything in which I can be of use to you?"
"Thank you, no. I"m just a little down on my luck, that"s all." Then, abruptly, "I suppose you have heard of the scandal down in Pullingham?"
"About that poor little girl?" says Sir James. "Oh, yes. "Ill news flies apace;" and this morning Hodges, who came to town to see me about Bennett"s farm, gave me a garbled account of her disappearance.
I think I hardly understand even now. How did it happen?"
For a full minute Dorian makes no reply. He is looking earnestly in James Scrope"s face, to see if in it there lurks any hidden thought, any carefully concealed expression of mistrust. There is, indeed, none. No shadow, no faintest trace of suspicion, lies in Scrope"s clear and honest eyes. Brans...o...b.. draws a deep breath. Whatever in the future this friend may come to believe, now, at least, he holds him--Dorian--clear and pure from this gross evil that has been imputed to him.
He throws up his head with a freer air, and tries, with a quick effort, to conquer the morbid feeling that for hours past has been pressing upon him heavily.
"I know nothing," he says, presently, in answer to Sir James"s last remark.
"It is such an unaccountable story," says Scrope, lifting his brows.
"Where did she go? and with whom? Such a quiet little mouse of a girl, one hardly understands her being the heroine of a tragedy. But how does it particularly affect you?"
Brans...o...b.. hesitates. For one brief moment he wonders whether he shall or shall not reveal to Scrope the scene that has pa.s.sed between him and his uncle. Then his whole sympathies revolt from the task, and he determines to let things rest as they now are.
"Arthur has tormented himself needlessly about the whole business," he says, turning his face from Scrope. "He thinks me--that is, every one--to blame, until the girl is restored to her father."
"Ah! I quite see," says James Scrope.
CHAPTER XXIII.
"Her eyes were deeper than the depth Of waters stilled at even."
"Dorian?" says Clarissa.
"Clarissa!" says Dorian.
"I really think I shall give a ball."
"What?" cries a small, sweet, plaintive voice from the corner, and Georgie, emerging from obscurity and the tremendous volume she has been studying, comes to the front, in her usual vehement fashion, and stands before Miss Peyton, expectation in every feature. "Oh, Clarissa, do say it again."
"Papa says I must entertain the county in some way," says Clarissa, meditatively, "and I really think a ball will be the best way. Don"t you?"
"Don"t I, though?" says Miss Broughton, with much vivacity. "Clarissa, you grow sweeter daily. Let me offer you some small return for your happy thought."
She laughs, and, stooping, presses her warm ripe lips against her friend"s cheek. She blushes as she performs this graceful act, and a small, bright, mischievous gleam grows within her eye. The whole action is half mocking, half tender:
"A rosebud set with little wilfulthorns, And sweet as English air can make her, she."
The lines come hurriedly to Brans...o...b.."s mind, and linger there.
Raising her head again, her eyes meet his, and she laughs, for the second time, out of the pure gladness of her heart.
"I think it was my happy thought," says Brans...o...b.., mildly. "_I_ suggested this dance to Clarissa only yesterday. Might not I, too, partake of the "small return"?"
"It no longer belongs to me; I have given it all away,--here," says Georgie, touching Clarissa"s cheek with one finger; "but for that,"
with a slow adorable glance, "I should be charmed."
"I think I shall get pencil and paper and write down the names," says Clarissa, energetically, rising and going towards the door. "Dorian, take care of Georgie until I return."
"I wish I knew how," says Brans...o...b.., in a tone so low that only Georgie can hear it. Then, as the door closes he says, "Did you mean your last speech?"
"My last? What was it? I never remember anything." She very seldom blushes, but now again a soft delicate color creeps into her face.
"If you _hadn"t_ given it all away, would you have given me a little of that small return?"
"No."
"Not even if _I_ were to give a ball for you?"
"N-o--no."
"Not if I were to do for you the one thing you most desired?"
"No--no--no!" She speaks hastily, and glances at him somewhat confusedly from beneath her long lashes.
"Well, of course, it is too much to expect," says Brans...o...b..; "yet I would do a good deal for you, even without hope of payment."
He comes a little nearer to her, and lays his hand upon the table close to hers.
"If you really made the suggestion to Clarissa, you deserve some reward," says Georgie, nodding her head. "Now, what shall it be?"
"Dance half the night with me."
"That would bore you,--and me. No; but if dancing delights you--sir--may I have the pleasure of the first quadrille?"
"Madam," says Brans...o...b.., laying his hand upon his heart, "you do me too much honor; I am at your service now and forever."
"It is too large a promise."