Lady Darrell, clad in deepest mourning, was placed in a large easy-chair in the center of the group, her aunt by her side. She looked extremely delicate and lovely in her black sweeping robes.
Pauline, who evidently thought the ceremony an empty one, as far as she was concerned, stood near the table. She declined the chair that Captain Langton placed for her. Her uncle was dead; she regretted him with true, unfeigned, sincere sorrow; but the reading of his will had certainly nothing to do with her. There was not the least shadow on her face, not the least discomposure in her manner. To look at her one would never have thought she was there to hear the sentence of disinheritance.
Lady Darrell did not look quite so tranquil; everything was at stake for her. She held her dainty handkerchief to her face lest the trembling of her lips should be seen.
Mr. Ramsden read the will, and its contents did not take any one much by surprise. The most important item was a legacy of ten thousand pounds to Captain Aubrey Langton. To Pauline Darrell was left an annuity of five hundred pounds per annum, with the strict injunction that she should live at Darrell Court until her marriage; if she never married, she was to reside there until her death. To all his faithful servants Sir Oswald left legacies and annuities. To his well-beloved wife, Elinor, he bequeathed all else--Darrell Court, with its rich dependencies and royal revenues, his estate in Scotland, his house in town, together with all the valuable furniture, plate, jewelry, pictures, all the moneys that had acc.u.mulated during his life-time--all to her, to hold at her will and pleasure; there was no restriction, no condition to mar the legacy.
To the foregoing Sir Oswald had added a codicil; he left Miss Hastings one hundred pounds per annum, and begged of her to remain at Darrell Court as companion to Lady Darrell and his niece.
Then the lawyer folded up the parchment, and the ceremony was ended.
"A very proper will," said Lady Hampton; "it really does poor dear Sir Oswald credit."
They hastened to congratulate Lady Darrell; but Captain Langton, it was noticed, forgot to do so--he was watching Pauline"s calm, unconcerned departure from the room.
CHAPTER XXIX.
WAITING FOR REVENGE.
There was a slight, only a very slight difference of opinion between Lady Darrell and her aunt after the reading of the will. Lady Hampton would fain have given up the Elms, and have gone to live at Darrell Court.
"Sir Oswald"s will is a very just one," she said, "admirable in every respect; but I should never dream, were I in your place, Elinor, of keeping that proud girl here. Let her go. I will come and live with you.
I shall make a better chaperon than that poor, faded Miss Hastings."
But Lady Darrell was eager to taste the sweets of power, and she knew how completely her aunt would take every vestige of it from her.
She declared her intention to adhere most strictly to the terms of the will.
"And, aunt," she continued, with firmness quite new to her, "it would be so much better, I think, for you to keep at the Elms. People might make strange remarks if you came here to live with me."
Lady Hampton was shrewd enough to see that she must abide by her niece"s decision.
The captain was to remain only two days at Darrell Court, and Lady Darrell was anxious to spend some little time with him.
"I like the captain, aunt," she said; "he amuses me."
Lady Hampton remembered how she had spoken of him before, and it was not her intention that her beautiful niece should fling away herself and her magnificent fortune on Aubrey Langton.
"She is sure to marry again," thought the lady; "and, dowered as she is, she ought to marry a duke, at least."
She represented to her that it was hardly etiquette for her, a widow so young, and her loss being so recent, to entertain a handsome young officer.
"I do not see that the fact of his being handsome makes any difference, aunt," said Lady Darrell; "still, if you think I must remain shut up in my room while the captain is here, of course, I will remain so, though it seems very hard."
"Appearances are everything," observed Lady Hampton, sagely; "and you cannot be too careful at first."
"Does he seem to pay Pauline any attention?" asked the young widow, eagerly.
"I have never heard them exchange more than a few words--indeed the circ.u.mstance has puzzled me, Elinor. I have seen him look at her as though he worshiped her and as though he hated her. As for Miss Darrell, she seems to treat him with contemptuous indifference."
"I used to think he liked her," said Lady Darrell, musingly.
"He liked the future heiress of Darrell Court," rejoined Lady Hampton.
"All his love has gone with her prospects, you may rely upon it."
Lady Darrell, brought up in a school that would sacrifice even life itself for the sake of appearances, knew there was no help for her enforced retirement. She remained in her rooms until the young officer had left the Court.
Lady Hampton was not the only one who felt puzzled at Pauline"s behavior to the captain. Miss Hastings, who understood her pupil perhaps better than any one, was puzzled. There was somewhat of a calm, unutterable contempt in her manner of treating him. He could not provoke her; no matter what he said, she would not be provoked into retort. She never appeared to remember his existence; no one could have been more completely ignored; and Captain Langton himself was but too cognizant of the fact. If he could have but piqued or aroused her, have stung her into some exhibition of feeling, he would have been content; but no statue could have been colder, no queen prouder. If any little attention was required at her hands she paid it, but there was no denying the fact that it was rendered in such a manner that the omission would have been preferable.
On the evening of his departure Lady Hampton went down to wish him farewell; she conveyed to him Lady Darrell"s regret at not being able to do the same.
"I am very sorry," said the captain; "though, of course, under the circ.u.mstances, I could hardly hope for the pleasure of seeing Lady Darrell. Perhaps you will tell her that in the autumn, with her permission, I shall hope to revisit the Court."
Lady Hampton said to herself that she should take no such message. The dearest wish of her heart was that the gallant captain should never be seen there again. But she made some gracious reply, and then asked, suddenly:
"Have you seen Miss Darrell? Have you said good-by to her?"
Aubrey Langton looked slightly confused.
"I have not seen her to-day," he replied.
Lady Hampton smiled very graciously.
"I will send for her," she said; and when, in answer to her summons, a servant entered, she asked that Miss Darrell might be requested to favor her with her presence in the library. It did not escape her keen observation that Captain Langton would rather have avoided the interview.
Pauline entered with the haughty grace so natural to her; her proud eyes never once glanced at the captain; he was no more to her than the very furniture in the room.
"You wished to see me, Lady Hampton," she said, curtly.
"Yes--that is, Captain Langton wishes to say good-by to you; he is leaving Darrell Court this morning."
There was the least possible curl of the short upper lip. Lady Hampton happened to catch the glance bestowed upon Pauline by their visitor. For a moment it startled her--it revealed at once such hopeless pa.s.sionate love and such strong pa.s.sionate hate. Pauline made no reply; the queenly young figure was drawn up to its full height, the thoughtful face was full of scorn. The captain concealed his embarra.s.sment as he best could, and went up to her with outstretched hands.
"Good-by, Miss Darrell," he said; "this has been a very sad time for you, and I deeply sympathize with you. I hope to see you again in the autumn, looking better--more like yourself."
Lady Hampton was wont to declare that the scene was one of the finest she had ever witnessed. Pauline looked at him with that straight, clear, calm gaze of hers, so terribly searching and direct.
"Good-by," she said, gravely, and then, utterly ignoring the outstretched hands, she swept haughtily from the room.
Lady Hampton did not attempt to conceal her delight at the captain"s discomfiture.
"Miss Darrell is very proud," he said, laughing to hide his confusion.
"I must have been unfortunate enough to displease her."