"I know Mr. Daly and his sister too. He is a most honorable and high-minded gentleman; of her I only needed to hear the trait your Lordship has just mentioned, to say that she is worthy to be his sister in every respect."
"I was not aware that they were acquaintances of yours."
"Friends, my Lord, would better express the relationship between us,--friends, firm and true, I sincerely believe them. Pray, if not indiscreet, may I ask the date of this letter?"
"Some day of June last, I think. The case was to come on for trial next November in Westport, and it was for funds to carry on the suit, it would seem, they were pressed."
"You did n"t hear a second time?"
"No, I "ve told you that I never answered this letter. I was quite willing, I am so at this hour, to be of any service to my dear cousin, Lady Eleanor Darcy, and to aid her to the fullest extent; but to prosecute a hopeless lawsuit, to throw away some thousands in an interminable Equity investigation,--to measure purses, too, against one of the richest men in Ireland, as I hear their antagonist is,--this, I could never think of."
"But who has p.r.o.nounced this claim hopeless?" said Forester, impatiently.
A cold shrug of the shoulders was all Lord Netherby"s reply.
"Not Miss Daly, certainly," rejoined Forester, "who was willing to peril everything she possessed in the world upon the issue."
The sarcasm intended by this speech was deeply felt by Lord Netherby, as with an unwonted concession to ill-humor, he replied,--
"There is nothing so courageous as indigence!"
"Better never be rich, then," cried Forester, "if cowardice be the first lesson it teaches. But I think better of affluence than this. I saw that same Knight of Gwynne when at the head of a princely fortune; and I never, in any rank of life, under any circ.u.mstances, saw the qualities which grace and adorn the humblest more eminently displayed."
"I quite agree with you; a more perfectly conducted household it is impossible to conceive."
"I speak not of his retinue, nor of his graceful hospitalities, my Lord, nor even of his generous munificence and benevolence; these are rich men"s gifts everywhere. I speak of his trusting, confiding temper; the hopeful trust he entertained of something good in men"s natures at the moment he was smarting from their perfidy and ingrat.i.tude; the forgiveness towards those that injured, the unvarying kindness towards those that forgot him."
"I declare," said Lord Netherby, smiling, "I must interdict a continuance of this panegyric, now that we have arrived, for you know Colonel Darcy was a first love of Lady Netherby."
Nothing but a courtier of Lord Netherby"s stamp could have made such a speech; and while Forester became scarlet with shame and anger, a new light suddenly broke upon him, and the rancor of his mother respecting the Knight and his family was at once explained.
"Now to announce you," said Lord Netherby, gayly; "let that be my task."
And so saying, he lightly tripped up the stairs before Forester.
CHAPTER x.x.x. A BOUDOIR.
When, having pa.s.sed through a suite of gorgeously furnished rooms, Forester entered the dimly lighted boudoir where his lady-mother reclined, his feelings were full of troubled emotion. The remembrance of the last time he had been there was present to his mind, mingled with anxious fears as to his approaching reception. Had he been more conversant with the "world," he needed not to have suffered these hesitations. There are few conditions in life between which so wide a gulf yawns as that of the t.i.tled heir of a house and the younger brother. He was, then, as little prepared for the affectionate greeting that met him as for the absence of all trace of illness in her Ladyship"s appearance. Both were very grateful to his feelings as he drew his chair beside her sofa, and a soft remembrance of former days of happiness stole over his pleased senses. Lord Netherby, with a fitting consideration, had left them to enjoy this interview alone, and thus their emotions were unrestrained by the presence of the only one who had witnessed their parting. Perhaps the most distinguishing trait of the closest affection is that the interruptions to its course do not involve the misery of reconciliation to enable us to return to our own place in the heart; but that, the moment of grief or anger or doubt over, we feel that we have a right to resume our influence in the breast whose thoughts have so long mingled with our own. The close ties of filial and parental love are certainly of this nature, and it must be a stubborn heart whose instincts do not tend to that forgiveness which as much blots out as it pardons past errors. Such was not Lady Netherby"s.
Pride of station, the ambition of leadership in certain circles, had so incorporated themselves with the better dictates of her mind that she rarely, if ever, permitted mere feeling to influence her; but if for a moment it did get the ascendancy, her heart could feel as acutely as though it had been accustomed to such indulgence. In a word, she was as affectionate as the requirements of her rank permitted. Oh, this Rank, this Rank! how do its conventionalities twine and twist themselves round our natures till love and friendship are actually subject to the cold ordinance of a fashion! How many hide the dark spots of their heart behind the false screen they call their "Rank"! The rich man, in the Bible, clothed in his purple, and faring sumptuously, was but acting in conformity with his "Rank;" nay, more, he was charitable as became his "Rank," for the poor were fed with the crumbs from his table.
Forester was well calculated by natural advantages to attract a mother"s pride. He was handsome and well-bred; had even more than a fair share of abilities, which gained credit for something higher from a native quickness of apprehension; and even already the adventurous circ.u.mstances of his first campaign had invested his character with a degree of interest that promised well for his success in the world. If her manner to him was then kind and affectionate, it was mingled also with something of admiration, which her woman"s heart yielded to the romantic traits of the youth.
She listened with eager pleasure to the animated description he gave of the morning at Aboukir, and the brilliant panorama of the attack; nor was the enjoyment marred by the mention of the only name that could have pained her, the last words of Lord Netherby having sealed Forester"s lips with respect to the Knight of Gwynne.
The changeful fortunes of his life as a prisoner were mingled with the recital of the news by which his exchange was effected; and this brought back once more the subject by which their interview was opened,--the death of his elder brother. Lady Netherby perhaps felt she had done enough for sorrow, for she dwelt but pa.s.singly on the theme, and rather addressed herself to the future which was now about to open before her remaining son, carefully avoiding, however, the slightest phrase that should imply dictation, and only seeming to express the natural expectation "the world" had formed of what his career should be. "Lord Netherby tells me," said she, "that the Duke of York will, in all likelihood, name you as an extra aide-decamp, in which case you probably would remain in the service. It is an honor that could not well be declined."
"I scarcely like to form fixed intentions which have no fixed foundations," said Forester; "but if I might give way to my own wishes, it would be to indulge in perfect liberty,--to have no master."
"Nor any mistress, either, to control you, for some time, I suppose,"
rejoined she, smiling, as if carelessly, but watching how her words were taken. Forester affected to partake in the laugh, but could not conceal a slight degree of confusion. Lady Netherby was too clever a tactician to let even a momentary awkwardness interrupt the interview, and resumed: "You will be dreadfully worried by all the "lionizing" in store for you, I"m certain; you are to be feasted and feted to any extent, and will be fortunate if the gratulations on your recovery do not bring back your illness."
"I shall get away from it all at once," said Forester, rising, and walking up and down, as if the thought had suggested the impatient movement.
"You cannot avoid presenting yourself at the levee," said Lady Netherby, anxiously; for already a dread of her son"s wilful temper came over her.
"His Royal Highness"s inquiries after you do not leave an option on this matter."
"What if I"m too ill?" said he, doggedly; "what if I should not be in town?"
"But where else could you be, Richard?" said she, with a resumption of her old imperiousness of tone and manner.
"In Ireland, madam," said Forester, coldly.
"In Ireland! And why, for any sake, in Ireland?"
Forester hesitated, and grew scarlet; he did not know whether to evade inquiry by a vague reply, or at once avow his secret determination.
At length, with a faltering, uncertain voice, he said: "A matter of business will bring me to that country; I have already conversed with Lord Castlereagh on the subject. Lord Netherby was present."
"I"m sure he could never concur,-I"m certain." So far her Ladyship had proceeded, when a sudden fear came over her that she had ventured too far, and turning hastily, she rang the bell beside her. "Davenport,"
said she to the grave-looking groom of the chambers, who as instantaneously appeared, "is my Lord at home?"
"His Lordship is in the library, my Lady."
"Alone?"
"No, my Lady, a gentleman from Ireland is with his Lordship."
"A gentleman from Ireland!" repeated she, half aloud, as though the very mention of that country were destined to persecute her; then quickly added, "Say I wish to speak with him here."
The servant bowed and withdrew; and now a perfect silence reigned in the apartment. Forester felt that he had gone too far to retreat, even were he so disposed, and although dreading nothing more than a "scene,"
awaited, without speaking, the course of events. As much yielding to an involuntary impatience as to relieve the awkwardness of the interval, he arose and walked into the adjoining drawing-room, carelessly tossing over books and prints upon the tables, and trying to affect an ease he was very far from experiencing.
It was while he was thus engaged that Lord Netherby entered the boudoir, and seeing her Ladyship alone, was about to speak in his usual tone, when, at a gesture from her, he was made aware of Forester"s vicinity, and hastily subdued his voice to a whisper. "Whatever the nature of the tidings which in a hurried and eager tone his Lordship retailed, her manner on hearing evinced a mingled astonishment and delight, if the word dare be applied to an emotion whose source was in anything rather than an amiable feeling.
"It seems too absurd, too monstrous in every way," exclaimed she, at the end of an explanation which took several minutes to recount. "And why address himself to you? That seems also inexplicable."
"This," rejoined Lord Netherby, aloud,---"this was his own inspiration.
He candidly acknowledges that no one either counselled or is even aware of the step he has taken."
"Perhaps the _a propos_ may do us good service," whispered she, with a glance darted at the room where Forester was now endeavoring, by humming an air, to give token of his vicinity as well as a.s.sume an air of indifference.
"I thought of that," said Lord Netherby, in the same low voice. "Would you see him? A few moments would be enough."
Lady Netherby made no answer, but with closed eyes and compressed lips seemed to reflect deeply for several minutes. At last she said: "Yes, let him come. I"ll detain Richard in the drawing-room; he shall hear everything that is said. If I know anything of him, the insult to his pride will do far more than all our arguments and entreaties."
"Don"t chill my little friend by any coldness of manner," said his Lordship, smiling, as he moved towards the door; "I have only got him properly thawed within the last few minutes."