"Not more than three hundred, my lord?" interposes Maria.
"Eh! never mind a hundred or two, more or less. What is this loss at cards? A mere bagatelle! You are playing for a princ.i.p.ality. You want your kingdom in Virginia; and if you listen to my opinion, the little misfortune which has happened to your swain is a piece of great good-fortune to you."
"I don"t understand you, my lord."
"C"est possible; but sit down, and I will explain what I mean in a manner suited to your capacity." And so Maria Esmond, who had advanced to her brother like a raging lion, now sate down at his feet like a gentle lamb.
Madame de Bernstein was not a little moved at the news of her nephew"s arrest, which Mr. Gumbo brought to Clarges Street on the night of the calamity. She would have cross-examined the black, and had further particulars respecting Harry"s mishap; but Mr. Gumbo, anxious to carry his intelligence to other quarters, had vanished when her ladyship sent for him. Her temper was not improved by the news, or by the sleepless night which she spent. I do not envy the dame de compagnie who played cards with her, or the servant who had to lie in her chamber. An arrest was an everyday occurrence, as she knew very well as a woman of the world. Into what difficulties had her scapegrace of a nephew fallen? How much money should she be called upon to pay to release him? And had he run through all his own? Provided he had not committed himself very deeply, she was quite disposed to aid him. She liked even his extravagances and follies. He was the only being in the world on whom, for long, long years, that weary woman had been able to bestow a little natural affection. So, on their different beds, she and Harry were lying wakeful together; and quite early in the morning the messengers which each sent forth on the same business may have crossed each other.
Madame Bernstein"s messenger was despatched to the chambers of her man of business, Mr. Draper, with an order that Mr. D. should ascertain for what sums Mr. Warrington had been arrested, and forthwith repair to the Baroness. Draper"s emissaries speedily found out that Mr. Warrington was locked up close beside them, and the amount of detainers against him so far. Were there other creditors, as no doubt there were, they would certainly close upon him when they were made acquainted with his imprisonment.
To Mr. Sparks, the jeweller, for those unlucky presents, so much; to the landlord in Bond Street, for board, fire, lodging, so much: these were at present the only claims against Mr. Warrington, Mr. Draper found. He was ready, at a signal from her ladyship, to settle them at a moment. The jeweller"s account ought especially to be paid, for Mr. Harry had acted most imprudently in taking goods from Mr. Sparks on credit, and pledging them with a p.a.w.nbroker. He must have been under some immediate pressure for money; intended to redeem the goods immediately, meant nothing but what was honourable of course; but the affair would have an ugly look, if made public, and had better be settled out of hand. "There cannot be the least difficulty regarding a thousand pounds more or less, for a gentleman of Mr. Warrington"s rank and expectations," said Madame de Bernstein. Not the least: her ladyship knew very well that there were funds belonging to Mr. Warrington, on which money could be at once raised with her ladyship"s guarantee.
Should he go that instant and settle the matter with Messrs. Amos? Mr. Harry might be back to dine with her at two, and to confound the people at the clubs, "who are no doubt rejoicing over his misfortunes," said the compa.s.sionate Mr. Draper.
But the Baroness had other views. "I think, my good Mr. Draper," she said, "that my young gentleman has sown wild oats enough; and when he comes out of prison I should like him to come out clear, and without any liabilities at all. You are not aware of all his."
"No gentleman ever does tell all his debts, madam," says Mr. Draper; "no one I ever had to deal with."
"There is one which the silly boy has contracted, and from which he ought to be released, Mr. Draper. You remember a little circ.u.mstance which occurred at Tunbridge Wells in the autumn? About which I sent up my man Case to you?"
"When your ladyship pleases to recall it, I remember it-not otherwise," says Mr. Draper, with a bow. "A lawyer should be like a Popish confessor,-what is told him is a secret for ever, and for everybody." So we must not whisper Madame Bernstein"s secret to Mr. Draper; but the reader may perhaps guess it from the lawyer"s conduct subsequently.
The lawyer felt pretty certain that ere long he would receive a summons from the poor young prisoner in Cursitor Street, and waited for that invitation before he visited Mr. Warrington. Six-and-thirty hours pa.s.sed ere the invitation came, during which period Harry pa.s.sed the dreariest two days which he ever remembered to have spent.
There was no want of company in the lock-up house, the bailiff"s rooms were nearly always full; but Harry preferred the dingy solitude of his own room to the society round his landlady"s table, and it was only on the second day of his arrest, and when his purse was emptied by the heavy charges of the place, that he made up his mind to apply to Mr. Draper. He despatched a letter then to the lawyer at the Temple, informing him of his plight, and desiring him, in an emphatic postscript, not to say one word about the matter to his aunt, Madame de Bernstein.
He had made up his mind not to apply to the old lady except at the very last extremity. She had treated him with so much kindness that he revolted from the notion of trespa.s.sing on her bounty, and for a while tried to please himself with the idea that he might get out of durance without her even knowing that any misfortune at all had befallen him. There seemed to him something humiliating in pet.i.tioning a woman for money. No! He would apply first to his male friends, all of whom might help him if they would. It had been his intention to send Sampson to one or other of them as a negotiator, had not the poor fellow been captured on his way to succour his friend.
Sampson gone, Harry was obliged to have recourse to his own negro servant, who was kept on the trot all day between Temple Bar and the Court end of the town with letters from his unlucky master. Firstly, then, Harry sent off a most private and confidential letter to his kinsman, the Right Honourable the Earl of Castlewood, saying how he had been cast into prison, and begging Castlewood to lend him the amount of the debt. "Please to keep my application, and the cause of it, a profound secret from the dear ladies," wrote poor Harry.
"Was ever anything so unfortunate?" wrote back Lord Castlewood, in reply. "I suppose you have not got my note of yesterday? It must be lying at your lodgings, where-I hope in heaven!-you will soon be, too. My dear Mr. Warrington, thinking you were as rich as Croesus-otherwise I never should have sate down to cards with you-I wrote to you yesterday, begging you to lend me some money to appease some hungry duns whom I don"t know how else to pacify. My poor fellow! every shilling of your money went to them, and but for my peer"s privilege I might be hob-and-n.o.b with you now in your dungeon. May you soon escape from it, is the prayer of your sincere CASTLEWOOD."
This was the result of application number one: and we may imagine that Mr. Harry read the reply to his pet.i.tion with rather a blank face. Never mind! There was kind, jolly Uncle Warrington. Only last night his aunt had kissed him and loved him like a son. His uncle had called down blessings on his head, and professed quite a paternal regard for him. With a feeling of shyness and modesty in presence of those virtuous parents and family. Harry had never said a word about his wild doings, or his horse-racings, or his gamblings, or his extravagances. It must all out now. He must confess himself a Prodigal and a Sinner, and ask for their forgiveness and aid. So Prodigal sate down and composed a penitent letter to Uncle Warrington, and exposed his sad case, and besought him to come to the rescue. Was not that a bitter nut to crack for our haughty young Virginian? Hours of mortification and profound thought as to the pathos of the composition did Harry pa.s.s over that letter; sheet after sheet of Mr. Amos"s sixpence-a-sheet letter-paper did he tear up before the missive was complete, with which poor blubbering Gumbo (much vilified by the bailiff"s followers and parasites, whom he was robbing, as they conceived, of their perquisites) went his way.
At evening the faithful negro brought back a thick letter in his aunt"s handwriting. Harry opened the letter with a trembling hand. He thought it was full of bank-notes. Ah me! it contained a sermon (Daniel in the Lions" Den) by Mr. Whitfield, and a letter from Lady Warrington saying that, in Sir Miles"s absence from London, she was in the habit of opening his letters, and hence, perforce, was become acquainted with a fact which she deplored from her inmost soul to learn, namely, that her nephew Warrington had been extravagant and was in debt. Of course, in the absence of Sir Miles, she could not hope to have at command such a sum as that for which Mr. Warrington wrote, but she sent him her heartfelt prayers, her deepest commiseration, and a discourse by dear Mr. Whitfield, which would comfort him in his present (alas! she feared not undeserved) calamity. She added profuse references to particular Scriptural chapters which would do him good. If she might speak of things worldly, she said, at such a moment, she would hint to Mr. Warrington that his epistolary orthography was anything but correct. She would not fail for her part to comply with his express desire that his dear cousins should know nothing of this most painful circ.u.mstance, and with every wish for his welfare here and elsewhere, she subscribed herself his loving aunt, MARGARET WARRINGTON.
Poor Harry hid his face between his hands, and sate for a while with elbows on the greasy table blankly staring into the candle before him. The bailiff"s servant, who was touched by his handsome face, suggested a mug of beer for his honour, but Harry could not drink, nor eat the meat that was placed before him. Gumbo, however, could, whose grief did not deprive him of appet.i.te, and who, blubbering the while, finished all the beer, and all the bread and the meat. Meanwhile, Harry had finished another letter, with which Gumbo was commissioned to start again, and away the faithful creature ran upon his errand.
Gumbo ran as far as White"s Club, to which house he was ordered in the first instance to carry the letter, and where he found the person to whom it was addressed. Even the prisoner, for whom time pa.s.sed so slowly, was surprised at the celerity with which his negro had performed his errand.
At least the letter which Harry expected had not taken long to write. "My lord wrote it at the hall-porter"s desk, while I stood there then with Mr Mr. Morris," said Gumbo, and the letter was to this effect:- "DEAR SIR-I am sorry I cannot comply with your wish, I"m short of money at present, having paid large sums to you as well as to other gentlemen.-Yours obediently, MARCH AND R.
"Henry Warrington, Esq."
"Did Lord March say anything?" asked Mr. Warrington looking very pale.
"He say it was the coolest thing he ever knew. So did Mr. Morris. He showed him your letter, Master Harry. Yes, Mr. Morris say, "Dam his imperence!"" added Gumbo.
Harry burst into such a yell of laughter that his landlord thought he had good news, and ran in in alarm lest he was about to lose his tenant. But by this time poor Harry"s laughter was over, and he was flung down in his chair gazing dismally in the fire.
"I-I should like to smoke a pipe of Virginia" he groaned.
Gumbo burst into tears: he flung himself at Harry"s knees. He kissed his knees and his hands. "Oh, master, my dear master, what will they say at home?" he sobbed out.
The jailor was touched at the sight of the black"s grief and fidelity, and at Harry"s pale face as he sank back in his chair quite overcome and beaten by his calamity.
"Your honour ain"t eat anything these two days," the man said, in a voice of rough pity. "Pluck up a little, sir. You aren"t the first gentleman who has been in and out of grief before this. Let me go down and get you a gla.s.s of punch and a little supper."
"My good friend," said Harry, a sickly smile playing over his white face, "you pay ready money for everything in this house, don"t you? I must tell you that I haven"t a shilling left to buy a dish of meat. All the money I have I want for letter-paper."
"Oh, master, my master!" roared out Gumbo. "Look here, my dear Master Harry! Here"s plenty of money-here"s twenty-three five-guineas. Here"s gold moidore from Virginia-here-no, not that-that"s keepsakes the girls gave me. Take everything-everything. I go sell myself to-morrow morning; but here"s plenty for to-night, master!"
"G.o.d bless you, Gumbo!" Harry said, laying his hand on the lad"s woolly head. "You are free if I am not, and Heaven forbid I should not take the offered help of such a friend as you. Bring me some supper: but the pipe too, mind-the pipe too!" And Harry ate his supper with a relish: and even the turnkeys and bailiff"s followers, when Gumbo went out of the house that night, shook hands with him, and ever after treated him well.
CHAPTER XLVII. Visitors in Trouble
Mr. Gumbo"s generous and feeling conduct soothed and softened the angry heart of his master, and Harry"s second night in the spunging-house was pa.s.sed more pleasantly than the first. Somebody at least there was to help and compa.s.sionate with him. Still, though softened in that one particular spot, Harry"s heart was hard and proud towards almost all the rest of the world. They were selfish and ungenerous, he thought. His pious Aunt Warrington, his lordly friend March, his cynical cousin Castlewood,-all had been tried, and were found wanting. Not to avoid twenty years of prison would he stoop to ask a favour of one of them again. Fool that he had been, to believe in their promises, and confide in their friendship! There was no friendship in this cursed, cold, selfish country. He would leave it. He would trust no Englishman, great or small. He would go to Germany, and make a campaign with the king; or he would go home to Virginia, bury himself in the woods there, and hunt all day; become his mother"s factor and land-steward; marry Polly Broadbent, or f.a.n.n.y Mountain; turn regular tobacco-grower and farmer; do anything, rather than remain amongst these English fine gentlemen. So he arose with an outwardly cheerful countenance, but an angry spirit; and at an early hour in the morning the faithful Gumbo was in attendance in his master"s chamber, having come from Bond Street, and brought Mr. Harry"s letters thence. "I wanted to bring some more clothes," honest Gumbo said; "but Mr. Ruff, the landlord, he wouldn"t let me bring no more."
Harry did not care to look at the letters: he opened one, two, three; they were all bills. He opened a fourth; it was from the landlord, to say that he would allow no more of Mr. Warrington"s things to go out of the house,-that unless his bill was paid he should sell Mr. W."s goods and pay himself: and that his black man must go and sleep elsewhere. He would hardly let Gumbo take his own clothes and portmanteau away. The black said he had found refuge elsewhere-with some friends at Lord Wrotham"s house. "With Colonel Lambert"s people," says Mr. Gumbo, looking very hard at his master. "And Miss Hetty she fall down in a faint, when she hear you taken up; and Mr. Lambert, he very good man, and he say to me this morning, he say, "Gumbo, you tell your master if he want me he send to me, and I come to him.""
Harry was touched when he heard that Hetty had been afflicted by his misfortune. He did not believe Gumbo"s story about her fainting; he was accustomed to translate his black"s language and to allow for exaggeration. But when Gumbo spoke of the Colonel the young Virginian"s spirit was darkened again. "I send to Lambert" he thought, grinding his teeth, "the man who insulted me, and flung my presents back in my face! If I were starving I would not ask him for a crust!" And presently, being dressed, Mr. Warrington called for his breakfast, and despatched Gumbo with a brief note to Mr. Draper in the Temple, requiring that gentleman"s attendance.
"The note was as haughty as if he was writing to one of his negroes, and not to a freeborn English gentleman," Draper said; whom indeed Harry had always treated with insufferable condescension. "It"s all very well for a fine gentleman to give himself airs; but for a fellow in a spunging-house! Hang him!" says Draper, "I"ve a great mind not to go!" Nevertheless, Mr. Draper did go, and found Mr. Warrington in his misfortune even more arrogant than he had ever been in the days of his utmost prosperity. Mr. W. sat on his bed, like a lord, in a splendid gown with his hair dressed. He motioned his black man to fetch him a chair.
"Excuse me, madam, but such haughtiness and airs I ain"t accustomed to!" said the outraged attorney.
"Take a chair and go on with your story, my good Mr. Draper!" said Madame de Bernstein, smiling, to whom he went to report proceedings. She was amused at the lawyer"s anger. She liked her nephew for being insolent in adversity.
The course which Draper was to pursue in his interview with Harry had been arranged between the Baroness and her man of business on the previous day. Draper was an able man, and likely in most cases to do a client good service: he failed in the present instance because he was piqued and angry, or, more likely still, because he could not understand the gentleman with whom he had to deal. I presume that he who casts his eye on the present page is the most gentle of readers. Gentleman, as you unquestionably are, then, my dear sir, have you not remarked in your dealings with people who are no gentlemen, that you offend them not knowing the how or the why? So the man who is no gentleman offends you in a thousand ways of which the poor creature has no idea himself. He does or says something which provokes your scorn. He perceives that scorn (being always on the watch, and uneasy about himself, his manners and behaviour) and he rages. You speak to him naturally, and he fancies still that you are sneering at him. You have indifference towards him, but he hates you, and hates you the worse because you don"t care. "Gumbo, a chair to Mr. Draper!" says Mr. Warrington, folding his brocaded dressing-gown round his legs as he sits on the dingy bed. "Sit down, if you please, and let us talk my business over. Much obliged to you for coming so soon in reply to my message. Had you heard of this piece of ill-luck before?"
Mr. Draper had heard of the circ.u.mstance. "Bad news travel quick, Mr. Warrington," he said; "and I was eager to offer my humble services as soon as ever you should require them. Your friends, your family, will be much pained that a gentleman of your rank should be in such a position."
"I have been very imprudent, Mr. Draper. I have lived beyond my means." (Mr. Draper bowed.) "I played in company with gentlemen who were much richer than myself, and a cursed run of ill-luck has carried away all my ready money, leaving me with liabilities to the amount of five hundred pounds, and more."
"Five hundred now in the office," says Mr. Draper.
"Well, this is such a trifle that I thought by sending to one or two friends, yesterday, I could have paid my debt and gone home without further to do. I have been mistaken; and will thank you to have the kindness to put me in the way of raising the money as soon as may be."
Mr. Draper said "Hm!" and pulled a very grave and long face.
"Why, sir, it can be done!" says Mr. Warrington, staring at the lawyer.
It not only could be done, but Mr. Draper had proposed to Madame Bernstein on the day before instantly to pay the money, and release Mr. Warrington. That lady had declared she intended to make the young gentleman her heir. In common with the rest of the world, Draper believed Harry"s hereditary property in Virginia to be as great in money-value as in extent. He had notes in his pocket, and Madame Bernstein"s order to pay them under certain conditions: nevertheless, when Harry said, "It can be done!" Draper pulled his long face, and said, "It can be done in time, sir; but it will require a considerable time. To touch the property in England which is yours on Mr. George Warrington"s death, we must have the event proved, the trustees released: and who is to do either? Lady Esmond Warrington in Virginia, of course, will not allow her son to remain in prison, but we must wait six months before we hear from her. Has your Bristol agent any authority to honour your drafts?"
"He is only authorised to pay me two hundred pounds a year," says Mr. Warrington. "I suppose I have no resource, then, but to apply to my aunt, Madame de Bernstein. She will be my security."
"Her ladyship will do anything for you, sir; she has said so to me, often and often," said the lawyer; "and, if she gives the word at that moment you can walk out of this place."
"Go to her, then, from me, Mr. Draper. I did not want to have troubled my relations: but rather than continue in this horrible needless imprisonment, I must speak to her. Say where I am, and what has befallen me. Disguise nothing! And tell her, that I confide in her affection and kindness for me to release me from this-this disgrace," and Mr. Warrington"s voice shook a little, and he pa.s.sed his hand across his eyes.
"Sir," says Mr. Draper, eyeing the young man, "I was with her ladyship yesterday, when we talked over the whole of this here most unpleasant-I won"t say as you do, disgraceful business."
"What do you mean, sir? Does Madame de Bernstein know of my misfortune?" asked Harry.
"Every circ.u.mstance, sir; the p.a.w.ning the watches, and all."
Harry turned burning red. "It is an unfortunate business, the p.a.w.ning them watches and things which you had never paid for," continued the lawyer. The young man started up from the bed, looking so fierce that Draper felt a little alarmed.
"It may lead to litigation and unpleasant remarks being made, in court, sir. Them barristers respect nothing; and when they get a feller in the box--"
"Great Heaven, sir, you don"t suppose a gentleman of my rank can"t take a watch upon credit without intending to cheat the tradesman?" cried Harry, in the greatest agitation.
"Of course you meant everything that"s honourable; only, you see, the law mayn"t happen to think so," says Mr. Draper, winking his eye. ("Hang the supercilious beast; I touch him there!) Your aunt says it"s the most imprudent thing ever she heard of-to call it by no worse name."
"You call it by no worse name yourself, Mr. Draper?" says Harry, speaking each word very slow, and evidently trying to keep a command of himself.
Draper did not like his looks. "Heaven forbid that I should say anything as between gentleman and gentleman,-but between me and my client, it"s my duty to say, "Sir, you are in a very unpleasant sc.r.a.pe," just as a doctor would have to tell his patient, "Sir, you are very ill.""
"And you can"t help me to pay this debt off,-and you have come only to tell me that I may be accused of roguery?" says Harry.
"Of obtaining goods under false pretences? Most undoubtedly, yes. I can"t help it, sir. Don"t look as if you would knock me down. (Curse him, I am making him wince, though.) A young gentleman, who has only two hundred a year from his ma", orders diamonds and watches, and takes "em to a p.a.w.nbroker. You ask me what people will think of such behaviour, and I tell you honestly. Don"t be angry with me, Mr. Warrington."
"Go on, sir!" says Harry, with a groan.
The lawyer thought the day was his own. "But you ask if I can"t help to pay this debt off? And I say Yes-and that here is the money in my pocket to do it now, if you like-not mine, sir, my honoured client"s, your aunt, Lady Bernstein. But she has a right to impose her conditions, and I"ve brought "em with me."
"Tell them, sir," says Mr. Harry.
"They are not hard. They are only for your own good: and if you say Yes, we can call a hackney-coach, and go to Clarges Street together, which I have promised to go there, whether you will or no. Mr. Warrington, I name no names, but there was a question of marriage between you and a certain party."
"Ah!" said Harry; and his countenance looked more cheerful than it had yet done.
"To that marriage my n.o.ble client, the Baroness, is most averse-having other views for you, and thinking it will be your ruin to marry a party,-of n.o.ble birth and t.i.tle it is true; but, excuse me, not of first-rate character, and so much older than yourself. You had given an imprudent promise to that party."
"Yes; and she has it still," says Mr. Warrington.
"It has been recovered. She dropped it by an accident at Tunbridge," says Mr. Draper, "so my client informed me; indeed her ladyship showed it me, for the matter of that. It was wrote in bl--"
"Never mind, sir!" cries Harry, turning almost as red as the ink which he had used to write his absurd promise, of which the madness and folly had smote him with shame a thousand times over.
"At the same time letters, wrote to you, and compromising a n.o.ble family, were recovered," continues the lawyer. "You had lost "em. It was no fault of yours. You were away when they were found again. You may say that that n.o.ble family, that you yourself, have a friend such as few young men have. Well, sir, there"s no earthly promise to bind you-only so many idle words said over a bottle, which very likely any gentleman may forget. Say you won"t go on with this marriage-give me and my n.o.ble friend your word of honour. Cry off, I say, Mr. W.! Don"t be such a d--fool, saving your presence, as to marry an old woman who has jilted scores of men in her time. Say the word, and I step downstairs, pay every shilling against you in the office, and put you down in my coach, either at your aunt"s or at White"s Club, if you like, with a couple of hundred in your pocket. Say yes; and give us your hand! There"s no use in sitting grinning behind these bars all day!"
So far Mr. Draper had had the best of the talk. Harry only longed himself to be rid of the engagement from which his aunt wanted to free him. His foolish flame for Maria Esmond had died out long since. If she would release him, how thankful would he be! "Come! give us your hand, and say done!" says the lawyer, with a knowing wink. "Don"t stand shilly-shallying, sir. Law bless you, Mr. W., if I had married everybody I promised, I should be like the Grand Turk, or Captain Macheath in the play!"
The lawyer"s familiarity disgusted Harry, who shrank from Draper, scarcely knowing that he did so. He folded his dressing gown round him, and stepped back from the other"s proffered hand. "Give me a little time to think of the matter, if you please, Mr. Draper," he said, "and have the goodness to come to me again in an hour.
"Very good, sir, very good, sir!" says the lawyer, biting his lips, and, as he seized up his hat, turning very red. "Most parties would not want an hour to consider about such an offer as I make you: but I suppose my time must be yours, and I"ll come again, and see whether you are to go or to stay. Good morning, sir, good morning:" and he went his way, growling curses down the stairs. "Won"t take my hand, won"t he? Will tell me in an hour"s time! Hang his impudence! I"ll show him what an hour is!"
Mr. Draper went to his chambers in dudgeon then; bullied his clerks all round, sent off a messenger to the Baroness, to say that he had waited on the young gentleman, who had demanded a little time for consideration, which was for form"s sake, as he had no doubt; the lawyer then saw clients, transacted business, went out to his dinner in the most leisurely manner; and then finally turned his steps towards the neighbouring Cursitor Street. "He"ll be at home when I call, the haughty beast!" says Draper, with a sneer. "The Fortunate Youth in his room?" the lawyer asked of the sheriff"s officer"s aide-de-camp who came to open the double doors.
"Mr. Warrington is in his apartment," said the gentleman, "but--" and here the gentleman winked at Mr. Draper, and laid his hand on his nose.
"But what, Mr. Paddy from Cork?" said the lawyer.
"My name is Costigan; me familee is n.o.ble, and me neetive place is the Irish methrawpolis, Mr. Six-and-eightpence!" said the janitor, scowling at Draper. A rich odour of spirituous liquors filled the little s.p.a.ce between the double doors where he held the attorney in conversation.
"Confound you, sir, let me pa.s.s!" bawled out Mr. Draper.
"I can hear you perfectly well, Six-and-eightpence, except your h"s, which you dthrop out of your conversation. I"ll thank ye not to call neems, me good friend, or me fingers and your nose will have to make an intimate hic-quaintance. Walk in, sir! Be polite for the future to your shupariors in birth and manners, though they may be your infariors in temporary station. Confound the kay! Walk in, sir, I say!-Madam, I have the honour of saluting ye most respectfully!"
A lady with her face covered with a capuchin, and further hidden by her handkerchief, uttered a little exclamation as of alarm as she came down the stairs at this instant and hurried past the lawyer. He was pressing forward to look at her-for Mr. Draper was very cavalier in his manners to women-but the bailiff"s follower thrust his leg between Draper and the retreating lady, crying, "Keep your own distance, if you plaise! This way, madam! I at once recognised your ladysh--" Here he closed the door on Draper"s nose, and left that attorney to find his own way to his client upstairs.
At six o"clock that evening the old Baroness de Bernstein was pacing up and down her drawing-crutch, and for ever running to the window when the noise of a coach was heard pa.s.sing in Clarges Street. She had delayed her dinner from hour to hour: she who scolded so fiercely, on ordinary occasions, if her cook was five minutes after his time. She had ordered two covers to be laid, plate to be set out, and some extra dishes to be prepared as if for a little fete. Four-five o"clock pa.s.sed, and at six she looked from the window, and a coach actually stopped at her door.
"Mr. Draper" was announced, and entered bowing profoundly.
The old lady trembled on her stick. "Where is the boy?" she said quickly. "I told you to bring him, sir! How dare you come without him?"
"It is not my fault, madam, that Mr. Warrington refuses to come." And Draper gave his version of the interview which had just taken place between himself and the young Virginian.
CHAPTER XLVIII. An Apparition
Going off in his wrath from his morning"s conversation with Harry, Mr. Draper thought he heard the young prisoner speak behind him; and, indeed, Harry had risen, and uttered a half-exclamation to call the lawyer back. But he was proud, and the other offended: Harry checked words, and Draper did not choose to stop. It wound Harry"s pride to be obliged to humble himself before the lawyer, and to have to yield from mere lack and desire of money. "An hour hence will do as well," thought Harry, and lapsed sulkily on to the bed again. No, he did not care for Maria Esmond! No: he was ashamed of the way in which he had been entrapped into that engagement. A wily and experienced woman, she had cheated his boyish ardour. She had taken unfair advantage of him, as her brother had at play. They were his own flesh and blood, and they ought to have spared him. Instead, one and the other had made a prey of him, and had used him for their selfish ends. He thought how they had betrayed the rights of hospitality: how they had made a victim of the young kinsman who came confiding within their gates. His heart was sore wounded: his head sank back on his pillow: bitter tears wetted it. "Had they come to Virginia," he thought, "I had given them a different welcome!"
He was roused from this mood of despondency by Gumbo"s grinning face at his door, who said a lady was come to see Master Harry, and behind the lad came the lady in the capuchin, of whom we have just made mention. Harry sat up, pale and haggard, on his bed. The lady, with a sob, and almost ere the servant-man withdrew, ran towards the young prisoner, put her arms round his neck with real emotion and a maternal tenderness, sobbed over his pale cheek and kissed it in the midst of plentiful tears, and cried out- "Oh, my Harry! Did I ever, ever think to see thee here?"
He started back, scared as it seemed at her presence, but she sank down at the bedside, and seized his feverish hand, and embraced his knees. She had a real regard and tenderness for him. The wretched place in which she found him, his wretched look, filled her heart with a sincere love and pity.