The Small House at Allington, Anthony Trollope [best ebook reader for chromebook .txt] 📗

you know, John,” said his mother, as soon as their first embraces were over, “that we are going to dine at the Manor this evening?” But he did not know it, neither the earl nor Lady Julia having said anything on the subject. “Of course we are going,” said Mrs. Eames, “and it was so very kind. But I’ve never been out to such a house for so many years, John, and I do feel in such a twitter. I dined there once, soon after we were married; but I never have been there since that.”

“It’s not the earl I mind, but Lady Julia,” said Mary Eames.

“She’s the most good-natured woman in the world,” said Johnny.

“Oh, dear; people say she is so cross!”

“That’s because people don’t know her. If I was asked who is the kindest-hearted woman I know in the world, I think I should say Lady Julia De Guest. I think I should.”

“Ah! but then they’re so fond of you,” said the admiring mother. “You saved his lordship’s life⁠—under Providence.”

“That’s all bosh, mother. You ask Dr. Crofts. He knows them as well as I do.”

“Dr. Crofts is going to marry Bell Dale,” said Mary; and then the conversation was turned from the subject of Lady Julia’s perfections, and the awe inspired by the earl.

“Crofts going to marry Bell!” exclaimed Eames, thinking almost with dismay of the doctor’s luck in thus getting himself accepted all at once, while he had been suing with the constancy almost of a Jacob.

“Yes,” said Mary; “and they say that she has refused her cousin Bernard, and that, therefore, the squire is taking away the house from them. You know they’re all coming into Guestwick.”

“Yes, I know they are. But I don’t believe that the squire is taking away the house.”

“Why should they come then? Why should they give up such a charming place as that?”

“Rent-free!” said Mrs. Eames.

“I don’t know why they should come away, but I can’t believe the squire is turning them out; at any rate not for that reason.” The squire was prepared to advocate John’s suit, and therefore John was bound to do battle on the squire’s behalf.

“He is a very stern man,” said Mrs. Eames, “and they say that since that affair of poor Lily’s he has been more cross than ever with them. As far as I know, it was not Lily’s fault.”

“Poor Lily!” said Mary. “I do pity her. If I was her I should hardly know how to show my face; I shouldn’t, indeed.”

“And why shouldn’t she show her face?” said John, in an angry tone. “What has she done to be ashamed of? Show her face indeed! I cannot understand the spite which one woman will sometimes have to another.”

“There is no spite, John; and it’s very wrong of you to say so,” said Mary, defending herself. “But it is a very unpleasant thing for a girl to be jilted. All the world knows that she was engaged to him.”

“And all the world knows⁠—” But he would not proceed to declare that all the world knew also that Crosbie had been well thrashed for his baseness. It would not become him to mention that even before his mother and sister. All the world did know it; all the world that cared to know anything of the matter;⁠—except Lily Dale herself. Nobody had ever yet told Lily Dale of that occurrence at the Paddington Railway Station, and it was well for John that her friends and his had been so discreet.

“Oh, of course you are her champion,” said Mary. “And I didn’t mean to say anything unkind. Indeed I didn’t. Of course it was a misfortune.”

“I think it was the best piece of good fortune that could have happened to her, not to marry a d⁠⸺ scoundrel like⁠—”

“Oh, John!” exclaimed Mrs. Eames.

“I beg your pardon, mother. But it isn’t swearing to call such a man as that a d⁠⸺ scoundrel.” And he particularly emphasized the naughty word, thinking that thereby he would add to its import, and take away from its naughtiness. “But we won’t talk any more about him. I hate the man’s very name. I hated him the first moment that I saw him, and knew that he was a blackguard from his look. And I don’t believe a word about the squire having been cross to them. Indeed I know he has been the reverse of cross. So Bell is going to marry Dr. Crofts!”

“There is no doubt on earth about that,” said Mary. “And they say that Bernard Dale is going abroad with his regiment.”

Then John discussed with his mother his duties as private secretary, and his intention of leaving Mrs. Roper’s house. “I suppose it isn’t nice enough for you now, John,” said his mother.

“It never was very nice, mother, to tell you the truth. There were people there⁠—. But you mustn’t think I am turning up my nose because I’m getting grand. I don’t want to live any better than we all lived at Mrs. Roper’s; but she took in persons that were not agreeable. There is a Mr. and Mrs. Lupex there.” Then he described something of their life in Burton Crescent, but did not say much about Amelia Roper. Amelia Roper had not made her appearance in Guestwick, as he had once feared that she would do; and therefore it did not need that he should at present make known to his mother that episode in his life.

When he got back to the Manor House he found that Mr. Dale and his niece had arrived. They were both sitting with Lady Julia when he went into the morning room, and Lord De Guest was standing over the fire talking to them. Eames as he came among them felt terribly conscious of his position, as though all there were aware that he had been brought down from London on purpose to make a declaration of love;⁠—as, indeed, all of them were aware of that fact. Bell, though no one had told her so in direct words, was as sure of