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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/27712-8.txt b/27712-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e62fb11 --- /dev/null +++ b/27712-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8080 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite, by +Anthony Trollope + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite + + +Author: Anthony Trollope + + + +Release Date: January 5, 2009 [eBook #27712] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF +HUMBLETHWAITE*** + + +E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D. + + + +SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE. + +by + +ANTHONY TROLLOPE, + +Author of "Framley Parsonage," etc. + + + + + + + +London: +Hurst and Blackett, Publishers, +13, Great Marlborough Street. +1871 + +The right of Translation is reserved. + +London: +R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor, Printers, +Bread Street Hill. + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER I. SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. + CHAPTER II. OUR HEROINE. + CHAPTER III. LORD ALFRED'S COURTSHIP. + CHAPTER IV. VACILLATION. + CHAPTER V. GEORGE HOTSPUR. + CHAPTER VI. THE BALL IN BRUTON STREET. + CHAPTER VII. LADY ALTRINGHAM. + CHAPTER VIII. AIREY FORCE. + CHAPTER IX. "I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE." + CHAPTER X. MR. HART AND CAPTAIN STUBBER. + CHAPTER XI. MRS. MORTON. + CHAPTER XII. THE HUNT BECOMES HOT. + CHAPTER XIII. "I WILL NOT DESERT HIM." + CHAPTER XIV. PERTINACITY. + CHAPTER XV. COUSIN GEORGE IS HARD PRESSED. + CHAPTER XVI. SIR HARRY'S RETURN. + CHAPTER XVII. "LET US TRY." + CHAPTER XVIII. GOOD ADVICE. + CHAPTER XIX. THE NEW SMITHY. + CHAPTER XX. COUSIN GEORGE'S SUCCESS. + CHAPTER XXI. EMILY HOTSPUR'S SERMON. + CHAPTER XXII. GEORGE HOTSPUR YIELDS. + CHAPTER XXIII. "I SHALL NEVER BE MARRIED." + CHAPTER XXIV. THE END. + + + + +SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE. + +CHAPTER I. + +SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. + + +Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite was a mighty person in Cumberland, +and one who well understood of what nature were the duties, and of +what sort the magnificence, which his position as a great English +commoner required of him. He had twenty thousand a year derived from +land. His forefathers had owned the same property in Cumberland for +nearly four centuries, and an estate nearly as large in Durham for +more than a century and a half. He had married an earl's daughter, +and had always lived among men and women not only of high rank, but +also of high character. He had kept race-horses when he was young, as +noblemen and gentlemen then did keep them, with no view to profit, +calculating fairly their cost as a part of his annual outlay, and +thinking that it was the proper thing to do for the improvement +of horses and for the amusement of the people. He had been in +Parliament, but had made no figure there, and had given it up. He +still kept his house in Bruton Street, and always spent a month or +two in London. But the life that he led was led at Humblethwaite, and +there he was a great man, with a great domain around him,--with many +tenants, with a world of dependants among whom he spent his wealth +freely, saving little, but lavishing nothing that was not his own +to lavish,--understanding that his enjoyment was to come from the +comfort and respect of others, for whose welfare, as he understood +it, the good things of this world had been bestowed upon him. He was +a proud man, with but few intimacies,--with a few dear friendships +which were the solace of his life,--altogether gracious in his +speech, if it were not for an apparent bashfulness among strangers; +never assuming aught, deferring much to others outwardly, and showing +his pride chiefly by a certain impalpable _noli me tangere_, which +just sufficed to make itself felt and obeyed at the first approach of +any personal freedom. He was a handsome man,--if an old man near to +seventy may be handsome,--with grey hair, and bright, keen eyes, and +arched eyebrows, with a well-cut eagle nose, and a small mouth, and a +short dimpled chin. He was under the middle height, but nevertheless +commanded attention by his appearance. He wore no beard save a slight +grey whisker, which was cut away before it reached his chin. He was +strongly made, but not stout, and was hale and active for his age. + +Such was Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite. The account of Lady +Elizabeth, his wife, may be much shorter. She was known,--where she +was known,--simply as Sir Harry's wife. He indeed was one of those +men of whom it may be said that everything appertaining to them takes +its importance from the fact of its being theirs. Lady Elizabeth was +a good woman, a good wife, and a good mother, and was twenty years +younger than her husband. He had been forty-five years old when he +had married her, and she, even yet, had not forgotten the deference +which was due to his age. + +Two years before the time at which our story will begin, a great +sorrow, an absolutely crushing grief, had fallen upon the House +of Humblethwaite. An only son had died just as he had reached his +majority. When the day came on which all Humblethwaite and the +surrounding villages were to have been told to rejoice and make merry +because another man of the Hotspurs was ready to take the reins of +the house as soon as his father should have been gathered to his +fathers, the poor lad lay a-dying, while his mother ministered by +his bedside, and the Baronet was told by the physician--who had been +brought from London--that there was no longer for him any hope that +he should leave a male heir at Humblethwaite to inherit his name and +his honours. + +For months it was thought that Lady Elizabeth would follow her boy. +Sir Harry bore the blow bravely, though none who do not understand +the system well can conceive how the natural grief of the father was +increased by the disappointment which had fallen upon the head of the +house. But the old man bore it well, making but few audible moans, +shedding no tears, altering in very little the habits of life; still +spending money, because it was good for others that it should be +spent, and only speaking of his son when it was necessary for him to +allude to those altered arrangements as to the family property which +it was necessary that he should make. But still he was a changed man, +as those perceived who watched him closest. Cloudesdale the butler +knew well in what he was changed, as did old Hesketh the groom, and +Gilsby the gamekeeper. He had never been given to much talk, but was +now more silent than of yore. Of horses, dogs, and game there was +no longer any mention whatever made by the Baronet. He was still +constant with Mr. Lanesby, the steward, because it was his duty to +know everything that was done on the property; but even Mr. Lanesby +would acknowledge that, as to actual improvements,--the commencement +of new work in the hope of future returns, the Baronet was not at all +the man he had been. How was it possible that he should be the man he +had been when his life was so nearly gone, and that other life had +gone also, which was to have been the renewal and continuation of his +own? + +When the blow fell, it became Sir Harry's imperative duty to make +up his mind what he would do with his property. As regarded the two +estates, they were now absolutely, every acre of them, at his own +disposal. He had one child left him, a daughter,--in whom, it is +hoped, the reader may be induced to take some interest, and with +her to feel some sympathy, for she will be the person with whom the +details of this little story must most be concerned; and he had a +male heir, who must needs inherit the title of the family, one George +Hotspur,--not a nephew, for Sir Harry had never had a brother, but +the son of a first cousin who had not himself been much esteemed at +Humblethwaite. + +Now Sir Harry was a man who, in such a condition as this in which +he was now placed, would mainly be guided by his ideas of duty. For +a month or two he said not a word to any one, not even to his own +lawyer, though he himself had made a will, a temporary will, duly +witnessed by Mr. Lanesby and another, so that the ownership of the +property should not be adjusted simply by the chance direction of law +in the event of his own sudden demise; but his mind was doubtless +much burdened with the subject. How should he discharge this fresh +responsibility which now rested on him? While his boy had lived, the +responsibility of his property had had nothing for him but charms. +All was to go to the young Harry,--all, as a matter of course; and +it was only necessary for him to take care that every acre should +descend to his heir not only unimpaired by him in value, but also +somewhat increased. Provision for his widow and for his girl had +already been made before he had ventured on matrimony,--provision +sufficient for many girls had Fortune so far favoured him. But that +an eldest son should have all the family land,--one, though as many +sons should have been given to him as to Priam,--and that that one +should have it unencumbered, as he had had it from his father,--this +was to him the very law of his being. And he would have taught that +son, had already begun to teach him when the great blow came, that +all this was to be given to him, not that he might put it into +his own belly, or wear it on his own back, or even spend it as he +might list himself, but that he might so live as to do his part in +maintaining that order of gentlehood in England, by which England had +become--so thought Sir Harry--the proudest and the greatest and the +justest of nations. + +But now he had no son, and yet the duty remained to him of +maintaining his order. It would perhaps have been better for him, +it would certainly have been easier, had some settlement or family +entail fixed all things for him. Those who knew him well personally, +but did not know the affairs of his family, declared among themselves +that Sir Harry would take care that the property went with the title. +A marriage might be arranged. There could be nothing to object to a +marriage between second cousins. At any rate Sir Harry Hotspur was +certainly not the man to separate the property from the title. But +they who knew the family, and especially that branch of the family +from which George Hotspur came, declared that Sir Harry would never +give his daughter to such a one as was this cousin. And if not his +daughter, then neither would he give to such a scapegrace either +Humblethwaite in Cumberland or Scarrowby in Durham. There did exist a +party who said that Sir Harry would divide the property, but they who +held such an opinion certainly knew very little of Sir Harry's social +or political tenets. Any such division was the one thing which he +surely would not effect. + +When twelve months had passed after the death of Sir Harry's son, +George Hotspur had been at Humblethwaite and had gone, and Sir +Harry's will had been made. He had left everything to his daughter, +and had only stipulated that her husband, should she marry, should +take the name of Hotspur. He had decided, that should his daughter, +as was probable, marry within his lifetime, he could then make what +settlements he pleased, even to the changing of the tenor of his +will, should he think fit to change it. Should he die and leave her +still a spinster, he would trust to her in everything. Not being +a man of mystery, he told his wife and his daughter what he had +done,--and what he still thought that he possibly might do; and +being also a man to whom any suspicion of injustice was odious, he +desired his attorney to make known to George Hotspur what had been +settled. And in order that this blow to Cousin George might be +lightened,--Cousin George having in conversation acknowledged to a +few debts,--an immediate present was made to him of four thousand +pounds, and double that amount was assured to him at the Baronet's +death. + +The reader may be sure that the Baronet had heard many things +respecting Cousin George which he did not like. To him personally it +would have been infinitely preferable that the title and the estates +should have gone together, than that his own daughter should be a +great heiress. That her outlook into the world was fair and full of +promise of prosperity either way, was clear enough. Twenty thousand +a year would not be necessary to make her a happy woman. And then it +was to him a manifest and a sacred religion that to no man or to no +woman were appointed the high pinnacles of fortune simply that that +man or that woman might enjoy them. They were to be held as thrones +are held, for the benefit of the many. And in the disposition of this +throne, the necessity of making which had fallen upon him from the +loss of his own darling, he had brought himself to think--not of his +daughter's happiness, or to the balance of which, in her possessing +or not possessing the property, he could venture on no prophecy,--but +of the welfare of all those who might measure their weal or woe from +the manner in which the duties of this high place were administered. +He would fain that there should still have been a Sir Harry or a Sir +George Hotspur of Humblethwaite; but he found that his duty required +him to make the other arrangement. + +And yet he had liked the cousin, who indeed had many gifts to win +liking both from men and women. Previously to the visit very little +had been known personally of young George Hotspur at Humblethwaite. +His father, also a George, had in early life quarrelled with the +elder branch of the family, and had gone off with what money belonged +to him, and had lived and died in Paris. The younger George had been +educated abroad, and then had purchased a commission in a regiment of +English cavalry. At the time when young Harry died it was only known +of him at Humblethwaite that he had achieved a certain reputation +in London, and that he had sold out of the army. He was talked of +as a man who shot birds with precision. Pigeons he could shoot with +wonderful dexterity,--which art was at Humblethwaite supposed to be +much against him. But then he was equally successful with partridges +and pheasants; and partly on account of such success, and partly +probably because his manner was pleasant, he was known to be a +welcome guest at houses in which men congregate to slaughter game. In +this way he had a reputation, and one that was not altogether cause +for reproach; but it had not previously recommended him to the notice +of his cousin. + +Just ten months after poor Harry's death he was asked, and went, to +Humblethwaite. Probably at that moment the Baronet's mind was still +somewhat in doubt. The wish of Lady Elizabeth had been clearly +expressed to her husband to the effect that encouragement should be +given to the young people to fall in love with each other. To this +Sir Harry never assented; though there was a time,--and that time had +not yet passed when George Hotspur reached Humblethwaite,--in which +the Baronet was not altogether averse to the idea of the marriage. +But when George left Humblethwaite the Baronet had made up his mind. +Tidings had reached him, and he was afraid of the cousin. And other +tidings had reached him also; or rather perhaps it would be truer +to him to say that another idea had come to him. Of all the young +men now rising in England there was no young man who more approved +himself to Sir Harry's choice than did Lord Alfred Gresley, the +second son of his old friend and political leader the Marquis of +Milnthorp. Lord Alfred had but scanty fortune of his own, but was +in Parliament and in office, and was doing well. All men said all +good things of him. Then there was a word or two spoken between +the Marquis and the Baronet, and just a word also with Lord Alfred +himself. Lord Alfred had no objection to the name of Hotspur. This +was in October, while George Hotspur was still declaring that Gilbsy +knew nothing of getting up a head of game; and then Lord Alfred +promised to come to Humblethwaite at Christmas. It was after this +that George owned to a few debts. His confession on that score did +him no harm. Sir Harry had made up his mind that day. Sir Harry had +at that time learned a good deal of his cousin George's mode of life +in London, and had already decided that this young man was not one +whom it would be well to set upon the pinnacle. + +And yet he had liked the young man, as did everybody. Lady Elizabeth +had liked him much, and for a fortnight had gone on hoping that all +difficulties might have solved themselves by the young man's marriage +with her daughter. It need hardly be said that not a word one way or +the other was spoken to Emily Hotspur; but it seemed to the mother +that the young people, though there was no love-making, yet liked +each other. Sir Harry at this time was up in London for a month or +two, hearing tidings, seeing Lord Alfred, who was at his office; and +on his return, that solution by family marriage was ordered to be for +ever banished from the maternal bosom. Sir Harry said that it would +not do. + +Nevertheless, he was good to the young cousin, and when the time was +drawing nigh for the young man's departure he spoke of a further +visit. The coverts at Humblethwaite, such as they were, would always +be at his service. This was a week before the cousin went; but by the +coming of the day on which the cousin took his departure Sir Harry +regretted that he had made that offer of future hospitality. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OUR HEROINE. + + +"He has said nothing to her?" asked Sir Harry, anxiously, of his +wife. + +"I think not," replied Lady Elizabeth. + +"Had he said anything that meant anything, she would have told you?" + +"Certainly she would," said Lady Elizabeth. + +Sir Harry knew his child, and was satisfied that no harm had been +done; nevertheless, he wished that that further invitation had +not been given. If this Christmas visitor that was to come to +Humblethwaite could be successful, all would be right; but it had +seemed to Sir Harry, during that last week of Cousin George's sojourn +beneath his roof, there had been more of cousinly friendship between +the cousins than had been salutary, seeing, as he had seen, that any +closer connection was inexpedient. But he thought that he was sure +that no great harm had been done. Had any word been spoken to his +girl which she herself had taken as a declaration of love, she would +certainly have told her mother. Sir Harry would no more doubt his +daughter than he would his own honour. There were certain points +and lines of duty clearly laid down for a girl so placed as was his +daughter; and Sir Harry, though he could not have told whence the +knowledge of these points and lines had come to his child, never for +a moment doubted but that she knew them, and would obey them. To know +and to obey such points of duty were a part of the inheritance of +such an one as Emily Hotspur. Nevertheless, it might be possible that +her fancy should be touched, and that she herself should know nothing +of it,--nothing that she could confide even to a mother. Sir Harry +understanding this, and having seen in these last days something as +he thought of too close a cousinly friendship, was anxious that Lord +Alfred should come and settle everything. If Lord Alfred should be +successful, all danger would be at an end, and the cousin might come +again and do what he liked with the coverts. Alas, alas! the cousin +should never have been allowed to show his handsome, wicked face at +Humblethwaite! + +Emily Hotspur was a girl whom any father would have trusted; and +let the reader understand this of her, that she was one in whom +intentional deceit was impossible. Neither to her father nor to any +one could she lie either in word or action. And all these lines and +points of duty were well known to her, though she knew not, and had +never asked herself, whence the lesson had come. Will it be too much +to say, that they had formed a part of her breeding, and had been +given to her with her blood? She understood well that from her, as +heiress of the House of Humblethwaite, a double obedience was due +to her father,--the obedience of a child added to that which was +now required from her as the future transmitter of honours of the +house. And yet no word had been said to her of the honours of the +house; nor, indeed, had many words ever been said as to that other +obedience. These lessons, when they have been well learned, have ever +come without direct teaching. + +But she knew more than this, and the knowledge had reached her in the +same manner. Though she owed a great duty to her father, there was +a limit to that duty, of which, unconsciously, she was well aware. +When her mother told her that Lord Alfred was coming, having been +instructed to do so by Sir Harry; and hinted, with a caress and a +kiss, and a soft whisper, that Lord Alfred was one of whom Sir Harry +approved greatly, and that if further approval could be bestowed Sir +Harry would not be displeased, Emily as she returned her mother's +embrace, felt that she had a possession of her own with which neither +father nor mother might be allowed to interfere. It was for them, or +rather for him, to say that a hand so weighted as was hers should not +be given here or there; but it was not for them, not even for him, to +say that her heart was to be given here, or to be given there. Let +them put upon her what weight they might of family honours, and of +family responsibility, that was her own property;--if not, perhaps, +to be bestowed at her own pleasure, because of the pressure of that +weight, still her own, and absolutely beyond the bestowal of any +other. + +Nevertheless, she declared to herself, and whispered to her mother, +that she would be glad to welcome Lord Alfred. She had known him well +when she was a child of twelve years old and he was already a young +man in Parliament. Since those days she had met him more than once in +London. She was now turned twenty, and he was something more than ten +years her senior; but there was nothing against him, at any rate, on +the score of age. Lord Alfred was admitted on every side to be still +a young man; and though he had already been a lord of one Board or +of another for the last four years, and had earned a reputation for +working, he did not look like a man who would be more addicted to +sitting at Boards than spending his time with young women. He was +handsome, pleasant, good-humoured, and full of talk; had nothing +about him of the official fogy; and was regarded by all his friends +as a man who was just now fit to marry. "They say that he is such a +good son, and such a good brother," said Lady Elizabeth, anxiously. + +"Quite a Phoenix!" said Emily, laughing. Then Lady Elizabeth began +to fear that she had said too much, and did not mention Lord Alfred's +name for two days. + +But Miss Hotspur had by that time resolved that Lord Alfred should +have a fair chance. If she could teach herself to think that of all +men walking the earth Lord Alfred was the best and the most divine, +the nearest of all men to a god, how excellent a thing would it be! +Her great responsibility as to the family burden would in that case +already be acquitted with credit. The wishes of her father, which on +such a subject were all but paramount, would be gratified; and she +herself would then be placed almost beyond the hand of misfortune to +hurt her. At any rate, the great and almost crushing difficulty of +her life would so be solved. But the man must have enough in her eyes +of that godlike glory to satisfy her that she had found in him one +who would be almost a divinity, at any rate to her. Could he speak as +that other man spoke? Could he look as that other one looked? Would +there be in his eye such a depth of colour, in his voice such a sound +of music, in his gait so divine a grace? For that other one, though +she had looked into the brightness of the colour, though she had +heard the sweetness of the music, though she had watched the elastic +spring of the step, she cared nothing as regarded her heart--her +heart, which was the one treasure of her own. No; she was sure of +that. Of her one own great treasure, she was much too chary to give +it away unasked, and too independent, as she told herself, to give +it away unauthorized. The field was open to Lord Alfred; and, as her +father wished it, Lord Alfred should be received with every favour. +If she could find divinity, then she would bow before it readily. + +Alas for Lord Alfred! We may all know that when she thought of it +thus, there was but poor chance of success for Lord Alfred. Let him +have what of the godlike he might, she would find but little of it +there when she made her calculations and resolutions after such +fashion as this. The man who becomes divine in a woman's eyes, has +generally achieved his claim to celestial honours by sudden assault. +And, alas! the qualities which carry him through it and give the halo +to his head may after all be very ungodlike. Some such achievement +had already fallen in the way of Cousin George; though had Cousin +George and Lord Alfred been weighed in just scales, the divinity of +the latter, such as it was, would have been found greatly to prevail. +Indeed, it might perhaps have been difficult to lay hold of and bring +forward as presentable for such office as that of a lover for such +a girl any young man who should be less godlike than Cousin George. +But he had gifts of simulation, which are valuable; and poor Emily +Hotspur had not yet learned the housewife's trick of passing the web +through her fingers, and of finding by the touch whether the fabric +were of fine wool, or of shoddy made up with craft to look like wool +of the finest. + +We say that there was but small chance for Lord Alfred; nevertheless +the lady was dutifully minded to give him all the chance that it was +in her power to bestow. She did not tell herself that her father's +hopes were vain. Of her preference for that other man she never told +herself anything. She was not aware that it existed. She knew that he +was handsome; she thought that he was clever. She knew that he had +talked to her as no man had ever talked before. She was aware that +he was her nearest relative beyond her father and mother, and that +therefore she might be allowed to love him as a cousin. She told +herself that he was a Hotspur, and that he must be the head of the +Hotspurs when her father should be taken from them. She thought +that he looked as a man should look who would have to carry such a +dignity. But there was nothing more. No word had been said to her on +the subject; but she was aware, because no word had been said, that +it was not thought fitting that she should be her cousin's bride. She +could not but know how great would be the advantage could the estates +and the title be kept together. Even though he should inherit no +acre of the land,--and she had been told by her father that such +was his decision,--this Cousin George must become the head of the +House of Hotspur; and to be head of the House of Hotspur was to +her a much greater thing than to be the owner of Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby. Gifts like the latter might be given to a mere girl, like +herself,--were to be so given. But let any man living do what he +might, George Hotspur must become the head and chief of the old House +of Hotspur. Nevertheless, it was not for her to join the two things +together, unless her father should see that it would be good for her +to do so. + +Emily Hotspur was very like her father, having that peculiar cast of +countenance which had always characterized the family. She had the +same arch in her eyebrows, indicating an aptitude for authority; the +same well-formed nose, though with her the beak of the eagle was less +prominent; the same short lip, and small mouth, and delicate dimpled +chin. With both of them the lower part of the face was peculiarly +short, and finely cut. With both of them the brow was high and broad, +and the temples prominent. But the girl's eyes were blue, while those +of the old man were brightly green. It was told of him that when a +boy his eyes also had been blue. Her hair, which was very plentiful, +was light in colour, but by no means flaxen. Her complexion was as +clear as the finest porcelain; but there were ever roses in her +cheeks, for she was strong by nature, and her health was perfect. She +was somewhat short of stature, as were all the Hotspurs, and her feet +and hands and ears were small and delicate. But though short, she +seemed to lack nothing in symmetry, and certainly lacked nothing in +strength. She could ride or walk the whole day, and had no feeling +that such vigour of body was a possession of which a young lady +should be ashamed. Such as she was, she was the acknowledged beauty +of the county; and at Carlisle, where she showed herself at least +once a year at the county ball, there was neither man nor woman, +young nor old, who was not ready to say that Emily Hotspur was, among +maidens, the glory of Cumberland. + +Her life hitherto had been very quiet. There was the ball at +Carlisle, which she had attended thrice; on the last occasion, +because of her brother's death, she had been absent, and the family +of the Hotspurs had been represented there only by the venison and +game which had been sent from Humblethwaite. Twice also she had spent +the months of May and June in London; but it had not hitherto suited +the tone of her father's character to send his daughter out into all +the racket of a London season. She had gone to balls, and to the +opera, and had ridden in the Park, and been seen at flower-shows; +but she had not been so common in those places as to be known to the +crowd. And, hitherto, neither in town or country, had her name been +connected with that of any suitor for her hand. She was now twenty, +and the reader will remember that in the twelve months last past, the +House of Humblethwaite had been clouded with deep mourning. + +The cousin was come and gone, and the Baronet hoped in his heart +that there might be an end of him as far as Humblethwaite was +concerned;--at any rate till his child should have given herself to a +better lover. Tidings had been sent to Sir Harry during the last week +of the young man's sojourn beneath his roof, which of all that had +reached his ears were the worst. He had before heard of recklessness, +of debt, of dissipation, of bad comrades. Now he heard of worse than +these. If that which he now heard was true, there had been dishonour. +But Sir Harry was a man who wanted ample evidence before he allowed +his judgment to actuate his conduct, and in this case the evidence +was far from ample. He did not stint his hospitality to the future +baronet, but he failed to repeat that promise of a future welcome +which had already been given, and which had been thankfully accepted. +But a man knows that such an offer of renewed hospitality should be +repeated at the moment of departure, and George Hotspur, as he was +taken away to the nearest station in his cousin's carriage, was quite +aware that Sir Harry did not then desire that the visit should be +repeated. + +Lord Alfred was to be at Humblethwaite on Christmas-eve. The +emergencies of the Board at which he sat would not allow of an +earlier absence from London. He was a man who shirked no official +duty, and was afraid of no amount of work; and though he knew how +great was the prize before him, he refused to leave his Board before +the day had come at which his Board must necessarily dispense with +his services. Between him and his father there had been no reticence, +and it was clearly understood by him that he was to go down and win +twenty thousand a year and the prettiest girl in Cumberland, if his +own capacity that way, joined to all the favour of the girl's father +and mother, would enable him to attain success. To Emily not a word +more had been said on the subject than those which have been already +narrated as having been spoken by the mother to the daughter. With +all his authority, with all his love for his only remaining child, +with all his consciousness of the terrible importance of the matter +at issue, Sir Harry could not bring himself to suggest to his +daughter that it would be well for her to fall in love with the guest +who was coming to them. But to Lady Elizabeth he said very much. He +had quite made up his mind that the thing would be good, and, having +done so, he was very anxious that the arrangement should be made. It +was natural that this girl of his should learn to love some youth; +and how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss, when so much +depended on her loving wisely! The whole fate of the House of Hotspur +was in her hands,--to do with it as she thought fit! Sir Harry +trembled as he reflected what would be the result were she to come to +him some day and ask his favour for a suitor wholly unfitted to bear +the name of Hotspur, and to sit on the throne of Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby. + +"Is she pleased that he is coming?" he said to his wife, the evening +before the arrival of their guest. + +"Certainly she is pleased. She knows that we both like him." + +"I remember when she used to talk about him--often," said Sir Harry. + +"That was when she was a child." + +"But a year or two ago," said Sir Harry. + +"Three or four years, perhaps; and with her that is a long time. It +is not likely that she should talk much of him now. Of course she +knows what it is that we wish." + +"Does she think about her cousin at all?" he said some hours +afterwards. + +"Yes, she thinks of him. That is only natural, you know." + +"It would be unnatural that she should think of him much." + +"I do not see that," said the mother, keen to defend her daughter +from what might seem to be an implied reproach. "George Hotspur is a +man who will make himself thought of wherever he goes. He is clever, +and very amusing;--there is no denying that. And then he has the +Hotspur look all over." + +"I wish he had never set his foot within the house," said the father. + +"My dear, there is no such danger as you think," said Lady Elizabeth. +"Emily is not a girl prone to fall in love at a moment's notice +because a man is good-looking and amusing;--and certainly not with +the conviction which she must have that her doing so would greatly +grieve you." Sir Harry believed in his daughter, and said no more; +but he thoroughly wished that Lord Alfred's wedding-day was fixed. + +"Mamma," said Emily, on the following day, "won't Lord Alfred be very +dull?" + +"I hope not, my dear." + +"What is he to do, with nobody else here to amuse him?" + +"The Crutchleys are coming on the 27th." + +Now Mr. and Mrs. Crutchley were, as Emily thought, very ordinary +people, and quite unlikely to afford amusement to Lord Alfred. Mr. +Crutchley was an old gentleman of county standing, and with property +in the county, living in a large dull red house in Penrith, of +whom Sir Harry thought a good deal, because he was a gentleman who +happened to have had great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. But +he was quite as old as Sir Harry, and Mrs. Crutchley was a great deal +older than Lady Elizabeth. + +"What will Lord Alfred have to say to Mrs. Crutchley, mamma?" + +"What do people in society always have to say to each other? And the +Lathebys are coming here to dine to-morrow, and will come again, I +don't doubt, on the 27th." + +Mr. Latheby was the young Vicar of Humblethwaite, and Mrs. Latheby +was a very pretty young bride whom he had just married. + +"And then Lord Alfred shoots," continued Lady Elizabeth. + +"Cousin George said that the shooting wasn't worth going after," said +Emily, smiling. "Mamma, I fear it will be a failure." This made Lady +Elizabeth unhappy, as she thought that more was meant than was really +said. But she did not confide her fears to her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +LORD ALFRED'S COURTSHIP. + + +The Hall, as the great house at Humblethwaite was called, consisted +in truth of various edifices added one to another at various periods; +but the result was this, that no more picturesque mansion could be +found in any part of England than the Hall at Humblethwaite. The +oldest portion of it was said to be of the time of Henry VII.; but it +may perhaps be doubted whether the set of rooms with lattice windows +looking out on to the bowling-green, each window from beneath its +own gable, was so old as the date assigned to it. It is strange how +little authority can usually be found in family records to verify +such statements. It was known that Humblethwaite and the surrounding +manors had been given to, or in some fashion purchased by, a certain +Harry Hotspur, who also in his day had been a knight, when Church +lands were changing hands under Henry VIII. And there was authority +to prove that that Sir Harry had done something towards making a +home for himself on the spot; but whether those very gables were a +portion of the building which the monks of St. Humble had raised for +themselves in the preceding reign, may probably be doubted. That +there were fragments of masonry, and parts of old timber, remaining +from the monastery was probably true enough. The great body of the +old house, as it now stood, had been built in the time of Charles +II., and there was the date in the brickwork still conspicuous on the +wall looking into the court. The hall and front door as it now stood, +very prominent but quite at the end of the house, had been erected in +the reign of Queen Anne, and the modern drawing-rooms with the best +bedrooms over them, projecting far out into the modern gardens, had +been added by the present baronet's father. The house was entirely +of brick, and the old windows,--not the very oldest, the reader will +understand, but those of the Caroline age,--were built with strong +stone mullions, and were longer than they were deep, beauty of +architecture having in those days been more regarded than light. Who +does not know such windows, and has not declared to himself often +how sad a thing it is that sanitary or scientific calculations +should have banished the like of them from our houses? Two large +oriel windows coming almost to the ground, and going up almost to +the ceilings, adorned the dining-room and the library. From the +drawing-rooms modern windows, opening on to a terrace, led into the +garden. + +You entered the mansion by a court that was enclosed on two sides +altogether, and on the two others partially. Facing you, as you drove +in, was the body of the building, with the huge porch projecting on +the right so as to give the appearance of a portion of the house +standing out on that side. On the left was that old mythic Tudor +remnant of the monastery, of which the back wall seen from the court +was pierced only with a small window here and there, and was covered +with ivy. Those lattice windows, from which Emily Hotspur loved to +think that the monks of old had looked into their trim gardens, now +looked on to a bowling-green which was kept very trim in honour of +the holy personages who were supposed to have played there four +centuries ago. Then, at the end of this old building, there had been +erected kitchens, servants' offices, and various rooms, which turned +the corner of the court in front, so that only one corner had, as +it were, been left for ingress and egress. But the court itself was +large, and in the middle of it there stood an old stone ornamental +structure, usually called the fountain, but quite ignorant of water, +loaded with griffins and satyrs and mermaids with ample busts, all +overgrown with a green damp growth, which was scraped off by the +joint efforts of the gardener and mason once perhaps in every five +years. + +It often seems that the beauty of architecture is accidental. A great +man goes to work with great means on a great pile, and makes a great +failure. The world perceives that grace and beauty have escaped him, +and that even magnificence has been hardly achieved. Then there grows +up beneath various unknown hands a complication of stones and brick +to the arrangement of which no great thought seems to have been +given; and, lo, there is a thing so perfect in its glory that he who +looks at it declares that nothing could be taken away and nothing +added without injury and sacrilege and disgrace. So it had been, or +rather so it was now, with the Hall at Humblethwaite. No rule ever +made for the guidance of an artist had been kept. The parts were out +of proportion. No two parts seemed to fit each other. Put it all on +paper, and it was an absurdity. The huge hall and porch added on by +the builder of Queen Anne's time, at the very extremity of the house, +were almost a monstrosity. The passages and staircases, and internal +arrangements, were simply ridiculous. But there was not a portion +of the whole interior that did not charm; nor was there a corner of +the exterior, nor a yard of an outside wall, that was not in itself +eminently beautiful. + +Lord Alfred Gresley, as he was driven into the court in the early +dusk of a winter evening, having passed through a mile and a half +of such park scenery as only Cumberland and Westmoreland can show, +was fully alive to the glories of the place. Humblethwaite did not +lie among the lakes,--was, indeed, full ten miles to the north of +Keswick; but it was so placed that it enjoyed the beauty and the +luxury of mountains and rivers, without the roughness of unmanageable +rocks, or the sterility and dampness of moorland. Of rocky fragments, +indeed, peeping out through the close turf, and here and there coming +forth boldly so as to break the park into little depths, with now and +again a real ravine, there were plenty. And there ran right across +the park, passing so near the Hall as to require a stone bridge in +the very flower-garden, the Caldbeck, as bright and swift a stream +as ever took away the water from neighbouring mountains. And to the +south of Humblethwaite there stood the huge Skiddaw, and Saddleback +with its long gaunt ridge; while to the west, Brockleband Fell seemed +to encircle the domain. Lord Alfred, as he was driven up through the +old trees, and saw the deer peering at him from the knolls and broken +fragments of stone, felt that he need not envy his elder brother if +only his lines might fall to him in this very pleasant place. + +He had known Humblethwaite before; and, irrespective of all its +beauties, and of the wealth of the Hotspurs, was quite willing to +fall in love with Emily Hotspur. That a man with such dainties +offered to him should not become greedy, that there should be no +touch of avarice when such wealth was shown to him, is almost more +than we may dare to assert. But Lord Alfred was a man not specially +given to covetousness. He had recognized it as his duty as a man not +to seek for these things unless he could in truth love the woman who +held them in her hands to give. But as he looked round him through +the gloaming of the evening, he thought that he remembered that Emily +Hotspur was all that was loveable. + +But, reader, we must not linger long over Lord Alfred's love. A few +words as to the father, a few as to the daughter, and a few also as +to the old house where they dwelt together, it has been necessary to +say; but this little love story of Lord Alfred's,--if it ever was a +love story,--must be told very shortly. + +He remained five weeks at Humblethwaite, and showed himself willing +to receive amusement from old Mrs. Crutchley and from young Mrs. +Latheby. The shooting was quite good enough for him, and he won +golden opinions from every one about the place. He made himself +acquainted with the whole history of the house, and was prepared to +prove to demonstration that Henry VII.'s monks had looked out of +those very windows, and had played at bowls on that very green. Emily +became fond of him after a fashion, but he failed to assume any +aspect of divinity in her eyes. + +Of the thing to be done, neither father nor mother said a word to +the girl; and she, though she knew so well that the doing of it was +intended, said not a word to her mother. Had Lady Elizabeth known how +to speak, had she dared to be free with her own child, Emily would +soon have told her that there was no chance for Lord Alfred. And Lady +Elizabeth would have believed her. Nay, Lady Elizabeth, though she +could not speak, had the woman's instinct, which almost assured her +that the match would never be made. Sir Harry, on the other side, +thought that things went prosperously; and his wife did not dare to +undeceive him. He saw the young people together, and thought that he +saw that Emily was kind. He did not know that this frank kindness was +incompatible with love in such a maiden's ways. As for Emily herself, +she knew that it must come. She knew that she could not prevent it. A +slight hint or two she did give, or thought she gave, but they were +too fine, too impalpable to be of avail. + +Lord Alfred spoke nothing of love till he made his offer in form. At +last he was not hopeful himself. He had found it impossible to speak +to this girl of love. She had been gracious with him, and almost +intimate, and yet it had been impossible. He thought of himself that +he was dull, stupid, lethargic, and miserably undemonstrative. But +the truth was that there was nothing for him to demonstrate. He had +come there to do a stroke of business, and he could not throw into +this business a spark of that fire which would have been kindled +by such sympathy had it existed. There are men who can raise such +sparks, the pretence of fire, where there is no heat at all;--false, +fraudulent men; but he was not such an one. Nevertheless he went on +with his business. + +"Miss Hotspur," he said to her one morning between breakfast and +lunch, when, as usual, opportunity had been given him to be alone +with her, "I have something to say to you, which I hope at any rate +it will not make you angry to hear." + +"I am sure you will say nothing to make me angry," she replied. + +"I have already spoken to your father, and I have his permission. I +may say more. He assures me that he hopes I may succeed." He paused +a moment, but she remained quite tranquil. He watched her, and could +see that the delicate pink on her cheek was a little heightened, and +that a streak of colour showed itself on her fair brow; but there +was nothing in her manner to give him either promise of success or +assurance of failure. "You will know what I mean?" + +"Yes, I know," she said, almost in a whisper. + +"And may I hope? To say that I love you dearly seems to be saying +what must be a matter of course." + +"I do not see that at all," she replied with spirit. + +"I do love you very dearly. If I may be allowed to think that you +will be my wife, I shall be the happiest man in England. I know how +great is the honour which I seek, how immense in every way is the +gift which I ask you to give me. Can you love me?" + +"No," she said, again dropping her voice to a whisper. + +"Is that all the answer, Miss Hotspur?" + +"What should I say? How ought I to answer you? If I could say it +without seeming to be unkind, indeed, indeed, I would do so." + +"Perhaps I have been abrupt." + +"It is not that. When you ask me--to--to--love you, of course I know +what you mean. Should I not speak the truth at once?" + +"Must this be for always?" + +"For always," she replied. And then it was over. + +He did not himself press his suit further, though he remained at +Humblethwaite for three days after this interview. + +Before lunch on that day the story had been told by Emily to her +mother, and by Lord Alfred to Sir Harry. Lady Elizabeth knew well +enough that the story would never have to be told in another way. Sir +Harry by no means so easily gave up his enterprise. He proposed to +Lord Alfred that Emily should be asked to reconsider her verdict. +With his wife he was very round, saying that an answer given so +curtly should go for nothing, and that the girl must be taught her +duty. With Emily herself he was less urgent, less authoritative, +and indeed at last somewhat suppliant. He explained to her how +excellent would be the marriage; how it would settle this terrible +responsibility which now lay on his shoulders with so heavy a weight; +how glorious would be her position; and how the Hotspurs would still +live as a great family could she bring herself to be obedient. And he +said very much in praise of Lord Alfred, pointing out how good a man +he was, how moral, how diligent, how safe, how clever,--how sure, +with the assistance of the means which she would give him, to be one +of the notable men of the country. But she never yielded an inch. She +said very little,--answered him hardly a word, standing close to him, +holding by his arm and his hand. There was the fact, that she would +not have the man, would not have the man now or ever, certainly would +not have him; and Sir Harry, let him struggle as he might, and talk +his best, could not keep himself from giving absolute credit to her +assurance. + +The visit was prolonged for three days, and then Lord Alfred left +Humblethwaite Hall, with less appreciation of all its beauties than +he had felt as he was first being driven up to the Hall doors. When +he went, Sir Harry could only bid God bless him, and assure him that, +should he ever choose to try his fortune again, he should have all +the aid which a father could give him. + +"It would be useless," said Lord Alfred; "she knows her own mind too +well." + +And so he went his way. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +VACILLATION. + + +When the spring-time came, Sir Harry Hotspur with his wife and +daughter, went up to London. During the last season the house in +Bruton Street had been empty. He and his wife were then mourning +their lost son, and there was no place for the gaiety of London in +their lives. Sir Harry was still thinking of his great loss. He was +always thinking of the boy who was gone, who had been the apple of +his eye, his one great treasure, the only human being in the world +whose superior importance to his own he had been ready, in his heart +of hearts, to admit; but it was needful that the outer signs of +sorrow should be laid aside, and Emily Hotspur was taken up to +London, in order that she might be suited with a husband. That, in +truth, was the reason of their going. Neither Sir Harry nor Lady +Elizabeth would have cared to leave Cumberland had there been no such +cause. They would have been altogether content to remain at home had +Emily been obedient enough in the winter to accept the hand of the +suitor proposed for her. + +The house was opened in Bruton Street, and Lord Alfred came to see +them. So also did Cousin George. There was no reason why Cousin +George should not come. Indeed, had he not done so, he must have been +the most ungracious of cousins. He came, and found Lady Elizabeth and +Emily at home. Emily told him that they were always there to receive +visitors on Sundays after morning church, and then he came again. She +had made no such communication to Lord Alfred, but then perhaps it +would have been hardly natural that she should have done so. Lady +Elizabeth, in a note which she had occasion to write to Lord Alfred, +did tell him of her custom on a Sunday afternoon; but Lord Alfred +took no such immediate advantage of the offer as did Cousin George. + +As regarded the outward appearance of their life, the Hotspurs were +gayer this May than they had been heretofore when living in London. +There were dinner-parties, whereas in previous times there had only +been dinners at which a few friends might join them;--and there was +to be a ball. There was a box at the Opera, and there were horses +for the Park, and there was an understanding that the dealings with +Madame Milvodi, the milliner, were to be as unlimited as the occasion +demanded. It was perceived by every one that Miss Hotspur was to +be settled in life. Not a few knew the story of Lord Alfred. Every +one knew the facts of the property and Emily's position as heiress, +though every one probably did not know that it was still in Sir +Harry's power to leave every acre of the property to whom he pleased. +Emily understood it all herself. There lay upon her that terrible +responsibility of doing her best with the Hotspur interests. To +her the death of her brother had at the time been the blackest of +misfortunes, and it was not the less so now as she thought of her +own position. She had been steady enough as to the refusal of Lord +Alfred, knowing well enough that she cared nothing for him. But there +had since come upon her moments almost of regret that she should have +been unable to accept him. It would have been so easy a way of escape +from all her troubles without the assistance of Madame Milvodi, and +the opera-box, and the Park horses! At the time she had her own ideas +about another man, but her ideas were not such as to make her think +that any further work with Madame Milvodi and the opera-box would be +unnecessary. + +Then came the question of asking Cousin George to the house. He had +already been told to come on Sundays, and on the very next Sunday had +been there. He had given no cause of offence at Humblethwaite, and +Lady Elizabeth was of opinion that he should be asked to dinner. +If he were not asked, the very omission would show that they were +afraid of him. Lady Elizabeth did not exactly explain this to her +husband,--did not accurately know that such was her fear; but Sir +Harry understood her feelings, and yielded. Let Cousin George be +asked to dinner. + +Sir Harry at this time was vacillating with more of weakness than +would have been expected from a man who had generally been so firm +in the affairs of his life. He had been quite clear about George +Hotspur, when those inquiries of his were first made, and when his +mind had first accepted the notion of Lord Alfred as his chosen +son-in-law. But now he was again at sea. He was so conscious of the +importance of his daughter's case, that he could not bring himself to +be at ease, and to allow himself to expect that the girl would, in +the ordinary course of nature, dispose of her young heart not to her +own injury, as might reasonably be hoped from her temperament, her +character, and her education. He could not protect himself from daily +and hourly thought about it. Her marriage was not as the marriage of +other girls. The house of Hotspur, which had lived and prospered for +so many centuries, was to live and prosper through her; or rather +mainly through the man whom she should choose as her husband. The +girl was all-important now, but when she should have once disposed of +herself her importance would be almost at an end. Sir Harry had in +the recess of his mind almost a conviction that, although the thing +was of such utmost moment, it would be better for him, better for +them all, better for the Hotspurs, that the matter should be allowed +to arrange itself than that there should be any special judgment used +in selection. He almost believed that his girl should be left to +herself, as are other girls. But the thing was of such moment that he +could not save himself from having it always before his eyes. + +And yet he knew not what to do; nor was there any aid forthcoming +from Lady Elizabeth. He had tried his hand at the choice of a proper +husband, and his daughter would have none of the man so chosen. So +he had brought her up to London, and thrown her as it were upon the +market. Let Madame Milvodi and the opera-box and the Park horses +do what they could for her. Of course a watch should be kept on +her;--not from doubt of her excellence, but because the thing to be +disposed of was so all-important, and the girl's mode of disposing +of it might, without disgrace or fault on her part, be so vitally +prejudicial to the family! + +For, let it be remembered, no curled darling of an eldest son would +suit the exigencies of the case, unless such eldest son were willing +altogether to merge the claims of his own family, and to make himself +by name and purpose a Hotspur. Were his child to present to him as +his son-in-law some heir to a noble house, some future earl, say even +a duke in embryo, all that would be as nothing to Sir Harry. It was +not his ambition to see his daughter a duchess. He wanted no name, +or place, or dominion for any Hotspur greater or higher or more +noble than those which the Hotspurs claimed and could maintain for +themselves. To have Humblethwaite and Scarrowby lost amidst the vast +appanages and domains of some titled family, whose gorgeous glories +were new and paltry in comparison with the mellow honours of his own +house, would to him have been a ruin to all his hopes. There might, +indeed, be some arrangement as to the second son proceeding from such +a marriage,--as to a future chance Hotspur; but the claims of the +Hotspurs were, he thought, too high and too holy for such future +chance; and in such case, for one generation at least, the Hotspurs +would be in abeyance. No: it was not that which he desired. That +would not suffice for him. The son-in-law that he desired should be +well born, a perfect gentleman, with belongings of whom he and his +child might be proud; but he should be one who should be content to +rest his claims to material prosperity and personal position on the +name and wealth that he would obtain with his wife. Lord Alfred had +been the very man; but then his girl would have none of Lord Alfred! +Eldest sons there might be in plenty ready to take such a bride; and +were some eldest son to come to him and ask for his daughter's hand, +some eldest son who would do so almost with a right to claim it if +the girl's consent were gained, how could he refuse? And yet to leave +a Hotspur behind him living at Humblethwaite, and Hotspurs who should +follow that Hotspur, was all in all to him. + +Might he venture to think once again of Cousin George? Cousin George +was there, coming to the house, and his wife was telling him that +it was incumbent on them to ask the young man to dinner. It was +incumbent on them, unless they meant to let him know that he was to +be regarded absolutely as a stranger,--as one whom they had taken +up for a while, and now chose to drop again. A very ugly story had +reached Sir Harry's ears about Cousin George. It was said that he +had twice borrowed money from the money-lenders on his commission, +passing some document for security of its value which was no +security, and that he had barely escaped detection, the two Jews +knowing that the commission would be forfeited altogether if the +fraud were brought to light. The commission had been sold, and the +proceeds divided between the Jews, with certain remaining claims to +them on Cousin George's personal estate. Such had been the story +which in a vague way had reached Sir Harry's ears. It is not easily +that such a man as Sir Harry can learn the details of a disreputable +cousin's life. Among all his old friends he had none more dear to him +than Lord Milnthorp; and among his younger friends none more intimate +than Lord Burton, the eldest son of Lord Milnthorp, Lord Alfred's +brother. Lord Burton had told him the story, telling him at the same +time that he could not vouch for its truth. "Upon my word, I don't +know," said Lord Burton, when interrogated again. "I think if I were +you I would regard it as though I had never heard it. Of course, he +was in debt." + +"That is altogether another thing," said Sir Harry. + +"Altogether! I think that probably he did pawn his commission. That +is bad, but it isn't so very bad. As for the other charge against +him, I doubt it." So said Lord Burton, and Sir Harry determined that +the accusation should go for nothing. + +But his own child, his only child, the transmitter of all the great +things that fortune had given to him; she, in whose hands were to lie +the glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby; she, who had the giving +away of the honour of their ancient family,--could she be trusted +to one of whom it must be admitted that all his early life had been +disreputable, even if the world's lenient judgment in such matters +should fail to stigmatize it as dishonourable? In other respects, +however, he was so manifestly the man to whom his daughter ought to +be given in marriage! By such arrangement would the title and the +property be kept together,--and by no other which Sir Harry could +now make, for his word had been given to his daughter that she was +to be his heiress. Let him make what arrangements he might, this +Cousin George, at his death, would be the head of the family. Every +"Peerage" that was printed would tell the old story to all the world. +By certain courtesies of the law of descent his future heirs would be +Hotspurs were his daughter married to Lord Alfred or the like; but +the children of such a marriage would not be Hotspurs in very truth, +nor by any courtesy of law, or even by any kindness of the Minister +or Sovereign, could the child of such a union become the baronet, +the Sir Harry of the day, the head of the family. The position was +one which no Sovereign and no Minister could achieve, or touch, or +bestow. It was his, beyond the power of any earthly potentate to +deprive him of it, and would have been transmitted by him to a son +with as absolute security. But--alas! alas! + +Sir Harry gave no indication that he thought it expedient to change +his mind on the subject. When Lady Elizabeth proposed that Cousin +George should be asked to dinner, he frowned and looked black as he +acceded; but, in truth, he vacillated. The allurements on that side +were so great that he could not altogether force upon himself the +duty of throwing them from him. He knew that Cousin George was no +fitting husband for his girl, that he was a man to whom he would not +have thought of giving her, had her happiness been his only object. +And he did not think of so bestowing her now. He became uneasy +when he remembered the danger. He was unhappy as he remembered +how amusing, how handsome, how attractive was Cousin George. He +feared that Emily might like him!--by no means hoped it. And yet he +vacillated, and allowed Cousin George to come to the house, only +because Cousin George must become, on his death, the head of the +Hotspurs. + +Cousin George came on one Sunday, came on another Sunday, dined at +the house, and was of course asked to the ball. But Lady Elizabeth +had so arranged her little affairs that when Cousin George left +Bruton Street on the evening of the dinner party he and Emily had +never been for two minutes alone together since the family had come +up to London. Lady Elizabeth herself liked Cousin George, and, had an +edict to that effect been pronounced by her husband, would have left +them alone together with great maternal satisfaction. But she had +been told that it was not to be so, and therefore the young people +had never been allowed to have opportunities. Lady Elizabeth in her +very quiet way knew how to do the work of the world that was allotted +to her. There had been other balls, and there had been ridings in +the Park, and all the chances of life which young men, and sometimes +young women also, know so well how to use; but hitherto Cousin George +had kept, or had been constrained to keep, his distance. + +"I want to know, Mamma," said Emily Hotspur, the day before the ball, +"whether Cousin George is a black sheep or a white sheep?" + +"What do you mean, my dear, by asking such a question as that?" + +"I don't like black sheep. I don't see why young men are to be +allowed to be black sheep; but yet you know they are." + +"How can it be helped?" + +"People should not notice them, Mamma." + +"My dear, it is a most difficult question,--quite beyond me, and I am +sure beyond you. A sheep needn't be black always because he has not +always been quite white; and then you know the black lambs are just +as dear to their mother as the white." + +"Dearer, I think." + +"I quite agree with you, Emily, that in general society black sheep +should be avoided." + +"Then they shouldn't be allowed to come in," said Emily. Lady +Elizabeth knew from this that there was danger, but the danger was +not of a kind which enabled her specially to consult Sir Harry. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + +A little must now be told to the reader of Cousin George and the +ways of his life. As Lady Elizabeth had said to her daughter, that +question of admitting black sheep into society, or of refusing them +admittance, is very difficult. In the first place, whose eyes are +good enough to know whether in truth a sheep be black or not? And +then is it not the fact that some little amount of shade in the +fleece of male sheep is considered, if not absolutely desirable, +at any rate quite pardonable? A male sheep with a fleece as white +as that of a ewe-lamb,--is he not considered to be, among muttons, +somewhat insipid? It was of this taste which Pope was conscious +when he declared that every woman was at heart a rake. And so it +comes to pass that very black sheep indeed are admitted into society, +till at last anxious fathers and more anxious mothers begin to be +aware that their young ones are turned out to graze among ravenous +wolves. This, however, must be admitted, that lambs when so treated +acquire a courage which tends to enable them to hold their own, even +amidst wolfish dangers. + +Cousin George, if not a ravenous wolf, was at any rate a very black +sheep indeed. In our anxiety to know the truth of him it must not +be said that he was absolutely a wolf,--not as yet,--because in his +career he had not as yet made premeditated attempts to devour prey. +But in the process of delivering himself up to be devoured by others, +he had done things which if known of any sheep should prevent that +sheep from being received into a decent flock. There had been that +little trouble about his commission, in which, although he had not +intended to cheat either Jew, he had done that which the world would +have called cheating had the world known it. As for getting goods +from tradesmen without any hope or thought of paying for them, that +with him was so much a thing of custom,--as indeed it was also with +them,--that he was almost to be excused for considering it the normal +condition of life for a man in his position. To gamble and lose money +had come to him quite naturally at a very early age. There had now +come upon him an idea that he might turn the tables, that in all +gambling transactions some one must win, and that as he had lost +much, so possibly might he now win more. He had not quite yet reached +that point in his education at which the gambler learns that the +ready way to win much is to win unfairly;--not quite yet, but he was +near it. The wolfhood was coming on him, unless some good fortune +might save him. There might, however, be such good fortune in store +for him. As Lady Elizabeth had said, a sheep that was very dark in +colour might become white again. If it be not so, what is all this +doctrine of repentance in which we believe? + +Blackness in a male sheep in regard to the other sin is venial +blackness. Whether the teller of such a tale as this should say so +outright, may be matter of dispute; but, unless he say so, the teller +of this tale does not know how to tell his tale truly. Blackness such +as that will be all condoned, and the sheep received into almost any +flock, on condition, not of repentance or humiliation or confession, +but simply of change of practice. The change of practice in certain +circumstances and at a certain period becomes expedient; and if it be +made, as regards tints in the wool of that nature, the sheep becomes +as white as he is needed to be. In this respect our sheep had been as +black as any sheep, and at this present period of his life had need +of much change before he would be fit for any decent social herding. + +And then there are the shades of black which come from +conviviality,--which we may call table blackness,--as to which there +is an opinion constantly disseminated by the moral newspapers of +the day, that there has come to be altogether an end of any such +blackness among sheep who are gentlemen. To make up for this, indeed, +there has been expressed by the piquant newspapers of the day an +opinion that ladies are taking up the game which gentlemen no longer +care to play. It may be doubted whether either expression has in +it much of truth. We do not see ladies drunk, certainly, and we do +not see gentlemen tumbling about as they used to do, because their +fashion of drinking is not that of their grandfathers. But the love +of wine has not gone out from among men; and men now are as prone +as ever to indulge their loves. Our black sheep was very fond of +wine,--and also of brandy, though he was wolf enough to hide his +taste when occasion required it. + +Very early in life he had come from France to live in England, and +had been placed in a cavalry regiment, which had, unfortunately for +him, been quartered either in London or its vicinity. And, perhaps +equally unfortunate for him, he had in his own possession a small +fortune of some £500 a year. This had not come to him from his +father; and when his father had died in Paris, about two years before +the date of our story, he had received no accession of regular +income. Some couple of thousand of pounds had reached his hands +from his father's effects, which had helped him through some of the +immediately pressing difficulties of the day,--for his own income at +that time had been altogether dissipated. And now he had received a +much larger sum from his cousin, with an assurance, however, that the +family property would not become his when he succeeded to the family +title. He was so penniless at the time, so prone to live from hand to +mouth, so little given to consideration of the future, that it may be +doubted whether the sum given to him was not compensation in full for +all that was to be withheld from him. + +Still there was his chance with the heiress! In regarding this +chance, he had very soon determined that he would marry his cousin +if it might be within his power to do so. He knew, and fully +appreciated, his own advantages. He was a handsome man,--tall for a +Hotspur, but with the Hotspur fair hair and blue eyes, and well-cut +features. There lacked, however, to him, that peculiar aspect of +firmness about the temples which so strongly marked the countenance +of Sir Harry and his daughter; and there had come upon him a _blasé_ +look, and certain outer signs of a bad life, which, however, did not +mar his beauty, nor were they always apparent. The eye was not always +bloodshot, nor was the hand constantly seen to shake. It may be said +of him, both as to his moral and physical position, that he was on +the edge of the precipice of degradation, but that there was yet a +possibility of salvation. + +He was living in a bachelor's set of rooms, at this time, in St. +James's Street, for which, it must be presumed, that ready money was +required. During the last winter he had horses in Northamptonshire, +for the hire of which, it must be feared, that his prospects as heir +to Humblethwaite had in some degree been pawned. At the present time +he had a horse for Park riding, and he looked upon a good dinner, +with good wine, as being due to him every day, as thoroughly as +though he earned it. That he had never attempted to earn a shilling +since the day on which he had ceased to be a soldier, now four years +since, the reader will hardly require to be informed. + +In spite of all his faults, this man enjoyed a certain social +popularity for which many a rich man would have given a third of his +income. Dukes and duchesses were fond of him; and certain persons, +standing very high in the world, did not think certain parties were +perfect without him. He knew how to talk enough, and yet not to talk +too much. No one could say of him that he was witty, well-read, or +given to much thinking; but he knew just what was wanted at this +point of time or at that, and could give it. He could put himself +forward, and could keep himself in the background. He could shoot +well without wanting to shoot best. He could fetch and carry, but +still do it always with an air of manly independence. He could +subserve without an air of cringing. And then he looked like a +gentleman. + +Of all his well-to-do friends, perhaps he who really liked him best +was the Earl of Altringham. George Hotspur was at this time something +under thirty years of age, and the Earl was four years his senior. +The Earl was a married man, with a family, a wife who also liked poor +George, an enormous income, and a place in Scotland at which George +always spent the three first weeks of grouse-shooting. The Earl was +a kindly, good-humoured, liberal, but yet hard man of the world. +He knew George Hotspur well, and would on no account lend him a +shilling. He would not have given his friend money to extricate him +from any difficulty. But he forgave the sinner all his sins, opened +Castle Corry to him every year, provided him with the best of +everything, and let him come and dine at Altringham House, in Carlton +Gardens, as often almost as he chose during the London season. The +Earl was very good to George, though he knew more about him than +perhaps did any other man; but he would not bet with George, nor +would he in any way allow George to make money out of him. + +"Do you suppose that I want to win money of you?" he once said to our +friend, in answer to a little proposition that was made to him at +Newmarket. "I don't suppose you do," George had answered. "Then you +may be sure that I don't want to lose any," the Earl had replied. And +so the matter was ended, and George made no more propositions of the +kind. + +The two men were together at Tattersall's, looking at some horses +which the Earl had sent up to be sold the day after the dinner in +Bruton Street. "Sir Harry seems to be taking to you very kindly," +said the Earl. + +"Well,--yes; in a half-and-half sort of way." + +"It isn't everybody that would give you £5,000, you know." + +"I am not everybody's heir," said George. + +"No; and you ain't his,--worse luck." + +"I am,--in regard to the title." + +"What good will that do you?" + +"When he's gone, I shall be the head of the family. As far as I can +understand these matters, he hasn't a right to leave the estates away +from me." + +"Power is right, my boy. Legal power is undoubtedly right." + +"He should at any rate divide them. There are two distinct +properties, and either of them would make me a rich man. I don't feel +so very much obliged to him for his money,--though of course it was +convenient." + +"Very convenient, I should say, George. How do you get on with your +cousin?" + +"They watch me like a cat watches a mouse." + +"Say a rat, rather, George. Don't you know they are right? Would not +I do the same if she were my girl, knowing you as I do?" + +"She might do worse, my Lord." + +"I'll tell you what it is. He thinks that he might do worse. I don't +doubt about that. All this matter of the family and the title, and +the name, would make him ready to fling her to you,--if only you were +a shade less dark a horse than you are." + +"I don't know that I'm darker than others." + +"Look here, old fellow; I don't often trouble you with advice, but I +will now. If you'll set yourself steadily to work to live decently, +if you'll tell Sir Harry the whole truth about your money matters, +and really get into harness, I believe you may have her. Such a one +as you never had such a chance before. But there's one thing you must +do." + +"What is the one thing?" + +"Wash your hands altogether of Mrs. Morton. You'll have a difficulty, +I know, and perhaps it will want more pluck than you've got. You +haven't got pluck of that kind." + +"You mean that I don't like to break a woman's heart?" + +"Fiddlestick! Do you see that mare, there?" + +"I was just looking at her. Why should you part with her?" + +"She was the best animal in my stables, but she's given to eating +the stable-boys; old Badger told me flat, that he wouldn't have her +in the stables any longer. I pity the fellow who will buy her,--or +rather his fellow. She killed a lad once in Brookborough's stables." + +"Why don't you shoot her?" + +"I can't afford to shoot horses, Captain Hotspur. I had my chance in +buying her, and somebody else must have his chance now. That's the +lot of them; one or two good ones, and the rest what I call rags. Do +you think of what I've said; and be sure of this: Mrs. Morton and +your cousin can't go on together. Ta, Ta!--I'm going across to my +mother's." + +George Hotspur, when he was left alone, did think a great deal about +it. He was not a man prone to assure himself of a lady's favour +without cause; and yet he did think that his cousin liked him. As to +that terrible difficulty to which Lord Altringham had alluded, he +knew that something must be done; but there were cruel embarrassments +on that side of which even Altringham knew nothing. And then why +should he do that which his friend had indicated to him, before he +knew whether it would be necessary? As to taking Sir Harry altogether +into his confidence about his money matters, that was clearly +impossible. Heaven and earth! How could the one man speak such +truths, or the other man listen to them? When money difficulties +come of such nature as those which weighted the shoulders of poor +George Hotspur, it is quite impossible that there should be any such +confidence with any one. The sufferer cannot even make a confidant of +himself, cannot even bring himself to look at his own troubles massed +together. It was not the amount of his debts, but the nature of them, +and the characters of the men with whom he had dealings, that were so +terrible. Fifteen thousand pounds--less than one year's income from +Sir Harry's property--would clear him of everything, as far as he +could judge; but there could be no such clearing, otherwise than by +money disbursed by himself, without a disclosure of dirt which he +certainly would not dare to make to Sir Harry before his marriage. + +But yet the prize to be won was so great, and there were so many +reasons for thinking that it might possibly be within his grasp! If, +after all, he might live to be Sir George Hotspur of Humblethwaite +and Scarrowby! After thinking of it as well as he could, he +determined that he would make the attempt; but as to those +preliminaries to which Lord Altringham had referred, he would for the +present leave them to chance. + +Lord Altringham had been quite right when he told George Hotspur that +he was deficient in a certain kind of pluck. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE BALL IN BRUTON STREET. + + +Sir Harry vacillated, Lady Elizabeth doubted, and Cousin George +was allowed to come to the ball. At this time, in the common +understanding of such phrase, Emily Hotspur was heart-whole in regard +to her cousin. Had she been made to know that he had gone away for +ever,--been banished to some antipodes from which he never could +return,--there would have been no lasting sorrow on her part, though +there might have been some feeling which would have given her an ache +for the moment. She had thought about him, as girls will think of men +as to whom they own to themselves that it is possible that they may +be in love with them some day;--and she liked him much. She also +liked Lord Alfred, but the liking had been altogether of a different +kind. In regard to Lord Alfred she had been quite sure, from the +first days of her intercourse with him, that she could never be in +love with him. He was to her no more than old Mr. Crutchley or young +Mr. Latheby,--a man, and a good sort of man, but no more than a man. +To worship Lord Alfred must be impossible to her. She had already +conceived that it would be quite possible for her to worship her +Cousin George in the teeth of all the hard things that she had heard +of him. The reader may be sure that such a thought had passed through +her mind when she asked her mother whether Cousin George was to be +accepted as a black sheep or a white one? + +The ball was a very grand affair, and Emily Hotspur was a very great +lady. It had come to be understood that the successful suitor for her +hand would be the future lord of Humblethwaite, and the power with +which she was thus vested gave her a prestige and standing which can +hardly be attained by mere wit and beauty, even when most perfectly +combined. It was not that all who worshipped, either at a distance +or with passing homage, knew the fact of the heiress-ship, or had +ever heard of the £20,000 a year; but, given the status, and the +worshippers will come. The word had gone forth in some mysterious +way, and it was acknowledged that Emily Hotspur was a great young +lady. Other young ladies, who were not great, allowed themselves to +be postponed to her almost without jealousy, and young gentlemen +without pretensions regarded her as one to whom they did not dare +to ask to be introduced. Emily saw it all, and partly liked it, and +partly despised it. But, even when despising it, she took advantage +of it. The young gentlemen without pretensions were no more to her +than the chairs and tables; and the young ladies who submitted to her +and adored her,--were allowed to be submissive, and to adore. But of +this she was quite sure,--that her Cousin George must some day be the +head of her own family. He was a man whom she was bound to treat with +attentive regard, if they who had the custody of her chose to place +her in his company at all. + +At this ball there were some very distinguished people +indeed,--persons whom it would hardly be improper to call +illustrious. There were two royal duchesses, one of whom was English, +and no less than three princes. The Russian and French ambassadors +were both there. There was the editor of the most influential +newspaper of the day,--for a few minutes only; and the Prime Minister +passed through the room in the course of the evening. Dukes and +duchesses below the royal degree were common; and as for earls and +countesses, and their daughters, they formed the ruck of the crowd. +The Poet-laureate didn't come indeed, but was expected; and three +Chinese mandarins of the first quality entered the room at eleven, +and did not leave till one. Poor Lady Elizabeth suffered a great deal +with those mandarins. From all this it will be seen that the ball was +quite a success. + +George Hotspur dined that day with Lord and Lady Altringham, and went +with them to the ball in the evening. Lord Altringham, though his +manner was airy and almost indifferent, was in truth most anxious +that his friend should be put upon his feet by the marriage; and the +Countess was so keen about it, that there was nothing in the way of +innocent intrigue which she would not have done to accomplish it. She +knew that George Hotspur was a rake, was a gambler, was in debt, was +hampered by other difficulties, and all the rest of it; but she liked +the man, and was therefore willing to believe that a rich marriage +would put it all right. Emily Hotspur was nothing to her, nor was Sir +Harry; but George had often made her own house pleasant to her, and +therefore, to her thinking, deserved a wife with £20,000 a year. And +then, if there might have been scruples under other circumstances, +that fact of the baronetcy overcame them. It could not be wrong +in one placed as was Lady Altringham to assist in preventing any +separation of the title and the property. Of course George might +probably squander all that he could squander; but that might be made +right by settlements and entails. Lady Altringham was much more +energetic than her husband, and had made out quite a plan of the +manner in which George should proceed. She discussed the matter with +him at great length. The one difficulty she was, indeed, obliged to +slur over; but even that was not altogether omitted in her scheme. +"Whatever incumbrances there may be, free yourself from them at +once," she had advised. + +"That is so very easy to say, Lady Altringham, but so difficult to +do." + +"As to debts, of course they can't be paid without money. Sir Harry +will find it worth his while to settle any debts. But if there is +anything else, stop it at once." Of course there was something else, +and of course Lady Altringham knew what that something else was. She +demanded, in accordance with her scheme, that George should lose no +time. This was in May. It was known that Sir Harry intended to leave +town early in June. "Of course you will take him at his word, and go +to Humblethwaite when you leave us," she had said. + +"No time has been named." + +"Then you can name your own without difficulty. You will write from +Castle Corry and say you are coming. That is, if it's not all settled +by that time. Of course, it cannot be done in a minute, because +Sir Harry must consent; but I should begin at once,--only, Captain +Hotspur, leave nothing for them to find out afterwards. What is past +they will forgive." Such had been Lady Altringham's advice, and no +doubt she understood the matter which she had been discussing. + +When George Hotspur entered the room, his cousin was dancing with a +prince. He could see her as he stood speaking a few words to Lady +Elizabeth. And in talking to Lady Elizabeth he did not talk as a +stranger would, or a common guest. He had quite understood all that +he might gain by assuming the intimacy of cousinhood, and he had +assumed it. Lady Elizabeth was less weary than before when he stood +by her, and accepted from his hand some little trifle of help, which +was agreeable to her. And he showed himself in no hurry, and told her +some little story that pleased her. What a pity it was that Cousin +George should be a scamp, she thought, as he went on to greet Sir +Harry. + +And with Sir Harry he remained a minute or two. On such an occasion +as this Sir Harry was all smiles, and quite willing to hear a +little town gossip. "Come with the Altringhams, have you? I'm told +Altringham has just sold all his horses. What's the meaning of that?" + +"The old story, Sir Harry. He has weeded his stable, and got the +buyers to think that they were getting the cream. There isn't a man +in England knows better what he's about than Altringham." + +Sir Harry smiled his sweetest, and answered with some good-humoured +remark, but he said in his heart that "birds of a feather flock +together," and that his cousin was--not a man of honour. + +There are some things that no rogue can do. He can understand what it +is to condemn roguery, to avoid it, to dislike it, to disbelieve in +it;--but he cannot understand what it is to hate it. Cousin George +had probably exaggerated the transaction of which he had spoken, but +he had little thought that in doing so he had helped to imbue Sir +Harry with a true idea of his own character. + +George passed on, and saw his cousin, who was now standing up with a +foreign ambassador. He just spoke to her as he passed her, calling +her by her Christian name as he did so. She gave him her hand ever so +graciously; and he, when he had gone on, returned and asked her to +name a dance. + +"But I don't think I've one left that I mean to dance," she said. + +"Then give me one that you don't mean to dance," he answered. And of +course she gave it to him. + +It was an hour afterwards that he came to claim her promise, and she +put her arm through his and stood up with him. There was no talk then +of her not dancing, and she went whirling round the room with him in +great bliss. Cousin George waltzed well. All such men do. It is a +part of their stock-in-trade. On this evening Emily Hotspur thought +that he waltzed better than any one else, and told him so. "Another +turn? Of course I will with you, because you know what you're about." + +"I'd blush if I'd time," said he. + +"A great many gentlemen ought to blush, I know. That prince, whose +name I always forget, and you, are the only men in the room who dance +well, according to my ideas." + +Then off they went again, and Emily was very happy. He could at least +dance well, and there could be no reason why she should not enjoy his +dancing well since he had been considered to be white enough to be +asked to the ball. + +But with George there was present at every turn and twist of the +dance an idea that he was there for other work than that. He was +tracking a head of game after which there would be many hunters. He +had his advantages, and so would they have theirs. One of his was +this,--that he had her there with him now, and he must use it. She +would not fall into his mouth merely by being whirled round the room +pleasantly. At last she was still, and consented to take a walk with +him out of the room, somewhere out amidst the crowd, on the staircase +if possible, so as to get a breath of fresh air. Of course he soon +had her jammed into a corner out of which there was no immediate mode +of escape. + +"We shall never get away again," she said, laughing. Had she wanted +to get away her tone and manner would have been very different. + +"I wonder whether you feel yourself to be the same sort of person +here that you are at Humblethwaite," he said. + +"Exactly the same." + +"To me you seem to be so different." + +"In what way?" + +"I don't think you are half so nice." + +"How very unkind!" + +Of course she was flattered. Of all flattery praise is the coarsest +and least efficacious. When you would flatter a man, talk to him +about himself, and criticise him, pulling him to pieces by comparison +of some small present fault with his past conduct;--and the rule +holds the same with a woman. To tell her that she looks well is +feeble work; but complain to her wofully that there is something +wanting at the present moment, something lacking from the usual high +standard, some temporary loss of beauty, and your solicitude will +prevail with her. + +"And in what am I not nice? I am sure I'm trying to be as nice as I +know how." + +"Down at Humblethwaite you are simply yourself,--Emily Hotspur." + +"And what am I here?" + +"That formidable thing,--a success. Don't you feel yourself that you +are lifted a little off your legs?" + +"Not a bit;--not an inch. Why should I?" + +"I fail to make you understand quite what I mean. Don't you feel that +with all these princes and potentates you are forced to be something +else than your natural self? Don't you know that you have to put on a +special manner, and to talk in a special way? Does not the champagne +fly to your head, more or less?" + +"Of course, the princes and potentates are not the same as old Mrs. +Crutchley, if you mean that." + +"I am not blaming you, you know, only I cannot help being very +anxious; and I found you so perfect at Humblethwaite that I cannot +say that I like any change. You know I am to come to Humblethwaite +again?" + +"Of course you are." + +"You go down next month, I believe?" + +"Papa talks of going to Scarrowby for a few weeks. He always does +every year, and it is so dull. Did you ever see Scarrowby?" + +"Never." + +"You ought to come there some day. You know one branch of the +Hotspurs did live there for ever so long." + +"Is it a good house?" + +"Very bad indeed; but there are enormous woods, and the country is +very wild, and everything is at sixes and sevens. However, of course +you would not come, because it is in the middle of your London +season. There would be ever so many things to keep you. You are a man +who, I suppose, never was out of London in June in your life, unless +some race meeting was going on." + +"Do you really take me for such as that, Emily?" + +"Yes, I do. That is what they tell me you are. Is it not true? Don't +you go to races?" + +"I should be quite willing to undertake never to put my foot on a +racecourse again this minute. I will do so now if you will only ask +it of me." + +She paused a moment, half thinking that she would ask it, but at last +she determined against it. + +"No," she said; "if you think it proper to stay away, you can do so +without my asking it. I have no right to make such a request. If you +think races are bad, why don't you stay away of your own accord?" + +"They are bad," he said. + +"Then why do you go to them?" + +"They are bad, and I do go to them. They are very bad, and I go +to them very often. But I will stay away and never put my foot on +another racecourse if you, my cousin, will ask me." + +"That is nonsense." + +"Try me. It shall not be nonsense. If you care enough about me to +wish to save me from what is evil, you can do it. I care enough about +you to give up the pursuit at your bidding." + +As he said this he looked down into her eyes, and she knew that the +full weight of his gaze was upon her. She knew that his words and his +looks together were intended to impress her with some feeling of his +love for her. She knew at the moment, too, that they gratified her. +And she remembered also in the same moment that her Cousin George was +a black sheep. + +"If you cannot refrain from what is bad without my asking you," she +said, "your refraining will do no good." + +He was making her some answer, when she insisted on being taken away. +"I must get into the dancing-room; I must indeed, George. I have +already thrown over some poor wretch. No, not yet, I see, however. I +was not engaged for the quadrille; but I must go back and look after +the people." + +He led her back through the crowd; and as he did so he perceived that +Sir Harry's eyes were fixed upon him. He did not much care for that. +If he could carry his Cousin Emily, he thought that he might carry +the Baronet also. + +He could not get any special word with her again that night. He asked +her for another dance, but she would not grant it to him. "You forget +the princes and potentates to whom I have to attend," she said to +him, quoting his own words. + +He did not blame her, even to himself, judging by the importance +which he attached to every word of private conversation which he +could have with her, that she found it to be equally important. +It was something gained that she should know that he was thinking +of her. He could not be to her now like any cousin, or any other +man, with whom she might dance three or four times without meaning +anything. As he was aware of it, so must she be; and he was glad that +she should feel that it was so. + +"Emily tells me that you are going to Scarrowby next month," he said +afterwards to Sir Harry. + +Sir Harry frowned, and answered him very shortly, "Yes, we shall go +there in June." + +"Is it a large place?" + +"Large? How do you mean? It is a good property." + +"But the house?" + +"The house is quite large enough for us," said Sir Harry; "but we do +not have company there." + +This was said in a very cold tone, and there was nothing more to +be added. George, to do him justice, had not been fishing for an +invitation to Scarrowby. He had simply been making conversation with +the Baronet. It would not have suited him to go to Scarrowby, because +by doing so he would have lost the power of renewing his visit to +Humblethwaite. But Sir Harry in this interview had been so very +ungracious,--and as George knew very well, because of the scene in +the corner,--that there might be a doubt whether he would ever get to +Humblethwaite at all. If he failed, however, it should not be for the +want of audacity on his own part. + +But, in truth, Sir Harry's blackness was still the result of +vacillation. Though he would fain redeem this prodigal, if it were +possible, and give him everything that was to be given; yet, when he +saw the prodigal attempting to help himself to the good things, his +wrath was aroused. George Hotspur, as he betook himself from Bruton +Street to such other amusements as were at his command, meditated +much over his position. He thought he could give up the racecourses; +but he was sure that he could at any rate say that he would give them +up. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LADY ALTRINGHAM. + + +There was one more meeting between Cousin George and Emily Hotspur, +before Sir Harry left London with his wife and daughter. On the +Sunday afternoon following the ball he called in Bruton Street, and +found Lord Alfred there. He knew that Lord Alfred had been refused, +and felt it to be a matter of course that the suit would be pressed +again. Nevertheless, he was quite free from animosity to Lord Alfred. +He could see at a glance that there was no danger for him on that +side. Lord Alfred was talking to Lady Elizabeth when he entered, and +Emily was engaged with a bald-headed old gentleman with a little +ribbon and a star. The bald-headed old gentleman soon departed, +and then Cousin George, in some skilfully indirect way, took an +opportunity of letting Emily know that he should not go to Goodwood +this July. + +"Not go to Goodwood?" said she, pretending to laugh. "It will be most +unnatural, will it not? They'll hardly start the horses without you, +I should think." + +"They'll have to start them without me, at any rate." Of course she +understood what he meant, and understood also why he had told her. +But if his promise were true, so much good had been done,--and she +sincerely believed that it was true. In what way could he make love +to her better than by refraining from his evil ways for the sake of +pleasing her? Other bald-headed old gentlemen and bewigged old ladies +came in, and he had not time for another word. He bade her adieu, +saying nothing now of his hope of meeting her in the autumn, and was +very affectionate in his farewell to Lady Elizabeth. "I don't suppose +I shall see Sir Harry before he starts. Say 'good-bye' for me." + +"I will, George." + +"I am so sorry you are going. It has been so jolly, coming in here +of a Sunday, Lady Elizabeth, and you have been so good to me. I wish +Scarrowby was at the bottom of the sea." + +"Sir Harry wouldn't like that at all." + +"I dare say not. And as such places must be, I suppose they ought to +be looked after. Only why in June? Good-bye! We shall meet again some +day." But not a word was said about Humblethwaite in September. He +did not choose to mention the prospect of his autumn visit, and she +did not dare to do so. Sir Harry had not renewed the offer, and she +would not venture to do so in Sir Harry's absence. + +June passed away,--as Junes do pass in London,--very gaily in +appearance, very quickly in reality, with a huge outlay of money and +an enormous amount of disappointment. Young ladies would not accept, +and young men would not propose. Papas became cross and stingy, and +mammas insinuated that daughters were misbehaving. The daughters +fought their own battles, and became tired in the fighting of them, +and many a one had declared to herself before July had come to an end +that it was all vanity and vexation of spirit. + +The Altringhams always went to Goodwood,--husband and wife. Goodwood +and Ascot for Lady Altringham were festivals quite as sacred as were +Epsom and Newmarket for the Earl. She looked forward to them all the +year, learned all she could about the horses which were to run, was +very anxious and energetic about her party, and, if all that was said +was true, had her little book. It was an institution also that George +Hotspur should be one of the party; and of all the arrangements +usually made, it was not the one which her Ladyship could dispense +with the easiest. George knew exactly what she liked to have done, +and how. The Earl himself would take no trouble, and desired simply +to be taken there and back and to find everything that was wanted the +very moment it was needed. And in all such matters the Countess chose +that the Earl should be indulged. But it was necessary to have some +one who would look after something--who would direct the servants, +and give the orders, and be responsible. George Hotspur did it +all admirably, and on such occasions earned the hospitality which +was given to him throughout the year. At Goodwood he was almost +indispensable to Lady Altringham; but for this meeting she was +willing to dispense with him. "I tell you, Captain Hotspur, that +you're not to go," she said to him. + +"Nonsense, Lady Altringham." + +"What a child you are! Don't you know what depends on it?" + +"It does not depend on that." + +"It may. Every little helps. Didn't you promise her that you +wouldn't?" + +"She didn't take it in earnest." + +"I tell you, you know nothing about a woman. She will take it very +much in earnest if you break your word." + +"She'll never know." + +"She will. She'll learn it. A girl like that learns everything. Don't +go; and let her know that you have not gone." + +George Hotspur thought that he might go, and yet let her know that he +had not gone. An accomplished and successful lie was to him a thing +beautiful in itself,--an event that had come off usefully, a piece of +strategy that was evidence of skill, so much gained on the world at +the least possible outlay, an investment from which had come profit +without capital. Lady Altringham was very hard on him, threatening +him at one time with the Earl's displeasure, and absolute refusal of +his company. But he pleaded hard that his book would be ruinous to +him if he did not go; that this was a pursuit of such a kind that a +man could not give it up all of a moment; that he would take care +that his name was omitted from the printed list of Lord Altringham's +party; and that he ought to be allowed this last recreation. The +Countess at last gave way, and George Hotspur did go to Goodwood. + +With the success or failure of his book on that occasion our story +is not concerned. He was still more flush of cash than usual, having +something left of his cousin's generous present. At any rate, he came +to no signal ruin at the races, and left London for Castle Corry on +the 10th of August without any known diminution to his prospects. At +that time the Hotspurs were at Humblethwaite with a party; but it had +been already decided that George should not prepare to make his visit +till September. He was to write from Castle Corry. All that had been +arranged between him and the Countess, and from Castle Corry he did +write:-- + + + DEAR LADY ELIZABETH,--Sir Harry was kind enough to say + last winter that I might come to Humblethwaite again + this autumn. Will you be able to take me in on the 2nd + September? we have about finished with Altringham's house, + and Lady A. has had enough of me. They remain here till + the end of this month. With kind regards to Sir Harry and + Emily, + + Believe me, yours always, + + GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + +Nothing could be simpler than this note, and yet every word of it had +been weighed and dictated by Lady Altringham. "That won't do at all. +You mustn't seem to be so eager," she had said, when he showed her +the letter as prepared by himself. "Just write as you would do if you +were coming here." Then she sat down, and made the copy for him. + +There was very great doubt and there was much deliberation over that +note at Humblethwaite. The invitation had doubtless been given, and +Sir Harry did not wish to turn against his own flesh and blood,--to +deny admittance to his house to the man who was the heir to his +title. Were he to do so, he must give some reason; he must declare +some quarrel; he must say boldly that all intercourse between them +was to be at an end; and he must inform Cousin George that this +strong step was taken because Cousin George was a--blackguard! There +was no other way of escape left. And then Cousin George had done +nothing since the days of the London intimacies to warrant such +treatment; he had at least done nothing to warrant such treatment at +the hands of Sir Harry. And yet Sir Harry thoroughly wished that his +cousin was at Jerusalem. He still vacillated, but his vacillation did +not bring him nearer to his cousin's side of the case. Every little +thing that he saw and heard made him know that his cousin was a man +to whom he could not give his daughter even for the sake of the +family, without abandoning his duty to his child. At this moment, +while he was considering George's letter, it was quite clear to him +that George should not be his son-in-law; and yet the fact that the +property and the title might be brought together was not absent from +his mind when he gave his final assent. "I don't suppose she cares +for him," he said to his wife. + +"She's not in love with him, if you mean that." + +"What else should I mean?" he said, crossly. + +"She may learn to be in love with him." + +"She had better not. She must be told. He may come for a week. I +won't have him here for longer. Write to him and say that we shall be +happy to have him from the second to the ninth. Emily must be told +that I disapprove of him, but that I can't avoid opening my house to +him." + +These were the most severe words he had ever spoken about Cousin +George, but then the occasion had become very critical. Lady +Elizabeth's reply was as follows:-- + + + MY DEAR COUSIN GEORGE,--Sir Harry and I will be very happy + to have you on the second, as you propose, and hope you + will stay till the eleventh. + + Yours sincerely, + + ELIZABETH HOTSPUR. + + +He was to come on a Saturday, but she did not like to tell him to go +on a Saturday, because of the following day. Where could the poor +fellow be on the Sunday? She therefore stretched her invitation for +two days beyond the period sanctioned by Sir Harry. + +"It's not very gracious," said George, as he showed the note to Lady +Altringham. + +"I don't like it the less on that account. It shows that they're +afraid about her, and they wouldn't be afraid without cause." + +"There is not much of that, I fancy." + +"They oughtn't to have a chance against you,--not if you play your +game well. Even in ordinary cases the fathers and mothers are beaten +by the lovers nine times out of ten. It is only when the men are +oafs and louts that they are driven off. But with you, with your +cousinship, and half-heirship, and all your practice, and the family +likeness, and the rest of it, if you only take a little trouble--" + +"I'll take any amount of trouble." + +"No, you won't. You'll deny yourself nothing, and go through no +ordeal that is disagreeable to you. I don't suppose your things are +a bit better arranged in London than they were in the spring." She +looked at him as though waiting for an answer, but he was silent. +"It's too late for anything of that kind now, but still you may do +very much. Make up your mind to this, that you'll ask Miss Hotspur to +be your wife before you leave--what's the name of the place?" + +"I have quite made up my mind to that, Lady Altringham." + +"As to the manner of doing it, I don't suppose that I can teach you +anything." + +"I don't know about that." + +"At any rate I shan't try. Only remember this. Get her to promise +to be firm, and then go at once to Sir Harry. Don't let there be an +appearance of doubt in speaking to him. And if he tells you of the +property,--angrily I mean,--then do you tell him of the title. Make +him understand that you give as much as you get. I don't suppose he +will yield at first. Why should he? You are not the very best young +man about town, you know. But if you get her, he must follow. She +looks like one that would stick to it, if she once had said it." + +Thus prompted George Hotspur went from Castle Corry to Humblethwaite. +I wonder whether he was aware of the extent of the friendship of his +friend, and whether he ever considered why it was that such a woman +should be so anxious to assist him in making his fortune, let it be +at what cost it might to others! Lady Altringham was not the least +in love with Captain Hotspur, was bound to him by no tie whatsoever, +would suffer no loss in the world should Cousin George come to utter +and incurable ruin; but she was a woman of energy, and, as she liked +the man, she was zealous in his friendship. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AIREY FORCE. + + +Lady Elizabeth had been instructed by Sir Harry to warn her +daughter not to fall in love with Cousin George during his visit to +Humblethwaite; and Lady Elizabeth was, as a wife, accustomed to obey +her husband in all things. But obedience in this matter was very +difficult. Such a caution as that received is not easily given even +between a mother and a child, and is especially difficult when the +mother is unconsciously aware of her child's superiority to herself. +Emily was in all respects the bigger woman of the two, and was sure +to get the best of it in any such cautioning. It is so hard to have +to bid a girl, and a good girl too, not to fall in love with a +particular man! There is left among us at any rate so much of reserve +and assumed delicacy as to require us to consider, or pretend to +consider on the girl's behalf, that of course she won't fall in love. +We know that she will, sooner or later; and probably as much sooner +as opportunity may offer. That is our experience of the genus girl in +the general; and we quite approve of her for her readiness to do so. +It is, indeed, her nature; and the propensity has been planted in her +for wise purposes. But as to this or that special sample of the genus +girl, in reference to this or that special sample of the genus young +man, we always feel ourselves bound to take it as a matter of course +that there can be nothing of the kind, till the thing is done. Any +caution on the matter is therefore difficult and disagreeable, as +conveying almost an insult. Mothers in well-regulated families do not +caution their daughters in reference to special young men. But Lady +Elizabeth had been desired by her husband to give the caution, and +must in some sort obey the instruction. Two days before George's +arrival she endeavoured to do as she was told; not with the most +signal success. + +"Your Cousin George is coming on Saturday." + +"So I heard Papa say." + +"Your Papa gave him a sort of invitation when he was here last time, +and so he has proposed himself." + +"Why should not he? It seems very natural. He is the nearest relation +we have got, and we all like him." + +"I don't think your Papa does like him." + +"I do." + +"What I mean is your Papa doesn't approve of him. He goes to races, +and bets, and all that kind of thing. And then your Papa thinks that +he's over head and ears in debt." + +"I don't know anything about his debts. As for his going to races, I +believe he has given them up. I am sure he would if he were asked." +Then there was a pause, for Lady Elizabeth hardly knew how to +pronounce her caution. "Why shouldn't Papa pay his debts?" + +"My dear!" + +"Well, Mamma, why shouldn't he? And why shouldn't Papa let him have +the property; I mean, leave it to him instead of to me?" + +"If your brother had lived--" + +"He didn't live, Mamma. That has been our great misfortune. But so it +is; and why shouldn't George be allowed to take his place? I'm sure +it would be for the best. Papa thinks so much about the name, and the +family, and all that." + +"My dear, you must leave him to do as he thinks fit in all such +matters. You may be sure that he will do what he believes to be his +duty. What I was going to say was this--" And, instead of saying it, +Lady Elizabeth still hesitated. + +"I know what you want to say, Mamma, just as well as though the words +were out of your mouth. You want to make me to understand that George +is a black sheep." + +"I'm afraid he is." + +"But black sheep are not like blackamoors; they may be washed white. +You said so yourself the other day." + +"Did I, my dear?" + +"Certainly you did; and certainly they may. Why, Mamma, what is all +religion but the washing of black sheep white; making the black a +little less black, scraping a spot white here and there?" + +"I am afraid your Cousin George is beyond washing." + +"Then Mamma, all I can say is, he oughtn't to come here. Mind, +I think you wrong him. I daresay he has been giddy and fond of +pleasure; but if he is so bad as you say, Papa should tell him at +once not to come. As far as I am concerned, I don't believe he is so +bad; and I shall be glad to see him." + +There was no cautioning a young woman who could reason in this way, +and who could look at her mother as Emily looked. It was not, at +least, within the power of Lady Elizabeth to do so. And yet she could +not tell Sir Harry of her failure. She thought that she had expressed +the caution; and she thought also that her daughter would be wise +enough to be guided,--not by her mother's wisdom, but by the words of +her father. Poor dear woman! She was thinking of it every hour of the +day; but she said nothing more on the subject, either to her daughter +or to Sir Harry. + +The black sheep came, and made one of a number of numerous visitors. +It had been felt that the danger would be less among a multitude; and +there was present a very excellent young man, as to whom there were +hopes. Steps had not been taken about this excellent young man as had +been done in reference to Lord Alfred; but still there were hopes. He +was the eldest son of a Lincolnshire squire, a man of fair property +and undoubted family; but who, it was thought, would not object to +merge the name of Thoresby in that of Hotspur. Nothing came of the +young man, who was bashful, and to whom Miss Hotspur certainly gave +no entertainment of a nature to remove his bashfulness. But when +the day for George's coming had been fixed, Sir Harry thought it +expedient to write to young Thoresby and accelerate a visit which had +been previously proposed. Sir Harry as he did so almost hated himself +for his anxiety to dispose of his daughter. He was a gentleman, every +inch of him; and he thoroughly desired to do his duty. He knew, +however, that there was much in his feelings of which he could not +but be ashamed. And yet, if something were not done to assist his +girl in a right disposal of all that she had to bestow with her hand, +how was it probable that it could be disposed aright? + +The black sheep came, and found young Thoresby and some dozen other +strangers in the house. He smiled upon them all, and before the first +evening was over had made himself the popular man of the house. Sir +Harry, like a fool as he was, had given his cousin only two fingers, +and had looked black at their first meeting. Nothing could be gained +by conduct such as that with such a guest. Before the gentlemen left +the dinner-table on the first day even he had smiled and joked and +had asked questions about "Altringham's mountains." "The worst of you +fellows who go to Scotland is that you care nothing for real sport +when you come down south afterwards." All this conversation about +Lord Altringham's grouse and the Scotch mountains helped George +Hotspur, so that when he went into the drawing-room he was in the +ascendant. Many men have learned the value of such ascendancy, and +most men have known the want of it. + +Poor Lady Elizabeth had not a chance with Cousin George. She +succumbed to him at once, not knowing why, but feeling that she +herself became bright, amusing, and happy when talking to him. She +was a woman not given to familiarities; but she did become familiar +with him, allowing him little liberties of expression which no other +man would take with her, and putting them all down to the score of +cousinhood. He might be a black sheep. She feared there could be but +little doubt that he was one. But, from her worsted-work up to the +demerits of her dearest friend, he did know how to talk better than +any other young man she knew. To Emily, on that first evening, he +said very little. When he first met her he had pressed her hand, and +looked into her eyes, and smiled on her with a smile so sweet that +it was as though a god had smiled on her. She had made up her mind +that he should be nothing to her,--nothing beyond a dear cousin; +nevertheless, her eye had watched him during the whole hour of +dinner, and, not knowing that it was so, she had waited for his +coming to them in the evening. Heavens and earth! what an oaf was +that young Thoresby as the two stood together near the door! She did +not want her cousin to come and talk to her, but she listened and +laughed within herself as she saw how pleased was her mother by the +attentions of the black sheep. + +One word Cousin George did say to Emily Hotspur that night, just as +the ladies were leaving the room. It was said in a whisper, with a +little laugh, with that air of half joke half earnest which may be so +efficacious in conversation: "I did not go to Goodwood, after all." + +She raised her eyes to his for a quarter of a second, thanking him +for his goodness in refraining. "I don't believe that he is really a +black sheep at all," she said to herself that night, as she laid her +head upon her pillow. + +After all, the devil fights under great disadvantages, and has to +carry weights in all his races which are almost unfair. He lies as a +matter of course, believing thoroughly in lies, thinking that it is +by lies chiefly that he must make his running good; and yet every lie +he tells, after it has been told and used, remains as an additional +weight to be carried. When you have used your lie gracefully and +successfully, it is hard to bury it and get it well out of sight. +It crops up here and there against you, requiring more lies; and +at last, too often, has to be admitted as a lie, most usually +so admitted in silence, but still admitted,--to be forgiven or +not, according to the circumstances of the case. The most perfect +forgiveness is that which is extended to him who is known to lie +in everything. The man has to be taken, lies and all, as a man is +taken with a squint, or a harelip, or a bad temper. He has an uphill +game to fight, but when once well known, he does not fall into the +difficulty of being believed. + +George Hotspur's lie was believed. To our readers it may appear to +have been most gratuitous, unnecessary, and inexpedient. The girl +would not have quarrelled with him for going to the races,--would +never have asked anything about it. But George knew that he must make +his running. It would not suffice that she should not quarrel with +him. He had to win her, and it came so natural to him to lie! And the +lie was efficacious; she was glad to know that he stayed away from +the races--for her sake. Had it not been for her sake? She would not +bid him stay away, but she was so glad that he had stayed! The lie +was very useful;--if it only could have been buried and put out of +sight when used! + +There was partridge-shooting for four days; not good shooting, but +work which carried the men far from home, and enabled Sir Harry to +look after his cousin. George, so looked after, did not dare to say +that on any day he would shirk the shooting. But Sir Harry, as he +watched his cousin, gradually lost his keenness for watching him. +Might it not be best that he should let matters arrange themselves? +This young squire from Lincolnshire was evidently an oaf. Sir Harry +could not even cherish a hope on that side. His girl was very good, +and she had been told, and the work of watching went so much against +the grain with him! And then, added to it all, was the remembrance +that if the worst came to the worst, the title and property would be +kept together. George Hotspur might have fought his fight, we think, +without the aid of his lie. + +On the Friday the party was to some extent broken up. The oaf and +sundry other persons went away. Sir Harry had thought that the cousin +would go on the Saturday, and had been angry with his wife because +his orders on that head had not been implicitly obeyed. But when the +Friday came, and George offered to go in with him to Penrith, to +hear some case of fish-poaching which was to be brought before the +magistrates, he had forgiven the offence. George had a great deal to +say about fish, and then went on to say a good deal about himself. If +he could only get some employment, a farm, say, where he might have +hunting, how good it would be! For he did not pretend to any virtuous +abnegation of the pleasures of the world, but was willing,--so he +said,--to add to them some little attempt to earn his own bread. On +this day Sir Harry liked his cousin better than he had ever done +before, though he did not even then place the least confidence in his +cousin's sincerity as to the farm and the earning of bread. + +On their return to the Hall on Friday they found that a party +had been made to go to Ulleswater on the Saturday. A certain Mrs. +Fitzpatrick was staying in the house, who had never seen the lake, +and the carriage was to take them to Airey Force. Airey Force, as +everybody knows, is a waterfall near to the shores of the lake, and +is the great lion of the Lake scenery on that side of the mountains. +The waterfall was full fifteen miles from Humblethwaite, but the +distance had been done before, and could be done again. Emily, Mrs. +Fitzpatrick, and two other young ladies were to go. Mr. Fitzpatrick +would sit on the box. There was a youth there also who had left +school and not yet gone to college. He was to be allowed to drive a +dog-cart. Of course George Hotspur was ready to go in the dog-cart +with him. + +George had determined from the commencement of his visit, when he +began to foresee that this Saturday would be more at his command than +any other day, that on this Saturday he would make or mar his fortune +for life. He had perceived that his cousin was cautious with him, +that he would be allowed but little scope for love-making, that she +was in some sort afraid of him; but he perceived also that in a quiet +undemonstrative way she was very gracious to him. She never ignored +him, as young ladies will sometimes ignore young men, but thought of +him even in his absence, and was solicitous for his comfort. He was +clever enough to read little signs, and was sure at any rate that she +liked him. + +"Why did you not postpone the party till George was gone?" Sir Harry +said to his wife. + +"The Fitzpatricks also go on Monday," she answered, "and we could not +refuse them." + +Then again it occurred to Sir Harry that life would not be worth +having if he was to be afraid to allow his daughter to go to a picnic +in company with her cousin. + +There is a bridge across the water at the top of Airey Force, which +is perhaps one of the prettiest spots in the whole of our Lake +country. The entire party on their arrival of course went up to +the bridge, and then the entire party of course descended. How it +happened that in the course of the afternoon George and Emily were +there again, and were there unattended, who can tell? If she had +meant to be cautious, she must very much have changed her plans in +allowing herself to be led thither. And as he stood there, with no +eye resting on them, his arm was round her waist and she was pressed +to his side. + +"Dearest, dearest," he said, "may I believe that you love me?" + +"I have said so. You may believe it if you will." + +She did not attempt to make the distance greater between them. She +leant against him willingly. + +"Dear George, I do love you. My choice has been made. I have to trust +to you for everything." + +"You shall never trust in vain," he said. + +"You must reform, you know," she said, turning round and looking up +into his face with a smile. "They say that you have been wild. You +must not be wild any more, sir." + +"I will reform. I have reformed. I say it boldly; I have become an +altered man since I knew you. I have lived with one hope, and even +the hope alone has changed me. Now I have got all that I have hoped +for. Oh, Emily, I wish you knew how much I love you!" + +They were there on the bridge, or roaming together alone among the +woods, for nearly an hour after that, till Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who knew +the value of the prize and the nature of the man, began to fear that +she had been remiss in her duty as chaperon. As Emily came down and +joined the party at last, she was perfectly regardless either of +their frowns or smiles. There had been one last compact made between +the lovers. + +"George," she had said, "whatever it may cost us, let there be no +secrets." + +"Of course not," he replied. + +"I will tell Mamma to-night; and you must tell Papa. You will promise +me?" + +"Certainly. It is what I should insist on doing myself. I could not +stay in his house under other circumstances. But you too must promise +me one thing, Emily." + +"What is it?" + +"You will be true to me, even though he should refuse his consent?" + +She paused before she answered him. + +"I will be true to you. I cannot be otherwise than true to you. My +love was a thing to give, but when given I cannot take it back. I +will be true to you, but of course we cannot be married unless Papa +consents." + +He urged her no further. He was too wise to think it possible that he +could do so without injuring his cause. Then they found the others, +and Emily made her apologies to Mrs. Fitzpatrick for the delay with a +quiet dignity that struck her Cousin George almost with awe. How had +it been that such a one as he had won so great a creature? + +George, as he was driven home by his young companion, was full of +joyous chatter and light small talk. He had done a good stroke of +business, and was happy. If only the Baronet could be brought round, +all the troubles which had enveloped him since a beard had first +begun to grow on his chin would disappear as a mist beneath the +full rays of the sun; or even if there still might be a trouble or +two,--and as he thought of his prospects he remembered that they +could not all be made to disappear in the mist fashion,--there would +be that which would gild the clouds. At any rate he had done a good +stroke of business. And he loved the girl too. He thought that of all +the girls he had seen about town, or about the country either, she +was the bonniest and the brightest and the most clever. It might well +have been that a poor devil like he in search of an heiress might +have been forced to put up with personal disadvantages,--with age, +with plain looks, with vulgar manners, with low birth; but here, so +excellent was his fortune, there was everything which fortune could +give! Love her? Of course he loved her. He would do anything on earth +for her. And how jolly they would be together when they got hold of +their share of that £20,000 a year! And how jolly it would be to owe +nothing to anybody! As he thought of this, however, there came upon +him the reminiscence of a certain Captain Stubber, and the further +reminiscence of a certain Mr. Abraham Hart, with both of whom he had +dealings; and he told himself that it would behove him to call up +all his pluck when discussing those gentlemen and their dealings, +with the Baronet. He was sure that the Baronet would not like Captain +Stubber nor Mr. Hart, and that a good deal of pluck would be needed. +But on the whole he had done a great stroke of business; and, as +a consequence of his success, talked and chatted all the way home, +till the youth who was driving him thought that George was about the +nicest fellow that he had ever met. + +Emily Hotspur, as she took her place in the carriage, was very +silent. She also had much of which to think, much on which--as she +dreamed--to congratulate herself. But she could not think of it and +talk at the same time. She had made her little apology with graceful +ease. She had just smiled,--but the smile was almost a rebuke,--when +one of her companions had ventured on the beginning of some little +joke as to her company, and then she had led the way to the carriage. +Mrs. Fitzpatrick and the two girls were nothing to her now, let +them suspect what they choose or say what they might. She had given +herself away, and she triumphed in the surrender. The spot on which +he had told her of his love should be sacred to her for ever. It was +a joy to her that it was near to her own home, the home that she +would give to him, so that she might go there with him again and +again. She had very much to consider and to remember. A black sheep! +No! Of all the flock he should be the least black. It might be that +in the energy of his pleasures he had exceeded other men, as he did +exceed all other men in everything that he did and said. Who was so +clever? who so bright? who so handsome, so full of poetry and of +manly grace? How sweet was his voice, how fine his gait, how gracious +his smile! And then in his brow there was that look of command which +she had ever recognized in her father's face as belonging to his race +as a Hotspur,--only added to it was a godlike beauty which her father +never could have possessed. + +She did not conceal from herself that there might be trouble with her +father. And yet she was not sure but that upon the whole he would be +pleased after a while. Humblethwaite and the family honours would +still go together, if he would sanction this marriage; and she knew +how he longed in his heart that it might be so. For a time probably +he might be averse to her prayers. Should it be so, she would simply +give him her word that she would never during his lifetime marry +without his permission,--and then she would be true to her troth. As +to her truth in that respect there could be no doubt. She had given +her word; and that, for a Hotspur, must be enough. + +She could not talk as she thought of all this, and therefore had +hardly spoken when George appeared at the carriage door to give the +ladies a hand as they came into the house. To her he was able to give +one gentle pressure as she passed on; but she did not speak to him, +nor was it necessary that she should do so. Had not everything been +said already? + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE." + + +The scene which took place that night between the mother and daughter +may be easily conceived. Emily told her tale, and told it in a manner +which left no doubt of her persistency. She certainly meant it. Lady +Elizabeth had almost expected it. There are evils which may come or +may not; but as to which, though we tell ourselves that they may +still be avoided, we are inwardly almost sure that they will come. +Such an evil in the mind of Lady Elizabeth had been Cousin George. +Not but what she herself would have liked him for a son-in-law had it +not been so certain that he was a black sheep. + +"Your father will never consent to it, my dear." + +"Of course, Mamma, I shall do nothing unless he does." + +"You will have to give him up." + +"No, Mamma, not that; that is beyond what Papa can demand of me. I +shall not give him up, but I certainly shall not marry him without +Papa's consent, or yours." + +"Nor see him?" + +"Well; if he does not come I cannot see him." + +"Nor correspond with him?" + +"Certainly not, if Papa forbids it." + +After that, Lady Elizabeth did give way to a considerable extent. +She did not tell her daughter that she considered it at all probable +that Sir Harry would yield; but she made it to be understood that +she herself would do so if Sir Harry would be persuaded. And she +acknowledged that the amount of obedience promised by Emily was all +that could be expected. "But, Mamma," said Emily, before she left her +mother, "do you not know that you love him yourself?" + +"Love is such a strong word, my dear." + +"It is not half strong enough," said Emily, pressing her two hands +together. "But you do, Mamma?" + +"I think he is very agreeable, certainly." + +"And handsome?--only that goes for nothing." + +"Yes, he is a fine-looking man." + +"And clever? I don't know how it is; let there be who there may in +the room, he is always the best talker." + +"He knows how to talk, certainly." + +"And, Mamma, don't you think that there is a something,--I don't know +what,--something not at all like other men about him that compels +one to love him? Oh, Mamma, do say something nice to me! To me he is +everything that a man should be." + +"I wish he were, my dear." + +"As for the sort of life he has been leading, spending more money +than he ought, and all that kind of thing, he has promised to reform +it altogether; and he is doing it now. At any rate, you must admit, +Mamma, that he is not false." + +"I hope not, my dear." + +"Why do you speak in that way, Mamma? Does he talk like a man that +is false? Have you ever known him to be false? Don't be prejudiced, +Mamma, at any rate." + +The reader will understand that when the daughter had brought her +mother as far as this, the elder lady was compelled to say "something +nice" at last. At any rate there was a loving embrace between them, +and an understanding that the mother would not exaggerate the +difficulties of the position either by speech or word. + +"Of course you will have to see your papa to-morrow morning," Lady +Elizabeth said. + +"George will tell him everything to-night," said Emily. She as she +went to her bed did not doubt but what the difficulties would melt. +Luckily for her,--so luckily!--it happened that her lover possessed +by his very birth a right which, beyond all other possessions, would +recommend him to her father. And then had not the man himself all +natural good gifts to recommend him? Of course he had not money or +property, but she had, or would have, property; and of all men alive +her father was the least disposed to be greedy. As she half thought +of it and half dreamt of it in her last waking moments of that +important day, she was almost altogether happy. It was so sweet to +know that she possessed the love of him whom she loved better than +all the world beside. + +Cousin George did not have quite so good a time of it that night. The +first thing he did on his return from Ulleswater to Humblethwaite +was to write a line to his friend Lady Altringham. This had been +promised, and he did so before he had seen Sir Harry. + + + DEAR LADY A.--I have been successful with my younger + cousin. She is the bonniest, and the best, and the + brightest girl that ever lived, and I am the happiest + fellow. But I have not as yet seen the Baronet. I am to do + so to-night, and will report progress to-morrow. I doubt I + shan't find him so bonny and so good and so bright. But, + as you say, the young birds ought to be too strong for the + old ones.--Yours most sincerely, + + G. H. + + +This was written while he was dressing, and was put into the +letter-box by himself as he came downstairs. It was presumed that the +party had dined at the Falls; but there was "a tea" prepared for them +on an extensive scale. Sir Harry, suspecting nothing, was happy and +almost jovial with Mr. Fitzpatrick and the two young ladies. Emily +said hardly a word. Lady Elizabeth, who had not as yet been told, but +already suspected something, was very anxious. George was voluble, +witty, and perhaps a little too loud. But as the lad who was going +to Oxford, and who had drank a good deal of champagne and was now +drinking sherry, was loud also, George's manner was not specially +observed. It was past ten before they got up from the table, and +nearly eleven before George was able to whisper a word to the +Baronet. He almost shirked it for that night, and would have done so +had he not remembered how necessary it was that Emily should know +that his pluck was good. Of course she would be asked to abandon him. +Of course she would be told that it was her duty to give him up. Of +course she would give him up unless he could get such a hold upon her +heart as to make her doing so impossible to her. She would have to +learn that he was an unprincipled spendthrift,--nay worse than that, +as he hardly scrupled to tell himself. But he need not weight his own +character with the further burden of cowardice. The Baronet could +not eat him, and he would not be afraid of the Baronet. "Sir Harry," +he whispered, "could you give me a minute or two before we go to +bed?" Sir Harry started as though he had been stung, and looked his +cousin sharply in the face without answering him. George kept his +countenance, and smiled. + +"I won't keep you long," he said. + +"You had better come to my room," said Sir Harry, gruffly, and +led the way into his own sanctum. When there, he sat down in his +accustomed arm-chair without offering George a seat, but George soon +found a seat for himself. "And now what is it?" said Sir Harry, with +his blackest frown. + +"I have asked my cousin to be my wife." + +"What! Emily?" + +"Yes, Emily; and she has consented. I now ask for your approval." We +must give Cousin George his due, and acknowledge that he made his +little request exactly as he would have done had he been master of +ten thousand a year of his own, quite unencumbered. + +"What right had you, sir, to speak to her without coming to me +first?" + +"One always does, I think, go to the girl first," said George. + +"You have disgraced yourself, sir, and outraged my hospitality. You +are no gentleman!" + +"Sir Harry, that is strong language." + +"Strong! Of course it is strong. I mean it to be strong. I shall make +it stronger yet if you attempt to say another word to her." + +"Look here, Sir Harry, I am bound to bear a good deal from you, but I +have a right to explain." + +"You have a right, sir, to go away from this, and go away you shall." + +"Sir Harry, you have told me that I am not a gentleman." + +"You have abused my kindness to you. What right have you, who have +not a shilling in the world, to speak to my daughter? I won't have +it, and let that be an end of it. I won't have it. And I must desire +that you will leave Humblethwaite to-morrow. I won't have it." + +"It is quite true that I have not a shilling." + +"Then what business have you to speak to my daughter?" + +"Because I have that which is worth many shillings, and which you +value above all your property. I am the heir to your name and title. +When you are gone, I must be the head of this family. I do not in the +least quarrel with you for choosing to leave your property to your +own child, but I have done the best I could to keep the property and +the title together. I love my cousin." + +"I don't believe in your love, sir." + +"If that is all, I do not doubt but that I can satisfy you." + +"It is not all; and it is not half all. And it isn't because you are +a pauper. You know it all as well as I do, without my telling you, +but you drive me to tell you." + +"Know what, sir?" + +"Though you hadn't a shilling, you should have had her if you could +win her,--had your life been even fairly decent. The title must go to +you,--worse luck for the family. You can talk well enough, and what +you say is true. I would wish that they should go together." + +"Of course it will be better." + +"But, sir,--" then Sir Henry paused. + +"Well, Sir Harry?" + +"You oblige me to speak out. You are such a one, that I do not dare +to let you have my child. Your life is so bad, that I should not be +justified in doing so for any family purpose. You would break her +heart." + +"You wrong me there, altogether." + +"You are a gambler." + +"I have been, Sir Harry." + +"And a spendthrift?" + +"Well--yes; as long as I had little or nothing to spend." + +"I believe you are over head and ears in debt now, in spite of the +assistance you have had from me within twelve months." + +Cousin George remembered the advice which had been given him, that +he should conceal nothing from his cousin. "I do owe some money +certainly," he said. + +"And how do you mean to pay it?" + +"Well--if I marry Emily, I suppose that--you will pay it." + +"That's cool, at any rate." + +"What can I say, Sir Harry?" + +"I would pay it all, though it were to half the property--" + +"Less than a year's income would clear off every shilling I owe, Sir +Harry." + +"Listen to me, sir. Though it were ten years' income, I would pay it +all, if I thought that the rest would be kept with the title, and +that my girl would be happy." + +"I will make her happy." + +"But, sir, it is not only that you are a gambler and spendthrift, +and an unprincipled debtor without even a thought of paying. You are +worse than this. There;--I am not going to call you names. I know +what you are, and you shall not have my daughter." + +George Hotspur found himself compelled to think for a few moments +before he could answer a charge so vague, and yet, as he knew, so +well founded. Nevertheless he felt that he was progressing. His debts +would not stand in his way, if only he could make this rich father +believe that in other matters his daughter would not be endangered by +the marriage. "I don't quite know what you mean, Sir Harry. I am not +going to defend myself. I have done much of which I am ashamed. I was +turned very young upon the world, and got to live with rich people +when I was myself poor. I ought to have withstood the temptation, +but I didn't, and I got into bad hands. I don't deny it. There is a +horrid Jew has bills of mine now." + +"What have you done with that five thousand pounds?" + +"He had half of it; and I had to settle for the last Leger, which +went against me." + +"It is all gone?" + +"Pretty nearly. I don't pretend but what I have been very reckless as +to money; I am ready to tell you the truth about everything. I don't +say that I deserve her; but I do say this,--that I should not have +thought of winning her, in my position, had it not been for the +title. Having that in my favour I do not think that I was misbehaving +to you in proposing to her. If you will trust me now, I will be as +grateful and obedient a son as any man ever had." + +He had pleaded his cause well, and he knew it. Sir Harry also felt +that his cousin had made a better case than he would have believed +to be possible. He was quite sure that the man was a scamp, utterly +untrustworthy, and yet the man's pleading for himself had been +efficacious. He sat silent for full five minutes before he spoke +again, and then he gave judgment as follows: "You will go away +without seeing her to-morrow." + +"If you wish it." + +"And you will not write to her." + +"Only a line." + +"Not a word," said Sir Harry, imperiously. + +"Only a line, which I will give open to you. You can do with it as +you please." + +"And as you have forced upon me the necessity, I shall make inquiries +in London as to your past life. I have heard things which perhaps may +be untrue." + +"What things, Sir Harry?" + +"I shall not demean myself or injure you by repeating them, unless +I find cause to believe they are true. I do believe that the result +will be such as to make me feel that in justice to my girl I cannot +allow you to become her husband. I tell you so fairly. Should the +debts you owe be simple debts, not dishonourably contracted, I will +pay them." + +"And then she shall be mine?" + +"I will make no such promise. You had better go now. You can have +the carriage to Penrith as early as you please in the morning; or to +Carlisle if you choose to go north. I will make your excuses to Lady +Elizabeth. Good night." + +Cousin George stood for a second in doubt, and then shook hands with +the Baronet. He reached Penrith the next morning soon after ten, and +breakfasted alone at the hotel. + +There were but very few words spoken on the occasion between the +father and daughter, but Emily did succeed in learning pretty nearly +the truth of what had taken place. On the Monday her mother gave her +the following note:-- + + + DEAREST,--At your father's bidding, I have gone suddenly. + You will understand why I have done so. I shall try to do + just as he would have me; but you will, I know, be quite + sure that I should never give you up.--Yours for ever and + ever, + + G. H. + + +The father had thought much of it, and at last had determined that +Emily should have the letter. + +In the course of the week there came other guests to Humblethwaite, +and it so chanced that there was a lady who knew the Altringhams, +who had unfortunately met the Altringhams at Goodwood, and who, most +unfortunately, stated in Emily's hearing that she had seen George +Hotspur at Goodwood. + +"He was not there," said Emily, quite boldly. + +"Oh, yes; with the Altringhams, as usual. He is always with them at +Goodwood." + +"He was not at the last meeting," said Emily, smiling. + +The lady said nothing till her lord was present, and then appealed to +him. "Frank, didn't you see George Hotspur with the Altringhams at +Goodwood, last July?" + +"To be sure I did, and lost a pony to him on Eros." + +The lady looked at Emily, who said nothing further; but she was still +quite convinced that George Hotspur had not been at those Goodwood +races. + +It is so hard, when you have used a lie commodiously, to bury it, and +get well rid of it. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MR. HART AND CAPTAIN STUBBER. + + +When George Hotspur left Humblethwaite, turned out of the house +by the angry Baronet early in the morning,--as the reader will +remember,--he was at his own desire driven to Penrith, choosing to +go south rather than north. He had doubted for a while as to his +immediate destination. The Altringhams were still at Castle Corry, +and he might have received great comfort from her ladyship's advice +and encouragement. But, intimate as he was with the Altringhams, he +did not dare to take a liberty with the Earl. A certain allowance of +splendid hospitality at Castle Corry was at his disposal every year, +and Lord Altringham always welcomed him with thorough kindness. But +George Hotspur had in some fashion been made to understand that he +was not to overstay his time; and he was quite aware that the Earl +could be very disagreeable upon occasions. There was a something in +the Earl of which George was afraid; and, to tell the truth, he did +not dare to go back to Castle Corry. And then, might it not be well +for him to make immediate preparation in London for those inquiries +respecting his debts and his character which Sir Harry had decided +to make? It would be very difficult for him to make any preparation +that could lead to a good result; but if no preparation were made, +the result would be very bad indeed. It might perhaps be possible +to do something with Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber. He had no other +immediate engagements. In October he was due to shoot pheasants with +a distinguished party in Norfolk, but this business which he had now +in hand was of so much importance that even the pheasant-shooting and +the distinguished party were not of much moment to him. + +He went to Penrith, and thence direct to London. It was the habit of +his life to give up his London lodgings when he left town at the end +of the season, and spare himself the expense of any home as long as +he could find friends to entertain him. There are certain items of +the cost of living for which the greatest proficient in the art of +tick must pay, or he will come to a speedy end;--and a man's lodging +is one of them. If indeed the spendthrift adapts himself to the +splendour of housekeeping, he may, provided his knowledge of his +business be complete, and his courage adequate, house himself +gloriously for a year or two with very small payment in ready money. +He may even buy a mansion with an incredibly small outlay, and, when +once in it, will not easily allow himself to be extruded. George +Hotspur, however, not from any want of knowledge or of audacity, but +from the nature of the life he chose to lead, had abstained from such +investment of his credit, and had paid for his lodgings in St. James' +Street. He was consequently houseless at the moment, and on his +arrival in London took himself to an hotel close behind the military +club to which he belonged. + +At this moment he was comparatively a rich man. He had between three +and four hundred pounds at a bank at which he kept an account when +possessed of funds. But demands upon him were very pressing, and +there was a certain Captain Stubber who was bitter against him, +almost to blood, because one Mr. Abraham Hart had received two +thousand pounds from the proceeds of Sir Harry's generosity. Captain +Stubber had not received a shilling, and had already threatened +Cousin George with absolute exposure if something were not done to +satisfy him. + +George, when he had ordered his dinner at his club, wrote the +following letter to Lady Altringham. He had intended to write from +Penrith in the morning, but when there had been out of sorts and +unhappy, and had disliked to confess, after his note of triumph +sounded on the previous evening, that he had been turned out of +Humblethwaite. He had got over that feeling during the day, with +the help of sundry glasses of sherry and a little mixed curaçoa and +brandy which he took immediately on his arrival in London,--and, so +supported, made a clean breast of it, as the reader shall see. + + + DEAR LADY A., [he said]--Here I am, back in town, banished + from heaven. My darling, gentle, future papa-in-law + gave me to understand, when I told him the extent of my + hopes last night, that the outside of the park-gates at + Humblethwaite was the place for me; nevertheless he sent + me to Penrith with the family horses, and, taking it as + a whole, I think that my interview with him, although + very disagreeable, was not unsatisfactory. I told him + everything that I could tell him. He was kind enough to + call me a blackguard (!!!) because I had gone to Emily + without speaking to him first. On such occasions, however, + a man takes anything. I ventured to suggest that what I + had done was not unprecedented among young people, and + hinted that while he could make me the future master of + Humblethwaite, I could make my cousin the future Lady + Hotspur; and that in no other way could Humblethwaite and + the Hotspurs be kept together. It was wonderful how he + cooled down after a while, saying that he would pay all my + debts if he found them--satisfactory. I can only say that + I never found them so. + + It ended in this--that he is to make inquiry about me, and + that I am to have my cousin unless I am found out to be + very bad indeed. How or when the inquiries will be made I + do not know; but I am here to prepare for them. + + Yours always most faithfully, + + G. H. + + I do not like to ask Altringham to do anything for me. No + man ever had a kinder friend than I have had in him, and + I know he objects to meddle in the money matters of other + people. But if he could lend me his name for a thousand + pounds till I can get these things settled, I believe + I could get over every other difficulty. I should as a + matter of course include the amount in the list of debts + which I should give to Sir Harry; but the sum at once, + which I could raise on his name without trouble to him, + would enable me to satisfy the only creditor who will be + likely to do me real harm with Sir Harry. I think you + will understand all this, and will perceive how very + material the kindness to me may be; but if you think that + Altringham will be unwilling to do it, you had better not + show him this letter. + + +It was the mixed curaçoa and brandy which gave George Hotspur the +courage to make the request contained in his postscript. He had not +intended to make it when he sat down to write, but as he wrote the +idea had struck him that if ever a man ought to use a friend this was +an occasion for doing so. If he could get a thousand pounds from Lord +Altringham, he might be able to stop Captain Stubber's mouth. He did +not believe that he should be successful, and he thought it probable +that Lord Altringham might express vehement displeasure. But the +game was worth the candle, and then he knew that he could trust the +Countess. + +London was very empty, and he passed a wretched evening at his club. +There were not men enough to make up a pool, and he was obliged to +content himself with a game of billiards with an old half-pay naval +captain, who never left London, and who would bet nothing beyond +a shilling on the game. The half-pay navy captain won four games, +thereby paying for his dinner, and then Cousin George went sulkily to +bed. + +He had come up to town expressly to see Captain Stubber and Mr. Hart, +and perhaps also to see another friend from whom some advice might +be had; but on the following morning he found himself very averse to +seeking any of these advisers. He had applied to Lady Altringham for +assistance, and he told himself that it would be wise to wait for her +answer. And yet he knew that it would not be wise to wait, as Sir +Harry would certainly be quick in making his promised inquiries. For +four days he hung about between his hotel and his club, and then he +got Lady Altringham's answer. We need only quote the passage which +had reference to George's special request:-- + + + Gustavus says that he will have nothing to do with money. + You know his feelings about it. And he says that it would + do no good. Whatever the debts are, tell them plainly to + Sir Harry. If this be some affair of play, as Gustavus + supposes, tell that to Sir Harry. Gustavus thinks that the + Baronet would without doubt pay any such debt which could + be settled or partly settled by a thousand pounds. + + +"D----d heartless, selfish fellow! quite incapable of anything like +true friendship," said Cousin George to himself, when he read Lady +Altringham's letter. + +Now he must do something. Hitherto neither Stubber, nor Hart, nor the +other friend knew of his presence in London. Hart, though a Jew, was +much less distasteful to him than Captain Stubber, and to Mr. Abraham +Hart he went first. + +Mr. Abraham Hart was an attorney,--so called by himself and +friends,--living in a genteel street abutting on Gray's Inn Road, +with whose residence and place of business, all beneath the same +roof, George Hotspur was very well acquainted. Mr. Hart was a man +in the prime of life, with black hair and a black beard, and a new +shining hat, and a coat with a velvet collar and silk lining. He was +always dressed in the same way, and had never yet been seen by Cousin +George without his hat on his head. He was a pleasant-spoken, very +ignorant, smiling, jocose man, with a slightly Jewish accent, who +knew his business well, pursued it diligently, and considered himself +to have a clear conscience. He had certain limits of forbearance +with his customers--limits which were not narrow; but, when those +were passed, he would sell the bed from under a dying woman with her +babe, or bread from the mouth of a starving child. To do so was the +necessity of his trade,--for his own guidance in which he had made +laws. The breaking of those laws by himself would bring his trade to +an end, and therefore he declined to break them. + +Mr. Hart was a man who attended to his business, and he was found at +home even in September. "Yes, Mr. 'Oshspur, it's about time something +was done now; ain't it?" said Mr. Hart, smiling pleasantly. + +Cousin George, also smiling, reminded his friend of the two thousand +pounds paid to him only a few months since. "Not a shilling was +mine of that, Captain 'Oshspur, not a brass fardin'. That was quite +neshesshary just then, as you know, Captain 'Oshspur, or the fat must +have been in the fire. And what's up now?" + +Not without considerable difficulty Cousin George explained to the +Jew gentleman what was "up." He probably assumed more inclination on +the part of Sir Harry for the match than he was justified in doing; +but was very urgent in explaining to Mr. Hart that when inquiry was +made on the part of Sir Harry as to the nature of the debt, the naked +truth should not be exactly told. + +"It was very bad, vasn't it, Captain 'Oshspur, having to divide with +that fellow Stubber the money from the 'Orse Guards? You vas too +clever for both of us there, Mr. 'Oshspur; veren't you now, Captain +'Oshspur? And I've two cheques still on my 'ands which is marked 'No +account!' 'No account' is very bad. Isn't 'No account' very bad on +a cheque, Captain 'Oshspur? And then I've that cheque on Drummond, +signed;--God knows how that is signed! There ain't no such person +at all. Baldebeque! That's more like it than nothing else. When you +brought me that, I thought there vas a Lord Baldebeque; and I know +you live among lords, Captain 'Oshspur." + +"On my honour I brought it you,--just as I took it at Tattersall's." + +"There was an expert as I showed it to says it is your handwriting, +Captain 'Oshspur." + +"He lies!" said Cousin George, fiercely. + +"But when Stubber would have half the sale money, for the +commission--and wanted it all too! lord, how he did curse and swear! +That was bad, Captain 'Oshspur." + +Then Cousin George swallowed his fierceness for a time, and proceeded +to explain to Mr. Hart that Sir Harry would certainly pay all his +debts if only those little details could be kept back to which Mr. +Hart had so pathetically alluded. Above all it would be necessary to +preserve in obscurity that little mistake which had been made as to +the pawning of the commission. Cousin George told a great many lies, +but he told also much that was true. The Jew did not believe one of +the lies; but then, neither did he believe much of the truth. When +George had finished his story, then Mr. Hart had a story of his own +to tell. + +"To let you know all about it, Captain 'Oshspur, the old gent has +begun about it already." + +"What, Sir Harry?" + +"Yes, Sir 'Arry. Mr. Boltby--" + +"He's the family lawyer." + +"I suppose so, Captain 'Oshspur. Vell, he vas here yesterday, and vas +very polite. If I'd just tell him all about everything, he thought +as 'ow the Baronet would settle the affair off 'and. He vas very +generous in his offer, vas Mr. Boltby; but he didn't say nothin' of +any marriage, Captain 'Oshspur." + +"Of course he didn't. You are not such a fool as to suppose he +would." + +"No; I ain't such a fool as I looks, Captain Oshspur, am I? I didn't +think it likely, seeing vat vas the nature of his interrogatories. +Mr. Boltby seemed to know a good deal. It is astonishing how much +them fellows do know." + +"You didn't tell him anything?" + +"Not much, Captain 'Oshspur--not at fust starting. I'm a going to +have my money, you know, Captain 'Oshspur. And if I see my vay to my +money one vay, and if I don't see no vay the other vay, vy, vhat's +a man to do? You can't blame me, Captain 'Oshspur. I've been very +indulgent with you; I have, Captain 'Oshspur." + +Cousin George promised, threatened, explained, swore by all his +gods, and ended by assuring Mr. Abraham Hart that his life and death +were in that gentleman's keeping. If Mr. Hart would only not betray +him, the money would be safe and the marriage would be safe, and +everything would easily come right. Over and above other things, +Cousin George would owe to Mr. Abraham Hart a debt of gratitude which +never would be wholly paid. Mr. Hart could only say that he meant to +have his money, but that he did not mean to be "ungenteel." Much in +his opinion must depend on what Stubber would do. As for Stubber, +he couldn't speak to Stubber himself, as he and Stubber "were two." +As for himself, if he could get his money he certainly would not be +"ungenteel." And he meant what he said--meant more than he said. He +would still run some risk rather than split on an old customer such +as "Captain 'Oshspur." But now that a sudden way to his money was +opened to him, he could not undertake to lose sight of it. + +With a very heavy heart Cousin George went from Mr. Hart's house to +the house of call of Captain Stubber. Mr. Boltby had been before him +with Hart, and he augured the worst from Sir Harry's activity in the +matter. If Mr. Boltby had already seen the Captain, all his labour +would probably be too late. Where Captain Stubber lived, even so +old a friend of his as Cousin George did not know. And in what way +Captain Stubber had become a captain, George, though he had been a +military man himself, had never learned. But Captain Stubber had a +house of call in a very narrow, dirty little street near Red Lion +Square. It was close to a public-house, but did not belong to the +public-house. George Hotspur, who had been very often to the place +of call, had never seen there any appurtenances of the Captain's +business. There were no account-books, no writing-table, no ink even, +except that contained in a little box with a screw, which Captain +Stubber would take out of his own pocket. Mr. Hart was so far +established and civilized as to keep a boy whom he called a clerk; +but Captain Stubber seemed to keep nothing. A dirty little girl at +the house of call would run and fetch Captain Stubber, if he were +within reach; but most usually an appointment had to be made with +the Captain. Cousin George well remembered the day when his brother +Captain first made his acquaintance. About two years after the +commencement of his life in London, Captain Stubber had had an +interview with him in the little waiting-room just within the club +doors. Captain Stubber then had in his possession a trumpery note of +hand with George's signature, which, as he stated, he had "done" for +a small tradesman with whom George had been fool enough to deal for +cigars. From that day to the present he and Captain Stubber had been +upon most intimate and confidential terms. If there was any one in +the world whom Cousin George really hated, it was Captain Stubber. + +On this occasion Captain Stubber was forthcoming after a delay of +about a quarter of an hour. During that time Cousin George had stood +in the filthy little parlour of the house of call in a frame of mind +which was certainly not to be envied. Had Mr. Boltby also been with +Captain Stubber? He knew his two creditors well enough to understand +that the Jew, getting his money, would be better pleased to serve +him than to injure him. But the Captain would from choice do him an +ill turn. Nothing but self-interest would tie up Captain Stubber's +tongue. Captain Stubber was a tall thin gentleman, probably over +sixty years of age, with very seedy clothes, and a red nose. He +always had Berlin gloves, very much torn about the fingers, carried +a cotton umbrella, wore--as his sole mark of respectability--a very +stiff, clean, white collar round his neck, and invariably smelt of +gin. No one knew where he lived, or how he carried on his business; +but, such as he was, he had dealings with large sums of money, or at +least with bills professing to stand for large sums, and could never +have been found without a case in his pocket crammed with these +documents. The quarter of an hour seemed to George to be an age; but +at last Captain Stubber knocked at the front door and was shown into +the room. + +"How d'ye do, Captain Stubber?" said George. + +"I'd do a deal better, Captain Hotspur, if I found it easier +sometimes to come by my own." + +"Well, yes; but no doubt you have your profit in the delay, Captain +Stubber." + +"It's nothing to you, Captain Hotspur, whether I have profit or loss. +All you 'as got to look to is to pay me what you owe me. And I intend +that you shall, or by G---- you shall suffer for it! I'm not going to +stand it any longer. I know where to have you, and have you I will." + +Cousin George was not quite sure whether the Captain did know where +to have him. If Mr. Boltby had been with him, it might be so; but +then Captain Stubber was not a man so easily found as Mr. Hart, and +the connection between himself and the Captain might possibly have +escaped Mr. Boltby's inquiries. It was very difficult to tell the +story of his love to such a man as Captain Stubber, but he did tell +it. He explained all the difficulties of Sir Harry's position in +regard to the title and the property, and he was diffuse upon his own +advantages as head of the family, and of the need there was that he +should marry the heiress. + +"But there is not an acre of it will come to you unless he gives it +you?" inquired Captain Stubber. + +"Certainly not," said Cousin George, anxious that the Captain should +understand the real facts of the case to a certain extent. + +"And he needn't give you the girl?" + +"The girl will give herself, my friend." + +"And he needn't give the girl the property?" + +"But he will. She is his only child." + +"I don't believe a word about it. I don't believe such a one as Sir +Harry Hotspur would lift his hand to help such as you." + +"He has offered to pay my debts already." + +"Very well. Let him make the offer to me. Look here, Captain Hotspur, +I am not a bit afraid of you, you know." + +"Who asks you to be afraid?" + +"Of all the liars I ever met with, you are the worst." + +George Hotspur smiled, looking up at the red nose of the malignant +old man as though it were a joke; but that which he had to hear at +this moment was a heavy burden. Captain Stubber probably understood +this, for he repeated his words. + +"I never knew any liar nigh so bad as you. And then there is such a +deal worse than lies. I believe I could send you to penal servitude, +Captain Hotspur." + +"You could do no such thing," said Cousin George, still trying to +look as though it were a joke, "and you don't think you could." + +"I'll do my best at any rate, if I don't have my money soon. You +could pay Mr. Hart two thousand pounds, but you think I'm nobody." + +"I am making arrangements now for having every shilling paid to you." + +"Yes, I see. I've known a good deal about your arrangements. Look +here, Captain Hotspur, unless I have five hundred pounds on or before +Saturday, I'll write to Sir Harry Hotspur, and I'll give him a +statement of all our dealings. You can trust me, though I can't trust +you. Good morning, Captain Hotspur." + +Captain Stubber did believe in his heart that he was a man much +injured by Cousin George, and that Cousin George was one whom he was +entitled to despise. And yet a poor wretch more despicable, more +dishonest, more false, more wicked, or more cruel than Captain +Stubber could not have been found in all London. His business +was carried on with a small capital borrowed from a firm of low +attorneys, who were the real holders of the bills he carried, and the +profits which they allowed him to make were very trifling. But from +Cousin George during the last twelve months he had made no profit at +all. And Cousin George in former days had trodden upon him as on a +worm. + +Cousin George did not fail to perceive that Mr. Boltby had not as yet +applied to Captain Stubber. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MRS. MORTON. + + +Five hundred pounds before Saturday, and this was Tuesday! As Cousin +George was taken westward from Red Lion Square in a cab, three or +four different lines of conduct suggested themselves to him. In the +first place, it would be a very good thing to murder Captain Stubber. +In the present effeminate state of civilization and with the existing +scruples as to the value of human life, he did not see his way +clearly in this direction, but entertained the project rather as a +beautiful castle in the air. The two next suggestions were to pay him +the money demanded, or to pay him half of it. The second suggestion +was the simpler, as the state of Cousin George's funds made it +feasible; but then that brute would probably refuse to take the half +in lieu of the whole when he found that his demand had absolutely +produced a tender of ready cash. As for paying the whole, it might +perhaps be done. It was still possible that, with such prospects +before him as those he now possessed, he could raise a hundred or +hundred and fifty pounds; but then he would be left penniless. The +last course of action which he contemplated was, to take no further +notice of Captain Stubber, and let him tell his story to Sir Harry if +he chose to tell it. The man was such a blackguard that his entire +story would probably not be believed; and then was it not almost +necessary that Sir Harry should hear it? Of course there would be +anger, and reproaches, and threats, and difficulty. But if Emily +would be true to him, they might all by degrees be levelled down. +This latter line of conduct would be practicable, and had this +beautiful attraction,--that it would save for his own present use +that charming balance of ready money which he still possessed. Had +Altringham possessed any true backbone of friendship, he might now, +he thought, have been triumphant over all his difficulties. + +When he sat down to his solitary dinner at his club, he was very +tired with his day's work. Attending to the affairs of such gentlemen +as Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber,--who well know how to be masterful +when their time for being masterful has come,--is fatiguing enough. +But he had another task to perform before he went to bed, which he +would fain have kept unperformed were it possible to do so. He had +written to a third friend to make an appointment for the evening, +and this appointment he was bound to keep. He would very much rather +have stayed at his club and played billiards with the navy captain, +even though he might again have lost his shillings. The third friend +was that Mrs. Morton to whom Lord Altringham had once alluded. +"I supposed that it was coming," said Mrs. Morton, when she had +listened, without letting a word fall from her own lips, to the long +rambling story which Cousin George told her,--a rambling story in +which there were many lies, but in which there was the essential +truth, that Cousin George intended, if other things could be made to +fit, to marry his cousin Emily Hotspur. Mrs. Morton was a woman who +had been handsome,--dark, thin, with great brown eyes and thin lips +and a long well-formed nose; she was in truth three years younger +than George Hotspur, but she looked to be older. She was a clever +woman and well read too, and in every respect superior to the man +whom she had condescended to love. She earned her bread by her +profession as an actress, and had done so since her earliest years. +What story there may be of a Mr. Morton who had years ago married, +and ill-used, and deserted her, need not here be told. Her strongest +passion at this moment was love for the cold-blooded reprobate who +had now come to tell her of his intended marriage. She had indeed +loved George Hotspur, and George had been sufficiently attached to +her to condescend to take aid from her earnings. + +"I supposed that it was coming," she said in a low voice when he +brought to an end the rambling story which she had allowed him to +tell without a word of interruption. + +"What is a fellow to do?" said George. + +"Is she handsome?" + +George thought that he might mitigate the pain by making little of +his cousin. "Well, no, not particularly. She looks like a lady." + +"And I suppose I don't." For a moment there was a virulence in this +which made poor George almost gasp. This woman was patient to a +marvel, long-bearing, affectionate, imbued with that conviction +so common to woman and the cause of so much delight to men,--that +ill-usage and suffering are intended for woman; but George knew that +she could turn upon him if goaded far enough, and rend him. He could +depend upon her for very much, because she loved him; but he was +afraid of her. "You didn't mean that, I know," she added, smiling. + +"Of course I didn't." + +"No; your cruelties don't lie in that line; do they, George?" + +"I'm sure I never mean to be cruel to you, Lucy." + +"I don't think you do. I hardly believe that you ever mean +anything,--except just to get along and live." + +"A fellow must live, you know," said George. + +In ordinary society George Hotspur could be bright, and he was proud +of being bright. With this woman he was always subdued, always made +to play second fiddle, always talked like a boy; and he knew it. He +had loved her once, if he was capable of loving anything; but her +mastery over him wearied him, even though he was, after a fashion, +proud of her cleverness, and he wished that she were,--well, dead, if +the reader choose that mode of expressing what probably were George's +wishes. But he had never told himself that he desired her death. He +could build pleasant castles in the air as to the murder of Captain +Stubber, but his thoughts did not travel that way in reference to +Mrs. Morton. + +"She is not pretty, then,--this rich bride of yours?" + +"Not particularly; she's well enough, you know." + +"And well enough is good enough for you;--is it? Do you love her, +George?" + +The woman's voice was very low and plaintive as she asked the +question. Though from moment to moment she could use her little skill +in pricking him with her satire, still she loved him; and she would +vary her tone, and as at one minute she would make him uneasy by her +raillery, so at the next she would quell him by her tenderness. She +looked into his face for a reply, when he hesitated. "Tell me that +you do not love her," she said, passionately. + +"Not particularly," replied George. + +"And yet you would marry her?" + +"What's a fellow to do? You see how I am fixed about the title. These +are kinds of things to which a man situated as I am is obliged to +submit." + +"Royal obligations, as one might call them." + +"By George, yes," said George, altogether missing the satire. From +any other lips he would have been sharp enough to catch it. "One +can't see the whole thing go to the dogs after it has kept its head +up so long! And then you know, a man can't live altogether without an +income." + +"You have done so, pretty well." + +"I know that I owe you a lot of money, Lucy; and I know also that I +mean to pay you." + +"Don't talk about that. I don't know how at such a time as this you +can bring yourself to mention it." Then she rose from her seat and +flashed into wrath, carried on by the spirit of her own words. "Look +here, George; if you send me any of that woman's money, by the living +God I will send it back to herself. To buy me with her money! But it +is so like a man." + +"I didn't mean that. Sir Harry is to pay all my debts." + +"And will not that be the same? Will it not be her money? Why is he +to pay your debts? Because he loves you?" + +"It is all a family arrangement. You don't quite understand." + +"Of course I don't understand. Such a one as I cannot lift myself so +high above the earth. Great families form a sort of heaven of their +own, which poor broken, ill-conditioned, wretched, common creatures +such as I am cannot hope to comprehend. But, by heaven, what a lot of +the vilest clay goes to the making of that garden of Eden! Look here, +George;--you have nothing of your own?" + +"Not much, indeed." + +"Nothing. Is not that so? You can answer me at any rate." + +"You know all about it," he said,--truly enough, for she did know. + +"And you cannot earn a penny." + +"I don't know that I can. I never was very good at earning anything." + +"It isn't gentlemanlike, is it? But I can earn money." + +"By George! yes. I've often envied you. I have indeed." + +"How flattering! As far as it went you should have had it +all,--nearly all,--if you could have been true to me." + +"But, Lucy,--about the family?" + +"And about your debts? Of course I couldn't pay debts which were +always increasing. And of course your promises for the future were +false. We both knew that they were false when they were made. Did +we not?" She paused for an answer, but he made none. "They meant +nothing; did they? He is dead now." + +"Morton is dead?" + +"Yes; he died in San Francisco, months ago." + +"I couldn't have known that, Lucy; could I?" + +"Don't be a fool! What difference would it have made? Don't pretend +anything so false. It would be disgusting on the very face of it. It +mattered nothing to you whether he lived or died. When is it to be?" + +"When is what to be?" + +"Your marriage with this ill-looking young woman, who has got money, +but whom you do not even pretend to love." + +It struck even George that this was a way in which Emily Hotspur +should not be described. She had been acknowledged to be the beauty +of the last season, one of the finest girls that had ever been seen +about London; and, as for loving her,--he did love her. A man might +be fond of two dogs, or have two pet horses, and why shouldn't he +love two women! Of course he loved his cousin. But his circumstances +at the moment were difficult, and he didn't quite know how to explain +all this. + +"When is it to be?" she said, urging her question imperiously. + +In answer to this he gave her to understand that there was still a +good deal of difficulty. He told her something of his position with +Captain Stubber, and defined,--not with absolute correctness,--the +amount of consent which Sir Harry had given to the marriage. + +"And what am I to do?" she asked. + +He looked blankly into her face. She then rose again, and unlocking a +desk with a key that hung at her girdle, she took from it a bundle of +papers. + +"There," she said; "there is the letter in which I have your promise +to marry me when I am free;--as I am now. It could not be less +injurious to you than when locked up there; but the remembrance of +it might frighten you." She threw the letter to him across the table, +but he did not touch it. "And here are others which might be taken to +mean the same thing. There! I am not so injured as I might seem to +be,--for I never believed them. How could I believe anything that you +would say to me,--anything that you would write?" + +"Don't be down on me too hard, Lucy." + +"No, I will not be down upon you at all. If these things pained you, +I would not say them. Shall I destroy the letters?" Then she took +them, one after another, and tore them into small fragments. "You +will be easier now, I know." + +"Easy! I am not very easy, I can tell you." + +"Captain Stubber will not let you off so gently as I do. Is that it?" + +Then there was made between them a certain pecuniary arrangement, +which if Mrs. Morton trusted at all the undertaking made to her, +showed a most wonderful faith on her part. She would lend him £250 +towards the present satisfaction of Captain Stubber; and this sum, to +be lent for such a purpose, she would consent to receive back again +out of Sir Harry's money. She must see a certain manager, she said; +but she did not doubt but that her loan would be forthcoming on the +Saturday morning. Captain George Hotspur accepted the offer, and was +profuse in his thanks. After that, when he was going, her weakness +was almost equal to his vileness. + +"You will come and see me," she said, as she held his hand. Again he +paused a moment. "George, you will come and see me?" + +"Oh, of course I will." + +"A great deal I can bear; a great deal I have borne; but do not be +a coward. I knew you before she did, and have loved you better, and +have treated you better than ever she will do. Of course you will +come?" + +He promised her that he would, and then went from her. + +On the Saturday morning Captain Stubber was made temporarily happy by +the most unexpected receipt of five hundred pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE HUNT BECOMES HOT. + + +September passed away with Captain Hotspur very unpleasantly. He had +various interviews with Captain Stubber, with Mr. Hart, and with +other creditors, and found very little amusement. Lady Altringham +had written to him again, advising him strongly to make out a +complete list of his debts, and to send them boldly to Sir Harry. He +endeavoured to make out the list, but had hardly the audacity to do +it even for his own information. When the end of September had come, +and he was preparing himself to join the party of distinguished +pheasant-shooters in Norfolk, he had as yet sent no list to +Sir Harry, nor had he heard a word from Humblethwaite. Certain +indications had reached him,--continued to reach him from day to +day,--that Mr. Boltby was at work, but no communication had been made +actually to himself even by Mr. Boltby. When and how and in what form +he was expected to send the schedule of his debts to Sir Harry he +did not know; and thus it came to pass that when the time came for +his departure from town, he had sent no such schedule at all. His +sojourn, however, with the distinguished party was to last only for a +week, and then he would really go to work. He would certainly himself +write to Sir Harry before the end of October. + +In the meantime there came other troubles,--various other troubles. +One other trouble vexed him sore. There came to him a note from a +gentleman with whom his acquaintance was familiar though slight,--as +follows:-- + + + DEAR HOTSPUR,--Did I not meet you at the last Goodwood + meeting? If you don't mind, pray answer me the question. + You will remember, I do not doubt, that I did; that I lost + my money too, and paid it.--Yours ever, + + F. STACKPOOLE. + + +He understood it all immediately. The Stackpooles had been at +Humblethwaite. But what business had the man to write letters to him +with the object of getting him into trouble? He did not answer the +note, but, nevertheless, it annoyed him much. And then there was +another great vexation. He was now running low in funds for present +use. He had made what he feared was a most useless outlay in +satisfying Stubber's immediate greed for money, and the effect was, +that at the beginning of the last week in September he found himself +with hardly more than fifty sovereigns in his possession, which would +be considerably reduced before he could leave town. He had been worse +off before,--very much worse; but it was especially incumbent on him +now to keep up that look of high feather which cannot be maintained +in its proper brightness without ready cash. He must take a +man-servant with him among the distinguished guests; he must fee +gamekeepers, pay railway fares, and have loose cash about him for +a hundred purposes. He wished it to be known that he was going to +marry his cousin. He might find some friend with softer heart than +Altringham, who would lend him a few hundreds on being made to +believe in this brilliant destiny; but a roll of bank-notes in his +pocket would greatly aid him in making the destiny credible. Fifty +pounds, as he well knew, would melt away from him like snow. The +last fifty pounds of a thousand always goes quicker than any of the +nineteen other fifties. + +Circumstances had made it impossible for him to attend the Leger +this year, but he had put a little money on it. The result had done +nothing for or against him,--except this, that whereas he received +between one and two hundred pounds, he conceived the idea of paying +only a portion of what he had lost. With reference to the remainder, +he wrote to ask his friend if it would be quite the same if the money +were paid at Christmas. If not, of course it should be sent at once. +The friend was one of the Altringham set, who had been at Castle +Corry, and who had heard of George's hopes in reference to his +cousin. George added a postscript to his letter: "This kind of thing +will be over for me very soon. I am to be a Benedict, and the house +of Humblethwaite and the title are to be kept together. I know you +will congratulate me. My cousin is a charming girl, and worth all +that I shall lose ten times over." It was impossible, he thought, +that the man should refuse him credit for eighty pounds till +Christmas, when the man should know that he was engaged to be married +to £20,000 a year! But the man did refuse. The man wrote back to say +that he did not understand this kind of thing at all, and that he +wanted his money at once. George Hotspur sent the man his money, not +without many curses on the illiberality of such a curmudgeon. Was it +not cruel that a fellow would not give him so trifling an assistance +when he wanted it so badly? All the world seemed to conspire to hurt +him just at this most critical moment of his life! In many of his +hardest emergencies for ready money he had gone to Mrs. Morton. But +even he felt that just at present he could not ask her for more. + +Nevertheless, a certain amount of cash was made to be forthcoming +before he took his departure for Norfolk. In the course of the +preceding spring he had met a young gentleman in Mr. Hart's small +front parlour, who was there upon ordinary business. He was a young +gentleman with good prospects, and with some command of ready money; +but he liked to live, and would sometimes want Mr. Hart's assistance. +His name was Walker, and though he was not exactly one of that class +in which it delighted Captain Hotspur to move, nevertheless he was +not altogether disdained by that well-born and well-bred gentleman. +On the third of October, the day before he left London to join his +distinguished friends in Norfolk, George Hotspur changed a cheque +for nearly three hundred pounds at Mr. Walker's banker's. Poor Mr. +Walker! But Cousin George went down to Norfolk altogether in high +feather. If there were play, he would play. He would bet about +pulling straws if he could find an adversary to bet with him. He +could chink sovereigns about at his ease, at any rate, during the +week. Cousin George liked to chink sovereigns about at his ease. And +this point of greatness must be conceded to him,--that, however black +might loom the clouds of the coming sky, he could enjoy the sunshine +of the hour. + +In the meantime Mr. Boltby was at work, and before Cousin George had +shot his last pheasant in such very good company, Sir Harry was up +in town assisting Mr. Boltby. How things had gone at Humblethwaite +between Sir Harry and his daughter must not be told on this page; +but the reader may understand that nothing had as yet occurred to +lessen Sir Harry's objection to the match. There had been some +correspondence between Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby, and Sir Harry had +come up to town. When the reader learns that on the very day on +which Cousin George and his servant were returning to London by the +express train from Norfolk, smoking many cigars and drinking many +glasses,--George of sherry, and the servant probably of beer and +spirits alternately,--each making himself happy with a novel; +George's novel being French, and that of the servant English +sensational,--the reader, when he learns that on this very day Sir +Harry had interviews with Captain Stubber and also with Mrs. Morton, +will be disposed to think that things were not going very well for +Cousin George. But then the reader does not as yet know the nature of +the persistency of Emily Hotspur. + +What Sir Harry did with Captain Stubber need not be minutely +described. There can be no doubt that Cousin George was not spared by +the Captain, and that when he understood what might be the result of +telling the truth, he told all that he knew. In that matter of the +£500 Cousin George had really been ill-treated. The payment had done +him no sort of service whatever. Of Captain Stubber's interview with +Sir Harry nothing further need now be said. But it must be explained +that Sir Harry, led astray by defective information, made a mistake +in regard to Mrs. Morton, and found out his mistake. He did not much +like Mrs. Morton, but he did not leave her without an ample apology. +From Mrs. Morton he learned nothing whatever in regard to Cousin +George,--nothing but this, that Mrs. Morton did not deny that she +was acquainted with Captain Hotspur. Mr. Boltby had learned, however, +that Cousin George had drawn the money for a cheque payable to her +order, and he had made himself nearly certain of the very nature of +the transaction. + +Early on the morning after George's return he was run to ground by +Mr. Boltby's confidential clerk, at the hotel behind the club. It +was so early, to George at least, that he was still in bed. But the +clerk, who had breakfasted at eight, been at his office by nine, and +had worked hard for two hours and a half since, did not think it at +all early. George, who knew that his pheasant-shooting pleasure was +past, and that immediate trouble was in store for him, had consoled +himself over-night with a good deal of curaçoa and seltzer and +brandy, and had taken these comforting potations after a bottle of +champagne. He was, consequently, rather out of sorts when he was run +to ground in his very bedroom by Boltby's clerk. He was cantankerous +at first, and told the clerk to go and be d----d. The clerk pleaded +Sir Harry. Sir Harry was in town, and wanted to see his cousin. A +meeting must, of course, be arranged. Sir Harry wished that it might +be in Mr. Boltby's private room. When Cousin George objected that he +did not choose to have any interview with Sir Harry in presence of +the lawyer, the clerk very humbly explained that the private room +would be exclusively for the service of the two gentlemen. Sick as he +was, Cousin George knew that nothing was to be gained by quarrelling +with Sir Harry. Though Sir Harry should ask for an interview in +presence of the Lord Mayor, he must go to it. He made the hour as +late as he could, and at last three o'clock was settled. + +At one, Cousin George was at work upon his broiled bones and tea +laced with brandy, having begun his meal with soda and brandy. He was +altogether dissatisfied with himself. Had he known on the preceding +evening what was coming, he would have dined on a mutton chop and a +pint of sherry, and have gone to bed at ten o'clock. He looked at +himself in the glass, and saw that he was bloated and red,--and a +thing foul to behold. It was a matter of boast to him,--the most +pernicious boast that ever a man made,--that in twenty-four hours +he could rid himself of all outward and inward sign of any special +dissipation; but the twenty-four hours were needed, and now not +twelve were allowed him. Nevertheless, he kept his appointment. He +tried to invent some lie which he might send by a commissioner, and +which might not ruin him. But he thought upon the whole that it would +be safer for him to go. + +When he entered the room he saw at a glance that there was to be +war,--war to the knife,--between him and Sir Harry. He perceived at +once that if it were worth his while to go on with the thing at all, +he must do so in sole dependence on the spirit and love of Emily +Hotspur. Sir Harry at their first greeting declined to shake hands +with him, and called him Captain Hotspur. + +"Captain Hotspur," he said, "in a word, understand that there must be +no further question of a marriage between you and my daughter." + +"Why not, Sir Harry?" + +"Because, sir--" and then he paused--"I would sooner see my girl dead +at my feet than entrust her to such a one as you. It was true what +you said to me at Humblethwaite. There would have been something +very alluring to me in the idea of joining the property and the +title together. A man will pay much for such a whim. I would not +unwillingly have paid very much in money; but I am not so infamously +wicked as to sacrifice my daughter utterly by giving her to one so +utterly unworthy of her as you are." + +"I told you that I was in debt, Sir Harry." + +"I wanted no telling as to that; but I did want telling as to your +mode of life, and I have had it now. You had better not press me. You +had better see Mr. Boltby. He will tell you what I am willing to do +for you upon receiving your written assurance that you will never +renew your offer of marriage to Miss Hotspur." + +"I cannot do that," said Cousin George, hoarsely. + +"Then I shall leave you with your creditors to deal with as they +please. I have nothing further to suggest myself, and I would +recommend that you should see Mr. Boltby before you leave the +chambers." + +"What does my cousin say?" he asked. + +"Were you at Goodwood last meeting?" asked Sir Harry. "But of course +you were." + +"I was," he answered. He was obliged to acknowledge so much, not +quite knowing what Stackpoole might have said or done. "But I can +explain that." + +"There is no need whatever of any explanation. Do you generally +borrow money from such ladies as Mrs. Morton?" Cousin George blushed +when this question was asked, but made no answer to it. It was one +that he could not answer. "But it makes no difference, Captain +Hotspur. I mention these things only to let you feel that I know you. +I must decline any further speech with you. I strongly advise you to +see Mr. Boltby at once. Good afternoon." + +So saying, the Baronet withdrew quickly, and Cousin George heard him +shut the door of the chambers. + +After considering the matter for a quarter of an hour, Cousin George +made up his mind that he would see the lawyer. No harm could come +to him from seeing the lawyer. He was closeted with Mr. Boltby for +nearly an hour, and before he left the chamber had been forced to +confess to things of which he had not thought it possible that Mr. +Boltby should ever have heard. Mr. Boltby knew the whole story of +the money raised on the commission, of the liabilities to both Hart +and Stubber, and had acquainted himself with the history of Lord +Baldebeque's cheque. Mr. Boltby was not indignant, as had been Sir +Harry, but intimated it as a thing beyond dispute that a man who had +done such things as could be proved against Cousin George,--and as +would undoubtedly be proved against him if he would not give up his +pursuit of the heiress,--must be disposed of with severity, unless +he retreated at once of his own accord. Mr. Boltby did indeed hint +something about a criminal prosecution, and utter ruin, +and--incarceration. + +But if George Hotspur would renounce his cousin utterly,--putting +his renunciation on paper,--Sir Harry would pay all his debts to the +extent of twenty thousand pounds, would allow him four hundred a year +on condition that he would live out of England, and would leave him a +further sum of twenty thousand pounds by his will, on condition that +no renewed cause of offence were given. + +"You had better, perhaps, go home and think about it, Mr. Hotspur," +said the lawyer. Cousin George did go away and think about it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +"I WILL NOT DESERT HIM." + + +Sir Harry, before he had left Humblethwaite for London in October, +had heard enough of his cousin's sins to make him sure that the +match must be opposed with all his authority. Indeed he had so felt +from the first moment in which George had begun to tell him of +what had occurred at Airey Force. He had never thought that George +Hotspur would make a fitting husband for his daughter. But, without +so thinking, he had allowed his mind to dwell upon the outside +advantages of the connection, dreaming of a fitness which he knew did +not exist, till he had vacillated, and the evil thing had come upon +him. When the danger was so close upon him to make him see what it +was, to force him to feel what would be the misery threatened to his +daughter, to teach him to realize his own duty, he condemned himself +bitterly for his own weakness. Could any duty which he owed to the +world be so high or so holy as that which was due from him to his +child? He almost hated his name and title and position as he thought +of the evil that he had already done. Had his cousin George been in +no close succession to the title, would he have admitted a man of +whom he knew so much ill, and of whom he had never heard any good, +within his park palings? And then he could not but acknowledge to +himself that by asking such a one to his house,--a man such as this +young cousin who was known to be the heir to the title,--he had given +his daughter special reason to suppose that she might regard him as +a fitting suitor for her hand. She of course had known,--had felt as +keenly as he had felt, for was she not a Hotspur?--that she would be +true to her family by combining her property and the title, and that +by yielding to such a marriage she would be doing a family duty, +unless there were reasons against it stronger than those connected +with his name. But as to those other reasons, must not her father and +her mother know better than she could know? When she found that the +man was made welcome both in town and country, was it not natural +that she should suppose that there were no stronger reasons? All this +Sir Harry felt, and blamed himself and determined that though he must +oppose his daughter and make her understand that the hope of such a +marriage must be absolutely abandoned, it would be his duty to be +very tender with her. He had sinned against her already, in that he +had vacillated and had allowed that handsome but vile and worthless +cousin to come near her. + +In his conduct to his daughter, Sir Harry endeavoured to be just, +and tender, and affectionate; but in his conduct to his wife on +the occasion he allowed himself some scope for the ill-humour not +unnaturally incident to his misfortune. "Why on earth you should +have had him in Bruton Street when you knew very well what he was, I +cannot conceive," said Sir Harry. + +"But I didn't know," said Lady Elizabeth, fearing to remind her +husband that he also had sanctioned the coming of the cousin. + +"I had told you. It was there that the evil was done. And then to let +them go to that picnic together!" + +"What could I do when Mrs. Fitzpatrick asked to be taken? You +wouldn't have had me tell Emily that she should not be one of the +party." + +"I would have put it off till he was out of the house." + +"But the Fitzpatricks were going too," pleaded the poor woman. + +"It wouldn't have happened at all if you had not asked him to stay +till the Monday," said Sir Harry; and to this charge Lady Elizabeth +knew that there was no answer. There she had clearly disobeyed her +husband; and though she doubtless suffered much from some dim idea of +injustice, she was aware that as she had so offended she must submit +to be told that all this evil had come from her wrong-doing. + +"I hope she will not be obstinate," said Sir Harry to his wife. +Lady Elizabeth, though she was not an acute judge of character, did +know her own daughter, and was afraid to say that Emily would not +be obstinate. She had the strongest possible respect as well as +affection for her own child; she thoroughly believed in Emily--much +more thoroughly than she did in herself. But she could not say that +in such a matter Emily would not be obstinate. Lady Elizabeth was +very intimately connected with two obstinate persons, one of whom was +young and the other old; and she thought that perhaps the younger was +the more obstinate of the two. + +"It is quite out of the question that she should marry him," said Sir +Harry, sadly. Still Lady Elizabeth made no reply. "I do not think +that she will disobey me," continued Sir Harry. Still Lady Elizabeth +said nothing. "If she gives me a promise, she will keep it," said Sir +Harry. + +Then the mother could answer, "I am sure she will." + +"If the worst come to the worst, we must go away." + +"To Scarrowby?" suggested Lady Elizabeth, who hated Scarrowby. + +"That would do no good. Scarrowby would be the same as Humblethwaite +to her, or perhaps worse. I mean abroad. We must shut up the place +for a couple of years, and take her to Naples and Vienna, or perhaps +to Egypt. Everything must be changed to her!--that is, if the evil +has gone deep enough." + +"Is he so very bad?" asked Lady Elizabeth. + +"He is a liar and a blackguard, and I believe him to be a swindler," +said Sir Harry. Then Lady Elizabeth was mute, and her husband left +her. + +At this time he had heard the whole story of the pawning of the +commission, had been told something of money raised by worthless +cheques, and had run to ground that lie about the Goodwood races. But +he had not yet heard anything special of Mrs. Morton. The only attack +on George's character which had as yet been made in the hearing of +Emily had been with reference to the Goodwood races. Mrs. Stackpoole +was a lady of some determination, and one who in society liked to +show that she was right in her assertions, and well informed on +matters in dispute; and she hated Cousin George. There had therefore +come to be a good deal said about the Goodwood meeting, so that the +affair reached Sir Harry's ears. He perceived that Cousin George +had lied, and determined that Emily should be made to know that her +cousin had lied. But it was very difficult to persuade her of this. +That everybody else should tell stories about George and the Goodwood +meeting seemed to her to be natural enough; she contented herself +with thinking all manner of evil of Mr. and Mrs. Stackpoole, and +reiterating her conviction that George Hotspur had not been at the +meeting in question. + +"I don't know that it much signifies," Mrs. Stackpoole had said in +anger. + +"Not in the least," Emily had replied, "only that I happen to know +that my cousin was not there. He goes to so many race meetings that +there has been some little mistake." + +Then Mr. Stackpoole had written to Cousin George, and Cousin George +had thought it wise to make no reply. Sir Harry, however, from other +sources had convinced himself of the truth, and had told his daughter +that there was evidence enough to prove the fact in any court of law. +Emily when so informed had simply held her tongue, and had resolved +to hate Mrs. Stackpoole worse than ever. + +She had been told from the first that her engagement with her cousin +would not receive her father's sanction; and for some days after +that there had been silence on the subject at Humblethwaite, while +the correspondence with Mr. Boltby was being continued. Then there +came the moment in which Sir Harry felt that he must call upon his +daughter to promise obedience, and the conversation which has been +described between him and Lady Elizabeth was preparatory to his doing +so. + +"My dear," he said to his daughter, "sit down; I want to speak to +you." + +He had sent for her into his own morning room, in which she did not +remember to have been asked to sit down before. She would often +visit him there, coming in and out on all manner of small occasions, +suggesting that he should ride with her, asking for the loan of a +gardener for a week for some project of her own, telling him of a big +gooseberry, interrupting him ruthlessly on any trifle in the world. +But on such occasions she would stand close to him, leaning on him. +And he would scold her,--playfully, or kiss her, or bid her begone +from the room,--but would always grant what she asked of him. To him, +though he hardly knew that it was so, such visits from his darling +had been the bright moments of his life. But up to this morning he +had never bade her be seated in that room. + +"Emily," he said, "I hope you understand that all this about your +cousin George must be given up." She made no reply, though he waited +perhaps for a minute. "It is altogether out of the question. I am +very, very sorry that you have been subjected to such a sorrow. I +will own that I have been to blame for letting him come to my house." + +"No, Papa, no." + +"Yes, my dear, I have been to blame, and I feel it keenly. I did not +then know as much of him as I do now, but I had heard that which +should have made me careful to keep him out of your company." + +"Hearing about people, Papa! Is that fair? Are we not always hearing +tales about everybody?" + +"My dear child, you must take my word for something." + +"I will take it for everything in all the world, Papa." + +"He has been a thoroughly bad young man." + +"But, Papa--" + +"You must take my word for it when I tell you that I have positive +proof of what I am telling you." + +"But, Papa--" + +"Is not that enough?" + +"No, Papa. I am heartily sorry that he should have been what you call +a bad young man. I wish young men weren't so bad;--that there were no +racecourses, and betting, and all that. But if he had been my brother +instead of my cousin--" + +"Don't talk about your brother, Emily." + +"Should we hate him because he has been unsteady? Should we not do +all that we could in the world to bring him back? I do not know that +we are to hate people because they do what they ought not to do." + +"We hate liars." + +"He is not a liar. I will not believe it." + +"Why did he tell you that he was not at those races, when he was +there as surely as you are here? But, my dear, I will not argue about +all this with you. It is not right that I should do so. It is my duty +to inquire into these things, and yours to believe me and to obey +me." Then he paused, but his daughter made no reply to him. He looked +into her face, and saw there that mark about her eyes which he knew +he so often showed himself; which he so well remembered with his +father. "I suppose you do believe me, Emily, when I tell you that he +is worthless." + +"He need not be worthless always." + +"His conduct has been such that he is unfit to be trusted with +anything." + +"He must be the head of our family some day, Papa." + +"That is our misfortune, my dear. No one can feel it as I do. But I +need not add to it the much greater misfortune of sacrificing to him +my only child." + +"If he was so bad, why did he come here?" + +"That is true. I did not expect to be rebuked by you, Emily, but I am +open to that rebuke." + +"Dear, dear Papa, indeed I did not mean to rebuke you. But I cannot +give him up." + +"You must give him up." + +"No, Papa. If I did, I should be false. I will not be false. You say +that he is false. I do not know that, but I will not be false. Let me +speak to you for one minute." + +"It is of no use." + +"But you will hear me, Papa. You always hear me when I speak to +you." She had left her chair now, and was standing close to him, not +leaning upon him as was her wont in their pleasantest moments of +fellowship, but ready to do so whenever she should find that his mood +would permit it. "I will never marry him without your leave." + +"Thanks, Emily; I know how sacred is a promise from you." + +"But mine to him is equally sacred. I shall still be engaged to him. +I told him how it would be. I said that, as long as you or Mamma +lived, I would never marry without your leave. Nor would I see him, +or write to him without your knowledge. I told him so. But I told him +also that I would always be true to him. I mean to keep my word." + +"If you find him to be utterly worthless, you cannot be bound by such +a promise." + +"I hope it may not be so. I do not believe that it is so. I know him +too well to think that he can be utterly worthless. But if he was, +who should try to save him from worthlessness if not his nearest +relatives? We try to reclaim the worst criminals, and sometimes we +succeed. And he must be the head of the family. Remember that. Ought +we not to try to reclaim him? He cannot be worse than the prodigal +son." + +"He is ten times worse. I cannot tell you what has been his life." + +"Papa, I have often thought that in our rank of life society is +responsible for the kind of things which young men do. If he was at +Goodwood, which I do not believe, so was Mr. Stackpoole. If he was +betting, so was Mr. Stackpoole." + +"But Mr. Stackpoole did not lie." + +"I don't know that," she said, with a little toss of her head. + +"Emily, you have no business either to say or to think it." + +"I care nothing for Mr. Stackpoole whether he tells truth or not. He +and his wife have made themselves very disagreeable,--that is all. +But as for George, he is what he is, because other young men are +allowed to be the same." + +"You do not know the half of it." + +"I know as much as I want to know, Papa. Let one keep as clear of it +as one can, it is impossible not to hear how young men live. And yet +they are allowed to go everywhere, and are flattered and encouraged. +I do not pretend that George is better than others. I wish he were. +Oh, how I wish it! But such as he is he belongs in a way to us, and +we ought not to desert him. He belongs, I know, to me, and I will not +desert him." + +Sir Harry felt that there was no arguing with such a girl as this. +Some time since he had told her that it was unfit that he should be +brought into an argument with his own child, and there was nothing +now for him but to fall back upon the security which that assertion +gave him. He could not charge her with direct disobedience, because +she had promised him that she would not do any of those things +which, as a father, he had a right to forbid. He relied fully on her +promise, and so far might feel himself to be safe. Nevertheless he +was very unhappy. Of what service would his child be to him or he +to her, if he were doomed to see her pining from day to day with an +unpermitted love? It was the dearest wish of his heart to make her +happy, as it was his fondest ambition to see her so placed in the +world that she might be the happy transmitter of all the honours +of the house of Humblethwaite,--if she could not transmit all the +honours of the name. Time might help him. And then if she could be +made really to see how base was the clay of which had been made this +image which she believed to be of gold, might it not be that at last +she would hate a thing that was so vile? In order that she might do +so, he would persist in finding out what had been the circumstances +of this young man's life. If, as he believed, the things which George +Hotspur had done were such as in another rank of life would send the +perpetrator to the treadmill, surely then she would not cling to her +lover. It would not be in her nature to prefer that which was foul +and abominable and despised of all men. It was after this, when he +had seen Mr. Boltby, that the idea occurred to him of buying up +Cousin George, so that Cousin George should himself abandon his +engagement. + +"You had better go now, my dear," he said, after his last speech. "I +fully rely upon the promise you have made me. I know that I can rely +upon it. And you also may rely upon me. I give you my word as your +father that this man is unfit to be your husband, and that I should +commit a sin greater than I can describe to you were I to give my +sanction to such a marriage." + +Emily made no answer to this, but left the room without having once +leaned upon her father's shoulder. + +That look of hers troubled him sadly when he was alone. What was to +be the meaning of it, and what the result? She had given him almost +unasked the only promise which duty required her to give, but at the +same time she had assured him by her countenance, as well as by her +words, that she would be as faithful to her lover as she was prepared +to be obedient to her father. And then if there should come a long +contest of that nature, and if he should see her devoted year after +year to a love which she would not even try to cast off from her, how +would he be able to bear it? He, too, was firm, but he knew himself +to be as tender-hearted as he was obstinate. It would be more than +he could bear. All the world would be nothing for him then. And if +there were ever to be a question of yielding, it would be easier +to do something towards lessening the vileness of the man now than +hereafter. He, too, had some of that knowledge of the world which had +taught Lady Altringham to say that the young people in such contests +could always beat the old people. Thinking of this, and of that look +upon his child's brows, he almost vacillated again. Any amount of +dissipation he could now have forgiven; but to be a liar, too, and a +swindler! Before he went to bed that night he had made up his mind to +go to London and to see Mr. Boltby. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PERTINACITY. + + +On the day but one after the scene narrated in the last chapter +Sir Harry went to London, and Lady Elizabeth and Emily were left +alone together in the great house at Humblethwaite. Emily loved her +mother dearly. The proper relations of life were reversed between +them, and the younger domineered over the elder. But the love +which the daughter felt was probably the stronger on this account. +Lady Elizabeth never scolded, never snubbed, never made herself +disagreeable, was never cross; and Emily, with her strong perceptions +and keen intelligence, knew all her mother's excellence, and loved +it the better because of her mother's weakness. She preferred her +father's company, but no one could say she neglected her mother for +the sake of her father. + +Hitherto she had said very little to Lady Elizabeth as to her lover. +She had, in the first place, told her mother, and then had received +from her mother, second-hand, her father's disapproval. At that time +she had only said that it was "too late." Poor Lady Elizabeth had +been able to make no useful answer to this. It certainly was too +late. The evil should have been avoided by refusing admittance to +Cousin George both in London and at Humblethwaite. It certainly was +too late;--too late, that is, to avoid the evil altogether. The girl +had been asked for her heart, and had given it. It was very much too +late. But evils such as that do admit of remedy. It is not every girl +that can marry the man whom she first confesses that she loves. Lady +Elizabeth had some idea that her child, being nobler born and of more +importance than other people's children, ought to have been allowed +by fate to do so,--as there certainly is a something withdrawn from +the delicate aroma of a first-class young woman by any transfer of +affections;--but if it might not be so, even an Emily Hotspur must +submit to a lot not uncommon among young women in general, and +wait and wish till she could acknowledge to herself that her heart +was susceptible of another wound. That was the mother's hope at +present,--her hope, when she was positively told by Sir Harry that +George Hotspur was quite out of the question as a husband for the +heiress of Humblethwaite. But this would probably come the sooner if +little or nothing were said of George Hotspur. + +The reader need hardly be told that Emily herself regarded the matter +in a very different light. She also had her ideas about the delicacy +and the aroma of a maiden's love. She had confessed her love very +boldly to the man who had asked for it; had made her rich present +with a free hand, and had grudged nothing in the making of it. But +having given it, she understood it to be fixed as the heavens that +she could never give the same gift again. It was herself that she +had given, and there was no retracting the offering. She had thought, +and had then hoped, and had afterwards hoped more faintly, that the +present had been well bestowed;--that in giving it she had disposed +of herself well. Now they told her that it was not so, and that she +could hardly have disposed of herself worse. She would not believe +that; but, let it be as it might, the thing was done. She was his. +He had a right in her which she could not withdraw from him. Was not +this sort of giving acknowledged by all churches in which the words +for "better or for worse" were uttered as part of the marriage vow? +Here there had been as yet no church vow, and therefore her duty +was still due to her father. But the sort of sacrifice,--so often a +sacrifice of the good to the bad,--which the Church not only allowed +but required and sanctified, could be as well conveyed by one promise +as by another. What is a vow but a promise? and by what process are +such vows and promises made fitting between a man and a woman? Is it +not by that compelled rendering up of the heart which men call love? +She had found that he was dearer to her than everything in the world +besides; that to be near him was a luxury to her; that his voice was +music to her; that the flame of his eyes was sunlight; that his touch +was to her, as had never been the touch of any other human being. +She could submit to him, she who never would submit to any one. She +could delight to do his bidding, even though it were to bring him his +slippers. She had confessed nothing of this, even to herself, till he +had spoken to her on the bridge; but then, in a moment, she had known +that it was so, and had not coyed the truth with him by a single nay. +And now they told her that he was bad. + +Bad as he was, he had been good enough to win her. 'Twas thus she +argued with herself. Who was she that she should claim for herself +the right of having a man that was not bad? That other man that had +come to her, that Lord Alfred, was, she was told, good at all points; +and he had not moved her in the least. His voice had possessed no +music for her; and as for fetching his slippers for him,--he was to +her one of those men who seem to be created just that they might +be civil when wanted and then get out of the way! She had not been +able for a moment to bring herself to think of regarding him as her +husband. But this man, this bad man! From the moment that he had +spoken to her on the bridge, she knew that she was his for ever. + +It might be that she liked a bad man best. So she argued with herself +again. If it were so she must put up with what misfortune her own +taste might bring upon her. At any rate the thing was done, and why +should any man be thrown over simply because the world called him +bad? Was there to be no forgiveness for wrongs done between man and +man, when the whole theory of our religion was made to depend on +forgiveness from God to man? It is the duty of some one to reclaim an +evident prodigal; and why should it not be her duty to reclaim this +prodigal? Clearly, the very fact that she loved the prodigal would +give her a potentiality that way which she would have with no other +prodigal. It was at any rate her duty to try. It would at least be +her duty if they would allow her to be near enough to him to make +the attempt. Then she filled her mind with ideas of a long period +of probation, in which every best energy of her existence should +be given to this work of reclaiming the prodigal, so that at last +she might put her own hand into one that should be clean enough +to receive it. With such a task before her she could wait. She +could watch him and give all her heart to his welfare, and never be +impatient except that he might be made happy. As she thought of this, +she told herself plainly that the work would not be easy, that there +would be disappointment, almost heart-break, delays and sorrows; but +she loved him, and it would be her duty; and then, if she could be +successful, how great, how full of joy would be the triumph! Even +if she were to fail and perish in failing, it would be her duty. As +for giving him up because he had the misfortune to be bad, she would +as soon give him up on the score of any other misfortune;--because +he might lose a leg, or become deformed, or be stricken deaf by +God's hand! One does not desert those one loves, because of their +misfortunes! 'Twas thus she argued with herself, thinking that she +could see,--whereas, poor child, she was so very blind! + +"Mamma," she said, "has Papa gone up to town about Cousin George?" + +"I do not know, my dear. He did not say why he was going." + +"I think he has. I wish I could make him understand." + +"Understand what, my dear?" + +"All that I feel about it. I am sure it would save him much trouble. +Nothing can ever separate me from my cousin." + +"Pray don't say so, Emily." + +"Nothing can. Is it not better that you and he should know the truth? +Papa goes about trying to find out all the naughty things that George +has ever done. There has been some mistake about a race meeting, and +all manner of people are asked to give what Papa calls evidence that +Cousin George was there. I do not doubt but George has been what +people call dissipated." + +"We do hear such dreadful stories!" + +"You would not have thought anything about them if it had not been +for me. He is not worse now than when he came down here last year. +And he was always asked to Bruton Street." + +"What do you mean by this, dear?" + +"I do not mean to say that young men ought to do all these things, +whatever they are,--getting into debt, and betting, and living fast. +Of course it is very wrong. But when a young man has been brought +up in that way, I do think he ought not to be thrown over by his +nearest and dearest friends"--that last epithet was uttered with all +the emphasis which Emily could give to it--"because he falls into +temptation." + +"I am afraid George has been worse than others, Emily." + +"So much the more reason for trying to save him. If a man be in the +water, you do not refuse to throw him a rope because the water is +deep." + +"But, dearest, your papa is thinking of you." Lady Elizabeth was not +quick enough of thought to explain to her daughter that if the rope +be of more value than the man, and if the chance of losing the rope +be much greater than that of saving the man, then the rope is not +thrown. + +"And I am thinking of George," said Emily. + +"But if it should appear that he had done things,--the wickedest +things in the world?" + +"I might break my heart in thinking of it, but I should never give +him up." + +"If he were a murderer?" suggested Lady Elizabeth, with horror. + +The girl paused, feeling herself to be hardly pressed, and then came +that look upon her brow which Lady Elizabeth understood as well as +did Sir Harry. "Then I would be a murderer's wife," she said. + +"Oh, Emily!" + +"I must make you understand me, Mamma, and I want Papa to understand +it too. No consideration on earth shall make me say that I will +give him up. They may prove if they like that he was on all the +racecourses in the world, and get that Mrs. Stackpoole to swear to +it;--and it is ten times worse for a woman to go than it is for a +man, at any rate;--but it will make no difference. If you and Papa +tell me not to see him or write to him,--much less to marry him,--of +course I shall obey you. But I shall not give him up a bit the more, +and he must not be told that I will give him up. I am sure Papa will +not wish that anything untrue should be told. George will always be +to me the dearest thing in the whole world,--dearer than my own soul. +I shall pray for him every night, and think of him all day long. And +as to the property, Papa may be quite sure that he can never arrange +it by any marriage that I shall make. No man shall ever speak to me +in that way, if I can help it. I won't go where any man can speak to +me. I will obey,--but it will be at the cost of my life. Of course +I will obey Papa and you; but I cannot alter my heart. Why was he +allowed to come here,--the head of our own family,--if he be so bad +as this? Bad or good, he will always be all the world to me." + +To such a daughter as this Lady Elizabeth had very little to say that +might be of avail. She could quote Sir Harry, and entertain some dim +distant wish that Cousin George might even yet be found to be not +quite so black as he had been painted. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +COUSIN GEORGE IS HARD PRESSED. + + +The very sensible and, as one would have thought, very manifest idea +of buying up Cousin George originated with Mr. Boltby. "He will have +his price, Sir Harry," said the lawyer. Then Sir Harry's eyes were +opened, and so excellent did this mode of escape seem to him that he +was ready to pay almost any price for the article. He saw it at a +glance. Emily had high-flown notions, and would not yield; he feared +that she would not yield, let Cousin George's delinquencies be shown +to be as black as Styx. But if Cousin George could be made to give +her up,--then Emily must yield; and, yielding in such manner, having +received so rude a proof of her lover's unworthiness, it could not +be but that her heart would be changed. Sir Harry's first idea of a +price was very noble; all debts to be paid, a thousand a year for +the present, and Scarrowby to be attached to the title. What price +would be too high to pay for the extrication of his daughter from +so grievous a misfortune? But Mr. Boltby was more calm. As to the +payment of the debts,--yes, within a certain liberal limit. For the +present, an income of five hundred pounds he thought would be almost +as efficacious a bait as double the amount; and it would be well to +tack to it the necessity of a residence abroad. It might, perhaps, +serve to get the young man out of the country for a time. If the +young man bargained on either of these headings, the matter could be +reconsidered by Mr. Boltby; as to settling Scarrowby on the title, +Mr. Boltby was clearly against it. "He would raise every shilling he +could on post-obits within twelve months." At last the offer was made +in the terms with which the reader is already acquainted. George was +sent off from the lawyer's chambers with directions to consider the +terms, and Mr. Boltby gave his clerk some little instructions for +perpetuating the irritation on the young man which Hart and Stubber +together were able to produce. The young man should be made to +understand that hungry creditors, who had been promised their money +on certain conditions, could become very hungry indeed. + +George Hotspur, blackguard and worthless as he was, did not at first +realize the fact that Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby were endeavouring to +buy him. He was asked to give up his cousin, and he was told that +if he did so a certain very generous amount of pecuniary assistance +should be given to him; but yet he did not at the first glance +perceive that one was to be the price of the other,--that if he took +the one he would meanly have sold the other. It certainly would have +been very pleasant to have all his debts paid for him, and the offer +of five hundred pounds a year was very comfortable. Of the additional +sum to be given when Sir Harry should die, he did not think so much. +It might probably be a long time coming, and then Sir Harry would +of course be bound to do something for the title. As for living +abroad,--he might promise that, but they could not make him keep his +promise. He would not dislike to travel for six months, on condition +that he should be well provided with ready money. There was much that +was alluring in the offer, and he began to think whether he could not +get it all without actually abandoning his cousin. But then he was to +give a written pledge to that effect, which, if given, no doubt would +be shown to her. No; that would not do. Emily was his prize; and +though he did not value her at her worth, not understanding such +worth, still he had an idea that she would be true to him. Then at +last came upon him an understanding of the fact, and he perceived +that a bribe had been offered to him. + +For half a day he was so disgusted at the idea that his virtue was +rampant within him. Sell his Emily for money? Never! His Emily,--and +all her rich prospects, and that for a sum so inadequate! They little +knew their man when they made a proposition so vile! That evening, at +his club, he wrote a letter to Sir Harry, and the letter as soon as +written was put into the club letter-box, addressed to the house in +Bruton Street; in which, with much indignant eloquence, he declared +that the Baronet little understood the warmth of his love, or the +extent of his ambition in regard to the family. "I shall be quite +ready to submit to any settlements," he said, "so long as the +property is entailed upon the Baronet who shall come after myself; +I need not say that I hope the happy fellow may be my own son." + +But, on the next morning, on his first waking, his ideas were more +vague, and a circumstance happened which tended to divert them from +the current in which they had run on the preceding evening. When he +was going through the sad work of dressing, he bethought himself that +he could not at once force this marriage on Sir Harry--could not do +so, perhaps, within a twelvemonth or more, let Emily be ever so true +to him,--and that his mode of living had become so precarious as +to be almost incompatible with that outward decency which would be +necessary for him as Emily's suitor. He was still very indignant at +the offer made to him, which was indeed bribery of which Sir Harry +ought to be ashamed; but he almost regretted that his letter to Sir +Harry had been sent. It had not been considered enough, and certainly +should not have been written simply on after-dinner consideration. +Something might have been inserted with the view of producing ready +money, something which might have had a flavour of yielding, but +which could not have been shown to Emily as an offer on his part +to abandon her; and then he had a general feeling that his letter +had been too grandiloquent,--all arising, no doubt, from a fall in +courage incidental to a sick stomach. + +But before he could get out of his hotel a visitor was upon him. +Mr. Hart desired to see him. At this moment he would almost have +preferred to see Captain Stubber. He remembered at the moment that +Mr. Hart was acquainted with Mr. Walker, and that Mr. Walker would +probably have sought the society of Mr. Hart after a late occurrence +in which he, Cousin George, had taken part. He was going across +to breakfast at his club, when he found himself almost forced to +accompany Mr. Hart into a little private room at the left hand of the +hall of the hotel. He wanted his breakfast badly, and was altogether +out of humour. He had usually found Mr. Hart to be an enduring +man, not irascible, though very pertinacious, and sometimes almost +good-natured. For a moment he thought he would bully Mr. Hart, but +when he looked into Mr. Hart's face, his heart misgave him. + +"This is a most inconvenient time--," he had begun. But he hesitated, +and Mr. Hart began his attack at once. + +"Captain 'Oshspur--sir, let me tell you this von't do no longer." + +"What won't do, Mr. Hart?" + +"Vat von't do? You know vat von't do. Let me tell you this. You'll be +at the Old Bailey very soon, if you don't do just vat you is told to +do." + +"Me at the Old Bailey!" + +"Yes, Captain 'Oshspur,--you at the Old Bailey. In vat vay did you +get those moneys from poor Mr. Valker? I know vat I says. More than +three hundred pounds! It was card-sharping." + +"Who says it was card-sharping?" + +"I says so, Captain 'Oshspur, and so does Mr. Bullbean. Mr. Bullbean +vill prove it." Mr. Bullbean was a gentleman known well to Mr. Hart, +who had made one of the little party at Mr. Walker's establishment, +by means of which Cousin George had gone, flush of money, down among +his distinguished friends in Norfolk. "Vat did you do with poor +Valker's moneys? It vas very hard upon poor Mr. Valker,--very hard." + +"It was fair play, Mr. Hart." + +"Gammon, Captain 'Oshspur! Vere is the moneys?" + +"What business is that of yours?" + +"Oh, very well. Bullbean is quite ready to go before a +magistrate,--ready at once. I don't know how that vill help us with +our pretty cousin with all the fortune." + +"How will it help you then?" + +"Look here, Captain 'Oshspur; I vill tell you vat vill help me, and +vill help Captain Stubber, and vill help everybody. The young lady +isn't for you at all. I know all about it, Captain 'Oshspur. Mr. +Boltby is a very nice gentleman, and understands business." + +"What is Mr. Boltby to me?" + +"He is a great deal to me, because he vill pay me my moneys, and he +vill pay Captain Stubber, and vill pay everybody. He vill pay you +too, Captain 'Oshspur,--only you must pay poor Valker his moneys. +I have promised Valker he shall have back his moneys, or Sir Harry +shall know that too. You must just give up the young woman;--eh, +Captain 'Oshspur!" + +"I'm not going to be dictated to, Mr. Hart." + +"When gentlemans is in debt they must be dictated to, or else be +quodded. We mean to have our money from Mr. Boltby, and that at once. +Here is the offer to pay it,--every shilling,--and to pay you! You +must give the lady up. You must go to Mr. Boltby, and write just what +he tells you. If you don't--!" + +"Well, if I don't!" + +"By the living God, before two weeks are over you shall be in prison. +Bullbean saw it all. Now you know, Captain 'Oshspur. You don't like +dictating to, don't you? If you don't do as you're dictated to, and +that mighty sharp, as sure as my name is Abraham Hart, everything +shall come out. Every d----d thing, Captain 'Oshspur! And now good +morning, Captain 'Oshspur. You had better see Mr. Boltby to-day, +Captain 'Oshspur." + +How was a man so weighted to run for such stakes as those he was +striving to carry off? When Mr. Hart left him he was not only sick +in the stomach, but sick at heart also,--sick all over. He had gone +from bad to worse; he had lost the knowledge of the flavour of vice +and virtue; and yet now, when there was present to him the vanishing +possibility of redeeming everything by this great marriage, it seemed +to him that a life of honourable ease--such a life as Sir Harry would +wish him to live if permitted to marry the girl and dwell among his +friends at Humblethwaite--would be much sweeter, much more to his +real taste, than the life which he had led for the last ten years. +What had been his positive delights? In what moments had he actually +enjoyed them? From first to last had there not been trouble and +danger and vexation of spirit, and a savour of dirt about it all, +which even to his palate had been nauseous? Would he not willingly +reform? And yet, when the prospect of reform was brought within reach +of his eyes, of a reform so pleasant in all its accompaniments, of +reform amidst all the wealth of Humblethwaite, with Emily Hotspur by +his side, there came these harpies down upon him rendering it all +impossible. Thrice, in speaking of them to himself, he called them +harpies; but it never occurred to him to think by what name Mr. +Walker would have designated him. + +But things around him were becoming so serious that he must do +something. It might be that he would fall to the ground, losing +everything. He could not understand about Bullbean. Bullbean had +had his share of the plunder in regard to all that he had seen. The +best part of the evening's entertainment had taken place after Mr. +Bullbean had retired. No doubt, however, Mr. Bullbean might do him a +damage. + +He had written to Sir Harry, refusing altogether the offer made to +him. Could he, after writing such a letter, at once go to the lawyer +and accept the offer? And must he admit to himself, finally, that it +was altogether beyond his power to win his cousin's hand? Was there +no hope of that life at Humblethwaite which, when contemplated at a +distance, had seemed to him to be so green and pleasant? And what +would Emily think of him? In the midst of all his other miseries that +also was a misery. He was able, though steeped in worthlessness, so +to make for himself a double identity as to imagine and to personify +a being who should really possess fine and manly aspirations with +regard to a woman, and to look upon himself,--his second self,--as +that being; and to perceive with how withering a contempt such a +being would contemplate such another man as was in truth the real +George Hotspur, whose actual sorrows and troubles had now become so +unendurable. + +Who would help him in his distress? The Altringhams were still in +Scotland, and he knew well that, though Lady Altringham was fond of +him, and though Lord Altringham liked him, there was no assistance +to be had there of the kind that he needed. His dearly intimate +distinguished friends in Norfolk, with whom he had been always +"George," would not care if they heard that he had been crucified. +It seemed to him that the world was very hard and very cruel. Who +did care for him? There were two women who cared for him, who really +loved him, who would make almost any sacrifice for him, who would +even forget his sins, or at least forgive them. He was sure of that. +Emily Hotspur loved him, but there were no means by which he could +reach Emily Hotspur. She loved him, but she would not so far disobey +her father and mother, or depart from her own word, as to receive +even a letter from him. But the other friend who loved him,--he still +could see her. He knew well the time at which he would find her at +home, and some three or four hours after his interview with Mr. Hart +he knocked at Mrs. Morton's door. + +"Well, George," she said, "how does your wooing thrive?" + +He had no preconceived plan in coming to her. He was possessed by +that desire, which we all of us so often feel, to be comforted by +sympathy; but he hardly knew even how to describe the want of it. + +"It does not thrive at all," he said, throwing himself gloomily into +an easy chair. + +"That is bad news. Has the lady turned against you?" + +"Oh no," said he, moodily,--"nothing of that sort." + +"That would be impossible, would it not? Fathers are stern, but to +such a one as you daughters are always kind. That is what you mean; +eh, George?" + +"I wish you would not chaff me, Lucy. I am not well, and I did not +come to be chaffed." + +"The chaffing is all to be on one side, is it, George? Well; I will +say nothing to add to your discomforts. What is it ails you? You will +drink liqueurs after dinner. That is what makes you so wretched. And +I believe you drink them before dinner too." + +"Hardly ever. I don't do such a thing three times in a month. It is +not that; but things do trouble me so." + +"I suppose Sir Harry is not well pleased." + +"He is doing what he ought not to do, I must say that;--quite what I +call ungentlemanlike. A lawyer should never be allowed to interfere +between gentlemen. I wonder who would stand it, if an attorney were +set to work to make all manner of inquiries about everything that he +had ever done?" + +"I could not, certainly. I should cave in at once, as the boys say." + +"Other men have been as bad as I have, I suppose. He is sending about +everywhere." + +"Not only sending, George, but going himself. Do you know that Sir +Harry did me the honour of visiting me?" + +"No!" + +"But he did. He sat there in that very chair, and talked to me in a +manner that nobody ever did before, certainly. What a fine old man he +is, and how handsome!" + +"Yes; he is a good-looking old fellow." + +"So like you, George." + +"Is he?" + +"Only you know, less,--less,--less, what shall I say?--less +good-natured, perhaps." + +"I know what you mean. He is not such a fool as I am." + +"You're not a fool at all, George; but sometimes you are weak. He +looks to be strong. Is she like him?" + +"Very like him." + +"Then she must be handsome." + +"Handsome; I should think she is too!" said George, quite forgetting +the description of his cousin which he had given some days previously +to Mrs. Morton. + +She smiled, but took no notice aloud of his blunder. She knew him so +well that she understood it all. "Yes," she went on; "he came here +and said some bitter things. He said more, perhaps, than he ought to +have done." + +"About me, Lucy?" + +"I think that he spoke chiefly about myself. There was a little +explanation, and then he behaved very well. I have no quarrel with +him myself. He is a fine old gentleman; and having one only daughter, +and a large fortune, I do not wonder that he should want to make +inquiries before he gives her to you." + +"He could do that without an attorney." + +"Would you tell him the truth? The fact is, George, that you are not +the sort of son-in-law that fathers like. I suppose it will be off; +eh, George?" George made no immediate reply. "It is not likely that +she should have the constancy to stick to it for years, and I am sure +you will not. Has he offered you money?" Then George told her almost +with accuracy the nature of the proposition made to him. + +"It is very generous," she said. + +"I don't see much of that." + +"It certainly is very generous." + +"What ought a fellow to do?" + +"Only fancy, that you should come to me to ask me such a question!" + +"I know you will tell me true." + +"Do you love her?" + +"Yes." + +"With all your heart?" + +"What is the meaning of that? I do love her." + +"Better than her father's money?" + +"Much better." + +"Then stick to her through thick and thin. But you don't. I must not +advise you in accordance with what you say, but with what I think. +You will be beaten, certainly. She will never be your wife; and were +you so married, you would not be happy with such people. But she +will never be your wife. Take Sir Harry's offer, and write to her a +letter, explaining how it is best for all that you should do so." + +He paused a moment, and then he asked her one other question: "Would +you write the letter for me, Lucy?" + +She smiled again as she answered him: "Yes; if you make up your mind +to do as Sir Harry asks you, I will write a draft of what I think you +should say to her." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SIR HARRY'S RETURN. + + +Sir Harry received the grandly worded and indignant letter which had +been written at the club, and Cousin George hesitated as to that +other letter which his friend was to dictate for him. Consequently it +became necessary that Sir Harry should leave London before the matter +was settled. In truth the old Baronet liked the grandly worded and +indignant letter. It was almost such a letter as a Hotspur should +write on such an occasion. There was an admission of pecuniary +weakness which did not quite become a Hotspur, but otherwise the +letter was a good letter. Before he left London he took the letter +with him to Mr. Boltby, and on his way thither could not refrain from +counting up all the good things which would befall him and his if +only this young man might be reclaimed and recast in a mould such as +should fit the heir of the Hotspurs. He had been very bad,--so bad +that when Sir Harry counted up his sins they seemed to be as black +as night. And then, as he thought of them, the father would declare +to himself that he would not imperil his daughter by trusting her +to one who had shown himself to be so evil. But again another mode +of looking at it all would come upon him. The kind of vice of which +George had been undoubtedly guilty was very distasteful to Sir Harry; +it had been ignoble and ungentlemanlike vice. He had been a liar, +and not only a gambler, but a professional gambler. He had not +simply got into debt, but he had got into debt in a fashion that was +fraudulent;--so at least Sir Harry thought. And yet, need it be said +that this reprobate was beyond the reach of all forgiveness? Had not +men before him done as bad, and yet were brought back within the pale +of decent life? In this still vacillating mood of mind Sir Harry +reached his lawyer's. Mr. Boltby did not vacillate at all. When he +was shown the letter he merely smiled. + +"I don't think it is a bad letter," said Sir Harry. + +"Words mean so little, Sir Harry," said Mr. Boltby, "and come so +cheap." + +Sir Harry turned the letter over in his hand and frowned; he did not +quite like to be told even by his confidential lawyer that he was +mistaken. Unconsciously he was telling himself that after all George +Hotspur had been born a gentleman, and that therefore, underlying all +the young man's vileness and villany there must be a substratum of +noble soil of which the lawyer perhaps knew nothing. Mr. Boltby saw +that his client was doubting, and having given much trouble to the +matter, and not being afraid of Sir Harry, he determined to speak his +mind freely. + +"Sir Harry," he said, "in this matter I must tell you what I really +think." + +"Certainly." + +"I am sorry to have to speak ill of one bearing your name; and were +not the matter urgent as it is, I should probably repress something +of my opinion. As it is, I do not dare to do so. You could not in all +London find a man less fit to be the husband of Miss Hotspur than her +cousin." + +"He is a gentleman--by birth," said Sir Harry. + +"He is an unprincipled blackguard by education, and the more +blackguard because of his birth; there is nothing too bad for him to +do, and very little so bad but what he has done it. He is a gambler, +a swindler, and, as I believe, a forger and a card-sharper. He has +lived upon the wages of the woman he has professed to love. He has +shown himself to be utterly spiritless, abominable, and vile. If my +clerk in the next room were to slap his face, I do not believe that +he would resent it." Sir Harry frowned, and moved his feet rapidly +on the floor. "In my thorough respect and regard for you, Sir Harry," +continued Mr. Boltby, "I have undertaken a work which I would not +have done for above two or three other men in the world beside +yourself. I am bound to tell you the result, which is this,--that I +would sooner give my own girl to the sweeper at the crossing than to +George Hotspur." + +Sir Harry's brow was very black. Perhaps he had not quite known his +lawyer. Perhaps it was that he had less power of endurance than +he had himself thought in regard to the mention of his own family +affairs. "Of course," he said, "I am greatly indebted to you, Mr. +Boltby, for the trouble you have taken." + +"I only hope it may be of service to you." + +"It has been of service. What may be the result in regard to this +unfortunate young man I cannot yet say. He has refused our offer,--I +must say as I think--honourably." + +"It means nothing." + +"How nothing, Mr. Boltby?" + +"No man accepts such a bargain at first. He is playing his hand +against yours, Sir Harry, and he knows that he has got a very good +card in his own. It was not to be supposed that he would give in at +once. In besieging a town the surest way is to starve the garrison. +Wait a while and he will give in. When a town has within its walls +such vultures as will now settle upon him, it cannot stand out very +long. I shall hear more of him before many days are over." + +"You think, then, that I may return to Humblethwaite." + +"Certainly, Sir Harry; but I hope, Sir Harry, that you will return +with the settled conviction on your mind that this young man must not +on any consideration be allowed to enter your family." + +The lawyer meant well, but he overdid his work. Sir Harry got up and +shook hands with him and thanked him, but left the room with some +sense of offence. He had come to Mr. Boltby for information, and +he had received it. But he was not quite sure that he had intended +that Mr. Boltby should advise him touching his management of his +own daughter. Mr. Boltby, he thought, had gone a little beyond his +tether. Sir Harry acknowledged to himself that he had learned a great +deal about his cousin, and it was for him to judge after that whether +he would receive his cousin at Humblethwaite. Mr. Boltby should not +have spoken about the crossing-sweeper. And then Sir Harry was not +quite sure that he liked that idea of setting vultures upon a man; +and Sir Harry remembered something of his old lore as a hunting man. +It is astonishing what blood will do in bringing a horse through mud +at the end of a long day. Mr. Boltby probably did not understand how +much, at the very last, might be expected from breeding. When Sir +Harry left Mr. Boltby's chambers he was almost better-minded towards +Cousin George than he had been when he entered them; and in this +frame of mind, both for and against the young man, he returned to +Humblethwaite. It must not be supposed, however, that as the result +of the whole he was prepared to yield. He knew, beyond all doubt, +that his cousin was thoroughly a bad subject,--a worthless and, as +he believed, an irredeemable scamp; but yet he thought of what might +happen if he were to yield! + +Things were very sombre when he reached Humblethwaite. Of course +his wife could not refrain from questions. "It is very bad," he +said,--"as bad as can be." + +"He has gambled?" + +"Gambled! If that were all! You had better not ask about it; he is a +disgrace to the family." + +"Then there can be no hope for Emily?" + +"No hope! Why should there not be hope? All her life need not depend +on her fancy for a man of whom after all she has not seen so very +much. She must get over it. Other girls have had to do the same." + +"She is not like other girls, Harry." + +"How not like them?" + +"I think she is more persistent; she has set her heart upon loving +this young man, and she will love him." + +"Then she must." + +"She will break her heart," said Lady Elizabeth. + +"She will break mine, I know," said Sir Harry. + +When he met his daughter he had embraced her, and she had kissed +him and asked after his welfare; but he felt at once that she was +different from what she used to be,--different, not only as regarded +herself, but different also in her manner. There came upon him a sad, +ponderous conviction that the sunlight had gone out from their joint +lives, that all pleasant things were over for both of them, and that, +as for him, it would be well for him that he should die. He could +not be happy if there were discord between him and his child,--and +there must be discord. The man had been invited with a price to take +himself off, and had not been sufficiently ignoble to accept the +offer. How could he avoid the discord, and bring back the warmth of +the sun into his house? Then he remembered those terribly forcible +epithets which Mr. Boltby had spoken. "He is an unprincipled +blackguard; and the worse blackguard because of his birth." The words +had made Sir Harry angry, but he believed them to be true. If there +were to be any yielding, he would not yield as yet; but that living +in his house without sunshine was very grievous to him. "She will +kill me," he said to himself, "if she goes on like this." + +And yet it was hard to say of what it was that he complained. Days +went by and his daughter said nothing and did nothing of which he +could complain. It was simply this,--that the sunshine was no longer +bright within his halls. Days went by, and George Hotspur's name had +never been spoken by Emily in the hearing of her father or mother. +Such duties as there were for her to do were done. The active duties +of a girl in her position are very few. It was her custom of a +morning to spread butter on a bit of toast for her father to eat. +This she still did, and brought it to him as was her wont; but +she did not bring it with her old manner. It was a thing still +done,--simply because not to do it would be an omission to be +remarked. "Never mind it," said her father the fourth or fifth +morning after his return, "I'd sooner do it for myself." She did +not say a word, but on the next morning the little ceremony, which +had once been so full of pleasant affection, was discontinued. She +had certain hours of reading, and these were prolonged rather than +abandoned. But both her father and mother perceived that her books +were changed; her Italian was given up, and she took to works of +religion,--sermons, treatises, and long commentaries. + +"It will kill me," said Sir Harry to his wife. + +"I am afraid it will kill her," said Lady Elizabeth. "Do you see how +her colour has gone, and she eats so little!" + +"She walks every day." + +"Yes; and comes in so tired. And she goes to church every Wednesday +and Friday at Hesket. I'm sure she is not fit for it such weather as +this." + +"She has the carriage?" + +"No, she walks." + +Then Sir Harry gave orders that his daughter should always have the +carriage on Wednesdays and Fridays. But Emily, when her mother told +her this, insisted that she would sooner walk. + +But what did the carriage or no carriage on Wednesday signify? The +trouble was deeper than that. It was so deep that both father and +mother felt that something must be done, or the trouble would become +too heavy for their backs. Ten days passed and nothing was heard +either from Mr. Boltby or from Cousin George. Sir Harry hardly knew +what it was then he expected to hear; but it seemed that he did +expect something. He was nervous at the hour of post, and was aware +himself that he was existing on from day to day with the idea of soon +doing some special thing,--he knew not what,--but something that +might put an end to the frightful condition of estrangement between +him and his child in which he was now living. It told even upon his +duty among his tenants. It told upon his farm. It told upon almost +every workman in the parish. He had no heart for doing anything. It +did not seem certain to him that he could continue to live in his own +house. He could not bring himself to order that this wood should be +cut, or that those projected cottages should be built. Everything was +at a standstill; and it was clear to him that Emily knew that all +this had come from her rash love for her cousin George. She never +now came and stood at his elbow in his own room, or leaned upon his +shoulder; she never now asked him questions, or brought him out from +his papers to decide questions in the garden,--or rather to allow +himself to be ruled by her decisions. There were greetings between +them morning and evening, and questions were asked and answered +formally; but there was no conversation. "What have I done that I +should be punished in this way?" said Sir Harry to himself. + +If he was prompt to think himself hardly used, so also was his +daughter. In considering the matter in her own mind she had found it +to be her duty to obey her father in her outward conduct, founding +her convictions in this matter upon precedent and upon the general +convictions of the world. In the matter of bestowing herself upon +a suitor, a girl is held to be subject to her parents. So much she +knew, or believed that she knew; and therefore she would obey. She +had read and heard of girls who would correspond with their lovers +clandestinely, would run away with their lovers, would marry their +lovers as it were behind their fathers' backs. No act of this kind +would she do. She had something within her which would make it +dreadful to her ever to have to admit that she had been personally +wrong,--some mixture of pride and principle, which was strong enough +to keep her stedfast in her promised obedience. She would do nothing +that could be thrown in her teeth; nothing that could be called +unfeminine, indelicate, or undutiful. But she had high ideas of what +was due to herself, and conceived that she would be wronged by her +father, should her father take advantage of her sense of duty to +crush her heart. She had her own rights and her own privileges, with +which grievous and cruel interference would be made, should her +father, because he was her father, rob her of the only thing which +was sweet to her taste or desirable in her esteem. Because she was +his heiress he had no right to make her his slave. But even should he +do so, she had in her own hands a certain security. The bondage of a +slave no doubt he might allot to her, but not the task-work. Because +she would cling to her duty and keep the promise which she had made +to him, it would be in his power to prevent the marriage upon which +she had set her heart; but it was not within his power, or within +his privilege as a father, to force upon her any other marriage. She +would never help him with her hand in that adjustment of his property +of which he thought so much unless he would help her in her love. +And in the meantime sunshine should be banished from the house, such +sunshine as had shone round her head. She did not so esteem herself +as to suppose that, because she was sad, therefore her father +and mother would be wretched; but she did feel herself bound to +contribute to the house in general all the wretchedness which might +come from her own want of sunlight. She suffered under a terrible +feeling of ill-usage. Why was she, because she was a girl and +an heiress, to be debarred from her own happiness? If she were +willing to risk herself, why should others interfere? And if the +life and conduct of her cousin were in truth so bad as they were +represented,--which she did not in the least believe,--why had he +been allowed to come within her reach? It was not only that he was +young, clever, handsome, and in every way attractive, but that, in +addition to all this, he was a Hotspur, and would some day be the +head of the Hotspurs. Her father had known well enough that her +family pride was equal to his own. Was it not natural that, when a +man so endowed had come in her way, she should learn to love him? And +when she had loved him, was it not right that she should cling to her +love? + +Her father would fain treat her like a beast of burden kept in the +stables for a purpose; or like a dog whose obedience and affections +might be transferred from one master to another for a price. She +would obey her father; but her father should be made to understand +that hers was not the nature of a beast of burden or of a dog. She +was a Hotspur as thoroughly as was he. And then they brought men +there to her, selected suitors, whom she despised. What did they +think of her when imagining that she would take a husband not of +her own choosing? What must be their idea of love, and of marriage +duty, and of that close intercourse of man and wife? To her feeling +a woman should not marry at all unless she could so love a man as +to acknowledge to herself that she was imperatively required to +sacrifice all that belonged to her for his welfare and good. Such was +her love for George Hotspur,--let him be what he might. They told +her that he was bad and that he would drag her into the mud. She was +willing to be dragged into the mud; or, at any rate, to make her own +struggle during the dragging, as to whether he should drag her in, or +she should drag him out. + +And then they brought men to her--walking-sticks,--Lord Alfred and +young Mr. Thoresby, and insulted her by supposing of her that she +would marry a man simply because he was brought there as a fitting +husband. She would be dutiful and obedient as a daughter, according +to her idea of duty and of principle; but she would let them know +that she had an identity of her own, and that she was not to be +moulded like a piece of clay. + +No doubt she was hard upon her father. No doubt she was in very +truth disobedient and disrespectful. It was not that she should have +married any Lord Alfred that was brought to her, but that she should +have struggled to accommodate her spirit to her father's spirit. +But she was a Hotspur; and though she could be generous, she could +not yield. And then the hold of a child upon the father is so much +stronger than that of the father on the child! Our eyes are set in +our face, and are always turned forward. The glances that we cast +back are but occasional. + +And so the sunshine was banished from the house of Humblethwaite, and +the days were as black as the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +"LET US TRY." + + +Things went on thus at Humblethwaite for three weeks, and Sir Harry +began to feel that he could endure it no longer. He had expected to +have heard again from Mr. Boltby, but no letter had come. Mr. Boltby +had suggested to him something of starving out the town, and he had +expected to be informed before this whether the town were starved +out or not. He had received an indignant and grandiloquent letter +from his cousin, of which as yet he had taken no notice. He had taken +no notice of the letter, although it had been written to decline a +proposal of very great moment made by himself. He felt that in these +circumstances Mr. Boltby ought to have written to him. He ought to +have been told what was being done. And yet he had left Mr. Boltby +with a feeling which made it distasteful to him to ask further +questions from the lawyer on the subject. Altogether his position was +one as disagreeable and painful as it well could be. + +But at last, in regard to his own private life with his daughter, he +could bear it no longer. The tenderness of his heart was too much for +his pride, and he broke down in his resolution to be stern and silent +with her till all this should have passed by them. She was so much +more to him than he was to her! She was his all in all;--whereas +Cousin George was hers. He was the happier at any rate in this, that +he would never be forced to despise where he loved. + +"Emily," he said to her at last, "why is it that you are so changed +to me?" + +"Papa!" + +"Are you not changed? Do you not know that everything about the house +is changed?" + +"Yes, Papa." + +"And why is it so? I do not keep away from you. You used to come to +me every day. You never come near me now." + +She hesitated for a moment with her eyes turned to the ground, and +then as she answered him she looked him full in the face. "It is +because I am always thinking of my cousin George." + +"But why should that keep us apart, Emily? I wish that it were not +so; but why should that keep us apart?" + +"Because you are thinking of him too, and think so differently! You +hate him; but I love him." + +"I do not hate him. It is not that I hate him. I hate his vices." + +"So do I." + +"I know that he is not a fit man for you to marry. I have not been +able to tell you the things that I know of him." + +"I do not wish to be told." + +"But you might believe me when I assure you that they are of a nature +to make you change your feelings towards him. At this very moment he +is attached to--to--another person." + +Emily Hotspur blushed up to her brows, and her cheeks and forehead +were suffused with blood; but her mouth was set as firm as a rock, +and then came that curl over her eye which her father had so dearly +loved when she was a child, but which was now held by him to be so +dangerous. She was not going to be talked out of her love in that +way. Of course there had been things,--were things of which she knew +nothing and desired to know nothing. Though she herself was as pure +as the driven snow, she did not require to be told that there were +impurities in the world. If it was meant to be insinuated that he was +untrue to her, she simply disbelieved it. But what if he were? His +untruth would not justify hers. And untruth was impossible to her. +She loved him, and had told him so. Let him be ever so false, it +was for her to bring him back to truth or to spend herself in the +endeavour. Her father did not understand her at all when he talked to +her after this fashion. But she said nothing. Her father was alluding +to a matter on which she could say nothing. + +"If I could explain to you the way in which he has raised money for +his daily needs, you would feel that he had degraded himself beneath +your notice." + +"He cannot degrade himself beneath my notice;--not now. It is too +late." + +"But, Emily,--do you mean to say then that, let you set your +affections where you might,--however wrongly, on however base a +subject,--your mamma and I ought to yield to them, merely because +they are so set?" + +"He is your heir, Papa." + +"No; you are my heir. But I will not argue upon that. Grant that he +were my heir; even though every acre that is mine must go to feed his +wickedness the very moment that I die, would that be a reason for +giving my child to him also? Do you think that you are no more to +me than the acres, or the house, or the empty title? They are all +nothing to my love for you." + +"Papa!" + +"I do not think that you have known it. Nay, darling, I have hardly +known it myself. All other anxieties have ceased with me now that +I have come to know what it really is to be anxious for you. Do you +think that I would not abandon any consideration as to wealth or +family for your happiness? It has come to that with me, Emily, that +they are nothing to me now;--nothing. You are everything." + +"Dear Papa!" And now once again she leant upon his shoulder. + +"When I tell you of the young man's life, you will not listen to me. +You regard it simply as groundless opposition." + +"No, Papa; not groundless,--only useless." + +"But am I not bound to see that my girl be not united to a man who +would disgrace her, misuse her, drag her into the dirt,"--that idea +of dragging George out was strong in Emily's mind as she listened to +this,--"make her wretched and contemptible, and degrade her? Surely +this is a father's duty; and my child should not turn from me, and +almost refuse to speak to me, because I do it as best I can!" + +"I do not turn from you, Papa." + +"Has my darling been to me as she used to be?" + +"Look here, Papa; you know what it is I have promised you." + +"I do, dearest." + +"I will keep my promise. I will never marry him till you consent. +Even though I were to see him every day for ten years, I would not do +so when I had given my word." + +"I am sure of it, Emily." + +"But let us try, you and I and Mamma together. If you will do that; +oh, I will be so good to you! Let us see if we cannot make him good. +I will never ask to marry him till you yourself are satisfied that +he has reformed." She looked into his face imploringly, and she saw +that he was vacillating. And yet he was a strong man, not given in +ordinary things to much doubt. "Papa, let us understand each other +and be friends. If we do not trust each other, who can trust any +one?" + +"I do trust you." + +"I shall never care for any one else." + +"Do not say that, my child. You are too young to know your own heart. +These are wounds which time will cure. Others have suffered as you +are suffering, and yet have become happy wives and mothers." + +"Papa, I shall never change. I think I love him more because he +is--so weak. Like a poor child that is a cripple, he wants more +love than those who are strong. I shall never change. And look here, +Papa; I know it is my duty to obey you by not marrying without your +consent. But it can never be my duty to marry any one because you or +Mamma ask me. You will agree to that, Papa?" + +"I should never think of pressing any one on you." + +"That is what I mean. And so we do understand each other. Nothing +can teach me not to think of him, and to love him, and to pray for +him. As long as I live I shall do so. Nothing you can find out about +him will alter me in that. Pray, pray do not go on finding out bad +things. Find out something good, and then you will begin to love +him." + +"But if there is nothing good?" Sir Harry, as he said this, +remembered the indignant refusal of his offer which was at that +moment in his pocket, and confessed to himself that he had no right +to say that nothing good could be found in Cousin George. + +"Do not say that, Papa. How can you say that of any one? Remember, he +has our name, and he must some day be at the head of our family." + +"It will not be long, first," said Sir Harry, mournfully. + +"Many, many, many years, I hope. For his sake as well as ours, I pray +that it may be so. But still it is natural to suppose that the day +will come." + +"Of course it will come." + +"Must it not be right, then, to make him fit for it when it comes? It +can't be your great duty to think of him, as it is mine; but still it +must be a duty to you too. I will not excuse his life, Papa; but have +there not been temptations,--such great temptations? And then, other +men are excused for doing what he has done. Let us try together, +Papa. Say that you will try." + +It was clear to Sir Harry through it all that she knew nothing as yet +of the nature of the man's offences. When she spoke of temptation not +resisted, she was still thinking of commonplace extravagance, of the +ordinary pleasures of fast young men, of racecourses, and betting, +perhaps, and of tailors' bills. That lie which he had told about +Goodwood she had, as it were, thrown behind her, so that she should +not be forced to look at it. But Sir Harry knew him to be steeped +in dirty lies up to the hip, one who cheated tradesmen on system, +a gambler who looked out for victims, a creature so mean that he +could take a woman's money! Mr. Boltby had called him a swindler, a +card-sharper, and a cur; and Sir Harry, though he was inclined at +the present moment to be angry with Mr. Boltby, had never known the +lawyer to be wrong. And this was the man for whom his daughter was +pleading with all the young enthusiasm of her nature,--was pleading, +not as for a cousin, but in order that he might at last be welcomed +to that house as her lover, her husband, the one human being chosen +out from all the world to be the recipient of the good things of +which she had the bestowal! The man was so foul in the estimation of +Sir Harry that it was a stain to be in his presence; and this was the +man whom he as a father was implored to help to save, in order that +at some future time his daughter might become the reprobate's wife! + +"Papa, say that you will help me," repeated Emily, clinging to him, +and looking up into his face. + +He could not say that he would help her, and yet he longed to say +some word that might comfort her. "You have been greatly shaken by +all this, dearest." + +"Shaken! Yes, in one sense I have been shaken. I don't know quite +what you mean. I shall never be shaken in the other way." + +"You have been distressed." + +"Yes; distressed." + +"And, indeed, so have we all," he continued. "I think it will be best +to leave this for a while." + +"For how long, Papa?" + +"We need not quite fix that. I was thinking of going to Naples for +the winter." He was silent, waiting for her approbation, but she +expressed none. "It is not long since you said how much you would +like to spend a winter in Naples." + +She still paused, but it was but for a moment. "At that time, Papa, +I was not engaged." Did she mean to tell him, that because of this +fatal promise which she had made, she never meant to stir from +her home till she should be allowed to go with that wretch as +her husband; that because of this promise, which could never be +fulfilled, everything should come to an end with her? "Papa," she +said, "that would not be the way to try to save him, to go away and +leave him among those who prey upon him;--unless, indeed, he might go +too!" + +"What! with us?" + +"With you and Mamma. Why not? You know what I have promised. You can +trust me." + +"It is a thing absolutely not to be thought of," he said; and then he +left her. What was he to do? He could take her abroad, no doubt, but +were he to do so in her present humour, she would, of course, relapse +into that cold, silent, unloving, undutiful obedience which had been +so distressing to him. She had made a great request to him, and he +had not absolutely refused it. But the more he thought of it the more +distasteful did it become to him. You cannot touch pitch and not be +defiled. And the stain of this pitch was so very black! He could pay +money, if that would soothe her. He could pay money, even if the man +should not accept the offer made to him, should she demand it of him. +And if the man would reform himself, and come out through the fire +really purified, might it not be possible that at some long future +time Emily should become his wife? Or, if some sort of half promise +such as this were made to Emily, would not that soften her for +the time, and induce her to go abroad with a spirit capable of +satisfaction, if not of pleasure? If this could be brought about, +then time might do the rest. It would have been a delight to him to +see his daughter married early, even though his own home might have +been made desolate; but now he would be content if he thought he +could look forward to some future settlement in life that might +become her rank and fortune. + +Emily, when her father left her, was aware that she had received +no reply to her request, which she was entitled to regard as +encouraging; but she thought that she had broken the ice, and that +her father would by degrees become accustomed to her plan. If she +could only get him to say that he would watch over the unhappy one, +she herself would not be unhappy. It was not to be expected that she +should be allowed to give her own aid at first to the work, but she +had her scheme. His debts must be paid, and an income provided for +him. And duties, too, must be given to him. Why should he not live +at Scarrowby, and manage the property there? And then, at length, he +would be welcomed to Humblethwaite, when her own work might begin. +Neither for him nor for her must there be any living again in London +until this task should have been completed. That any trouble could be +too great, any outlay of money too vast for so divine a purpose, did +not occur to her. Was not this man the heir to her father's title; +and was he not the owner of her own heart? Then she knelt down and +prayed that the Almighty Father would accomplish this good work for +her;--and yet, not for her, but for him; not that she might be happy +in her love, but that he might be as a brand saved from the burning, +not only hereafter, but here also, in the sight of men. Alas, +dearest, no; not so could it be done! Not at thy instance, though thy +prayers be as pure as the songs of angels;--but certainly at his, if +only he could be taught to know that the treasure so desirable in thy +sight, so inestimable to thee, were a boon worthy of his acceptance. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +GOOD ADVICE. + + +Two or three days after the little request made by Cousin George to +Mrs. Morton, the Altringhams came suddenly to town. George received a +note from Lady Altringham addressed to him at his club. + + + We are going through to the Draytons in Hampshire. It + is a new freak. Four or five horses are to be sold, and + Gustavus thinks of buying the lot. If you are in town, + come to us. You must not think that we are slack about you + because Gustavus would have nothing to do with the money. + He will be at home to-morrow till eleven. I shall not go + out till two. We leave on Thursday.--Yours, A. A. + + +This letter he received on the Wednesday. Up to that hour he had done +nothing since his interview with Mr. Hart; nor during those few days +did he hear from that gentleman, or from Captain Stubber, or from Mr. +Boltby. He had written to Sir Harry refusing Sir Harry's generous +offer, and subsequently to that had made up his mind to accept +it,--and had asked, as the reader knows, for Mrs. Morton's +assistance. But the making up of George Hotspur's mind was nothing. +It was unmade again that day after dinner, as he thought of all the +glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby combined. Any one knowing +him would have been sure that he would do nothing till he should be +further driven. Now there had come upon the scene in London one who +could drive him. + +He went to the Earl's house just at eleven, not wishing to seem to +avoid the Earl, but still desirous of seeing as little of his friend +on that occasion as possible. He found Lord Altringham standing in +his wife's morning-room. "How are you, old fellow? How do things go +with the heiress?" He was in excellent humour, and said nothing about +the refused request. "I must be off. You do what my Lady advises; you +may be sure that she knows a deal more about it than you or I." Then +he went, wishing George success in his usual friendly, genial way, +which, as George knew, meant very little. + +With Lady Altringham the case was different. She was in earnest about +it. It was to her a matter of real moment that this great heiress +should marry one of her own set, and a man who wanted money so +badly as did poor George. And she liked work of that kind. George's +matrimonial prospects were more interesting to her than her husband's +stables. She was very soon in the thick of it all, asking questions, +and finding out how the land lay. She knew that George would lie; but +that was to be expected from a man in his position. She knew also +that she could with fair accuracy extract the truth from his lies. + +"Pay all your debts, and give you five hundred pounds a year for his +life." + +"The lawyer has offered that," said George, sadly. + +"Then you may be sure," continued Lady Altringham, "that the young +lady is in earnest. You have not accepted it?" + +"Oh dear, no. I wrote to Sir Harry quite angrily. I told him I wanted +my cousin's hand." + +"And what next?" + +"I have heard nothing further from anybody." + +Lady Altringham sat and thought. "Are these people in London +bothering you?" George explained that he had been bothered a good +deal, but not for the last four or five days. "Can they put you in +prison, or anything of that kind?" + +George was not quite sure whether they might or might not have some +such power. He had a dreadful weight on his mind of which he could +say nothing to Lady Altringham. Even she would be repelled from +him were she to know of that evening's work between him and Messrs. +Walker and Bullbean. He said at last that he did not think they could +arrest him, but that he was not quite sure. + +"You must do something to let her know that you are as much in +earnest as she is." + +"Exactly." + +"It is no use writing, because she wouldn't get your letters." + +"She wouldn't have a chance." + +"And if I understand her she would not do anything secretly." + +"I am afraid not," said George. + +"You will live, perhaps, to be glad that it is so. When girls +come out to meet their lovers clandestinely before marriage, they +get so fond of the excitement that they sometimes go on doing it +afterwards." + +"She is as,--as--as sure to go the right side of the post as any girl +in the world." + +"No doubt. So much the better for you. When those girls do catch the +disease, they always have it very badly. They mean only to have one +affair, and naturally want to make the most of it. Well, now what I +would do is this. Run down to Humblethwaite." + +"To Humblethwaite!" + +"Yes. I don't suppose you are going to be afraid of anybody. Knock +at the door, and send your card to Sir Harry. Drive into the +stable-yard, so that everybody about the place may know that you are +there, and then ask to see the Baronet." + +"He wouldn't see me." + +"Then ask to see Lady Elizabeth." + +"She wouldn't be allowed to see me." + +"Then leave a letter, and say that you'll wait for an answer. Write +to Miss Hotspur whatever you like to say in the way of a love-letter, +and put it under cover to Sir Harry--open." + +"She'll never get it." + +"I don't suppose she will. Not but what she may--only that isn't the +first object. But this will come of it. She'll know that you've been +there. That can't be kept from her. You may be sure that she was very +firm in sticking to you when he offered to pay all that money to get +rid of you. She'll remain firm if she's made to know that you are the +same. Don't let her love die out for want of notice." + +"I won't." + +"If they take her abroad, go after them. Stick to it, and you'll wear +them out if she helps you. And if she knows that you are sticking to +it, she'll do the same for honour. When she begins to be a little +pale, and to walk out at nights, and to cough in the morning, they'll +be tired out and send for Dr. George Hotspur. That's the way it will +go if you play your game well." + +Cousin George was lost in admiration at the wisdom and generalship of +this great counsellor, and promised implicit obedience. The Countess +went on to explain that it might be expedient to postpone this +movement for a week or two. "You should leave just a little interval, +because you cannot always be doing something. For some days after his +return her father won't cease to abuse you, which will keep you well +in her mind. When those men begin to attack you again, so as to make +London too hot, then run down to Humblethwaite. Don't hide your light +under a bushel. Let the people down there know all about it." + +George Hotspur swore eternal gratitude and implicit obedience, and +went back to his club. + +Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber did not give him much rest. From Mr. +Boltby he received no further communication. For the present Mr. +Boltby thought it well to leave him in the hands of Mr. Hart and +Captain Stubber. Mr. Boltby, indeed, did not as yet know of Mr. +Bullbean's story, although certain hints had reached him which had, +as he thought, justified him in adding the title of card-sharper to +those other titles with which he had decorated his client's cousin's +name. Had he known the entire Walker story, he would probably have +thought that Cousin George might have been bought at a considerably +cheaper price than that fixed in the Baronet's offer, which was +still in force. But then Mr. Hart had his little doubts also and his +difficulties. He, too, could perceive that were he to make this last +little work of Captain Hotspur's common property in the market, it +might so far sink Captain Hotspur's condition and value in the world +that nobody would think it worth his while to pay Captain Hotspur's +debts. At present there was a proposition from an old gentleman, +possessed of enormous wealth, to "pay all Captain Hotspur's debts." +Three months ago, Mr. Hart would willingly have sold every scrap +of the Captain's paper in his possession for the half of the +sum inscribed on it. The whole sum was now promised, and would +undoubtedly be paid if the Captain could be worked upon to do as +Mr. Boltby desired. But if the gentlemen employed on this delicate +business were to blow upon the Captain too severely, Mr. Boltby would +have no such absolute necessity to purchase the Captain. The Captain +would sink to zero, and not need purchasing. Mr. Walker must have +back his money,--or so much of it as Mr. Hart might permit him +to take. That probably might be managed; and the Captain must be +thoroughly frightened, and must be made to write the letter which Mr. +Boltby desired. Mr. Hart understood his work very well;--so, it is +hoped, does the reader. + +Captain Stubber was in these days a thorn in our hero's side; but Mr. +Hart was a scourge of scorpions. Mr. Hart never ceased to talk of Mr. +Walker, and of the determination of Walker and Bullbean to go before +a magistrate if restitution were not made. Cousin George of course +denied the foul play, but admitted that he would repay the money if +he had it. There should be no difficulty about the money, Mr. Hart +assured him, if he would only write that letter to Mr. Boltby. In +fact, if he would write that letter to Mr. Boltby, he should be made +"shquare all round." So Mr. Hart was pleased to express himself. But +if this were not done, and done at once, Mr. Hart swore by his God +that Captain "'Oshspur" should be sold up, root and branch, without +another day's mercy. The choice was between five hundred pounds a +year in any of the capitals of Europe, and that without a debt,--or +penal servitude. That was the pleasant form in which Mr. Hart put the +matter to his young friend. + +Cousin George drank a good deal of curaçoa, and doubted between Lady +Altringham and Mr. Hart. He knew that he had not told everything to +the Countess. Excellent as was her scheme, perfect as was her wisdom, +her advice was so far more dangerous than the Jew's, that it was +given somewhat in the dark. The Jew knew pretty well everything. The +Jew was interested, of course, and therefore his advice must also be +regarded with suspicion. At last, when Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber +between them had made London too hot to hold him, he started for +Humblethwaite,--not without leaving a note for "dear Mr. Hart," +in which he explained to that gentleman that he was going to +Westmoreland suddenly, with a purpose that would, he trusted, very +speedily enable him to pay every shilling that he owed. + +"Yesh," said Mr. Hart, "and if he ain't quick he shall come back with +a 'andcuff on." + +Captain Hotspur could not very well escape Mr. Hart. He started by +the night-train for Penrith, and before doing so prepared a short +letter for Miss Hotspur, which, as instructed, he put open under +an envelope addressed to the Baronet. There should be nothing +clandestine, nothing dishonourable. Oh dear, no! He quite taught +himself to believe that he would have hated anything dishonourable or +clandestine. His letter was as follows:-- + + + DEAREST EMILY,--After what has passed between us, I cannot + bear not to attempt to see you or to write to you. So + I shall go down and take this letter with me. Of course + I shall not take any steps of which Sir Harry might + disapprove. I wrote to him two or three weeks ago, telling + him what I proposed, and I thought that he would have + answered me. As I have not heard from him I shall take + this with me to Humblethwaite, and shall hope, though I do + not know whether I may dare to expect, to see the girl I + love better than all the world.--Always your own, + + GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + +Even this was not composed by himself, for Cousin George, though +he could often talk well,--or at least sufficiently well for the +purposes which he had on hand,--was not good with his pen on such an +occasion as this. Lady Altringham had sent him by post a rough copy +of what he had better say, and he had copied her ladyship's words +verbatim. There is no matter of doubt at all but that on all such +subjects an average woman can write a better letter than an average +man; and Cousin George was therefore right to obtain assistance from +his female friends. + +He slept at Penrith till nearly noon, then breakfasted and started +with post-horses for Humblethwaite. He felt that everybody knew what +he was about, and was almost ashamed of being seen. Nevertheless he +obeyed his instructions. He had himself driven up through the lodges +and across the park into the large stable-yard of the Hall. Lady +Altringham had quite understood that more people must see and hear +him in this way than if he merely rang at the front door and were +from thence dismissed. The grooms and the coachman saw him, as did +also three or four of the maids who were in the habit of watching to +see that the grooms and coachman did their work. He had brought with +him a travelling-bag,--not expecting to be asked to stay and dine, +but thinking it well to be prepared. This, however, he left in the +fly as he walked round to the hall-door. The footman was already +there when he appeared, as word had gone through the house that +Mr. George had arrived. Was Sir Harry at home? Yes, Sir Harry was +at home;--and then George found himself in a small parlour, or +book-room, or subsidiary library, which he had very rarely known to +be used. But there was a fire in the room, and he stood before it, +twiddling his hat. + +In a quarter of an hour the door was opened, and the servant came +in with a tray and wine and sandwiches. George felt it to be an +inappropriate welcome; but still, after a fashion, it was a welcome. + +"Is Sir Harry in the house?" he asked. + +"Yes, Mr. Hotspur." + +"Does he know that I am here?" + +"Yes, Mr. Hotspur, I think he does." + +Then it occurred to Cousin George that perhaps he might bribe the +servant; and he put his hand into his pocket. But before he had +communicated the two half-crowns, it struck him that there was no +possible request which he could make to the man in reference to which +a bribe would be serviceable. + +"Just ask them to look to the horses," he said; "I don't know whether +they were taken out." + +"The horses is feeding, Mr. Hotspur," said the man. + +Every word the man spoke was gravely spoken, and George understood +perfectly that he was held to have done a very wicked thing in coming +to Humblethwaite. Nevertheless, there was a decanter full of sherry, +which, as far as it went, was an emblem of kindness. Nobody should +say that he was unwilling to accept kindness at his cousin's hands, +and he helped himself liberally. Before he was interrupted again he +had filled his glass four times. + +But in truth it needed something to support him. For a whole hour +after the servant's disappearance he was left alone. There were books +in the room,--hundreds of them; but in such circumstances who could +read? Certainly not Cousin George, to whom books at no time gave much +comfort. Twice and thrice he stepped towards the bell, intending to +ring it, and ask again for Sir Harry; but twice and thrice he paused. +In his position he was bound not to give offence to Sir Harry. At +last the door was opened, and with silent step, and grave demeanour, +and solemn countenance, Lady Elizabeth walked into the room. "We are +very sorry that you should have been kept so long waiting, Captain +Hotspur," she said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE NEW SMITHY. + + +Sir Harry was sitting alone in the library when the tidings were +brought to him that George Hotspur had reached Humblethwaite with +a pair of post-horses from Penrith. The old butler, Cloudesdale, +brought him the news, and Cloudesdale whispered it into his ears with +solemn sorrow. Cloudesdale was well aware that Cousin George was no +credit to the house of Humblethwaite. And much about the same time +the information was brought to Lady Elizabeth by her housekeeper, and +to Emily by her own maid. It was by Cloudesdale's orders that George +was shown into the small room near the hall; and he told Sir Harry +what he had done in a funereal whisper. Lady Altringham had been +quite right in her method of ensuring the general delivery of the +information about the house. + +Emily flew at once to her mother. "George is here," she said. Mrs. +Quick, the housekeeper, was at that moment leaving the room. + +"So Quick tells me. What can have brought him, my dear?" + +"Why should he not come, Mamma?" + +"Because your papa will not make him welcome to the house. Oh, +dear,--he knows that. What are we to do?" In a few minutes Mrs. Quick +came back again. Sir Harry would be much obliged if her ladyship +would go to him. Then it was that the sandwiches and sherry were +ordered. It was a compromise on the part of Lady Elizabeth between +Emily's prayer that some welcome might be shown, and Sir Harry's +presumed determination that the banished man should continue to be +regarded as banished. "Take him some kind of refreshment, Quick;--a +glass of wine or something, you know." Then Mrs. Quick had cut the +sandwiches with her own hand, and Cloudesdale had given the sherry. +"He ain't eaten much, but he's made it up with the wine," said +Cloudesdale, when the tray was brought back again. + +Lady Elizabeth went down to her husband, and there was a +consultation. Sir Harry was quite clear that he would not now, on +this day, admit Cousin George as a guest into his house; nor would he +see him. To that conclusion he came after his wife had been with him +some time. He would not see him, there, at Humblethwaite. If George +had anything to say that could not be said in a letter, a meeting +might be arranged elsewhere. Sir Harry confessed, however, that +he could not see that good results could come from any meeting +whatsoever. "The truth is, that I don't want to have anything more to +do with him," said Sir Harry. That was all very well, but as Emily's +wants in this respect were at variance with her father's, there was +a difficulty. Lady Elizabeth pleaded that some kind of civility, at +least some mitigation of opposition, should be shown, for Emily's +sake. At last she was commissioned to go to Cousin George, to send +him away from the house, and, if necessary, to make an appointment +between him and Sir Harry at the Crown, at Penrith, for the morrow. +Nothing on earth should induce Sir Harry to see his cousin anywhere +on his own premises. As for any meeting between Cousin George and +Emily, that was, of course, out of the question,--and he must go from +Humblethwaite. Such were the instructions with which Lady Elizabeth +descended to the little room. + +Cousin George came forward with the pleasantest smile to take Lady +Elizabeth by the hand. He was considerably relieved when he saw Lady +Elizabeth, because of her he was not afraid. "I do not at all mind +waiting," he said. "How is Sir Harry?" + +"Quite well." + +"And yourself?" + +"Pretty well, thank you." + +"And Emily?" + +Lady Elizabeth knew that in answering him she ought to call her own +daughter Miss Hotspur, but she lacked the courage. "Emily is well +too. Sir Harry has thought it best that I should come to you and +explain that just at present he cannot ask you to Humblethwaite." + +"I did not expect it." + +"And he had rather not see you himself,--at least not here." Lady +Elizabeth had not been instructed to propose a meeting. She had +been told rather to avoid it if possible. But, like some other +undiplomatic ambassadors, in her desire to be civil, she ran at once +to the extremity of the permitted concessions. "If you have anything +to say to Sir Harry--" + +"I have, Lady Elizabeth; a great deal." + +"And if you could write it--" + +"I am so bad at writing." + +"Then Sir Harry will go over and see you to-morrow at Penrith." + +"That will be so very troublesome to him!" + +"You need not regard that. At what hour shall he come?" + +Cousin George was profuse in declaring that he would be at his +cousin's disposal at any hour Sir Harry might select, from six in the +morning throughout the day and night. But might he not say a word to +Emily? At this proposition Lady Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. +It was quite out of the question. Circumstanced as they all were at +present, Sir Harry would not think of such a thing. And then it would +do no good. Lady Elizabeth did not believe that Emily herself would +wish it. At any rate there need be no further talk about it, as +any such interview was at present quite impossible. By all which +arguments and refusals, and the tone in which they were pronounced, +Cousin George was taught to perceive that, at any rate in the mind +of Lady Elizabeth, the process of parental yielding had already +commenced. + +On all such occasions interviews are bad. The teller of this story +ventures to take the opportunity of recommending parents in such +cases always to refuse interviews, not only between the young lady +and the lover who is to be excluded, but also between themselves and +the lover. The vacillating tone,--even when the resolve to suppress +vacillation has been most determined,--is perceived and understood, +and at once utilized, by the least argumentative of lovers, even by +lovers who are obtuse. The word "never" may be so pronounced as to +make the young lady's twenty thousand pounds full present value for +ten in the lover's pocket. There should be no arguments, no letters, +no interviews; and the young lady's love should be starved by the +absence of all other mention of the name, and by the imperturbable +good humour on all other matters of those with whom she comes in +contact in her own domestic circle. If it be worth anything, it won't +be starved; but if starving to death be possible, that is the way to +starve it. Lady Elizabeth was a bad ambassador; and Cousin George, +when he took his leave, promising to be ready to meet Sir Harry at +twelve on the morrow, could almost comfort himself with a prospect +of success. He might be successful, if only he could stave off +the Walker and Bullbean portion of Mr. Hart's persecution! For he +understood that the success of his views at Humblethwaite must +postpone the payment by Sir Harry of those moneys for which Mr. Hart +and Captain Stubber were so unreasonably greedy. He would have dared +to defy the greed, but for the Walker and Bullbean portion of the +affair. Sir Harry already knew that he was in debt to these men; +already knew with fair accuracy the amount of those debts. Hart and +Stubber could not make him worse in Sir Harry's eyes than he was +already, unless the Walker and Bullbean story should be told with the +purpose of destroying him. How he did hate Walker and Bullbean and +the memory of that evening;--and yet the money which now enabled him +to drink champagne at the Penrith Crown was poor Mr. Walker's money! +As he was driven back to Penrith he thought of all this, for some +moments sadly, and at others almost with triumph. Might not a letter +to Mr. Hart, with perhaps a word of truth in it, do some good? That +evening, after his champagne, he wrote a letter:-- + + + DEAR MR. HART,--Things are going uncommon well here, only + I hope you will do nothing to disturb just at present. + It _must_ come off, if a little time is given, and then + _every shilling_ will be paid. A few pounds more or less + won't make any difference. Do arrange this, and you'll + find I'll never forget how kind you have been. I've been + at Humblethwaite to-day, and things are going quite + smooth. + + Yours most sincerely, + + GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + Don't mention Walker's name, and everything shall be + settled just as you shall fix. + + The Crown, Penrith, Thursday. + + +The moment the letter was written he rang the bell and gave it to the +waiter. Such was the valour of drink operating on him now, as it had +done when he wrote that other letter to Sir Harry! The drink made him +brave to write, and to make attempts, and to dare consequences; but +even whilst brave with drink, he knew that the morning's prudence +would refuse its assent to such courage; and therefore, to save +himself from the effects of the morning's cowardice, he put the +letter at once out of his own power of control. After this fashion +were arranged most of Cousin George's affairs. Before dinner on +that day the evening of which he had passed with Mr. Walker, he had +resolved that certain hints given to him by Mr. Bullbean should be +of no avail to him;--not to that had he yet descended, nor would he +so descend;--but with his brandy after dinner divine courage had +come, and success had attended the brave. As soon as he was awake on +that morning after writing to Mr. Hart, he rang his bell to inquire +whether that letter which he had given to the waiter at twelve +o'clock last night were still in the house. It was too late. The +letter in which so imprudent a mention had been made of Mr. Walker's +name was already in the post. "Never mind," said Cousin George to +himself; "None but the brave deserve the fair." Then he turned round +for another nap. It was not much past nine, and Sir Harry would not +be there before twelve. + +In the mean time there had been hope also and doubt also at +Humblethwaite. Sir Harry was not surprised and hardly disappointed +when he was told that he was to go to Penrith to see his cousin. +The offer had been made by himself, and he was sure that he would +not escape with less; and when Emily was told by her mother of the +arrangement, she saw in it a way to the fulfilment of the prayer +which she had made to her father. She would say nothing to him that +evening, leaving to him the opportunity of speaking to her, should he +choose to do so. But on the following morning she would repeat her +prayer. On that evening not a word was said about George while Sir +Harry and Lady Elizabeth were together with their daughter. Emily had +made her plan, and she clung to it. Her father was very gentle with +her, sitting close to her as she played some pieces of music to him +in the evening, caressing her and looking lovingly into her eyes, as +he bade God bless her when she left him for the night; but he had +determined to say nothing to encourage her. He was still minded that +there could be no such encouragement; but he doubted;--in his heart +of hearts he doubted. He would still have bought off Cousin George +by the sacrifice of half his property, and yet he doubted. After all, +there would be some consolation in that binding together of the name +and the property. + +"What will you say to him?" Lady Elizabeth asked her husband that +night. + +"Tell him to go away." + +"Nothing more than that?" + +"What more is there to say? If he be willing to be bought, I will buy +him. I will pay his debts and give him an income." + +"You think, then, there can be no hope?" + +"Hope!--for whom?" + +"For Emily." + +"I hope to preserve her--from a--scoundrel." And yet he had thought +of the consolation! + +Emily was very persistent in carrying out her plan. Prayers at +Humblethwaite were always read with admirable punctuality at a +quarter-past nine, so that breakfast might be commenced at half-past. +Sir Harry every week-day was in his own room for three-quarters of an +hour before prayers. All this was like clock-work at Humblethwaite. +There would always be some man or men with Sir Harry during these +three-quarters of an hour,--a tenant, a gamekeeper, a groom, a +gardener, or a bailiff. But Emily calculated that if she made her +appearance and held her ground, the tenant or the bailiff would +give way, and that thus she would ensure a private interview with +her father. Were she to wait till after breakfast, this would be +difficult. A very few minutes after the half-hour she knocked at the +door and was admitted. The village blacksmith was then suggesting a +new smithy. + +"Papa," said Emily, "if you would allow me half a minute--" + +The village blacksmith and the bailiff, who was also present, +withdrew, bowing to Emily, who gave to each of them a smile and a +nod. They were her old familiar friends, and they looked kindly at +her. She was to be their future lady; but was it not all important +that their future lord should be a Hotspur? + +Sir Harry had thought it not improbable that his daughter would come +to him, but would have preferred to avoid the interview if possible. +Here it was, however, and could not be avoided. + +"Papa," she said, kissing him, "you are going to Penrith to-day." + +"Yes, my dear." + +"To see Cousin George?" + +"Yes, Emily." + +"Will you remember what we were saying the other day;--what I said?" + +"I will endeavour to do my duty as best I may," said Sir Harry, after +a pause. + +"I am sure you will, Papa;--and so do I. I do endeavour to do my +duty. Will you not try to help him?" + +"Certainly, I will try to help him; for your sake rather than for his +own. If I can help him with money, by paying his debts and giving him +means to live, I will do so." + +"Papa, that is not what I mean." + +"What else can I do?" + +"Save him from the evil of his ways." + +"I will try. I would,--if I knew how,--even if only for the name's +sake." + +"For my sake also, Papa. Papa, let us do it together; you and I and +Mamma. Let him come here." + +"It is impossible." + +"Let him come here," she said, as though disregarding his refusal. +"You need not be afraid of me. I know how much there is to do that +will be very hard in doing before any,--any other arrangement can be +talked about." + +"I am not afraid of you, my child." + +"Let him come, then." + +"No;--it would do no good. Do you think he would live here quietly?" + +"Try him." + +"What would people say?" + +"Never mind what people would say: he is our cousin; he is your heir. +He is the person whom I love best in all the world. Have you not a +right to have him here if you wish it? I know what you are thinking +of; but, Papa, there can never be anybody else;--never." + +"Emily, you will kill me, I think." + +"Dear Papa, let us see if we cannot try. And, oh, Papa, pray, pray +let me see him." When she went away the bailiff and the blacksmith +returned; but Sir Harry's power of resistance was gone, so that he +succumbed to the new smithy without a word. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +COUSIN GEORGE'S SUCCESS. + + +Thoughts crowded quick into the mind of Sir Harry Hotspur as he +had himself driven over to Penrith. It was a dull, dreary day in +November, and he took the close carriage. The distance was about ten +miles, and he had therefore something above an hour for thinking. +When men think much, they can rarely decide. The affairs as to which +a man has once acknowledged to himself that he may be either wise or +foolish, prudent or imprudent, are seldom matters on which he can by +any amount of thought bring himself to a purpose which to his own +eyes shall be clearly correct. When he can decide without thinking, +then he can decide without a doubt, and with perfect satisfaction. +But in this matter Sir Harry thought much. There had been various +times at which he was quite sure that it was his duty to repudiate +this cousin utterly. There had never been a time at which he had been +willing to accept him. Nevertheless, at this moment, with all his +struggles of thought he could not resolve. Was his higher duty due +to his daughter, or to his family,--and through his family to his +country, which, as he believed, owed its security and glory to the +maintenance of its aristocracy? Would he be justified,--justified +in any degree,--in subjecting his child to danger in the hope that +his name and family pride might be maintained? Might he take his own +desires in that direction as any make-weight towards a compliance +with his girl's strong wishes, grounded as they were on quite other +reasons? Mr. Boltby had been very eager in telling him that he ought +to have nothing to say to this cousin, had loaded the cousin's name +with every imaginable evil epithet; and of Mr. Boltby's truth and +honesty there could be no doubt. But then Mr. Boltby had certainly +exceeded his duty, and was of course disposed, by his professional +view of the matter, to think any step the wisest which would tend to +save the property from dangerous hands. Sir Harry felt that there +were things to be saved of more value than the property;--the family, +the title, perhaps that reprobate cousin himself; and then, above +all, his child. He did believe that his child would not smile for him +again, unless he would consent to make some effort in favour of her +lover. + +Doubtless the man was very bad. Sir Harry was sick at heart as +he thought of the evil nature of the young man's vices. Of a man +debauched in his life, extravagant with his money, even of a gambler, +a drunkard, one fond of low men and of low women;--of one even such +as this there might be hope, and the vicious man, if he will give up +his vices, may still be loved and at last respected. But of a liar, a +swindler, one mean as well as vicious, what hope could there be? It +was essential to Sir Harry that the husband of his daughter should at +any rate be a gentleman. The man's blood, indeed, was good; and blood +will show at last, let the mud be ever so deep. So said Sir Harry to +himself. And Emily would consent that the man should be tried by what +severest fire might be kindled for the trying of him. If there were +any gold there, it might be possible to send the dross adrift, and +to get the gold without alloy. Could Lady Altringham have read Sir +Harry's mind as his carriage was pulled up, just at twelve o'clock, +at the door of the Penrith Crown, she would have been stronger than +ever in her belief that young lovers, if they be firm, can always +conquer opposing parents. + +But alas, alas, there was no gold with this dross, and in that matter +of blood, as to which Sir Harry's ideas were so strong, and indeed +so noble, he entertained but a muddled theory. Noblesse oblige. High +position will demand, and will often exact, high work. But that rule +holds as good with a Buonaparte as with a Bourbon, with a Cromwell +as with a Stewart; and succeeds as often and fails as often with +the low born as with the high. And good blood too will have its +effect,--physical for the most part,--and will produce bottom, +lasting courage, that capacity of carrying on through the mud to +which Sir Harry was wont to allude; but good blood will bring no +man back to honesty. The two things together, no doubt, assist in +producing the highest order of self-denying man. + +When Sir Harry got out of his carriage, he had not yet made up his +mind. The waiter had been told that he was expected, and showed him +up at once into the large sitting-room looking out into the street, +which Cousin George had bespoke for the occasion. He had had a +smaller room himself, but had been smoking there, and at this moment +in that room there was a decanter and a wine-glass on the chiffonier +in one corner. He had heard the bustle of the arrival, and had at +once gone into the saloon prepared for the reception of the great +man. "I am so sorry to give you this trouble," said Cousin George, +coming forward to greet his cousin. Sir Harry could not refuse his +cousin's hand, though he would willingly have done so, had it been +possible. "I should not mind the trouble," he said, "if it were of +any use. I fear it can be of none." + +"I hope you will not be prejudiced against me, Sir Harry." + +"I trust that I am not prejudiced against any one. What is it that +you wish me to do?" + +"I want permission to go to Humblethwaite, as a suitor for your +daughter's hand." So far Cousin George had prepared his speech +beforehand. + +"And what have you to recommend you to a father for such permission? +Do you not know, sir, that when a gentleman proposes to a lady it is +his duty to show that he is in a condition fit for the position which +he seeks; that in character, in means, in rank, in conduct, he is at +least her equal." + +"As for our rank, Sir Harry, it is the same." + +"And for your means? You know that my daughter is my heiress?" + +"I do; but it is not that that has brought me to her. Of course, +I have nothing. But then, you know, though she will inherit the +estates, I must inherit--" + +"If you please, sir, we will not go into all that again," said Sir +Harry, interrupting him. "I explained to you before, sir, that +I would have admitted your future rank as a counterpoise to her +fortune, if I could have trusted your character. I cannot trust it. I +do not know why you should thrust upon me the necessity of saying all +this again. As I believe that you are in pecuniary distress, I made +you an offer which I thought to be liberal." + +"It was liberal, but it did not suit me to accept it." George had +an inkling of what would pass within Sir Harry's bosom as to the +acceptance or rejection of that offer. "I wrote to you, declining it, +and as I have received no answer, I thought that I would just run +down. What was I to do?" + +"Do? How can I tell? Pay your debts. The money was offered you." + +"I cannot give up my cousin. Has she been allowed to receive the +letter which I left for her yesterday?" + +Now Sir Harry had doubted much in his own mind as to the letter. +During that morning's interview it had still been in his own +possession. As he was preparing to leave the house he had made +up his mind that she should have it; and Lady Elizabeth had been +commissioned to give it her, not without instruction and explanation. +Her father would not keep it from her, because he trusted her +implicitly; but she was to understand that it could mean nothing to +her, and that the letter must not of course be answered. + +"It does not matter whether she did or did not," said Sir Harry. +"I ask you again, whether you will accept the offer made you by Mr. +Boltby, and give me your written promise not to renew this suit." + +"I cannot do that, Sir Harry." + +Sir Harry did not know how to proceed with the interview. As he had +come there, some proposition must be made by himself. Had he intended +to be altogether obstinate he should have remained at Humblethwaite, +and kept his cousin altogether out of the house. And now his +daughter's prayers were ringing in his ears: "Dear Papa, let us see +if we cannot try." And then again that assurance which she had made +him so solemnly: "Papa, there never can be anybody else!" If the +black sheep could be washed white, the good of such washing would on +every side be so great! He would have to blush,--let the washing be +ever so perfect,--he must always blush in having such a son-in-law; +but he had been forced to acknowledge to himself of late, that there +was infinitely more of trouble and shame in this world than of joy or +honour. Was it not in itself a disgrace that a Hotspur should do such +things as this cousin had done; and a disgrace also that his daughter +should have loved a man so unfit to be her lover? And then from day +to day, and from hour to hour, he remembered that these ills were +added to the death of that son, who, had he lived, would have been +such a glory to him. More of trouble and disgrace! Was it not all +trouble and disgrace? He would have wished that the day might come +for him to go away and leave it all, were it not that for one +placed as he was placed his own life would not see the end of these +troubles. He must endeavour to provide that everything should not go +to utter ruin as soon as he should have taken his departure. + +He walked about the room, again trying to think. Or, perhaps, all +thinking was over with him now, and he was resolving in his own mind +how best he might begin to yield. He must obey his daughter. He could +not break the heart of the only child that was left to him. He had no +delight in the world other than what came to him reflected back from +her. He felt now as though he was simply a steward endeavouring on +her behalf to manage things to the best advantage; but still only a +steward, and as such only a servant who could not at last decide on +the mode of management to be adopted. He could endeavour to persuade, +but she must decide. Now his daughter had decided, and he must begin +this task, so utterly distasteful to him, of endeavouring to wash the +blackamoor white. + +"What are you willing to do?" he asked. + +"How to do, Sir Harry?" + +"You have led a bad life." + +"I suppose I have, Sir Harry." + +"How will you show yourself willing to reform it?" + +"Only pay my debts and set me up with ready money, and I'll go along +as slick as grease!" Thus would Cousin George have answered the +question had he spoken his mind freely. But he knew that he might not +be so explicit. He must promise much; but, of course, in making his +promise he must arrange about his debts. "I'll do almost anything +you like. Only try me. Of course it would be so much easier if those +debts were paid off. I'll give up races altogether, if you mean that, +Sir Harry. Indeed, I'm ready to give up anything." + +"Will you give up London?" + +"London!" In simple truth, George did not quite understand the +proposition. + +"Yes; will you leave London? Will you go and live at Scarrowby, and +learn to look after the farm and the place?" + +George's face fell,--his face being less used to lying than his +tongue; but his tongue lied at once: "Oh yes, certainly, if you wish +it. I should rather like a life of that sort. For how long would it +be?" + +"For two years," said Sir Harry, grimly. + +Cousin George, in truth, did not understand. He thought that he was +to take his bride with him when he went to Scarrowby. "Perhaps Emily +would not like it," he said. + +"It is what she desires. You do not suppose that she knows so little +of your past life as to be willing to trust herself into your hands +at once. She is attached to you." + +"And so am I to her; on my honour I am. I'm sure you don't doubt +that." + +Sir Harry doubted every word that fell from his cousin's mouth, but +still he persevered. He could perceive though he could not analyse, +and there was hardly a tone which poor Cousin George used which did +not discourage the Baronet. Still he persevered. He must persevere +now, even if it were only to prove to Emily how much of basest clay +and how little of gold there was in this image. + +"She is attached to you," he continued, "and you bear our name, and +will be the head of our family. If you will submit yourself to a +reformed life, and will prove that you are fit for her, it may be +possible that after years she should be your wife." + +"After years, Sir Harry?" + +"Yes, sir,--after years. Do you suppose that the happiness of such an +one as she can be trusted to such keeping as yours without a trial of +you? You will find that she has no such hope herself." + +"Oh, of course; what she likes--" + +"I will pay your debts; on condition that Mr. Boltby is satisfied +that he has the entire list of them." + +George, as he heard this, at once determined that he must persuade +Mr. Hart to include Mr. Walker's little account in that due to +himself. It was only a matter of a few hundreds, and might surely be +arranged when so much real money would be passing from hand to hand. + +"I will pay everything; you shall then go down to Scarrowby, and the +house shall be prepared for you." + +It wasn't supposed, George thought, that he was absolutely to live in +solitary confinement at Scarrowby. He might have a friend or two, and +then the station was very near. + +"You are fond of shooting, and you will have plenty of it there. +We will get you made a magistrate for the county, and there is +much to do in looking after the property." Sir Harry became almost +good-humoured in his tone as he described the kind of life which he +intended that the blackamoor should live. "We will come to you for a +month each year, and then you can come to us for a while." + +"When shall it begin?" asked Cousin George, as soon as the Baronet +paused. This was a question difficult to be answered. In fact, the +arrangement must be commenced at once. Sir Harry knew very well that, +having so far yielded, he must take his cousin back with him to +Humblethwaite. He must keep his cousin now in his possession till all +those debts should be paid, and till the house at Scarrowby should be +prepared; and he must trust to his daughter's prudence and high sense +of right not to treat her lover with too tender an acknowledgment of +her love till he should have been made to pass through the fire of +reform. + +"You had better get ready and come back to Humblethwaite with me +now," said Sir Harry. + +Within five minutes after that there was bustling about the passages +and hall of the Crown Hotel. Everybody in the house, from the august +landlord down to the humble stableboy, knew that there had been a +reconciliation between Sir Harry and his cousin, and that the cousin +was to be made welcome to all the good the gods could give. While +Cousin George was packing his things, Sir Harry called for the bill +and paid it,--without looking at it, because he would not examine how +the blackamoor had lived while he was still a blackamoor. + +"I wonder whether he observed the brandy," thought Cousin George to +himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +EMILY HOTSPUR'S SERMON. + + +The greater portion of the journey back to Humblethwaite was passed +in silence. Sir Harry had undertaken an experiment in which he had no +faith himself, and was sad at heart. Cousin George was cowed, half +afraid, and yet half triumphant. Could it be possible that he should +"pull through" after all? Some things had gone so well with him. His +lady friends had been so true to him! Lady Altringham, and then Mrs. +Morton,--how good they had been! Dear Lucy! He would never forget +her. And Emily was such a brick! He was going to see his Emily, and +that would be "so jolly." Nevertheless, he did acknowledge to himself +that an Emily prepared to assist her father in sending her lover +through the fire of reform, would not be altogether "so jolly" as the +Emily who had leaned against him on the bridge at Airey Force, while +his arm had been tightly clasped round her waist. He was alive to the +fact that romance must give place to business. + +When they had entered the park-gates, Sir Harry spoke. "You must +understand, George"--he had not called him George before since the +engagement had been made known to him--"that you cannot yet be +admitted here as my daughter's accepted suitor, as might have been +the case had your past life been different." + +"I see all that," said Cousin George. + +"It is right that I should tell you so; but I trust implicitly to +Emily's high sense of duty and propriety. And now that you are here, +George, I trust that it may be for your advantage and for ours." + +Then he pressed his cousin's hand, if not with affection, at least +with sincerity. + +"I'm sure it is to be all right now," said George, calculating +whether he would be able to escape to London for a few days, so that +he might be able to arrange that little matter with Mr. Hart. They +couldn't suppose that he would be able to leave London for two years +without a day's notice! + +Sir Harry got out of the carriage at the front door, and desired +Cousin George to follow him into the house. He turned at once into +the small room where George had drunk the sherry, and desired that +Lady Elizabeth might be sent to him. + +"My dear," said he, "I have brought George back with me. We will do +the best that we can. Mrs. Quick will have a room for him. You had +better tell Emily, and let her come to me for a moment before she +sees her cousin." This was all said in George's hearing. And then Sir +Harry went, leaving his cousin in the hands of Lady Elizabeth. + +"I am glad to see you back again, George," she said, with a +melancholy voice. + +Cousin George smiled, and said, that "it would be all right." + +"I am sure I hope so, for my girl's sake. But there must be a great +change, George." + +"No end of a change," said Cousin George, who was not in the least +afraid of Lady Elizabeth. + +Many things of moment had to be done in the house that day before +dinner. In the first place there was a long interview between the +father and daughter. For a few minutes, perhaps, he was really happy +when she was kneeling with her arms upon his knees, thanking him for +what he had done, while tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks. +He would not bring himself to say a word of caution to her. Would it +not be to paint the snow white to caution her as to her conduct? + +"I have done as you bade me in everything," he said. "I have proposed +to him that he should go to Scarrowby. It may be that it will be your +home for a while, dear." + +She thanked him and kissed him again and again. She would be so +good. She would do all she could to deserve his kindness. And as for +George,--"Pray, Papa, don't think that I suppose that it can be all +done quite at once." Nevertheless it was in that direction that her +thoughts erred. It did seem to her that the hard part of the work was +already done, and that now the pleasant paths of virtue were to be +trod with happy and persistent feet. + +"You had better see him in your mother's presence, dearest, before +dinner; and then the awkwardness will be less afterwards." + +She kissed him again, and ran from his room up to her mother's +apartment, taking some back stairs well known to herself, lest she +should by chance meet her lover after some undue and unprepared +fashion. And there she could sit down and think of it all! She +would be very discreet. He should be made to understand at once +that the purgation must be thorough, the reform complete. She would +acknowledge her love to him,--her great and abiding love; but of +lover's tenderness there could be but little,--almost none,--till the +fire had done its work, and the gold should have been separated from +the dross. She had had her way so far, and they should find that she +had deserved it. + +Before dinner Sir Harry wrote a letter to his lawyer. The mail-cart +passed through the village on its way to Penrith late in the evening, +and there was time for him to save the post. He thought it incumbent +on him to let Mr. Boltby know that he had changed his mind; and, +though the writing of the letter was not an agreeable task, he did it +at once. He said nothing to Mr. Boltby directly about his daughter, +but he made it known to that gentleman that Cousin George was at +present a guest at Humblethwaite, and that he intended to pay all the +debts without entering into any other specific engagements. Would Mr. +Boltby have the goodness to make out a schedule of the debts? Captain +Hotspur should be instructed to give Mr. Boltby at once all the +necessary information by letter. Then Sir Harry went on to say that +perhaps the opinions formed in reference to Captain Hotspur had been +too severe. He was ashamed of himself as he wrote these words, but +still they were written. If the blackamoor was to be washed white, +the washing must be carried out at all times, at all seasons, and in +every possible manner, till the world should begin to see that the +blackness was going out of the skin. + +Cousin George was summoned to meet the girl who loved him in her +mother's morning-room, before they dressed for dinner. He did not +know at all in what way to conduct himself. He had not given a +moment's thought to it till the difficulty flashed upon him as she +entered the apartment. But she had considered it all. She came up to +him quickly, and gave him her lips to kiss, standing there in her +mother's presence. + +"George," she said, "dear George! I am so glad that you are here." + +It was the first; and it should be the last,--till the fire had done +its work; till the fire should at least have done so much of its work +as to make the remainder easy and fairly sure. He had little to say +for himself, but muttered something about his being the happiest +fellow in the world. It was a position in which a man could hardly +behave well, and neither the mother nor the daughter expected much +from him. A man cannot bear himself gracefully under the weight of a +pardon as a woman may do. A man chooses generally that it shall be +assumed by those with whom he is closely connected that he has done +and is doing no wrong; and, when wronged, he professes to forgive +and to forget in silence. To a woman the act of forgiveness, either +accepted or bestowed, is itself a pleasure. A few words were then +spoken, mostly by Lady Elizabeth, and the three separated to prepare +for dinner. + +The next day passed over them at Humblethwaite Hall very quietly, but +with some mild satisfaction. Sir Harry told his cousin of the letter +to his lawyer, and desired George to make out and send by that day's +post such a schedule as might be possible on the spur of the moment. + +"Hadn't I better run up and see Mr. Boltby?" said Cousin George. + +But to this Sir Harry was opposed. Let any calls for money reach them +there. Whatever the calls might be, he at any rate could pay them. +Cousin George repeated his suggestion; but acquiesced when Sir Harry +frowned and showed his displeasure. He did make out a schedule, and +did write a letter to Mr. Boltby. + +"I think my debt to Mr. Hart was put down as £3,250," he wrote, "but +I believe I should have added another £350 for a transaction as to +which I fancy he does not hold my note of hand. But the money is +due." + +He was fool enough to think that Mr. Walker's claim might be +liquidated after this fashion. In the afternoon they rode +together,--the father, the daughter, and the blackamoor, and much was +told to Cousin George as to the nature of the property. The names +of the tenants were mentioned, and the boundaries of the farms were +pointed out to him. He was thinking all the time whether Mr. Hart +would spare him. + +But Emily Hotspur, though she had been thus reticent and quiet in her +joy, though she was resolved to be discreet, and knew that there were +circumstances in her engagement which would for a while deter her +from being with her accepted lover as other girls are with theirs, +did not mean to estrange herself from her cousin George. If she were +to do so, how was she to assist, and take, as she hoped to do, the +first part in that task of refining the gold on which they were all +now intent? She was to correspond with him when he was at Scarrowby. +Such was her present programme, and Sir Harry had made no objection +when she declared her purpose. Of course they must understand each +other, and have communion together. On the third day, therefore, it +was arranged they two should walk, without other company, about the +place. She must show him her own gardens, which were at some distance +from the house. If the truth be told, it must be owned that George +somewhat dreaded the afternoon's amusement; but had she demanded of +him to sit down to listen to her while she read to him a sermon, he +would not have refused. + +To be didactic and at the same time demonstrative of affection is +difficult, even with mothers towards their children, though with +them the assumption of authority creates no sense of injury. Emily +specially desired to point out to the erring one the paths of virtue, +and yet to do so without being oppressive. + +"It is so nice to have you here, George," she said. + +"Yes, indeed; isn't it?" He was walking beside her, and as yet they +were within view of the house. + +"Papa has been so good; isn't he good?" + +"Indeed he is. The best man I know out," said George, thinking that +his gratitude would have been stronger had the Baronet given him the +money and allowed him to go up to London to settle his own debts. + +"And Mamma has been so kind! Mamma is very fond of you. I am sure she +would do anything for you." + +"And you?" said George, looking into her face. + +"I!--As for me, George, it is a matter of course now. You do not want +to be told again what is and ever must be my first interest in the +world." + +"I do not care how often you tell me." + +"But you know it; don't you?" + +"I know what you said at the waterfall, Emily." + +"What I said then I said for always. You may be sure of that. I told +Mamma so, and Papa. If they had not wanted me to love you, they +should not have asked you to come here. I do love you, and I hope +that some day I may be your wife." + +She was not leaning on his arm, but as she spoke she stopped, and +looked stedfastly into his face. He put out his hand as though to +take hers; but she shook her head, refusing it. "No, George; come on. +I want to talk to you a great deal. I want to say ever so much,--now, +to-day. I hope that some day I may be your wife. If I am not, I shall +never be any man's wife." + +"What does some day mean, Emily?" + +"Ever so long;--years, perhaps." + +"But why? A fellow has to be consulted, you know, as well as +yourself. What is the use of waiting? I know Sir Harry thinks I have +been very fond of pleasure. How can I better show him how willing I +am to give it up than by marrying and settling down at once? I don't +see what's to be got by waiting?" + +Of course she must tell him the truth. She had no idea of keeping +back the truth. She loved him with all her heart, and was resolved +to marry him; but the dross must first be purged from the gold. "Of +course you know, George, that Papa has made objections." + +"I know he did, but that is over now. I am to go and live at +Scarrowby at once, and have the shooting. He can't want me to remain +there all by myself." + +"But he does; and so do I." + +"Why?" + +In order that he might be made clean by the fire of solitude and the +hammer of hard work. She could not quite say this to him. "You know, +George, your life has been one of pleasure." + +"I was in the army,--for some years." + +"But you left it, and you took to going to races, and they say that +you gambled and are in debt, and you have been reckless. Is not that +true, George?" + +"It is true." + +"And should you wonder that Papa should be afraid to trust his only +child and all his property to one who,--who knows that he has been +reckless? But if you can show, for a year or two, that you can give +up all that--" + +"Wouldn't it be all given up if we were married?" + +"Indeed, I hope so. I should break my heart otherwise. But can you +wonder that Papa should wish for some delay and some proof?" + +"Two years!" + +"Is that much? If I find you doing what he wishes, these two years +will be so happy to me! We shall come and see you, and you will come +here. I have never liked Scarrowby, because it is not pretty, as this +place is; but, oh, how I shall like to go there now! And when you are +here, Papa will get to be so fond of you. You will be like a real son +to him. Only you must be steady." + +"Steady! by Jove, yes. A fellow will have to be steady at Scarrowby." +The perfume of the cleanliness of the life proposed to him was not +sweet to his nostrils. + +She did not like this, but she knew that she could not have +everything at once. "You must know," she said, "that there is a +bargain between me and Papa. I told him that I should tell you +everything." + +"Yes; I ought to be told everything." + +"It is he that shall fix the day. He is to do so much, that he has a +right to that. I shall never press him, and you must not." + +"Oh, but I shall." + +"It will be of no use; and, George, I won't let you. I shall scold +you if you do. When he thinks that you have learned how to manage the +property, and that your mind is set upon that kind of work, and that +there are no more races,--mind, and no betting, then,--then he will +consent. And I will tell you something more if you would like to hear +it." + +"Something pleasant, is it?" + +"When he does, and tells me that he is not afraid to give me to you, +I shall be the happiest girl in all England. Is that pleasant?--No, +George, no; I will not have it." + +"Not give me one kiss?" + +"I gave you one when you came, to show you that in truth I loved you. +I will give you another when Papa says that everything is right." + +"Not till then?" + +"No, George, not till then. But I shall love you just the same. I +cannot love you better than I do." + +He had nothing for it but to submit, and was obliged to be content +during the remainder of their long walk with talking of his future +life at Scarrowby. It was clearly her idea that he should be +head-farmer, head-steward, head-accountant, and general workman for +the whole place. When he talked about the game, she brought him back +to the plough;--so at least he declared to himself. And he could +elicit no sympathy from her when he reminded her that the nearest +meet of hounds was twenty miles and more from Scarrowby. "You can +think of other things for a while," she said. He was obliged to say +that he would, but it did seem to him that Scarrowby was a sort +of penal servitude to which he was about to be sent with his own +concurrence. The scent of the cleanliness was odious to him. + +"I don't know what I shall do there of an evening," he said. + +"Read," she answered; "there are lots of books, and you can always +have the magazines. I will send them to you." It was a very dreary +prospect of life for him, but he could not tell her that it would be +absolutely unendurable. + +When their walk was over,--a walk which she never could forget, +however long might be her life, so earnest had been her purpose,--he +was left alone, and took another stroll by himself. How would it suit +him? Was it possible? Could the event "come off"? Might it not have +been better for him had he allowed his other loving friend to prepare +for him the letter to the Baronet, in which Sir Harry's munificent +offer would have been accepted? Let us do him the justice to remember +that he was quite incapable of understanding the misery, the utter +ruin which that letter would have entailed upon her who loved him so +well. He knew nothing of such sufferings as would have been hers--as +must be hers, for had she not already fallen haplessly into the pit +when she had once allowed herself to fix her heart upon a thing so +base as this? It might have been better, he thought, if that letter +had been written. A dim dull idea came upon him that he was not fit +to be this girl's husband. He could not find his joys where she would +find hers. No doubt it would be a grand thing to own Humblethwaite +and Scarrowby at some future time; but Sir Harry might live for these +twenty years, and while Sir Harry lived he must be a slave. And then +he thought that upon the whole he liked Lucy Morton better than +Emily Hotspur. He could say what he chose to Lucy, and smoke in her +presence, own that he was fond of drink, and obtain some sympathy for +his "book" on the Derby. He began to feel already that he did not +like sermons from the girl of his heart. + +But he had chosen this side now, and he must go on with the game. +It seemed certain to him that his debts would at any rate be paid. +He was not at all certain how matters might go in reference to +Mr. Walker, but if matters came to the worst the Baronet would +probably be willing to buy him off again with the promised income. +Nevertheless, he was not comfortable, and certainly did not shine at +Sir Harry's table. "Why she has loved him, what she has seen in him, +I cannot tell," said Sir Harry to his wife that night. + +We must presume Sir Harry did not know how it is that the birds pair. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +GEORGE HOTSPUR YIELDS. + + +On the morning of Cousin George's fourth day at Humblethwaite, there +came a letter for Sir Harry. The post reached the Hall about an hour +before the time at which the family met for prayers, and the letters +were taken into Sir Harry's room. The special letter of which mention +is here made shall be given to the reader entire:-- + + + ----, Lincoln's Inn Fields, + 24th Nov. 186--. + + MY DEAR SIR HARRY HOTSPUR,--I have received your letter + in reference to Captain Hotspur's debts, and have also + received a letter from him, and a list of what he says he + owes. Of course there can be no difficulty in paying all + debts which he acknowledges, if you think proper to do so. + As far as I am able to judge at present, the amount would + be between twenty-five and thirty thousand pounds. I + should say nearer the former than the latter sum, did + I not know that the amount in such matters always goes + on increasing. You must also understand that I cannot + guarantee the correctness of this statement. + + But I feel myself bound in my duty to go further + than this, even though it may be at the risk of your + displeasure. I presume from what you tell me that you are + contemplating a marriage between George Hotspur and your + daughter; and I now repeat to you, in the most solemn + words that I can use, my assurance that the marriage is + one which you should not countenance. Captain Hotspur is + not fit to marry your daughter. + + +When Sir Harry had read so far he had become very angry, but his +anger was now directed against his lawyer. Had he not told Mr. Boltby +that he had changed his mind; and what business had the lawyer to +interfere with him further? But he read the letter on to its bitter +end:-- + + + Since you were in London the following facts have become + known to me. On the second of last month Mr. George + Hotspur met two men, named Walker and Bullbean, in the + lodgings of the former, at about nine in the evening, + and remained there during the greater part of the night, + playing cards. Bullbean is a man well known to the police + as a card-sharper. He once moved in the world as a + gentleman. His trade is now to tout and find prey for + gamblers. Walker is a young man in a low rank of life, who + had some money. George Hotspur on that night won between + three and four hundred pounds of Walker's money; and + Bullbean, over and above this, got for himself some + considerable amount of plunder. Walker is now prepared, + and very urgent, to bring the circumstances of this case + before a magistrate, having found out, or been informed, + that some practice of cheating was used against him; and + Bullbean is ready to give evidence as to George Hotspur's + foul play. They have hitherto been restrained by Hart, the + Jew whom you met. Hart fears that were the whole thing + made public, his bills would not be taken up by you. + + I think that I know all this to be true. If you conceive + that I am acting in a manner inimical to your family, you + had better come up to London and put yourself into the + hands of some other lawyer. If you can still trust me, I + will do the best I can for you. I should recommend you to + bring Captain Hotspur with you,--if he will come. + + I grieve to write as I have done, but it seems to me that + no sacrifice is too great to make with the object of + averting the fate to which, as I fear, Miss Hotspur is + bringing herself.--My dear Sir Harry Hotspur, I am, very + faithfully yours, + + JOHN BOLTBY. + + +It was a terrible letter! Gradually, as he read it and re-read it, +there came upon Sir Harry the feeling that he might owe, that he did +owe, that he certainly would owe to Mr. Boltby a very heavy debt +of gratitude. Gradually the thin glazing of hope with which he had +managed to daub over and partly to hide his own settled convictions +as to his cousin's character fell away, and he saw the man as he had +seen him during his interview with Captain Stubber and Mr. Hart. It +must be so. Let the consequences be what they might, his daughter +must be told. Were she to be killed by the telling, it would be +better than that she should be handed over to such a man as this. The +misfortune which had come upon them might be the death of him and of +her;--but better that than the other. He sat in his chair till the +gong sounded through the house for prayers; then he rang his bell +and sent in word to Lady Elizabeth that she should read them in +his absence. When they were over, word was brought that he would +breakfast alone, in his own room. On receiving that message, both his +wife and daughter went to him; but as yet he could tell them nothing. +Tidings had come which would make it necessary that he should go at +once to London. As soon as breakfast should be over he would see +George Hotspur. They both knew from the tone in which the name was +pronounced that the "tidings" were of their nature bad, and that they +had reference to the sins of their guest. + +"You had better read that letter," he said as soon as George was in +the room. As he spoke his face was towards the fire, and in that +position he remained. The letter had been in his hand, and he only +half turned round to give it. George read the letter slowly, and when +he had got through it, only half understanding the words, but still +knowing well the charge which it contained, stood silent, utterly +conquered. "I suppose it is true?" said Sir Harry, in a low voice, +facing his enemy. + +"I did win some money," said Cousin George. + +"And you cheated?" + +"Oh dear no;--nothing of the sort." + +But his confession was written in his face, and was heard in his +voice, and peeped out through every motion of his limbs. He was a +cur, and denied the accusation in a currish manner, hardly intended +to create belief. + +"He must be paid back his money," said Sir Harry. + +"I had promised that," said Cousin George. + +"Has it been your practice, sir, when gambling, to pay back money +that you have won? You are a scoundrel,--a heartless scoundrel,--to +try and make your way into my house when I had made such liberal +offers to buy your absence." To this Cousin George made no sort of +answer. The game was up. And had he not already told himself that +it was a game that he should never have attempted to play? "We will +leave this house if you please, both of us, at eleven. We will go to +town together. The carriage will be ready at eleven. You had better +see to the packing of your things, with the servant." + +"Shall I not say a word of adieu to Lady Elizabeth?" + +"No, sir! You shall never speak to a female in my house again." + +The two were driven over to Penrith together, and went up to London +in the same carriage, Sir Harry paying for all expenses without a +word. Sir Harry before he left his house saw his wife for a moment, +but he did not see his daughter. "Tell her," said he, "that it must +be,--must be all over." The decision was told to Emily, but she +simply refused to accept it. "It shall not be so," said she, flashing +out. Lady Elizabeth endeavoured to show her that her father had done +all he could to further her views--had been ready to sacrifice to her +all his own wishes and convictions. + +"Why is he so changed? He has heard of some new debt. Of course there +are debts. We did not suppose that it could be done all at once, and +so easily." She refused to be comforted, and refused to believe. +She sat alone weeping in her own room, and swore, when her mother +came to her, that no consideration, no tidings as to George's past +misconduct, should induce her to break her faith to the man to whom +her word had been given;--"my word, and Papa's, and yours," said +Emily, pleading her cause with majesty through her tears. + +On the day but one following there came a letter from Sir Harry to +Lady Elizabeth, very short, but telling her the whole truth. "He has +cheated like a common low swindler as he is, with studied tricks at +cards, robbing a poor man, altogether beneath him in station, of +hundreds of pounds. There is no doubt about it. It is uncertain even +yet whether he will not be tried before a jury. He hardly even denies +it. A creature viler, more cowardly, worse, the mind of man cannot +conceive. My broken-hearted, dearest, best darling must be told +all this. Tell her that I know what she will suffer. Tell her that +I shall be as crushed by it as she. But anything is better than +degradation such as this. Tell her specially that I have not decided +without absolute knowledge." Emily was told. The letter was read to +her and by her till she knew it almost by heart. There came upon +her a wan look of abject agony, that seemed to rob her at once of +her youth and beauty; but even now she would not yield. She did +not longer affect to disbelieve the tidings, but said that no man, +let him do what he might, could be too far gone for repentance and +forgiveness. She would wait. She had talked of waiting two years. She +would be content to wait ten. What though he had cheated at cards! +Had she not once told her mother that should it turn out that he had +been a murderer, then she would become a murderer's wife? She did not +know that cheating at cards was worse than betting at horse-races. It +was all bad,--very bad. It was the kind of life into which men were +led by the fault of those who should have taught them better. No; +she would not marry him without her father's leave: but she would +never own that her engagement was broken, let them affix what most +opprobrious name to him they might choose. To her card-sharpers +seemed to be no worse than gamblers. She was quite sure that Christ +had come to save men who cheat at cards as well as others. + +As Sir Harry and his cousin entered the London station late at +night,--it was past midnight,--Sir Harry bade his companion meet him +the next morning at Mr. Boltby's chambers at eleven. Cousin George +had had ample time for meditation, and had considered that it might +be best for him to "cut up a little rough." + +"Mr. Boltby is my enemy," he said, "and I don't know what I am to get +by going there." + +"If you don't, sir, I'll not pay one shilling for you." + +"I have your promise, Sir Harry." + +"If you are not there at the time I fix, I will pay nothing, and the +name may go to the dogs." + +Then they both went to the station hotel,--not together, but the +younger following the elder's feet,--and slept for the last time in +their lives under one roof. + +Cousin George did not show himself at Mr. Boltby's, being still in +his bed at the station hotel at the time named; but at three o'clock +he was with Mrs. Morton. + +For the present we will go back to Sir Harry. He was at the lawyer's +chambers at the time named, and Mr. Boltby smiled when told of the +summons which had been given to Cousin George. By this time Sir Harry +had acknowledged his gratitude to Mr. Boltby over and over again, and +Mr. Boltby perhaps, having no daughter, thought that the evil had +been cured. He was almost inclined to be jocular, and did laugh at +Sir Harry in a mild way when told of the threat. + +"We must pay his debts, Sir Harry, I think." + +"I don't see it at all. I would rather face everything. And I told +him that I would pay nothing." + +"Ah, but you had told him that you would. And then those cormorants +have been told so also. We had better build a bridge of gold for +a falling enemy. Stick to your former proposition, without any +reference to a legacy, and make him write the letter. My clerk shall +find him to-morrow." + +Sir Harry at last gave way; the lucky Walker received back his full +money, Bullbean's wages of iniquity and all; and Sir Harry returned +to Humblethwaite. + +Cousin George was sitting in Mrs. Morton's room with a very bad +headache five days after his arrival in London, and she was reading +over a manuscript which she had just written. "That will do, I +think," she said. + +"Just the thing," said he, without raising his head. + +"Will you copy it now, George?" + +"Not just now, I am so seedy. I'll take it and do it at the club." + +"No; I will not have that. The draft would certainly be left out on +the club table; and you would go to billiards, and the letter never +would be written." + +"I'll come back and do it after dinner." + +"I shall be at the theatre then, and I won't have you here in my +absence. Rouse yourself and do it now. Don't be such a poor thing." + +"That's all very well, Lucy; but if you had a sick headache, you +wouldn't like to have to write a d----d letter like that." + +Then she rose up to scold him, being determined that the letter +should be written then and there. "Why, what a coward you are; what a +feckless, useless creature! Do you think that I have never to go for +hours on the stage, with the gas in a blaze around me, and my head +ready to split? And what is this? A paper to write that will take you +ten minutes. The truth is, you don't like to give up the girl!" Could +she believe it of him after knowing him so well; could she think that +there was so much of good in him? + +"You say that to annoy me. You know that I never cared for her." + +"You would marry her now if they would let you." + +"No, by George. I've had enough of that. You're wide awake enough to +understand, Lucy, that a fellow situated as I am, over head and ears +in debt, and heir to an old title, should struggle to keep the things +together. Families and names don't matter much, I suppose; but, after +all, one does care for them. But I've had enough of that. As for +Cousin Emily, you know, Lucy, I never loved any woman but you in my +life." + +He was a brute, unredeemed by any one manly gift; idle, +self-indulgent, false, and without a principle. She was a woman +greatly gifted, with many virtues, capable of self-sacrifice, +industrious, affectionate, and loving truth if not always true +herself. And yet such a word as that from this brute sufficed to +please her for the moment. She got up and kissed his forehead and +dropped for him some strong spirit in a glass, which she mixed with +water, and cooled his brow with eau-de-cologne. "Try to write it, +dearest. It should be written at once if it is to be written." Then +he turned himself wearily to her writing-desk, and copied the words +which she had prepared for him. + +The letter was addressed to Mr. Boltby, and purported to be +a renunciation of all claim to Miss Hotspur's hand, on the +understanding that his debts were paid for him to the extent of +£25,000, and that an allowance were made to him of £500 a year, +settled on him as an annuity for life, as long as he should live out +of England. Mr. Boltby had given him to understand that this clause +would not be exacted, unless circumstances should arise which should +make Sir Harry think it imperative upon him to demand its execution. +The discretion must be left absolute with Sir Harry; but, as Mr. +Boltby said, Captain Hotspur could trust Sir Harry's word and his +honour. + +"If I'm to be made to go abroad, what the devil are you to do?" he +had said to Mrs. Morton. + +"There need be no circumstances," said Mrs. Morton, "to make it +necessary." + +Of course Captain Hotspur accepted the terms on her advice. He had +obeyed Lady Altringham, and had tried to obey Emily, and would now +obey Mrs. Morton, because Mrs. Morton was the nearest to him. + +The letter which he copied was a well-written letter, put together +with much taste, so that the ignoble compact to which it gave assent +should seem to be as little ignoble as might be possible. "I entered +into the arrangement," the letter said in its last paragraph, +"because I thought it right to endeavour to keep the property and the +title together; but I am aware now that my position in regard to my +debts was of a nature that should have deterred me from the attempt. +As I have failed, I sincerely hope that my cousin may be made happy +by some such splendid alliance as she is fully entitled to expect." +He did not understand all that the words conveyed; but yet he +questioned them. He did not perceive that they were intended to imply +that the writer had never for a moment loved the girl whom he had +proposed to marry. Nevertheless they did convey to him dimly some +idea that they might give,--not pain, for as to that he would have +been indifferent,--but offence. "Will there be any good in all that?" +he asked. + +"Certainly," said she. "You don't mean to whine and talk of your +broken heart." + +"Oh dear, no; nothing of that sort." + +"This is the manly way to put it, regarding the matter simply as an +affair of business." + +"I believe it is," said he; and then, having picked himself up +somewhat by the aid of a glass of sherry, he continued to copy the +letter, and to direct it. + +"I will keep the rough draft," said Mrs. Morton. + +"And I must go now, I suppose," he said. + +"You can stay here and see me eat my dinner if you like. I shall not +ask you to share it, because it consists of two small mutton chops, +and one wouldn't keep me up through Lady Teazle." + +"I've a good mind to come and see you," said he. + +"Then you'd better go and eat your own dinner at once." + +"I don't care about my dinner. I should have a bit of supper +afterwards." + +Then she preached to him a sermon; not quite such a one as Emily +Hotspur had preached, but much more practical, and with less +reticence. If he went on living as he was living now, he would "come +to grief." He was drinking every day, and would some day find that he +could not do so with impunity. Did he know what delirium tremens was? +Did he want to go to the devil altogether? Had he any hope as to his +future life? + +"Yes," said he, "I hope to make you my wife." She tossed her head, +and told him that with all the will in the world to sacrifice +herself, such sacrifice could do him no good if he persisted in +making himself a drunkard. "But I have been so tried these last two +months. If you only knew what Mr. Boltby and Captain Stubber and Sir +Harry and Mr. Hart were altogether. Oh, my G----!" But he did not +say a word about Messrs. Walker and Bullbean. The poor woman who was +helping him knew nothing of Walker and Bullbean. Let us hope that she +may remain in that ignorance. + +Cousin George, before he left her, swore that he would amend his mode +of life, but he did not go to see Lady Teazle that night. There were +plenty of men now back in town ready to play pool at the club. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +"I SHALL NEVER BE MARRIED." + + +Sir Harry Hotspur returned to Humblethwaite before Cousin George's +letter was written, though when he did return all the terms had been +arranged, and a portion of the money paid. Perhaps it would have been +better that he should have waited and taken the letter with him in +his pocket; but in truth he was so wretched that he could not wait. +The thing was fixed and done, and he could but hurry home to hide his +face among his own people. He felt that the glory of his house was +gone from him. He would sit by the hour together thinking of the boy +who had died. He had almost, on occasions, allowed himself to forget +his boy, while hoping that his name and wide domains might be kept +together by the girl that was left to him. He was beginning to +understand now that she was already but little better than a wreck. +Indeed, was not everything shipwreck around him? Was he not going to +pieces on the rocks? Did not the lesson of every hour seem to tell +him that, throughout his long life, he had thought too much of his +house and his name? + +It would have been better that he should have waited till the letter +was in his pocket before he returned home, because, when he reached +Humblethwaite, the last argument was wanting to him to prove to Emily +that her hope was vain. Even after his arrival, when the full story +was told to her, she held out in her resolve. She accepted the truth +of that scene at Walker's rooms. She acknowledged that her lover had +cheated the wretched man at cards. After that all other iniquities +were of course as nothing. There was a completeness in that of which +she did not fail to accept, and to use the benefit. When she had once +taken it as true that her lover had robbed his inferior by foul play +at cards, there could be no good in alluding to this or that lie, in +counting up this or that disreputable debt, in alluding to habits of +brandy-drinking, or even in soiling her pure mind with any word as +to Mrs. Morton. It was granted that he was as vile as sin could make +him. Had not her Saviour come exactly for such as this one, because +of His great love for those who were vile; and should not her human +love for one enable her to do that which His great heavenly love did +always for all men? Every reader will know how easily answerable +was the argument. Most readers will also know how hard it is to win +by attacking the reason when the heart is the fortress that is in +question. She had accepted his guilt, and why tell her of it any +further? Did she not pine over his guilt, and weep for it day and +night, and pray that he might yet be made white as snow? But guilty +as he was, a poor piece of broken vilest clay, without the properties +even which are useful to the potter, he was as dear to her as when +she had leaned against him believing him to be a pillar of gold set +about with onyx stones, jaspers, and rubies. There was but one sin on +his part which could divide them. If, indeed, he should cease to love +her, then there would be an end to it! It would have been better that +Sir Harry should have remained in London till he could have returned +with George's autograph letter in his pocket. + +"You must have the letter in his own handwriting," Mr. Boltby had +said, cunningly, "only you must return it to me." + +Sir Harry had understood, and had promised, that the letter should +be returned when it had been used for the cruel purpose for which it +was to be sent to Humblethwaite. For all Sir Harry's own purposes Mr. +Boltby's statements would have quite sufficed. + +She was told that her lover would renounce her, but she would not +believe what she was told. Of course he would accept the payment +of his debts. Of course he would take an income when offered to +him. What else was he to do? How was he to live decently without +an income? All these evils had happened to him because he had been +expected to live as a gentleman without proper means. In fact, he was +the person who had been most injured. Her father, in his complete, in +his almost abject tenderness towards her, could not say rough words +in answer to all these arguments. He could only repeat his assertion +over and over again that the man was utterly unworthy of her, and +must be discarded. It was all as nothing. The man must discard +himself. + +"He is false as hell," said Sir Harry. + +"And am I to be as false as hell also? Will you love me better when I +have consented to be untrue? And even that would be a lie. I do love +him. I must love him. I may be more wicked than he is, because I do +so. But I do." + +Poor Lady Elizabeth in these days was worse than useless. Her +daughter was so strong that her weakness was as the weakness of +water. She was driven hither and thither in a way that she herself +felt to be disgraceful. When her husband told her that the cousin, as +matter of course, could never be seen again, she assented. When Emily +implored her to act as mediator with her father on behalf of the +wicked cousin, she again assented. And then, when she was alone with +Sir Harry, she did not dare to do as she had promised. + +"I do think it will kill her," she said to Sir Harry. + +"We must all die, but we need not die disgraced," he said. + +It was a most solemn answer, and told the thoughts which had been +dwelling in his mind. His son had gone from him; and now it might +be that his daughter must go too, because she could not survive +the disappointment of her young love. He had learned to think that +it might be so as he looked at her great grave eyes, and her pale +cheeks, and her sorrow-laden mouth. It might be so; but better that +for them all than that she should be contaminated by the touch of +a thing so vile as this cousin. She was pure as snow, clear as a +star, lovely as the opening rosebud. As she was, let her go to her +grave,--if it need be so. For himself, he could die too,--or even +live if it were required of him! Other fathers, since Jephtha and +Agamemnon, have recognised it as true that heaven has demanded from +them their daughters. + +The letter came, and was read and re-read by Sir Harry before he +showed it to his child. He took it also to his wife, and explained it +to her in all its points. "It has more craft," said he, "than I gave +him credit for." + +"I don't suppose he ever cared for her," said Lady Elizabeth. + +"Nor for any human being that ever lived,--save himself. I wonder +whether he got Boltby to write it for him." + +"Surely Mr. Boltby wouldn't have done that." + +"I don't know. I think he would do anything to rid us from what he +believed to have been our danger. I don't think it was in George +Hotspur to write such a letter out of his own head." + +"But does it signify?" + +"Not in the least. It is his own handwriting and his signature. +Whoever formed the words, it is the same thing. It was needed only to +prove to her that he had not even the merit of being true to her." + +For a while Sir Harry thought that he would entrust to his wife the +duty of showing the letter to Emily. He would so willingly have +escaped the task himself! But as he considered the matter he feared +that Lady Elizabeth might lack the firmness to explain the matter +fully to the poor girl. The daughter would be so much stronger +than the mother, and thus the thing that must be done would not be +effected! At last, on the evening of the day on which the letter +had reached him, he sent for her, and read it to her. She heard it +without a word. Then he put it into her hands, and she read the +sentences herself, slowly, one after another, endeavouring as she did +so to find arguments by which she might stave off the conclusion to +which she knew that her father would attempt to bring her. + +"It must be all over now," said he at last. + +She did not answer him, but gazed into his face with such a look of +woe that his heart was melted. She had found no argument. There had +not been in the whole letter one word of love for her. + +"My darling, will it not be better that we should meet the blow?" + +"I have met it, all along. Some day, perhaps, he might be different." + +"In what way, dearest? He does not even profess to hope so himself." + +"That gentleman in London, Papa, would have paid nothing for him +unless he wrote like this. He had to do it. Papa, you had better just +leave me to myself. I will not trouble you by mentioning his name." + +"But Emily--" + +"Well, Papa?" + +"Mamma and I cannot bear that you should suffer alone." + +"I must suffer, and silence is the easiest. I will go now and think +about it. Dear Papa, I know that you have always done everything for +the best." + +He did not see her again that evening. Her mother was with her in +her own room, and of course they were talking about Cousin George +for hours together. It could not be avoided, in spite of what Emily +had herself said of the expediency of silence. But she did not once +allude to the possibility of a future marriage. As the man was so +dear to her, and as he bore their name, and as he must inherit her +father's title, could not some almost superhuman exertion be made for +his salvation? Surely so much as that might be done, if they all made +it the work of their lives. + +"It must be the work of my life, Mamma," she said. + +Lady Elizabeth forbore from telling her that there was no side on +which she could approach him. The poor girl herself, however, must +have felt that it was so. As she thought of it all she reminded +herself that, though they were separated miles asunder, still she +could pray for him. We need not doubt this at least,--that to him who +utters them prayers of intercession are of avail. + +On the following morning she was at breakfast, and both her father +and mother remarked that something had been changed in her dress. The +father only knew that it was so, but the mother could have told of +every ribbon that had been dropped, and every ornament that had been +laid aside. Emily Hotspur had lived a while, if not among the gayest +of the gay, at least among the brightest of the bright in outside +garniture, and having been asked to consult no questions of expense, +had taught herself to dress as do the gay and bright and rich. Even +when George had come on his last wretched visit to Humblethwaite, +when she had known that he had been brought there as a blackamoor +perhaps just capable of being washed white, she had not thought it +necessary to lessen the gauds of her attire. Though she was saddened +in her joy by the knowledge of the man's faults, she was still the +rich daughter of a very wealthy man, and engaged to marry the future +inheritor of all that wealth and riches. There was then no reason why +she should lower her flag one inch before the world. But now all was +changed with her! During the night she had thought of her apparel, +and of what use it might be during her future life. She would never +more go bright again, unless some miracle might prevail, and he still +might be to her that which she had painted him. Neither father nor +mother, as she kissed them both, said a word as to her appearance. +They must take her away from Humblethwaite, change the scene, try to +interest her in new pursuits; that was what they had determined to +attempt. For the present, they would let her put on what clothes she +pleased, and make no remark. + +Early in the day she went out by herself. It was now December, but +the weather was fine and dry, and she was for two hours alone, +rambling through the park. She had made her attempt in life, and had +failed. She owned her failure to herself absolutely. The image had no +gold in it;--none as yet. But it was not as other images, which, as +they are made, so must they remain to the end. The Divine Spirit, +which might from the first have breathed into this clay some particle +of its own worth, was still efficacious to bestow the gift. Prayer +should not be wanting; but the thing as it now was she saw in all its +impurity. He had never loved her. Had he loved her he would not have +written words such as those she had read. He had pretended to love +her in order that he might have money, that his debts might be paid, +that he might not be ruined. "He hoped," he said in his letter, "he +hoped that his cousin might be made happy by a splendid alliance!" +She remembered well the abominable, heartless words. And this was +the man who had pledged her to truth and firmness, and whose own +truth and firmness she had never doubted for a moment, even when +acknowledging to herself the necessity of her pledge to him. He had +never loved her; and, though she did not say so, did not think so, +she felt that of all his sins that sin was the one which could not be +forgiven. + +What should she now do with herself,--how bear herself at this +present moment of her life? She did not tell herself now that she +would die, though as she looked forward into life all was so dreary +to her, that she would fain have known that death would give an +escape. But there were duties for her still to do. During that winter +ramble, she owned to herself for the first time that her father had +been right in his judgment respecting their cousin, and that she, by +her pertinacity, had driven her father on till on her account he had +been forced into conduct which was distasteful to him. She must own +to her father that he had been right; that the man, though she dearly +loved him still, was of such nature that it would be quite unfit that +she should marry him. There might still be the miracle; her prayers +were still her own to give; of them she would say nothing to her +father. She would simply confess to him that he had been right, and +then beg of him to pardon her the trouble she had caused him. + +"Papa," she said to him the following morning, "may I come to you?" +She came in, and on this occasion sat down at his right hand. "Of +course, you have been right, Papa," she said. + +"We have both been right, dearest, I hope." + +"No, Papa; I have been wrong! I thought I knew him, and I did not. I +thought when you told me that he was so bad, that you were believing +false people; and, Papa, I know now that I should not have loved him +as I did;--so quickly, like that." + +"Nobody has blamed you for a moment. Nobody has thought of blaming +you." + +"I blame myself enough; I can tell you that. I feel as though I had +in a way destroyed myself." + +"Do not say that, my darling." + +"You will let me speak now; will you not, Papa? I wish to tell you +everything, that you may understand all that I feel. I shall never +get over it." + +"You will, dearest; you will, indeed." + +"Never! Perhaps I shall live on; but I feel that it has killed me for +this world. I don't know how a girl is to get over it when she has +said that she has loved any one. If they are married, then she does +not want to get over it; but if they are not,--if he deserts her, or +is unworthy, or both,--what can she do then, but just go on thinking +of it till--she dies?" + +Sir Harry used with her all the old accustomed arguments to drive +such thoughts out of her head. He told her how good was God to His +creatures, and, specially, how good in curing by the soft hand of +time such wounds as those from which she was suffering. She should +"retrick her beams," and once more "flame in the forehead of the +morning sky," if only she would help the work of time by her own +endeavours. "Fight against the feeling, Emily, and try to conquer it, +and it will be conquered." + +"But, Papa, I do not wish to conquer it. I should not tell you of all +this, only for one thing." + +"What thing, dearest?" + +"I am not like other girls, who can just leave themselves alone and +be of no trouble. You told me that if I outlived you--" + +"The property will be yours; certainly. Of course, it was my +hope,--and is,--that all that shall be settled by your marriage +before my death. The trouble and labour is more than a woman should +be called on to support alone." + +"Just so. And it is because you are thinking of all this, that I feel +it right to tell you. Papa, I shall never be married." + +"We will leave that for the present, Emily." + +"Very well; only if it would make a change in your will, you should +make it. You will have to be here, Papa, after I am gone,--probably." + +"No, no, no." + +"But, if it were not so, I should not know what to do. That is all, +Papa; only this,--that I beg your pardon for all the trouble I have +caused you." Then she knelt before him, and he kissed her head, and +blessed her, and wept over her. + +There was nothing more heard from Cousin George at Humblethwaite, and +nothing more heard of him for a long time. Mr. Boltby did pay his +debts, having some terribly hard struggles with Mr. Hart and Captain +Stubber before the liquidations were satisfactorily effected. It was +very hard to make Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber understand that the +Baronet was paying these debts simply because he had said that he +would pay them once before, under other circumstances, and that no +other cause for their actual payment now existed. But the debts +were paid, down to the last farthing of which Mr. Boltby could have +credible tidings. "Pay everything," Sir Harry had said; "I have +promised it." Whereby he was alluding to the promise which he had +made to his daughter. Everything was paid, and Cousin George was able +to walk in and out of his club, a free man,--and at times almost +happy,--with an annuity of five hundred pounds a year! Nothing more +was said to him as to the necessity of expatriation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE END. + + +Among playgoing folk, in the following April there was a great deal +of talk about the marriage of that very favourite actress, Mrs. +Morton. She appeared in the playbills as Mrs. George Hotspur, late +Mrs. Morton. Very many spoke of her familiarly, who knew her only on +the stage,--as is the custom of men in speaking of actresses,--and +perhaps some few of these who spoke of her did know her personally. +"Poor Lucy!" said one middle-aged gentleman over fifty, who spent +four nights of every week at one theatre or another. "When she was +little more than a child they married her to that reprobate Morton. +Since that she has managed to keep her head above water by hard work; +and now she has gone and married another worse than the first!" + +"She is older now, and will be able to manage George," said another. + +"Manage him! If anybody can manage to keep him out of debt, or from +drink either, I'll eat him." + +"But he must be Sir George when old Sir Harry dies," said he who was +defending the prudence of the marriage. + +"Yes, and won't have a penny. Will it help her to be able to put Lady +Hotspur on the bills? Not in the least. And the women can't forgive +her and visit her. She has not been good enough for that. A grand old +family has been disgraced, and a good actress destroyed. That's my +idea of this marriage." + +"I thought Georgy was going to marry his cousin--that awfully proud +minx," said one young fellow. + +"When it came to the scratch, she would not have him," said another. +"But there had been promises, and so, to make it all square, Sir +Harry paid his debts." + +"I don't believe a bit about his debts being paid," said the +middle-aged gentleman who was fond of going to the theatre. + +Yes, George Hotspur was married: and, as far as any love went +with him, had married the woman he liked best. Though the actress +was worlds too good for him, there was not about her that air of +cleanliness and almost severe purity which had so distressed him +while he had been forced to move in the atmosphere of his cousin. +After the copying of the letter and the settlement of the bills, Mrs. +Morton had found no difficulty in arranging matters as she pleased. +She had known the man perhaps better than any one else had known him; +and yet she thought it best to marry him. We must not inquire into +her motives, though we may pity her fate. + +She did not intend, however, to yield herself as an easy prey to +his selfishness. She had also her ideas of reforming him, and +ideas which, as they were much less grand, might possibly be more +serviceable than those which for a while had filled the mind and +heart of Emily Hotspur. "George," she said, one day to him, "what +do you mean to do?" This was before the marriage was fixed;--when +nothing more was fixed than that idea of marriage which had long +existed between them. + +"Of course we shall be spliced now," said he. + +"And if so, what then? I shall keep to the stage, of course." + +"We couldn't do with the £500 a year, I suppose, any how?" + +"Not very well, I'm afraid, seeing that as a habit you eat and drink +more than that yourself. But, with all that I can do, there must be a +change. I tell you for your own sake as well as for mine, unless you +can drop drinking, we had better give it up even yet." After that, +for a month or two under her auspices, he did "drop it,"--or at least +so far dropped it as to induce her to run the risk. In April they +were married, and she must be added to the list of women who have +sacrificed themselves on behalf of men whom they have known to be +worthless. We need not pursue his career further; but we may be sure, +that though she watched him very closely, and used a power over him +of which he was afraid, still he went gradually from bad to worse, +and was found at last to be utterly past redemption. He was one +who in early life had never known what it was to take delight in +postponing himself to another; and now there was no spark in him of +love or gratitude by which fire could be kindled or warmth created. +It had come to that with him,--that to eat and to drink was all that +was left to him; and it was coming to that too, that the latter of +these two pleasant recreations would soon be all that he had within +his power of enjoyment. There are such men; and of all human beings +they are the most to be pitied. They have intellects; they do think; +the hours with them are terribly long;--and they have no hope! + +The Hotspurs of Humblethwaite remained at home till Christmas was +passed, and then at once started for Rome. Sir Harry and Lady +Elizabeth both felt that it must be infinitely better for their girl +to be away; and then there came the doctor's slow advice. There was +nothing radically amiss with Miss Hotspur, the doctor said; but it +would be better for her to be taken elsewhere. She, knowing how her +father loved his home and the people around him, begged that she +might be allowed to stay. Nothing ailed her, she said, save only that +ache at the heart which no journey to Rome could cure. "What's the +use of it, Papa?" she said. "You are unhappy because I'm altered. +Would you wish me not to be altered after what has passed? Of course +I am altered. Let us take it as it is, and not think about it." She +had adopted certain practices in life, however, which Sir Harry was +determined to check, at any rate for the time. She spent her days +among the poor, and when not with them she was at church. And there +was always some dreary book in her hands when they were together in +the drawing-room after dinner. Of church-going and visiting the poor, +and of good books, Sir Harry approved thoroughly; but even of good +things such as these there may be too much. So Sir Harry and Lady +Elizabeth got a courier who spoke all languages, and a footman who +spoke German, and two maids, of whom one pretended to speak French, +and had trunks packed without number, and started for Rome. All that +wealth could do was done; but let the horseman be ever so rich, or +the horseman's daughter, and the stud be ever so good, it is seldom +they can ride fast enough to shake off their cares. + +In Rome they remained till April, and while they were there the name +of Cousin George was never once mentioned in the hearing of Sir +Harry. Between the mother and daughter no doubt there was speech +concerning him. But to Emily's mind he was always present. He was to +her as a thing abominable, and yet necessarily tied to her by bonds +which she could never burst asunder. She felt like some poor princess +in a tale, married to an ogre from whom there was no escape. She had +given herself up to one utterly worthless, and she knew it. But yet +she had given herself, and could not revoke the gift. There was, +indeed, still left to her that possibility of a miracle, but of +that she whispered nothing even to her mother. If there were to +be a miracle, it must be of God; and at God's throne she made her +whispers. In these days she was taken about from sight to sight with +apparent willingness. She saw churches, pictures, statues, and ruins, +and seemed to take an interest in them. She was introduced to the +Pope, and allowed herself to be apparelled in her very best for that +august occasion. But, nevertheless, the tenor of her way and the +fashions of her life, as was her daily dress, were grey and sad and +solemn. She lived as one who knew that the backbone of her life was +broken. Early in April they left Rome and went north, to the Italian +lakes, and settled themselves for a while at Lugano. And here the +news reached them of the marriage of George Hotspur. + +Lady Elizabeth read the marriage among the advertisements in the +_Times_, and at once took it to Sir Harry, withdrawing the paper from +the room in a manner which made Emily sure that there was something +in it which she was not intended to see. But Sir Harry thought that +the news should be told to her, and he himself told it. + +"Already married!" she said. "And who is the lady?" + +"You had better not ask, my dear." + +"Why not ask? I may, at any rate, know her name." + +"Mrs. Morton. She was a widow,--and an actress." + +"Oh yes, I know," said Emily, blushing; for in those days in which +it had been sought to wean her from George Hotspur, a word or two +about this lady had been said to her by Lady Elizabeth under the +instructions of Sir Harry. And there was no more said on that +occasion. On that day, and on the following, her father observed no +change in her; and the mother spoke nothing of her fears. But on +the next morning Lady Elizabeth said that she was not as she had +been. "She is thinking of him still--always," she whispered to her +husband. He made no reply, but sat alone, out in the garden, with his +newspaper before him, reading nothing, but cursing that cousin of his +in his heart. + +There could be no miracle now for her! Even the thought of that was +gone. The man who had made her believe that he loved her, only in the +last autumn,--though indeed it seemed to her that years had rolled +over since, and made her old, worn-out, and weary;--who had asked for +and obtained the one gift she had to give, the bestowal of her very +self; who had made her in her baby folly believe that he was almost +divine, whereas he was hardly human in his lowness,--this man, whom +she still loved in a way which she could not herself understand, +loving and despising him utterly at the same time,--was now the +husband of another woman. Even he, she had felt, would have thought +something of her. But she had been nothing to him but the means of +escape from disreputable difficulties. She could not sustain her +contempt for herself as she remembered this, and yet she showed but +little of it in her outward manner. + +"I'll go when you like, Papa," she said when the days of May had +come, "but I'd sooner stay here a little longer if you wouldn't +mind." There was no talk of going home. It was only a question +whether they should go further north, to Lucerne, before the warm +weather came. + +"Of course we will remain; why not?" said Sir Harry. "Mamma and I +like Lugano amazingly." Poor Sir Harry. As though he could have liked +any place except Humblethwaite! + +Our story is over now. They did remain till the scorching July sun +had passed over their heads, and August was upon them; and then--they +had buried her in the small Protestant cemetery at Lugano, and Sir +Harry Hotspur was without a child and without an heir. + +He returned home in the early autumn, a grey, worn-out, tottering old +man, with large eyes full of sorrow, and a thin mouth that was seldom +opened to utter a word. In these days, I think, he recurred to +his early sorrow, and thought almost more of his son than of his +daughter. But he had instant, pressing energy left to him for one +deed. Were he to die now without a further will, Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby would go to the wretch who had destroyed him. What was the +title to him now, or even the name? His wife's nephew was an Earl +with an enormous rent-roll, something so large that Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby to him would be little more than additional labour. But to +this young man Humblethwaite and Scarrowby were left, and the glories +of the House of Hotspur were at an end. + +And so the story of the House of Humblethwaite has been told. + + + +London: R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor Printers Bread Street Hill. + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Specific changes in wording of the text are listed below. + + Chapter V, paragraph 1. The word "of" was deleted + from the sentence which in the original read: + It was of this taste OF which Pope was conscious + when he declared that every woman was at heart a rake. + + Chapter VII, paragraph 17. The word "like" was added + to the sentence: A girl LIKE that learns everything. + + Chapter VIII, paragraph 33. The spelling of the word + "commencment" was changed in the sentence beginning: + George had determined from the COMMENCEMENT of his + visit . . . + + Chapter XX, paragraph 4. The word "uncle" was changed + to "cousin" in the sentence: "I am so sorry to give you + this trouble," said Cousin George, coming forward to + greet his COUSIN. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE*** + + +******* This file should be named 27712-8.txt or 27712-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/7/1/27712 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p class="noindent">Title: Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite</p> +<p class="noindent">Author: Anthony Trollope</p> +<p class="noindent">Release Date: January 5, 2009 [eBook #27712]<br /> +HTML version most recently updated: June 10, 2010</p> +<p class="noindent">Language: English</p> +<p class="noindent">Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p class="noindent">***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by<br /> + Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>SIR HARRY HOTSPUR</h1> + +<h5>OF</h5> + +<h2>HUMBLETHWAITE.</h2> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>ANTHONY TROLLOPE,</h3> + +<h6>AUTHOR OF</h6> + +<h5>"FRAMLEY PARSONAGE," ETC.</h5> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h5>LONDON:<br /> +HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,<br /> +13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.<br /> +1871</h5> + +<h6><i>The right of Translation is reserved.</i></h6> + +<h6>London:<br /> +R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor, Printers,<br /> +Bread Street Hill.</h6> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<div class="center"> +<table class="sm" style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="3"> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER I. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c1" >SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER II. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c2" >OUR HEROINE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER III. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c3" >LORD ALFRED'S COURTSHIP.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER IV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c4" >VACILLATION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER V. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c5" >GEORGE HOTSPUR.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER VI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c6" >THE BALL IN BRUTON STREET.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER VII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c7" >LADY ALTRINGHAM.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER VIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c8" >AIREY FORCE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER IX. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c9" >"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE."</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER X. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c10" >MR. HART AND CAPTAIN STUBBER.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c11" >MRS. MORTON.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c12" >THE HUNT BECOMES HOT.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c13" >"I WILL NOT DESERT HIM."</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XIV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c14" >PERTINACITY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c15" >COUSIN GEORGE IS HARD PRESSED.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XVI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c16" >SIR HARRY'S RETURN.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XVII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c17" >"LET US TRY."</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XVIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c18" >GOOD ADVICE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XIX. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c19" >THE NEW SMITHY.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XX. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c20" >COUSIN GEORGE'S SUCCESS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XXI. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c21" >EMILY HOTSPUR'S SERMON.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XXII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c22" >GEORGE HOTSPUR YIELDS.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XXIII. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c23" >"I SHALL NEVER BE MARRIED."</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top">CHAPTER XXIV. </td> <td align="left"><a href="#c24" >THE END.</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<h2>SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF<br /> +HUMBLETHWAITE.</h2> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> + +<p><a name="c1" id="c1"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> +<h4>SIR HARRY HOTSPUR.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite was a mighty person in Cumberland, +and one who well understood of what nature were the duties, and of +what sort the magnificence, which his position as a great English +commoner required of him. He had twenty thousand a year derived from +land. His forefathers had owned the same property in Cumberland for +nearly four centuries, and an estate nearly as large in Durham for +more than a century and a half. He had married an earl's daughter, +and had always lived among men and women not only of high rank, but +also of high character. He had kept race-horses when he was young, as +noblemen and gentlemen then did keep them, with no view to profit, +calculating fairly their cost as a part of his annual outlay, and +thinking that it was the proper thing to do for the improvement of +horses and for the amusement of the people. He had been in +Parliament, but had made no figure there, and had given it up. He +still kept his house in Bruton Street, and always spent a month or +two in London. But the life that he led was led at Humblethwaite, and +there he was a great man, with a great domain around him,—with many +tenants, with a world of dependants among whom he spent his wealth +freely, saving little, but lavishing nothing that was not his own to +lavish,—understanding that his enjoyment was to come from the +comfort and respect of others, for whose welfare, as he understood +it, the good things of this world had been bestowed upon him. He was +a proud man, with but few intimacies,—with a few dear friendships +which were the solace of his life,—altogether gracious in his +speech, if it were not for an apparent bashfulness among strangers; +never assuming aught, deferring much to others outwardly, and showing +his pride chiefly by a certain impalpable <i>noli me tangere</i>, which +just sufficed to make itself felt and obeyed at the first approach of +any personal freedom. He was a handsome man,—if an old man near to +seventy may be handsome,—with grey hair, and bright, keen eyes, and +arched eyebrows, with a well-cut eagle nose, and a small mouth, and a +short dimpled chin. He was under the middle height, but nevertheless +commanded attention by his appearance. He wore no beard save a slight +grey whisker, which was cut away before it reached his chin. He was +strongly made, but not stout, and was hale and active for his age.</p> + +<p>Such was Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite. The account of Lady +Elizabeth, his wife, may be much shorter. She was known,—where she +was known,—simply as Sir Harry's wife. He indeed was one of those +men of whom it may be said that everything appertaining to them takes +its importance from the fact of its being theirs. Lady Elizabeth was +a good woman, a good wife, and a good mother, and was twenty years +younger than her husband. He had been forty-five years old when he +had married her, and she, even yet, had not forgotten the deference +which was due to his age.</p> + +<p>Two years before the time at which our story will begin, a great +sorrow, an absolutely crushing grief, had fallen upon the House of +Humblethwaite. An only son had died just as he had reached his +majority. When the day came on which all Humblethwaite and the +surrounding villages were to have been told to rejoice and make merry +because another man of the Hotspurs was ready to take the reins of +the house as soon as his father should have been gathered to his +fathers, the poor lad lay a-dying, while his mother ministered by his +bedside, and the Baronet was told by the physician—who had been +brought from London—that there was no longer for him any hope that +he should leave a male heir at Humblethwaite to inherit his name and +his honours.</p> + +<p>For months it was thought that Lady Elizabeth would follow her boy. +Sir Harry bore the blow bravely, though none who do not understand +the system well can conceive how the natural grief of the father was +increased by the disappointment which had fallen upon the head of the +house. But the old man bore it well, making but few audible moans, +shedding no tears, altering in very little the habits of life; still +spending money, because it was good for others that it should be +spent, and only speaking of his son when it was necessary for him to +allude to those altered arrangements as to the family property which +it was necessary that he should make. But still he was a changed man, +as those perceived who watched him closest. Cloudesdale the butler +knew well in what he was changed, as did old Hesketh the groom, and +Gilsby the gamekeeper. He had never been given to much talk, but was +now more silent than of yore. Of horses, dogs, and game there was no +longer any mention whatever made by the Baronet. He was still +constant with Mr. Lanesby, the steward, because it was his duty to +know everything that was done on the property; but even Mr. Lanesby +would acknowledge that, as to actual improvements,—the commencement +of new work in the hope of future returns, the Baronet was not at all +the man he had been. How was it possible that he should be the man he +had been when his life was so nearly gone, and that other life had +gone also, which was to have been the renewal and continuation of his +own?</p> + +<p>When the blow fell, it became Sir Harry's imperative duty to make up +his mind what he would do with his property. As regarded the two +estates, they were now absolutely, every acre of them, at his own +disposal. He had one child left him, a daughter,—in whom, it is +hoped, the reader may be induced to take some interest, and with her +to feel some sympathy, for she will be the person with whom the +details of this little story must most be concerned; and he had a +male heir, who must needs inherit the title of the family, one George +Hotspur,—not a nephew, for Sir Harry had never had a brother, but +the son of a first cousin who had not himself been much esteemed at +Humblethwaite.</p> + +<p>Now Sir Harry was a man who, in such a condition as this in which he +was now placed, would mainly be guided by his ideas of duty. For a +month or two he said not a word to any one, not even to his own +lawyer, though he himself had made a will, a temporary will, duly +witnessed by Mr. Lanesby and another, so that the ownership of the +property should not be adjusted simply by the chance direction of law +in the event of his own sudden demise; but his mind was doubtless +much burdened with the subject. How should he discharge this fresh +responsibility which now rested on him? While his boy had lived, the +responsibility of his property had had nothing for him but charms. +All was to go to the young Harry,—all, as a matter of course; and it +was only necessary for him to take care that every acre should +descend to his heir not only unimpaired by him in value, but also +somewhat increased. Provision for his widow and for his girl had +already been made before he had ventured on matrimony,—provision +sufficient for many girls had Fortune so far favoured him. But that +an eldest son should have all the family land,—one, though as many +sons should have been given to him as to Priam,—and that that one +should have it unencumbered, as he had had it from his father,—this +was to him the very law of his being. And he would have taught that +son, had already begun to teach him when the great blow came, that +all this was to be given to him, not that he might put it into his +own belly, or wear it on his own back, or even spend it as he might +list himself, but that he might so live as to do his part in +maintaining that order of gentlehood in England, by which England had +become—so thought Sir Harry—the proudest and the greatest and the +justest of nations.</p> + +<p>But now he had no son, and yet the duty remained to him of +maintaining his order. It would perhaps have been better for him, it +would certainly have been easier, had some settlement or family +entail fixed all things for him. Those who knew him well personally, +but did not know the affairs of his family, declared among themselves +that Sir Harry would take care that the property went with the title. +A marriage might be arranged. There could be nothing to object to a +marriage between second cousins. At any rate Sir Harry Hotspur was +certainly not the man to separate the property from the title. But +they who knew the family, and especially that branch of the family +from which George Hotspur came, declared that Sir Harry would never +give his daughter to such a one as was this cousin. And if not his +daughter, then neither would he give to such a scapegrace either +Humblethwaite in Cumberland or Scarrowby in Durham. There did exist a +party who said that Sir Harry would divide the property, but they who +held such an opinion certainly knew very little of Sir Harry's social +or political tenets. Any such division was the one thing which he +surely would not effect.</p> + +<p>When twelve months had passed after the death of Sir Harry's son, +George Hotspur had been at Humblethwaite and had gone, and Sir +Harry's will had been made. He had left everything to his daughter, +and had only stipulated that her husband, should she marry, should +take the name of Hotspur. He had decided, that should his daughter, +as was probable, marry within his lifetime, he could then make what +settlements he pleased, even to the changing of the tenor of his +will, should he think fit to change it. Should he die and leave her +still a spinster, he would trust to her in everything. Not being a +man of mystery, he told his wife and his daughter what he had +done,—and what he still thought that he possibly might do; and being +also a man to whom any suspicion of injustice was odious, he desired +his attorney to make known to George Hotspur what had been settled. +And in order that this blow to Cousin George might be +lightened,—Cousin George having in conversation acknowledged to a +few debts,—an immediate present was made to him of four thousand +pounds, and double that amount was assured to him at the Baronet's +death.</p> + +<p>The reader may be sure that the Baronet had heard many things +respecting Cousin George which he did not like. To him personally it +would have been infinitely preferable that the title and the estates +should have gone together, than that his own daughter should be a +great heiress. That her outlook into the world was fair and full of +promise of prosperity either way, was clear enough. Twenty thousand a +year would not be necessary to make her a happy woman. And then it +was to him a manifest and a sacred religion that to no man or to no +woman were appointed the high pinnacles of fortune simply that that +man or that woman might enjoy them. They were to be held as thrones +are held, for the benefit of the many. And in the disposition of this +throne, the necessity of making which had fallen upon him from the +loss of his own darling, he had brought himself to think—not of his +daughter's happiness, or to the balance of which, in her possessing +or not possessing the property, he could venture on no prophecy,—but +of the welfare of all those who might measure their weal or woe from +the manner in which the duties of this high place were administered. +He would fain that there should still have been a Sir Harry or a Sir +George Hotspur of Humblethwaite; but he found that his duty required +him to make the other arrangement.</p> + +<p>And yet he had liked the cousin, who indeed had many gifts to win +liking both from men and women. Previously to the visit very little +had been known personally of young George Hotspur at Humblethwaite. +His father, also a George, had in early life quarrelled with the +elder branch of the family, and had gone off with what money belonged +to him, and had lived and died in Paris. The younger George had been +educated abroad, and then had purchased a commission in a regiment of +English cavalry. At the time when young Harry died it was only known +of him at Humblethwaite that he had achieved a certain reputation in +London, and that he had sold out of the army. He was talked of as a +man who shot birds with precision. Pigeons he could shoot with +wonderful dexterity,—which art was at Humblethwaite supposed to be +much against him. But then he was equally successful with partridges +and pheasants; and partly on account of such success, and partly +probably because his manner was pleasant, he was known to be a +welcome guest at houses in which men congregate to slaughter game. In +this way he had a reputation, and one that was not altogether cause +for reproach; but it had not previously recommended him to the notice +of his cousin.</p> + +<p>Just ten months after poor Harry's death he was asked, and went, to +Humblethwaite. Probably at that moment the Baronet's mind was still +somewhat in doubt. The wish of Lady Elizabeth had been clearly +expressed to her husband to the effect that encouragement should be +given to the young people to fall in love with each other. To this +Sir Harry never assented; though there was a time,—and that time had +not yet passed when George Hotspur reached Humblethwaite,—in which +the Baronet was not altogether averse to the idea of the marriage. +But when George left Humblethwaite the Baronet had made up his mind. +Tidings had reached him, and he was afraid of the cousin. And other +tidings had reached him also; or rather perhaps it would be truer to +him to say that another idea had come to him. Of all the young men +now rising in England there was no young man who more approved +himself to Sir Harry's choice than did Lord Alfred Gresley, the +second son of his old friend and political leader the Marquis of +Milnthorp. Lord Alfred had but scanty fortune of his own, but was in +Parliament and in office, and was doing well. All men said all good +things of him. Then there was a word or two spoken between the +Marquis and the Baronet, and just a word also with Lord Alfred +himself. Lord Alfred had no objection to the name of Hotspur. This +was in October, while George Hotspur was still declaring that Gilbsy +knew nothing of getting up a head of game; and then Lord Alfred +promised to come to Humblethwaite at Christmas. It was after this +that George owned to a few debts. His confession on that score did +him no harm. Sir Harry had made up his mind that day. Sir Harry had +at that time learned a good deal of his cousin George's mode of life +in London, and had already decided that this young man was not one +whom it would be well to set upon the pinnacle.</p> + +<p>And yet he had liked the young man, as did everybody. Lady Elizabeth +had liked him much, and for a fortnight had gone on hoping that all +difficulties might have solved themselves by the young man's marriage +with her daughter. It need hardly be said that not a word one way or +the other was spoken to Emily Hotspur; but it seemed to the mother +that the young people, though there was no love-making, yet liked +each other. Sir Harry at this time was up in London for a month or +two, hearing tidings, seeing Lord Alfred, who was at his office; and +on his return, that solution by family marriage was ordered to be for +ever banished from the maternal bosom. Sir Harry said that it would +not do.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, he was good to the young cousin, and when the time was +drawing nigh for the young man's departure he spoke of a further +visit. The coverts at Humblethwaite, such as they were, would always +be at his service. This was a week before the cousin went; but by the +coming of the day on which the cousin took his departure Sir Harry +regretted that he had made that offer of future hospitality.</p> + + +<p><a name="c2" id="c2"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> +<h4>OUR HEROINE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>"He has said nothing to her?" asked Sir Harry, anxiously, of his +wife.</p> + +<p>"I think not," replied Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Had he said anything that meant anything, she would have told you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly she would," said Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Sir Harry knew his child, and was satisfied that no harm had been +done; nevertheless, he wished that that further invitation had not +been given. If this Christmas visitor that was to come to +Humblethwaite could be successful, all would be right; but it had +seemed to Sir Harry, during that last week of Cousin George's sojourn +beneath his roof, there had been more of cousinly friendship between +the cousins than had been salutary, seeing, as he had seen, that any +closer connection was inexpedient. But he thought that he was sure +that no great harm had been done. Had any word been spoken to his +girl which she herself had taken as a declaration of love, she would +certainly have told her mother. Sir Harry would no more doubt his +daughter than he would his own honour. There were certain points and +lines of duty clearly laid down for a girl so placed as was his +daughter; and Sir Harry, though he could not have told whence the +knowledge of these points and lines had come to his child, never for +a moment doubted but that she knew them, and would obey them. To know +and to obey such points of duty were a part of the inheritance of +such an one as Emily Hotspur. Nevertheless, it might be possible that +her fancy should be touched, and that she herself should know nothing +of it,—nothing that she could confide even to a mother. Sir Harry +understanding this, and having seen in these last days something as +he thought of too close a cousinly friendship, was anxious that Lord +Alfred should come and settle everything. If Lord Alfred should be +successful, all danger would be at an end, and the cousin might come +again and do what he liked with the coverts. Alas, alas! the cousin +should never have been allowed to show his handsome, wicked face at +Humblethwaite!</p> + +<p>Emily Hotspur was a girl whom any father would have trusted; and let +the reader understand this of her, that she was one in whom +intentional deceit was impossible. Neither to her father nor to any +one could she lie either in word or action. And all these lines and +points of duty were well known to her, though she knew not, and had +never asked herself, whence the lesson had come. Will it be too much +to say, that they had formed a part of her breeding, and had been +given to her with her blood? She understood well that from her, as +heiress of the House of Humblethwaite, a double obedience was due to +her father,—the obedience of a child added to that which was now +required from her as the future transmitter of honours of the house. +And yet no word had been said to her of the honours of the house; +nor, indeed, had many words ever been said as to that other +obedience. These lessons, when they have been well learned, have ever +come without direct teaching.</p> + +<p>But she knew more than this, and the knowledge had reached her in the +same manner. Though she owed a great duty to her father, there was a +limit to that duty, of which, unconsciously, she was well aware. When +her mother told her that Lord Alfred was coming, having been +instructed to do so by Sir Harry; and hinted, with a caress and a +kiss, and a soft whisper, that Lord Alfred was one of whom Sir Harry +approved greatly, and that if further approval could be bestowed Sir +Harry would not be displeased, Emily as she returned her mother's +embrace, felt that she had a possession of her own with which neither +father nor mother might be allowed to interfere. It was for them, or +rather for him, to say that a hand so weighted as was hers should not +be given here or there; but it was not for them, not even for him, to +say that her heart was to be given here, or to be given there. Let +them put upon her what weight they might of family honours, and of +family responsibility, that was her own property;—if not, perhaps, +to be bestowed at her own pleasure, because of the pressure of that +weight, still her own, and absolutely beyond the bestowal of any +other.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, she declared to herself, and whispered to her mother, +that she would be glad to welcome Lord Alfred. She had known him well +when she was a child of twelve years old and he was already a young +man in Parliament. Since those days she had met him more than once in +London. She was now turned twenty, and he was something more than ten +years her senior; but there was nothing against him, at any rate, on +the score of age. Lord Alfred was admitted on every side to be still +a young man; and though he had already been a lord of one Board or of +another for the last four years, and had earned a reputation for +working, he did not look like a man who would be more addicted to +sitting at Boards than spending his time with young women. He was +handsome, pleasant, good-humoured, and full of talk; had nothing +about him of the official fogy; and was regarded by all his friends +as a man who was just now fit to marry. "They say that he is such a +good son, and such a good brother," said Lady Elizabeth, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Quite a Phœnix!" said Emily, laughing. Then Lady Elizabeth began +to fear that she had said too much, and did not mention Lord Alfred's +name for two days.</p> + +<p>But Miss Hotspur had by that time resolved that Lord Alfred should +have a fair chance. If she could teach herself to think that of all +men walking the earth Lord Alfred was the best and the most divine, +the nearest of all men to a god, how excellent a thing would it be! +Her great responsibility as to the family burden would in that case +already be acquitted with credit. The wishes of her father, which on +such a subject were all but paramount, would be gratified; and she +herself would then be placed almost beyond the hand of misfortune to +hurt her. At any rate, the great and almost crushing difficulty of +her life would so be solved. But the man must have enough in her eyes +of that godlike glory to satisfy her that she had found in him one +who would be almost a divinity, at any rate to her. Could he speak as +that other man spoke? Could he look as that other one looked? Would +there be in his eye such a depth of colour, in his voice such a sound +of music, in his gait so divine a grace? For that other one, though +she had looked into the brightness of the colour, though she had +heard the sweetness of the music, though she had watched the elastic +spring of the step, she cared nothing as regarded her heart—her +heart, which was the one treasure of her own. No; she was sure of +that. Of her one own great treasure, she was much too chary to give +it away unasked, and too independent, as she told herself, to give it +away unauthorized. The field was open to Lord Alfred; and, as her +father wished it, Lord Alfred should be received with every favour. +If she could find divinity, then she would bow before it readily.</p> + +<p>Alas for Lord Alfred! We may all know that when she thought of it +thus, there was but poor chance of success for Lord Alfred. Let him +have what of the godlike he might, she would find but little of it +there when she made her calculations and resolutions after such +fashion as this. The man who becomes divine in a woman's eyes, has +generally achieved his claim to celestial honours by sudden assault. +And, alas! the qualities which carry him through it and give the halo +to his head may after all be very ungodlike. Some such achievement +had already fallen in the way of Cousin George; though had Cousin +George and Lord Alfred been weighed in just scales, the divinity of +the latter, such as it was, would have been found greatly to prevail. +Indeed, it might perhaps have been difficult to lay hold of and bring +forward as presentable for such office as that of a lover for such a +girl any young man who should be less godlike than Cousin George. But +he had gifts of simulation, which are valuable; and poor Emily +Hotspur had not yet learned the housewife's trick of passing the web +through her fingers, and of finding by the touch whether the fabric +were of fine wool, or of shoddy made up with craft to look like wool +of the finest.</p> + +<p>We say that there was but small chance for Lord Alfred; nevertheless +the lady was dutifully minded to give him all the chance that it was +in her power to bestow. She did not tell herself that her father's +hopes were vain. Of her preference for that other man she never told +herself anything. She was not aware that it existed. She knew that he +was handsome; she thought that he was clever. She knew that he had +talked to her as no man had ever talked before. She was aware that he +was her nearest relative beyond her father and mother, and that +therefore she might be allowed to love him as a cousin. She told +herself that he was a Hotspur, and that he must be the head of the +Hotspurs when her father should be taken from them. She thought that +he looked as a man should look who would have to carry such a +dignity. But there was nothing more. No word had been said to her on +the subject; but she was aware, because no word had been said, that +it was not thought fitting that she should be her cousin's bride. She +could not but know how great would be the advantage could the estates +and the title be kept together. Even though he should inherit no acre +of the land,—and she had been told by her father that such was his +decision,—this Cousin George must become the head of the House of +Hotspur; and to be head of the House of Hotspur was to her a much +greater thing than to be the owner of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby. +Gifts like the latter might be given to a mere girl, like +herself,—were to be so given. But let any man living do what he +might, George Hotspur must become the head and chief of the old House +of Hotspur. Nevertheless, it was not for her to join the two things +together, unless her father should see that it would be good for her +to do so.</p> + +<p>Emily Hotspur was very like her father, having that peculiar cast of +countenance which had always characterized the family. She had the +same arch in her eyebrows, indicating an aptitude for authority; the +same well-formed nose, though with her the beak of the eagle was less +prominent; the same short lip, and small mouth, and delicate dimpled +chin. With both of them the lower part of the face was peculiarly +short, and finely cut. With both of them the brow was high and broad, +and the temples prominent. But the girl's eyes were blue, while those +of the old man were brightly green. It was told of him that when a +boy his eyes also had been blue. Her hair, which was very plentiful, +was light in colour, but by no means flaxen. Her complexion was as +clear as the finest porcelain; but there were ever roses in her +cheeks, for she was strong by nature, and her health was perfect. She +was somewhat short of stature, as were all the Hotspurs, and her feet +and hands and ears were small and delicate. But though short, she +seemed to lack nothing in symmetry, and certainly lacked nothing in +strength. She could ride or walk the whole day, and had no feeling +that such vigour of body was a possession of which a young lady +should be ashamed. Such as she was, she was the acknowledged beauty +of the county; and at Carlisle, where she showed herself at least +once a year at the county ball, there was neither man nor woman, +young nor old, who was not ready to say that Emily Hotspur was, among +maidens, the glory of Cumberland.</p> + +<p>Her life hitherto had been very quiet. There was the ball at +Carlisle, which she had attended thrice; on the last occasion, +because of her brother's death, she had been absent, and the family +of the Hotspurs had been represented there only by the venison and +game which had been sent from Humblethwaite. Twice also she had spent +the months of May and June in London; but it had not hitherto suited +the tone of her father's character to send his daughter out into all +the racket of a London season. She had gone to balls, and to the +opera, and had ridden in the Park, and been seen at flower-shows; but +she had not been so common in those places as to be known to the +crowd. And, hitherto, neither in town or country, had her name been +connected with that of any suitor for her hand. She was now twenty, +and the reader will remember that in the twelve months last past, the +House of Humblethwaite had been clouded with deep mourning.</p> + +<p>The cousin was come and gone, and the Baronet hoped in his heart that +there might be an end of him as far as Humblethwaite was +concerned;—at any rate till his child should have given herself to a +better lover. Tidings had been sent to Sir Harry during the last week +of the young man's sojourn beneath his roof, which of all that had +reached his ears were the worst. He had before heard of recklessness, +of debt, of dissipation, of bad comrades. Now he heard of worse than +these. If that which he now heard was true, there had been dishonour. +But Sir Harry was a man who wanted ample evidence before he allowed +his judgment to actuate his conduct, and in this case the evidence +was far from ample. He did not stint his hospitality to the future +baronet, but he failed to repeat that promise of a future welcome +which had already been given, and which had been thankfully accepted. +But a man knows that such an offer of renewed hospitality should be +repeated at the moment of departure, and George Hotspur, as he was +taken away to the nearest station in his cousin's carriage, was quite +aware that Sir Harry did not then desire that the visit should be +repeated.</p> + +<p>Lord Alfred was to be at Humblethwaite on Christmas-eve. The +emergencies of the Board at which he sat would not allow of an +earlier absence from London. He was a man who shirked no official +duty, and was afraid of no amount of work; and though he knew how +great was the prize before him, he refused to leave his Board before +the day had come at which his Board must necessarily dispense with +his services. Between him and his father there had been no reticence, +and it was clearly understood by him that he was to go down and win +twenty thousand a year and the prettiest girl in Cumberland, if his +own capacity that way, joined to all the favour of the girl's father +and mother, would enable him to attain success. To Emily not a word +more had been said on the subject than those which have been already +narrated as having been spoken by the mother to the daughter. With +all his authority, with all his love for his only remaining child, +with all his consciousness of the terrible importance of the matter +at issue, Sir Harry could not bring himself to suggest to his +daughter that it would be well for her to fall in love with the guest +who was coming to them. But to Lady Elizabeth he said very much. He +had quite made up his mind that the thing would be good, and, having +done so, he was very anxious that the arrangement should be made. It +was natural that this girl of his should learn to love some youth; +and how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss, when so much +depended on her loving wisely! The whole fate of the House of Hotspur +was in her hands,—to do with it as she thought fit! Sir Harry +trembled as he reflected what would be the result were she to come to +him some day and ask his favour for a suitor wholly unfitted to bear +the name of Hotspur, and to sit on the throne of Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby.</p> + +<p>"Is she pleased that he is coming?" he said to his wife, the evening +before the arrival of their guest.</p> + +<p>"Certainly she is pleased. She knows that we both like him."</p> + +<p>"I remember when she used to talk about him—often," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"That was when she was a child."</p> + +<p>"But a year or two ago," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"Three or four years, perhaps; and with her that is a long time. It +is not likely that she should talk much of him now. Of course she +knows what it is that we wish."</p> + +<p>"Does she think about her cousin at all?" he said some hours +afterwards.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she thinks of him. That is only natural, you know."</p> + +<p>"It would be unnatural that she should think of him much."</p> + +<p>"I do not see that," said the mother, keen to defend her daughter +from what might seem to be an implied reproach. "George Hotspur is a +man who will make himself thought of wherever he goes. He is clever, +and very amusing;—there is no denying that. And then he has the +Hotspur look all over."</p> + +<p>"I wish he had never set his foot within the house," said the father.</p> + +<p>"My dear, there is no such danger as you think," said Lady Elizabeth. +"Emily is not a girl prone to fall in love at a moment's notice +because a man is good-looking and amusing;—and certainly not with +the conviction which she must have that her doing so would greatly +grieve you." Sir Harry believed in his daughter, and said no more; +but he thoroughly wished that Lord Alfred's wedding-day was fixed.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Emily, on the following day, "won't Lord Alfred be very +dull?"</p> + +<p>"I hope not, my dear."</p> + +<p>"What is he to do, with nobody else here to amuse him?"</p> + +<p>"The Crutchleys are coming on the 27th."</p> + +<p>Now Mr. and Mrs. Crutchley were, as Emily thought, very ordinary +people, and quite unlikely to afford amusement to Lord Alfred. Mr. +Crutchley was an old gentleman of county standing, and with property +in the county, living in a large dull red house in Penrith, of whom +Sir Harry thought a good deal, because he was a gentleman who +happened to have had great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. But +he was quite as old as Sir Harry, and Mrs. Crutchley was a great deal +older than Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"What will Lord Alfred have to say to Mrs. Crutchley, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"What do people in society always have to say to each other? And the +Lathebys are coming here to dine to-morrow, and will come again, I +don't doubt, on the 27th."</p> + +<p>Mr. Latheby was the young Vicar of Humblethwaite, and Mrs. Latheby +was a very pretty young bride whom he had just married.</p> + +<p>"And then Lord Alfred shoots," continued Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Cousin George said that the shooting wasn't worth going after," said +Emily, smiling. "Mamma, I fear it will be a failure." This made Lady +Elizabeth unhappy, as she thought that more was meant than was really +said. But she did not confide her fears to her husband.</p> + + +<p><a name="c3" id="c3"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> +<h4>LORD ALFRED'S COURTSHIP.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>The Hall, as the great house at Humblethwaite was called, consisted +in truth of various edifices added one to another at various periods; +but the result was this, that no more picturesque mansion could be +found in any part of England than the Hall at Humblethwaite. The +oldest portion of it was said to be of the time of Henry VII.; but it +may perhaps be doubted whether the set of rooms with lattice windows +looking out on to the bowling-green, each window from beneath its own +gable, was so old as the date assigned to it. It is strange how +little authority can usually be found in family records to verify +such statements. It was known that Humblethwaite and the surrounding +manors had been given to, or in some fashion purchased by, a certain +Harry Hotspur, who also in his day had been a knight, when Church +lands were changing hands under Henry VIII. And there was authority +to prove that that Sir Harry had done something towards making a home +for himself on the spot; but whether those very gables were a portion +of the building which the monks of St. Humble had raised for +themselves in the preceding reign, may probably be doubted. That +there were fragments of masonry, and parts of old timber, remaining +from the monastery was probably true enough. The great body of the +old house, as it now stood, had been built in the time of Charles +II., and there was the date in the brickwork still conspicuous on the +wall looking into the court. The hall and front door as it now stood, +very prominent but quite at the end of the house, had been erected in +the reign of Queen Anne, and the modern drawing-rooms with the best +bedrooms over them, projecting far out into the modern gardens, had +been added by the present baronet's father. The house was entirely of +brick, and the old windows,—not the very oldest, the reader will +understand, but those of the Caroline age,—were built with strong +stone mullions, and were longer than they were deep, beauty of +architecture having in those days been more regarded than light. Who +does not know such windows, and has not declared to himself often how +sad a thing it is that sanitary or scientific calculations should +have banished the like of them from our houses? Two large oriel +windows coming almost to the ground, and going up almost to the +ceilings, adorned the dining-room and the library. From the +drawing-rooms modern windows, opening on to a terrace, led into the +garden.</p> + +<p>You entered the mansion by a court that was enclosed on two sides +altogether, and on the two others partially. Facing you, as you drove +in, was the body of the building, with the huge porch projecting on +the right so as to give the appearance of a portion of the house +standing out on that side. On the left was that old mythic Tudor +remnant of the monastery, of which the back wall seen from the court +was pierced only with a small window here and there, and was covered +with ivy. Those lattice windows, from which Emily Hotspur loved to +think that the monks of old had looked into their trim gardens, now +looked on to a bowling-green which was kept very trim in honour of +the holy personages who were supposed to have played there four +centuries ago. Then, at the end of this old building, there had been +erected kitchens, servants' offices, and various rooms, which turned +the corner of the court in front, so that only one corner had, as it +were, been left for ingress and egress. But the court itself was +large, and in the middle of it there stood an old stone ornamental +structure, usually called the fountain, but quite ignorant of water, +loaded with griffins and satyrs and mermaids with ample busts, all +overgrown with a green damp growth, which was scraped off by the +joint efforts of the gardener and mason once perhaps in every five +years.</p> + +<p>It often seems that the beauty of architecture is accidental. A great +man goes to work with great means on a great pile, and makes a great +failure. The world perceives that grace and beauty have escaped him, +and that even magnificence has been hardly achieved. Then there grows +up beneath various unknown hands a complication of stones and brick +to the arrangement of which no great thought seems to have been +given; and, lo, there is a thing so perfect in its glory that he who +looks at it declares that nothing could be taken away and nothing +added without injury and sacrilege and disgrace. So it had been, or +rather so it was now, with the Hall at Humblethwaite. No rule ever +made for the guidance of an artist had been kept. The parts were out +of proportion. No two parts seemed to fit each other. Put it all on +paper, and it was an absurdity. The huge hall and porch added on by +the builder of Queen Anne's time, at the very extremity of the house, +were almost a monstrosity. The passages and staircases, and internal +arrangements, were simply ridiculous. But there was not a portion of +the whole interior that did not charm; nor was there a corner of the +exterior, nor a yard of an outside wall, that was not in itself +eminently beautiful.</p> + +<p>Lord Alfred Gresley, as he was driven into the court in the early +dusk of a winter evening, having passed through a mile and a half of +such park scenery as only Cumberland and Westmoreland can show, was +fully alive to the glories of the place. Humblethwaite did not lie +among the lakes,—was, indeed, full ten miles to the north of +Keswick; but it was so placed that it enjoyed the beauty and the +luxury of mountains and rivers, without the roughness of unmanageable +rocks, or the sterility and dampness of moorland. Of rocky fragments, +indeed, peeping out through the close turf, and here and there coming +forth boldly so as to break the park into little depths, with now and +again a real ravine, there were plenty. And there ran right across +the park, passing so near the Hall as to require a stone bridge in +the very flower-garden, the Caldbeck, as bright and swift a stream as +ever took away the water from neighbouring mountains. And to the +south of Humblethwaite there stood the huge Skiddaw, and Saddleback +with its long gaunt ridge; while to the west, Brockleband Fell seemed +to encircle the domain. Lord Alfred, as he was driven up through the +old trees, and saw the deer peering at him from the knolls and broken +fragments of stone, felt that he need not envy his elder brother if +only his lines might fall to him in this very pleasant place.</p> + +<p>He had known Humblethwaite before; and, irrespective of all its +beauties, and of the wealth of the Hotspurs, was quite willing to +fall in love with Emily Hotspur. That a man with such dainties +offered to him should not become greedy, that there should be no +touch of avarice when such wealth was shown to him, is almost more +than we may dare to assert. But Lord Alfred was a man not specially +given to covetousness. He had recognized it as his duty as a man not +to seek for these things unless he could in truth love the woman who +held them in her hands to give. But as he looked round him through +the gloaming of the evening, he thought that he remembered that Emily +Hotspur was all that was loveable.</p> + +<p>But, reader, we must not linger long over Lord Alfred's love. A few +words as to the father, a few as to the daughter, and a few also as +to the old house where they dwelt together, it has been necessary to +say; but this little love story of Lord Alfred's,—if it ever was a +love story,—must be told very shortly.</p> + +<p>He remained five weeks at Humblethwaite, and showed himself willing +to receive amusement from old Mrs. Crutchley and from young Mrs. +Latheby. The shooting was quite good enough for him, and he won +golden opinions from every one about the place. He made himself +acquainted with the whole history of the house, and was prepared to +prove to demonstration that Henry VII.'s monks had looked out of +those very windows, and had played at bowls on that very green. Emily +became fond of him after a fashion, but he failed to assume any +aspect of divinity in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Of the thing to be done, neither father nor mother said a word to the +girl; and she, though she knew so well that the doing of it was +intended, said not a word to her mother. Had Lady Elizabeth known how +to speak, had she dared to be free with her own child, Emily would +soon have told her that there was no chance for Lord Alfred. And Lady +Elizabeth would have believed her. Nay, Lady Elizabeth, though she +could not speak, had the woman's instinct, which almost assured her +that the match would never be made. Sir Harry, on the other side, +thought that things went prosperously; and his wife did not dare to +undeceive him. He saw the young people together, and thought that he +saw that Emily was kind. He did not know that this frank kindness was +incompatible with love in such a maiden's ways. As for Emily herself, +she knew that it must come. She knew that she could not prevent it. A +slight hint or two she did give, or thought she gave, but they were +too fine, too impalpable to be of avail.</p> + +<p>Lord Alfred spoke nothing of love till he made his offer in form. At +last he was not hopeful himself. He had found it impossible to speak +to this girl of love. She had been gracious with him, and almost +intimate, and yet it had been impossible. He thought of himself that +he was dull, stupid, lethargic, and miserably undemonstrative. But +the truth was that there was nothing for him to demonstrate. He had +come there to do a stroke of business, and he could not throw into +this business a spark of that fire which would have been kindled by +such sympathy had it existed. There are men who can raise such +sparks, the pretence of fire, where there is no heat at all;—false, +fraudulent men; but he was not such an one. Nevertheless he went on +with his business.</p> + +<p>"Miss Hotspur," he said to her one morning between breakfast and +lunch, when, as usual, opportunity had been given him to be alone +with her, "I have something to say to you, which I hope at any rate +it will not make you angry to hear."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you will say nothing to make me angry," she replied.</p> + +<p>"I have already spoken to your father, and I have his permission. I +may say more. He assures me that he hopes I may succeed." He paused a +moment, but she remained quite tranquil. He watched her, and could +see that the delicate pink on her cheek was a little heightened, and +that a streak of colour showed itself on her fair brow; but there was +nothing in her manner to give him either promise of success or +assurance of failure. "You will know what I mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know," she said, almost in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"And may I hope? To say that I love you dearly seems to be saying +what must be a matter of course."</p> + +<p>"I do not see that at all," she replied with spirit.</p> + +<p>"I do love you very dearly. If I may be allowed to think that you +will be my wife, I shall be the happiest man in England. I know how +great is the honour which I seek, how immense in every way is the +gift which I ask you to give me. Can you love me?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said, again dropping her voice to a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Is that all the answer, Miss Hotspur?"</p> + +<p>"What should I say? How ought I to answer you? If I could say it +without seeming to be unkind, indeed, indeed, I would do so."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I have been abrupt."</p> + +<p>"It is not that. When you ask me—to—to—love you, of course I know +what you mean. Should I not speak the truth at once?"</p> + +<p>"Must this be for always?"</p> + +<p>"For always," she replied. And then it was over.</p> + +<p>He did not himself press his suit further, though he remained at +Humblethwaite for three days after this interview.</p> + +<p>Before lunch on that day the story had been told by Emily to her +mother, and by Lord Alfred to Sir Harry. Lady Elizabeth knew well +enough that the story would never have to be told in another way. Sir +Harry by no means so easily gave up his enterprise. He proposed to +Lord Alfred that Emily should be asked to reconsider her verdict. +With his wife he was very round, saying that an answer given so +curtly should go for nothing, and that the girl must be taught her +duty. With Emily herself he was less urgent, less authoritative, and +indeed at last somewhat suppliant. He explained to her how excellent +would be the marriage; how it would settle this terrible +responsibility which now lay on his shoulders with so heavy a weight; +how glorious would be her position; and how the Hotspurs would still +live as a great family could she bring herself to be obedient. And he +said very much in praise of Lord Alfred, pointing out how good a man +he was, how moral, how diligent, how safe, how clever,—how sure, +with the assistance of the means which she would give him, to be one +of the notable men of the country. But she never yielded an inch. She +said very little,—answered him hardly a word, standing close to him, +holding by his arm and his hand. There was the fact, that she would +not have the man, would not have the man now or ever, certainly would +not have him; and Sir Harry, let him struggle as he might, and talk +his best, could not keep himself from giving absolute credit to her +assurance.</p> + +<p>The visit was prolonged for three days, and then Lord Alfred left +Humblethwaite Hall, with less appreciation of all its beauties than +he had felt as he was first being driven up to the Hall doors. When +he went, Sir Harry could only bid God bless him, and assure him that, +should he ever choose to try his fortune again, he should have all +the aid which a father could give him.</p> + +<p>"It would be useless," said Lord Alfred; "she knows her own mind too +well."</p> + +<p>And so he went his way.</p> + + +<p><a name="c4" id="c4"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> +<h4>VACILLATION.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>When the spring-time came, Sir Harry Hotspur with his wife and +daughter, went up to London. During the last season the house in +Bruton Street had been empty. He and his wife were then mourning +their lost son, and there was no place for the gaiety of London in +their lives. Sir Harry was still thinking of his great loss. He was +always thinking of the boy who was gone, who had been the apple of +his eye, his one great treasure, the only human being in the world +whose superior importance to his own he had been ready, in his heart +of hearts, to admit; but it was needful that the outer signs of +sorrow should be laid aside, and Emily Hotspur was taken up to +London, in order that she might be suited with a husband. That, in +truth, was the reason of their going. Neither Sir Harry nor Lady +Elizabeth would have cared to leave Cumberland had there been no such +cause. They would have been altogether content to remain at home had +Emily been obedient enough in the winter to accept the hand of the +suitor proposed for her.</p> + +<p>The house was opened in Bruton Street, and Lord Alfred came to see +them. So also did Cousin George. There was no reason why Cousin +George should not come. Indeed, had he not done so, he must have been +the most ungracious of cousins. He came, and found Lady Elizabeth and +Emily at home. Emily told him that they were always there to receive +visitors on Sundays after morning church, and then he came again. She +had made no such communication to Lord Alfred, but then perhaps it +would have been hardly natural that she should have done so. Lady +Elizabeth, in a note which she had occasion to write to Lord Alfred, +did tell him of her custom on a Sunday afternoon; but Lord Alfred +took no such immediate advantage of the offer as did Cousin George.</p> + +<p>As regarded the outward appearance of their life, the Hotspurs were +gayer this May than they had been heretofore when living in London. +There were dinner-parties, whereas in previous times there had only +been dinners at which a few friends might join them;—and there was +to be a ball. There was a box at the Opera, and there were horses for +the Park, and there was an understanding that the dealings with +Madame Milvodi, the milliner, were to be as unlimited as the occasion +demanded. It was perceived by every one that Miss Hotspur was to be +settled in life. Not a few knew the story of Lord Alfred. Every one +knew the facts of the property and Emily's position as heiress, +though every one probably did not know that it was still in Sir +Harry's power to leave every acre of the property to whom he pleased. +Emily understood it all herself. There lay upon her that terrible +responsibility of doing her best with the Hotspur interests. To her +the death of her brother had at the time been the blackest of +misfortunes, and it was not the less so now as she thought of her own +position. She had been steady enough as to the refusal of Lord +Alfred, knowing well enough that she cared nothing for him. But there +had since come upon her moments almost of regret that she should have +been unable to accept him. It would have been so easy a way of escape +from all her troubles without the assistance of Madame Milvodi, and +the opera-box, and the Park horses! At the time she had her own ideas +about another man, but her ideas were not such as to make her think +that any further work with Madame Milvodi and the opera-box would be +unnecessary.</p> + +<p>Then came the question of asking Cousin George to the house. He had +already been told to come on Sundays, and on the very next Sunday had +been there. He had given no cause of offence at Humblethwaite, and +Lady Elizabeth was of opinion that he should be asked to dinner. If +he were not asked, the very omission would show that they were afraid +of him. Lady Elizabeth did not exactly explain this to her +husband,—did not accurately know that such was her fear; but Sir +Harry understood her feelings, and yielded. Let Cousin George be +asked to dinner.</p> + +<p>Sir Harry at this time was vacillating with more of weakness than +would have been expected from a man who had generally been so firm in +the affairs of his life. He had been quite clear about George +Hotspur, when those inquiries of his were first made, and when his +mind had first accepted the notion of Lord Alfred as his chosen +son-in-law. But now he was again at sea. He was so conscious of the +importance of his daughter's case, that he could not bring himself to +be at ease, and to allow himself to expect that the girl would, in +the ordinary course of nature, dispose of her young heart not to her +own injury, as might reasonably be hoped from her temperament, her +character, and her education. He could not protect himself from daily +and hourly thought about it. Her marriage was not as the marriage of +other girls. The house of Hotspur, which had lived and prospered for +so many centuries, was to live and prosper through her; or rather +mainly through the man whom she should choose as her husband. The +girl was all-important now, but when she should have once disposed of +herself her importance would be almost at an end. Sir Harry had in +the recess of his mind almost a conviction that, although the thing +was of such utmost moment, it would be better for him, better for +them all, better for the Hotspurs, that the matter should be allowed +to arrange itself than that there should be any special judgment used +in selection. He almost believed that his girl should be left to +herself, as are other girls. But the thing was of such moment that he +could not save himself from having it always before his eyes.</p> + +<p>And yet he knew not what to do; nor was there any aid forthcoming +from Lady Elizabeth. He had tried his hand at the choice of a proper +husband, and his daughter would have none of the man so chosen. So he +had brought her up to London, and thrown her as it were upon the +market. Let Madame Milvodi and the opera-box and the Park horses do +what they could for her. Of course a watch should be kept on +her;—not from doubt of her excellence, but because the thing to be +disposed of was so all-important, and the girl's mode of disposing of +it might, without disgrace or fault on her part, be so vitally +prejudicial to the family!</p> + +<p>For, let it be remembered, no curled darling of an eldest son would +suit the exigencies of the case, unless such eldest son were willing +altogether to merge the claims of his own family, and to make himself +by name and purpose a Hotspur. Were his child to present to him as +his son-in-law some heir to a noble house, some future earl, say even +a duke in embryo, all that would be as nothing to Sir Harry. It was +not his ambition to see his daughter a duchess. He wanted no name, or +place, or dominion for any Hotspur greater or higher or more noble +than those which the Hotspurs claimed and could maintain for +themselves. To have Humblethwaite and Scarrowby lost amidst the vast +appanages and domains of some titled family, whose gorgeous glories +were new and paltry in comparison with the mellow honours of his own +house, would to him have been a ruin to all his hopes. There might, +indeed, be some arrangement as to the second son proceeding from such +a marriage,—as to a future chance Hotspur; but the claims of the +Hotspurs were, he thought, too high and too holy for such future +chance; and in such case, for one generation at least, the Hotspurs +would be in abeyance. No: it was not that which he desired. That +would not suffice for him. The son-in-law that he desired should be +well born, a perfect gentleman, with belongings of whom he and his +child might be proud; but he should be one who should be content to +rest his claims to material prosperity and personal position on the +name and wealth that he would obtain with his wife. Lord Alfred had +been the very man; but then his girl would have none of Lord Alfred! +Eldest sons there might be in plenty ready to take such a bride; and +were some eldest son to come to him and ask for his daughter's hand, +some eldest son who would do so almost with a right to claim it if +the girl's consent were gained, how could he refuse? And yet to leave +a Hotspur behind him living at Humblethwaite, and Hotspurs who should +follow that Hotspur, was all in all to him.</p> + +<p>Might he venture to think once again of Cousin George? Cousin George +was there, coming to the house, and his wife was telling him that it +was incumbent on them to ask the young man to dinner. It was +incumbent on them, unless they meant to let him know that he was to +be regarded absolutely as a stranger,—as one whom they had taken up +for a while, and now chose to drop again. A very ugly story had +reached Sir Harry's ears about Cousin George. It was said that he had +twice borrowed money from the money-lenders on his commission, +passing some document for security of its value which was no +security, and that he had barely escaped detection, the two Jews +knowing that the commission would be forfeited altogether if the +fraud were brought to light. The commission had been sold, and the +proceeds divided between the Jews, with certain remaining claims to +them on Cousin George's personal estate. Such had been the story +which in a vague way had reached Sir Harry's ears. It is not easily +that such a man as Sir Harry can learn the details of a disreputable +cousin's life. Among all his old friends he had none more dear to him +than Lord Milnthorp; and among his younger friends none more intimate +than Lord Burton, the eldest son of Lord Milnthorp, Lord Alfred's +brother. Lord Burton had told him the story, telling him at the same +time that he could not vouch for its truth. "Upon my word, I don't +know," said Lord Burton, when interrogated again. "I think if I were +you I would regard it as though I had never heard it. Of course, he +was in debt."</p> + +<p>"That is altogether another thing," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"Altogether! I think that probably he did pawn his commission. That +is bad, but it isn't so very bad. As for the other charge against +him, I doubt it." So said Lord Burton, and Sir Harry determined that +the accusation should go for nothing.</p> + +<p>But his own child, his only child, the transmitter of all the great +things that fortune had given to him; she, in whose hands were to lie +the glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby; she, who had the giving +away of the honour of their ancient family,—could she be trusted to +one of whom it must be admitted that all his early life had been +disreputable, even if the world's lenient judgment in such matters +should fail to stigmatize it as dishonourable? In other respects, +however, he was so manifestly the man to whom his daughter ought to +be given in marriage! By such arrangement would the title and the +property be kept together,—and by no other which Sir Harry could now +make, for his word had been given to his daughter that she was to be +his heiress. Let him make what arrangements he might, this Cousin +George, at his death, would be the head of the family. Every +"Peerage" that was printed would tell the old story to all the world. +By certain courtesies of the law of descent his future heirs would be +Hotspurs were his daughter married to Lord Alfred or the like; but +the children of such a marriage would not be Hotspurs in very truth, +nor by any courtesy of law, or even by any kindness of the Minister +or Sovereign, could the child of such a union become the baronet, the +Sir Harry of the day, the head of the family. The position was one +which no Sovereign and no Minister could achieve, or touch, or +bestow. It was his, beyond the power of any earthly potentate to +deprive him of it, and would have been transmitted by him to a son +with as absolute security. But—alas! alas!</p> + +<p>Sir Harry gave no indication that he thought it expedient to change +his mind on the subject. When Lady Elizabeth proposed that Cousin +George should be asked to dinner, he frowned and looked black as he +acceded; but, in truth, he vacillated. The allurements on that side +were so great that he could not altogether force upon himself the +duty of throwing them from him. He knew that Cousin George was no +fitting husband for his girl, that he was a man to whom he would not +have thought of giving her, had her happiness been his only object. +And he did not think of so bestowing her now. He became uneasy when +he remembered the danger. He was unhappy as he remembered how +amusing, how handsome, how attractive was Cousin George. He feared +that Emily might like him!—by no means hoped it. And yet he +vacillated, and allowed Cousin George to come to the house, only +because Cousin George must become, on his death, the head of the +Hotspurs.</p> + +<p>Cousin George came on one Sunday, came on another Sunday, dined at +the house, and was of course asked to the ball. But Lady Elizabeth +had so arranged her little affairs that when Cousin George left +Bruton Street on the evening of the dinner party he and Emily had +never been for two minutes alone together since the family had come +up to London. Lady Elizabeth herself liked Cousin George, and, had an +edict to that effect been pronounced by her husband, would have left +them alone together with great maternal satisfaction. But she had +been told that it was not to be so, and therefore the young people +had never been allowed to have opportunities. Lady Elizabeth in her +very quiet way knew how to do the work of the world that was allotted +to her. There had been other balls, and there had been ridings in the +Park, and all the chances of life which young men, and sometimes +young women also, know so well how to use; but hitherto Cousin George +had kept, or had been constrained to keep, his distance.</p> + +<p>"I want to know, Mamma," said Emily Hotspur, the day before the ball, +"whether Cousin George is a black sheep or a white sheep?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, my dear, by asking such a question as that?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like black sheep. I don't see why young men are to be +allowed to be black sheep; but yet you know they are."</p> + +<p>"How can it be helped?"</p> + +<p>"People should not notice them, Mamma."</p> + +<p>"My dear, it is a most difficult question,—quite beyond me, and I am +sure beyond you. A sheep needn't be black always because he has not +always been quite white; and then you know the black lambs are just +as dear to their mother as the white."</p> + +<p>"Dearer, I think."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, Emily, that in general society black sheep +should be avoided."</p> + +<p>"Then they shouldn't be allowed to come in," said Emily. Lady +Elizabeth knew from this that there was danger, but the danger was +not of a kind which enabled her specially to consult Sir Harry.</p> + + +<p><a name="c5" id="c5"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> +<h4>GEORGE HOTSPUR.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>A little must now be told to the reader of Cousin George and the ways +of his life. As Lady Elizabeth had said to her daughter, that +question of admitting black sheep into society, or of refusing them +admittance, is very difficult. In the first place, whose eyes are +good enough to know whether in truth a sheep be black or not? And +then is it not the fact that some little amount of shade in the +fleece of male sheep is considered, if not absolutely desirable, at +any rate quite pardonable? A male sheep with a fleece as white as +that of a ewe-lamb,—is he not considered to be, among muttons, +somewhat insipid? It was of this taste which Pope was conscious +when he declared that every woman was at heart a rake. And so it +comes to pass that very black sheep indeed are admitted into society, +till at last anxious fathers and more anxious mothers begin to be +aware that their young ones are turned out to graze among ravenous +wolves. This, however, must be admitted, that lambs when so treated +acquire a courage which tends to enable them to hold their own, even +amidst wolfish dangers.</p> + +<p>Cousin George, if not a ravenous wolf, was at any rate a very black +sheep indeed. In our anxiety to know the truth of him it must not be +said that he was absolutely a wolf,—not as yet,—because in his +career he had not as yet made premeditated attempts to devour prey. +But in the process of delivering himself up to be devoured by others, +he had done things which if known of any sheep should prevent that +sheep from being received into a decent flock. There had been that +little trouble about his commission, in which, although he had not +intended to cheat either Jew, he had done that which the world would +have called cheating had the world known it. As for getting goods +from tradesmen without any hope or thought of paying for them, that +with him was so much a thing of custom,—as indeed it was also with +them,—that he was almost to be excused for considering it the normal +condition of life for a man in his position. To gamble and lose money +had come to him quite naturally at a very early age. There had now +come upon him an idea that he might turn the tables, that in all +gambling transactions some one must win, and that as he had lost +much, so possibly might he now win more. He had not quite yet reached +that point in his education at which the gambler learns that the +ready way to win much is to win unfairly;—not quite yet, but he was +near it. The wolfhood was coming on him, unless some good fortune +might save him. There might, however, be such good fortune in store +for him. As Lady Elizabeth had said, a sheep that was very dark in +colour might become white again. If it be not so, what is all this +doctrine of repentance in which we believe?</p> + +<p>Blackness in a male sheep in regard to the other sin is venial +blackness. Whether the teller of such a tale as this should say so +outright, may be matter of dispute; but, unless he say so, the teller +of this tale does not know how to tell his tale truly. Blackness such +as that will be all condoned, and the sheep received into almost any +flock, on condition, not of repentance or humiliation or confession, +but simply of change of practice. The change of practice in certain +circumstances and at a certain period becomes expedient; and if it be +made, as regards tints in the wool of that nature, the sheep becomes +as white as he is needed to be. In this respect our sheep had been as +black as any sheep, and at this present period of his life had need +of much change before he would be fit for any decent social herding.</p> + +<p>And then there are the shades of black which come from +conviviality,—which we may call table blackness,—as to which there +is an opinion constantly disseminated by the moral newspapers of the +day, that there has come to be altogether an end of any such +blackness among sheep who are gentlemen. To make up for this, indeed, +there has been expressed by the piquant newspapers of the day an +opinion that ladies are taking up the game which gentlemen no longer +care to play. It may be doubted whether either expression has in it +much of truth. We do not see ladies drunk, certainly, and we do not +see gentlemen tumbling about as they used to do, because their +fashion of drinking is not that of their grandfathers. But the love +of wine has not gone out from among men; and men now are as prone as +ever to indulge their loves. Our black sheep was very fond of +wine,—and also of brandy, though he was wolf enough to hide his +taste when occasion required it.</p> + +<p>Very early in life he had come from France to live in England, and +had been placed in a cavalry regiment, which had, unfortunately for +him, been quartered either in London or its vicinity. And, perhaps +equally unfortunate for him, he had in his own possession a small +fortune of some £500 a year. This had not come to him from his +father; and when his father had died in Paris, about two years before +the date of our story, he had received no accession of regular +income. Some couple of thousand of pounds had reached his hands from +his father's effects, which had helped him through some of the +immediately pressing difficulties of the day,—for his own income at +that time had been altogether dissipated. And now he had received a +much larger sum from his cousin, with an assurance, however, that the +family property would not become his when he succeeded to the family +title. He was so penniless at the time, so prone to live from hand to +mouth, so little given to consideration of the future, that it may be +doubted whether the sum given to him was not compensation in full for +all that was to be withheld from him.</p> + +<p>Still there was his chance with the heiress! In regarding this +chance, he had very soon determined that he would marry his cousin if +it might be within his power to do so. He knew, and fully +appreciated, his own advantages. He was a handsome man,—tall for a +Hotspur, but with the Hotspur fair hair and blue eyes, and well-cut +features. There lacked, however, to him, that peculiar aspect of +firmness about the temples which so strongly marked the countenance +of Sir Harry and his daughter; and there had come upon him a +<i>blasé</i> +look, and certain outer signs of a bad life, which, however, did not +mar his beauty, nor were they always apparent. The eye was not always +bloodshot, nor was the hand constantly seen to shake. It may be said +of him, both as to his moral and physical position, that he was on +the edge of the precipice of degradation, but that there was yet a +possibility of salvation.</p> + +<p>He was living in a bachelor's set of rooms, at this time, in St. +James's Street, for which, it must be presumed, that ready money was +required. During the last winter he had horses in Northamptonshire, +for the hire of which, it must be feared, that his prospects as heir +to Humblethwaite had in some degree been pawned. At the present time +he had a horse for Park riding, and he looked upon a good dinner, +with good wine, as being due to him every day, as thoroughly as +though he earned it. That he had never attempted to earn a shilling +since the day on which he had ceased to be a soldier, now four years +since, the reader will hardly require to be informed.</p> + +<p>In spite of all his faults, this man enjoyed a certain social +popularity for which many a rich man would have given a third of his +income. Dukes and duchesses were fond of him; and certain persons, +standing very high in the world, did not think certain parties were +perfect without him. He knew how to talk enough, and yet not to talk +too much. No one could say of him that he was witty, well-read, or +given to much thinking; but he knew just what was wanted at this +point of time or at that, and could give it. He could put himself +forward, and could keep himself in the background. He could shoot +well without wanting to shoot best. He could fetch and carry, but +still do it always with an air of manly independence. He could +subserve without an air of cringing. And then he looked like a +gentleman.</p> + +<p>Of all his well-to-do friends, perhaps he who really liked him best +was the Earl of Altringham. George Hotspur was at this time something +under thirty years of age, and the Earl was four years his senior. +The Earl was a married man, with a family, a wife who also liked poor +George, an enormous income, and a place in Scotland at which George +always spent the three first weeks of grouse-shooting. The Earl was a +kindly, good-humoured, liberal, but yet hard man of the world. He +knew George Hotspur well, and would on no account lend him a +shilling. He would not have given his friend money to extricate him +from any difficulty. But he forgave the sinner all his sins, opened +Castle Corry to him every year, provided him with the best of +everything, and let him come and dine at Altringham House, in Carlton +Gardens, as often almost as he chose during the London season. The +Earl was very good to George, though he knew more about him than +perhaps did any other man; but he would not bet with George, nor +would he in any way allow George to make money out of him.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose that I want to win money of you?" he once said to our +friend, in answer to a little proposition that was made to him at +Newmarket. "I don't suppose you do," George had answered. "Then you +may be sure that I don't want to lose any," the Earl had replied. And +so the matter was ended, and George made no more propositions of the +kind.</p> + +<p>The two men were together at Tattersall's, looking at some horses +which the Earl had sent up to be sold the day after the dinner in +Bruton Street. "Sir Harry seems to be taking to you very kindly," +said the Earl.</p> + +<p>"Well,—yes; in a half-and-half sort of way."</p> + +<p>"It isn't everybody that would give you £5,000, you know."</p> + +<p>"I am not everybody's heir," said George.</p> + +<p>"No; and you ain't his,—worse luck."</p> + +<p>"I am,—in regard to the title."</p> + +<p>"What good will that do you?"</p> + +<p>"When he's gone, I shall be the head of the family. As far as I can +understand these matters, he hasn't a right to leave the estates away +from me."</p> + +<p>"Power is right, my boy. Legal power is undoubtedly right."</p> + +<p>"He should at any rate divide them. There are two distinct +properties, and either of them would make me a rich man. I don't feel +so very much obliged to him for his money,—though of course it was +convenient."</p> + +<p>"Very convenient, I should say, George. How do you get on with your +cousin?"</p> + +<p>"They watch me like a cat watches a mouse."</p> + +<p>"Say a rat, rather, George. Don't you know they are right? Would not +I do the same if she were my girl, knowing you as I do?"</p> + +<p>"She might do worse, my Lord."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is. He thinks that he might do worse. I don't +doubt about that. All this matter of the family and the title, and +the name, would make him ready to fling her to you,—if only you were +a shade less dark a horse than you are."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I'm darker than others."</p> + +<p>"Look here, old fellow; I don't often trouble you with advice, but I +will now. If you'll set yourself steadily to work to live decently, +if you'll tell Sir Harry the whole truth about your money matters, +and really get into harness, I believe you may have her. Such a one +as you never had such a chance before. But there's one thing you must +do."</p> + +<p>"What is the one thing?"</p> + +<p>"Wash your hands altogether of Mrs. Morton. You'll have a difficulty, +I know, and perhaps it will want more pluck than you've got. You +haven't got pluck of that kind."</p> + +<p>"You mean that I don't like to break a woman's heart?"</p> + +<p>"Fiddlestick! Do you see that mare, there?"</p> + +<p>"I was just looking at her. Why should you part with her?"</p> + +<p>"She was the best animal in my stables, but she's given to eating the +stable-boys; old Badger told me flat, that he wouldn't have her in +the stables any longer. I pity the fellow who will buy her,—or +rather his fellow. She killed a lad once in Brookborough's stables."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you shoot her?"</p> + +<p>"I can't afford to shoot horses, Captain Hotspur. I had my chance in +buying her, and somebody else must have his chance now. That's the +lot of them; one or two good ones, and the rest what I call rags. Do +you think of what I've said; and be sure of this: Mrs. Morton and +your cousin can't go on together. Ta, Ta!—I'm going across to my +mother's."</p> + +<p>George Hotspur, when he was left alone, did think a great deal about +it. He was not a man prone to assure himself of a lady's favour +without cause; and yet he did think that his cousin liked him. As to +that terrible difficulty to which Lord Altringham had alluded, he +knew that something must be done; but there were cruel embarrassments +on that side of which even Altringham knew nothing. And then why +should he do that which his friend had indicated to him, before he +knew whether it would be necessary? As to taking Sir Harry altogether +into his confidence about his money matters, that was clearly +impossible. Heaven and earth! How could the one man speak such +truths, or the other man listen to them? When money difficulties come +of such nature as those which weighted the shoulders of poor George +Hotspur, it is quite impossible that there should be any such +confidence with any one. The sufferer cannot even make a confidant of +himself, cannot even bring himself to look at his own troubles massed +together. It was not the amount of his debts, but the nature of them, +and the characters of the men with whom he had dealings, that were so +terrible. Fifteen thousand pounds—less than one year's income from +Sir Harry's property—would clear him of everything, as far as he +could judge; but there could be no such clearing, otherwise than by +money disbursed by himself, without a disclosure of dirt which he +certainly would not dare to make to Sir Harry before his marriage.</p> + +<p>But yet the prize to be won was so great, and there were so many +reasons for thinking that it might possibly be within his grasp! If, +after all, he might live to be Sir George Hotspur of Humblethwaite +and Scarrowby! After thinking of it as well as he could, he +determined that he would make the attempt; but as to those +preliminaries to which Lord Altringham had referred, he would for the +present leave them to chance.</p> + +<p>Lord Altringham had been quite right when he told George Hotspur that +he was deficient in a certain kind of pluck.</p> + + +<p><a name="c6" id="c6"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> +<h4>THE BALL IN BRUTON STREET.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Sir Harry vacillated, Lady Elizabeth doubted, and Cousin George was +allowed to come to the ball. At this time, in the common +understanding of such phrase, Emily Hotspur was heart-whole in regard +to her cousin. Had she been made to know that he had gone away for +ever,—been banished to some antipodes from which he never could +return,—there would have been no lasting sorrow on her part, though +there might have been some feeling which would have given her an ache +for the moment. She had thought about him, as girls will think of men +as to whom they own to themselves that it is possible that they may +be in love with them some day;—and she liked him much. She also +liked Lord Alfred, but the liking had been altogether of a different +kind. In regard to Lord Alfred she had been quite sure, from the +first days of her intercourse with him, that she could never be in +love with him. He was to her no more than old Mr. Crutchley or young +Mr. Latheby,—a man, and a good sort of man, but no more than a man. +To worship Lord Alfred must be impossible to her. She had already +conceived that it would be quite possible for her to worship her +Cousin George in the teeth of all the hard things that she had heard +of him. The reader may be sure that such a thought had passed through +her mind when she asked her mother whether Cousin George was to be +accepted as a black sheep or a white one?</p> + +<p>The ball was a very grand affair, and Emily Hotspur was a very great +lady. It had come to be understood that the successful suitor for her +hand would be the future lord of Humblethwaite, and the power with +which she was thus vested gave her a prestige and standing which can +hardly be attained by mere wit and beauty, even when most perfectly +combined. It was not that all who worshipped, either at a distance or +with passing homage, knew the fact of the heiress-ship, or had ever +heard of the £20,000 a year; but, given the status, and the +worshippers will come. The word had gone forth in some mysterious +way, and it was acknowledged that Emily Hotspur was a great young +lady. Other young ladies, who were not great, allowed themselves to +be postponed to her almost without jealousy, and young gentlemen +without pretensions regarded her as one to whom they did not dare to +ask to be introduced. Emily saw it all, and partly liked it, and +partly despised it. But, even when despising it, she took advantage +of it. The young gentlemen without pretensions were no more to her +than the chairs and tables; and the young ladies who submitted to her +and adored her,—were allowed to be submissive, and to adore. But of +this she was quite sure,—that her Cousin George must some day be the +head of her own family. He was a man whom she was bound to treat with +attentive regard, if they who had the custody of her chose to place +her in his company at all.</p> + +<p>At this ball there were some very distinguished people +indeed,—persons whom it would hardly be improper to call +illustrious. There were two royal duchesses, one of whom was English, +and no less than three princes. The Russian and French ambassadors +were both there. There was the editor of the most influential +newspaper of the day,—for a few minutes only; and the Prime Minister +passed through the room in the course of the evening. Dukes and +duchesses below the royal degree were common; and as for earls and +countesses, and their daughters, they formed the ruck of the crowd. +The Poet-laureate didn't come indeed, but was expected; and three +Chinese mandarins of the first quality entered the room at eleven, +and did not leave till one. Poor Lady Elizabeth suffered a great deal +with those mandarins. From all this it will be seen that the ball was +quite a success.</p> + +<p>George Hotspur dined that day with Lord and Lady Altringham, and went +with them to the ball in the evening. Lord Altringham, though his +manner was airy and almost indifferent, was in truth most anxious +that his friend should be put upon his feet by the marriage; and the +Countess was so keen about it, that there was nothing in the way of +innocent intrigue which she would not have done to accomplish it. She +knew that George Hotspur was a rake, was a gambler, was in debt, was +hampered by other difficulties, and all the rest of it; but she liked +the man, and was therefore willing to believe that a rich marriage +would put it all right. Emily Hotspur was nothing to her, nor was Sir +Harry; but George had often made her own house pleasant to her, and +therefore, to her thinking, deserved a wife with £20,000 a year. And +then, if there might have been scruples under other circumstances, +that fact of the baronetcy overcame them. It could not be wrong in +one placed as was Lady Altringham to assist in preventing any +separation of the title and the property. Of course George might +probably squander all that he could squander; but that might be made +right by settlements and entails. Lady Altringham was much more +energetic than her husband, and had made out quite a plan of the +manner in which George should proceed. She discussed the matter with +him at great length. The one difficulty she was, indeed, obliged to +slur over; but even that was not altogether omitted in her scheme. +"Whatever incumbrances there may be, free yourself from them at +once," she had advised.</p> + +<p>"That is so very easy to say, Lady Altringham, but so difficult to +do."</p> + +<p>"As to debts, of course they can't be paid without money. Sir Harry +will find it worth his while to settle any debts. But if there is +anything else, stop it at once." Of course there was something else, +and of course Lady Altringham knew what that something else was. She +demanded, in accordance with her scheme, that George should lose no +time. This was in May. It was known that Sir Harry intended to leave +town early in June. "Of course you will take him at his word, and go +to Humblethwaite when you leave us," she had said.</p> + +<p>"No time has been named."</p> + +<p>"Then you can name your own without difficulty. You will write from +Castle Corry and say you are coming. That is, if it's not all settled +by that time. Of course, it cannot be done in a minute, because Sir +Harry must consent; but I should begin at once,—only, Captain +Hotspur, leave nothing for them to find out afterwards. What is past +they will forgive." Such had been Lady Altringham's advice, and no +doubt she understood the matter which she had been discussing.</p> + +<p>When George Hotspur entered the room, his cousin was dancing with a +prince. He could see her as he stood speaking a few words to Lady +Elizabeth. And in talking to Lady Elizabeth he did not talk as a +stranger would, or a common guest. He had quite understood all that +he might gain by assuming the intimacy of cousinhood, and he had +assumed it. Lady Elizabeth was less weary than before when he stood +by her, and accepted from his hand some little trifle of help, which +was agreeable to her. And he showed himself in no hurry, and told her +some little story that pleased her. What a pity it was that Cousin +George should be a scamp, she thought, as he went on to greet Sir +Harry.</p> + +<p>And with Sir Harry he remained a minute or two. On such an occasion +as this Sir Harry was all smiles, and quite willing to hear a little +town gossip. "Come with the Altringhams, have you? I'm told +Altringham has just sold all his horses. What's the meaning of that?"</p> + +<p>"The old story, Sir Harry. He has weeded his stable, and got the +buyers to think that they were getting the cream. There isn't a man +in England knows better what he's about than Altringham."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry smiled his sweetest, and answered with some good-humoured +remark, but he said in his heart that "birds of a feather flock +together," and that his cousin was—not a man of honour.</p> + +<p>There are some things that no rogue can do. He can understand what it +is to condemn roguery, to avoid it, to dislike it, to disbelieve in +it;—but he cannot understand what it is to hate it. Cousin George +had probably exaggerated the transaction of which he had spoken, but +he had little thought that in doing so he had helped to imbue Sir +Harry with a true idea of his own character.</p> + +<p>George passed on, and saw his cousin, who was now standing up with a +foreign ambassador. He just spoke to her as he passed her, calling +her by her Christian name as he did so. She gave him her hand ever so +graciously; and he, when he had gone on, returned and asked her to +name a dance.</p> + +<p>"But I don't think I've one left that I mean to dance," she said.</p> + +<p>"Then give me one that you don't mean to dance," he answered. And of +course she gave it to him.</p> + +<p>It was an hour afterwards that he came to claim her promise, and she +put her arm through his and stood up with him. There was no talk then +of her not dancing, and she went whirling round the room with him in +great bliss. Cousin George waltzed well. All such men do. It is a +part of their stock-in-trade. On this evening Emily Hotspur thought +that he waltzed better than any one else, and told him so. "Another +turn? Of course I will with you, because you know what you're about."</p> + +<p>"I'd blush if I'd time," said he.</p> + +<p>"A great many gentlemen ought to blush, I know. That prince, whose +name I always forget, and you, are the only men in the room who dance +well, according to my ideas."</p> + +<p>Then off they went again, and Emily was very happy. He could at least +dance well, and there could be no reason why she should not enjoy his +dancing well since he had been considered to be white enough to be +asked to the ball.</p> + +<p>But with George there was present at every turn and twist of the +dance an idea that he was there for other work than that. He was +tracking a head of game after which there would be many hunters. He +had his advantages, and so would they have theirs. One of his was +this,—that he had her there with him now, and he must use it. She +would not fall into his mouth merely by being whirled round the room +pleasantly. At last she was still, and consented to take a walk with +him out of the room, somewhere out amidst the crowd, on the staircase +if possible, so as to get a breath of fresh air. Of course he soon +had her jammed into a corner out of which there was no immediate mode +of escape.</p> + +<p>"We shall never get away again," she said, laughing. Had she wanted +to get away her tone and manner would have been very different.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether you feel yourself to be the same sort of person +here that you are at Humblethwaite," he said.</p> + +<p>"Exactly the same."</p> + +<p>"To me you seem to be so different."</p> + +<p>"In what way?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think you are half so nice."</p> + +<p>"How very unkind!"</p> + +<p>Of course she was flattered. Of all flattery praise is the coarsest +and least efficacious. When you would flatter a man, talk to him +about himself, and criticise him, pulling him to pieces by comparison +of some small present fault with his past conduct;—and the rule +holds the same with a woman. To tell her that she looks well is +feeble work; but complain to her wofully that there is something +wanting at the present moment, something lacking from the usual high +standard, some temporary loss of beauty, and your solicitude will +prevail with her.</p> + +<p>"And in what am I not nice? I am sure I'm trying to be as nice as I +know how."</p> + +<p>"Down at Humblethwaite you are simply yourself,—Emily Hotspur."</p> + +<p>"And what am I here?"</p> + +<p>"That formidable thing,—a success. Don't you feel yourself that you +are lifted a little off your legs?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit;—not an inch. Why should I?"</p> + +<p>"I fail to make you understand quite what I mean. Don't you feel that +with all these princes and potentates you are forced to be something +else than your natural self? Don't you know that you have to put on a +special manner, and to talk in a special way? Does not the champagne +fly to your head, more or less?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, the princes and potentates are not the same as old Mrs. +Crutchley, if you mean that."</p> + +<p>"I am not blaming you, you know, only I cannot help being very +anxious; and I found you so perfect at Humblethwaite that I cannot +say that I like any change. You know I am to come to Humblethwaite +again?"</p> + +<p>"Of course you are."</p> + +<p>"You go down next month, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"Papa talks of going to Scarrowby for a few weeks. He always does +every year, and it is so dull. Did you ever see Scarrowby?"</p> + +<p>"Never."</p> + +<p>"You ought to come there some day. You know one branch of the +Hotspurs did live there for ever so long."</p> + +<p>"Is it a good house?"</p> + +<p>"Very bad indeed; but there are enormous woods, and the country is +very wild, and everything is at sixes and sevens. However, of course +you would not come, because it is in the middle of your London +season. There would be ever so many things to keep you. You are a man +who, I suppose, never was out of London in June in your life, unless +some race meeting was going on."</p> + +<p>"Do you really take me for such as that, Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. That is what they tell me you are. Is it not true? Don't +you go to races?"</p> + +<p>"I should be quite willing to undertake never to put my foot on a +racecourse again this minute. I will do so now if you will only ask +it of me."</p> + +<p>She paused a moment, half thinking that she would ask it, but at last +she determined against it.</p> + +<p>"No," she said; "if you think it proper to stay away, you can do so +without my asking it. I have no right to make such a request. If you +think races are bad, why don't you stay away of your own accord?"</p> + +<p>"They are bad," he said.</p> + +<p>"Then why do you go to them?"</p> + +<p>"They are bad, and I do go to them. They are very bad, and I go to +them very often. But I will stay away and never put my foot on +another racecourse if you, my cousin, will ask me."</p> + +<p>"That is nonsense."</p> + +<p>"Try me. It shall not be nonsense. If you care enough about me to +wish to save me from what is evil, you can do it. I care enough about +you to give up the pursuit at your bidding."</p> + +<p>As he said this he looked down into her eyes, and she knew that the +full weight of his gaze was upon her. She knew that his words and his +looks together were intended to impress her with some feeling of his +love for her. She knew at the moment, too, that they gratified her. +And she remembered also in the same moment that her Cousin George was +a black sheep.</p> + +<p>"If you cannot refrain from what is bad without my asking you," she +said, "your refraining will do no good."</p> + +<p>He was making her some answer, when she insisted on being taken away. +"I must get into the dancing-room; I must indeed, George. I have +already thrown over some poor wretch. No, not yet, I see, however. I +was not engaged for the quadrille; but I must go back and look after +the people."</p> + +<p>He led her back through the crowd; and as he did so he perceived that +Sir Harry's eyes were fixed upon him. He did not much care for that. +If he could carry his Cousin Emily, he thought that he might carry +the Baronet also.</p> + +<p>He could not get any special word with her again that night. He asked +her for another dance, but she would not grant it to him. "You forget +the princes and potentates to whom I have to attend," she said to +him, quoting his own words.</p> + +<p>He did not blame her, even to himself, judging by the importance +which he attached to every word of private conversation which he +could have with her, that she found it to be equally important. It +was something gained that she should know that he was thinking of +her. He could not be to her now like any cousin, or any other man, +with whom she might dance three or four times without meaning +anything. As he was aware of it, so must she be; and he was glad that +she should feel that it was so.</p> + +<p>"Emily tells me that you are going to Scarrowby next month," he said +afterwards to Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>Sir Harry frowned, and answered him very shortly, "Yes, we shall go +there in June."</p> + +<p>"Is it a large place?"</p> + +<p>"Large? How do you mean? It is a good property."</p> + +<p>"But the house?"</p> + +<p>"The house is quite large enough for us," said Sir Harry; "but we do +not have company there."</p> + +<p>This was said in a very cold tone, and there was nothing more to be +added. George, to do him justice, had not been fishing for an +invitation to Scarrowby. He had simply been making conversation with +the Baronet. It would not have suited him to go to Scarrowby, because +by doing so he would have lost the power of renewing his visit to +Humblethwaite. But Sir Harry in this interview had been so very +ungracious,—and as George knew very well, because of the scene in +the corner,—that there might be a doubt whether he would ever get to +Humblethwaite at all. If he failed, however, it should not be for the +want of audacity on his own part.</p> + +<p>But, in truth, Sir Harry's blackness was still the result of +vacillation. Though he would fain redeem this prodigal, if it were +possible, and give him everything that was to be given; yet, when he +saw the prodigal attempting to help himself to the good things, his +wrath was aroused. George Hotspur, as he betook himself from Bruton +Street to such other amusements as were at his command, meditated +much over his position. He thought he could give up the racecourses; +but he was sure that he could at any rate say that he would give them +up.</p> + + +<p><a name="c7" id="c7"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> +<h4>LADY ALTRINGHAM.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>There was one more meeting between Cousin George and Emily Hotspur, +before Sir Harry left London with his wife and daughter. On the +Sunday afternoon following the ball he called in Bruton Street, and +found Lord Alfred there. He knew that Lord Alfred had been refused, +and felt it to be a matter of course that the suit would be pressed +again. Nevertheless, he was quite free from animosity to Lord Alfred. +He could see at a glance that there was no danger for him on that +side. Lord Alfred was talking to Lady Elizabeth when he entered, and +Emily was engaged with a bald-headed old gentleman with a little +ribbon and a star. The bald-headed old gentleman soon departed, and +then Cousin George, in some skilfully indirect way, took an +opportunity of letting Emily know that he should not go to Goodwood +this July.</p> + +<p>"Not go to Goodwood?" said she, pretending to laugh. "It will be most +unnatural, will it not? They'll hardly start the horses without you, +I should think."</p> + +<p>"They'll have to start them without me, at any rate." Of course she +understood what he meant, and understood also why he had told her. +But if his promise were true, so much good had been done,—and she +sincerely believed that it was true. In what way could he make love +to her better than by refraining from his evil ways for the sake of +pleasing her? Other bald-headed old gentlemen and bewigged old ladies +came in, and he had not time for another word. He bade her adieu, +saying nothing now of his hope of meeting her in the autumn, and was +very affectionate in his farewell to Lady Elizabeth. "I don't suppose +I shall see Sir Harry before he starts. Say 'good-bye' for me."</p> + +<p>"I will, George."</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry you are going. It has been so jolly, coming in here of +a Sunday, Lady Elizabeth, and you have been so good to me. I wish +Scarrowby was at the bottom of the sea."</p> + +<p>"Sir Harry wouldn't like that at all."</p> + +<p>"I dare say not. And as such places must be, I suppose they ought to +be looked after. Only why in June? Good-bye! We shall meet again some +day." But not a word was said about Humblethwaite in September. He +did not choose to mention the prospect of his autumn visit, and she +did not dare to do so. Sir Harry had not renewed the offer, and she +would not venture to do so in Sir Harry's absence.</p> + +<p>June passed away,—as Junes do pass in London,—very gaily in +appearance, very quickly in reality, with a huge outlay of money and +an enormous amount of disappointment. Young ladies would not accept, +and young men would not propose. Papas became cross and stingy, and +mammas insinuated that daughters were misbehaving. The daughters +fought their own battles, and became tired in the fighting of them, +and many a one had declared to herself before July had come to an end +that it was all vanity and vexation of spirit.</p> + +<p>The Altringhams always went to Goodwood,—husband and wife. Goodwood +and Ascot for Lady Altringham were festivals quite as sacred as were +Epsom and Newmarket for the Earl. She looked forward to them all the +year, learned all she could about the horses which were to run, was +very anxious and energetic about her party, and, if all that was said +was true, had her little book. It was an institution also that George +Hotspur should be one of the party; and of all the arrangements +usually made, it was not the one which her Ladyship could dispense +with the easiest. George knew exactly what she liked to have done, +and how. The Earl himself would take no trouble, and desired simply +to be taken there and back and to find everything that was wanted the +very moment it was needed. And in all such matters the Countess chose +that the Earl should be indulged. But it was necessary to have some +one who would look after something—who would direct the servants, +and give the orders, and be responsible. George Hotspur did it all +admirably, and on such occasions earned the hospitality which was +given to him throughout the year. At Goodwood he was almost +indispensable to Lady Altringham; but for this meeting she was +willing to dispense with him. "I tell you, Captain Hotspur, that +you're not to go," she said to him.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Lady Altringham."</p> + +<p>"What a child you are! Don't you know what depends on it?"</p> + +<p>"It does not depend on that."</p> + +<p>"It may. Every little helps. Didn't you promise her that you +wouldn't?"</p> + +<p>"She didn't take it in earnest."</p> + +<p>"I tell you, you know nothing about a woman. She will take it very +much in earnest if you break your word."</p> + +<p>"She'll never know."</p> + +<p>"She will. She'll learn it. A girl like that learns everything. +Don't go; and let her know that you have not gone."</p> + +<p>George Hotspur thought that he might go, and yet let her know that he +had not gone. An accomplished and successful lie was to him a thing +beautiful in itself,—an event that had come off usefully, a piece of +strategy that was evidence of skill, so much gained on the world at +the least possible outlay, an investment from which had come profit +without capital. Lady Altringham was very hard on him, threatening +him at one time with the Earl's displeasure, and absolute refusal of +his company. But he pleaded hard that his book would be ruinous to +him if he did not go; that this was a pursuit of such a kind that a +man could not give it up all of a moment; that he would take care +that his name was omitted from the printed list of Lord Altringham's +party; and that he ought to be allowed this last recreation. The +Countess at last gave way, and George Hotspur did go to Goodwood.</p> + +<p>With the success or failure of his book on that occasion our story is +not concerned. He was still more flush of cash than usual, having +something left of his cousin's generous present. At any rate, he came +to no signal ruin at the races, and left London for Castle Corry on +the 10th of August without any known diminution to his prospects. At +that time the Hotspurs were at Humblethwaite with a party; but it had +been already decided that George should not prepare to make his visit +till September. He was to write from Castle Corry. All that had been +arranged between him and the Countess, and from Castle Corry he did +<span class="nowrap">write:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dear Lady Elizabeth</span>,—Sir +Harry was kind enough to say +last winter that I might come to Humblethwaite again this +autumn. Will you be able to take me in on the 2nd +September? we have about finished with Altringham's house, +and Lady A. has had enough of me. They remain here till +the end of this month. With kind regards to Sir Harry and +Emily,</p> + +<p class="ind8">Believe me, yours always,</p> + +<p class="ind15"><span class="smallcaps">George Hotspur</span>.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>Nothing could be simpler than this note, and yet every word of it had +been weighed and dictated by Lady Altringham. "That won't do at all. +You mustn't seem to be so eager," she had said, when he showed her +the letter as prepared by himself. "Just write as you would do if you +were coming here." Then she sat down, and made the copy for him.</p> + +<p>There was very great doubt and there was much deliberation over that +note at Humblethwaite. The invitation had doubtless been given, and +Sir Harry did not wish to turn against his own flesh and blood,—to +deny admittance to his house to the man who was the heir to his +title. Were he to do so, he must give some reason; he must declare +some quarrel; he must say boldly that all intercourse between them +was to be at an end; and he must inform Cousin George that this +strong step was taken because Cousin George was a—blackguard! There +was no other way of escape left. And then Cousin George had done +nothing since the days of the London intimacies to warrant such +treatment; he had at least done nothing to warrant such treatment at +the hands of Sir Harry. And yet Sir Harry thoroughly wished that his +cousin was at Jerusalem. He still vacillated, but his vacillation did +not bring him nearer to his cousin's side of the case. Every little +thing that he saw and heard made him know that his cousin was a man +to whom he could not give his daughter even for the sake of the +family, without abandoning his duty to his child. At this moment, +while he was considering George's letter, it was quite clear to him +that George should not be his son-in-law; and yet the fact that the +property and the title might be brought together was not absent from +his mind when he gave his final assent. "I don't suppose she cares +for him," he said to his wife.</p> + +<p>"She's not in love with him, if you mean that."</p> + +<p>"What else should I mean?" he said, crossly.</p> + +<p>"She may learn to be in love with him."</p> + +<p>"She had better not. She must be told. He may come for a week. I +won't have him here for longer. Write to him and say that we shall be +happy to have him from the second to the ninth. Emily must be told +that I disapprove of him, but that I can't avoid opening my house to +him."</p> + +<p>These were the most severe words he had ever spoken about Cousin +George, but then the occasion had become very critical. Lady +Elizabeth's reply was as +<span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">My dear Cousin +George</span>,—Sir Harry and I will be very happy +to have you on the second, as you propose, and hope you +will stay till the eleventh.</p> + +<p class="ind8">Yours sincerely,</p> + +<p class="ind12"><span class="smallcaps">Elizabeth Hotspur</span>.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>He was to come on a Saturday, but she did not like to tell him to go +on a Saturday, because of the following day. Where could the poor +fellow be on the Sunday? She therefore stretched her invitation for +two days beyond the period sanctioned by Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"It's not very gracious," said George, as he showed the note to Lady +Altringham.</p> + +<p>"I don't like it the less on that account. It shows that they're +afraid about her, and they wouldn't be afraid without cause."</p> + +<p>"There is not much of that, I fancy."</p> + +<p>"They oughtn't to have a chance against you,—not if you play your +game well. Even in ordinary cases the fathers and mothers are beaten +by the lovers nine times out of ten. It is only when the men are oafs +and louts that they are driven off. But with you, with your +cousinship, and half-heirship, and all your practice, and the family +likeness, and the rest of it, if you only take a little +<span class="nowrap">trouble—"</span></p> + +<p>"I'll take any amount of trouble."</p> + +<p>"No, you won't. You'll deny yourself nothing, and go through no +ordeal that is disagreeable to you. I don't suppose your things are a +bit better arranged in London than they were in the spring." She +looked at him as though waiting for an answer, but he was silent. +"It's too late for anything of that kind now, but still you may do +very much. Make up your mind to this, that you'll ask Miss Hotspur to +be your wife before you leave—what's the name of the place?"</p> + +<p>"I have quite made up my mind to that, Lady Altringham."</p> + +<p>"As to the manner of doing it, I don't suppose that I can teach you +anything."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that."</p> + +<p>"At any rate I shan't try. Only remember this. Get her to promise to +be firm, and then go at once to Sir Harry. Don't let there be an +appearance of doubt in speaking to him. And if he tells you of the +property,—angrily I mean,—then do you tell him of the title. Make +him understand that you give as much as you get. I don't suppose he +will yield at first. Why should he? You are not the very best young +man about town, you know. But if you get her, he must follow. She +looks like one that would stick to it, if she once had said it."</p> + +<p>Thus prompted George Hotspur went from Castle Corry to Humblethwaite. +I wonder whether he was aware of the extent of the friendship of his +friend, and whether he ever considered why it was that such a woman +should be so anxious to assist him in making his fortune, let it be +at what cost it might to others! Lady Altringham was not the least in +love with Captain Hotspur, was bound to him by no tie whatsoever, +would suffer no loss in the world should Cousin George come to utter +and incurable ruin; but she was a woman of energy, and, as she liked +the man, she was zealous in his friendship.</p> + + +<p><a name="c8" id="c8"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> +<h4>AIREY FORCE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Lady Elizabeth had been instructed by Sir Harry to warn her daughter +not to fall in love with Cousin George during his visit to +Humblethwaite; and Lady Elizabeth was, as a wife, accustomed to obey +her husband in all things. But obedience in this matter was very +difficult. Such a caution as that received is not easily given even +between a mother and a child, and is especially difficult when the +mother is unconsciously aware of her child's superiority to herself. +Emily was in all respects the bigger woman of the two, and was sure +to get the best of it in any such cautioning. It is so hard to have +to bid a girl, and a good girl too, not to fall in love with a +particular man! There is left among us at any rate so much of reserve +and assumed delicacy as to require us to consider, or pretend to +consider on the girl's behalf, that of course she won't fall in love. +We know that she will, sooner or later; and probably as much sooner +as opportunity may offer. That is our experience of the genus girl in +the general; and we quite approve of her for her readiness to do so. +It is, indeed, her nature; and the propensity has been planted in her +for wise purposes. But as to this or that special sample of the genus +girl, in reference to this or that special sample of the genus young +man, we always feel ourselves bound to take it as a matter of course +that there can be nothing of the kind, till the thing is done. Any +caution on the matter is therefore difficult and disagreeable, as +conveying almost an insult. Mothers in well-regulated families do not +caution their daughters in reference to special young men. But Lady +Elizabeth had been desired by her husband to give the caution, and +must in some sort obey the instruction. Two days before George's +arrival she endeavoured to do as she was told; not with the most +signal success.</p> + +<p>"Your Cousin George is coming on Saturday."</p> + +<p>"So I heard Papa say."</p> + +<p>"Your Papa gave him a sort of invitation when he was here last time, +and so he has proposed himself."</p> + +<p>"Why should not he? It seems very natural. He is the nearest relation +we have got, and we all like him."</p> + +<p>"I don't think your Papa does like him."</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"What I mean is your Papa doesn't approve of him. He goes to races, +and bets, and all that kind of thing. And then your Papa thinks that +he's over head and ears in debt."</p> + +<p>"I don't know anything about his debts. As for his going to races, I +believe he has given them up. I am sure he would if he were asked." +Then there was a pause, for Lady Elizabeth hardly knew how to +pronounce her caution. "Why shouldn't Papa pay his debts?"</p> + +<p>"My dear!"</p> + +<p>"Well, Mamma, why shouldn't he? And why shouldn't Papa let him have +the property; I mean, leave it to him instead of to me?"</p> + +<p>"If your brother had lived—"</p> + +<p>"He didn't live, Mamma. That has been our great misfortune. But so it +is; and why shouldn't George be allowed to take his place? I'm sure +it would be for the best. Papa thinks so much about the name, and the +family, and all that."</p> + +<p>"My dear, you must leave him to do as he thinks fit in all such +matters. You may be sure that he will do what he believes to be his +duty. What I was going to say was +<span class="nowrap">this—"</span> And, instead of saying it, +Lady Elizabeth still hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I know what you want to say, Mamma, just as well as though the words +were out of your mouth. You want to make me to understand that George +is a black sheep."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he is."</p> + +<p>"But black sheep are not like blackamoors; they may be washed white. +You said so yourself the other day."</p> + +<p>"Did I, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly you did; and certainly they may. Why, Mamma, what is all +religion but the washing of black sheep white; making the black a +little less black, scraping a spot white here and there?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid your Cousin George is beyond washing."</p> + +<p>"Then Mamma, all I can say is, he oughtn't to come here. Mind, I +think you wrong him. I daresay he has been giddy and fond of +pleasure; but if he is so bad as you say, Papa should tell him at +once not to come. As far as I am concerned, I don't believe he is so +bad; and I shall be glad to see him."</p> + +<p>There was no cautioning a young woman who could reason in this way, +and who could look at her mother as Emily looked. It was not, at +least, within the power of Lady Elizabeth to do so. And yet she could +not tell Sir Harry of her failure. She thought that she had expressed +the caution; and she thought also that her daughter would be wise +enough to be guided,—not by her mother's wisdom, but by the words of +her father. Poor dear woman! She was thinking of it every hour of the +day; but she said nothing more on the subject, either to her daughter +or to Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>The black sheep came, and made one of a number of numerous visitors. +It had been felt that the danger would be less among a multitude; and +there was present a very excellent young man, as to whom there were +hopes. Steps had not been taken about this excellent young man as had +been done in reference to Lord Alfred; but still there were hopes. He +was the eldest son of a Lincolnshire squire, a man of fair property +and undoubted family; but who, it was thought, would not object to +merge the name of Thoresby in that of Hotspur. Nothing came of the +young man, who was bashful, and to whom Miss Hotspur certainly gave +no entertainment of a nature to remove his bashfulness. But when the +day for George's coming had been fixed, Sir Harry thought it +expedient to write to young Thoresby and accelerate a visit which had +been previously proposed. Sir Harry as he did so almost hated himself +for his anxiety to dispose of his daughter. He was a gentleman, every +inch of him; and he thoroughly desired to do his duty. He knew, +however, that there was much in his feelings of which he could not +but be ashamed. And yet, if something were not done to assist his +girl in a right disposal of all that she had to bestow with her hand, +how was it probable that it could be disposed aright?</p> + +<p>The black sheep came, and found young Thoresby and some dozen other +strangers in the house. He smiled upon them all, and before the first +evening was over had made himself the popular man of the house. Sir +Harry, like a fool as he was, had given his cousin only two fingers, +and had looked black at their first meeting. Nothing could be gained +by conduct such as that with such a guest. Before the gentlemen left +the dinner-table on the first day even he had smiled and joked and +had asked questions about "Altringham's mountains." "The worst of you +fellows who go to Scotland is that you care nothing for real sport +when you come down south afterwards." All this conversation about +Lord Altringham's grouse and the Scotch mountains helped George +Hotspur, so that when he went into the drawing-room he was in the +ascendant. Many men have learned the value of such ascendancy, and +most men have known the want of it.</p> + +<p>Poor Lady Elizabeth had not a chance with Cousin George. She +succumbed to him at once, not knowing why, but feeling that she +herself became bright, amusing, and happy when talking to him. She +was a woman not given to familiarities; but she did become familiar +with him, allowing him little liberties of expression which no other +man would take with her, and putting them all down to the score of +cousinhood. He might be a black sheep. She feared there could be but +little doubt that he was one. But, from her worsted-work up to the +demerits of her dearest friend, he did know how to talk better than +any other young man she knew. To Emily, on that first evening, he +said very little. When he first met her he had pressed her hand, and +looked into her eyes, and smiled on her with a smile so sweet that it +was as though a god had smiled on her. She had made up her mind that +he should be nothing to her,—nothing beyond a dear cousin; +nevertheless, her eye had watched him during the whole hour of +dinner, and, not knowing that it was so, she had waited for his +coming to them in the evening. Heavens and earth! what an oaf was +that young Thoresby as the two stood together near the door! She did +not want her cousin to come and talk to her, but she listened and +laughed within herself as she saw how pleased was her mother by the +attentions of the black sheep.</p> + +<p>One word Cousin George did say to Emily Hotspur that night, just as +the ladies were leaving the room. It was said in a whisper, with a +little laugh, with that air of half joke half earnest which may be so +efficacious in conversation: "I did not go to Goodwood, after all."</p> + +<p>She raised her eyes to his for a quarter of a second, thanking him +for his goodness in refraining. "I don't believe that he is really a +black sheep at all," she said to herself that night, as she laid her +head upon her pillow.</p> + +<p>After all, the devil fights under great disadvantages, and has to +carry weights in all his races which are almost unfair. He lies as a +matter of course, believing thoroughly in lies, thinking that it is +by lies chiefly that he must make his running good; and yet every lie +he tells, after it has been told and used, remains as an additional +weight to be carried. When you have used your lie gracefully and +successfully, it is hard to bury it and get it well out of sight. It +crops up here and there against you, requiring more lies; and at +last, too often, has to be admitted as a lie, most usually so +admitted in silence, but still admitted,—to be forgiven or not, +according to the circumstances of the case. The most perfect +forgiveness is that which is extended to him who is known to lie in +everything. The man has to be taken, lies and all, as a man is taken +with a squint, or a harelip, or a bad temper. He has an uphill game +to fight, but when once well known, he does not fall into the +difficulty of being believed.</p> + +<p>George Hotspur's lie was believed. To our readers it may appear to +have been most gratuitous, unnecessary, and inexpedient. The girl +would not have quarrelled with him for going to the races,—would +never have asked anything about it. But George knew that he must make +his running. It would not suffice that she should not quarrel with +him. He had to win her, and it came so natural to him to lie! And the +lie was efficacious; she was glad to know that he stayed away from +the races—for her sake. Had it not been for her sake? She would not +bid him stay away, but she was so glad that he had stayed! The lie +was very useful;—if it only could have been buried and put out of +sight when used!</p> + +<p>There was partridge-shooting for four days; not good shooting, but +work which carried the men far from home, and enabled Sir Harry to +look after his cousin. George, so looked after, did not dare to say +that on any day he would shirk the shooting. But Sir Harry, as he +watched his cousin, gradually lost his keenness for watching him. +Might it not be best that he should let matters arrange themselves? +This young squire from Lincolnshire was evidently an oaf. Sir Harry +could not even cherish a hope on that side. His girl was very good, +and she had been told, and the work of watching went so much against +the grain with him! And then, added to it all, was the remembrance +that if the worst came to the worst, the title and property would be +kept together. George Hotspur might have fought his fight, we think, +without the aid of his lie.</p> + +<p>On the Friday the party was to some extent broken up. The oaf and +sundry other persons went away. Sir Harry had thought that the cousin +would go on the Saturday, and had been angry with his wife because +his orders on that head had not been implicitly obeyed. But when the +Friday came, and George offered to go in with him to Penrith, to hear +some case of fish-poaching which was to be brought before the +magistrates, he had forgiven the offence. George had a great deal to +say about fish, and then went on to say a good deal about himself. If +he could only get some employment, a farm, say, where he might have +hunting, how good it would be! For he did not pretend to any virtuous +abnegation of the pleasures of the world, but was willing,—so he +said,—to add to them some little attempt to earn his own bread. On +this day Sir Harry liked his cousin better than he had ever done +before, though he did not even then place the least confidence in his +cousin's sincerity as to the farm and the earning of bread.</p> + +<p>On their return to the Hall on Friday they found that a party had +been made to go to Ulleswater on the Saturday. A certain Mrs. +Fitzpatrick was staying in the house, who had never seen the lake, +and the carriage was to take them to Airey Force. Airey Force, as +everybody knows, is a waterfall near to the shores of the lake, and +is the great lion of the Lake scenery on that side of the mountains. +The waterfall was full fifteen miles from Humblethwaite, but the +distance had been done before, and could be done again. Emily, Mrs. +Fitzpatrick, and two other young ladies were to go. Mr. Fitzpatrick +would sit on the box. There was a youth there also who had left +school and not yet gone to college. He was to be allowed to drive a +dog-cart. Of course George Hotspur was ready to go in the dog-cart +with him.</p> + +<p>George had determined from the commencement of his visit, when he +began to foresee that this Saturday would be more at his command than +any other day, that on this Saturday he would make or mar his fortune +for life. He had perceived that his cousin was cautious with him, +that he would be allowed but little scope for love-making, that she +was in some sort afraid of him; but he perceived also that in a quiet +undemonstrative way she was very gracious to him. She never ignored +him, as young ladies will sometimes ignore young men, but thought of +him even in his absence, and was solicitous for his comfort. He was +clever enough to read little signs, and was sure at any rate that she +liked him.</p> + +<p>"Why did you not postpone the party till George was gone?" Sir Harry +said to his wife.</p> + +<p>"The Fitzpatricks also go on Monday," she answered, "and we could not +refuse them."</p> + +<p>Then again it occurred to Sir Harry that life would not be worth +having if he was to be afraid to allow his daughter to go to a picnic +in company with her cousin.</p> + +<p>There is a bridge across the water at the top of Airey Force, which +is perhaps one of the prettiest spots in the whole of our Lake +country. The entire party on their arrival of course went up to the +bridge, and then the entire party of course descended. How it +happened that in the course of the afternoon George and Emily were +there again, and were there unattended, who can tell? If she had +meant to be cautious, she must very much have changed her plans in +allowing herself to be led thither. And as he stood there, with no +eye resting on them, his arm was round her waist and she was pressed +to his side.</p> + +<p>"Dearest, dearest," he said, "may I believe that you love me?"</p> + +<p>"I have said so. You may believe it if you will."</p> + +<p>She did not attempt to make the distance greater between them. She +leant against him willingly.</p> + +<p>"Dear George, I do love you. My choice has been made. I have to trust +to you for everything."</p> + +<p>"You shall never trust in vain," he said.</p> + +<p>"You must reform, you know," she said, turning round and looking up +into his face with a smile. "They say that you have been wild. You +must not be wild any more, sir."</p> + +<p>"I will reform. I have reformed. I say it boldly; I have become an +altered man since I knew you. I have lived with one hope, and even +the hope alone has changed me. Now I have got all that I have hoped +for. Oh, Emily, I wish you knew how much I love you!"</p> + +<p>They were there on the bridge, or roaming together alone among the +woods, for nearly an hour after that, till Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who knew +the value of the prize and the nature of the man, began to fear that +she had been remiss in her duty as chaperon. As Emily came down and +joined the party at last, she was perfectly regardless either of +their frowns or smiles. There had been one last compact made between +the lovers.</p> + +<p>"George," she had said, "whatever it may cost us, let there be no +secrets."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," he replied.</p> + +<p>"I will tell Mamma to-night; and you must tell Papa. You will promise +me?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. It is what I should insist on doing myself. I could not +stay in his house under other circumstances. But you too must promise +me one thing, Emily."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"You will be true to me, even though he should refuse his consent?"</p> + +<p>She paused before she answered him.</p> + +<p>"I will be true to you. I cannot be otherwise than true to you. My +love was a thing to give, but when given I cannot take it back. I +will be true to you, but of course we cannot be married unless Papa +consents."</p> + +<p>He urged her no further. He was too wise to think it possible that he +could do so without injuring his cause. Then they found the others, +and Emily made her apologies to Mrs. Fitzpatrick for the delay with a +quiet dignity that struck her Cousin George almost with awe. How had +it been that such a one as he had won so great a creature?</p> + +<p>George, as he was driven home by his young companion, was full of +joyous chatter and light small talk. He had done a good stroke of +business, and was happy. If only the Baronet could be brought round, +all the troubles which had enveloped him since a beard had first +begun to grow on his chin would disappear as a mist beneath the full +rays of the sun; or even if there still might be a trouble or +two,—and as he thought of his prospects he remembered that they +could not all be made to disappear in the mist fashion,—there would +be that which would gild the clouds. At any rate he had done a good +stroke of business. And he loved the girl too. He thought that of all +the girls he had seen about town, or about the country either, she +was the bonniest and the brightest and the most clever. It might well +have been that a poor devil like he in search of an heiress might +have been forced to put up with personal disadvantages,—with age, +with plain looks, with vulgar manners, with low birth; but here, so +excellent was his fortune, there was everything which fortune could +give! Love her? Of course he loved her. He would do anything on earth +for her. And how jolly they would be together when they got hold of +their share of that £20,000 a year! And how jolly it would be to owe +nothing to anybody! As he thought of this, however, there came upon +him the reminiscence of a certain Captain Stubber, and the further +reminiscence of a certain Mr. Abraham Hart, with both of whom he had +dealings; and he told himself that it would behove him to call up all +his pluck when discussing those gentlemen and their dealings, with +the Baronet. He was sure that the Baronet would not like Captain +Stubber nor Mr. Hart, and that a good deal of pluck would be needed. +But on the whole he had done a great stroke of business; and, as a +consequence of his success, talked and chatted all the way home, till +the youth who was driving him thought that George was about the +nicest fellow that he had ever met.</p> + +<p>Emily Hotspur, as she took her place in the carriage, was very +silent. She also had much of which to think, much on which—as she +dreamed—to congratulate herself. But she could not think of it and +talk at the same time. She had made her little apology with graceful +ease. She had just smiled,—but the smile was almost a rebuke,—when +one of her companions had ventured on the beginning of some little +joke as to her company, and then she had led the way to the carriage. +Mrs. Fitzpatrick and the two girls were nothing to her now, let them +suspect what they choose or say what they might. She had given +herself away, and she triumphed in the surrender. The spot on which +he had told her of his love should be sacred to her for ever. It was +a joy to her that it was near to her own home, the home that she +would give to him, so that she might go there with him again and +again. She had very much to consider and to remember. A black sheep! +No! Of all the flock he should be the least black. It might be that +in the energy of his pleasures he had exceeded other men, as he did +exceed all other men in everything that he did and said. Who was so +clever? who so bright? who so handsome, so full of poetry and of +manly grace? How sweet was his voice, how fine his gait, how gracious +his smile! And then in his brow there was that look of command which +she had ever recognized in her father's face as belonging to his race +as a Hotspur,—only added to it was a godlike beauty which her father +never could have possessed.</p> + +<p>She did not conceal from herself that there might be trouble with her +father. And yet she was not sure but that upon the whole he would be +pleased after a while. Humblethwaite and the family honours would +still go together, if he would sanction this marriage; and she knew +how he longed in his heart that it might be so. For a time probably +he might be averse to her prayers. Should it be so, she would simply +give him her word that she would never during his lifetime marry +without his permission,—and then she would be true to her troth. As +to her truth in that respect there could be no doubt. She had given +her word; and that, for a Hotspur, must be enough.</p> + +<p>She could not talk as she thought of all this, and therefore had +hardly spoken when George appeared at the carriage door to give the +ladies a hand as they came into the house. To her he was able to give +one gentle pressure as she passed on; but she did not speak to him, +nor was it necessary that she should do so. Had not everything been +said already?</p> + + +<p><a name="c9" id="c9"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> +<h4>"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE."<br /> </h4> + + +<p>The scene which took place that night between the mother and daughter +may be easily conceived. Emily told her tale, and told it in a manner +which left no doubt of her persistency. She certainly meant it. Lady +Elizabeth had almost expected it. There are evils which may come or +may not; but as to which, though we tell ourselves that they may +still be avoided, we are inwardly almost sure that they will come. +Such an evil in the mind of Lady Elizabeth had been Cousin George. +Not but what she herself would have liked him for a son-in-law had it +not been so certain that he was a black sheep.</p> + +<p>"Your father will never consent to it, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Of course, Mamma, I shall do nothing unless he does."</p> + +<p>"You will have to give him up."</p> + +<p>"No, Mamma, not that; that is beyond what Papa can demand of me. I +shall not give him up, but I certainly shall not marry him without +Papa's consent, or yours."</p> + +<p>"Nor see him?"</p> + +<p>"Well; if he does not come I cannot see him."</p> + +<p>"Nor correspond with him?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, if Papa forbids it."</p> + +<p>After that, Lady Elizabeth did give way to a considerable extent. She +did not tell her daughter that she considered it at all probable that +Sir Harry would yield; but she made it to be understood that she +herself would do so if Sir Harry would be persuaded. And she +acknowledged that the amount of obedience promised by Emily was all +that could be expected. "But, Mamma," said Emily, before she left her +mother, "do you not know that you love him yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Love is such a strong word, my dear."</p> + +<p>"It is not half strong enough," said Emily, pressing her two hands +together. "But you do, Mamma?"</p> + +<p>"I think he is very agreeable, certainly."</p> + +<p>"And handsome?—only that goes for nothing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is a fine-looking man."</p> + +<p>"And clever? I don't know how it is; let there be who there may in +the room, he is always the best talker."</p> + +<p>"He knows how to talk, certainly."</p> + +<p>"And, Mamma, don't you think that there is a something,—I don't know +what,—something not at all like other men about him that compels one +to love him? Oh, Mamma, do say something nice to me! To me he is +everything that a man should be."</p> + +<p>"I wish he were, my dear."</p> + +<p>"As for the sort of life he has been leading, spending more money +than he ought, and all that kind of thing, he has promised to reform +it altogether; and he is doing it now. At any rate, you must admit, +Mamma, that he is not false."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Why do you speak in that way, Mamma? Does he talk like a man that is +false? Have you ever known him to be false? Don't be prejudiced, +Mamma, at any rate."</p> + +<p>The reader will understand that when the daughter had brought her +mother as far as this, the elder lady was compelled to say "something +nice" at last. At any rate there was a loving embrace between them, +and an understanding that the mother would not exaggerate the +difficulties of the position either by speech or word.</p> + +<p>"Of course you will have to see your papa to-morrow morning," Lady +Elizabeth said.</p> + +<p>"George will tell him everything to-night," said Emily. She as she +went to her bed did not doubt but what the difficulties would melt. +Luckily for her,—so luckily!—it happened that her lover possessed +by his very birth a right which, beyond all other possessions, would +recommend him to her father. And then had not the man himself all +natural good gifts to recommend him? Of course he had not money or +property, but she had, or would have, property; and of all men alive +her father was the least disposed to be greedy. As she half thought +of it and half dreamt of it in her last waking moments of that +important day, she was almost altogether happy. It was so sweet to +know that she possessed the love of him whom she loved better than +all the world beside.</p> + +<p>Cousin George did not have quite so good a time of it that night. The +first thing he did on his return from Ulleswater to Humblethwaite was +to write a line to his friend Lady Altringham. This had been +promised, and he did so before he had seen Sir Harry.<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dear Lady +A</span>.—I have been successful with my younger +cousin. She is the bonniest, and the best, and the +brightest girl that ever lived, and I am the happiest +fellow. But I have not as yet seen the Baronet. I am to do +so to-night, and will report progress to-morrow. I doubt I +shan't find him so bonny and so good and so bright. But, +as you say, the young birds ought to be too strong for the +old ones.—Yours most sincerely,</p> + +<p class="ind15">G. H.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>This was written while he was dressing, and was put into the +letter-box by himself as he came downstairs. It was presumed that the +party had dined at the Falls; but there was "a tea" prepared for them +on an extensive scale. Sir Harry, suspecting nothing, was happy and +almost jovial with Mr. Fitzpatrick and the two young ladies. Emily +said hardly a word. Lady Elizabeth, who had not as yet been told, but +already suspected something, was very anxious. George was voluble, +witty, and perhaps a little too loud. But as the lad who was going to +Oxford, and who had drank a good deal of champagne and was now +drinking sherry, was loud also, George's manner was not specially +observed. It was past ten before they got up from the table, and +nearly eleven before George was able to whisper a word to the +Baronet. He almost shirked it for that night, and would have done so +had he not remembered how necessary it was that Emily should know +that his pluck was good. Of course she would be asked to abandon him. +Of course she would be told that it was her duty to give him up. Of +course she would give him up unless he could get such a hold upon her +heart as to make her doing so impossible to her. She would have to +learn that he was an unprincipled spendthrift,—nay worse than that, +as he hardly scrupled to tell himself. But he need not weight his own +character with the further burden of cowardice. The Baronet could not +eat him, and he would not be afraid of the Baronet. "Sir Harry," he +whispered, "could you give me a minute or two before we go to bed?" +Sir Harry started as though he had been stung, and looked his cousin +sharply in the face without answering him. George kept his +countenance, and smiled.</p> + +<p>"I won't keep you long," he said.</p> + +<p>"You had better come to my room," said Sir Harry, gruffly, and led +the way into his own sanctum. When there, he sat down in his +accustomed arm-chair without offering George a seat, but George soon +found a seat for himself. "And now what is it?" said Sir Harry, with +his blackest frown.</p> + +<p>"I have asked my cousin to be my wife."</p> + +<p>"What! Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Emily; and she has consented. I now ask for your approval." We +must give Cousin George his due, and acknowledge that he made his +little request exactly as he would have done had he been master of +ten thousand a year of his own, quite unencumbered.</p> + +<p>"What right had you, sir, to speak to her without coming to me +first?"</p> + +<p>"One always does, I think, go to the girl first," said George.</p> + +<p>"You have disgraced yourself, sir, and outraged my hospitality. You +are no gentleman!"</p> + +<p>"Sir Harry, that is strong language."</p> + +<p>"Strong! Of course it is strong. I mean it to be strong. I shall make +it stronger yet if you attempt to say another word to her."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Sir Harry, I am bound to bear a good deal from you, but I +have a right to explain."</p> + +<p>"You have a right, sir, to go away from this, and go away you shall."</p> + +<p>"Sir Harry, you have told me that I am not a gentleman."</p> + +<p>"You have abused my kindness to you. What right have you, who have +not a shilling in the world, to speak to my daughter? I won't have +it, and let that be an end of it. I won't have it. And I must desire +that you will leave Humblethwaite to-morrow. I won't have it."</p> + +<p>"It is quite true that I have not a shilling."</p> + +<p>"Then what business have you to speak to my daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Because I have that which is worth many shillings, and which you +value above all your property. I am the heir to your name and title. +When you are gone, I must be the head of this family. I do not in the +least quarrel with you for choosing to leave your property to your +own child, but I have done the best I could to keep the property and +the title together. I love my cousin."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in your love, sir."</p> + +<p>"If that is all, I do not doubt but that I can satisfy you."</p> + +<p>"It is not all; and it is not half all. And it isn't because you are +a pauper. You know it all as well as I do, without my telling you, +but you drive me to tell you."</p> + +<p>"Know what, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Though you hadn't a shilling, you should have had her if you could +win her,—had your life been even fairly decent. The title must go to +you,—worse luck for the family. You can talk well enough, and what +you say is true. I would wish that they should go together."</p> + +<p>"Of course it will be better."</p> + +<p>"But, sir,—" then Sir Henry paused.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"You oblige me to speak out. You are such a one, that I do not dare +to let you have my child. Your life is so bad, that I should not be +justified in doing so for any family purpose. You would break her +heart."</p> + +<p>"You wrong me there, altogether."</p> + +<p>"You are a gambler."</p> + +<p>"I have been, Sir Harry."</p> + +<p>"And a spendthrift?"</p> + +<p>"Well—yes; as long as I had little or nothing to spend."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are over head and ears in debt now, in spite of the +assistance you have had from me within twelve months."</p> + +<p>Cousin George remembered the advice which had been given him, that he +should conceal nothing from his cousin. "I do owe some money +certainly," he said.</p> + +<p>"And how do you mean to pay it?"</p> + +<p>"Well—if I marry Emily, I suppose that—you will pay it."</p> + +<p>"That's cool, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"What can I say, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"I would pay it all, though it were to half the +<span class="nowrap">property—"</span></p> + +<p>"Less than a year's income would clear off every shilling I owe, Sir +Harry."</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, sir. Though it were ten years' income, I would pay it +all, if I thought that the rest would be kept with the title, and +that my girl would be happy."</p> + +<p>"I will make her happy."</p> + +<p>"But, sir, it is not only that you are a gambler and spendthrift, and +an unprincipled debtor without even a thought of paying. You are +worse than this. There;—I am not going to call you names. I know +what you are, and you shall not have my daughter."</p> + +<p>George Hotspur found himself compelled to think for a few moments +before he could answer a charge so vague, and yet, as he knew, so +well founded. Nevertheless he felt that he was progressing. His debts +would not stand in his way, if only he could make this rich father +believe that in other matters his daughter would not be endangered by +the marriage. "I don't quite know what you mean, Sir Harry. I am not +going to defend myself. I have done much of which I am ashamed. I was +turned very young upon the world, and got to live with rich people +when I was myself poor. I ought to have withstood the temptation, but +I didn't, and I got into bad hands. I don't deny it. There is a +horrid Jew has bills of mine now."</p> + +<p>"What have you done with that five thousand pounds?"</p> + +<p>"He had half of it; and I had to settle for the last Leger, which +went against me."</p> + +<p>"It is all gone?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty nearly. I don't pretend but what I have been very reckless as +to money; I am ready to tell you the truth about everything. I don't +say that I deserve her; but I do say this,—that I should not have +thought of winning her, in my position, had it not been for the +title. Having that in my favour I do not think that I was misbehaving +to you in proposing to her. If you will trust me now, I will be as +grateful and obedient a son as any man ever had."</p> + +<p>He had pleaded his cause well, and he knew it. Sir Harry also felt +that his cousin had made a better case than he would have believed to +be possible. He was quite sure that the man was a scamp, utterly +untrustworthy, and yet the man's pleading for himself had been +efficacious. He sat silent for full five minutes before he spoke +again, and then he gave judgment as follows: "You will go away +without seeing her to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"If you wish it."</p> + +<p>"And you will not write to her."</p> + +<p>"Only a line."</p> + +<p>"Not a word," said Sir Harry, imperiously.</p> + +<p>"Only a line, which I will give open to you. You can do with it as +you please."</p> + +<p>"And as you have forced upon me the necessity, I shall make inquiries +in London as to your past life. I have heard things which perhaps may +be untrue."</p> + +<p>"What things, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"I shall not demean myself or injure you by repeating them, unless I +find cause to believe they are true. I do believe that the result +will be such as to make me feel that in justice to my girl I cannot +allow you to become her husband. I tell you so fairly. Should the +debts you owe be simple debts, not dishonourably contracted, I will +pay them."</p> + +<p>"And then she shall be mine?"</p> + +<p>"I will make no such promise. You had better go now. You can have the +carriage to Penrith as early as you please in the morning; or to +Carlisle if you choose to go north. I will make your excuses to Lady +Elizabeth. Good night."</p> + +<p>Cousin George stood for a second in doubt, and then shook hands with +the Baronet. He reached Penrith the next morning soon after ten, and +breakfasted alone at the hotel.</p> + +<p>There were but very few words spoken on the occasion between the +father and daughter, but Emily did succeed in learning pretty nearly +the truth of what had taken place. On the Monday her mother gave her +the following <span class="nowrap">note:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dearest</span>,—At +your father's bidding, I have gone suddenly. +You will understand why I have done so. I shall try to do +just as he would have me; but you will, I know, be quite +sure that I should never give you up.—Yours for ever and +ever,</p> + +<p class="ind15">G. H.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The father had thought much of it, and at last had determined that +Emily should have the letter.</p> + +<p>In the course of the week there came other guests to Humblethwaite, +and it so chanced that there was a lady who knew the Altringhams, who +had unfortunately met the Altringhams at Goodwood, and who, most +unfortunately, stated in Emily's hearing that she had seen George +Hotspur at Goodwood.</p> + +<p>"He was not there," said Emily, quite boldly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; with the Altringhams, as usual. He is always with them at +Goodwood."</p> + +<p>"He was not at the last meeting," said Emily, smiling.</p> + +<p>The lady said nothing till her lord was present, and then appealed to +him. "Frank, didn't you see George Hotspur with the Altringhams at +Goodwood, last July?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure I did, and lost a pony to him on Eros."</p> + +<p>The lady looked at Emily, who said nothing further; but she was still +quite convinced that George Hotspur had not been at those Goodwood +races.</p> + +<p>It is so hard, when you have used a lie commodiously, to bury it, and +get well rid of it.</p> + + +<p><a name="c10" id="c10"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> +<h4>MR. HART AND CAPTAIN STUBBER.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>When George Hotspur left Humblethwaite, turned out of the house by +the angry Baronet early in the morning,—as the reader will +remember,—he was at his own desire driven to Penrith, choosing to go +south rather than north. He had doubted for a while as to his +immediate destination. The Altringhams were still at Castle Corry, +and he might have received great comfort from her ladyship's advice +and encouragement. But, intimate as he was with the Altringhams, he +did not dare to take a liberty with the Earl. A certain allowance of +splendid hospitality at Castle Corry was at his disposal every year, +and Lord Altringham always welcomed him with thorough kindness. But +George Hotspur had in some fashion been made to understand that he +was not to overstay his time; and he was quite aware that the Earl +could be very disagreeable upon occasions. There was a something in +the Earl of which George was afraid; and, to tell the truth, he did +not dare to go back to Castle Corry. And then, might it not be well +for him to make immediate preparation in London for those inquiries +respecting his debts and his character which Sir Harry had decided to +make? It would be very difficult for him to make any preparation that +could lead to a good result; but if no preparation were made, the +result would be very bad indeed. It might perhaps be possible to do +something with Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber. He had no other +immediate engagements. In October he was due to shoot pheasants with +a distinguished party in Norfolk, but this business which he had now +in hand was of so much importance that even the pheasant-shooting and +the distinguished party were not of much moment to him.</p> + +<p>He went to Penrith, and thence direct to London. It was the habit of +his life to give up his London lodgings when he left town at the end +of the season, and spare himself the expense of any home as long as +he could find friends to entertain him. There are certain items of +the cost of living for which the greatest proficient in the art of +tick must pay, or he will come to a speedy end;—and a man's lodging +is one of them. If indeed the spendthrift adapts himself to the +splendour of housekeeping, he may, provided his knowledge of his +business be complete, and his courage adequate, house himself +gloriously for a year or two with very small payment in ready money. +He may even buy a mansion with an incredibly small outlay, and, when +once in it, will not easily allow himself to be extruded. George +Hotspur, however, not from any want of knowledge or of audacity, but +from the nature of the life he chose to lead, had abstained from such +investment of his credit, and had paid for his lodgings in St. James' +Street. He was consequently houseless at the moment, and on his +arrival in London took himself to an hotel close behind the military +club to which he belonged.</p> + +<p>At this moment he was comparatively a rich man. He had between three +and four hundred pounds at a bank at which he kept an account when +possessed of funds. But demands upon him were very pressing, and +there was a certain Captain Stubber who was bitter against him, +almost to blood, because one Mr. Abraham Hart had received two +thousand pounds from the proceeds of Sir Harry's generosity. Captain +Stubber had not received a shilling, and had already threatened +Cousin George with absolute exposure if something were not done to +satisfy him.</p> + +<p>George, when he had ordered his dinner at his club, wrote the +following letter to Lady Altringham. He had intended to write from +Penrith in the morning, but when there had been out of sorts and +unhappy, and had disliked to confess, after his note of triumph +sounded on the previous evening, that he had been turned out of +Humblethwaite. He had got over that feeling during the day, with the +help of sundry glasses of sherry and a little mixed curaçoa and +brandy which he took immediately on his arrival in London,—and, so +supported, made a clean breast of it, as the reader shall see.<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dear Lady +A</span>., [he said]—Here I am, back in town, banished +from heaven. My darling, gentle, future papa-in-law gave +me to understand, when I told him the extent of my hopes +last night, that the outside of the park-gates at +Humblethwaite was the place for me; nevertheless he sent +me to Penrith with the family horses, and, taking it as a +whole, I think that my interview with him, although very +disagreeable, was not unsatisfactory. I told him +everything that I could tell him. He was kind enough to +call me a blackguard (!!!) because I had gone to Emily +without speaking to him first. On such occasions, however, +a man takes anything. I ventured to suggest that what I +had done was not unprecedented among young people, and +hinted that while he could make me the future master of +Humblethwaite, I could make my cousin the future Lady +Hotspur; and that in no other way could Humblethwaite and +the Hotspurs be kept together. It was wonderful how he +cooled down after a while, saying that he would pay all my +debts if he found them—satisfactory. I can only say that +I never found them so.</p> + +<p>It ended in this—that he is to make inquiry about me, and +that I am to have my cousin unless I am found out to be +very bad indeed. How or when the inquiries will be made I +do not know; but I am here to prepare for them.</p> + +<p class="ind8">Yours always most faithfully,</p> + +<p class="ind15">G. H.</p> + +<p>I do not like to ask Altringham to do anything for me. No +man ever had a kinder friend than I have had in him, and I +know he objects to meddle in the money matters of other +people. But if he could lend me his name for a thousand +pounds till I can get these things settled, I believe I +could get over every other difficulty. I should as a +matter of course include the amount in the list of debts +which I should give to Sir Harry; but the sum at once, +which I could raise on his name without trouble to him, +would enable me to satisfy the only creditor who will be +likely to do me real harm with Sir Harry. I think you will +understand all this, and will perceive how very material +the kindness to me may be; but if you think that +Altringham will be unwilling to do it, you had better not +show him this letter.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>It was the mixed curaçoa and brandy which gave George Hotspur the +courage to make the request contained in his postscript. He had not +intended to make it when he sat down to write, but as he wrote the +idea had struck him that if ever a man ought to use a friend this was +an occasion for doing so. If he could get a thousand pounds from Lord +Altringham, he might be able to stop Captain Stubber's mouth. He did +not believe that he should be successful, and he thought it probable +that Lord Altringham might express vehement displeasure. But the game +was worth the candle, and then he knew that he could trust the +Countess.</p> + +<p>London was very empty, and he passed a wretched evening at his club. +There were not men enough to make up a pool, and he was obliged to +content himself with a game of billiards with an old half-pay naval +captain, who never left London, and who would bet nothing beyond a +shilling on the game. The half-pay navy captain won four games, +thereby paying for his dinner, and then Cousin George went sulkily to +bed.</p> + +<p>He had come up to town expressly to see Captain Stubber and Mr. Hart, +and perhaps also to see another friend from whom some advice might be +had; but on the following morning he found himself very averse to +seeking any of these advisers. He had applied to Lady Altringham for +assistance, and he told himself that it would be wise to wait for her +answer. And yet he knew that it would not be wise to wait, as Sir +Harry would certainly be quick in making his promised inquiries. For +four days he hung about between his hotel and his club, and then he +got Lady Altringham's answer. We need only quote the passage which +had reference to George's special +<span class="nowrap">request:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Gustavus says that he will have nothing to do with money. +You know his feelings about it. And he says that it would +do no good. Whatever the debts are, tell them plainly to +Sir Harry. If this be some affair of play, as Gustavus +supposes, tell that to Sir Harry. Gustavus thinks that the +Baronet would without doubt pay any such debt which could +be settled or partly settled by a thousand pounds.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>"D——d heartless, selfish fellow! quite incapable of anything like +true friendship," said Cousin George to himself, when he read Lady +Altringham's letter.</p> + +<p>Now he must do something. Hitherto neither Stubber, nor Hart, nor the +other friend knew of his presence in London. Hart, though a Jew, was +much less distasteful to him than Captain Stubber, and to Mr. Abraham +Hart he went first.</p> + +<p>Mr. Abraham Hart was an attorney,—so called by himself and +friends,—living in a genteel street abutting on Gray's Inn Road, +with whose residence and place of business, all beneath the same +roof, George Hotspur was very well acquainted. Mr. Hart was a man in +the prime of life, with black hair and a black beard, and a new +shining hat, and a coat with a velvet collar and silk lining. He was +always dressed in the same way, and had never yet been seen by Cousin +George without his hat on his head. He was a pleasant-spoken, very +ignorant, smiling, jocose man, with a slightly Jewish accent, who +knew his business well, pursued it diligently, and considered himself +to have a clear conscience. He had certain limits of forbearance with +his customers—limits which were not narrow; but, when those were +passed, he would sell the bed from under a dying woman with her babe, +or bread from the mouth of a starving child. To do so was the +necessity of his trade,—for his own guidance in which he had made +laws. The breaking of those laws by himself would bring his trade to +an end, and therefore he declined to break them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hart was a man who attended to his business, and he was found at +home even in September. "Yes, Mr. 'Oshspur, it's about time something +was done now; ain't it?" said Mr. Hart, smiling pleasantly.</p> + +<p>Cousin George, also smiling, reminded his friend of the two thousand +pounds paid to him only a few months since. "Not a shilling was mine +of that, Captain 'Oshspur, not a brass fardin'. That was quite +neshesshary just then, as you know, Captain 'Oshspur, or the fat must +have been in the fire. And what's up now?"</p> + +<p>Not without considerable difficulty Cousin George explained to the +Jew gentleman what was "up." He probably assumed more inclination on +the part of Sir Harry for the match than he was justified in doing; +but was very urgent in explaining to Mr. Hart that when inquiry was +made on the part of Sir Harry as to the nature of the debt, the naked +truth should not be exactly told.</p> + +<p>"It was very bad, vasn't it, Captain 'Oshspur, having to divide with +that fellow Stubber the money from the 'Orse Guards? You vas too +clever for both of us there, Mr. 'Oshspur; veren't you now, Captain +'Oshspur? And I've two cheques still on my 'ands which is marked 'No +account!' 'No account' is very bad. Isn't 'No account' very bad on a +cheque, Captain 'Oshspur? And then I've that cheque on Drummond, +signed;—God knows how that is signed! There ain't no such person at +all. Baldebeque! That's more like it than nothing else. When you +brought me that, I thought there vas a Lord Baldebeque; and I know +you live among lords, Captain 'Oshspur."</p> + +<p>"On my honour I brought it you,—just as I took it at Tattersall's."</p> + +<p>"There was an expert as I showed it to says it is your handwriting, +Captain 'Oshspur."</p> + +<p>"He lies!" said Cousin George, fiercely.</p> + +<p>"But when Stubber would have half the sale money, for the +commission—and wanted it all too! lord, how he did curse and swear! +That was bad, Captain 'Oshspur."</p> + +<p>Then Cousin George swallowed his fierceness for a time, and proceeded +to explain to Mr. Hart that Sir Harry would certainly pay all his +debts if only those little details could be kept back to which Mr. +Hart had so pathetically alluded. Above all it would be necessary to +preserve in obscurity that little mistake which had been made as to +the pawning of the commission. Cousin George told a great many lies, +but he told also much that was true. The Jew did not believe one of +the lies; but then, neither did he believe much of the truth. When +George had finished his story, then Mr. Hart had a story of his own +to tell.</p> + +<p>"To let you know all about it, Captain 'Oshspur, the old gent has +begun about it already."</p> + +<p>"What, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir 'Arry. Mr. Boltby—"</p> + +<p>"He's the family lawyer."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so, Captain 'Oshspur. Vell, he vas here yesterday, and vas +very polite. If I'd just tell him all about everything, he thought as +'ow the Baronet would settle the affair off 'and. He vas very +generous in his offer, vas Mr. Boltby; but he didn't say nothin' of +any marriage, Captain 'Oshspur."</p> + +<p>"Of course he didn't. You are not such a fool as to suppose he +would."</p> + +<p>"No; I ain't such a fool as I looks, Captain Oshspur, am I? I didn't +think it likely, seeing vat vas the nature of his interrogatories. +Mr. Boltby seemed to know a good deal. It is astonishing how much +them fellows do know."</p> + +<p>"You didn't tell him anything?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, Captain 'Oshspur—not at fust starting. I'm a going to +have my money, you know, Captain 'Oshspur. And if I see my vay to my +money one vay, and if I don't see no vay the other vay, vy, vhat's a +man to do? You can't blame me, Captain 'Oshspur. I've been very +indulgent with you; I have, Captain 'Oshspur."</p> + +<p>Cousin George promised, threatened, explained, swore by all his gods, +and ended by assuring Mr. Abraham Hart that his life and death were +in that gentleman's keeping. If Mr. Hart would only not betray him, +the money would be safe and the marriage would be safe, and +everything would easily come right. Over and above other things, +Cousin George would owe to Mr. Abraham Hart a debt of gratitude which +never would be wholly paid. Mr. Hart could only say that he meant to +have his money, but that he did not mean to be "ungenteel." Much in +his opinion must depend on what Stubber would do. As for Stubber, he +couldn't speak to Stubber himself, as he and Stubber "were two." As +for himself, if he could get his money he certainly would not be +"ungenteel." And he meant what he said—meant more than he said. He +would still run some risk rather than split on an old customer such +as "Captain 'Oshspur." But now that a sudden way to his money was +opened to him, he could not undertake to lose sight of it.</p> + +<p>With a very heavy heart Cousin George went from Mr. Hart's house to +the house of call of Captain Stubber. Mr. Boltby had been before him +with Hart, and he augured the worst from Sir Harry's activity in the +matter. If Mr. Boltby had already seen the Captain, all his labour +would probably be too late. Where Captain Stubber lived, even so old +a friend of his as Cousin George did not know. And in what way +Captain Stubber had become a captain, George, though he had been a +military man himself, had never learned. But Captain Stubber had a +house of call in a very narrow, dirty little street near Red Lion +Square. It was close to a public-house, but did not belong to the +public-house. George Hotspur, who had been very often to the place of +call, had never seen there any appurtenances of the Captain's +business. There were no account-books, no writing-table, no ink even, +except that contained in a little box with a screw, which Captain +Stubber would take out of his own pocket. Mr. Hart was so far +established and civilized as to keep a boy whom he called a clerk; +but Captain Stubber seemed to keep nothing. A dirty little girl at +the house of call would run and fetch Captain Stubber, if he were +within reach; but most usually an appointment had to be made with the +Captain. Cousin George well remembered the day when his brother +Captain first made his acquaintance. About two years after the +commencement of his life in London, Captain Stubber had had an +interview with him in the little waiting-room just within the club +doors. Captain Stubber then had in his possession a trumpery note of +hand with George's signature, which, as he stated, he had "done" for +a small tradesman with whom George had been fool enough to deal for +cigars. From that day to the present he and Captain Stubber had been +upon most intimate and confidential terms. If there was any one in +the world whom Cousin George really hated, it was Captain Stubber.</p> + +<p>On this occasion Captain Stubber was forthcoming after a delay of +about a quarter of an hour. During that time Cousin George had stood +in the filthy little parlour of the house of call in a frame of mind +which was certainly not to be envied. Had Mr. Boltby also been with +Captain Stubber? He knew his two creditors well enough to understand +that the Jew, getting his money, would be better pleased to serve him +than to injure him. But the Captain would from choice do him an ill +turn. Nothing but self-interest would tie up Captain Stubber's +tongue. Captain Stubber was a tall thin gentleman, probably over +sixty years of age, with very seedy clothes, and a red nose. He +always had Berlin gloves, very much torn about the fingers, carried a +cotton umbrella, wore—as his sole mark of respectability—a very +stiff, clean, white collar round his neck, and invariably smelt of +gin. No one knew where he lived, or how he carried on his business; +but, such as he was, he had dealings with large sums of money, or at +least with bills professing to stand for large sums, and could never +have been found without a case in his pocket crammed with these +documents. The quarter of an hour seemed to George to be an age; but +at last Captain Stubber knocked at the front door and was shown into +the room.</p> + +<p>"How d'ye do, Captain Stubber?" said George.</p> + +<p>"I'd do a deal better, Captain Hotspur, if I found it easier +sometimes to come by my own."</p> + +<p>"Well, yes; but no doubt you have your profit in the delay, Captain +Stubber."</p> + +<p>"It's nothing to you, Captain Hotspur, whether I have profit or loss. +All you 'as got to look to is to pay me what you owe me. And I intend +that you shall, or by <span class="nowrap">G——</span> +you shall suffer for it! I'm not going to +stand it any longer. I know where to have you, and have you I will."</p> + +<p>Cousin George was not quite sure whether the Captain did know where +to have him. If Mr. Boltby had been with him, it might be so; but +then Captain Stubber was not a man so easily found as Mr. Hart, and +the connection between himself and the Captain might possibly have +escaped Mr. Boltby's inquiries. It was very difficult to tell the +story of his love to such a man as Captain Stubber, but he did tell +it. He explained all the difficulties of Sir Harry's position in +regard to the title and the property, and he was diffuse upon his own +advantages as head of the family, and of the need there was that he +should marry the heiress.</p> + +<p>"But there is not an acre of it will come to you unless he gives it +you?" inquired Captain Stubber.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said Cousin George, anxious that the Captain should +understand the real facts of the case to a certain extent.</p> + +<p>"And he needn't give you the girl?"</p> + +<p>"The girl will give herself, my friend."</p> + +<p>"And he needn't give the girl the property?"</p> + +<p>"But he will. She is his only child."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a word about it. I don't believe such a one as Sir +Harry Hotspur would lift his hand to help such as you."</p> + +<p>"He has offered to pay my debts already."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Let him make the offer to me. Look here, Captain Hotspur, +I am not a bit afraid of you, you know."</p> + +<p>"Who asks you to be afraid?"</p> + +<p>"Of all the liars I ever met with, you are the worst."</p> + +<p>George Hotspur smiled, looking up at the red nose of the malignant +old man as though it were a joke; but that which he had to hear at +this moment was a heavy burden. Captain Stubber probably understood +this, for he repeated his words.</p> + +<p>"I never knew any liar nigh so bad as you. And then there is such a +deal worse than lies. I believe I could send you to penal servitude, +Captain Hotspur."</p> + +<p>"You could do no such thing," said Cousin George, still trying to +look as though it were a joke, "and you don't think you could."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best at any rate, if I don't have my money soon. You +could pay Mr. Hart two thousand pounds, but you think I'm nobody."</p> + +<p>"I am making arrangements now for having every shilling paid to you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see. I've known a good deal about your arrangements. Look +here, Captain Hotspur, unless I have five hundred pounds on or before +Saturday, I'll write to Sir Harry Hotspur, and I'll give him a +statement of all our dealings. You can trust me, though I can't trust +you. Good morning, Captain Hotspur."</p> + +<p>Captain Stubber did believe in his heart that he was a man much +injured by Cousin George, and that Cousin George was one whom he was +entitled to despise. And yet a poor wretch more despicable, more +dishonest, more false, more wicked, or more cruel than Captain +Stubber could not have been found in all London. His business was +carried on with a small capital borrowed from a firm of low +attorneys, who were the real holders of the bills he carried, and the +profits which they allowed him to make were very trifling. But from +Cousin George during the last twelve months he had made no profit at +all. And Cousin George in former days had trodden upon him as on a +worm.</p> + +<p>Cousin George did not fail to perceive that Mr. Boltby had not as yet +applied to Captain Stubber.</p> + + +<p><a name="c11" id="c11"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> +<h4>MRS. MORTON.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Five hundred pounds before Saturday, and this was Tuesday! As Cousin +George was taken westward from Red Lion Square in a cab, three or +four different lines of conduct suggested themselves to him. In the +first place, it would be a very good thing to murder Captain Stubber. +In the present effeminate state of civilization and with the existing +scruples as to the value of human life, he did not see his way +clearly in this direction, but entertained the project rather as a +beautiful castle in the air. The two next suggestions were to pay him +the money demanded, or to pay him half of it. The second suggestion +was the simpler, as the state of Cousin George's funds made it +feasible; but then that brute would probably refuse to take the half +in lieu of the whole when he found that his demand had absolutely +produced a tender of ready cash. As for paying the whole, it might +perhaps be done. It was still possible that, with such prospects +before him as those he now possessed, he could raise a hundred or +hundred and fifty pounds; but then he would be left penniless. The +last course of action which he contemplated was, to take no further +notice of Captain Stubber, and let him tell his story to Sir Harry if +he chose to tell it. The man was such a blackguard that his entire +story would probably not be believed; and then was it not almost +necessary that Sir Harry should hear it? Of course there would be +anger, and reproaches, and threats, and difficulty. But if Emily +would be true to him, they might all by degrees be levelled down. +This latter line of conduct would be practicable, and had this +beautiful attraction,—that it would save for his own present use +that charming balance of ready money which he still possessed. Had +Altringham possessed any true backbone of friendship, he might now, +he thought, have been triumphant over all his difficulties.</p> + +<p>When he sat down to his solitary dinner at his club, he was very +tired with his day's work. Attending to the affairs of such gentlemen +as Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber,—who well know how to be masterful +when their time for being masterful has come,—is fatiguing enough. +But he had another task to perform before he went to bed, which he +would fain have kept unperformed were it possible to do so. He had +written to a third friend to make an appointment for the evening, and +this appointment he was bound to keep. He would very much rather have +stayed at his club and played billiards with the navy captain, even +though he might again have lost his shillings. The third friend was +that Mrs. Morton to whom Lord Altringham had once alluded. "I +supposed that it was coming," said Mrs. Morton, when she had +listened, without letting a word fall from her own lips, to the long +rambling story which Cousin George told her,—a rambling story in +which there were many lies, but in which there was the essential +truth, that Cousin George intended, if other things could be made to +fit, to marry his cousin Emily Hotspur. Mrs. Morton was a woman who +had been handsome,—dark, thin, with great brown eyes and thin lips +and a long well-formed nose; she was in truth three years younger +than George Hotspur, but she looked to be older. She was a clever +woman and well read too, and in every respect superior to the man +whom she had condescended to love. She earned her bread by her +profession as an actress, and had done so since her earliest years. +What story there may be of a Mr. Morton who had years ago married, +and ill-used, and deserted her, need not here be told. Her strongest +passion at this moment was love for the cold-blooded reprobate who +had now come to tell her of his intended marriage. She had indeed +loved George Hotspur, and George had been sufficiently attached to +her to condescend to take aid from her earnings.</p> + +<p>"I supposed that it was coming," she said in a low voice when he +brought to an end the rambling story which she had allowed him to +tell without a word of interruption.</p> + +<p>"What is a fellow to do?" said George.</p> + +<p>"Is she handsome?"</p> + +<p>George thought that he might mitigate the pain by making little of +his cousin. "Well, no, not particularly. She looks like a lady."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose I don't." For a moment there was a virulence in this +which made poor George almost gasp. This woman was patient to a +marvel, long-bearing, affectionate, imbued with that conviction so +common to woman and the cause of so much delight to men,—that +ill-usage and suffering are intended for woman; but George knew that +she could turn upon him if goaded far enough, and rend him. He could +depend upon her for very much, because she loved him; but he was +afraid of her. "You didn't mean that, I know," she added, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Of course I didn't."</p> + +<p>"No; your cruelties don't lie in that line; do they, George?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I never mean to be cruel to you, Lucy."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you do. I hardly believe that you ever mean +anything,—except just to get along and live."</p> + +<p>"A fellow must live, you know," said George.</p> + +<p>In ordinary society George Hotspur could be bright, and he was proud +of being bright. With this woman he was always subdued, always made +to play second fiddle, always talked like a boy; and he knew it. He +had loved her once, if he was capable of loving anything; but her +mastery over him wearied him, even though he was, after a fashion, +proud of her cleverness, and he wished that she were,—well, dead, if +the reader choose that mode of expressing what probably were George's +wishes. But he had never told himself that he desired her death. He +could build pleasant castles in the air as to the murder of Captain +Stubber, but his thoughts did not travel that way in reference to +Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>"She is not pretty, then,—this rich bride of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Not particularly; she's well enough, you know."</p> + +<p>"And well enough is good enough for you;—is it? Do you love her, +George?"</p> + +<p>The woman's voice was very low and plaintive as she asked the +question. Though from moment to moment she could use her little skill +in pricking him with her satire, still she loved him; and she would +vary her tone, and as at one minute she would make him uneasy by her +raillery, so at the next she would quell him by her tenderness. She +looked into his face for a reply, when he hesitated. "Tell me that +you do not love her," she said, passionately.</p> + +<p>"Not particularly," replied George.</p> + +<p>"And yet you would marry her?"</p> + +<p>"What's a fellow to do? You see how I am fixed about the title. These +are kinds of things to which a man situated as I am is obliged to +submit."</p> + +<p>"Royal obligations, as one might call them."</p> + +<p>"By George, yes," said George, altogether missing the satire. From +any other lips he would have been sharp enough to catch it. "One +can't see the whole thing go to the dogs after it has kept its head +up so long! And then you know, a man can't live altogether without an +income."</p> + +<p>"You have done so, pretty well."</p> + +<p>"I know that I owe you a lot of money, Lucy; and I know also that I +mean to pay you."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk about that. I don't know how at such a time as this you +can bring yourself to mention it." Then she rose from her seat and +flashed into wrath, carried on by the spirit of her own words. "Look +here, George; if you send me any of that woman's money, by the living +God I will send it back to herself. To buy me with her money! But it +is so like a man."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that. Sir Harry is to pay all my debts."</p> + +<p>"And will not that be the same? Will it not be her money? Why is he +to pay your debts? Because he loves you?"</p> + +<p>"It is all a family arrangement. You don't quite understand."</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't understand. Such a one as I cannot lift myself so +high above the earth. Great families form a sort of heaven of their +own, which poor broken, ill-conditioned, wretched, common creatures +such as I am cannot hope to comprehend. But, by heaven, what a lot of +the vilest clay goes to the making of that garden of Eden! Look here, +George;—you have nothing of your own?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Nothing. Is not that so? You can answer me at any rate."</p> + +<p>"You know all about it," he said,—truly enough, for she did know.</p> + +<p>"And you cannot earn a penny."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I can. I never was very good at earning anything."</p> + +<p>"It isn't gentlemanlike, is it? But I can earn money."</p> + +<p>"By George! yes. I've often envied you. I have indeed."</p> + +<p>"How flattering! As far as it went you should have had it +all,—nearly all,—if you could have been true to me."</p> + +<p>"But, Lucy,—about the family?"</p> + +<p>"And about your debts? Of course I couldn't pay debts which were +always increasing. And of course your promises for the future were +false. We both knew that they were false when they were made. Did we +not?" She paused for an answer, but he made none. "They meant +nothing; did they? He is dead now."</p> + +<p>"Morton is dead?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he died in San Francisco, months ago."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't have known that, Lucy; could I?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool! What difference would it have made? Don't pretend +anything so false. It would be disgusting on the very face of it. It +mattered nothing to you whether he lived or died. When is it to be?"</p> + +<p>"When is what to be?"</p> + +<p>"Your marriage with this ill-looking young woman, who has got money, +but whom you do not even pretend to love."</p> + +<p>It struck even George that this was a way in which Emily Hotspur +should not be described. She had been acknowledged to be the beauty +of the last season, one of the finest girls that had ever been seen +about London; and, as for loving her,—he did love her. A man might +be fond of two dogs, or have two pet horses, and why shouldn't he +love two women! Of course he loved his cousin. But his circumstances +at the moment were difficult, and he didn't quite know how to explain +all this.</p> + +<p>"When is it to be?" she said, urging her question imperiously.</p> + +<p>In answer to this he gave her to understand that there was still a +good deal of difficulty. He told her something of his position with +Captain Stubber, and defined,—not with absolute correctness,—the +amount of consent which Sir Harry had given to the marriage.</p> + +<p>"And what am I to do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>He looked blankly into her face. She then rose again, and unlocking a +desk with a key that hung at her girdle, she took from it a bundle of +papers.</p> + +<p>"There," she said; "there is the letter in which I have your promise +to marry me when I am free;—as I am now. It could not be less +injurious to you than when locked up there; but the remembrance of it +might frighten you." She threw the letter to him across the table, +but he did not touch it. "And here are others which might be taken to +mean the same thing. There! I am not so injured as I might seem to +be,—for I never believed them. How could I believe anything that you +would say to me,—anything that you would write?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be down on me too hard, Lucy."</p> + +<p>"No, I will not be down upon you at all. If these things pained you, +I would not say them. Shall I destroy the letters?" Then she took +them, one after another, and tore them into small fragments. "You +will be easier now, I know."</p> + +<p>"Easy! I am not very easy, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"Captain Stubber will not let you off so gently as I do. Is that it?"</p> + +<p>Then there was made between them a certain pecuniary arrangement, +which if Mrs. Morton trusted at all the undertaking made to her, +showed a most wonderful faith on her part. She would lend him £250 +towards the present satisfaction of Captain Stubber; and this sum, to +be lent for such a purpose, she would consent to receive back again +out of Sir Harry's money. She must see a certain manager, she said; +but she did not doubt but that her loan would be forthcoming on the +Saturday morning. Captain George Hotspur accepted the offer, and was +profuse in his thanks. After that, when he was going, her weakness +was almost equal to his vileness.</p> + +<p>"You will come and see me," she said, as she held his hand. Again he +paused a moment. "George, you will come and see me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course I will."</p> + +<p>"A great deal I can bear; a great deal I have borne; but do not be a +coward. I knew you before she did, and have loved you better, and +have treated you better than ever she will do. Of course you will +come?"</p> + +<p>He promised her that he would, and then went from her.</p> + +<p>On the Saturday morning Captain Stubber was made temporarily happy by +the most unexpected receipt of five hundred pounds.</p> + + +<p><a name="c12" id="c12"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> +<h4>THE HUNT BECOMES HOT.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>September passed away with Captain Hotspur very unpleasantly. He had +various interviews with Captain Stubber, with Mr. Hart, and with +other creditors, and found very little amusement. Lady Altringham had +written to him again, advising him strongly to make out a complete +list of his debts, and to send them boldly to Sir Harry. He +endeavoured to make out the list, but had hardly the audacity to do +it even for his own information. When the end of September had come, +and he was preparing himself to join the party of distinguished +pheasant-shooters in Norfolk, he had as yet sent no list to Sir +Harry, nor had he heard a word from Humblethwaite. Certain +indications had reached him,—continued to reach him from day to +day,—that Mr. Boltby was at work, but no communication had been made +actually to himself even by Mr. Boltby. When and how and in what form +he was expected to send the schedule of his debts to Sir Harry he did +not know; and thus it came to pass that when the time came for his +departure from town, he had sent no such schedule at all. His +sojourn, however, with the distinguished party was to last only for a +week, and then he would really go to work. He would certainly himself +write to Sir Harry before the end of October.</p> + +<p>In the meantime there came other troubles,—various other troubles. +One other trouble vexed him sore. There came to him a note from a +gentleman with whom his acquaintance was familiar though +slight,—as <span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dear +Hotspur</span>,—Did I not meet you at the last Goodwood +meeting? If you don't mind, pray answer me the question. +You will remember, I do not doubt, that I did; that I lost +my money too, and paid it.—Yours ever,</p> + +<p class="ind15"><span class="smallcaps">F. Stackpoole</span>.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>He understood it all immediately. The Stackpooles had been at +Humblethwaite. But what business had the man to write letters to him +with the object of getting him into trouble? He did not answer the +note, but, nevertheless, it annoyed him much. And then there was +another great vexation. He was now running low in funds for present +use. He had made what he feared was a most useless outlay in +satisfying Stubber's immediate greed for money, and the effect was, +that at the beginning of the last week in September he found himself +with hardly more than fifty sovereigns in his possession, which would +be considerably reduced before he could leave town. He had been worse +off before,—very much worse; but it was especially incumbent on him +now to keep up that look of high feather which cannot be maintained +in its proper brightness without ready cash. He must take a +man-servant with him among the distinguished guests; he must fee +gamekeepers, pay railway fares, and have loose cash about him for a +hundred purposes. He wished it to be known that he was going to marry +his cousin. He might find some friend with softer heart than +Altringham, who would lend him a few hundreds on being made to +believe in this brilliant destiny; but a roll of bank-notes in his +pocket would greatly aid him in making the destiny credible. Fifty +pounds, as he well knew, would melt away from him like snow. The last +fifty pounds of a thousand always goes quicker than any of the +nineteen other fifties.</p> + +<p>Circumstances had made it impossible for him to attend the Leger this +year, but he had put a little money on it. The result had done +nothing for or against him,—except this, that whereas he received +between one and two hundred pounds, he conceived the idea of paying +only a portion of what he had lost. With reference to the remainder, +he wrote to ask his friend if it would be quite the same if the money +were paid at Christmas. If not, of course it should be sent at once. +The friend was one of the Altringham set, who had been at Castle +Corry, and who had heard of George's hopes in reference to his +cousin. George added a postscript to his letter: "This kind of thing +will be over for me very soon. I am to be a Benedict, and the house +of Humblethwaite and the title are to be kept together. I know you +will congratulate me. My cousin is a charming girl, and worth all +that I shall lose ten times over." It was impossible, he thought, +that the man should refuse him credit for eighty pounds till +Christmas, when the man should know that he was engaged to be married +to £20,000 a year! But the man did refuse. The man wrote back to say +that he did not understand this kind of thing at all, and that he +wanted his money at once. George Hotspur sent the man his money, not +without many curses on the illiberality of such a curmudgeon. Was it +not cruel that a fellow would not give him so trifling an assistance +when he wanted it so badly? All the world seemed to conspire to hurt +him just at this most critical moment of his life! In many of his +hardest emergencies for ready money he had gone to Mrs. Morton. But +even he felt that just at present he could not ask her for more.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, a certain amount of cash was made to be forthcoming +before he took his departure for Norfolk. In the course of the +preceding spring he had met a young gentleman in Mr. Hart's small +front parlour, who was there upon ordinary business. He was a young +gentleman with good prospects, and with some command of ready money; +but he liked to live, and would sometimes want Mr. Hart's assistance. +His name was Walker, and though he was not exactly one of that class +in which it delighted Captain Hotspur to move, nevertheless he was +not altogether disdained by that well-born and well-bred gentleman. +On the third of October, the day before he left London to join his +distinguished friends in Norfolk, George Hotspur changed a cheque for +nearly three hundred pounds at Mr. Walker's banker's. Poor Mr. +Walker! But Cousin George went down to Norfolk altogether in high +feather. If there were play, he would play. He would bet about +pulling straws if he could find an adversary to bet with him. He +could chink sovereigns about at his ease, at any rate, during the +week. Cousin George liked to chink sovereigns about at his ease. And +this point of greatness must be conceded to him,—that, however black +might loom the clouds of the coming sky, he could enjoy the sunshine +of the hour.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Mr. Boltby was at work, and before Cousin George had +shot his last pheasant in such very good company, Sir Harry was up in +town assisting Mr. Boltby. How things had gone at Humblethwaite +between Sir Harry and his daughter must not be told on this page; but +the reader may understand that nothing had as yet occurred to lessen +Sir Harry's objection to the match. There had been some +correspondence between Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby, and Sir Harry had +come up to town. When the reader learns that on the very day on which +Cousin George and his servant were returning to London by the express +train from Norfolk, smoking many cigars and drinking many +glasses,—George of sherry, and the servant probably of beer and +spirits alternately,—each making himself happy with a novel; +George's novel being French, and that of the servant English +sensational,—the reader, when he learns that on this very day Sir +Harry had interviews with Captain Stubber and also with Mrs. Morton, +will be disposed to think that things were not going very well for +Cousin George. But then the reader does not as yet know the nature of +the persistency of Emily Hotspur.</p> + +<p>What Sir Harry did with Captain Stubber need not be minutely +described. There can be no doubt that Cousin George was not spared by +the Captain, and that when he understood what might be the result of +telling the truth, he told all that he knew. In that matter of the +£500 Cousin George had really been ill-treated. The payment had done +him no sort of service whatever. Of Captain Stubber's interview with +Sir Harry nothing further need now be said. But it must be explained +that Sir Harry, led astray by defective information, made a mistake +in regard to Mrs. Morton, and found out his mistake. He did not much +like Mrs. Morton, but he did not leave her without an ample apology. +From Mrs. Morton he learned nothing whatever in regard to Cousin +George,—nothing but this, that Mrs. Morton did not deny that she was +acquainted with Captain Hotspur. Mr. Boltby had learned, however, +that Cousin George had drawn the money for a cheque payable to her +order, and he had made himself nearly certain of the very nature of +the transaction.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning after George's return he was run to ground by +Mr. Boltby's confidential clerk, at the hotel behind the club. It was +so early, to George at least, that he was still in bed. But the +clerk, who had breakfasted at eight, been at his office by nine, and +had worked hard for two hours and a half since, did not think it at +all early. George, who knew that his pheasant-shooting pleasure was +past, and that immediate trouble was in store for him, had consoled +himself over-night with a good deal of curaçoa and seltzer and +brandy, and had taken these comforting potations after a bottle of +champagne. He was, consequently, rather out of sorts when he was run +to ground in his very bedroom by Boltby's clerk. He was cantankerous +at first, and told the clerk to go and be +<span class="nowrap">d——d.</span> The clerk pleaded +Sir Harry. Sir Harry was in town, and wanted to see his cousin. A +meeting must, of course, be arranged. Sir Harry wished that it might +be in Mr. Boltby's private room. When Cousin George objected that he +did not choose to have any interview with Sir Harry in presence of +the lawyer, the clerk very humbly explained that the private room +would be exclusively for the service of the two gentlemen. Sick as he +was, Cousin George knew that nothing was to be gained by quarrelling +with Sir Harry. Though Sir Harry should ask for an interview in +presence of the Lord Mayor, he must go to it. He made the hour as +late as he could, and at last three o'clock was settled.</p> + +<p>At one, Cousin George was at work upon his broiled bones and tea +laced with brandy, having begun his meal with soda and brandy. He was +altogether dissatisfied with himself. Had he known on the preceding +evening what was coming, he would have dined on a mutton chop and a +pint of sherry, and have gone to bed at ten o'clock. He looked at +himself in the glass, and saw that he was bloated and red,—and a +thing foul to behold. It was a matter of boast to him,—the most +pernicious boast that ever a man made,—that in twenty-four hours he +could rid himself of all outward and inward sign of any special +dissipation; but the twenty-four hours were needed, and now not +twelve were allowed him. Nevertheless, he kept his appointment. He +tried to invent some lie which he might send by a commissioner, and +which might not ruin him. But he thought upon the whole that it would +be safer for him to go.</p> + +<p>When he entered the room he saw at a glance that there was to be +war,—war to the knife,—between him and Sir Harry. He perceived at +once that if it were worth his while to go on with the thing at all, +he must do so in sole dependence on the spirit and love of Emily +Hotspur. Sir Harry at their first greeting declined to shake hands +with him, and called him Captain Hotspur.</p> + +<p>"Captain Hotspur," he said, "in a word, understand that there must be +no further question of a marriage between you and my daughter."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"Because, sir—" and then he paused—"I would sooner see my girl dead +at my feet than entrust her to such a one as you. It was true what +you said to me at Humblethwaite. There would have been something very +alluring to me in the idea of joining the property and the title +together. A man will pay much for such a whim. I would not +unwillingly have paid very much in money; but I am not so infamously +wicked as to sacrifice my daughter utterly by giving her to one so +utterly unworthy of her as you are."</p> + +<p>"I told you that I was in debt, Sir Harry."</p> + +<p>"I wanted no telling as to that; but I did want telling as to your +mode of life, and I have had it now. You had better not press me. You +had better see Mr. Boltby. He will tell you what I am willing to do +for you upon receiving your written assurance that you will never +renew your offer of marriage to Miss Hotspur."</p> + +<p>"I cannot do that," said Cousin George, hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall leave you with your creditors to deal with as they +please. I have nothing further to suggest myself, and I would +recommend that you should see Mr. Boltby before you leave the +chambers."</p> + +<p>"What does my cousin say?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Were you at Goodwood last meeting?" asked Sir Harry. "But of course +you were."</p> + +<p>"I was," he answered. He was obliged to acknowledge so much, not +quite knowing what Stackpoole might have said or done. "But I can +explain that."</p> + +<p>"There is no need whatever of any explanation. Do you generally +borrow money from such ladies as Mrs. Morton?" Cousin George blushed +when this question was asked, but made no answer to it. It was one +that he could not answer. "But it makes no difference, Captain +Hotspur. I mention these things only to let you feel that I know you. +I must decline any further speech with you. I strongly advise you to +see Mr. Boltby at once. Good afternoon."</p> + +<p>So saying, the Baronet withdrew quickly, and Cousin George heard him +shut the door of the chambers.</p> + +<p>After considering the matter for a quarter of an hour, Cousin George +made up his mind that he would see the lawyer. No harm could come to +him from seeing the lawyer. He was closeted with Mr. Boltby for +nearly an hour, and before he left the chamber had been forced to +confess to things of which he had not thought it possible that Mr. +Boltby should ever have heard. Mr. Boltby knew the whole story of the +money raised on the commission, of the liabilities to both Hart and +Stubber, and had acquainted himself with the history of Lord +Baldebeque's cheque. Mr. Boltby was not indignant, as had been Sir +Harry, but intimated it as a thing beyond dispute that a man who had +done such things as could be proved against Cousin George,—and as +would undoubtedly be proved against him if he would not give up his +pursuit of the heiress,—must be disposed of with severity, unless he +retreated at once of his own accord. Mr. Boltby did indeed hint +something about a criminal prosecution, and utter ruin, +and—incarceration.</p> + +<p>But if George Hotspur would renounce his cousin utterly,—putting his +renunciation on paper,—Sir Harry would pay all his debts to the +extent of twenty thousand pounds, would allow him four hundred a year +on condition that he would live out of England, and would leave him a +further sum of twenty thousand pounds by his will, on condition that +no renewed cause of offence were given.</p> + +<p>"You had better, perhaps, go home and think about it, Mr. Hotspur," +said the lawyer. Cousin George did go away and think about it.</p> + + +<p><a name="c13" id="c13"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> +<h4>"I WILL NOT DESERT HIM."<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Sir Harry, before he had left Humblethwaite for London in October, +had heard enough of his cousin's sins to make him sure that the match +must be opposed with all his authority. Indeed he had so felt from +the first moment in which George had begun to tell him of what had +occurred at Airey Force. He had never thought that George Hotspur +would make a fitting husband for his daughter. But, without so +thinking, he had allowed his mind to dwell upon the outside +advantages of the connection, dreaming of a fitness which he knew did +not exist, till he had vacillated, and the evil thing had come upon +him. When the danger was so close upon him to make him see what it +was, to force him to feel what would be the misery threatened to his +daughter, to teach him to realize his own duty, he condemned himself +bitterly for his own weakness. Could any duty which he owed to the +world be so high or so holy as that which was due from him to his +child? He almost hated his name and title and position as he thought +of the evil that he had already done. Had his cousin George been in +no close succession to the title, would he have admitted a man of +whom he knew so much ill, and of whom he had never heard any good, +within his park palings? And then he could not but acknowledge to +himself that by asking such a one to his house,—a man such as this +young cousin who was known to be the heir to the title,—he had given +his daughter special reason to suppose that she might regard him as a +fitting suitor for her hand. She of course had known,—had felt as +keenly as he had felt, for was she not a Hotspur?—that she would be +true to her family by combining her property and the title, and that +by yielding to such a marriage she would be doing a family duty, +unless there were reasons against it stronger than those connected +with his name. But as to those other reasons, must not her father and +her mother know better than she could know? When she found that the +man was made welcome both in town and country, was it not natural +that she should suppose that there were no stronger reasons? All this +Sir Harry felt, and blamed himself and determined that though he must +oppose his daughter and make her understand that the hope of such a +marriage must be absolutely abandoned, it would be his duty to be +very tender with her. He had sinned against her already, in that he +had vacillated and had allowed that handsome but vile and worthless +cousin to come near her.</p> + +<p>In his conduct to his daughter, Sir Harry endeavoured to be just, and +tender, and affectionate; but in his conduct to his wife on the +occasion he allowed himself some scope for the ill-humour not +unnaturally incident to his misfortune. "Why on earth you should have +had him in Bruton Street when you knew very well what he was, I +cannot conceive," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"But I didn't know," said Lady Elizabeth, fearing to remind her +husband that he also had sanctioned the coming of the cousin.</p> + +<p>"I had told you. It was there that the evil was done. And then to let +them go to that picnic together!"</p> + +<p>"What could I do when Mrs. Fitzpatrick asked to be taken? You +wouldn't have had me tell Emily that she should not be one of the +party."</p> + +<p>"I would have put it off till he was out of the house."</p> + +<p>"But the Fitzpatricks were going too," pleaded the poor woman.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't have happened at all if you had not asked him to stay +till the Monday," said Sir Harry; and to this charge Lady Elizabeth +knew that there was no answer. There she had clearly disobeyed her +husband; and though she doubtless suffered much from some dim idea of +injustice, she was aware that as she had so offended she must submit +to be told that all this evil had come from her wrong-doing.</p> + +<p>"I hope she will not be obstinate," said Sir Harry to his wife. Lady +Elizabeth, though she was not an acute judge of character, did know +her own daughter, and was afraid to say that Emily would not be +obstinate. She had the strongest possible respect as well as +affection for her own child; she thoroughly believed in Emily—much +more thoroughly than she did in herself. But she could not say that +in such a matter Emily would not be obstinate. Lady Elizabeth was +very intimately connected with two obstinate persons, one of whom was +young and the other old; and she thought that perhaps the younger was +the more obstinate of the two.</p> + +<p>"It is quite out of the question that she should marry him," said Sir +Harry, sadly. Still Lady Elizabeth made no reply. "I do not think +that she will disobey me," continued Sir Harry. Still Lady Elizabeth +said nothing. "If she gives me a promise, she will keep it," said Sir +Harry.</p> + +<p>Then the mother could answer, "I am sure she will."</p> + +<p>"If the worst come to the worst, we must go away."</p> + +<p>"To Scarrowby?" suggested Lady Elizabeth, who hated Scarrowby.</p> + +<p>"That would do no good. Scarrowby would be the same as Humblethwaite +to her, or perhaps worse. I mean abroad. We must shut up the place +for a couple of years, and take her to Naples and Vienna, or perhaps +to Egypt. Everything must be changed to her!—that is, if the evil +has gone deep enough."</p> + +<p>"Is he so very bad?" asked Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"He is a liar and a blackguard, and I believe him to be a swindler," +said Sir Harry. Then Lady Elizabeth was mute, and her husband left +her.</p> + +<p>At this time he had heard the whole story of the pawning of the +commission, had been told something of money raised by worthless +cheques, and had run to ground that lie about the Goodwood races. But +he had not yet heard anything special of Mrs. Morton. The only attack +on George's character which had as yet been made in the hearing of +Emily had been with reference to the Goodwood races. Mrs. Stackpoole +was a lady of some determination, and one who in society liked to +show that she was right in her assertions, and well informed on +matters in dispute; and she hated Cousin George. There had therefore +come to be a good deal said about the Goodwood meeting, so that the +affair reached Sir Harry's ears. He perceived that Cousin George had +lied, and determined that Emily should be made to know that her +cousin had lied. But it was very difficult to persuade her of this. +That everybody else should tell stories about George and the Goodwood +meeting seemed to her to be natural enough; she contented herself +with thinking all manner of evil of Mr. and Mrs. Stackpoole, and +reiterating her conviction that George Hotspur had not been at the +meeting in question.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that it much signifies," Mrs. Stackpoole had said in +anger.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least," Emily had replied, "only that I happen to know +that my cousin was not there. He goes to so many race meetings that +there has been some little mistake."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Stackpoole had written to Cousin George, and Cousin George +had thought it wise to make no reply. Sir Harry, however, from other +sources had convinced himself of the truth, and had told his daughter +that there was evidence enough to prove the fact in any court of law. +Emily when so informed had simply held her tongue, and had resolved +to hate Mrs. Stackpoole worse than ever.</p> + +<p>She had been told from the first that her engagement with her cousin +would not receive her father's sanction; and for some days after that +there had been silence on the subject at Humblethwaite, while the +correspondence with Mr. Boltby was being continued. Then there came +the moment in which Sir Harry felt that he must call upon his +daughter to promise obedience, and the conversation which has been +described between him and Lady Elizabeth was preparatory to his doing +so.</p> + +<p>"My dear," he said to his daughter, "sit down; I want to speak to +you."</p> + +<p>He had sent for her into his own morning room, in which she did not +remember to have been asked to sit down before. She would often visit +him there, coming in and out on all manner of small occasions, +suggesting that he should ride with her, asking for the loan of a +gardener for a week for some project of her own, telling him of a big +gooseberry, interrupting him ruthlessly on any trifle in the world. +But on such occasions she would stand close to him, leaning on him. +And he would scold her,—playfully, or kiss her, or bid her begone +from the room,—but would always grant what she asked of him. To him, +though he hardly knew that it was so, such visits from his darling +had been the bright moments of his life. But up to this morning he +had never bade her be seated in that room.</p> + +<p>"Emily," he said, "I hope you understand that all this about your +cousin George must be given up." She made no reply, though he waited +perhaps for a minute. "It is altogether out of the question. I am +very, very sorry that you have been subjected to such a sorrow. I +will own that I have been to blame for letting him come to my house."</p> + +<p>"No, Papa, no."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear, I have been to blame, and I feel it keenly. I did not +then know as much of him as I do now, but I had heard that which +should have made me careful to keep him out of your company."</p> + +<p>"Hearing about people, Papa! Is that fair? Are we not always hearing +tales about everybody?"</p> + +<p>"My dear child, you must take my word for something."</p> + +<p>"I will take it for everything in all the world, Papa."</p> + +<p>"He has been a thoroughly bad young man."</p> + +<p>"But, Papa—"</p> + +<p>"You must take my word for it when I tell you that I have positive +proof of what I am telling you."</p> + +<p>"But, Papa—"</p> + +<p>"Is not that enough?"</p> + +<p>"No, Papa. I am heartily sorry that he should have been what you call +a bad young man. I wish young men weren't so bad;—that there were no +racecourses, and betting, and all that. But if he had been my brother +instead of my <span class="nowrap">cousin—"</span></p> + +<p>"Don't talk about your brother, Emily."</p> + +<p>"Should we hate him because he has been unsteady? Should we not do +all that we could in the world to bring him back? I do not know that +we are to hate people because they do what they ought not to do."</p> + +<p>"We hate liars."</p> + +<p>"He is not a liar. I will not believe it."</p> + +<p>"Why did he tell you that he was not at those races, when he was +there as surely as you are here? But, my dear, I will not argue about +all this with you. It is not right that I should do so. It is my duty +to inquire into these things, and yours to believe me and to obey +me." Then he paused, but his daughter made no reply to him. He looked +into her face, and saw there that mark about her eyes which he knew +he so often showed himself; which he so well remembered with his +father. "I suppose you do believe me, Emily, when I tell you that he +is worthless."</p> + +<p>"He need not be worthless always."</p> + +<p>"His conduct has been such that he is unfit to be trusted with +anything."</p> + +<p>"He must be the head of our family some day, Papa."</p> + +<p>"That is our misfortune, my dear. No one can feel it as I do. But I +need not add to it the much greater misfortune of sacrificing to him +my only child."</p> + +<p>"If he was so bad, why did he come here?"</p> + +<p>"That is true. I did not expect to be rebuked by you, Emily, but I am +open to that rebuke."</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear Papa, indeed I did not mean to rebuke you. But I cannot +give him up."</p> + +<p>"You must give him up."</p> + +<p>"No, Papa. If I did, I should be false. I will not be false. You say +that he is false. I do not know that, but I will not be false. Let me +speak to you for one minute."</p> + +<p>"It is of no use."</p> + +<p>"But you will hear me, Papa. You always hear me when I speak to you." +She had left her chair now, and was standing close to him, not +leaning upon him as was her wont in their pleasantest moments of +fellowship, but ready to do so whenever she should find that his mood +would permit it. "I will never marry him without your leave."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Emily; I know how sacred is a promise from you."</p> + +<p>"But mine to him is equally sacred. I shall still be engaged to him. +I told him how it would be. I said that, as long as you or Mamma +lived, I would never marry without your leave. Nor would I see him, +or write to him without your knowledge. I told him so. But I told him +also that I would always be true to him. I mean to keep my word."</p> + +<p>"If you find him to be utterly worthless, you cannot be bound by such +a promise."</p> + +<p>"I hope it may not be so. I do not believe that it is so. I know him +too well to think that he can be utterly worthless. But if he was, +who should try to save him from worthlessness if not his nearest +relatives? We try to reclaim the worst criminals, and sometimes we +succeed. And he must be the head of the family. Remember that. Ought +we not to try to reclaim him? He cannot be worse than the prodigal +son."</p> + +<p>"He is ten times worse. I cannot tell you what has been his life."</p> + +<p>"Papa, I have often thought that in our rank of life society is +responsible for the kind of things which young men do. If he was at +Goodwood, which I do not believe, so was Mr. Stackpoole. If he was +betting, so was Mr. Stackpoole."</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Stackpoole did not lie."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that," she said, with a little toss of her head.</p> + +<p>"Emily, you have no business either to say or to think it."</p> + +<p>"I care nothing for Mr. Stackpoole whether he tells truth or not. He +and his wife have made themselves very disagreeable,—that is all. +But as for George, he is what he is, because other young men are +allowed to be the same."</p> + +<p>"You do not know the half of it."</p> + +<p>"I know as much as I want to know, Papa. Let one keep as clear of it +as one can, it is impossible not to hear how young men live. And yet +they are allowed to go everywhere, and are flattered and encouraged. +I do not pretend that George is better than others. I wish he were. +Oh, how I wish it! But such as he is he belongs in a way to us, and +we ought not to desert him. He belongs, I know, to me, and I will not +desert him."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry felt that there was no arguing with such a girl as this. +Some time since he had told her that it was unfit that he should be +brought into an argument with his own child, and there was nothing +now for him but to fall back upon the security which that assertion +gave him. He could not charge her with direct disobedience, because +she had promised him that she would not do any of those things which, +as a father, he had a right to forbid. He relied fully on her +promise, and so far might feel himself to be safe. Nevertheless he +was very unhappy. Of what service would his child be to him or he to +her, if he were doomed to see her pining from day to day with an +unpermitted love? It was the dearest wish of his heart to make her +happy, as it was his fondest ambition to see her so placed in the +world that she might be the happy transmitter of all the honours of +the house of Humblethwaite,—if she could not transmit all the +honours of the name. Time might help him. And then if she could be +made really to see how base was the clay of which had been made this +image which she believed to be of gold, might it not be that at last +she would hate a thing that was so vile? In order that she might do +so, he would persist in finding out what had been the circumstances +of this young man's life. If, as he believed, the things which George +Hotspur had done were such as in another rank of life would send the +perpetrator to the treadmill, surely then she would not cling to her +lover. It would not be in her nature to prefer that which was foul +and abominable and despised of all men. It was after this, when he +had seen Mr. Boltby, that the idea occurred to him of buying up +Cousin George, so that Cousin George should himself abandon his +engagement.</p> + +<p>"You had better go now, my dear," he said, after his last speech. "I +fully rely upon the promise you have made me. I know that I can rely +upon it. And you also may rely upon me. I give you my word as your +father that this man is unfit to be your husband, and that I should +commit a sin greater than I can describe to you were I to give my +sanction to such a marriage."</p> + +<p>Emily made no answer to this, but left the room without having once +leaned upon her father's shoulder.</p> + +<p>That look of hers troubled him sadly when he was alone. What was to +be the meaning of it, and what the result? She had given him almost +unasked the only promise which duty required her to give, but at the +same time she had assured him by her countenance, as well as by her +words, that she would be as faithful to her lover as she was prepared +to be obedient to her father. And then if there should come a long +contest of that nature, and if he should see her devoted year after +year to a love which she would not even try to cast off from her, how +would he be able to bear it? He, too, was firm, but he knew himself +to be as tender-hearted as he was obstinate. It would be more than he +could bear. All the world would be nothing for him then. And if there +were ever to be a question of yielding, it would be easier to do +something towards lessening the vileness of the man now than +hereafter. He, too, had some of that knowledge of the world which had +taught Lady Altringham to say that the young people in such contests +could always beat the old people. Thinking of this, and of that look +upon his child's brows, he almost vacillated again. Any amount of +dissipation he could now have forgiven; but to be a liar, too, and a +swindler! Before he went to bed that night he had made up his mind to +go to London and to see Mr. Boltby.</p> + + +<p><a name="c14" id="c14"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> +<h4>PERTINACITY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>On the day but one after the scene narrated in the last chapter Sir +Harry went to London, and Lady Elizabeth and Emily were left alone +together in the great house at Humblethwaite. Emily loved her mother +dearly. The proper relations of life were reversed between them, and +the younger domineered over the elder. But the love which the +daughter felt was probably the stronger on this account. Lady +Elizabeth never scolded, never snubbed, never made herself +disagreeable, was never cross; and Emily, with her strong perceptions +and keen intelligence, knew all her mother's excellence, and loved it +the better because of her mother's weakness. She preferred her +father's company, but no one could say she neglected her mother for +the sake of her father.</p> + +<p>Hitherto she had said very little to Lady Elizabeth as to her lover. +She had, in the first place, told her mother, and then had received +from her mother, second-hand, her father's disapproval. At that time +she had only said that it was "too late." Poor Lady Elizabeth had +been able to make no useful answer to this. It certainly was too +late. The evil should have been avoided by refusing admittance to +Cousin George both in London and at Humblethwaite. It certainly was +too late;—too late, that is, to avoid the evil altogether. The girl +had been asked for her heart, and had given it. It was very much too +late. But evils such as that do admit of remedy. It is not every girl +that can marry the man whom she first confesses that she loves. Lady +Elizabeth had some idea that her child, being nobler born and of more +importance than other people's children, ought to have been allowed +by fate to do so,—as there certainly is a something withdrawn from +the delicate aroma of a first-class young woman by any transfer of +affections;—but if it might not be so, even an Emily Hotspur must +submit to a lot not uncommon among young women in general, and wait +and wish till she could acknowledge to herself that her heart was +susceptible of another wound. That was the mother's hope at +present,—her hope, when she was positively told by Sir Harry that +George Hotspur was quite out of the question as a husband for the +heiress of Humblethwaite. But this would probably come the sooner if +little or nothing were said of George Hotspur.</p> + +<p>The reader need hardly be told that Emily herself regarded the matter +in a very different light. She also had her ideas about the delicacy +and the aroma of a maiden's love. She had confessed her love very +boldly to the man who had asked for it; had made her rich present +with a free hand, and had grudged nothing in the making of it. But +having given it, she understood it to be fixed as the heavens that +she could never give the same gift again. It was herself that she had +given, and there was no retracting the offering. She had thought, and +had then hoped, and had afterwards hoped more faintly, that the +present had been well bestowed;—that in giving it she had disposed +of herself well. Now they told her that it was not so, and that she +could hardly have disposed of herself worse. She would not believe +that; but, let it be as it might, the thing was done. She was his. He +had a right in her which she could not withdraw from him. Was not +this sort of giving acknowledged by all churches in which the words +for "better or for worse" were uttered as part of the marriage vow? +Here there had been as yet no church vow, and therefore her duty was +still due to her father. But the sort of sacrifice,—so often a +sacrifice of the good to the bad,—which the Church not only allowed +but required and sanctified, could be as well conveyed by one promise +as by another. What is a vow but a promise? and by what process are +such vows and promises made fitting between a man and a woman? Is it +not by that compelled rendering up of the heart which men call love? +She had found that he was dearer to her than everything in the world +besides; that to be near him was a luxury to her; that his voice was +music to her; that the flame of his eyes was sunlight; that his touch +was to her, as had never been the touch of any other human being. She +could submit to him, she who never would submit to any one. She could +delight to do his bidding, even though it were to bring him his +slippers. She had confessed nothing of this, even to herself, till he +had spoken to her on the bridge; but then, in a moment, she had known +that it was so, and had not coyed the truth with him by a single nay. +And now they told her that he was bad.</p> + +<p>Bad as he was, he had been good enough to win her. 'Twas thus she +argued with herself. Who was she that she should claim for herself +the right of having a man that was not bad? That other man that had +come to her, that Lord Alfred, was, she was told, good at all points; +and he had not moved her in the least. His voice had possessed no +music for her; and as for fetching his slippers for him,—he was to +her one of those men who seem to be created just that they might be +civil when wanted and then get out of the way! She had not been able +for a moment to bring herself to think of regarding him as her +husband. But this man, this bad man! From the moment that he had +spoken to her on the bridge, she knew that she was his for ever.</p> + +<p>It might be that she liked a bad man best. So she argued with herself +again. If it were so she must put up with what misfortune her own +taste might bring upon her. At any rate the thing was done, and why +should any man be thrown over simply because the world called him +bad? Was there to be no forgiveness for wrongs done between man and +man, when the whole theory of our religion was made to depend on +forgiveness from God to man? It is the duty of some one to reclaim an +evident prodigal; and why should it not be her duty to reclaim this +prodigal? Clearly, the very fact that she loved the prodigal would +give her a potentiality that way which she would have with no other +prodigal. It was at any rate her duty to try. It would at least be +her duty if they would allow her to be near enough to him to make the +attempt. Then she filled her mind with ideas of a long period of +probation, in which every best energy of her existence should be +given to this work of reclaiming the prodigal, so that at last she +might put her own hand into one that should be clean enough to +receive it. With such a task before her she could wait. She could +watch him and give all her heart to his welfare, and never be +impatient except that he might be made happy. As she thought of this, +she told herself plainly that the work would not be easy, that there +would be disappointment, almost heart-break, delays and sorrows; but +she loved him, and it would be her duty; and then, if she could be +successful, how great, how full of joy would be the triumph! Even if +she were to fail and perish in failing, it would be her duty. As for +giving him up because he had the misfortune to be bad, she would as +soon give him up on the score of any other misfortune;—because he +might lose a leg, or become deformed, or be stricken deaf by God's +hand! One does not desert those one loves, because of their +misfortunes! 'Twas thus she argued with herself, thinking that she +could see,—whereas, poor child, she was so very blind!</p> + +<p>"Mamma," she said, "has Papa gone up to town about Cousin George?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, my dear. He did not say why he was going."</p> + +<p>"I think he has. I wish I could make him understand."</p> + +<p>"Understand what, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"All that I feel about it. I am sure it would save him much trouble. +Nothing can ever separate me from my cousin."</p> + +<p>"Pray don't say so, Emily."</p> + +<p>"Nothing can. Is it not better that you and he should know the truth? +Papa goes about trying to find out all the naughty things that George +has ever done. There has been some mistake about a race meeting, and +all manner of people are asked to give what Papa calls evidence that +Cousin George was there. I do not doubt but George has been what +people call dissipated."</p> + +<p>"We do hear such dreadful stories!"</p> + +<p>"You would not have thought anything about them if it had not been +for me. He is not worse now than when he came down here last year. +And he was always asked to Bruton Street."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by this, dear?"</p> + +<p>"I do not mean to say that young men ought to do all these things, +whatever they are,—getting into debt, and betting, and living fast. +Of course it is very wrong. But when a young man has been brought up +in that way, I do think he ought not to be thrown over by his nearest +and dearest friends"—that last epithet was uttered with all the +emphasis which Emily could give to it—"because he falls into +temptation."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid George has been worse than others, Emily."</p> + +<p>"So much the more reason for trying to save him. If a man be in the +water, you do not refuse to throw him a rope because the water is +deep."</p> + +<p>"But, dearest, your papa is thinking of you." Lady Elizabeth was not +quick enough of thought to explain to her daughter that if the rope +be of more value than the man, and if the chance of losing the rope +be much greater than that of saving the man, then the rope is not +thrown.</p> + +<p>"And I am thinking of George," said Emily.</p> + +<p>"But if it should appear that he had done things,—the wickedest +things in the world?"</p> + +<p>"I might break my heart in thinking of it, but I should never give +him up."</p> + +<p>"If he were a murderer?" suggested Lady Elizabeth, with horror.</p> + +<p>The girl paused, feeling herself to be hardly pressed, and then came +that look upon her brow which Lady Elizabeth understood as well as +did Sir Harry. "Then I would be a murderer's wife," she said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Emily!"</p> + +<p>"I must make you understand me, Mamma, and I want Papa to understand +it too. No consideration on earth shall make me say that I will give +him up. They may prove if they like that he was on all the +racecourses in the world, and get that Mrs. Stackpoole to swear to +it;—and it is ten times worse for a woman to go than it is for a +man, at any rate;—but it will make no difference. If you and Papa +tell me not to see him or write to him,—much less to marry him,—of +course I shall obey you. But I shall not give him up a bit the more, +and he must not be told that I will give him up. I am sure Papa will +not wish that anything untrue should be told. George will always be +to me the dearest thing in the whole world,—dearer than my own soul. +I shall pray for him every night, and think of him all day long. And +as to the property, Papa may be quite sure that he can never arrange +it by any marriage that I shall make. No man shall ever speak to me +in that way, if I can help it. I won't go where any man can speak to +me. I will obey,—but it will be at the cost of my life. Of course I +will obey Papa and you; but I cannot alter my heart. Why was he +allowed to come here,—the head of our own family,—if he be so bad +as this? Bad or good, he will always be all the world to me."</p> + +<p>To such a daughter as this Lady Elizabeth had very little to say that +might be of avail. She could quote Sir Harry, and entertain some dim +distant wish that Cousin George might even yet be found to be not +quite so black as he had been painted.</p> + + +<p><a name="c15" id="c15"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> +<h4>COUSIN GEORGE IS HARD PRESSED.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>The very sensible and, as one would have thought, very manifest idea +of buying up Cousin George originated with Mr. Boltby. "He will have +his price, Sir Harry," said the lawyer. Then Sir Harry's eyes were +opened, and so excellent did this mode of escape seem to him that he +was ready to pay almost any price for the article. He saw it at a +glance. Emily had high-flown notions, and would not yield; he feared +that she would not yield, let Cousin George's delinquencies be shown +to be as black as Styx. But if Cousin George could be made to give +her up,—then Emily must yield; and, yielding in such manner, having +received so rude a proof of her lover's unworthiness, it could not be +but that her heart would be changed. Sir Harry's first idea of a +price was very noble; all debts to be paid, a thousand a year for the +present, and Scarrowby to be attached to the title. What price would +be too high to pay for the extrication of his daughter from so +grievous a misfortune? But Mr. Boltby was more calm. As to the +payment of the debts,—yes, within a certain liberal limit. For the +present, an income of five hundred pounds he thought would be almost +as efficacious a bait as double the amount; and it would be well to +tack to it the necessity of a residence abroad. It might, perhaps, +serve to get the young man out of the country for a time. If the +young man bargained on either of these headings, the matter could be +reconsidered by Mr. Boltby; as to settling Scarrowby on the title, +Mr. Boltby was clearly against it. "He would raise every shilling he +could on post-obits within twelve months." At last the offer was made +in the terms with which the reader is already acquainted. George was +sent off from the lawyer's chambers with directions to consider the +terms, and Mr. Boltby gave his clerk some little instructions for +perpetuating the irritation on the young man which Hart and Stubber +together were able to produce. The young man should be made to +understand that hungry creditors, who had been promised their money +on certain conditions, could become very hungry indeed.</p> + +<p>George Hotspur, blackguard and worthless as he was, did not at first +realize the fact that Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby were endeavouring to +buy him. He was asked to give up his cousin, and he was told that if +he did so a certain very generous amount of pecuniary assistance +should be given to him; but yet he did not at the first glance +perceive that one was to be the price of the other,—that if he took +the one he would meanly have sold the other. It certainly would have +been very pleasant to have all his debts paid for him, and the offer +of five hundred pounds a year was very comfortable. Of the additional +sum to be given when Sir Harry should die, he did not think so much. +It might probably be a long time coming, and then Sir Harry would of +course be bound to do something for the title. As for living +abroad,—he might promise that, but they could not make him keep his +promise. He would not dislike to travel for six months, on condition +that he should be well provided with ready money. There was much that +was alluring in the offer, and he began to think whether he could not +get it all without actually abandoning his cousin. But then he was to +give a written pledge to that effect, which, if given, no doubt would +be shown to her. No; that would not do. Emily was his prize; and +though he did not value her at her worth, not understanding such +worth, still he had an idea that she would be true to him. Then at +last came upon him an understanding of the fact, and he perceived +that a bribe had been offered to him.</p> + +<p>For half a day he was so disgusted at the idea that his virtue was +rampant within him. Sell his Emily for money? Never! His Emily,—and +all her rich prospects, and that for a sum so inadequate! They little +knew their man when they made a proposition so vile! That evening, at +his club, he wrote a letter to Sir Harry, and the letter as soon as +written was put into the club letter-box, addressed to the house in +Bruton Street; in which, with much indignant eloquence, he declared +that the Baronet little understood the warmth of his love, or the +extent of his ambition in regard to the family. "I shall be quite +ready to submit to any settlements," he said, "so long as the +property is entailed upon the Baronet who shall come after myself; I +need not say that I hope the happy fellow may be my own son."</p> + +<p>But, on the next morning, on his first waking, his ideas were more +vague, and a circumstance happened which tended to divert them from +the current in which they had run on the preceding evening. When he +was going through the sad work of dressing, he bethought himself that +he could not at once force this marriage on Sir Harry—could not do +so, perhaps, within a twelvemonth or more, let Emily be ever so true +to him,—and that his mode of living had become so precarious as to +be almost incompatible with that outward decency which would be +necessary for him as Emily's suitor. He was still very indignant at +the offer made to him, which was indeed bribery of which Sir Harry +ought to be ashamed; but he almost regretted that his letter to Sir +Harry had been sent. It had not been considered enough, and certainly +should not have been written simply on after-dinner consideration. +Something might have been inserted with the view of producing ready +money, something which might have had a flavour of yielding, but +which could not have been shown to Emily as an offer on his part to +abandon her; and then he had a general feeling that his letter had +been too grandiloquent,—all arising, no doubt, from a fall in +courage incidental to a sick stomach.</p> + +<p>But before he could get out of his hotel a visitor was upon him. Mr. +Hart desired to see him. At this moment he would almost have +preferred to see Captain Stubber. He remembered at the moment that +Mr. Hart was acquainted with Mr. Walker, and that Mr. Walker would +probably have sought the society of Mr. Hart after a late occurrence +in which he, Cousin George, had taken part. He was going across to +breakfast at his club, when he found himself almost forced to +accompany Mr. Hart into a little private room at the left hand of the +hall of the hotel. He wanted his breakfast badly, and was altogether +out of humour. He had usually found Mr. Hart to be an enduring man, +not irascible, though very pertinacious, and sometimes almost +good-natured. For a moment he thought he would bully Mr. Hart, but +when he looked into Mr. Hart's face, his heart misgave him.</p> + +<p>"This is a most inconvenient time—," he had begun. But he hesitated, +and Mr. Hart began his attack at once.</p> + +<p>"Captain 'Oshspur—sir, let me tell you this von't do no longer."</p> + +<p>"What won't do, Mr. Hart?"</p> + +<p>"Vat von't do? You know vat von't do. Let me tell you this. You'll be +at the Old Bailey very soon, if you don't do just vat you is told to +do."</p> + +<p>"Me at the Old Bailey!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Captain 'Oshspur,—you at the Old Bailey. In vat vay did you +get those moneys from poor Mr. Valker? I know vat I says. More than +three hundred pounds! It was card-sharping."</p> + +<p>"Who says it was card-sharping?"</p> + +<p>"I says so, Captain 'Oshspur, and so does Mr. Bullbean. Mr. Bullbean +vill prove it." Mr. Bullbean was a gentleman known well to Mr. Hart, +who had made one of the little party at Mr. Walker's establishment, +by means of which Cousin George had gone, flush of money, down among +his distinguished friends in Norfolk. "Vat did you do with poor +Valker's moneys? It vas very hard upon poor Mr. Valker,—very hard."</p> + +<p>"It was fair play, Mr. Hart."</p> + +<p>"Gammon, Captain 'Oshspur! Vere is the moneys?"</p> + +<p>"What business is that of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well. Bullbean is quite ready to go before a +magistrate,—ready at once. I don't know how that vill help us with +our pretty cousin with all the fortune."</p> + +<p>"How will it help you then?"</p> + +<p>"Look here, Captain 'Oshspur; I vill tell you vat vill help me, and +vill help Captain Stubber, and vill help everybody. The young lady +isn't for you at all. I know all about it, Captain 'Oshspur. Mr. +Boltby is a very nice gentleman, and understands business."</p> + +<p>"What is Mr. Boltby to me?"</p> + +<p>"He is a great deal to me, because he vill pay me my moneys, and he +vill pay Captain Stubber, and vill pay everybody. He vill pay you +too, Captain 'Oshspur,—only you must pay poor Valker his moneys. I +have promised Valker he shall have back his moneys, or Sir Harry +shall know that too. You must just give up the young woman;—eh, +Captain 'Oshspur!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to be dictated to, Mr. Hart."</p> + +<p>"When gentlemans is in debt they must be dictated to, or else be +quodded. We mean to have our money from Mr. Boltby, and that at once. +Here is the offer to pay it,—every shilling,—and to pay you! You +must give the lady up. You must go to Mr. Boltby, and write just what +he tells you. If you don't—!"</p> + +<p>"Well, if I don't!"</p> + +<p>"By the living God, before two weeks are over you shall be in prison. +Bullbean saw it all. Now you know, Captain 'Oshspur. You don't like +dictating to, don't you? If you don't do as you're dictated to, and +that mighty sharp, as sure as my name is Abraham Hart, everything +shall come out. Every <span class="nowrap">d——d</span> +thing, Captain 'Oshspur! And now good +morning, Captain 'Oshspur. You had better see Mr. Boltby to-day, +Captain 'Oshspur."</p> + +<p>How was a man so weighted to run for such stakes as those he was +striving to carry off? When Mr. Hart left him he was not only sick in +the stomach, but sick at heart also,—sick all over. He had gone from +bad to worse; he had lost the knowledge of the flavour of vice and +virtue; and yet now, when there was present to him the vanishing +possibility of redeeming everything by this great marriage, it seemed +to him that a life of honourable ease—such a life as Sir Harry would +wish him to live if permitted to marry the girl and dwell among his +friends at Humblethwaite—would be much sweeter, much more to his +real taste, than the life which he had led for the last ten years. +What had been his positive delights? In what moments had he actually +enjoyed them? From first to last had there not been trouble and +danger and vexation of spirit, and a savour of dirt about it all, +which even to his palate had been nauseous? Would he not willingly +reform? And yet, when the prospect of reform was brought within reach +of his eyes, of a reform so pleasant in all its accompaniments, of +reform amidst all the wealth of Humblethwaite, with Emily Hotspur by +his side, there came these harpies down upon him rendering it all +impossible. Thrice, in speaking of them to himself, he called them +harpies; but it never occurred to him to think by what name Mr. +Walker would have designated him.</p> + +<p>But things around him were becoming so serious that he must do +something. It might be that he would fall to the ground, losing +everything. He could not understand about Bullbean. Bullbean had had +his share of the plunder in regard to all that he had seen. The best +part of the evening's entertainment had taken place after Mr. +Bullbean had retired. No doubt, however, Mr. Bullbean might do him a +damage.</p> + +<p>He had written to Sir Harry, refusing altogether the offer made to +him. Could he, after writing such a letter, at once go to the lawyer +and accept the offer? And must he admit to himself, finally, that it +was altogether beyond his power to win his cousin's hand? Was there +no hope of that life at Humblethwaite which, when contemplated at a +distance, had seemed to him to be so green and pleasant? And what +would Emily think of him? In the midst of all his other miseries that +also was a misery. He was able, though steeped in worthlessness, so +to make for himself a double identity as to imagine and to personify +a being who should really possess fine and manly aspirations with +regard to a woman, and to look upon himself,—his second self,—as +that being; and to perceive with how withering a contempt such a +being would contemplate such another man as was in truth the real +George Hotspur, whose actual sorrows and troubles had now become so +unendurable.</p> + +<p>Who would help him in his distress? The Altringhams were still in +Scotland, and he knew well that, though Lady Altringham was fond of +him, and though Lord Altringham liked him, there was no assistance to +be had there of the kind that he needed. His dearly intimate +distinguished friends in Norfolk, with whom he had been always +"George," would not care if they heard that he had been crucified. It +seemed to him that the world was very hard and very cruel. Who did +care for him? There were two women who cared for him, who really +loved him, who would make almost any sacrifice for him, who would +even forget his sins, or at least forgive them. He was sure of that. +Emily Hotspur loved him, but there were no means by which he could +reach Emily Hotspur. She loved him, but she would not so far disobey +her father and mother, or depart from her own word, as to receive +even a letter from him. But the other friend who loved him,—he still +could see her. He knew well the time at which he would find her at +home, and some three or four hours after his interview with Mr. Hart +he knocked at Mrs. Morton's door.</p> + +<p>"Well, George," she said, "how does your wooing thrive?"</p> + +<p>He had no preconceived plan in coming to her. He was possessed by +that desire, which we all of us so often feel, to be comforted by +sympathy; but he hardly knew even how to describe the want of it.</p> + +<p>"It does not thrive at all," he said, throwing himself gloomily into +an easy chair.</p> + +<p>"That is bad news. Has the lady turned against you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no," said he, moodily,—"nothing of that sort."</p> + +<p>"That would be impossible, would it not? Fathers are stern, but to +such a one as you daughters are always kind. That is what you mean; +eh, George?"</p> + +<p>"I wish you would not chaff me, Lucy. I am not well, and I did not +come to be chaffed."</p> + +<p>"The chaffing is all to be on one side, is it, George? Well; I will +say nothing to add to your discomforts. What is it ails you? You will +drink liqueurs after dinner. That is what makes you so wretched. And +I believe you drink them before dinner too."</p> + +<p>"Hardly ever. I don't do such a thing three times in a month. It is +not that; but things do trouble me so."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Sir Harry is not well pleased."</p> + +<p>"He is doing what he ought not to do, I must say that;—quite what I +call ungentlemanlike. A lawyer should never be allowed to interfere +between gentlemen. I wonder who would stand it, if an attorney were +set to work to make all manner of inquiries about everything that he +had ever done?"</p> + +<p>"I could not, certainly. I should cave in at once, as the boys say."</p> + +<p>"Other men have been as bad as I have, I suppose. He is sending about +everywhere."</p> + +<p>"Not only sending, George, but going himself. Do you know that Sir +Harry did me the honour of visiting me?"</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"But he did. He sat there in that very chair, and talked to me in a +manner that nobody ever did before, certainly. What a fine old man he +is, and how handsome!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he is a good-looking old fellow."</p> + +<p>"So like you, George."</p> + +<p>"Is he?"</p> + +<p>"Only you know, less,—less,—less, what shall I say?—less +good-natured, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean. He is not such a fool as I am."</p> + +<p>"You're not a fool at all, George; but sometimes you are weak. He +looks to be strong. Is she like him?"</p> + +<p>"Very like him."</p> + +<p>"Then she must be handsome."</p> + +<p>"Handsome; I should think she is too!" said George, quite forgetting +the description of his cousin which he had given some days previously +to Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>She smiled, but took no notice aloud of his blunder. She knew him so +well that she understood it all. "Yes," she went on; "he came here +and said some bitter things. He said more, perhaps, than he ought to +have done."</p> + +<p>"About me, Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"I think that he spoke chiefly about myself. There was a little +explanation, and then he behaved very well. I have no quarrel with +him myself. He is a fine old gentleman; and having one only daughter, +and a large fortune, I do not wonder that he should want to make +inquiries before he gives her to you."</p> + +<p>"He could do that without an attorney."</p> + +<p>"Would you tell him the truth? The fact is, George, that you are not +the sort of son-in-law that fathers like. I suppose it will be off; +eh, George?" George made no immediate reply. "It is not likely that +she should have the constancy to stick to it for years, and I am sure +you will not. Has he offered you money?" Then George told her almost +with accuracy the nature of the proposition made to him.</p> + +<p>"It is very generous," she said.</p> + +<p>"I don't see much of that."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is very generous."</p> + +<p>"What ought a fellow to do?"</p> + +<p>"Only fancy, that you should come to me to ask me such a question!"</p> + +<p>"I know you will tell me true."</p> + +<p>"Do you love her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"With all your heart?"</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of that? I do love her."</p> + +<p>"Better than her father's money?"</p> + +<p>"Much better."</p> + +<p>"Then stick to her through thick and thin. But you don't. I must not +advise you in accordance with what you say, but with what I think. +You will be beaten, certainly. She will never be your wife; and were +you so married, you would not be happy with such people. But she will +never be your wife. Take Sir Harry's offer, and write to her a +letter, explaining how it is best for all that you should do so."</p> + +<p>He paused a moment, and then he asked her one other question: "Would +you write the letter for me, Lucy?"</p> + +<p>She smiled again as she answered him: "Yes; if you make up your mind +to do as Sir Harry asks you, I will write a draft of what I think you +should say to her."</p> + + +<p><a name="c16" id="c16"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> +<h4>SIR HARRY'S RETURN.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Sir Harry received the grandly worded and indignant letter which had +been written at the club, and Cousin George hesitated as to that +other letter which his friend was to dictate for him. Consequently it +became necessary that Sir Harry should leave London before the matter +was settled. In truth the old Baronet liked the grandly worded and +indignant letter. It was almost such a letter as a Hotspur should +write on such an occasion. There was an admission of pecuniary +weakness which did not quite become a Hotspur, but otherwise the +letter was a good letter. Before he left London he took the letter +with him to Mr. Boltby, and on his way thither could not refrain from +counting up all the good things which would befall him and his if +only this young man might be reclaimed and recast in a mould such as +should fit the heir of the Hotspurs. He had been very bad,—so bad +that when Sir Harry counted up his sins they seemed to be as black as +night. And then, as he thought of them, the father would declare to +himself that he would not imperil his daughter by trusting her to one +who had shown himself to be so evil. But again another mode of +looking at it all would come upon him. The kind of vice of which +George had been undoubtedly guilty was very distasteful to Sir Harry; +it had been ignoble and ungentlemanlike vice. He had been a liar, and +not only a gambler, but a professional gambler. He had not simply got +into debt, but he had got into debt in a fashion that was +fraudulent;—so at least Sir Harry thought. And yet, need it be said +that this reprobate was beyond the reach of all forgiveness? Had not +men before him done as bad, and yet were brought back within the pale +of decent life? In this still vacillating mood of mind Sir Harry +reached his lawyer's. Mr. Boltby did not vacillate at all. When he +was shown the letter he merely smiled.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it is a bad letter," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"Words mean so little, Sir Harry," said Mr. Boltby, "and come so +cheap."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry turned the letter over in his hand and frowned; he did not +quite like to be told even by his confidential lawyer that he was +mistaken. Unconsciously he was telling himself that after all George +Hotspur had been born a gentleman, and that therefore, underlying all +the young man's vileness and villany there must be a substratum of +noble soil of which the lawyer perhaps knew nothing. Mr. Boltby saw +that his client was doubting, and having given much trouble to the +matter, and not being afraid of Sir Harry, he determined to speak his +mind freely.</p> + +<p>"Sir Harry," he said, "in this matter I must tell you what I really +think."</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to have to speak ill of one bearing your name; and were +not the matter urgent as it is, I should probably repress something +of my opinion. As it is, I do not dare to do so. You could not in all +London find a man less fit to be the husband of Miss Hotspur than her +cousin."</p> + +<p>"He is a gentleman—by birth," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"He is an unprincipled blackguard by education, and the more +blackguard because of his birth; there is nothing too bad for him to +do, and very little so bad but what he has done it. He is a gambler, +a swindler, and, as I believe, a forger and a card-sharper. He has +lived upon the wages of the woman he has professed to love. He has +shown himself to be utterly spiritless, abominable, and vile. If my +clerk in the next room were to slap his face, I do not believe that +he would resent it." Sir Harry frowned, and moved his feet rapidly on +the floor. "In my thorough respect and regard for you, Sir Harry," +continued Mr. Boltby, "I have undertaken a work which I would not +have done for above two or three other men in the world beside +yourself. I am bound to tell you the result, which is this,—that I +would sooner give my own girl to the sweeper at the crossing than to +George Hotspur."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry's brow was very black. Perhaps he had not quite known his +lawyer. Perhaps it was that he had less power of endurance than he +had himself thought in regard to the mention of his own family +affairs. "Of course," he said, "I am greatly indebted to you, Mr. +Boltby, for the trouble you have taken."</p> + +<p>"I only hope it may be of service to you."</p> + +<p>"It has been of service. What may be the result in regard to this +unfortunate young man I cannot yet say. He has refused our offer,—I +must say as I think—honourably."</p> + +<p>"It means nothing."</p> + +<p>"How nothing, Mr. Boltby?"</p> + +<p>"No man accepts such a bargain at first. He is playing his hand +against yours, Sir Harry, and he knows that he has got a very good +card in his own. It was not to be supposed that he would give in at +once. In besieging a town the surest way is to starve the garrison. +Wait a while and he will give in. When a town has within its walls +such vultures as will now settle upon him, it cannot stand out very +long. I shall hear more of him before many days are over."</p> + +<p>"You think, then, that I may return to Humblethwaite."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Sir Harry; but I hope, Sir Harry, that you will return +with the settled conviction on your mind that this young man must not +on any consideration be allowed to enter your family."</p> + +<p>The lawyer meant well, but he overdid his work. Sir Harry got up and +shook hands with him and thanked him, but left the room with some +sense of offence. He had come to Mr. Boltby for information, and he +had received it. But he was not quite sure that he had intended that +Mr. Boltby should advise him touching his management of his own +daughter. Mr. Boltby, he thought, had gone a little beyond his +tether. Sir Harry acknowledged to himself that he had learned a great +deal about his cousin, and it was for him to judge after that whether +he would receive his cousin at Humblethwaite. Mr. Boltby should not +have spoken about the crossing-sweeper. And then Sir Harry was not +quite sure that he liked that idea of setting vultures upon a man; +and Sir Harry remembered something of his old lore as a hunting man. +It is astonishing what blood will do in bringing a horse through mud +at the end of a long day. Mr. Boltby probably did not understand how +much, at the very last, might be expected from breeding. When Sir +Harry left Mr. Boltby's chambers he was almost better-minded towards +Cousin George than he had been when he entered them; and in this +frame of mind, both for and against the young man, he returned to +Humblethwaite. It must not be supposed, however, that as the result +of the whole he was prepared to yield. He knew, beyond all doubt, +that his cousin was thoroughly a bad subject,—a worthless and, as he +believed, an irredeemable scamp; but yet he thought of what might +happen if he were to yield!</p> + +<p>Things were very sombre when he reached Humblethwaite. Of course his +wife could not refrain from questions. "It is very bad," he +said,—"as bad as can be."</p> + +<p>"He has gambled?"</p> + +<p>"Gambled! If that were all! You had better not ask about it; he is a +disgrace to the family."</p> + +<p>"Then there can be no hope for Emily?"</p> + +<p>"No hope! Why should there not be hope? All her life need not depend +on her fancy for a man of whom after all she has not seen so very +much. She must get over it. Other girls have had to do the same."</p> + +<p>"She is not like other girls, Harry."</p> + +<p>"How not like them?"</p> + +<p>"I think she is more persistent; she has set her heart upon loving +this young man, and she will love him."</p> + +<p>"Then she must."</p> + +<p>"She will break her heart," said Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"She will break mine, I know," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>When he met his daughter he had embraced her, and she had kissed him +and asked after his welfare; but he felt at once that she was +different from what she used to be,—different, not only as regarded +herself, but different also in her manner. There came upon him a sad, +ponderous conviction that the sunlight had gone out from their joint +lives, that all pleasant things were over for both of them, and that, +as for him, it would be well for him that he should die. He could not +be happy if there were discord between him and his child,—and there +must be discord. The man had been invited with a price to take +himself off, and had not been sufficiently ignoble to accept the +offer. How could he avoid the discord, and bring back the warmth of +the sun into his house? Then he remembered those terribly forcible +epithets which Mr. Boltby had spoken. "He is an unprincipled +blackguard; and the worse blackguard because of his birth." The words +had made Sir Harry angry, but he believed them to be true. If there +were to be any yielding, he would not yield as yet; but that living +in his house without sunshine was very grievous to him. "She will +kill me," he said to himself, "if she goes on like this."</p> + +<p>And yet it was hard to say of what it was that he complained. Days +went by and his daughter said nothing and did nothing of which he +could complain. It was simply this,—that the sunshine was no longer +bright within his halls. Days went by, and George Hotspur's name had +never been spoken by Emily in the hearing of her father or mother. +Such duties as there were for her to do were done. The active duties +of a girl in her position are very few. It was her custom of a +morning to spread butter on a bit of toast for her father to eat. +This she still did, and brought it to him as was her wont; but she +did not bring it with her old manner. It was a thing still +done,—simply because not to do it would be an omission to be +remarked. "Never mind it," said her father the fourth or fifth +morning after his return, "I'd sooner do it for myself." She did not +say a word, but on the next morning the little ceremony, which had +once been so full of pleasant affection, was discontinued. She had +certain hours of reading, and these were prolonged rather than +abandoned. But both her father and mother perceived that her books +were changed; her Italian was given up, and she took to works of +religion,—sermons, treatises, and long commentaries.</p> + +<p>"It will kill me," said Sir Harry to his wife.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it will kill her," said Lady Elizabeth. "Do you see how +her colour has gone, and she eats so little!"</p> + +<p>"She walks every day."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and comes in so tired. And she goes to church every Wednesday +and Friday at Hesket. I'm sure she is not fit for it such weather as +this."</p> + +<p>"She has the carriage?"</p> + +<p>"No, she walks."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Harry gave orders that his daughter should always have the +carriage on Wednesdays and Fridays. But Emily, when her mother told +her this, insisted that she would sooner walk.</p> + +<p>But what did the carriage or no carriage on Wednesday signify? The +trouble was deeper than that. It was so deep that both father and +mother felt that something must be done, or the trouble would become +too heavy for their backs. Ten days passed and nothing was heard +either from Mr. Boltby or from Cousin George. Sir Harry hardly knew +what it was then he expected to hear; but it seemed that he did +expect something. He was nervous at the hour of post, and was aware +himself that he was existing on from day to day with the idea of soon +doing some special thing,—he knew not what,—but something that +might put an end to the frightful condition of estrangement between +him and his child in which he was now living. It told even upon his +duty among his tenants. It told upon his farm. It told upon almost +every workman in the parish. He had no heart for doing anything. It +did not seem certain to him that he could continue to live in his own +house. He could not bring himself to order that this wood should be +cut, or that those projected cottages should be built. Everything was +at a standstill; and it was clear to him that Emily knew that all +this had come from her rash love for her cousin George. She never now +came and stood at his elbow in his own room, or leaned upon his +shoulder; she never now asked him questions, or brought him out from +his papers to decide questions in the garden,—or rather to allow +himself to be ruled by her decisions. There were greetings between +them morning and evening, and questions were asked and answered +formally; but there was no conversation. "What have I done that I +should be punished in this way?" said Sir Harry to himself.</p> + +<p>If he was prompt to think himself hardly used, so also was his +daughter. In considering the matter in her own mind she had found it +to be her duty to obey her father in her outward conduct, founding +her convictions in this matter upon precedent and upon the general +convictions of the world. In the matter of bestowing herself upon a +suitor, a girl is held to be subject to her parents. So much she +knew, or believed that she knew; and therefore she would obey. She +had read and heard of girls who would correspond with their lovers +clandestinely, would run away with their lovers, would marry their +lovers as it were behind their fathers' backs. No act of this kind +would she do. She had something within her which would make it +dreadful to her ever to have to admit that she had been personally +wrong,—some mixture of pride and principle, which was strong enough +to keep her stedfast in her promised obedience. She would do nothing +that could be thrown in her teeth; nothing that could be called +unfeminine, indelicate, or undutiful. But she had high ideas of what +was due to herself, and conceived that she would be wronged by her +father, should her father take advantage of her sense of duty to +crush her heart. She had her own rights and her own privileges, with +which grievous and cruel interference would be made, should her +father, because he was her father, rob her of the only thing which +was sweet to her taste or desirable in her esteem. Because she was +his heiress he had no right to make her his slave. But even should he +do so, she had in her own hands a certain security. The bondage of a +slave no doubt he might allot to her, but not the task-work. Because +she would cling to her duty and keep the promise which she had made +to him, it would be in his power to prevent the marriage upon which +she had set her heart; but it was not within his power, or within his +privilege as a father, to force upon her any other marriage. She +would never help him with her hand in that adjustment of his property +of which he thought so much unless he would help her in her love. And +in the meantime sunshine should be banished from the house, such +sunshine as had shone round her head. She did not so esteem herself +as to suppose that, because she was sad, therefore her father and +mother would be wretched; but she did feel herself bound to +contribute to the house in general all the wretchedness which might +come from her own want of sunlight. She suffered under a terrible +feeling of ill-usage. Why was she, because she was a girl and an +heiress, to be debarred from her own happiness? If she were willing +to risk herself, why should others interfere? And if the life and +conduct of her cousin were in truth so bad as they were +represented,—which she did not in the least believe,—why had he +been allowed to come within her reach? It was not only that he was +young, clever, handsome, and in every way attractive, but that, in +addition to all this, he was a Hotspur, and would some day be the +head of the Hotspurs. Her father had known well enough that her +family pride was equal to his own. Was it not natural that, when a +man so endowed had come in her way, she should learn to love him? And +when she had loved him, was it not right that she should cling to her +love?</p> + +<p>Her father would fain treat her like a beast of burden kept in the +stables for a purpose; or like a dog whose obedience and affections +might be transferred from one master to another for a price. She +would obey her father; but her father should be made to understand +that hers was not the nature of a beast of burden or of a dog. She +was a Hotspur as thoroughly as was he. And then they brought men +there to her, selected suitors, whom she despised. What did they +think of her when imagining that she would take a husband not of her +own choosing? What must be their idea of love, and of marriage duty, +and of that close intercourse of man and wife? To her feeling a woman +should not marry at all unless she could so love a man as to +acknowledge to herself that she was imperatively required to +sacrifice all that belonged to her for his welfare and good. Such was +her love for George Hotspur,—let him be what he might. They told her +that he was bad and that he would drag her into the mud. She was +willing to be dragged into the mud; or, at any rate, to make her own +struggle during the dragging, as to whether he should drag her in, or +she should drag him out.</p> + +<p>And then they brought men to her—walking-sticks,—Lord Alfred and +young Mr. Thoresby, and insulted her by supposing of her that she +would marry a man simply because he was brought there as a fitting +husband. She would be dutiful and obedient as a daughter, according +to her idea of duty and of principle; but she would let them know +that she had an identity of her own, and that she was not to be +moulded like a piece of clay.</p> + +<p>No doubt she was hard upon her father. No doubt she was in very truth +disobedient and disrespectful. It was not that she should have +married any Lord Alfred that was brought to her, but that she should +have struggled to accommodate her spirit to her father's spirit. But +she was a Hotspur; and though she could be generous, she could not +yield. And then the hold of a child upon the father is so much +stronger than that of the father on the child! Our eyes are set in +our face, and are always turned forward. The glances that we cast +back are but occasional.</p> + +<p>And so the sunshine was banished from the house of Humblethwaite, and +the days were as black as the night.</p> + + +<p><a name="c17" id="c17"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> +<h4>"LET US TRY."<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Things went on thus at Humblethwaite for three weeks, and Sir Harry +began to feel that he could endure it no longer. He had expected to +have heard again from Mr. Boltby, but no letter had come. Mr. Boltby +had suggested to him something of starving out the town, and he had +expected to be informed before this whether the town were starved out +or not. He had received an indignant and grandiloquent letter from +his cousin, of which as yet he had taken no notice. He had taken no +notice of the letter, although it had been written to decline a +proposal of very great moment made by himself. He felt that in these +circumstances Mr. Boltby ought to have written to him. He ought to +have been told what was being done. And yet he had left Mr. Boltby +with a feeling which made it distasteful to him to ask further +questions from the lawyer on the subject. Altogether his position was +one as disagreeable and painful as it well could be.</p> + +<p>But at last, in regard to his own private life with his daughter, he +could bear it no longer. The tenderness of his heart was too much for +his pride, and he broke down in his resolution to be stern and silent +with her till all this should have passed by them. She was so much +more to him than he was to her! She was his all in all;—whereas +Cousin George was hers. He was the happier at any rate in this, that +he would never be forced to despise where he loved.</p> + +<p>"Emily," he said to her at last, "why is it that you are so changed +to me?"</p> + +<p>"Papa!"</p> + +<p>"Are you not changed? Do you not know that everything about the house +is changed?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Papa."</p> + +<p>"And why is it so? I do not keep away from you. You used to come to +me every day. You never come near me now."</p> + +<p>She hesitated for a moment with her eyes turned to the ground, and +then as she answered him she looked him full in the face. "It is +because I am always thinking of my cousin George."</p> + +<p>"But why should that keep us apart, Emily? I wish that it were not +so; but why should that keep us apart?"</p> + +<p>"Because you are thinking of him too, and think so differently! You +hate him; but I love him."</p> + +<p>"I do not hate him. It is not that I hate him. I hate his vices."</p> + +<p>"So do I."</p> + +<p>"I know that he is not a fit man for you to marry. I have not been +able to tell you the things that I know of him."</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to be told."</p> + +<p>"But you might believe me when I assure you that they are of a nature +to make you change your feelings towards him. At this very moment he +is attached to—to—another person."</p> + +<p>Emily Hotspur blushed up to her brows, and her cheeks and forehead +were suffused with blood; but her mouth was set as firm as a rock, +and then came that curl over her eye which her father had so dearly +loved when she was a child, but which was now held by him to be so +dangerous. She was not going to be talked out of her love in that +way. Of course there had been things,—were things of which she knew +nothing and desired to know nothing. Though she herself was as pure +as the driven snow, she did not require to be told that there were +impurities in the world. If it was meant to be insinuated that he was +untrue to her, she simply disbelieved it. But what if he were? His +untruth would not justify hers. And untruth was impossible to her. +She loved him, and had told him so. Let him be ever so false, it was +for her to bring him back to truth or to spend herself in the +endeavour. Her father did not understand her at all when he talked to +her after this fashion. But she said nothing. Her father was alluding +to a matter on which she could say nothing.</p> + +<p>"If I could explain to you the way in which he has raised money for +his daily needs, you would feel that he had degraded himself beneath +your notice."</p> + +<p>"He cannot degrade himself beneath my notice;—not now. It is too +late."</p> + +<p>"But, Emily,—do you mean to say then that, let you set your +affections where you might,—however wrongly, on however base a +subject,—your mamma and I ought to yield to them, merely because +they are so set?"</p> + +<p>"He is your heir, Papa."</p> + +<p>"No; you are my heir. But I will not argue upon that. Grant that he +were my heir; even though every acre that is mine must go to feed his +wickedness the very moment that I die, would that be a reason for +giving my child to him also? Do you think that you are no more to me +than the acres, or the house, or the empty title? They are all +nothing to my love for you."</p> + +<p>"Papa!"</p> + +<p>"I do not think that you have known it. Nay, darling, I have hardly +known it myself. All other anxieties have ceased with me now that I +have come to know what it really is to be anxious for you. Do you +think that I would not abandon any consideration as to wealth or +family for your happiness? It has come to that with me, Emily, that +they are nothing to me now;—nothing. You are everything."</p> + +<p>"Dear Papa!" And now once again she leant upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"When I tell you of the young man's life, you will not listen to me. +You regard it simply as groundless opposition."</p> + +<p>"No, Papa; not groundless,—only useless."</p> + +<p>"But am I not bound to see that my girl be not united to a man who +would disgrace her, misuse her, drag her into the dirt,"—that idea +of dragging George out was strong in Emily's mind as she listened to +this,—"make her wretched and contemptible, and degrade her? Surely +this is a father's duty; and my child should not turn from me, and +almost refuse to speak to me, because I do it as best I can!"</p> + +<p>"I do not turn from you, Papa."</p> + +<p>"Has my darling been to me as she used to be?"</p> + +<p>"Look here, Papa; you know what it is I have promised you."</p> + +<p>"I do, dearest."</p> + +<p>"I will keep my promise. I will never marry him till you consent. +Even though I were to see him every day for ten years, I would not do +so when I had given my word."</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it, Emily."</p> + +<p>"But let us try, you and I and Mamma together. If you will do that; +oh, I will be so good to you! Let us see if we cannot make him good. +I will never ask to marry him till you yourself are satisfied that he +has reformed." She looked into his face imploringly, and she saw that +he was vacillating. And yet he was a strong man, not given in +ordinary things to much doubt. "Papa, let us understand each other +and be friends. If we do not trust each other, who can trust any +one?"</p> + +<p>"I do trust you."</p> + +<p>"I shall never care for any one else."</p> + +<p>"Do not say that, my child. You are too young to know your own heart. +These are wounds which time will cure. Others have suffered as you +are suffering, and yet have become happy wives and mothers."</p> + +<p>"Papa, I shall never change. I think I love him more because he +is—so weak. Like a poor child that is a cripple, he wants more love +than those who are strong. I shall never change. And look here, Papa; +I know it is my duty to obey you by not marrying without your +consent. But it can never be my duty to marry any one because you or +Mamma ask me. You will agree to that, Papa?"</p> + +<p>"I should never think of pressing any one on you."</p> + +<p>"That is what I mean. And so we do understand each other. Nothing can +teach me not to think of him, and to love him, and to pray for him. +As long as I live I shall do so. Nothing you can find out about him +will alter me in that. Pray, pray do not go on finding out bad +things. Find out something good, and then you will begin to love +him."</p> + +<p>"But if there is nothing good?" Sir Harry, as he said this, +remembered the indignant refusal of his offer which was at that +moment in his pocket, and confessed to himself that he had no right +to say that nothing good could be found in Cousin George.</p> + +<p>"Do not say that, Papa. How can you say that of any one? Remember, he +has our name, and he must some day be at the head of our family."</p> + +<p>"It will not be long, first," said Sir Harry, mournfully.</p> + +<p>"Many, many, many years, I hope. For his sake as well as ours, I pray +that it may be so. But still it is natural to suppose that the day +will come."</p> + +<p>"Of course it will come."</p> + +<p>"Must it not be right, then, to make him fit for it when it comes? It +can't be your great duty to think of him, as it is mine; but still it +must be a duty to you too. I will not excuse his life, Papa; but have +there not been temptations,—such great temptations? And then, other +men are excused for doing what he has done. Let us try together, +Papa. Say that you will try."</p> + +<p>It was clear to Sir Harry through it all that she knew nothing as yet +of the nature of the man's offences. When she spoke of temptation not +resisted, she was still thinking of commonplace extravagance, of the +ordinary pleasures of fast young men, of racecourses, and betting, +perhaps, and of tailors' bills. That lie which he had told about +Goodwood she had, as it were, thrown behind her, so that she should +not be forced to look at it. But Sir Harry knew him to be steeped in +dirty lies up to the hip, one who cheated tradesmen on system, a +gambler who looked out for victims, a creature so mean that he could +take a woman's money! Mr. Boltby had called him a swindler, a +card-sharper, and a cur; and Sir Harry, though he was inclined at the +present moment to be angry with Mr. Boltby, had never known the +lawyer to be wrong. And this was the man for whom his daughter was +pleading with all the young enthusiasm of her nature,—was pleading, +not as for a cousin, but in order that he might at last be welcomed +to that house as her lover, her husband, the one human being chosen +out from all the world to be the recipient of the good things of +which she had the bestowal! The man was so foul in the estimation of +Sir Harry that it was a stain to be in his presence; and this was the +man whom he as a father was implored to help to save, in order that +at some future time his daughter might become the reprobate's wife!</p> + +<p>"Papa, say that you will help me," repeated Emily, clinging to him, +and looking up into his face.</p> + +<p>He could not say that he would help her, and yet he longed to say +some word that might comfort her. "You have been greatly shaken by +all this, dearest."</p> + +<p>"Shaken! Yes, in one sense I have been shaken. I don't know quite +what you mean. I shall never be shaken in the other way."</p> + +<p>"You have been distressed."</p> + +<p>"Yes; distressed."</p> + +<p>"And, indeed, so have we all," he continued. "I think it will be best +to leave this for a while."</p> + +<p>"For how long, Papa?"</p> + +<p>"We need not quite fix that. I was thinking of going to Naples for +the winter." He was silent, waiting for her approbation, but she +expressed none. "It is not long since you said how much you would +like to spend a winter in Naples."</p> + +<p>She still paused, but it was but for a moment. "At that time, Papa, I +was not engaged." Did she mean to tell him, that because of this +fatal promise which she had made, she never meant to stir from her +home till she should be allowed to go with that wretch as her +husband; that because of this promise, which could never be +fulfilled, everything should come to an end with her? "Papa," she +said, "that would not be the way to try to save him, to go away and +leave him among those who prey upon him;—unless, indeed, he might go +too!"</p> + +<p>"What! with us?"</p> + +<p>"With you and Mamma. Why not? You know what I have promised. You can +trust me."</p> + +<p>"It is a thing absolutely not to be thought of," he said; and then he +left her. What was he to do? He could take her abroad, no doubt, but +were he to do so in her present humour, she would, of course, relapse +into that cold, silent, unloving, undutiful obedience which had been +so distressing to him. She had made a great request to him, and he +had not absolutely refused it. But the more he thought of it the more +distasteful did it become to him. You cannot touch pitch and not be +defiled. And the stain of this pitch was so very black! He could pay +money, if that would soothe her. He could pay money, even if the man +should not accept the offer made to him, should she demand it of him. +And if the man would reform himself, and come out through the fire +really purified, might it not be possible that at some long future +time Emily should become his wife? Or, if some sort of half promise +such as this were made to Emily, would not that soften her for the +time, and induce her to go abroad with a spirit capable of +satisfaction, if not of pleasure? If this could be brought about, +then time might do the rest. It would have been a delight to him to +see his daughter married early, even though his own home might have +been made desolate; but now he would be content if he thought he +could look forward to some future settlement in life that might +become her rank and fortune.</p> + +<p>Emily, when her father left her, was aware that she had received no +reply to her request, which she was entitled to regard as +encouraging; but she thought that she had broken the ice, and that +her father would by degrees become accustomed to her plan. If she +could only get him to say that he would watch over the unhappy one, +she herself would not be unhappy. It was not to be expected that she +should be allowed to give her own aid at first to the work, but she +had her scheme. His debts must be paid, and an income provided for +him. And duties, too, must be given to him. Why should he not live at +Scarrowby, and manage the property there? And then, at length, he +would be welcomed to Humblethwaite, when her own work might begin. +Neither for him nor for her must there be any living again in London +until this task should have been completed. That any trouble could be +too great, any outlay of money too vast for so divine a purpose, did +not occur to her. Was not this man the heir to her father's title; +and was he not the owner of her own heart? Then she knelt down and +prayed that the Almighty Father would accomplish this good work for +her;—and yet, not for her, but for him; not that she might be happy +in her love, but that he might be as a brand saved from the burning, +not only hereafter, but here also, in the sight of men. Alas, +dearest, no; not so could it be done! Not at thy instance, though thy +prayers be as pure as the songs of angels;—but certainly at his, if +only he could be taught to know that the treasure so desirable in thy +sight, so inestimable to thee, were a boon worthy of his acceptance.</p> + + +<p><a name="c18" id="c18"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> +<h4>GOOD ADVICE.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Two or three days after the little request made by Cousin George to +Mrs. Morton, the Altringhams came suddenly to town. George received a +note from Lady Altringham addressed to him at his club.<br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>We are going through to the Draytons in Hampshire. It is a +new freak. Four or five horses are to be sold, and +Gustavus thinks of buying the lot. If you are in town, +come to us. You must not think that we are slack about you +because Gustavus would have nothing to do with the money. +He will be at home to-morrow till eleven. I shall not go +out till two. We leave on Thursday.—Yours, A. A.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>This letter he received on the Wednesday. Up to that hour he had done +nothing since his interview with Mr. Hart; nor during those few days +did he hear from that gentleman, or from Captain Stubber, or from Mr. +Boltby. He had written to Sir Harry refusing Sir Harry's generous +offer, and subsequently to that had made up his mind to accept +it,—and had asked, as the reader knows, for Mrs. Morton's +assistance. But the making up of George Hotspur's mind was nothing. +It was unmade again that day after dinner, as he thought of all the +glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby combined. Any one knowing him +would have been sure that he would do nothing till he should be +further driven. Now there had come upon the scene in London one who +could drive him.</p> + +<p>He went to the Earl's house just at eleven, not wishing to seem to +avoid the Earl, but still desirous of seeing as little of his friend +on that occasion as possible. He found Lord Altringham standing in +his wife's morning-room. "How are you, old fellow? How do things go +with the heiress?" He was in excellent humour, and said nothing about +the refused request. "I must be off. You do what my Lady advises; you +may be sure that she knows a deal more about it than you or I." Then +he went, wishing George success in his usual friendly, genial way, +which, as George knew, meant very little.</p> + +<p>With Lady Altringham the case was different. She was in earnest about +it. It was to her a matter of real moment that this great heiress +should marry one of her own set, and a man who wanted money so badly +as did poor George. And she liked work of that kind. George's +matrimonial prospects were more interesting to her than her husband's +stables. She was very soon in the thick of it all, asking questions, +and finding out how the land lay. She knew that George would lie; but +that was to be expected from a man in his position. She knew also +that she could with fair accuracy extract the truth from his lies.</p> + +<p>"Pay all your debts, and give you five hundred pounds a year for his +life."</p> + +<p>"The lawyer has offered that," said George, sadly.</p> + +<p>"Then you may be sure," continued Lady Altringham, "that the young +lady is in earnest. You have not accepted it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, no. I wrote to Sir Harry quite angrily. I told him I wanted +my cousin's hand."</p> + +<p>"And what next?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard nothing further from anybody."</p> + +<p>Lady Altringham sat and thought. "Are these people in London +bothering you?" George explained that he had been bothered a good +deal, but not for the last four or five days. "Can they put you in +prison, or anything of that kind?"</p> + +<p>George was not quite sure whether they might or might not have some +such power. He had a dreadful weight on his mind of which he could +say nothing to Lady Altringham. Even she would be repelled from him +were she to know of that evening's work between him and Messrs. +Walker and Bullbean. He said at last that he did not think they could +arrest him, but that he was not quite sure.</p> + +<p>"You must do something to let her know that you are as much in +earnest as she is."</p> + +<p>"Exactly."</p> + +<p>"It is no use writing, because she wouldn't get your letters."</p> + +<p>"She wouldn't have a chance."</p> + +<p>"And if I understand her she would not do anything secretly."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not," said George.</p> + +<p>"You will live, perhaps, to be glad that it is so. When girls come +out to meet their lovers clandestinely before marriage, they get so +fond of the excitement that they sometimes go on doing it +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"She is as,—as—as sure to go the right side of the post as any girl +in the world."</p> + +<p>"No doubt. So much the better for you. When those girls do catch the +disease, they always have it very badly. They mean only to have one +affair, and naturally want to make the most of it. Well, now what I +would do is this. Run down to Humblethwaite."</p> + +<p>"To Humblethwaite!"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I don't suppose you are going to be afraid of anybody. Knock at +the door, and send your card to Sir Harry. Drive into the +stable-yard, so that everybody about the place may know that you are +there, and then ask to see the Baronet."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't see me."</p> + +<p>"Then ask to see Lady Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>"She wouldn't be allowed to see me."</p> + +<p>"Then leave a letter, and say that you'll wait for an answer. Write +to Miss Hotspur whatever you like to say in the way of a love-letter, +and put it under cover to Sir Harry—open."</p> + +<p>"She'll never get it."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose she will. Not but what she may—only that isn't the +first object. But this will come of it. She'll know that you've been +there. That can't be kept from her. You may be sure that she was very +firm in sticking to you when he offered to pay all that money to get +rid of you. She'll remain firm if she's made to know that you are the +same. Don't let her love die out for want of notice."</p> + +<p>"I won't."</p> + +<p>"If they take her abroad, go after them. Stick to it, and you'll wear +them out if she helps you. And if she knows that you are sticking to +it, she'll do the same for honour. When she begins to be a little +pale, and to walk out at nights, and to cough in the morning, they'll +be tired out and send for Dr. George Hotspur. That's the way it will +go if you play your game well."</p> + +<p>Cousin George was lost in admiration at the wisdom and generalship of +this great counsellor, and promised implicit obedience. The Countess +went on to explain that it might be expedient to postpone this +movement for a week or two. "You should leave just a little interval, +because you cannot always be doing something. For some days after his +return her father won't cease to abuse you, which will keep you well +in her mind. When those men begin to attack you again, so as to make +London too hot, then run down to Humblethwaite. Don't hide your light +under a bushel. Let the people down there know all about it."</p> + +<p>George Hotspur swore eternal gratitude and implicit obedience, and +went back to his club.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber did not give him much rest. From Mr. +Boltby he received no further communication. For the present Mr. +Boltby thought it well to leave him in the hands of Mr. Hart and +Captain Stubber. Mr. Boltby, indeed, did not as yet know of Mr. +Bullbean's story, although certain hints had reached him which had, +as he thought, justified him in adding the title of card-sharper to +those other titles with which he had decorated his client's cousin's +name. Had he known the entire Walker story, he would probably have +thought that Cousin George might have been bought at a considerably +cheaper price than that fixed in the Baronet's offer, which was still +in force. But then Mr. Hart had his little doubts also and his +difficulties. He, too, could perceive that were he to make this last +little work of Captain Hotspur's common property in the market, it +might so far sink Captain Hotspur's condition and value in the world +that nobody would think it worth his while to pay Captain Hotspur's +debts. At present there was a proposition from an old gentleman, +possessed of enormous wealth, to "pay all Captain Hotspur's debts." +Three months ago, Mr. Hart would willingly have sold every scrap of +the Captain's paper in his possession for the half of the sum +inscribed on it. The whole sum was now promised, and would +undoubtedly be paid if the Captain could be worked upon to do as Mr. +Boltby desired. But if the gentlemen employed on this delicate +business were to blow upon the Captain too severely, Mr. Boltby would +have no such absolute necessity to purchase the Captain. The Captain +would sink to zero, and not need purchasing. Mr. Walker must have +back his money,—or so much of it as Mr. Hart might permit him to +take. That probably might be managed; and the Captain must be +thoroughly frightened, and must be made to write the letter which Mr. +Boltby desired. Mr. Hart understood his work very well;—so, it is +hoped, does the reader.</p> + +<p>Captain Stubber was in these days a thorn in our hero's side; but Mr. +Hart was a scourge of scorpions. Mr. Hart never ceased to talk of Mr. +Walker, and of the determination of Walker and Bullbean to go before +a magistrate if restitution were not made. Cousin George of course +denied the foul play, but admitted that he would repay the money if +he had it. There should be no difficulty about the money, Mr. Hart +assured him, if he would only write that letter to Mr. Boltby. In +fact, if he would write that letter to Mr. Boltby, he should be made +"shquare all round." So Mr. Hart was pleased to express himself. But +if this were not done, and done at once, Mr. Hart swore by his God +that Captain "'Oshspur" should be sold up, root and branch, without +another day's mercy. The choice was between five hundred pounds a +year in any of the capitals of Europe, and that without a debt,—or +penal servitude. That was the pleasant form in which Mr. Hart put the +matter to his young friend.</p> + +<p>Cousin George drank a good deal of curaçoa, and doubted between Lady +Altringham and Mr. Hart. He knew that he had not told everything to +the Countess. Excellent as was her scheme, perfect as was her wisdom, +her advice was so far more dangerous than the Jew's, that it was +given somewhat in the dark. The Jew knew pretty well everything. The +Jew was interested, of course, and therefore his advice must also be +regarded with suspicion. At last, when Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber +between them had made London too hot to hold him, he started for +Humblethwaite,—not without leaving a note for "dear Mr. Hart," in +which he explained to that gentleman that he was going to +Westmoreland suddenly, with a purpose that would, he trusted, very +speedily enable him to pay every shilling that he owed.</p> + +<p>"Yesh," said Mr. Hart, "and if he ain't quick he shall come back with +a 'andcuff on."</p> + +<p>Captain Hotspur could not very well escape Mr. Hart. He started by +the night-train for Penrith, and before doing so prepared a short +letter for Miss Hotspur, which, as instructed, he put open under an +envelope addressed to the Baronet. There should be nothing +clandestine, nothing dishonourable. Oh dear, no! He quite taught +himself to believe that he would have hated anything dishonourable or +clandestine. His letter was as +<span class="nowrap">follows:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dearest +Emily</span>,—After what has passed between us, I cannot +bear not to attempt to see you or to write to you. So I +shall go down and take this letter with me. Of course I +shall not take any steps of which Sir Harry might +disapprove. I wrote to him two or three weeks ago, telling +him what I proposed, and I thought that he would have +answered me. As I have not heard from him I shall take +this with me to Humblethwaite, and shall hope, though I do +not know whether I may dare to expect, to see the girl I +love better than all the world.—Always your own,</p> + +<p class="ind15"><span class="smallcaps">George Hotspur</span>.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>Even this was not composed by himself, for Cousin George, though he +could often talk well,—or at least sufficiently well for the +purposes which he had on hand,—was not good with his pen on such an +occasion as this. Lady Altringham had sent him by post a rough copy +of what he had better say, and he had copied her ladyship's words +verbatim. There is no matter of doubt at all but that on all such +subjects an average woman can write a better letter than an average +man; and Cousin George was therefore right to obtain assistance from +his female friends.</p> + +<p>He slept at Penrith till nearly noon, then breakfasted and started +with post-horses for Humblethwaite. He felt that everybody knew what +he was about, and was almost ashamed of being seen. Nevertheless he +obeyed his instructions. He had himself driven up through the lodges +and across the park into the large stable-yard of the Hall. Lady +Altringham had quite understood that more people must see and hear +him in this way than if he merely rang at the front door and were +from thence dismissed. The grooms and the coachman saw him, as did +also three or four of the maids who were in the habit of watching to +see that the grooms and coachman did their work. He had brought with +him a travelling-bag,—not expecting to be asked to stay and dine, +but thinking it well to be prepared. This, however, he left in the +fly as he walked round to the hall-door. The footman was already +there when he appeared, as word had gone through the house that Mr. +George had arrived. Was Sir Harry at home? Yes, Sir Harry was at +home;—and then George found himself in a small parlour, or +book-room, or subsidiary library, which he had very rarely known to +be used. But there was a fire in the room, and he stood before it, +twiddling his hat.</p> + +<p>In a quarter of an hour the door was opened, and the servant came in +with a tray and wine and sandwiches. George felt it to be an +inappropriate welcome; but still, after a fashion, it was a welcome.</p> + +<p>"Is Sir Harry in the house?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Hotspur."</p> + +<p>"Does he know that I am here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Hotspur, I think he does."</p> + +<p>Then it occurred to Cousin George that perhaps he might bribe the +servant; and he put his hand into his pocket. But before he had +communicated the two half-crowns, it struck him that there was no +possible request which he could make to the man in reference to which +a bribe would be serviceable.</p> + +<p>"Just ask them to look to the horses," he said; "I don't know whether +they were taken out."</p> + +<p>"The horses is feeding, Mr. Hotspur," said the man.</p> + +<p>Every word the man spoke was gravely spoken, and George understood +perfectly that he was held to have done a very wicked thing in coming +to Humblethwaite. Nevertheless, there was a decanter full of sherry, +which, as far as it went, was an emblem of kindness. Nobody should +say that he was unwilling to accept kindness at his cousin's hands, +and he helped himself liberally. Before he was interrupted again he +had filled his glass four times.</p> + +<p>But in truth it needed something to support him. For a whole hour +after the servant's disappearance he was left alone. There were books +in the room,—hundreds of them; but in such circumstances who could +read? Certainly not Cousin George, to whom books at no time gave much +comfort. Twice and thrice he stepped towards the bell, intending to +ring it, and ask again for Sir Harry; but twice and thrice he paused. +In his position he was bound not to give offence to Sir Harry. At +last the door was opened, and with silent step, and grave demeanour, +and solemn countenance, Lady Elizabeth walked into the room. "We are +very sorry that you should have been kept so long waiting, Captain +Hotspur," she said.</p> + + +<p><a name="c19" id="c19"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> +<h4>THE NEW SMITHY.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Sir Harry was sitting alone in the library when the tidings were +brought to him that George Hotspur had reached Humblethwaite with a +pair of post-horses from Penrith. The old butler, Cloudesdale, +brought him the news, and Cloudesdale whispered it into his ears with +solemn sorrow. Cloudesdale was well aware that Cousin George was no +credit to the house of Humblethwaite. And much about the same time +the information was brought to Lady Elizabeth by her housekeeper, and +to Emily by her own maid. It was by Cloudesdale's orders that George +was shown into the small room near the hall; and he told Sir Harry +what he had done in a funereal whisper. Lady Altringham had been +quite right in her method of ensuring the general delivery of the +information about the house.</p> + +<p>Emily flew at once to her mother. "George is here," she said. Mrs. +Quick, the housekeeper, was at that moment leaving the room.</p> + +<p>"So Quick tells me. What can have brought him, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"Why should he not come, Mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Because your papa will not make him welcome to the house. Oh, +dear,—he knows that. What are we to do?" In a few minutes Mrs. Quick +came back again. Sir Harry would be much obliged if her ladyship +would go to him. Then it was that the sandwiches and sherry were +ordered. It was a compromise on the part of Lady Elizabeth between +Emily's prayer that some welcome might be shown, and Sir Harry's +presumed determination that the banished man should continue to be +regarded as banished. "Take him some kind of refreshment, Quick;—a +glass of wine or something, you know." Then Mrs. Quick had cut the +sandwiches with her own hand, and Cloudesdale had given the sherry. +"He ain't eaten much, but he's made it up with the wine," said +Cloudesdale, when the tray was brought back again.</p> + +<p>Lady Elizabeth went down to her husband, and there was a +consultation. Sir Harry was quite clear that he would not now, on +this day, admit Cousin George as a guest into his house; nor would he +see him. To that conclusion he came after his wife had been with him +some time. He would not see him, there, at Humblethwaite. If George +had anything to say that could not be said in a letter, a meeting +might be arranged elsewhere. Sir Harry confessed, however, that he +could not see that good results could come from any meeting +whatsoever. "The truth is, that I don't want to have anything more to +do with him," said Sir Harry. That was all very well, but as Emily's +wants in this respect were at variance with her father's, there was a +difficulty. Lady Elizabeth pleaded that some kind of civility, at +least some mitigation of opposition, should be shown, for Emily's +sake. At last she was commissioned to go to Cousin George, to send +him away from the house, and, if necessary, to make an appointment +between him and Sir Harry at the Crown, at Penrith, for the morrow. +Nothing on earth should induce Sir Harry to see his cousin anywhere +on his own premises. As for any meeting between Cousin George and +Emily, that was, of course, out of the question,—and he must go from +Humblethwaite. Such were the instructions with which Lady Elizabeth +descended to the little room.</p> + +<p>Cousin George came forward with the pleasantest smile to take Lady +Elizabeth by the hand. He was considerably relieved when he saw Lady +Elizabeth, because of her he was not afraid. "I do not at all mind +waiting," he said. "How is Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well."</p> + +<p>"And yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty well, thank you."</p> + +<p>"And Emily?"</p> + +<p>Lady Elizabeth knew that in answering him she ought to call her own +daughter Miss Hotspur, but she lacked the courage. "Emily is well +too. Sir Harry has thought it best that I should come to you and +explain that just at present he cannot ask you to Humblethwaite."</p> + +<p>"I did not expect it."</p> + +<p>"And he had rather not see you himself,—at least not here." Lady +Elizabeth had not been instructed to propose a meeting. She had been +told rather to avoid it if possible. But, like some other +undiplomatic ambassadors, in her desire to be civil, she ran at once +to the extremity of the permitted concessions. "If you have anything +to say to Sir <span class="nowrap">Harry—"</span></p> + +<p>"I have, Lady Elizabeth; a great deal."</p> + +<p>"And if you could write it—"</p> + +<p>"I am so bad at writing."</p> + +<p>"Then Sir Harry will go over and see you to-morrow at Penrith."</p> + +<p>"That will be so very troublesome to him!"</p> + +<p>"You need not regard that. At what hour shall he come?"</p> + +<p>Cousin George was profuse in declaring that he would be at his +cousin's disposal at any hour Sir Harry might select, from six in the +morning throughout the day and night. But might he not say a word to +Emily? At this proposition Lady Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. +It was quite out of the question. Circumstanced as they all were at +present, Sir Harry would not think of such a thing. And then it would +do no good. Lady Elizabeth did not believe that Emily herself would +wish it. At any rate there need be no further talk about it, as any +such interview was at present quite impossible. By all which +arguments and refusals, and the tone in which they were pronounced, +Cousin George was taught to perceive that, at any rate in the mind of +Lady Elizabeth, the process of parental yielding had already +commenced.</p> + +<p>On all such occasions interviews are bad. The teller of this story +ventures to take the opportunity of recommending parents in such +cases always to refuse interviews, not only between the young lady +and the lover who is to be excluded, but also between themselves and +the lover. The vacillating tone,—even when the resolve to suppress +vacillation has been most determined,—is perceived and understood, +and at once utilized, by the least argumentative of lovers, even by +lovers who are obtuse. The word "never" may be so pronounced as to +make the young lady's twenty thousand pounds full present value for +ten in the lover's pocket. There should be no arguments, no letters, +no interviews; and the young lady's love should be starved by the +absence of all other mention of the name, and by the imperturbable +good humour on all other matters of those with whom she comes in +contact in her own domestic circle. If it be worth anything, it won't +be starved; but if starving to death be possible, that is the way to +starve it. Lady Elizabeth was a bad ambassador; and Cousin George, +when he took his leave, promising to be ready to meet Sir Harry at +twelve on the morrow, could almost comfort himself with a prospect of +success. He might be successful, if only he could stave off the +Walker and Bullbean portion of Mr. Hart's persecution! For he +understood that the success of his views at Humblethwaite must +postpone the payment by Sir Harry of those moneys for which Mr. Hart +and Captain Stubber were so unreasonably greedy. He would have dared +to defy the greed, but for the Walker and Bullbean portion of the +affair. Sir Harry already knew that he was in debt to these men; +already knew with fair accuracy the amount of those debts. Hart and +Stubber could not make him worse in Sir Harry's eyes than he was +already, unless the Walker and Bullbean story should be told with the +purpose of destroying him. How he did hate Walker and Bullbean and +the memory of that evening;—and yet the money which now enabled him +to drink champagne at the Penrith Crown was poor Mr. Walker's money! +As he was driven back to Penrith he thought of all this, for some +moments sadly, and at others almost with triumph. Might not a letter +to Mr. Hart, with perhaps a word of truth in it, do some good? That +evening, after his champagne, he wrote a +<span class="nowrap">letter:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">Dear Mr. +Hart</span>,—Things are going uncommon well here, only +I hope you will do nothing to disturb just at present. It +<span class="u">must</span> come off, if a little time is +given, and then <span class="u">every shilling</span> +will be paid. A few pounds more or less +won't make any difference. Do arrange this, and you'll +find I'll never forget how kind you have been. I've been +at Humblethwaite to-day, and things are going quite +smooth.</p> + +<p class="ind8">Yours most sincerely,</p> + +<p class="ind15"><span class="smallcaps">George Hotspur</span>.</p> + +<p>Don't mention Walker's name, and everything +shall be settled just as you shall fix.</p> + +<p class="noindent">The Crown, Penrith, Thursday.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>The moment the letter was written he rang the bell and gave it to the +waiter. Such was the valour of drink operating on him now, as it had +done when he wrote that other letter to Sir Harry! The drink made him +brave to write, and to make attempts, and to dare consequences; but +even whilst brave with drink, he knew that the morning's prudence +would refuse its assent to such courage; and therefore, to save +himself from the effects of the morning's cowardice, he put the +letter at once out of his own power of control. After this fashion +were arranged most of Cousin George's affairs. Before dinner on that +day the evening of which he had passed with Mr. Walker, he had +resolved that certain hints given to him by Mr. Bullbean should be of +no avail to him;—not to that had he yet descended, nor would he so +descend;—but with his brandy after dinner divine courage had come, +and success had attended the brave. As soon as he was awake on that +morning after writing to Mr. Hart, he rang his bell to inquire +whether that letter which he had given to the waiter at twelve +o'clock last night were still in the house. It was too late. The +letter in which so imprudent a mention had been made of Mr. Walker's +name was already in the post. "Never mind," said Cousin George to +himself; "None but the brave deserve the fair." Then he turned round +for another nap. It was not much past nine, and Sir Harry would not +be there before twelve.</p> + +<p>In the mean time there had been hope also and doubt also at +Humblethwaite. Sir Harry was not surprised and hardly disappointed +when he was told that he was to go to Penrith to see his cousin. The +offer had been made by himself, and he was sure that he would not +escape with less; and when Emily was told by her mother of the +arrangement, she saw in it a way to the fulfilment of the prayer +which she had made to her father. She would say nothing to him that +evening, leaving to him the opportunity of speaking to her, should he +choose to do so. But on the following morning she would repeat her +prayer. On that evening not a word was said about George while Sir +Harry and Lady Elizabeth were together with their daughter. Emily had +made her plan, and she clung to it. Her father was very gentle with +her, sitting close to her as she played some pieces of music to him +in the evening, caressing her and looking lovingly into her eyes, as +he bade God bless her when she left him for the night; but he had +determined to say nothing to encourage her. He was still minded that +there could be no such encouragement; but he doubted;—in his heart +of hearts he doubted. He would still have bought off Cousin George by +the sacrifice of half his property, and yet he doubted. After all, +there would be some consolation in that binding together of the name +and the property.</p> + +<p>"What will you say to him?" Lady Elizabeth asked her husband that +night.</p> + +<p>"Tell him to go away."</p> + +<p>"Nothing more than that?"</p> + +<p>"What more is there to say? If he be willing to be bought, I will buy +him. I will pay his debts and give him an income."</p> + +<p>"You think, then, there can be no hope?"</p> + +<p>"Hope!—for whom?"</p> + +<p>"For Emily."</p> + +<p>"I hope to preserve her—from a—scoundrel." And yet he had thought +of the consolation!</p> + +<p>Emily was very persistent in carrying out her plan. Prayers at +Humblethwaite were always read with admirable punctuality at a +quarter-past nine, so that breakfast might be commenced at half-past. +Sir Harry every week-day was in his own room for three-quarters of an +hour before prayers. All this was like clock-work at Humblethwaite. +There would always be some man or men with Sir Harry during these +three-quarters of an hour,—a tenant, a gamekeeper, a groom, a +gardener, or a bailiff. But Emily calculated that if she made her +appearance and held her ground, the tenant or the bailiff would give +way, and that thus she would ensure a private interview with her +father. Were she to wait till after breakfast, this would be +difficult. A very few minutes after the half-hour she knocked at the +door and was admitted. The village blacksmith was then suggesting a +new smithy.</p> + +<p>"Papa," said Emily, "if you would allow me half a +<span class="nowrap">minute—"</span></p> + +<p>The village blacksmith and the bailiff, who was also present, +withdrew, bowing to Emily, who gave to each of them a smile and a +nod. They were her old familiar friends, and they looked kindly at +her. She was to be their future lady; but was it not all important +that their future lord should be a Hotspur?</p> + +<p>Sir Harry had thought it not improbable that his daughter would come +to him, but would have preferred to avoid the interview if possible. +Here it was, however, and could not be avoided.</p> + +<p>"Papa," she said, kissing him, "you are going to Penrith to-day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear."</p> + +<p>"To see Cousin George?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Emily."</p> + +<p>"Will you remember what we were saying the other day;—what I said?"</p> + +<p>"I will endeavour to do my duty as best I may," said Sir Harry, after +a pause.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you will, Papa;—and so do I. I do endeavour to do my +duty. Will you not try to help him?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I will try to help him; for your sake rather than for his +own. If I can help him with money, by paying his debts and giving him +means to live, I will do so."</p> + +<p>"Papa, that is not what I mean."</p> + +<p>"What else can I do?"</p> + +<p>"Save him from the evil of his ways."</p> + +<p>"I will try. I would,—if I knew how,—even if only for the name's +sake."</p> + +<p>"For my sake also, Papa. Papa, let us do it together; you and I and +Mamma. Let him come here."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible."</p> + +<p>"Let him come here," she said, as though disregarding his refusal. +"You need not be afraid of me. I know how much there is to do that +will be very hard in doing before any,—any other arrangement can be +talked about."</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid of you, my child."</p> + +<p>"Let him come, then."</p> + +<p>"No;—it would do no good. Do you think he would live here quietly?"</p> + +<p>"Try him."</p> + +<p>"What would people say?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind what people would say: he is our cousin; he is your heir. +He is the person whom I love best in all the world. Have you not a +right to have him here if you wish it? I know what you are thinking +of; but, Papa, there can never be anybody else;—never."</p> + +<p>"Emily, you will kill me, I think."</p> + +<p>"Dear Papa, let us see if we cannot try. And, oh, Papa, pray, pray +let me see him." When she went away the bailiff and the blacksmith +returned; but Sir Harry's power of resistance was gone, so that he +succumbed to the new smithy without a word.</p> + + +<p><a name="c20" id="c20"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3> +<h4>COUSIN GEORGE'S SUCCESS.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Thoughts crowded quick into the mind of Sir Harry Hotspur as he had +himself driven over to Penrith. It was a dull, dreary day in +November, and he took the close carriage. The distance was about ten +miles, and he had therefore something above an hour for thinking. +When men think much, they can rarely decide. The affairs as to which +a man has once acknowledged to himself that he may be either wise or +foolish, prudent or imprudent, are seldom matters on which he can by +any amount of thought bring himself to a purpose which to his own +eyes shall be clearly correct. When he can decide without thinking, +then he can decide without a doubt, and with perfect satisfaction. +But in this matter Sir Harry thought much. There had been various +times at which he was quite sure that it was his duty to repudiate +this cousin utterly. There had never been a time at which he had been +willing to accept him. Nevertheless, at this moment, with all his +struggles of thought he could not resolve. Was his higher duty due to +his daughter, or to his family,—and through his family to his +country, which, as he believed, owed its security and glory to the +maintenance of its aristocracy? Would he be justified,—justified in +any degree,—in subjecting his child to danger in the hope that his +name and family pride might be maintained? Might he take his own +desires in that direction as any make-weight towards a compliance +with his girl's strong wishes, grounded as they were on quite other +reasons? Mr. Boltby had been very eager in telling him that he ought +to have nothing to say to this cousin, had loaded the cousin's name +with every imaginable evil epithet; and of Mr. Boltby's truth and +honesty there could be no doubt. But then Mr. Boltby had certainly +exceeded his duty, and was of course disposed, by his professional +view of the matter, to think any step the wisest which would tend to +save the property from dangerous hands. Sir Harry felt that there +were things to be saved of more value than the property;—the family, +the title, perhaps that reprobate cousin himself; and then, above +all, his child. He did believe that his child would not smile for him +again, unless he would consent to make some effort in favour of her +lover.</p> + +<p>Doubtless the man was very bad. Sir Harry was sick at heart as he +thought of the evil nature of the young man's vices. Of a man +debauched in his life, extravagant with his money, even of a gambler, +a drunkard, one fond of low men and of low women;—of one even such +as this there might be hope, and the vicious man, if he will give up +his vices, may still be loved and at last respected. But of a liar, a +swindler, one mean as well as vicious, what hope could there be? It +was essential to Sir Harry that the husband of his daughter should at +any rate be a gentleman. The man's blood, indeed, was good; and blood +will show at last, let the mud be ever so deep. So said Sir Harry to +himself. And Emily would consent that the man should be tried by what +severest fire might be kindled for the trying of him. If there were +any gold there, it might be possible to send the dross adrift, and to +get the gold without alloy. Could Lady Altringham have read Sir +Harry's mind as his carriage was pulled up, just at twelve o'clock, +at the door of the Penrith Crown, she would have been stronger than +ever in her belief that young lovers, if they be firm, can always +conquer opposing parents.</p> + +<p>But alas, alas, there was no gold with this dross, and in that matter +of blood, as to which Sir Harry's ideas were so strong, and indeed so +noble, he entertained but a muddled theory. Noblesse oblige. High +position will demand, and will often exact, high work. But that rule +holds as good with a Buonaparte as with a Bourbon, with a Cromwell as +with a Stewart; and succeeds as often and fails as often with the low +born as with the high. And good blood too will have its +effect,—physical for the most part,—and will produce bottom, +lasting courage, that capacity of carrying on through the mud to +which Sir Harry was wont to allude; but good blood will bring no man +back to honesty. The two things together, no doubt, assist in +producing the highest order of self-denying man.</p> + +<p>When Sir Harry got out of his carriage, he had not yet made up his +mind. The waiter had been told that he was expected, and showed him +up at once into the large sitting-room looking out into the street, +which Cousin George had bespoke for the occasion. He had had a +smaller room himself, but had been smoking there, and at this moment +in that room there was a decanter and a wine-glass on the chiffonier +in one corner. He had heard the bustle of the arrival, and had at +once gone into the saloon prepared for the reception of the great +man. "I am so sorry to give you this trouble," said Cousin George, +coming forward to greet his cousin. Sir Harry could not refuse his +cousin's hand, though he would willingly have done so, had it been +possible. "I should not mind the trouble," he said, "if it were of +any use. I fear it can be of none."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will not be prejudiced against me, Sir Harry."</p> + +<p>"I trust that I am not prejudiced against any one. What is it that +you wish me to do?"</p> + +<p>"I want permission to go to Humblethwaite, as a suitor for your +daughter's hand." So far Cousin George had prepared his speech +beforehand.</p> + +<p>"And what have you to recommend you to a father for such permission? +Do you not know, sir, that when a gentleman proposes to a lady it is +his duty to show that he is in a condition fit for the position which +he seeks; that in character, in means, in rank, in conduct, he is at +least her equal."</p> + +<p>"As for our rank, Sir Harry, it is the same."</p> + +<p>"And for your means? You know that my daughter is my heiress?"</p> + +<p>"I do; but it is not that that has brought me to her. Of course, I +have nothing. But then, you know, though she will inherit the +estates, I must <span class="nowrap">inherit—"</span></p> + +<p>"If you please, sir, we will not go into all that again," said Sir +Harry, interrupting him. "I explained to you before, sir, that I +would have admitted your future rank as a counterpoise to her +fortune, if I could have trusted your character. I cannot trust it. I +do not know why you should thrust upon me the necessity of saying all +this again. As I believe that you are in pecuniary distress, I made +you an offer which I thought to be liberal."</p> + +<p>"It was liberal, but it did not suit me to accept it." George had an +inkling of what would pass within Sir Harry's bosom as to the +acceptance or rejection of that offer. "I wrote to you, declining it, +and as I have received no answer, I thought that I would just run +down. What was I to do?"</p> + +<p>"Do? How can I tell? Pay your debts. The money was offered you."</p> + +<p>"I cannot give up my cousin. Has she been allowed to receive the +letter which I left for her yesterday?"</p> + +<p>Now Sir Harry had doubted much in his own mind as to the letter. +During that morning's interview it had still been in his own +possession. As he was preparing to leave the house he had made up his +mind that she should have it; and Lady Elizabeth had been +commissioned to give it her, not without instruction and explanation. +Her father would not keep it from her, because he trusted her +implicitly; but she was to understand that it could mean nothing to +her, and that the letter must not of course be answered.</p> + +<p>"It does not matter whether she did or did not," said Sir Harry. "I +ask you again, whether you will accept the offer made you by Mr. +Boltby, and give me your written promise not to renew this suit."</p> + +<p>"I cannot do that, Sir Harry."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry did not know how to proceed with the interview. As he had +come there, some proposition must be made by himself. Had he intended +to be altogether obstinate he should have remained at Humblethwaite, +and kept his cousin altogether out of the house. And now his +daughter's prayers were ringing in his ears: "Dear Papa, let us see +if we cannot try." And then again that assurance which she had made +him so solemnly: "Papa, there never can be anybody else!" If the +black sheep could be washed white, the good of such washing would on +every side be so great! He would have to blush,—let the washing be +ever so perfect,—he must always blush in having such a son-in-law; +but he had been forced to acknowledge to himself of late, that there +was infinitely more of trouble and shame in this world than of joy or +honour. Was it not in itself a disgrace that a Hotspur should do such +things as this cousin had done; and a disgrace also that his daughter +should have loved a man so unfit to be her lover? And then from day +to day, and from hour to hour, he remembered that these ills were +added to the death of that son, who, had he lived, would have been +such a glory to him. More of trouble and disgrace! Was it not all +trouble and disgrace? He would have wished that the day might come +for him to go away and leave it all, were it not that for one placed +as he was placed his own life would not see the end of these +troubles. He must endeavour to provide that everything should not go +to utter ruin as soon as he should have taken his departure.</p> + +<p>He walked about the room, again trying to think. Or, perhaps, all +thinking was over with him now, and he was resolving in his own mind +how best he might begin to yield. He must obey his daughter. He could +not break the heart of the only child that was left to him. He had no +delight in the world other than what came to him reflected back from +her. He felt now as though he was simply a steward endeavouring on +her behalf to manage things to the best advantage; but still only a +steward, and as such only a servant who could not at last decide on +the mode of management to be adopted. He could endeavour to persuade, +but she must decide. Now his daughter had decided, and he must begin +this task, so utterly distasteful to him, of endeavouring to wash the +blackamoor white.</p> + +<p>"What are you willing to do?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"How to do, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"You have led a bad life."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I have, Sir Harry."</p> + +<p>"How will you show yourself willing to reform it?"</p> + +<p>"Only pay my debts and set me up with ready money, and I'll go along +as slick as grease!" Thus would Cousin George have answered the +question had he spoken his mind freely. But he knew that he might not +be so explicit. He must promise much; but, of course, in making his +promise he must arrange about his debts. "I'll do almost anything you +like. Only try me. Of course it would be so much easier if those +debts were paid off. I'll give up races altogether, if you mean that, +Sir Harry. Indeed, I'm ready to give up anything."</p> + +<p>"Will you give up London?"</p> + +<p>"London!" In simple truth, George did not quite understand the +proposition.</p> + +<p>"Yes; will you leave London? Will you go and live at Scarrowby, and +learn to look after the farm and the place?"</p> + +<p>George's face fell,—his face being less used to lying than his +tongue; but his tongue lied at once: "Oh yes, certainly, if you wish +it. I should rather like a life of that sort. For how long would it +be?"</p> + +<p>"For two years," said Sir Harry, grimly.</p> + +<p>Cousin George, in truth, did not understand. He thought that he was +to take his bride with him when he went to Scarrowby. "Perhaps Emily +would not like it," he said.</p> + +<p>"It is what she desires. You do not suppose that she knows so little +of your past life as to be willing to trust herself into your hands +at once. She is attached to you."</p> + +<p>"And so am I to her; on my honour I am. I'm sure you don't doubt +that."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry doubted every word that fell from his cousin's mouth, but +still he persevered. He could perceive though he could not analyse, +and there was hardly a tone which poor Cousin George used which did +not discourage the Baronet. Still he persevered. He must persevere +now, even if it were only to prove to Emily how much of basest clay +and how little of gold there was in this image.</p> + +<p>"She is attached to you," he continued, "and you bear our name, and +will be the head of our family. If you will submit yourself to a +reformed life, and will prove that you are fit for her, it may be +possible that after years she should be your wife."</p> + +<p>"After years, Sir Harry?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir,—after years. Do you suppose that the happiness of such an +one as she can be trusted to such keeping as yours without a trial of +you? You will find that she has no such hope herself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course; what she likes—"</p> + +<p>"I will pay your debts; on condition that Mr. Boltby is satisfied +that he has the entire list of them."</p> + +<p>George, as he heard this, at once determined that he must persuade +Mr. Hart to include Mr. Walker's little account in that due to +himself. It was only a matter of a few hundreds, and might surely be +arranged when so much real money would be passing from hand to hand.</p> + +<p>"I will pay everything; you shall then go down to Scarrowby, and the +house shall be prepared for you."</p> + +<p>It wasn't supposed, George thought, that he was absolutely to live in +solitary confinement at Scarrowby. He might have a friend or two, and +then the station was very near.</p> + +<p>"You are fond of shooting, and you will have plenty of it there. We +will get you made a magistrate for the county, and there is much to +do in looking after the property." Sir Harry became almost +good-humoured in his tone as he described the kind of life which he +intended that the blackamoor should live. "We will come to you for a +month each year, and then you can come to us for a while."</p> + +<p>"When shall it begin?" asked Cousin George, as soon as the Baronet +paused. This was a question difficult to be answered. In fact, the +arrangement must be commenced at once. Sir Harry knew very well that, +having so far yielded, he must take his cousin back with him to +Humblethwaite. He must keep his cousin now in his possession till all +those debts should be paid, and till the house at Scarrowby should be +prepared; and he must trust to his daughter's prudence and high sense +of right not to treat her lover with too tender an acknowledgment of +her love till he should have been made to pass through the fire of +reform.</p> + +<p>"You had better get ready and come back to Humblethwaite with me +now," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>Within five minutes after that there was bustling about the passages +and hall of the Crown Hotel. Everybody in the house, from the august +landlord down to the humble stableboy, knew that there had been a +reconciliation between Sir Harry and his cousin, and that the cousin +was to be made welcome to all the good the gods could give. While +Cousin George was packing his things, Sir Harry called for the bill +and paid it,—without looking at it, because he would not examine how +the blackamoor had lived while he was still a blackamoor.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether he observed the brandy," thought Cousin George to +himself.</p> + + +<p><a name="c21" id="c21"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> +<h4>EMILY HOTSPUR'S SERMON.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>The greater portion of the journey back to Humblethwaite was passed +in silence. Sir Harry had undertaken an experiment in which he had no +faith himself, and was sad at heart. Cousin George was cowed, half +afraid, and yet half triumphant. Could it be possible that he should +"pull through" after all? Some things had gone so well with him. His +lady friends had been so true to him! Lady Altringham, and then Mrs. +Morton,—how good they had been! Dear Lucy! He would never forget +her. And Emily was such a brick! He was going to see his Emily, and +that would be "so jolly." Nevertheless, he did acknowledge to himself +that an Emily prepared to assist her father in sending her lover +through the fire of reform, would not be altogether "so jolly" as the +Emily who had leaned against him on the bridge at Airey Force, while +his arm had been tightly clasped round her waist. He was alive to the +fact that romance must give place to business.</p> + +<p>When they had entered the park-gates, Sir Harry spoke. "You must +understand, George"—he had not called him George before since the +engagement had been made known to him—"that you cannot yet be +admitted here as my daughter's accepted suitor, as might have been +the case had your past life been different."</p> + +<p>"I see all that," said Cousin George.</p> + +<p>"It is right that I should tell you so; but I trust implicitly to +Emily's high sense of duty and propriety. And now that you are here, +George, I trust that it may be for your advantage and for ours."</p> + +<p>Then he pressed his cousin's hand, if not with affection, at least +with sincerity.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure it is to be all right now," said George, calculating +whether he would be able to escape to London for a few days, so that +he might be able to arrange that little matter with Mr. Hart. They +couldn't suppose that he would be able to leave London for two years +without a day's notice!</p> + +<p>Sir Harry got out of the carriage at the front door, and desired +Cousin George to follow him into the house. He turned at once into +the small room where George had drunk the sherry, and desired that +Lady Elizabeth might be sent to him.</p> + +<p>"My dear," said he, "I have brought George back with me. We will do +the best that we can. Mrs. Quick will have a room for him. You had +better tell Emily, and let her come to me for a moment before she +sees her cousin." This was all said in George's hearing. And then Sir +Harry went, leaving his cousin in the hands of Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you back again, George," she said, with a +melancholy voice.</p> + +<p>Cousin George smiled, and said, that "it would be all right."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I hope so, for my girl's sake. But there must be a great +change, George."</p> + +<p>"No end of a change," said Cousin George, who was not in the least +afraid of Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Many things of moment had to be done in the house that day before +dinner. In the first place there was a long interview between the +father and daughter. For a few minutes, perhaps, he was really happy +when she was kneeling with her arms upon his knees, thanking him for +what he had done, while tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks. +He would not bring himself to say a word of caution to her. Would it +not be to paint the snow white to caution her as to her conduct?</p> + +<p>"I have done as you bade me in everything," he said. "I have proposed +to him that he should go to Scarrowby. It may be that it will be your +home for a while, dear."</p> + +<p>She thanked him and kissed him again and again. She would be so good. +She would do all she could to deserve his kindness. And as for +George,—"Pray, Papa, don't think that I suppose that it can be all +done quite at once." Nevertheless it was in that direction that her +thoughts erred. It did seem to her that the hard part of the work was +already done, and that now the pleasant paths of virtue were to be +trod with happy and persistent feet.</p> + +<p>"You had better see him in your mother's presence, dearest, before +dinner; and then the awkwardness will be less afterwards."</p> + +<p>She kissed him again, and ran from his room up to her mother's +apartment, taking some back stairs well known to herself, lest she +should by chance meet her lover after some undue and unprepared +fashion. And there she could sit down and think of it all! She would +be very discreet. He should be made to understand at once that the +purgation must be thorough, the reform complete. She would +acknowledge her love to him,—her great and abiding love; but of +lover's tenderness there could be but little,—almost none,—till the +fire had done its work, and the gold should have been separated from +the dross. She had had her way so far, and they should find that she +had deserved it.</p> + +<p>Before dinner Sir Harry wrote a letter to his lawyer. The mail-cart +passed through the village on its way to Penrith late in the evening, +and there was time for him to save the post. He thought it incumbent +on him to let Mr. Boltby know that he had changed his mind; and, +though the writing of the letter was not an agreeable task, he did it +at once. He said nothing to Mr. Boltby directly about his daughter, +but he made it known to that gentleman that Cousin George was at +present a guest at Humblethwaite, and that he intended to pay all the +debts without entering into any other specific engagements. Would Mr. +Boltby have the goodness to make out a schedule of the debts? Captain +Hotspur should be instructed to give Mr. Boltby at once all the +necessary information by letter. Then Sir Harry went on to say that +perhaps the opinions formed in reference to Captain Hotspur had been +too severe. He was ashamed of himself as he wrote these words, but +still they were written. If the blackamoor was to be washed white, +the washing must be carried out at all times, at all seasons, and in +every possible manner, till the world should begin to see that the +blackness was going out of the skin.</p> + +<p>Cousin George was summoned to meet the girl who loved him in her +mother's morning-room, before they dressed for dinner. He did not +know at all in what way to conduct himself. He had not given a +moment's thought to it till the difficulty flashed upon him as she +entered the apartment. But she had considered it all. She came up to +him quickly, and gave him her lips to kiss, standing there in her +mother's presence.</p> + +<p>"George," she said, "dear George! I am so glad that you are here."</p> + +<p>It was the first; and it should be the last,—till the fire had done +its work; till the fire should at least have done so much of its work +as to make the remainder easy and fairly sure. He had little to say +for himself, but muttered something about his being the happiest +fellow in the world. It was a position in which a man could hardly +behave well, and neither the mother nor the daughter expected much +from him. A man cannot bear himself gracefully under the weight of a +pardon as a woman may do. A man chooses generally that it shall be +assumed by those with whom he is closely connected that he has done +and is doing no wrong; and, when wronged, he professes to forgive and +to forget in silence. To a woman the act of forgiveness, either +accepted or bestowed, is itself a pleasure. A few words were then +spoken, mostly by Lady Elizabeth, and the three separated to prepare +for dinner.</p> + +<p>The next day passed over them at Humblethwaite Hall very quietly, but +with some mild satisfaction. Sir Harry told his cousin of the letter +to his lawyer, and desired George to make out and send by that day's +post such a schedule as might be possible on the spur of the moment.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't I better run up and see Mr. Boltby?" said Cousin George.</p> + +<p>But to this Sir Harry was opposed. Let any calls for money reach them +there. Whatever the calls might be, he at any rate could pay them. +Cousin George repeated his suggestion; but acquiesced when Sir Harry +frowned and showed his displeasure. He did make out a schedule, and +did write a letter to Mr. Boltby.</p> + +<p>"I think my debt to Mr. Hart was put down as £3,250," he wrote, "but +I believe I should have added another £350 for a transaction as to +which I fancy he does not hold my note of hand. But the money is +due."</p> + +<p>He was fool enough to think that Mr. Walker's claim might be +liquidated after this fashion. In the afternoon they rode +together,—the father, the daughter, and the blackamoor, and much was +told to Cousin George as to the nature of the property. The names of +the tenants were mentioned, and the boundaries of the farms were +pointed out to him. He was thinking all the time whether Mr. Hart +would spare him.</p> + +<p>But Emily Hotspur, though she had been thus reticent and quiet in her +joy, though she was resolved to be discreet, and knew that there were +circumstances in her engagement which would for a while deter her +from being with her accepted lover as other girls are with theirs, +did not mean to estrange herself from her cousin George. If she were +to do so, how was she to assist, and take, as she hoped to do, the +first part in that task of refining the gold on which they were all +now intent? She was to correspond with him when he was at Scarrowby. +Such was her present programme, and Sir Harry had made no objection +when she declared her purpose. Of course they must understand each +other, and have communion together. On the third day, therefore, it +was arranged they two should walk, without other company, about the +place. She must show him her own gardens, which were at some distance +from the house. If the truth be told, it must be owned that George +somewhat dreaded the afternoon's amusement; but had she demanded of +him to sit down to listen to her while she read to him a sermon, he +would not have refused.</p> + +<p>To be didactic and at the same time demonstrative of affection is +difficult, even with mothers towards their children, though with them +the assumption of authority creates no sense of injury. Emily +specially desired to point out to the erring one the paths of virtue, +and yet to do so without being oppressive.</p> + +<p>"It is so nice to have you here, George," she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; isn't it?" He was walking beside her, and as yet they +were within view of the house.</p> + +<p>"Papa has been so good; isn't he good?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed he is. The best man I know out," said George, thinking that +his gratitude would have been stronger had the Baronet given him the +money and allowed him to go up to London to settle his own debts.</p> + +<p>"And Mamma has been so kind! Mamma is very fond of you. I am sure she +would do anything for you."</p> + +<p>"And you?" said George, looking into her face.</p> + +<p>"I!—As for me, George, it is a matter of course now. You do not want +to be told again what is and ever must be my first interest in the +world."</p> + +<p>"I do not care how often you tell me."</p> + +<p>"But you know it; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I know what you said at the waterfall, Emily."</p> + +<p>"What I said then I said for always. You may be sure of that. I told +Mamma so, and Papa. If they had not wanted me to love you, they +should not have asked you to come here. I do love you, and I hope +that some day I may be your wife."</p> + +<p>She was not leaning on his arm, but as she spoke she stopped, and +looked stedfastly into his face. He put out his hand as though to +take hers; but she shook her head, refusing it. "No, George; come on. +I want to talk to you a great deal. I want to say ever so much,—now, +to-day. I hope that some day I may be your wife. If I am not, I shall +never be any man's wife."</p> + +<p>"What does some day mean, Emily?"</p> + +<p>"Ever so long;—years, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"But why? A fellow has to be consulted, you know, as well as +yourself. What is the use of waiting? I know Sir Harry thinks I have +been very fond of pleasure. How can I better show him how willing I +am to give it up than by marrying and settling down at once? I don't +see what's to be got by waiting?"</p> + +<p>Of course she must tell him the truth. She had no idea of keeping +back the truth. She loved him with all her heart, and was resolved to +marry him; but the dross must first be purged from the gold. "Of +course you know, George, that Papa has made objections."</p> + +<p>"I know he did, but that is over now. I am to go and live at +Scarrowby at once, and have the shooting. He can't want me to remain +there all by myself."</p> + +<p>"But he does; and so do I."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>In order that he might be made clean by the fire of solitude and the +hammer of hard work. She could not quite say this to him. "You know, +George, your life has been one of pleasure."</p> + +<p>"I was in the army,—for some years."</p> + +<p>"But you left it, and you took to going to races, and they say that +you gambled and are in debt, and you have been reckless. Is not that +true, George?"</p> + +<p>"It is true."</p> + +<p>"And should you wonder that Papa should be afraid to trust his only +child and all his property to one who,—who knows that he has been +reckless? But if you can show, for a year or two, that you can give +up all <span class="nowrap">that—"</span></p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be all given up if we were married?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I hope so. I should break my heart otherwise. But can you +wonder that Papa should wish for some delay and some proof?"</p> + +<p>"Two years!"</p> + +<p>"Is that much? If I find you doing what he wishes, these two years +will be so happy to me! We shall come and see you, and you will come +here. I have never liked Scarrowby, because it is not pretty, as this +place is; but, oh, how I shall like to go there now! And when you are +here, Papa will get to be so fond of you. You will be like a real son +to him. Only you must be steady."</p> + +<p>"Steady! by Jove, yes. A fellow will have to be steady at Scarrowby." +The perfume of the cleanliness of the life proposed to him was not +sweet to his nostrils.</p> + +<p>She did not like this, but she knew that she could not have +everything at once. "You must know," she said, "that there is a +bargain between me and Papa. I told him that I should tell you +everything."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I ought to be told everything."</p> + +<p>"It is he that shall fix the day. He is to do so much, that he has a +right to that. I shall never press him, and you must not."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I shall."</p> + +<p>"It will be of no use; and, George, I won't let you. I shall scold +you if you do. When he thinks that you have learned how to manage the +property, and that your mind is set upon that kind of work, and that +there are no more races,—mind, and no betting, then,—then he will +consent. And I will tell you something more if you would like to hear +it."</p> + +<p>"Something pleasant, is it?"</p> + +<p>"When he does, and tells me that he is not afraid to give me to you, +I shall be the happiest girl in all England. Is that pleasant?—No, +George, no; I will not have it."</p> + +<p>"Not give me one kiss?"</p> + +<p>"I gave you one when you came, to show you that in truth I loved you. +I will give you another when Papa says that everything is right."</p> + +<p>"Not till then?"</p> + +<p>"No, George, not till then. But I shall love you just the same. I +cannot love you better than I do."</p> + +<p>He had nothing for it but to submit, and was obliged to be content +during the remainder of their long walk with talking of his future +life at Scarrowby. It was clearly her idea that he should be +head-farmer, head-steward, head-accountant, and general workman for +the whole place. When he talked about the game, she brought him back +to the plough;—so at least he declared to himself. And he could +elicit no sympathy from her when he reminded her that the nearest +meet of hounds was twenty miles and more from Scarrowby. "You can +think of other things for a while," she said. He was obliged to say +that he would, but it did seem to him that Scarrowby was a sort of +penal servitude to which he was about to be sent with his own +concurrence. The scent of the cleanliness was odious to him.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what I shall do there of an evening," he said.</p> + +<p>"Read," she answered; "there are lots of books, and you can always +have the magazines. I will send them to you." It was a very dreary +prospect of life for him, but he could not tell her that it would be +absolutely unendurable.</p> + +<p>When their walk was over,—a walk which she never could forget, +however long might be her life, so earnest had been her purpose,—he +was left alone, and took another stroll by himself. How would it suit +him? Was it possible? Could the event "come off"? Might it not have +been better for him had he allowed his other loving friend to prepare +for him the letter to the Baronet, in which Sir Harry's munificent +offer would have been accepted? Let us do him the justice to remember +that he was quite incapable of understanding the misery, the utter +ruin which that letter would have entailed upon her who loved him so +well. He knew nothing of such sufferings as would have been hers—as +must be hers, for had she not already fallen haplessly into the pit +when she had once allowed herself to fix her heart upon a thing so +base as this? It might have been better, he thought, if that letter +had been written. A dim dull idea came upon him that he was not fit +to be this girl's husband. He could not find his joys where she would +find hers. No doubt it would be a grand thing to own Humblethwaite +and Scarrowby at some future time; but Sir Harry might live for these +twenty years, and while Sir Harry lived he must be a slave. And then +he thought that upon the whole he liked Lucy Morton better than Emily +Hotspur. He could say what he chose to Lucy, and smoke in her +presence, own that he was fond of drink, and obtain some sympathy for +his "book" on the Derby. He began to feel already that he did not +like sermons from the girl of his heart.</p> + +<p>But he had chosen this side now, and he must go on with the game. It +seemed certain to him that his debts would at any rate be paid. He +was not at all certain how matters might go in reference to Mr. +Walker, but if matters came to the worst the Baronet would probably +be willing to buy him off again with the promised income. +Nevertheless, he was not comfortable, and certainly did not shine at +Sir Harry's table. "Why she has loved him, what she has seen in him, +I cannot tell," said Sir Harry to his wife that night.</p> + +<p>We must presume Sir Harry did not know how it is that the birds pair.</p> + + +<p><a name="c22" id="c22"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> +<h4>GEORGE HOTSPUR YIELDS.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>On the morning of Cousin George's fourth day at Humblethwaite, there +came a letter for Sir Harry. The post reached the Hall about an hour +before the time at which the family met for prayers, and the letters +were taken into Sir Harry's room. The special letter of which mention +is here made shall be given to the reader +<span class="nowrap">entire:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p class="jright"><span class="smallcaps">——, +Lincoln's Inn Fields</span>,<br /> +24<i>th Nov</i>. 186—.</p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="smallcaps">My dear Sir +Harry Hotspur</span>,—I have received your letter in +reference to Captain Hotspur's debts, and have also +received a letter from him, and a list of what he says he +owes. Of course there can be no difficulty in paying all +debts which he acknowledges, if you think proper to do so. +As far as I am able to judge at present, the amount would +be between twenty-five and thirty thousand pounds. I +should say nearer the former than the latter sum, did I +not know that the amount in such matters always goes on +increasing. You must also understand that I cannot +guarantee the correctness of this statement.</p> + +<p>But I feel myself bound in my duty to go further than +this, even though it may be at the risk of your +displeasure. I presume from what you tell me that you are +contemplating a marriage between George Hotspur and your +daughter; and I now repeat to you, in the most solemn +words that I can use, my assurance that the marriage is +one which you should not countenance. Captain Hotspur is +not fit to marry your daughter.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>When Sir Harry had read so far he had become very angry, but his +anger was now directed against his lawyer. Had he not told Mr. Boltby +that he had changed his mind; and what business had the lawyer to +interfere with him further? But he read the letter on to its bitter +<span class="nowrap">end:—</span><br /> </p> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Since you were in London the following facts have become +known to me. On the second of last month Mr. George +Hotspur met two men, named Walker and Bullbean, in the +lodgings of the former, at about nine in the evening, and +remained there during the greater part of the night, +playing cards. Bullbean is a man well known to the police +as a card-sharper. He once moved in the world as a +gentleman. His trade is now to tout and find prey for +gamblers. Walker is a young man in a low rank of life, who +had some money. George Hotspur on that night won between +three and four hundred pounds of Walker's money; and +Bullbean, over and above this, got for himself some +considerable amount of plunder. Walker is now prepared, +and very urgent, to bring the circumstances of this case +before a magistrate, having found out, or been informed, +that some practice of cheating was used against him; and +Bullbean is ready to give evidence as to George Hotspur's +foul play. They have hitherto been restrained by Hart, the +Jew whom you met. Hart fears that were the whole thing +made public, his bills would not be taken up by you.</p> + +<p>I think that I know all this to be true. If you conceive +that I am acting in a manner inimical to your family, you +had better come up to London and put yourself into the +hands of some other lawyer. If you can still trust me, I +will do the best I can for you. I should recommend you to +bring Captain Hotspur with you,—if he will come.</p> + +<p>I grieve to write as I have done, but it seems to me that +no sacrifice is too great to make with the object of +averting the fate to which, as I fear, Miss Hotspur is +bringing herself.—My dear Sir Harry Hotspur, I am, very +faithfully yours,</p> + +<p class="ind15"><span class="smallcaps">John Boltby</span>.<br /> </p> +</blockquote> + + +<p>It was a terrible letter! Gradually, as he read it and re-read it, +there came upon Sir Harry the feeling that he might owe, that he did +owe, that he certainly would owe to Mr. Boltby a very heavy debt of +gratitude. Gradually the thin glazing of hope with which he had +managed to daub over and partly to hide his own settled convictions +as to his cousin's character fell away, and he saw the man as he had +seen him during his interview with Captain Stubber and Mr. Hart. It +must be so. Let the consequences be what they might, his daughter +must be told. Were she to be killed by the telling, it would be +better than that she should be handed over to such a man as this. The +misfortune which had come upon them might be the death of him and of +her;—but better that than the other. He sat in his chair till the +gong sounded through the house for prayers; then he rang his bell and +sent in word to Lady Elizabeth that she should read them in his +absence. When they were over, word was brought that he would +breakfast alone, in his own room. On receiving that message, both his +wife and daughter went to him; but as yet he could tell them nothing. +Tidings had come which would make it necessary that he should go at +once to London. As soon as breakfast should be over he would see +George Hotspur. They both knew from the tone in which the name was +pronounced that the "tidings" were of their nature bad, and that they +had reference to the sins of their guest.</p> + +<p>"You had better read that letter," he said as soon as George was in +the room. As he spoke his face was towards the fire, and in that +position he remained. The letter had been in his hand, and he only +half turned round to give it. George read the letter slowly, and when +he had got through it, only half understanding the words, but still +knowing well the charge which it contained, stood silent, utterly +conquered. "I suppose it is true?" said Sir Harry, in a low voice, +facing his enemy.</p> + +<p>"I did win some money," said Cousin George.</p> + +<p>"And you cheated?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear no;—nothing of the sort."</p> + +<p>But his confession was written in his face, and was heard in his +voice, and peeped out through every motion of his limbs. He was a +cur, and denied the accusation in a currish manner, hardly intended +to create belief.</p> + +<p>"He must be paid back his money," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"I had promised that," said Cousin George.</p> + +<p>"Has it been your practice, sir, when gambling, to pay back money +that you have won? You are a scoundrel,—a heartless scoundrel,—to +try and make your way into my house when I had made such liberal +offers to buy your absence." To this Cousin George made no sort of +answer. The game was up. And had he not already told himself that it +was a game that he should never have attempted to play? "We will +leave this house if you please, both of us, at eleven. We will go to +town together. The carriage will be ready at eleven. You had better +see to the packing of your things, with the servant."</p> + +<p>"Shall I not say a word of adieu to Lady Elizabeth?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir! You shall never speak to a female in my house again."</p> + +<p>The two were driven over to Penrith together, and went up to London +in the same carriage, Sir Harry paying for all expenses without a +word. Sir Harry before he left his house saw his wife for a moment, +but he did not see his daughter. "Tell her," said he, "that it must +be,—must be all over." The decision was told to Emily, but she +simply refused to accept it. "It shall not be so," said she, flashing +out. Lady Elizabeth endeavoured to show her that her father had done +all he could to further her views—had been ready to sacrifice to her +all his own wishes and convictions.</p> + +<p>"Why is he so changed? He has heard of some new debt. Of course there +are debts. We did not suppose that it could be done all at once, and +so easily." She refused to be comforted, and refused to believe. She +sat alone weeping in her own room, and swore, when her mother came to +her, that no consideration, no tidings as to George's past +misconduct, should induce her to break her faith to the man to whom +her word had been given;—"my word, and Papa's, and yours," said +Emily, pleading her cause with majesty through her tears.</p> + +<p>On the day but one following there came a letter from Sir Harry to +Lady Elizabeth, very short, but telling her the whole truth. "He has +cheated like a common low swindler as he is, with studied tricks at +cards, robbing a poor man, altogether beneath him in station, of +hundreds of pounds. There is no doubt about it. It is uncertain even +yet whether he will not be tried before a jury. He hardly even denies +it. A creature viler, more cowardly, worse, the mind of man cannot +conceive. My broken-hearted, dearest, best darling must be told all +this. Tell her that I know what she will suffer. Tell her that I +shall be as crushed by it as she. But anything is better than +degradation such as this. Tell her specially that I have not decided +without absolute knowledge." Emily was told. The letter was read to +her and by her till she knew it almost by heart. There came upon her +a wan look of abject agony, that seemed to rob her at once of her +youth and beauty; but even now she would not yield. She did not +longer affect to disbelieve the tidings, but said that no man, let +him do what he might, could be too far gone for repentance and +forgiveness. She would wait. She had talked of waiting two years. She +would be content to wait ten. What though he had cheated at cards! +Had she not once told her mother that should it turn out that he had +been a murderer, then she would become a murderer's wife? She did not +know that cheating at cards was worse than betting at horse-races. It +was all bad,—very bad. It was the kind of life into which men were +led by the fault of those who should have taught them better. No; she +would not marry him without her father's leave: but she would never +own that her engagement was broken, let them affix what most +opprobrious name to him they might choose. To her card-sharpers +seemed to be no worse than gamblers. She was quite sure that Christ +had come to save men who cheat at cards as well as others.</p> + +<p>As Sir Harry and his cousin entered the London station late at +night,—it was past midnight,—Sir Harry bade his companion meet him +the next morning at Mr. Boltby's chambers at eleven. Cousin George +had had ample time for meditation, and had considered that it might +be best for him to "cut up a little rough."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Boltby is my enemy," he said, "and I don't know what I am to get +by going there."</p> + +<p>"If you don't, sir, I'll not pay one shilling for you."</p> + +<p>"I have your promise, Sir Harry."</p> + +<p>"If you are not there at the time I fix, I will pay nothing, and the +name may go to the dogs."</p> + +<p>Then they both went to the station hotel,—not together, but the +younger following the elder's feet,—and slept for the last time in +their lives under one roof.</p> + +<p>Cousin George did not show himself at Mr. Boltby's, being still in +his bed at the station hotel at the time named; but at three o'clock +he was with Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>For the present we will go back to Sir Harry. He was at the lawyer's +chambers at the time named, and Mr. Boltby smiled when told of the +summons which had been given to Cousin George. By this time Sir Harry +had acknowledged his gratitude to Mr. Boltby over and over again, and +Mr. Boltby perhaps, having no daughter, thought that the evil had +been cured. He was almost inclined to be jocular, and did laugh at +Sir Harry in a mild way when told of the threat.</p> + +<p>"We must pay his debts, Sir Harry, I think."</p> + +<p>"I don't see it at all. I would rather face everything. And I told +him that I would pay nothing."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you had told him that you would. And then those cormorants +have been told so also. We had better build a bridge of gold for a +falling enemy. Stick to your former proposition, without any +reference to a legacy, and make him write the letter. My clerk shall +find him to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry at last gave way; the lucky Walker received back his full +money, Bullbean's wages of iniquity and all; and Sir Harry returned +to Humblethwaite.</p> + +<p>Cousin George was sitting in Mrs. Morton's room with a very bad +headache five days after his arrival in London, and she was reading +over a manuscript which she had just written. "That will do, I +think," she said.</p> + +<p>"Just the thing," said he, without raising his head.</p> + +<p>"Will you copy it now, George?"</p> + +<p>"Not just now, I am so seedy. I'll take it and do it at the club."</p> + +<p>"No; I will not have that. The draft would certainly be left out on +the club table; and you would go to billiards, and the letter never +would be written."</p> + +<p>"I'll come back and do it after dinner."</p> + +<p>"I shall be at the theatre then, and I won't have you here in my +absence. Rouse yourself and do it now. Don't be such a poor thing."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, Lucy; but if you had a sick headache, you +wouldn't like to have to write a +<span class="nowrap">d——d</span> letter like that."</p> + +<p>Then she rose up to scold him, being determined that the letter +should be written then and there. "Why, what a coward you are; what a +feckless, useless creature! Do you think that I have never to go for +hours on the stage, with the gas in a blaze around me, and my head +ready to split? And what is this? A paper to write that will take you +ten minutes. The truth is, you don't like to give up the girl!" Could +she believe it of him after knowing him so well; could she think that +there was so much of good in him?</p> + +<p>"You say that to annoy me. You know that I never cared for her."</p> + +<p>"You would marry her now if they would let you."</p> + +<p>"No, by George. I've had enough of that. You're wide awake enough to +understand, Lucy, that a fellow situated as I am, over head and ears +in debt, and heir to an old title, should struggle to keep the things +together. Families and names don't matter much, I suppose; but, after +all, one does care for them. But I've had enough of that. As for +Cousin Emily, you know, Lucy, I never loved any woman but you in my +life."</p> + +<p>He was a brute, unredeemed by any one manly gift; idle, +self-indulgent, false, and without a principle. She was a woman +greatly gifted, with many virtues, capable of self-sacrifice, +industrious, affectionate, and loving truth if not always true +herself. And yet such a word as that from this brute sufficed to +please her for the moment. She got up and kissed his forehead and +dropped for him some strong spirit in a glass, which she mixed with +water, and cooled his brow with eau-de-cologne. "Try to write it, +dearest. It should be written at once if it is to be written." Then +he turned himself wearily to her writing-desk, and copied the words +which she had prepared for him.</p> + +<p>The letter was addressed to Mr. Boltby, and purported to be a +renunciation of all claim to Miss Hotspur's hand, on the +understanding that his debts were paid for him to the extent of +£25,000, and that an allowance were made to him of £500 a year, +settled on him as an annuity for life, as long as he should live out +of England. Mr. Boltby had given him to understand that this clause +would not be exacted, unless circumstances should arise which should +make Sir Harry think it imperative upon him to demand its execution. +The discretion must be left absolute with Sir Harry; but, as Mr. +Boltby said, Captain Hotspur could trust Sir Harry's word and his +honour.</p> + +<p>"If I'm to be made to go abroad, what the devil are you to do?" he +had said to Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>"There need be no circumstances," said Mrs. Morton, "to make it +necessary."</p> + +<p>Of course Captain Hotspur accepted the terms on her advice. He had +obeyed Lady Altringham, and had tried to obey Emily, and would now +obey Mrs. Morton, because Mrs. Morton was the nearest to him.</p> + +<p>The letter which he copied was a well-written letter, put together +with much taste, so that the ignoble compact to which it gave assent +should seem to be as little ignoble as might be possible. "I entered +into the arrangement," the letter said in its last paragraph, +"because I thought it right to endeavour to keep the property and the +title together; but I am aware now that my position in regard to my +debts was of a nature that should have deterred me from the attempt. +As I have failed, I sincerely hope that my cousin may be made happy +by some such splendid alliance as she is fully entitled to expect." +He did not understand all that the words conveyed; but yet he +questioned them. He did not perceive that they were intended to imply +that the writer had never for a moment loved the girl whom he had +proposed to marry. Nevertheless they did convey to him dimly some +idea that they might give,—not pain, for as to that he would have +been indifferent,—but offence. "Will there be any good in all that?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said she. "You don't mean to whine and talk of your +broken heart."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, no; nothing of that sort."</p> + +<p>"This is the manly way to put it, regarding the matter simply as an +affair of business."</p> + +<p>"I believe it is," said he; and then, having picked himself up +somewhat by the aid of a glass of sherry, he continued to copy the +letter, and to direct it.</p> + +<p>"I will keep the rough draft," said Mrs. Morton.</p> + +<p>"And I must go now, I suppose," he said.</p> + +<p>"You can stay here and see me eat my dinner if you like. I shall not +ask you to share it, because it consists of two small mutton chops, +and one wouldn't keep me up through Lady Teazle."</p> + +<p>"I've a good mind to come and see you," said he.</p> + +<p>"Then you'd better go and eat your own dinner at once."</p> + +<p>"I don't care about my dinner. I should have a bit of supper +afterwards."</p> + +<p>Then she preached to him a sermon; not quite such a one as Emily +Hotspur had preached, but much more practical, and with less +reticence. If he went on living as he was living now, he would "come +to grief." He was drinking every day, and would some day find that he +could not do so with impunity. Did he know what delirium tremens was? +Did he want to go to the devil altogether? Had he any hope as to his +future life?</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, "I hope to make you my wife." She tossed her head, +and told him that with all the will in the world to sacrifice +herself, such sacrifice could do him no good if he persisted in +making himself a drunkard. "But I have been so tried these last two +months. If you only knew what Mr. Boltby and Captain Stubber and Sir +Harry and Mr. Hart were altogether. Oh, my +<span class="nowrap">G——!"</span> But he did not say +a word about Messrs. Walker and Bullbean. The poor woman who was +helping him knew nothing of Walker and Bullbean. Let us hope that she +may remain in that ignorance.</p> + +<p>Cousin George, before he left her, swore that he would amend his mode +of life, but he did not go to see Lady Teazle that night. There were +plenty of men now back in town ready to play pool at the club.</p> + + +<p><a name="c23" id="c23"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> +<h4>"I SHALL NEVER BE MARRIED."<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Sir Harry Hotspur returned to Humblethwaite before Cousin George's +letter was written, though when he did return all the terms had been +arranged, and a portion of the money paid. Perhaps it would have been +better that he should have waited and taken the letter with him in +his pocket; but in truth he was so wretched that he could not wait. +The thing was fixed and done, and he could but hurry home to hide his +face among his own people. He felt that the glory of his house was +gone from him. He would sit by the hour together thinking of the boy +who had died. He had almost, on occasions, allowed himself to forget +his boy, while hoping that his name and wide domains might be kept +together by the girl that was left to him. He was beginning to +understand now that she was already but little better than a wreck. +Indeed, was not everything shipwreck around him? Was he not going to +pieces on the rocks? Did not the lesson of every hour seem to tell +him that, throughout his long life, he had thought too much of his +house and his name?</p> + +<p>It would have been better that he should have waited till the letter +was in his pocket before he returned home, because, when he reached +Humblethwaite, the last argument was wanting to him to prove to Emily +that her hope was vain. Even after his arrival, when the full story +was told to her, she held out in her resolve. She accepted the truth +of that scene at Walker's rooms. She acknowledged that her lover had +cheated the wretched man at cards. After that all other iniquities +were of course as nothing. There was a completeness in that of which +she did not fail to accept, and to use the benefit. When she had once +taken it as true that her lover had robbed his inferior by foul play +at cards, there could be no good in alluding to this or that lie, in +counting up this or that disreputable debt, in alluding to habits of +brandy-drinking, or even in soiling her pure mind with any word as to +Mrs. Morton. It was granted that he was as vile as sin could make +him. Had not her Saviour come exactly for such as this one, because +of His great love for those who were vile; and should not her human +love for one enable her to do that which His great heavenly love did +always for all men? Every reader will know how easily answerable was +the argument. Most readers will also know how hard it is to win by +attacking the reason when the heart is the fortress that is in +question. She had accepted his guilt, and why tell her of it any +further? Did she not pine over his guilt, and weep for it day and +night, and pray that he might yet be made white as snow? But guilty +as he was, a poor piece of broken vilest clay, without the properties +even which are useful to the potter, he was as dear to her as when +she had leaned against him believing him to be a pillar of gold set +about with onyx stones, jaspers, and rubies. There was but one sin on +his part which could divide them. If, indeed, he should cease to love +her, then there would be an end to it! It would have been better that +Sir Harry should have remained in London till he could have returned +with George's autograph letter in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"You must have the letter in his own handwriting," Mr. Boltby had +said, cunningly, "only you must return it to me."</p> + +<p>Sir Harry had understood, and had promised, that the letter should be +returned when it had been used for the cruel purpose for which it was +to be sent to Humblethwaite. For all Sir Harry's own purposes Mr. +Boltby's statements would have quite sufficed.</p> + +<p>She was told that her lover would renounce her, but she would not +believe what she was told. Of course he would accept the payment of +his debts. Of course he would take an income when offered to him. +What else was he to do? How was he to live decently without an +income? All these evils had happened to him because he had been +expected to live as a gentleman without proper means. In fact, he was +the person who had been most injured. Her father, in his complete, in +his almost abject tenderness towards her, could not say rough words +in answer to all these arguments. He could only repeat his assertion +over and over again that the man was utterly unworthy of her, and +must be discarded. It was all as nothing. The man must discard +himself.</p> + +<p>"He is false as hell," said Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"And am I to be as false as hell also? Will you love me better when I +have consented to be untrue? And even that would be a lie. I do love +him. I must love him. I may be more wicked than he is, because I do +so. But I do."</p> + +<p>Poor Lady Elizabeth in these days was worse than useless. Her +daughter was so strong that her weakness was as the weakness of +water. She was driven hither and thither in a way that she herself +felt to be disgraceful. When her husband told her that the cousin, as +matter of course, could never be seen again, she assented. When Emily +implored her to act as mediator with her father on behalf of the +wicked cousin, she again assented. And then, when she was alone with +Sir Harry, she did not dare to do as she had promised.</p> + +<p>"I do think it will kill her," she said to Sir Harry.</p> + +<p>"We must all die, but we need not die disgraced," he said.</p> + +<p>It was a most solemn answer, and told the thoughts which had been +dwelling in his mind. His son had gone from him; and now it might be +that his daughter must go too, because she could not survive the +disappointment of her young love. He had learned to think that it +might be so as he looked at her great grave eyes, and her pale +cheeks, and her sorrow-laden mouth. It might be so; but better that +for them all than that she should be contaminated by the touch of a +thing so vile as this cousin. She was pure as snow, clear as a star, +lovely as the opening rosebud. As she was, let her go to her +grave,—if it need be so. For himself, he could die too,—or even +live if it were required of him! Other fathers, since Jephtha and +Agamemnon, have recognised it as true that heaven has demanded from +them their daughters.</p> + +<p>The letter came, and was read and re-read by Sir Harry before he +showed it to his child. He took it also to his wife, and explained it +to her in all its points. "It has more craft," said he, "than I gave +him credit for."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose he ever cared for her," said Lady Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>"Nor for any human being that ever lived,—save himself. I wonder +whether he got Boltby to write it for him."</p> + +<p>"Surely Mr. Boltby wouldn't have done that."</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I think he would do anything to rid us from what he +believed to have been our danger. I don't think it was in George +Hotspur to write such a letter out of his own head."</p> + +<p>"But does it signify?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least. It is his own handwriting and his signature. +Whoever formed the words, it is the same thing. It was needed only to +prove to her that he had not even the merit of being true to her."</p> + +<p>For a while Sir Harry thought that he would entrust to his wife the +duty of showing the letter to Emily. He would so willingly have +escaped the task himself! But as he considered the matter he feared +that Lady Elizabeth might lack the firmness to explain the matter +fully to the poor girl. The daughter would be so much stronger than +the mother, and thus the thing that must be done would not be +effected! At last, on the evening of the day on which the letter had +reached him, he sent for her, and read it to her. She heard it +without a word. Then he put it into her hands, and she read the +sentences herself, slowly, one after another, endeavouring as she did +so to find arguments by which she might stave off the conclusion to +which she knew that her father would attempt to bring her.</p> + +<p>"It must be all over now," said he at last.</p> + +<p>She did not answer him, but gazed into his face with such a look of +woe that his heart was melted. She had found no argument. There had +not been in the whole letter one word of love for her.</p> + +<p>"My darling, will it not be better that we should meet the blow?"</p> + +<p>"I have met it, all along. Some day, perhaps, he might be different."</p> + +<p>"In what way, dearest? He does not even profess to hope so himself."</p> + +<p>"That gentleman in London, Papa, would have paid nothing for him +unless he wrote like this. He had to do it. Papa, you had better just +leave me to myself. I will not trouble you by mentioning his name."</p> + +<p>"But Emily—"</p> + +<p>"Well, Papa?"</p> + +<p>"Mamma and I cannot bear that you should suffer alone."</p> + +<p>"I must suffer, and silence is the easiest. I will go now and think +about it. Dear Papa, I know that you have always done everything for +the best."</p> + +<p>He did not see her again that evening. Her mother was with her in her +own room, and of course they were talking about Cousin George for +hours together. It could not be avoided, in spite of what Emily had +herself said of the expediency of silence. But she did not once +allude to the possibility of a future marriage. As the man was so +dear to her, and as he bore their name, and as he must inherit her +father's title, could not some almost superhuman exertion be made for +his salvation? Surely so much as that might be done, if they all made +it the work of their lives.</p> + +<p>"It must be the work of my life, Mamma," she said.</p> + +<p>Lady Elizabeth forbore from telling her that there was no side on +which she could approach him. The poor girl herself, however, must +have felt that it was so. As she thought of it all she reminded +herself that, though they were separated miles asunder, still she +could pray for him. We need not doubt this at least,—that to him who +utters them prayers of intercession are of avail.</p> + +<p>On the following morning she was at breakfast, and both her father +and mother remarked that something had been changed in her dress. The +father only knew that it was so, but the mother could have told of +every ribbon that had been dropped, and every ornament that had been +laid aside. Emily Hotspur had lived a while, if not among the gayest +of the gay, at least among the brightest of the bright in outside +garniture, and having been asked to consult no questions of expense, +had taught herself to dress as do the gay and bright and rich. Even +when George had come on his last wretched visit to Humblethwaite, +when she had known that he had been brought there as a blackamoor +perhaps just capable of being washed white, she had not thought it +necessary to lessen the gauds of her attire. Though she was saddened +in her joy by the knowledge of the man's faults, she was still the +rich daughter of a very wealthy man, and engaged to marry the future +inheritor of all that wealth and riches. There was then no reason why +she should lower her flag one inch before the world. But now all was +changed with her! During the night she had thought of her apparel, +and of what use it might be during her future life. She would never +more go bright again, unless some miracle might prevail, and he still +might be to her that which she had painted him. Neither father nor +mother, as she kissed them both, said a word as to her appearance. +They must take her away from Humblethwaite, change the scene, try to +interest her in new pursuits; that was what they had determined to +attempt. For the present, they would let her put on what clothes she +pleased, and make no remark.</p> + +<p>Early in the day she went out by herself. It was now December, but +the weather was fine and dry, and she was for two hours alone, +rambling through the park. She had made her attempt in life, and had +failed. She owned her failure to herself absolutely. The image had no +gold in it;—none as yet. But it was not as other images, which, as +they are made, so must they remain to the end. The Divine Spirit, +which might from the first have breathed into this clay some particle +of its own worth, was still efficacious to bestow the gift. Prayer +should not be wanting; but the thing as it now was she saw in all its +impurity. He had never loved her. Had he loved her he would not have +written words such as those she had read. He had pretended to love +her in order that he might have money, that his debts might be paid, +that he might not be ruined. "He hoped," he said in his letter, "he +hoped that his cousin might be made happy by a splendid alliance!" +She remembered well the abominable, heartless words. And this was the +man who had pledged her to truth and firmness, and whose own truth +and firmness she had never doubted for a moment, even when +acknowledging to herself the necessity of her pledge to him. He had +never loved her; and, though she did not say so, did not think so, +she felt that of all his sins that sin was the one which could not be +forgiven.</p> + +<p>What should she now do with herself,—how bear herself at this +present moment of her life? She did not tell herself now that she +would die, though as she looked forward into life all was so dreary +to her, that she would fain have known that death would give an +escape. But there were duties for her still to do. During that winter +ramble, she owned to herself for the first time that her father had +been right in his judgment respecting their cousin, and that she, by +her pertinacity, had driven her father on till on her account he had +been forced into conduct which was distasteful to him. She must own +to her father that he had been right; that the man, though she dearly +loved him still, was of such nature that it would be quite unfit that +she should marry him. There might still be the miracle; her prayers +were still her own to give; of them she would say nothing to her +father. She would simply confess to him that he had been right, and +then beg of him to pardon her the trouble she had caused him.</p> + +<p>"Papa," she said to him the following morning, "may I come to you?" +She came in, and on this occasion sat down at his right hand. "Of +course, you have been right, Papa," she said.</p> + +<p>"We have both been right, dearest, I hope."</p> + +<p>"No, Papa; I have been wrong! I thought I knew him, and I did not. I +thought when you told me that he was so bad, that you were believing +false people; and, Papa, I know now that I should not have loved him +as I did;—so quickly, like that."</p> + +<p>"Nobody has blamed you for a moment. Nobody has thought of blaming +you."</p> + +<p>"I blame myself enough; I can tell you that. I feel as though I had +in a way destroyed myself."</p> + +<p>"Do not say that, my darling."</p> + +<p>"You will let me speak now; will you not, Papa? I wish to tell you +everything, that you may understand all that I feel. I shall never +get over it."</p> + +<p>"You will, dearest; you will, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Never! Perhaps I shall live on; but I feel that it has killed me for +this world. I don't know how a girl is to get over it when she has +said that she has loved any one. If they are married, then she does +not want to get over it; but if they are not,—if he deserts her, or +is unworthy, or both,—what can she do then, but just go on thinking +of it till—she dies?"</p> + +<p>Sir Harry used with her all the old accustomed arguments to drive +such thoughts out of her head. He told her how good was God to His +creatures, and, specially, how good in curing by the soft hand of +time such wounds as those from which she was suffering. She should +"retrick her beams," and once more "flame in the forehead of the +morning sky," if only she would help the work of time by her own +endeavours. "Fight against the feeling, Emily, and try to conquer it, +and it will be conquered."</p> + +<p>"But, Papa, I do not wish to conquer it. I should not tell you of all +this, only for one thing."</p> + +<p>"What thing, dearest?"</p> + +<p>"I am not like other girls, who can just leave themselves alone and +be of no trouble. You told me that if I outlived +<span class="nowrap">you—"</span></p> + +<p>"The property will be yours; certainly. Of course, it was my +hope,—and is,—that all that shall be settled by your marriage +before my death. The trouble and labour is more than a woman should +be called on to support alone."</p> + +<p>"Just so. And it is because you are thinking of all this, that I feel +it right to tell you. Papa, I shall never be married."</p> + +<p>"We will leave that for the present, Emily."</p> + +<p>"Very well; only if it would make a change in your will, you should +make it. You will have to be here, Papa, after I am gone,—probably."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no."</p> + +<p>"But, if it were not so, I should not know what to do. That is all, +Papa; only this,—that I beg your pardon for all the trouble I have +caused you." Then she knelt before him, and he kissed her head, and +blessed her, and wept over her.</p> + +<p>There was nothing more heard from Cousin George at Humblethwaite, and +nothing more heard of him for a long time. Mr. Boltby did pay his +debts, having some terribly hard struggles with Mr. Hart and Captain +Stubber before the liquidations were satisfactorily effected. It was +very hard to make Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber understand that the +Baronet was paying these debts simply because he had said that he +would pay them once before, under other circumstances, and that no +other cause for their actual payment now existed. But the debts were +paid, down to the last farthing of which Mr. Boltby could have +credible tidings. "Pay everything," Sir Harry had said; "I have +promised it." Whereby he was alluding to the promise which he had +made to his daughter. Everything was paid, and Cousin George was able +to walk in and out of his club, a free man,—and at times almost +happy,—with an annuity of five hundred pounds a year! Nothing more +was said to him as to the necessity of expatriation.</p> + + +<p><a name="c24" id="c24"></a> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> +<h4>THE END.<br /> </h4> + + +<p>Among playgoing folk, in the following April there was a great deal +of talk about the marriage of that very favourite actress, Mrs. +Morton. She appeared in the playbills as Mrs. George Hotspur, late +Mrs. Morton. Very many spoke of her familiarly, who knew her only on +the stage,—as is the custom of men in speaking of actresses,—and +perhaps some few of these who spoke of her did know her personally. +"Poor Lucy!" said one middle-aged gentleman over fifty, who spent +four nights of every week at one theatre or another. "When she was +little more than a child they married her to that reprobate Morton. +Since that she has managed to keep her head above water by hard work; +and now she has gone and married another worse than the first!"</p> + +<p>"She is older now, and will be able to manage George," said another.</p> + +<p>"Manage him! If anybody can manage to keep him out of debt, or from +drink either, I'll eat him."</p> + +<p>"But he must be Sir George when old Sir Harry dies," said he who was +defending the prudence of the marriage.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and won't have a penny. Will it help her to be able to put Lady +Hotspur on the bills? Not in the least. And the women can't forgive +her and visit her. She has not been good enough for that. A grand old +family has been disgraced, and a good actress destroyed. That's my +idea of this marriage."</p> + +<p>"I thought Georgy was going to marry his cousin—that awfully proud +minx," said one young fellow.</p> + +<p>"When it came to the scratch, she would not have him," said another. +"But there had been promises, and so, to make it all square, Sir +Harry paid his debts."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe a bit about his debts being paid," said the +middle-aged gentleman who was fond of going to the theatre.</p> + +<p>Yes, George Hotspur was married: and, as far as any love went with +him, had married the woman he liked best. Though the actress was +worlds too good for him, there was not about her that air of +cleanliness and almost severe purity which had so distressed him +while he had been forced to move in the atmosphere of his cousin. +After the copying of the letter and the settlement of the bills, Mrs. +Morton had found no difficulty in arranging matters as she pleased. +She had known the man perhaps better than any one else had known him; +and yet she thought it best to marry him. We must not inquire into +her motives, though we may pity her fate.</p> + +<p>She did not intend, however, to yield herself as an easy prey to his +selfishness. She had also her ideas of reforming him, and ideas +which, as they were much less grand, might possibly be more +serviceable than those which for a while had filled the mind and +heart of Emily Hotspur. "George," she said, one day to him, "what do +you mean to do?" This was before the marriage was fixed;—when +nothing more was fixed than that idea of marriage which had long +existed between them.</p> + +<p>"Of course we shall be spliced now," said he.</p> + +<p>"And if so, what then? I shall keep to the stage, of course."</p> + +<p>"We couldn't do with the £500 a year, I suppose, any how?"</p> + +<p>"Not very well, I'm afraid, seeing that as a habit you eat and drink +more than that yourself. But, with all that I can do, there must be a +change. I tell you for your own sake as well as for mine, unless you +can drop drinking, we had better give it up even yet." After that, +for a month or two under her auspices, he did "drop it,"—or at least +so far dropped it as to induce her to run the risk. In April they +were married, and she must be added to the list of women who have +sacrificed themselves on behalf of men whom they have known to be +worthless. We need not pursue his career further; but we may be sure, +that though she watched him very closely, and used a power over him +of which he was afraid, still he went gradually from bad to worse, +and was found at last to be utterly past redemption. He was one who +in early life had never known what it was to take delight in +postponing himself to another; and now there was no spark in him of +love or gratitude by which fire could be kindled or warmth created. +It had come to that with him,—that to eat and to drink was all that +was left to him; and it was coming to that too, that the latter of +these two pleasant recreations would soon be all that he had within +his power of enjoyment. There are such men; and of all human beings +they are the most to be pitied. They have intellects; they do think; +the hours with them are terribly long;—and they have no hope!</p> + +<p>The Hotspurs of Humblethwaite remained at home till Christmas was +passed, and then at once started for Rome. Sir Harry and Lady +Elizabeth both felt that it must be infinitely better for their girl +to be away; and then there came the doctor's slow advice. There was +nothing radically amiss with Miss Hotspur, the doctor said; but it +would be better for her to be taken elsewhere. She, knowing how her +father loved his home and the people around him, begged that she +might be allowed to stay. Nothing ailed her, she said, save only that +ache at the heart which no journey to Rome could cure. "What's the +use of it, Papa?" she said. "You are unhappy because I'm altered. +Would you wish me not to be altered after what has passed? Of course +I am altered. Let us take it as it is, and not think about it." She +had adopted certain practices in life, however, which Sir Harry was +determined to check, at any rate for the time. She spent her days +among the poor, and when not with them she was at church. And there +was always some dreary book in her hands when they were together in +the drawing-room after dinner. Of church-going and visiting the poor, +and of good books, Sir Harry approved thoroughly; but even of good +things such as these there may be too much. So Sir Harry and Lady +Elizabeth got a courier who spoke all languages, and a footman who +spoke German, and two maids, of whom one pretended to speak French, +and had trunks packed without number, and started for Rome. All that +wealth could do was done; but let the horseman be ever so rich, or +the horseman's daughter, and the stud be ever so good, it is seldom +they can ride fast enough to shake off their cares.</p> + +<p>In Rome they remained till April, and while they were there the name +of Cousin George was never once mentioned in the hearing of Sir +Harry. Between the mother and daughter no doubt there was speech +concerning him. But to Emily's mind he was always present. He was to +her as a thing abominable, and yet necessarily tied to her by bonds +which she could never burst asunder. She felt like some poor princess +in a tale, married to an ogre from whom there was no escape. She had +given herself up to one utterly worthless, and she knew it. But yet +she had given herself, and could not revoke the gift. There was, +indeed, still left to her that possibility of a miracle, but of that +she whispered nothing even to her mother. If there were to be a +miracle, it must be of God; and at God's throne she made her +whispers. In these days she was taken about from sight to sight with +apparent willingness. She saw churches, pictures, statues, and ruins, +and seemed to take an interest in them. She was introduced to the +Pope, and allowed herself to be apparelled in her very best for that +august occasion. But, nevertheless, the tenor of her way and the +fashions of her life, as was her daily dress, were grey and sad and +solemn. She lived as one who knew that the backbone of her life was +broken. Early in April they left Rome and went north, to the Italian +lakes, and settled themselves for a while at Lugano. And here the +news reached them of the marriage of George Hotspur.</p> + +<p>Lady Elizabeth read the marriage among the advertisements in the +<i>Times</i>, and at once took it to Sir Harry, withdrawing the paper from +the room in a manner which made Emily sure that there was something +in it which she was not intended to see. But Sir Harry thought that +the news should be told to her, and he himself told it.</p> + +<p>"Already married!" she said. "And who is the lady?"</p> + +<p>"You had better not ask, my dear."</p> + +<p>"Why not ask? I may, at any rate, know her name."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Morton. She was a widow,—and an actress."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, I know," said Emily, blushing; for in those days in which it +had been sought to wean her from George Hotspur, a word or two about +this lady had been said to her by Lady Elizabeth under the +instructions of Sir Harry. And there was no more said on that +occasion. On that day, and on the following, her father observed no +change in her; and the mother spoke nothing of her fears. But on the +next morning Lady Elizabeth said that she was not as she had been. +"She is thinking of him still—always," she whispered to her husband. +He made no reply, but sat alone, out in the garden, with his +newspaper before him, reading nothing, but cursing that cousin of his +in his heart.</p> + +<p>There could be no miracle now for her! Even the thought of that was +gone. The man who had made her believe that he loved her, only in the +last autumn,—though indeed it seemed to her that years had rolled +over since, and made her old, worn-out, and weary;—who had asked for +and obtained the one gift she had to give, the bestowal of her very +self; who had made her in her baby folly believe that he was almost +divine, whereas he was hardly human in his lowness,—this man, whom +she still loved in a way which she could not herself understand, +loving and despising him utterly at the same time,—was now the +husband of another woman. Even he, she had felt, would have thought +something of her. But she had been nothing to him but the means of +escape from disreputable difficulties. She could not sustain her +contempt for herself as she remembered this, and yet she showed but +little of it in her outward manner.</p> + +<p>"I'll go when you like, Papa," she said when the days of May had +come, "but I'd sooner stay here a little longer if you wouldn't +mind." There was no talk of going home. It was only a question +whether they should go further north, to Lucerne, before the warm +weather came.</p> + +<p>"Of course we will remain; why not?" said Sir Harry. "Mamma and I +like Lugano amazingly." Poor Sir Harry. As though he could have liked +any place except Humblethwaite!</p> + +<p>Our story is over now. They did remain till the scorching July sun +had passed over their heads, and August was upon them; and then—they +had buried her in the small Protestant cemetery at Lugano, and Sir +Harry Hotspur was without a child and without an heir.</p> + +<p>He returned home in the early autumn, a grey, worn-out, tottering old +man, with large eyes full of sorrow, and a thin mouth that was seldom +opened to utter a word. In these days, I think, he recurred to his +early sorrow, and thought almost more of his son than of his +daughter. But he had instant, pressing energy left to him for one +deed. Were he to die now without a further will, Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby would go to the wretch who had destroyed him. What was the +title to him now, or even the name? His wife's nephew was an Earl +with an enormous rent-roll, something so large that Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby to him would be little more than additional labour. But to +this young man Humblethwaite and Scarrowby were left, and the glories +of the House of Hotspur were at an end.</p> + +<p>And so the story of the House of Humblethwaite has been told.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center"> +<p class="noindent"><span class="small">LONDON: +R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR PRINTERS BREAD STREET HILL.</span></p> +</div> + + +<p> </p> +<hr class="narrow" /> +<p> </p> + +<h4>Transcriber's note:</h4> + +<div class="small"> +<p class="noindent">Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Specific changes in wording of the text +are listed below.</p> + +<p class="noindentind">Chapter V, paragraph 1. +The word "of" was deleted +from the sentence which in the original read: +It was of this taste OF which Pope was conscious +when he declared that every woman was at heart a rake.</p> + +<p class="noindentind">Chapter VII, paragraph 17. +The word "like" was added to the sentence: +A girl LIKE that learns everything.</p> + +<p class="noindentind">Chapter VIII, paragraph 33. +The spelling of the word +"commencment" was changed in the sentence beginning: +George had determined from the COMMENCEMENT of his +<span class="nowrap">visit…</span></p> + +<p class="noindentind">Chapter XX, paragraph 4. +The word "uncle" was changed to +"cousin" in the sentence: "I am so sorry to give you +this trouble," said Cousin George, coming forward to +greet his COUSIN.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 27712-h.txt or 27712-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/7/1/27712">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/7/1/27712</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite + + +Author: Anthony Trollope + + + +Release Date: January 5, 2009 [eBook #27712] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF +HUMBLETHWAITE*** + + +E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D. + + + +SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE. + +by + +ANTHONY TROLLOPE, + +Author of "Framley Parsonage," etc. + + + + + + + +London: +Hurst and Blackett, Publishers, +13, Great Marlborough Street. +1871 + +The right of Translation is reserved. + +London: +R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor, Printers, +Bread Street Hill. + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER I. SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. + CHAPTER II. OUR HEROINE. + CHAPTER III. LORD ALFRED'S COURTSHIP. + CHAPTER IV. VACILLATION. + CHAPTER V. GEORGE HOTSPUR. + CHAPTER VI. THE BALL IN BRUTON STREET. + CHAPTER VII. LADY ALTRINGHAM. + CHAPTER VIII. AIREY FORCE. + CHAPTER IX. "I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE." + CHAPTER X. MR. HART AND CAPTAIN STUBBER. + CHAPTER XI. MRS. MORTON. + CHAPTER XII. THE HUNT BECOMES HOT. + CHAPTER XIII. "I WILL NOT DESERT HIM." + CHAPTER XIV. PERTINACITY. + CHAPTER XV. COUSIN GEORGE IS HARD PRESSED. + CHAPTER XVI. SIR HARRY'S RETURN. + CHAPTER XVII. "LET US TRY." + CHAPTER XVIII. GOOD ADVICE. + CHAPTER XIX. THE NEW SMITHY. + CHAPTER XX. COUSIN GEORGE'S SUCCESS. + CHAPTER XXI. EMILY HOTSPUR'S SERMON. + CHAPTER XXII. GEORGE HOTSPUR YIELDS. + CHAPTER XXIII. "I SHALL NEVER BE MARRIED." + CHAPTER XXIV. THE END. + + + + +SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE. + +CHAPTER I. + +SIR HARRY HOTSPUR. + + +Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite was a mighty person in Cumberland, +and one who well understood of what nature were the duties, and of +what sort the magnificence, which his position as a great English +commoner required of him. He had twenty thousand a year derived from +land. His forefathers had owned the same property in Cumberland for +nearly four centuries, and an estate nearly as large in Durham for +more than a century and a half. He had married an earl's daughter, +and had always lived among men and women not only of high rank, but +also of high character. He had kept race-horses when he was young, as +noblemen and gentlemen then did keep them, with no view to profit, +calculating fairly their cost as a part of his annual outlay, and +thinking that it was the proper thing to do for the improvement +of horses and for the amusement of the people. He had been in +Parliament, but had made no figure there, and had given it up. He +still kept his house in Bruton Street, and always spent a month or +two in London. But the life that he led was led at Humblethwaite, and +there he was a great man, with a great domain around him,--with many +tenants, with a world of dependants among whom he spent his wealth +freely, saving little, but lavishing nothing that was not his own +to lavish,--understanding that his enjoyment was to come from the +comfort and respect of others, for whose welfare, as he understood +it, the good things of this world had been bestowed upon him. He was +a proud man, with but few intimacies,--with a few dear friendships +which were the solace of his life,--altogether gracious in his +speech, if it were not for an apparent bashfulness among strangers; +never assuming aught, deferring much to others outwardly, and showing +his pride chiefly by a certain impalpable _noli me tangere_, which +just sufficed to make itself felt and obeyed at the first approach of +any personal freedom. He was a handsome man,--if an old man near to +seventy may be handsome,--with grey hair, and bright, keen eyes, and +arched eyebrows, with a well-cut eagle nose, and a small mouth, and a +short dimpled chin. He was under the middle height, but nevertheless +commanded attention by his appearance. He wore no beard save a slight +grey whisker, which was cut away before it reached his chin. He was +strongly made, but not stout, and was hale and active for his age. + +Such was Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite. The account of Lady +Elizabeth, his wife, may be much shorter. She was known,--where she +was known,--simply as Sir Harry's wife. He indeed was one of those +men of whom it may be said that everything appertaining to them takes +its importance from the fact of its being theirs. Lady Elizabeth was +a good woman, a good wife, and a good mother, and was twenty years +younger than her husband. He had been forty-five years old when he +had married her, and she, even yet, had not forgotten the deference +which was due to his age. + +Two years before the time at which our story will begin, a great +sorrow, an absolutely crushing grief, had fallen upon the House +of Humblethwaite. An only son had died just as he had reached his +majority. When the day came on which all Humblethwaite and the +surrounding villages were to have been told to rejoice and make merry +because another man of the Hotspurs was ready to take the reins of +the house as soon as his father should have been gathered to his +fathers, the poor lad lay a-dying, while his mother ministered by +his bedside, and the Baronet was told by the physician--who had been +brought from London--that there was no longer for him any hope that +he should leave a male heir at Humblethwaite to inherit his name and +his honours. + +For months it was thought that Lady Elizabeth would follow her boy. +Sir Harry bore the blow bravely, though none who do not understand +the system well can conceive how the natural grief of the father was +increased by the disappointment which had fallen upon the head of the +house. But the old man bore it well, making but few audible moans, +shedding no tears, altering in very little the habits of life; still +spending money, because it was good for others that it should be +spent, and only speaking of his son when it was necessary for him to +allude to those altered arrangements as to the family property which +it was necessary that he should make. But still he was a changed man, +as those perceived who watched him closest. Cloudesdale the butler +knew well in what he was changed, as did old Hesketh the groom, and +Gilsby the gamekeeper. He had never been given to much talk, but was +now more silent than of yore. Of horses, dogs, and game there was +no longer any mention whatever made by the Baronet. He was still +constant with Mr. Lanesby, the steward, because it was his duty to +know everything that was done on the property; but even Mr. Lanesby +would acknowledge that, as to actual improvements,--the commencement +of new work in the hope of future returns, the Baronet was not at all +the man he had been. How was it possible that he should be the man he +had been when his life was so nearly gone, and that other life had +gone also, which was to have been the renewal and continuation of his +own? + +When the blow fell, it became Sir Harry's imperative duty to make +up his mind what he would do with his property. As regarded the two +estates, they were now absolutely, every acre of them, at his own +disposal. He had one child left him, a daughter,--in whom, it is +hoped, the reader may be induced to take some interest, and with +her to feel some sympathy, for she will be the person with whom the +details of this little story must most be concerned; and he had a +male heir, who must needs inherit the title of the family, one George +Hotspur,--not a nephew, for Sir Harry had never had a brother, but +the son of a first cousin who had not himself been much esteemed at +Humblethwaite. + +Now Sir Harry was a man who, in such a condition as this in which +he was now placed, would mainly be guided by his ideas of duty. For +a month or two he said not a word to any one, not even to his own +lawyer, though he himself had made a will, a temporary will, duly +witnessed by Mr. Lanesby and another, so that the ownership of the +property should not be adjusted simply by the chance direction of law +in the event of his own sudden demise; but his mind was doubtless +much burdened with the subject. How should he discharge this fresh +responsibility which now rested on him? While his boy had lived, the +responsibility of his property had had nothing for him but charms. +All was to go to the young Harry,--all, as a matter of course; and +it was only necessary for him to take care that every acre should +descend to his heir not only unimpaired by him in value, but also +somewhat increased. Provision for his widow and for his girl had +already been made before he had ventured on matrimony,--provision +sufficient for many girls had Fortune so far favoured him. But that +an eldest son should have all the family land,--one, though as many +sons should have been given to him as to Priam,--and that that one +should have it unencumbered, as he had had it from his father,--this +was to him the very law of his being. And he would have taught that +son, had already begun to teach him when the great blow came, that +all this was to be given to him, not that he might put it into +his own belly, or wear it on his own back, or even spend it as he +might list himself, but that he might so live as to do his part in +maintaining that order of gentlehood in England, by which England had +become--so thought Sir Harry--the proudest and the greatest and the +justest of nations. + +But now he had no son, and yet the duty remained to him of +maintaining his order. It would perhaps have been better for him, +it would certainly have been easier, had some settlement or family +entail fixed all things for him. Those who knew him well personally, +but did not know the affairs of his family, declared among themselves +that Sir Harry would take care that the property went with the title. +A marriage might be arranged. There could be nothing to object to a +marriage between second cousins. At any rate Sir Harry Hotspur was +certainly not the man to separate the property from the title. But +they who knew the family, and especially that branch of the family +from which George Hotspur came, declared that Sir Harry would never +give his daughter to such a one as was this cousin. And if not his +daughter, then neither would he give to such a scapegrace either +Humblethwaite in Cumberland or Scarrowby in Durham. There did exist a +party who said that Sir Harry would divide the property, but they who +held such an opinion certainly knew very little of Sir Harry's social +or political tenets. Any such division was the one thing which he +surely would not effect. + +When twelve months had passed after the death of Sir Harry's son, +George Hotspur had been at Humblethwaite and had gone, and Sir +Harry's will had been made. He had left everything to his daughter, +and had only stipulated that her husband, should she marry, should +take the name of Hotspur. He had decided, that should his daughter, +as was probable, marry within his lifetime, he could then make what +settlements he pleased, even to the changing of the tenor of his +will, should he think fit to change it. Should he die and leave her +still a spinster, he would trust to her in everything. Not being +a man of mystery, he told his wife and his daughter what he had +done,--and what he still thought that he possibly might do; and +being also a man to whom any suspicion of injustice was odious, he +desired his attorney to make known to George Hotspur what had been +settled. And in order that this blow to Cousin George might be +lightened,--Cousin George having in conversation acknowledged to a +few debts,--an immediate present was made to him of four thousand +pounds, and double that amount was assured to him at the Baronet's +death. + +The reader may be sure that the Baronet had heard many things +respecting Cousin George which he did not like. To him personally it +would have been infinitely preferable that the title and the estates +should have gone together, than that his own daughter should be a +great heiress. That her outlook into the world was fair and full of +promise of prosperity either way, was clear enough. Twenty thousand +a year would not be necessary to make her a happy woman. And then it +was to him a manifest and a sacred religion that to no man or to no +woman were appointed the high pinnacles of fortune simply that that +man or that woman might enjoy them. They were to be held as thrones +are held, for the benefit of the many. And in the disposition of this +throne, the necessity of making which had fallen upon him from the +loss of his own darling, he had brought himself to think--not of his +daughter's happiness, or to the balance of which, in her possessing +or not possessing the property, he could venture on no prophecy,--but +of the welfare of all those who might measure their weal or woe from +the manner in which the duties of this high place were administered. +He would fain that there should still have been a Sir Harry or a Sir +George Hotspur of Humblethwaite; but he found that his duty required +him to make the other arrangement. + +And yet he had liked the cousin, who indeed had many gifts to win +liking both from men and women. Previously to the visit very little +had been known personally of young George Hotspur at Humblethwaite. +His father, also a George, had in early life quarrelled with the +elder branch of the family, and had gone off with what money belonged +to him, and had lived and died in Paris. The younger George had been +educated abroad, and then had purchased a commission in a regiment of +English cavalry. At the time when young Harry died it was only known +of him at Humblethwaite that he had achieved a certain reputation +in London, and that he had sold out of the army. He was talked of +as a man who shot birds with precision. Pigeons he could shoot with +wonderful dexterity,--which art was at Humblethwaite supposed to be +much against him. But then he was equally successful with partridges +and pheasants; and partly on account of such success, and partly +probably because his manner was pleasant, he was known to be a +welcome guest at houses in which men congregate to slaughter game. In +this way he had a reputation, and one that was not altogether cause +for reproach; but it had not previously recommended him to the notice +of his cousin. + +Just ten months after poor Harry's death he was asked, and went, to +Humblethwaite. Probably at that moment the Baronet's mind was still +somewhat in doubt. The wish of Lady Elizabeth had been clearly +expressed to her husband to the effect that encouragement should be +given to the young people to fall in love with each other. To this +Sir Harry never assented; though there was a time,--and that time had +not yet passed when George Hotspur reached Humblethwaite,--in which +the Baronet was not altogether averse to the idea of the marriage. +But when George left Humblethwaite the Baronet had made up his mind. +Tidings had reached him, and he was afraid of the cousin. And other +tidings had reached him also; or rather perhaps it would be truer +to him to say that another idea had come to him. Of all the young +men now rising in England there was no young man who more approved +himself to Sir Harry's choice than did Lord Alfred Gresley, the +second son of his old friend and political leader the Marquis of +Milnthorp. Lord Alfred had but scanty fortune of his own, but was +in Parliament and in office, and was doing well. All men said all +good things of him. Then there was a word or two spoken between +the Marquis and the Baronet, and just a word also with Lord Alfred +himself. Lord Alfred had no objection to the name of Hotspur. This +was in October, while George Hotspur was still declaring that Gilbsy +knew nothing of getting up a head of game; and then Lord Alfred +promised to come to Humblethwaite at Christmas. It was after this +that George owned to a few debts. His confession on that score did +him no harm. Sir Harry had made up his mind that day. Sir Harry had +at that time learned a good deal of his cousin George's mode of life +in London, and had already decided that this young man was not one +whom it would be well to set upon the pinnacle. + +And yet he had liked the young man, as did everybody. Lady Elizabeth +had liked him much, and for a fortnight had gone on hoping that all +difficulties might have solved themselves by the young man's marriage +with her daughter. It need hardly be said that not a word one way or +the other was spoken to Emily Hotspur; but it seemed to the mother +that the young people, though there was no love-making, yet liked +each other. Sir Harry at this time was up in London for a month or +two, hearing tidings, seeing Lord Alfred, who was at his office; and +on his return, that solution by family marriage was ordered to be for +ever banished from the maternal bosom. Sir Harry said that it would +not do. + +Nevertheless, he was good to the young cousin, and when the time was +drawing nigh for the young man's departure he spoke of a further +visit. The coverts at Humblethwaite, such as they were, would always +be at his service. This was a week before the cousin went; but by the +coming of the day on which the cousin took his departure Sir Harry +regretted that he had made that offer of future hospitality. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +OUR HEROINE. + + +"He has said nothing to her?" asked Sir Harry, anxiously, of his +wife. + +"I think not," replied Lady Elizabeth. + +"Had he said anything that meant anything, she would have told you?" + +"Certainly she would," said Lady Elizabeth. + +Sir Harry knew his child, and was satisfied that no harm had been +done; nevertheless, he wished that that further invitation had +not been given. If this Christmas visitor that was to come to +Humblethwaite could be successful, all would be right; but it had +seemed to Sir Harry, during that last week of Cousin George's sojourn +beneath his roof, there had been more of cousinly friendship between +the cousins than had been salutary, seeing, as he had seen, that any +closer connection was inexpedient. But he thought that he was sure +that no great harm had been done. Had any word been spoken to his +girl which she herself had taken as a declaration of love, she would +certainly have told her mother. Sir Harry would no more doubt his +daughter than he would his own honour. There were certain points +and lines of duty clearly laid down for a girl so placed as was his +daughter; and Sir Harry, though he could not have told whence the +knowledge of these points and lines had come to his child, never for +a moment doubted but that she knew them, and would obey them. To know +and to obey such points of duty were a part of the inheritance of +such an one as Emily Hotspur. Nevertheless, it might be possible that +her fancy should be touched, and that she herself should know nothing +of it,--nothing that she could confide even to a mother. Sir Harry +understanding this, and having seen in these last days something as +he thought of too close a cousinly friendship, was anxious that Lord +Alfred should come and settle everything. If Lord Alfred should be +successful, all danger would be at an end, and the cousin might come +again and do what he liked with the coverts. Alas, alas! the cousin +should never have been allowed to show his handsome, wicked face at +Humblethwaite! + +Emily Hotspur was a girl whom any father would have trusted; and +let the reader understand this of her, that she was one in whom +intentional deceit was impossible. Neither to her father nor to any +one could she lie either in word or action. And all these lines and +points of duty were well known to her, though she knew not, and had +never asked herself, whence the lesson had come. Will it be too much +to say, that they had formed a part of her breeding, and had been +given to her with her blood? She understood well that from her, as +heiress of the House of Humblethwaite, a double obedience was due +to her father,--the obedience of a child added to that which was +now required from her as the future transmitter of honours of the +house. And yet no word had been said to her of the honours of the +house; nor, indeed, had many words ever been said as to that other +obedience. These lessons, when they have been well learned, have ever +come without direct teaching. + +But she knew more than this, and the knowledge had reached her in the +same manner. Though she owed a great duty to her father, there was +a limit to that duty, of which, unconsciously, she was well aware. +When her mother told her that Lord Alfred was coming, having been +instructed to do so by Sir Harry; and hinted, with a caress and a +kiss, and a soft whisper, that Lord Alfred was one of whom Sir Harry +approved greatly, and that if further approval could be bestowed Sir +Harry would not be displeased, Emily as she returned her mother's +embrace, felt that she had a possession of her own with which neither +father nor mother might be allowed to interfere. It was for them, or +rather for him, to say that a hand so weighted as was hers should not +be given here or there; but it was not for them, not even for him, to +say that her heart was to be given here, or to be given there. Let +them put upon her what weight they might of family honours, and of +family responsibility, that was her own property;--if not, perhaps, +to be bestowed at her own pleasure, because of the pressure of that +weight, still her own, and absolutely beyond the bestowal of any +other. + +Nevertheless, she declared to herself, and whispered to her mother, +that she would be glad to welcome Lord Alfred. She had known him well +when she was a child of twelve years old and he was already a young +man in Parliament. Since those days she had met him more than once in +London. She was now turned twenty, and he was something more than ten +years her senior; but there was nothing against him, at any rate, on +the score of age. Lord Alfred was admitted on every side to be still +a young man; and though he had already been a lord of one Board or +of another for the last four years, and had earned a reputation for +working, he did not look like a man who would be more addicted to +sitting at Boards than spending his time with young women. He was +handsome, pleasant, good-humoured, and full of talk; had nothing +about him of the official fogy; and was regarded by all his friends +as a man who was just now fit to marry. "They say that he is such a +good son, and such a good brother," said Lady Elizabeth, anxiously. + +"Quite a Phoenix!" said Emily, laughing. Then Lady Elizabeth began +to fear that she had said too much, and did not mention Lord Alfred's +name for two days. + +But Miss Hotspur had by that time resolved that Lord Alfred should +have a fair chance. If she could teach herself to think that of all +men walking the earth Lord Alfred was the best and the most divine, +the nearest of all men to a god, how excellent a thing would it be! +Her great responsibility as to the family burden would in that case +already be acquitted with credit. The wishes of her father, which on +such a subject were all but paramount, would be gratified; and she +herself would then be placed almost beyond the hand of misfortune to +hurt her. At any rate, the great and almost crushing difficulty of +her life would so be solved. But the man must have enough in her eyes +of that godlike glory to satisfy her that she had found in him one +who would be almost a divinity, at any rate to her. Could he speak as +that other man spoke? Could he look as that other one looked? Would +there be in his eye such a depth of colour, in his voice such a sound +of music, in his gait so divine a grace? For that other one, though +she had looked into the brightness of the colour, though she had +heard the sweetness of the music, though she had watched the elastic +spring of the step, she cared nothing as regarded her heart--her +heart, which was the one treasure of her own. No; she was sure of +that. Of her one own great treasure, she was much too chary to give +it away unasked, and too independent, as she told herself, to give +it away unauthorized. The field was open to Lord Alfred; and, as her +father wished it, Lord Alfred should be received with every favour. +If she could find divinity, then she would bow before it readily. + +Alas for Lord Alfred! We may all know that when she thought of it +thus, there was but poor chance of success for Lord Alfred. Let him +have what of the godlike he might, she would find but little of it +there when she made her calculations and resolutions after such +fashion as this. The man who becomes divine in a woman's eyes, has +generally achieved his claim to celestial honours by sudden assault. +And, alas! the qualities which carry him through it and give the halo +to his head may after all be very ungodlike. Some such achievement +had already fallen in the way of Cousin George; though had Cousin +George and Lord Alfred been weighed in just scales, the divinity of +the latter, such as it was, would have been found greatly to prevail. +Indeed, it might perhaps have been difficult to lay hold of and bring +forward as presentable for such office as that of a lover for such +a girl any young man who should be less godlike than Cousin George. +But he had gifts of simulation, which are valuable; and poor Emily +Hotspur had not yet learned the housewife's trick of passing the web +through her fingers, and of finding by the touch whether the fabric +were of fine wool, or of shoddy made up with craft to look like wool +of the finest. + +We say that there was but small chance for Lord Alfred; nevertheless +the lady was dutifully minded to give him all the chance that it was +in her power to bestow. She did not tell herself that her father's +hopes were vain. Of her preference for that other man she never told +herself anything. She was not aware that it existed. She knew that he +was handsome; she thought that he was clever. She knew that he had +talked to her as no man had ever talked before. She was aware that +he was her nearest relative beyond her father and mother, and that +therefore she might be allowed to love him as a cousin. She told +herself that he was a Hotspur, and that he must be the head of the +Hotspurs when her father should be taken from them. She thought +that he looked as a man should look who would have to carry such a +dignity. But there was nothing more. No word had been said to her on +the subject; but she was aware, because no word had been said, that +it was not thought fitting that she should be her cousin's bride. She +could not but know how great would be the advantage could the estates +and the title be kept together. Even though he should inherit no +acre of the land,--and she had been told by her father that such +was his decision,--this Cousin George must become the head of the +House of Hotspur; and to be head of the House of Hotspur was to +her a much greater thing than to be the owner of Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby. Gifts like the latter might be given to a mere girl, like +herself,--were to be so given. But let any man living do what he +might, George Hotspur must become the head and chief of the old House +of Hotspur. Nevertheless, it was not for her to join the two things +together, unless her father should see that it would be good for her +to do so. + +Emily Hotspur was very like her father, having that peculiar cast of +countenance which had always characterized the family. She had the +same arch in her eyebrows, indicating an aptitude for authority; the +same well-formed nose, though with her the beak of the eagle was less +prominent; the same short lip, and small mouth, and delicate dimpled +chin. With both of them the lower part of the face was peculiarly +short, and finely cut. With both of them the brow was high and broad, +and the temples prominent. But the girl's eyes were blue, while those +of the old man were brightly green. It was told of him that when a +boy his eyes also had been blue. Her hair, which was very plentiful, +was light in colour, but by no means flaxen. Her complexion was as +clear as the finest porcelain; but there were ever roses in her +cheeks, for she was strong by nature, and her health was perfect. She +was somewhat short of stature, as were all the Hotspurs, and her feet +and hands and ears were small and delicate. But though short, she +seemed to lack nothing in symmetry, and certainly lacked nothing in +strength. She could ride or walk the whole day, and had no feeling +that such vigour of body was a possession of which a young lady +should be ashamed. Such as she was, she was the acknowledged beauty +of the county; and at Carlisle, where she showed herself at least +once a year at the county ball, there was neither man nor woman, +young nor old, who was not ready to say that Emily Hotspur was, among +maidens, the glory of Cumberland. + +Her life hitherto had been very quiet. There was the ball at +Carlisle, which she had attended thrice; on the last occasion, +because of her brother's death, she had been absent, and the family +of the Hotspurs had been represented there only by the venison and +game which had been sent from Humblethwaite. Twice also she had spent +the months of May and June in London; but it had not hitherto suited +the tone of her father's character to send his daughter out into all +the racket of a London season. She had gone to balls, and to the +opera, and had ridden in the Park, and been seen at flower-shows; +but she had not been so common in those places as to be known to the +crowd. And, hitherto, neither in town or country, had her name been +connected with that of any suitor for her hand. She was now twenty, +and the reader will remember that in the twelve months last past, the +House of Humblethwaite had been clouded with deep mourning. + +The cousin was come and gone, and the Baronet hoped in his heart +that there might be an end of him as far as Humblethwaite was +concerned;--at any rate till his child should have given herself to a +better lover. Tidings had been sent to Sir Harry during the last week +of the young man's sojourn beneath his roof, which of all that had +reached his ears were the worst. He had before heard of recklessness, +of debt, of dissipation, of bad comrades. Now he heard of worse than +these. If that which he now heard was true, there had been dishonour. +But Sir Harry was a man who wanted ample evidence before he allowed +his judgment to actuate his conduct, and in this case the evidence +was far from ample. He did not stint his hospitality to the future +baronet, but he failed to repeat that promise of a future welcome +which had already been given, and which had been thankfully accepted. +But a man knows that such an offer of renewed hospitality should be +repeated at the moment of departure, and George Hotspur, as he was +taken away to the nearest station in his cousin's carriage, was quite +aware that Sir Harry did not then desire that the visit should be +repeated. + +Lord Alfred was to be at Humblethwaite on Christmas-eve. The +emergencies of the Board at which he sat would not allow of an +earlier absence from London. He was a man who shirked no official +duty, and was afraid of no amount of work; and though he knew how +great was the prize before him, he refused to leave his Board before +the day had come at which his Board must necessarily dispense with +his services. Between him and his father there had been no reticence, +and it was clearly understood by him that he was to go down and win +twenty thousand a year and the prettiest girl in Cumberland, if his +own capacity that way, joined to all the favour of the girl's father +and mother, would enable him to attain success. To Emily not a word +more had been said on the subject than those which have been already +narrated as having been spoken by the mother to the daughter. With +all his authority, with all his love for his only remaining child, +with all his consciousness of the terrible importance of the matter +at issue, Sir Harry could not bring himself to suggest to his +daughter that it would be well for her to fall in love with the guest +who was coming to them. But to Lady Elizabeth he said very much. He +had quite made up his mind that the thing would be good, and, having +done so, he was very anxious that the arrangement should be made. It +was natural that this girl of his should learn to love some youth; +and how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss, when so much +depended on her loving wisely! The whole fate of the House of Hotspur +was in her hands,--to do with it as she thought fit! Sir Harry +trembled as he reflected what would be the result were she to come to +him some day and ask his favour for a suitor wholly unfitted to bear +the name of Hotspur, and to sit on the throne of Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby. + +"Is she pleased that he is coming?" he said to his wife, the evening +before the arrival of their guest. + +"Certainly she is pleased. She knows that we both like him." + +"I remember when she used to talk about him--often," said Sir Harry. + +"That was when she was a child." + +"But a year or two ago," said Sir Harry. + +"Three or four years, perhaps; and with her that is a long time. It +is not likely that she should talk much of him now. Of course she +knows what it is that we wish." + +"Does she think about her cousin at all?" he said some hours +afterwards. + +"Yes, she thinks of him. That is only natural, you know." + +"It would be unnatural that she should think of him much." + +"I do not see that," said the mother, keen to defend her daughter +from what might seem to be an implied reproach. "George Hotspur is a +man who will make himself thought of wherever he goes. He is clever, +and very amusing;--there is no denying that. And then he has the +Hotspur look all over." + +"I wish he had never set his foot within the house," said the father. + +"My dear, there is no such danger as you think," said Lady Elizabeth. +"Emily is not a girl prone to fall in love at a moment's notice +because a man is good-looking and amusing;--and certainly not with +the conviction which she must have that her doing so would greatly +grieve you." Sir Harry believed in his daughter, and said no more; +but he thoroughly wished that Lord Alfred's wedding-day was fixed. + +"Mamma," said Emily, on the following day, "won't Lord Alfred be very +dull?" + +"I hope not, my dear." + +"What is he to do, with nobody else here to amuse him?" + +"The Crutchleys are coming on the 27th." + +Now Mr. and Mrs. Crutchley were, as Emily thought, very ordinary +people, and quite unlikely to afford amusement to Lord Alfred. Mr. +Crutchley was an old gentleman of county standing, and with property +in the county, living in a large dull red house in Penrith, of +whom Sir Harry thought a good deal, because he was a gentleman who +happened to have had great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. But +he was quite as old as Sir Harry, and Mrs. Crutchley was a great deal +older than Lady Elizabeth. + +"What will Lord Alfred have to say to Mrs. Crutchley, mamma?" + +"What do people in society always have to say to each other? And the +Lathebys are coming here to dine to-morrow, and will come again, I +don't doubt, on the 27th." + +Mr. Latheby was the young Vicar of Humblethwaite, and Mrs. Latheby +was a very pretty young bride whom he had just married. + +"And then Lord Alfred shoots," continued Lady Elizabeth. + +"Cousin George said that the shooting wasn't worth going after," said +Emily, smiling. "Mamma, I fear it will be a failure." This made Lady +Elizabeth unhappy, as she thought that more was meant than was really +said. But she did not confide her fears to her husband. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +LORD ALFRED'S COURTSHIP. + + +The Hall, as the great house at Humblethwaite was called, consisted +in truth of various edifices added one to another at various periods; +but the result was this, that no more picturesque mansion could be +found in any part of England than the Hall at Humblethwaite. The +oldest portion of it was said to be of the time of Henry VII.; but it +may perhaps be doubted whether the set of rooms with lattice windows +looking out on to the bowling-green, each window from beneath its +own gable, was so old as the date assigned to it. It is strange how +little authority can usually be found in family records to verify +such statements. It was known that Humblethwaite and the surrounding +manors had been given to, or in some fashion purchased by, a certain +Harry Hotspur, who also in his day had been a knight, when Church +lands were changing hands under Henry VIII. And there was authority +to prove that that Sir Harry had done something towards making a +home for himself on the spot; but whether those very gables were a +portion of the building which the monks of St. Humble had raised for +themselves in the preceding reign, may probably be doubted. That +there were fragments of masonry, and parts of old timber, remaining +from the monastery was probably true enough. The great body of the +old house, as it now stood, had been built in the time of Charles +II., and there was the date in the brickwork still conspicuous on the +wall looking into the court. The hall and front door as it now stood, +very prominent but quite at the end of the house, had been erected in +the reign of Queen Anne, and the modern drawing-rooms with the best +bedrooms over them, projecting far out into the modern gardens, had +been added by the present baronet's father. The house was entirely +of brick, and the old windows,--not the very oldest, the reader will +understand, but those of the Caroline age,--were built with strong +stone mullions, and were longer than they were deep, beauty of +architecture having in those days been more regarded than light. Who +does not know such windows, and has not declared to himself often +how sad a thing it is that sanitary or scientific calculations +should have banished the like of them from our houses? Two large +oriel windows coming almost to the ground, and going up almost to +the ceilings, adorned the dining-room and the library. From the +drawing-rooms modern windows, opening on to a terrace, led into the +garden. + +You entered the mansion by a court that was enclosed on two sides +altogether, and on the two others partially. Facing you, as you drove +in, was the body of the building, with the huge porch projecting on +the right so as to give the appearance of a portion of the house +standing out on that side. On the left was that old mythic Tudor +remnant of the monastery, of which the back wall seen from the court +was pierced only with a small window here and there, and was covered +with ivy. Those lattice windows, from which Emily Hotspur loved to +think that the monks of old had looked into their trim gardens, now +looked on to a bowling-green which was kept very trim in honour of +the holy personages who were supposed to have played there four +centuries ago. Then, at the end of this old building, there had been +erected kitchens, servants' offices, and various rooms, which turned +the corner of the court in front, so that only one corner had, as +it were, been left for ingress and egress. But the court itself was +large, and in the middle of it there stood an old stone ornamental +structure, usually called the fountain, but quite ignorant of water, +loaded with griffins and satyrs and mermaids with ample busts, all +overgrown with a green damp growth, which was scraped off by the +joint efforts of the gardener and mason once perhaps in every five +years. + +It often seems that the beauty of architecture is accidental. A great +man goes to work with great means on a great pile, and makes a great +failure. The world perceives that grace and beauty have escaped him, +and that even magnificence has been hardly achieved. Then there grows +up beneath various unknown hands a complication of stones and brick +to the arrangement of which no great thought seems to have been +given; and, lo, there is a thing so perfect in its glory that he who +looks at it declares that nothing could be taken away and nothing +added without injury and sacrilege and disgrace. So it had been, or +rather so it was now, with the Hall at Humblethwaite. No rule ever +made for the guidance of an artist had been kept. The parts were out +of proportion. No two parts seemed to fit each other. Put it all on +paper, and it was an absurdity. The huge hall and porch added on by +the builder of Queen Anne's time, at the very extremity of the house, +were almost a monstrosity. The passages and staircases, and internal +arrangements, were simply ridiculous. But there was not a portion +of the whole interior that did not charm; nor was there a corner of +the exterior, nor a yard of an outside wall, that was not in itself +eminently beautiful. + +Lord Alfred Gresley, as he was driven into the court in the early +dusk of a winter evening, having passed through a mile and a half +of such park scenery as only Cumberland and Westmoreland can show, +was fully alive to the glories of the place. Humblethwaite did not +lie among the lakes,--was, indeed, full ten miles to the north of +Keswick; but it was so placed that it enjoyed the beauty and the +luxury of mountains and rivers, without the roughness of unmanageable +rocks, or the sterility and dampness of moorland. Of rocky fragments, +indeed, peeping out through the close turf, and here and there coming +forth boldly so as to break the park into little depths, with now and +again a real ravine, there were plenty. And there ran right across +the park, passing so near the Hall as to require a stone bridge in +the very flower-garden, the Caldbeck, as bright and swift a stream +as ever took away the water from neighbouring mountains. And to the +south of Humblethwaite there stood the huge Skiddaw, and Saddleback +with its long gaunt ridge; while to the west, Brockleband Fell seemed +to encircle the domain. Lord Alfred, as he was driven up through the +old trees, and saw the deer peering at him from the knolls and broken +fragments of stone, felt that he need not envy his elder brother if +only his lines might fall to him in this very pleasant place. + +He had known Humblethwaite before; and, irrespective of all its +beauties, and of the wealth of the Hotspurs, was quite willing to +fall in love with Emily Hotspur. That a man with such dainties +offered to him should not become greedy, that there should be no +touch of avarice when such wealth was shown to him, is almost more +than we may dare to assert. But Lord Alfred was a man not specially +given to covetousness. He had recognized it as his duty as a man not +to seek for these things unless he could in truth love the woman who +held them in her hands to give. But as he looked round him through +the gloaming of the evening, he thought that he remembered that Emily +Hotspur was all that was loveable. + +But, reader, we must not linger long over Lord Alfred's love. A few +words as to the father, a few as to the daughter, and a few also as +to the old house where they dwelt together, it has been necessary to +say; but this little love story of Lord Alfred's,--if it ever was a +love story,--must be told very shortly. + +He remained five weeks at Humblethwaite, and showed himself willing +to receive amusement from old Mrs. Crutchley and from young Mrs. +Latheby. The shooting was quite good enough for him, and he won +golden opinions from every one about the place. He made himself +acquainted with the whole history of the house, and was prepared to +prove to demonstration that Henry VII.'s monks had looked out of +those very windows, and had played at bowls on that very green. Emily +became fond of him after a fashion, but he failed to assume any +aspect of divinity in her eyes. + +Of the thing to be done, neither father nor mother said a word to +the girl; and she, though she knew so well that the doing of it was +intended, said not a word to her mother. Had Lady Elizabeth known how +to speak, had she dared to be free with her own child, Emily would +soon have told her that there was no chance for Lord Alfred. And Lady +Elizabeth would have believed her. Nay, Lady Elizabeth, though she +could not speak, had the woman's instinct, which almost assured her +that the match would never be made. Sir Harry, on the other side, +thought that things went prosperously; and his wife did not dare to +undeceive him. He saw the young people together, and thought that he +saw that Emily was kind. He did not know that this frank kindness was +incompatible with love in such a maiden's ways. As for Emily herself, +she knew that it must come. She knew that she could not prevent it. A +slight hint or two she did give, or thought she gave, but they were +too fine, too impalpable to be of avail. + +Lord Alfred spoke nothing of love till he made his offer in form. At +last he was not hopeful himself. He had found it impossible to speak +to this girl of love. She had been gracious with him, and almost +intimate, and yet it had been impossible. He thought of himself that +he was dull, stupid, lethargic, and miserably undemonstrative. But +the truth was that there was nothing for him to demonstrate. He had +come there to do a stroke of business, and he could not throw into +this business a spark of that fire which would have been kindled +by such sympathy had it existed. There are men who can raise such +sparks, the pretence of fire, where there is no heat at all;--false, +fraudulent men; but he was not such an one. Nevertheless he went on +with his business. + +"Miss Hotspur," he said to her one morning between breakfast and +lunch, when, as usual, opportunity had been given him to be alone +with her, "I have something to say to you, which I hope at any rate +it will not make you angry to hear." + +"I am sure you will say nothing to make me angry," she replied. + +"I have already spoken to your father, and I have his permission. I +may say more. He assures me that he hopes I may succeed." He paused +a moment, but she remained quite tranquil. He watched her, and could +see that the delicate pink on her cheek was a little heightened, and +that a streak of colour showed itself on her fair brow; but there +was nothing in her manner to give him either promise of success or +assurance of failure. "You will know what I mean?" + +"Yes, I know," she said, almost in a whisper. + +"And may I hope? To say that I love you dearly seems to be saying +what must be a matter of course." + +"I do not see that at all," she replied with spirit. + +"I do love you very dearly. If I may be allowed to think that you +will be my wife, I shall be the happiest man in England. I know how +great is the honour which I seek, how immense in every way is the +gift which I ask you to give me. Can you love me?" + +"No," she said, again dropping her voice to a whisper. + +"Is that all the answer, Miss Hotspur?" + +"What should I say? How ought I to answer you? If I could say it +without seeming to be unkind, indeed, indeed, I would do so." + +"Perhaps I have been abrupt." + +"It is not that. When you ask me--to--to--love you, of course I know +what you mean. Should I not speak the truth at once?" + +"Must this be for always?" + +"For always," she replied. And then it was over. + +He did not himself press his suit further, though he remained at +Humblethwaite for three days after this interview. + +Before lunch on that day the story had been told by Emily to her +mother, and by Lord Alfred to Sir Harry. Lady Elizabeth knew well +enough that the story would never have to be told in another way. Sir +Harry by no means so easily gave up his enterprise. He proposed to +Lord Alfred that Emily should be asked to reconsider her verdict. +With his wife he was very round, saying that an answer given so +curtly should go for nothing, and that the girl must be taught her +duty. With Emily herself he was less urgent, less authoritative, +and indeed at last somewhat suppliant. He explained to her how +excellent would be the marriage; how it would settle this terrible +responsibility which now lay on his shoulders with so heavy a weight; +how glorious would be her position; and how the Hotspurs would still +live as a great family could she bring herself to be obedient. And he +said very much in praise of Lord Alfred, pointing out how good a man +he was, how moral, how diligent, how safe, how clever,--how sure, +with the assistance of the means which she would give him, to be one +of the notable men of the country. But she never yielded an inch. She +said very little,--answered him hardly a word, standing close to him, +holding by his arm and his hand. There was the fact, that she would +not have the man, would not have the man now or ever, certainly would +not have him; and Sir Harry, let him struggle as he might, and talk +his best, could not keep himself from giving absolute credit to her +assurance. + +The visit was prolonged for three days, and then Lord Alfred left +Humblethwaite Hall, with less appreciation of all its beauties than +he had felt as he was first being driven up to the Hall doors. When +he went, Sir Harry could only bid God bless him, and assure him that, +should he ever choose to try his fortune again, he should have all +the aid which a father could give him. + +"It would be useless," said Lord Alfred; "she knows her own mind too +well." + +And so he went his way. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +VACILLATION. + + +When the spring-time came, Sir Harry Hotspur with his wife and +daughter, went up to London. During the last season the house in +Bruton Street had been empty. He and his wife were then mourning +their lost son, and there was no place for the gaiety of London in +their lives. Sir Harry was still thinking of his great loss. He was +always thinking of the boy who was gone, who had been the apple of +his eye, his one great treasure, the only human being in the world +whose superior importance to his own he had been ready, in his heart +of hearts, to admit; but it was needful that the outer signs of +sorrow should be laid aside, and Emily Hotspur was taken up to +London, in order that she might be suited with a husband. That, in +truth, was the reason of their going. Neither Sir Harry nor Lady +Elizabeth would have cared to leave Cumberland had there been no such +cause. They would have been altogether content to remain at home had +Emily been obedient enough in the winter to accept the hand of the +suitor proposed for her. + +The house was opened in Bruton Street, and Lord Alfred came to see +them. So also did Cousin George. There was no reason why Cousin +George should not come. Indeed, had he not done so, he must have been +the most ungracious of cousins. He came, and found Lady Elizabeth and +Emily at home. Emily told him that they were always there to receive +visitors on Sundays after morning church, and then he came again. She +had made no such communication to Lord Alfred, but then perhaps it +would have been hardly natural that she should have done so. Lady +Elizabeth, in a note which she had occasion to write to Lord Alfred, +did tell him of her custom on a Sunday afternoon; but Lord Alfred +took no such immediate advantage of the offer as did Cousin George. + +As regarded the outward appearance of their life, the Hotspurs were +gayer this May than they had been heretofore when living in London. +There were dinner-parties, whereas in previous times there had only +been dinners at which a few friends might join them;--and there was +to be a ball. There was a box at the Opera, and there were horses +for the Park, and there was an understanding that the dealings with +Madame Milvodi, the milliner, were to be as unlimited as the occasion +demanded. It was perceived by every one that Miss Hotspur was to +be settled in life. Not a few knew the story of Lord Alfred. Every +one knew the facts of the property and Emily's position as heiress, +though every one probably did not know that it was still in Sir +Harry's power to leave every acre of the property to whom he pleased. +Emily understood it all herself. There lay upon her that terrible +responsibility of doing her best with the Hotspur interests. To +her the death of her brother had at the time been the blackest of +misfortunes, and it was not the less so now as she thought of her +own position. She had been steady enough as to the refusal of Lord +Alfred, knowing well enough that she cared nothing for him. But there +had since come upon her moments almost of regret that she should have +been unable to accept him. It would have been so easy a way of escape +from all her troubles without the assistance of Madame Milvodi, and +the opera-box, and the Park horses! At the time she had her own ideas +about another man, but her ideas were not such as to make her think +that any further work with Madame Milvodi and the opera-box would be +unnecessary. + +Then came the question of asking Cousin George to the house. He had +already been told to come on Sundays, and on the very next Sunday had +been there. He had given no cause of offence at Humblethwaite, and +Lady Elizabeth was of opinion that he should be asked to dinner. +If he were not asked, the very omission would show that they were +afraid of him. Lady Elizabeth did not exactly explain this to her +husband,--did not accurately know that such was her fear; but Sir +Harry understood her feelings, and yielded. Let Cousin George be +asked to dinner. + +Sir Harry at this time was vacillating with more of weakness than +would have been expected from a man who had generally been so firm +in the affairs of his life. He had been quite clear about George +Hotspur, when those inquiries of his were first made, and when his +mind had first accepted the notion of Lord Alfred as his chosen +son-in-law. But now he was again at sea. He was so conscious of the +importance of his daughter's case, that he could not bring himself to +be at ease, and to allow himself to expect that the girl would, in +the ordinary course of nature, dispose of her young heart not to her +own injury, as might reasonably be hoped from her temperament, her +character, and her education. He could not protect himself from daily +and hourly thought about it. Her marriage was not as the marriage of +other girls. The house of Hotspur, which had lived and prospered for +so many centuries, was to live and prosper through her; or rather +mainly through the man whom she should choose as her husband. The +girl was all-important now, but when she should have once disposed of +herself her importance would be almost at an end. Sir Harry had in +the recess of his mind almost a conviction that, although the thing +was of such utmost moment, it would be better for him, better for +them all, better for the Hotspurs, that the matter should be allowed +to arrange itself than that there should be any special judgment used +in selection. He almost believed that his girl should be left to +herself, as are other girls. But the thing was of such moment that he +could not save himself from having it always before his eyes. + +And yet he knew not what to do; nor was there any aid forthcoming +from Lady Elizabeth. He had tried his hand at the choice of a proper +husband, and his daughter would have none of the man so chosen. So +he had brought her up to London, and thrown her as it were upon the +market. Let Madame Milvodi and the opera-box and the Park horses +do what they could for her. Of course a watch should be kept on +her;--not from doubt of her excellence, but because the thing to be +disposed of was so all-important, and the girl's mode of disposing +of it might, without disgrace or fault on her part, be so vitally +prejudicial to the family! + +For, let it be remembered, no curled darling of an eldest son would +suit the exigencies of the case, unless such eldest son were willing +altogether to merge the claims of his own family, and to make himself +by name and purpose a Hotspur. Were his child to present to him as +his son-in-law some heir to a noble house, some future earl, say even +a duke in embryo, all that would be as nothing to Sir Harry. It was +not his ambition to see his daughter a duchess. He wanted no name, +or place, or dominion for any Hotspur greater or higher or more +noble than those which the Hotspurs claimed and could maintain for +themselves. To have Humblethwaite and Scarrowby lost amidst the vast +appanages and domains of some titled family, whose gorgeous glories +were new and paltry in comparison with the mellow honours of his own +house, would to him have been a ruin to all his hopes. There might, +indeed, be some arrangement as to the second son proceeding from such +a marriage,--as to a future chance Hotspur; but the claims of the +Hotspurs were, he thought, too high and too holy for such future +chance; and in such case, for one generation at least, the Hotspurs +would be in abeyance. No: it was not that which he desired. That +would not suffice for him. The son-in-law that he desired should be +well born, a perfect gentleman, with belongings of whom he and his +child might be proud; but he should be one who should be content to +rest his claims to material prosperity and personal position on the +name and wealth that he would obtain with his wife. Lord Alfred had +been the very man; but then his girl would have none of Lord Alfred! +Eldest sons there might be in plenty ready to take such a bride; and +were some eldest son to come to him and ask for his daughter's hand, +some eldest son who would do so almost with a right to claim it if +the girl's consent were gained, how could he refuse? And yet to leave +a Hotspur behind him living at Humblethwaite, and Hotspurs who should +follow that Hotspur, was all in all to him. + +Might he venture to think once again of Cousin George? Cousin George +was there, coming to the house, and his wife was telling him that +it was incumbent on them to ask the young man to dinner. It was +incumbent on them, unless they meant to let him know that he was to +be regarded absolutely as a stranger,--as one whom they had taken +up for a while, and now chose to drop again. A very ugly story had +reached Sir Harry's ears about Cousin George. It was said that he +had twice borrowed money from the money-lenders on his commission, +passing some document for security of its value which was no +security, and that he had barely escaped detection, the two Jews +knowing that the commission would be forfeited altogether if the +fraud were brought to light. The commission had been sold, and the +proceeds divided between the Jews, with certain remaining claims to +them on Cousin George's personal estate. Such had been the story +which in a vague way had reached Sir Harry's ears. It is not easily +that such a man as Sir Harry can learn the details of a disreputable +cousin's life. Among all his old friends he had none more dear to him +than Lord Milnthorp; and among his younger friends none more intimate +than Lord Burton, the eldest son of Lord Milnthorp, Lord Alfred's +brother. Lord Burton had told him the story, telling him at the same +time that he could not vouch for its truth. "Upon my word, I don't +know," said Lord Burton, when interrogated again. "I think if I were +you I would regard it as though I had never heard it. Of course, he +was in debt." + +"That is altogether another thing," said Sir Harry. + +"Altogether! I think that probably he did pawn his commission. That +is bad, but it isn't so very bad. As for the other charge against +him, I doubt it." So said Lord Burton, and Sir Harry determined that +the accusation should go for nothing. + +But his own child, his only child, the transmitter of all the great +things that fortune had given to him; she, in whose hands were to lie +the glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby; she, who had the giving +away of the honour of their ancient family,--could she be trusted +to one of whom it must be admitted that all his early life had been +disreputable, even if the world's lenient judgment in such matters +should fail to stigmatize it as dishonourable? In other respects, +however, he was so manifestly the man to whom his daughter ought to +be given in marriage! By such arrangement would the title and the +property be kept together,--and by no other which Sir Harry could +now make, for his word had been given to his daughter that she was +to be his heiress. Let him make what arrangements he might, this +Cousin George, at his death, would be the head of the family. Every +"Peerage" that was printed would tell the old story to all the world. +By certain courtesies of the law of descent his future heirs would be +Hotspurs were his daughter married to Lord Alfred or the like; but +the children of such a marriage would not be Hotspurs in very truth, +nor by any courtesy of law, or even by any kindness of the Minister +or Sovereign, could the child of such a union become the baronet, +the Sir Harry of the day, the head of the family. The position was +one which no Sovereign and no Minister could achieve, or touch, or +bestow. It was his, beyond the power of any earthly potentate to +deprive him of it, and would have been transmitted by him to a son +with as absolute security. But--alas! alas! + +Sir Harry gave no indication that he thought it expedient to change +his mind on the subject. When Lady Elizabeth proposed that Cousin +George should be asked to dinner, he frowned and looked black as he +acceded; but, in truth, he vacillated. The allurements on that side +were so great that he could not altogether force upon himself the +duty of throwing them from him. He knew that Cousin George was no +fitting husband for his girl, that he was a man to whom he would not +have thought of giving her, had her happiness been his only object. +And he did not think of so bestowing her now. He became uneasy +when he remembered the danger. He was unhappy as he remembered +how amusing, how handsome, how attractive was Cousin George. He +feared that Emily might like him!--by no means hoped it. And yet he +vacillated, and allowed Cousin George to come to the house, only +because Cousin George must become, on his death, the head of the +Hotspurs. + +Cousin George came on one Sunday, came on another Sunday, dined at +the house, and was of course asked to the ball. But Lady Elizabeth +had so arranged her little affairs that when Cousin George left +Bruton Street on the evening of the dinner party he and Emily had +never been for two minutes alone together since the family had come +up to London. Lady Elizabeth herself liked Cousin George, and, had an +edict to that effect been pronounced by her husband, would have left +them alone together with great maternal satisfaction. But she had +been told that it was not to be so, and therefore the young people +had never been allowed to have opportunities. Lady Elizabeth in her +very quiet way knew how to do the work of the world that was allotted +to her. There had been other balls, and there had been ridings in +the Park, and all the chances of life which young men, and sometimes +young women also, know so well how to use; but hitherto Cousin George +had kept, or had been constrained to keep, his distance. + +"I want to know, Mamma," said Emily Hotspur, the day before the ball, +"whether Cousin George is a black sheep or a white sheep?" + +"What do you mean, my dear, by asking such a question as that?" + +"I don't like black sheep. I don't see why young men are to be +allowed to be black sheep; but yet you know they are." + +"How can it be helped?" + +"People should not notice them, Mamma." + +"My dear, it is a most difficult question,--quite beyond me, and I am +sure beyond you. A sheep needn't be black always because he has not +always been quite white; and then you know the black lambs are just +as dear to their mother as the white." + +"Dearer, I think." + +"I quite agree with you, Emily, that in general society black sheep +should be avoided." + +"Then they shouldn't be allowed to come in," said Emily. Lady +Elizabeth knew from this that there was danger, but the danger was +not of a kind which enabled her specially to consult Sir Harry. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + +A little must now be told to the reader of Cousin George and the +ways of his life. As Lady Elizabeth had said to her daughter, that +question of admitting black sheep into society, or of refusing them +admittance, is very difficult. In the first place, whose eyes are +good enough to know whether in truth a sheep be black or not? And +then is it not the fact that some little amount of shade in the +fleece of male sheep is considered, if not absolutely desirable, +at any rate quite pardonable? A male sheep with a fleece as white +as that of a ewe-lamb,--is he not considered to be, among muttons, +somewhat insipid? It was of this taste which Pope was conscious +when he declared that every woman was at heart a rake. And so it +comes to pass that very black sheep indeed are admitted into society, +till at last anxious fathers and more anxious mothers begin to be +aware that their young ones are turned out to graze among ravenous +wolves. This, however, must be admitted, that lambs when so treated +acquire a courage which tends to enable them to hold their own, even +amidst wolfish dangers. + +Cousin George, if not a ravenous wolf, was at any rate a very black +sheep indeed. In our anxiety to know the truth of him it must not +be said that he was absolutely a wolf,--not as yet,--because in his +career he had not as yet made premeditated attempts to devour prey. +But in the process of delivering himself up to be devoured by others, +he had done things which if known of any sheep should prevent that +sheep from being received into a decent flock. There had been that +little trouble about his commission, in which, although he had not +intended to cheat either Jew, he had done that which the world would +have called cheating had the world known it. As for getting goods +from tradesmen without any hope or thought of paying for them, that +with him was so much a thing of custom,--as indeed it was also with +them,--that he was almost to be excused for considering it the normal +condition of life for a man in his position. To gamble and lose money +had come to him quite naturally at a very early age. There had now +come upon him an idea that he might turn the tables, that in all +gambling transactions some one must win, and that as he had lost +much, so possibly might he now win more. He had not quite yet reached +that point in his education at which the gambler learns that the +ready way to win much is to win unfairly;--not quite yet, but he was +near it. The wolfhood was coming on him, unless some good fortune +might save him. There might, however, be such good fortune in store +for him. As Lady Elizabeth had said, a sheep that was very dark in +colour might become white again. If it be not so, what is all this +doctrine of repentance in which we believe? + +Blackness in a male sheep in regard to the other sin is venial +blackness. Whether the teller of such a tale as this should say so +outright, may be matter of dispute; but, unless he say so, the teller +of this tale does not know how to tell his tale truly. Blackness such +as that will be all condoned, and the sheep received into almost any +flock, on condition, not of repentance or humiliation or confession, +but simply of change of practice. The change of practice in certain +circumstances and at a certain period becomes expedient; and if it be +made, as regards tints in the wool of that nature, the sheep becomes +as white as he is needed to be. In this respect our sheep had been as +black as any sheep, and at this present period of his life had need +of much change before he would be fit for any decent social herding. + +And then there are the shades of black which come from +conviviality,--which we may call table blackness,--as to which there +is an opinion constantly disseminated by the moral newspapers of +the day, that there has come to be altogether an end of any such +blackness among sheep who are gentlemen. To make up for this, indeed, +there has been expressed by the piquant newspapers of the day an +opinion that ladies are taking up the game which gentlemen no longer +care to play. It may be doubted whether either expression has in +it much of truth. We do not see ladies drunk, certainly, and we do +not see gentlemen tumbling about as they used to do, because their +fashion of drinking is not that of their grandfathers. But the love +of wine has not gone out from among men; and men now are as prone +as ever to indulge their loves. Our black sheep was very fond of +wine,--and also of brandy, though he was wolf enough to hide his +taste when occasion required it. + +Very early in life he had come from France to live in England, and +had been placed in a cavalry regiment, which had, unfortunately for +him, been quartered either in London or its vicinity. And, perhaps +equally unfortunate for him, he had in his own possession a small +fortune of some L500 a year. This had not come to him from his +father; and when his father had died in Paris, about two years before +the date of our story, he had received no accession of regular +income. Some couple of thousand of pounds had reached his hands +from his father's effects, which had helped him through some of the +immediately pressing difficulties of the day,--for his own income at +that time had been altogether dissipated. And now he had received a +much larger sum from his cousin, with an assurance, however, that the +family property would not become his when he succeeded to the family +title. He was so penniless at the time, so prone to live from hand to +mouth, so little given to consideration of the future, that it may be +doubted whether the sum given to him was not compensation in full for +all that was to be withheld from him. + +Still there was his chance with the heiress! In regarding this +chance, he had very soon determined that he would marry his cousin +if it might be within his power to do so. He knew, and fully +appreciated, his own advantages. He was a handsome man,--tall for a +Hotspur, but with the Hotspur fair hair and blue eyes, and well-cut +features. There lacked, however, to him, that peculiar aspect of +firmness about the temples which so strongly marked the countenance +of Sir Harry and his daughter; and there had come upon him a _blase_ +look, and certain outer signs of a bad life, which, however, did not +mar his beauty, nor were they always apparent. The eye was not always +bloodshot, nor was the hand constantly seen to shake. It may be said +of him, both as to his moral and physical position, that he was on +the edge of the precipice of degradation, but that there was yet a +possibility of salvation. + +He was living in a bachelor's set of rooms, at this time, in St. +James's Street, for which, it must be presumed, that ready money was +required. During the last winter he had horses in Northamptonshire, +for the hire of which, it must be feared, that his prospects as heir +to Humblethwaite had in some degree been pawned. At the present time +he had a horse for Park riding, and he looked upon a good dinner, +with good wine, as being due to him every day, as thoroughly as +though he earned it. That he had never attempted to earn a shilling +since the day on which he had ceased to be a soldier, now four years +since, the reader will hardly require to be informed. + +In spite of all his faults, this man enjoyed a certain social +popularity for which many a rich man would have given a third of his +income. Dukes and duchesses were fond of him; and certain persons, +standing very high in the world, did not think certain parties were +perfect without him. He knew how to talk enough, and yet not to talk +too much. No one could say of him that he was witty, well-read, or +given to much thinking; but he knew just what was wanted at this +point of time or at that, and could give it. He could put himself +forward, and could keep himself in the background. He could shoot +well without wanting to shoot best. He could fetch and carry, but +still do it always with an air of manly independence. He could +subserve without an air of cringing. And then he looked like a +gentleman. + +Of all his well-to-do friends, perhaps he who really liked him best +was the Earl of Altringham. George Hotspur was at this time something +under thirty years of age, and the Earl was four years his senior. +The Earl was a married man, with a family, a wife who also liked poor +George, an enormous income, and a place in Scotland at which George +always spent the three first weeks of grouse-shooting. The Earl was +a kindly, good-humoured, liberal, but yet hard man of the world. +He knew George Hotspur well, and would on no account lend him a +shilling. He would not have given his friend money to extricate him +from any difficulty. But he forgave the sinner all his sins, opened +Castle Corry to him every year, provided him with the best of +everything, and let him come and dine at Altringham House, in Carlton +Gardens, as often almost as he chose during the London season. The +Earl was very good to George, though he knew more about him than +perhaps did any other man; but he would not bet with George, nor +would he in any way allow George to make money out of him. + +"Do you suppose that I want to win money of you?" he once said to our +friend, in answer to a little proposition that was made to him at +Newmarket. "I don't suppose you do," George had answered. "Then you +may be sure that I don't want to lose any," the Earl had replied. And +so the matter was ended, and George made no more propositions of the +kind. + +The two men were together at Tattersall's, looking at some horses +which the Earl had sent up to be sold the day after the dinner in +Bruton Street. "Sir Harry seems to be taking to you very kindly," +said the Earl. + +"Well,--yes; in a half-and-half sort of way." + +"It isn't everybody that would give you L5,000, you know." + +"I am not everybody's heir," said George. + +"No; and you ain't his,--worse luck." + +"I am,--in regard to the title." + +"What good will that do you?" + +"When he's gone, I shall be the head of the family. As far as I can +understand these matters, he hasn't a right to leave the estates away +from me." + +"Power is right, my boy. Legal power is undoubtedly right." + +"He should at any rate divide them. There are two distinct +properties, and either of them would make me a rich man. I don't feel +so very much obliged to him for his money,--though of course it was +convenient." + +"Very convenient, I should say, George. How do you get on with your +cousin?" + +"They watch me like a cat watches a mouse." + +"Say a rat, rather, George. Don't you know they are right? Would not +I do the same if she were my girl, knowing you as I do?" + +"She might do worse, my Lord." + +"I'll tell you what it is. He thinks that he might do worse. I don't +doubt about that. All this matter of the family and the title, and +the name, would make him ready to fling her to you,--if only you were +a shade less dark a horse than you are." + +"I don't know that I'm darker than others." + +"Look here, old fellow; I don't often trouble you with advice, but I +will now. If you'll set yourself steadily to work to live decently, +if you'll tell Sir Harry the whole truth about your money matters, +and really get into harness, I believe you may have her. Such a one +as you never had such a chance before. But there's one thing you must +do." + +"What is the one thing?" + +"Wash your hands altogether of Mrs. Morton. You'll have a difficulty, +I know, and perhaps it will want more pluck than you've got. You +haven't got pluck of that kind." + +"You mean that I don't like to break a woman's heart?" + +"Fiddlestick! Do you see that mare, there?" + +"I was just looking at her. Why should you part with her?" + +"She was the best animal in my stables, but she's given to eating +the stable-boys; old Badger told me flat, that he wouldn't have her +in the stables any longer. I pity the fellow who will buy her,--or +rather his fellow. She killed a lad once in Brookborough's stables." + +"Why don't you shoot her?" + +"I can't afford to shoot horses, Captain Hotspur. I had my chance in +buying her, and somebody else must have his chance now. That's the +lot of them; one or two good ones, and the rest what I call rags. Do +you think of what I've said; and be sure of this: Mrs. Morton and +your cousin can't go on together. Ta, Ta!--I'm going across to my +mother's." + +George Hotspur, when he was left alone, did think a great deal about +it. He was not a man prone to assure himself of a lady's favour +without cause; and yet he did think that his cousin liked him. As to +that terrible difficulty to which Lord Altringham had alluded, he +knew that something must be done; but there were cruel embarrassments +on that side of which even Altringham knew nothing. And then why +should he do that which his friend had indicated to him, before he +knew whether it would be necessary? As to taking Sir Harry altogether +into his confidence about his money matters, that was clearly +impossible. Heaven and earth! How could the one man speak such +truths, or the other man listen to them? When money difficulties +come of such nature as those which weighted the shoulders of poor +George Hotspur, it is quite impossible that there should be any such +confidence with any one. The sufferer cannot even make a confidant of +himself, cannot even bring himself to look at his own troubles massed +together. It was not the amount of his debts, but the nature of them, +and the characters of the men with whom he had dealings, that were so +terrible. Fifteen thousand pounds--less than one year's income from +Sir Harry's property--would clear him of everything, as far as he +could judge; but there could be no such clearing, otherwise than by +money disbursed by himself, without a disclosure of dirt which he +certainly would not dare to make to Sir Harry before his marriage. + +But yet the prize to be won was so great, and there were so many +reasons for thinking that it might possibly be within his grasp! If, +after all, he might live to be Sir George Hotspur of Humblethwaite +and Scarrowby! After thinking of it as well as he could, he +determined that he would make the attempt; but as to those +preliminaries to which Lord Altringham had referred, he would for the +present leave them to chance. + +Lord Altringham had been quite right when he told George Hotspur that +he was deficient in a certain kind of pluck. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE BALL IN BRUTON STREET. + + +Sir Harry vacillated, Lady Elizabeth doubted, and Cousin George +was allowed to come to the ball. At this time, in the common +understanding of such phrase, Emily Hotspur was heart-whole in regard +to her cousin. Had she been made to know that he had gone away for +ever,--been banished to some antipodes from which he never could +return,--there would have been no lasting sorrow on her part, though +there might have been some feeling which would have given her an ache +for the moment. She had thought about him, as girls will think of men +as to whom they own to themselves that it is possible that they may +be in love with them some day;--and she liked him much. She also +liked Lord Alfred, but the liking had been altogether of a different +kind. In regard to Lord Alfred she had been quite sure, from the +first days of her intercourse with him, that she could never be in +love with him. He was to her no more than old Mr. Crutchley or young +Mr. Latheby,--a man, and a good sort of man, but no more than a man. +To worship Lord Alfred must be impossible to her. She had already +conceived that it would be quite possible for her to worship her +Cousin George in the teeth of all the hard things that she had heard +of him. The reader may be sure that such a thought had passed through +her mind when she asked her mother whether Cousin George was to be +accepted as a black sheep or a white one? + +The ball was a very grand affair, and Emily Hotspur was a very great +lady. It had come to be understood that the successful suitor for her +hand would be the future lord of Humblethwaite, and the power with +which she was thus vested gave her a prestige and standing which can +hardly be attained by mere wit and beauty, even when most perfectly +combined. It was not that all who worshipped, either at a distance +or with passing homage, knew the fact of the heiress-ship, or had +ever heard of the L20,000 a year; but, given the status, and the +worshippers will come. The word had gone forth in some mysterious +way, and it was acknowledged that Emily Hotspur was a great young +lady. Other young ladies, who were not great, allowed themselves to +be postponed to her almost without jealousy, and young gentlemen +without pretensions regarded her as one to whom they did not dare +to ask to be introduced. Emily saw it all, and partly liked it, and +partly despised it. But, even when despising it, she took advantage +of it. The young gentlemen without pretensions were no more to her +than the chairs and tables; and the young ladies who submitted to her +and adored her,--were allowed to be submissive, and to adore. But of +this she was quite sure,--that her Cousin George must some day be the +head of her own family. He was a man whom she was bound to treat with +attentive regard, if they who had the custody of her chose to place +her in his company at all. + +At this ball there were some very distinguished people +indeed,--persons whom it would hardly be improper to call +illustrious. There were two royal duchesses, one of whom was English, +and no less than three princes. The Russian and French ambassadors +were both there. There was the editor of the most influential +newspaper of the day,--for a few minutes only; and the Prime Minister +passed through the room in the course of the evening. Dukes and +duchesses below the royal degree were common; and as for earls and +countesses, and their daughters, they formed the ruck of the crowd. +The Poet-laureate didn't come indeed, but was expected; and three +Chinese mandarins of the first quality entered the room at eleven, +and did not leave till one. Poor Lady Elizabeth suffered a great deal +with those mandarins. From all this it will be seen that the ball was +quite a success. + +George Hotspur dined that day with Lord and Lady Altringham, and went +with them to the ball in the evening. Lord Altringham, though his +manner was airy and almost indifferent, was in truth most anxious +that his friend should be put upon his feet by the marriage; and the +Countess was so keen about it, that there was nothing in the way of +innocent intrigue which she would not have done to accomplish it. She +knew that George Hotspur was a rake, was a gambler, was in debt, was +hampered by other difficulties, and all the rest of it; but she liked +the man, and was therefore willing to believe that a rich marriage +would put it all right. Emily Hotspur was nothing to her, nor was Sir +Harry; but George had often made her own house pleasant to her, and +therefore, to her thinking, deserved a wife with L20,000 a year. And +then, if there might have been scruples under other circumstances, +that fact of the baronetcy overcame them. It could not be wrong +in one placed as was Lady Altringham to assist in preventing any +separation of the title and the property. Of course George might +probably squander all that he could squander; but that might be made +right by settlements and entails. Lady Altringham was much more +energetic than her husband, and had made out quite a plan of the +manner in which George should proceed. She discussed the matter with +him at great length. The one difficulty she was, indeed, obliged to +slur over; but even that was not altogether omitted in her scheme. +"Whatever incumbrances there may be, free yourself from them at +once," she had advised. + +"That is so very easy to say, Lady Altringham, but so difficult to +do." + +"As to debts, of course they can't be paid without money. Sir Harry +will find it worth his while to settle any debts. But if there is +anything else, stop it at once." Of course there was something else, +and of course Lady Altringham knew what that something else was. She +demanded, in accordance with her scheme, that George should lose no +time. This was in May. It was known that Sir Harry intended to leave +town early in June. "Of course you will take him at his word, and go +to Humblethwaite when you leave us," she had said. + +"No time has been named." + +"Then you can name your own without difficulty. You will write from +Castle Corry and say you are coming. That is, if it's not all settled +by that time. Of course, it cannot be done in a minute, because +Sir Harry must consent; but I should begin at once,--only, Captain +Hotspur, leave nothing for them to find out afterwards. What is past +they will forgive." Such had been Lady Altringham's advice, and no +doubt she understood the matter which she had been discussing. + +When George Hotspur entered the room, his cousin was dancing with a +prince. He could see her as he stood speaking a few words to Lady +Elizabeth. And in talking to Lady Elizabeth he did not talk as a +stranger would, or a common guest. He had quite understood all that +he might gain by assuming the intimacy of cousinhood, and he had +assumed it. Lady Elizabeth was less weary than before when he stood +by her, and accepted from his hand some little trifle of help, which +was agreeable to her. And he showed himself in no hurry, and told her +some little story that pleased her. What a pity it was that Cousin +George should be a scamp, she thought, as he went on to greet Sir +Harry. + +And with Sir Harry he remained a minute or two. On such an occasion +as this Sir Harry was all smiles, and quite willing to hear a +little town gossip. "Come with the Altringhams, have you? I'm told +Altringham has just sold all his horses. What's the meaning of that?" + +"The old story, Sir Harry. He has weeded his stable, and got the +buyers to think that they were getting the cream. There isn't a man +in England knows better what he's about than Altringham." + +Sir Harry smiled his sweetest, and answered with some good-humoured +remark, but he said in his heart that "birds of a feather flock +together," and that his cousin was--not a man of honour. + +There are some things that no rogue can do. He can understand what it +is to condemn roguery, to avoid it, to dislike it, to disbelieve in +it;--but he cannot understand what it is to hate it. Cousin George +had probably exaggerated the transaction of which he had spoken, but +he had little thought that in doing so he had helped to imbue Sir +Harry with a true idea of his own character. + +George passed on, and saw his cousin, who was now standing up with a +foreign ambassador. He just spoke to her as he passed her, calling +her by her Christian name as he did so. She gave him her hand ever so +graciously; and he, when he had gone on, returned and asked her to +name a dance. + +"But I don't think I've one left that I mean to dance," she said. + +"Then give me one that you don't mean to dance," he answered. And of +course she gave it to him. + +It was an hour afterwards that he came to claim her promise, and she +put her arm through his and stood up with him. There was no talk then +of her not dancing, and she went whirling round the room with him in +great bliss. Cousin George waltzed well. All such men do. It is a +part of their stock-in-trade. On this evening Emily Hotspur thought +that he waltzed better than any one else, and told him so. "Another +turn? Of course I will with you, because you know what you're about." + +"I'd blush if I'd time," said he. + +"A great many gentlemen ought to blush, I know. That prince, whose +name I always forget, and you, are the only men in the room who dance +well, according to my ideas." + +Then off they went again, and Emily was very happy. He could at least +dance well, and there could be no reason why she should not enjoy his +dancing well since he had been considered to be white enough to be +asked to the ball. + +But with George there was present at every turn and twist of the +dance an idea that he was there for other work than that. He was +tracking a head of game after which there would be many hunters. He +had his advantages, and so would they have theirs. One of his was +this,--that he had her there with him now, and he must use it. She +would not fall into his mouth merely by being whirled round the room +pleasantly. At last she was still, and consented to take a walk with +him out of the room, somewhere out amidst the crowd, on the staircase +if possible, so as to get a breath of fresh air. Of course he soon +had her jammed into a corner out of which there was no immediate mode +of escape. + +"We shall never get away again," she said, laughing. Had she wanted +to get away her tone and manner would have been very different. + +"I wonder whether you feel yourself to be the same sort of person +here that you are at Humblethwaite," he said. + +"Exactly the same." + +"To me you seem to be so different." + +"In what way?" + +"I don't think you are half so nice." + +"How very unkind!" + +Of course she was flattered. Of all flattery praise is the coarsest +and least efficacious. When you would flatter a man, talk to him +about himself, and criticise him, pulling him to pieces by comparison +of some small present fault with his past conduct;--and the rule +holds the same with a woman. To tell her that she looks well is +feeble work; but complain to her wofully that there is something +wanting at the present moment, something lacking from the usual high +standard, some temporary loss of beauty, and your solicitude will +prevail with her. + +"And in what am I not nice? I am sure I'm trying to be as nice as I +know how." + +"Down at Humblethwaite you are simply yourself,--Emily Hotspur." + +"And what am I here?" + +"That formidable thing,--a success. Don't you feel yourself that you +are lifted a little off your legs?" + +"Not a bit;--not an inch. Why should I?" + +"I fail to make you understand quite what I mean. Don't you feel that +with all these princes and potentates you are forced to be something +else than your natural self? Don't you know that you have to put on a +special manner, and to talk in a special way? Does not the champagne +fly to your head, more or less?" + +"Of course, the princes and potentates are not the same as old Mrs. +Crutchley, if you mean that." + +"I am not blaming you, you know, only I cannot help being very +anxious; and I found you so perfect at Humblethwaite that I cannot +say that I like any change. You know I am to come to Humblethwaite +again?" + +"Of course you are." + +"You go down next month, I believe?" + +"Papa talks of going to Scarrowby for a few weeks. He always does +every year, and it is so dull. Did you ever see Scarrowby?" + +"Never." + +"You ought to come there some day. You know one branch of the +Hotspurs did live there for ever so long." + +"Is it a good house?" + +"Very bad indeed; but there are enormous woods, and the country is +very wild, and everything is at sixes and sevens. However, of course +you would not come, because it is in the middle of your London +season. There would be ever so many things to keep you. You are a man +who, I suppose, never was out of London in June in your life, unless +some race meeting was going on." + +"Do you really take me for such as that, Emily?" + +"Yes, I do. That is what they tell me you are. Is it not true? Don't +you go to races?" + +"I should be quite willing to undertake never to put my foot on a +racecourse again this minute. I will do so now if you will only ask +it of me." + +She paused a moment, half thinking that she would ask it, but at last +she determined against it. + +"No," she said; "if you think it proper to stay away, you can do so +without my asking it. I have no right to make such a request. If you +think races are bad, why don't you stay away of your own accord?" + +"They are bad," he said. + +"Then why do you go to them?" + +"They are bad, and I do go to them. They are very bad, and I go +to them very often. But I will stay away and never put my foot on +another racecourse if you, my cousin, will ask me." + +"That is nonsense." + +"Try me. It shall not be nonsense. If you care enough about me to +wish to save me from what is evil, you can do it. I care enough about +you to give up the pursuit at your bidding." + +As he said this he looked down into her eyes, and she knew that the +full weight of his gaze was upon her. She knew that his words and his +looks together were intended to impress her with some feeling of his +love for her. She knew at the moment, too, that they gratified her. +And she remembered also in the same moment that her Cousin George was +a black sheep. + +"If you cannot refrain from what is bad without my asking you," she +said, "your refraining will do no good." + +He was making her some answer, when she insisted on being taken away. +"I must get into the dancing-room; I must indeed, George. I have +already thrown over some poor wretch. No, not yet, I see, however. I +was not engaged for the quadrille; but I must go back and look after +the people." + +He led her back through the crowd; and as he did so he perceived that +Sir Harry's eyes were fixed upon him. He did not much care for that. +If he could carry his Cousin Emily, he thought that he might carry +the Baronet also. + +He could not get any special word with her again that night. He asked +her for another dance, but she would not grant it to him. "You forget +the princes and potentates to whom I have to attend," she said to +him, quoting his own words. + +He did not blame her, even to himself, judging by the importance +which he attached to every word of private conversation which he +could have with her, that she found it to be equally important. +It was something gained that she should know that he was thinking +of her. He could not be to her now like any cousin, or any other +man, with whom she might dance three or four times without meaning +anything. As he was aware of it, so must she be; and he was glad that +she should feel that it was so. + +"Emily tells me that you are going to Scarrowby next month," he said +afterwards to Sir Harry. + +Sir Harry frowned, and answered him very shortly, "Yes, we shall go +there in June." + +"Is it a large place?" + +"Large? How do you mean? It is a good property." + +"But the house?" + +"The house is quite large enough for us," said Sir Harry; "but we do +not have company there." + +This was said in a very cold tone, and there was nothing more to +be added. George, to do him justice, had not been fishing for an +invitation to Scarrowby. He had simply been making conversation with +the Baronet. It would not have suited him to go to Scarrowby, because +by doing so he would have lost the power of renewing his visit to +Humblethwaite. But Sir Harry in this interview had been so very +ungracious,--and as George knew very well, because of the scene in +the corner,--that there might be a doubt whether he would ever get to +Humblethwaite at all. If he failed, however, it should not be for the +want of audacity on his own part. + +But, in truth, Sir Harry's blackness was still the result of +vacillation. Though he would fain redeem this prodigal, if it were +possible, and give him everything that was to be given; yet, when he +saw the prodigal attempting to help himself to the good things, his +wrath was aroused. George Hotspur, as he betook himself from Bruton +Street to such other amusements as were at his command, meditated +much over his position. He thought he could give up the racecourses; +but he was sure that he could at any rate say that he would give them +up. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LADY ALTRINGHAM. + + +There was one more meeting between Cousin George and Emily Hotspur, +before Sir Harry left London with his wife and daughter. On the +Sunday afternoon following the ball he called in Bruton Street, and +found Lord Alfred there. He knew that Lord Alfred had been refused, +and felt it to be a matter of course that the suit would be pressed +again. Nevertheless, he was quite free from animosity to Lord Alfred. +He could see at a glance that there was no danger for him on that +side. Lord Alfred was talking to Lady Elizabeth when he entered, and +Emily was engaged with a bald-headed old gentleman with a little +ribbon and a star. The bald-headed old gentleman soon departed, +and then Cousin George, in some skilfully indirect way, took an +opportunity of letting Emily know that he should not go to Goodwood +this July. + +"Not go to Goodwood?" said she, pretending to laugh. "It will be most +unnatural, will it not? They'll hardly start the horses without you, +I should think." + +"They'll have to start them without me, at any rate." Of course she +understood what he meant, and understood also why he had told her. +But if his promise were true, so much good had been done,--and she +sincerely believed that it was true. In what way could he make love +to her better than by refraining from his evil ways for the sake of +pleasing her? Other bald-headed old gentlemen and bewigged old ladies +came in, and he had not time for another word. He bade her adieu, +saying nothing now of his hope of meeting her in the autumn, and was +very affectionate in his farewell to Lady Elizabeth. "I don't suppose +I shall see Sir Harry before he starts. Say 'good-bye' for me." + +"I will, George." + +"I am so sorry you are going. It has been so jolly, coming in here +of a Sunday, Lady Elizabeth, and you have been so good to me. I wish +Scarrowby was at the bottom of the sea." + +"Sir Harry wouldn't like that at all." + +"I dare say not. And as such places must be, I suppose they ought to +be looked after. Only why in June? Good-bye! We shall meet again some +day." But not a word was said about Humblethwaite in September. He +did not choose to mention the prospect of his autumn visit, and she +did not dare to do so. Sir Harry had not renewed the offer, and she +would not venture to do so in Sir Harry's absence. + +June passed away,--as Junes do pass in London,--very gaily in +appearance, very quickly in reality, with a huge outlay of money and +an enormous amount of disappointment. Young ladies would not accept, +and young men would not propose. Papas became cross and stingy, and +mammas insinuated that daughters were misbehaving. The daughters +fought their own battles, and became tired in the fighting of them, +and many a one had declared to herself before July had come to an end +that it was all vanity and vexation of spirit. + +The Altringhams always went to Goodwood,--husband and wife. Goodwood +and Ascot for Lady Altringham were festivals quite as sacred as were +Epsom and Newmarket for the Earl. She looked forward to them all the +year, learned all she could about the horses which were to run, was +very anxious and energetic about her party, and, if all that was said +was true, had her little book. It was an institution also that George +Hotspur should be one of the party; and of all the arrangements +usually made, it was not the one which her Ladyship could dispense +with the easiest. George knew exactly what she liked to have done, +and how. The Earl himself would take no trouble, and desired simply +to be taken there and back and to find everything that was wanted the +very moment it was needed. And in all such matters the Countess chose +that the Earl should be indulged. But it was necessary to have some +one who would look after something--who would direct the servants, +and give the orders, and be responsible. George Hotspur did it +all admirably, and on such occasions earned the hospitality which +was given to him throughout the year. At Goodwood he was almost +indispensable to Lady Altringham; but for this meeting she was +willing to dispense with him. "I tell you, Captain Hotspur, that +you're not to go," she said to him. + +"Nonsense, Lady Altringham." + +"What a child you are! Don't you know what depends on it?" + +"It does not depend on that." + +"It may. Every little helps. Didn't you promise her that you +wouldn't?" + +"She didn't take it in earnest." + +"I tell you, you know nothing about a woman. She will take it very +much in earnest if you break your word." + +"She'll never know." + +"She will. She'll learn it. A girl like that learns everything. Don't +go; and let her know that you have not gone." + +George Hotspur thought that he might go, and yet let her know that he +had not gone. An accomplished and successful lie was to him a thing +beautiful in itself,--an event that had come off usefully, a piece of +strategy that was evidence of skill, so much gained on the world at +the least possible outlay, an investment from which had come profit +without capital. Lady Altringham was very hard on him, threatening +him at one time with the Earl's displeasure, and absolute refusal of +his company. But he pleaded hard that his book would be ruinous to +him if he did not go; that this was a pursuit of such a kind that a +man could not give it up all of a moment; that he would take care +that his name was omitted from the printed list of Lord Altringham's +party; and that he ought to be allowed this last recreation. The +Countess at last gave way, and George Hotspur did go to Goodwood. + +With the success or failure of his book on that occasion our story +is not concerned. He was still more flush of cash than usual, having +something left of his cousin's generous present. At any rate, he came +to no signal ruin at the races, and left London for Castle Corry on +the 10th of August without any known diminution to his prospects. At +that time the Hotspurs were at Humblethwaite with a party; but it had +been already decided that George should not prepare to make his visit +till September. He was to write from Castle Corry. All that had been +arranged between him and the Countess, and from Castle Corry he did +write:-- + + + DEAR LADY ELIZABETH,--Sir Harry was kind enough to say + last winter that I might come to Humblethwaite again + this autumn. Will you be able to take me in on the 2nd + September? we have about finished with Altringham's house, + and Lady A. has had enough of me. They remain here till + the end of this month. With kind regards to Sir Harry and + Emily, + + Believe me, yours always, + + GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + +Nothing could be simpler than this note, and yet every word of it had +been weighed and dictated by Lady Altringham. "That won't do at all. +You mustn't seem to be so eager," she had said, when he showed her +the letter as prepared by himself. "Just write as you would do if you +were coming here." Then she sat down, and made the copy for him. + +There was very great doubt and there was much deliberation over that +note at Humblethwaite. The invitation had doubtless been given, and +Sir Harry did not wish to turn against his own flesh and blood,--to +deny admittance to his house to the man who was the heir to his +title. Were he to do so, he must give some reason; he must declare +some quarrel; he must say boldly that all intercourse between them +was to be at an end; and he must inform Cousin George that this +strong step was taken because Cousin George was a--blackguard! There +was no other way of escape left. And then Cousin George had done +nothing since the days of the London intimacies to warrant such +treatment; he had at least done nothing to warrant such treatment at +the hands of Sir Harry. And yet Sir Harry thoroughly wished that his +cousin was at Jerusalem. He still vacillated, but his vacillation did +not bring him nearer to his cousin's side of the case. Every little +thing that he saw and heard made him know that his cousin was a man +to whom he could not give his daughter even for the sake of the +family, without abandoning his duty to his child. At this moment, +while he was considering George's letter, it was quite clear to him +that George should not be his son-in-law; and yet the fact that the +property and the title might be brought together was not absent from +his mind when he gave his final assent. "I don't suppose she cares +for him," he said to his wife. + +"She's not in love with him, if you mean that." + +"What else should I mean?" he said, crossly. + +"She may learn to be in love with him." + +"She had better not. She must be told. He may come for a week. I +won't have him here for longer. Write to him and say that we shall be +happy to have him from the second to the ninth. Emily must be told +that I disapprove of him, but that I can't avoid opening my house to +him." + +These were the most severe words he had ever spoken about Cousin +George, but then the occasion had become very critical. Lady +Elizabeth's reply was as follows:-- + + + MY DEAR COUSIN GEORGE,--Sir Harry and I will be very happy + to have you on the second, as you propose, and hope you + will stay till the eleventh. + + Yours sincerely, + + ELIZABETH HOTSPUR. + + +He was to come on a Saturday, but she did not like to tell him to go +on a Saturday, because of the following day. Where could the poor +fellow be on the Sunday? She therefore stretched her invitation for +two days beyond the period sanctioned by Sir Harry. + +"It's not very gracious," said George, as he showed the note to Lady +Altringham. + +"I don't like it the less on that account. It shows that they're +afraid about her, and they wouldn't be afraid without cause." + +"There is not much of that, I fancy." + +"They oughtn't to have a chance against you,--not if you play your +game well. Even in ordinary cases the fathers and mothers are beaten +by the lovers nine times out of ten. It is only when the men are +oafs and louts that they are driven off. But with you, with your +cousinship, and half-heirship, and all your practice, and the family +likeness, and the rest of it, if you only take a little trouble--" + +"I'll take any amount of trouble." + +"No, you won't. You'll deny yourself nothing, and go through no +ordeal that is disagreeable to you. I don't suppose your things are +a bit better arranged in London than they were in the spring." She +looked at him as though waiting for an answer, but he was silent. +"It's too late for anything of that kind now, but still you may do +very much. Make up your mind to this, that you'll ask Miss Hotspur to +be your wife before you leave--what's the name of the place?" + +"I have quite made up my mind to that, Lady Altringham." + +"As to the manner of doing it, I don't suppose that I can teach you +anything." + +"I don't know about that." + +"At any rate I shan't try. Only remember this. Get her to promise +to be firm, and then go at once to Sir Harry. Don't let there be an +appearance of doubt in speaking to him. And if he tells you of the +property,--angrily I mean,--then do you tell him of the title. Make +him understand that you give as much as you get. I don't suppose he +will yield at first. Why should he? You are not the very best young +man about town, you know. But if you get her, he must follow. She +looks like one that would stick to it, if she once had said it." + +Thus prompted George Hotspur went from Castle Corry to Humblethwaite. +I wonder whether he was aware of the extent of the friendship of his +friend, and whether he ever considered why it was that such a woman +should be so anxious to assist him in making his fortune, let it be +at what cost it might to others! Lady Altringham was not the least +in love with Captain Hotspur, was bound to him by no tie whatsoever, +would suffer no loss in the world should Cousin George come to utter +and incurable ruin; but she was a woman of energy, and, as she liked +the man, she was zealous in his friendship. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AIREY FORCE. + + +Lady Elizabeth had been instructed by Sir Harry to warn her +daughter not to fall in love with Cousin George during his visit to +Humblethwaite; and Lady Elizabeth was, as a wife, accustomed to obey +her husband in all things. But obedience in this matter was very +difficult. Such a caution as that received is not easily given even +between a mother and a child, and is especially difficult when the +mother is unconsciously aware of her child's superiority to herself. +Emily was in all respects the bigger woman of the two, and was sure +to get the best of it in any such cautioning. It is so hard to have +to bid a girl, and a good girl too, not to fall in love with a +particular man! There is left among us at any rate so much of reserve +and assumed delicacy as to require us to consider, or pretend to +consider on the girl's behalf, that of course she won't fall in love. +We know that she will, sooner or later; and probably as much sooner +as opportunity may offer. That is our experience of the genus girl in +the general; and we quite approve of her for her readiness to do so. +It is, indeed, her nature; and the propensity has been planted in her +for wise purposes. But as to this or that special sample of the genus +girl, in reference to this or that special sample of the genus young +man, we always feel ourselves bound to take it as a matter of course +that there can be nothing of the kind, till the thing is done. Any +caution on the matter is therefore difficult and disagreeable, as +conveying almost an insult. Mothers in well-regulated families do not +caution their daughters in reference to special young men. But Lady +Elizabeth had been desired by her husband to give the caution, and +must in some sort obey the instruction. Two days before George's +arrival she endeavoured to do as she was told; not with the most +signal success. + +"Your Cousin George is coming on Saturday." + +"So I heard Papa say." + +"Your Papa gave him a sort of invitation when he was here last time, +and so he has proposed himself." + +"Why should not he? It seems very natural. He is the nearest relation +we have got, and we all like him." + +"I don't think your Papa does like him." + +"I do." + +"What I mean is your Papa doesn't approve of him. He goes to races, +and bets, and all that kind of thing. And then your Papa thinks that +he's over head and ears in debt." + +"I don't know anything about his debts. As for his going to races, I +believe he has given them up. I am sure he would if he were asked." +Then there was a pause, for Lady Elizabeth hardly knew how to +pronounce her caution. "Why shouldn't Papa pay his debts?" + +"My dear!" + +"Well, Mamma, why shouldn't he? And why shouldn't Papa let him have +the property; I mean, leave it to him instead of to me?" + +"If your brother had lived--" + +"He didn't live, Mamma. That has been our great misfortune. But so it +is; and why shouldn't George be allowed to take his place? I'm sure +it would be for the best. Papa thinks so much about the name, and the +family, and all that." + +"My dear, you must leave him to do as he thinks fit in all such +matters. You may be sure that he will do what he believes to be his +duty. What I was going to say was this--" And, instead of saying it, +Lady Elizabeth still hesitated. + +"I know what you want to say, Mamma, just as well as though the words +were out of your mouth. You want to make me to understand that George +is a black sheep." + +"I'm afraid he is." + +"But black sheep are not like blackamoors; they may be washed white. +You said so yourself the other day." + +"Did I, my dear?" + +"Certainly you did; and certainly they may. Why, Mamma, what is all +religion but the washing of black sheep white; making the black a +little less black, scraping a spot white here and there?" + +"I am afraid your Cousin George is beyond washing." + +"Then Mamma, all I can say is, he oughtn't to come here. Mind, +I think you wrong him. I daresay he has been giddy and fond of +pleasure; but if he is so bad as you say, Papa should tell him at +once not to come. As far as I am concerned, I don't believe he is so +bad; and I shall be glad to see him." + +There was no cautioning a young woman who could reason in this way, +and who could look at her mother as Emily looked. It was not, at +least, within the power of Lady Elizabeth to do so. And yet she could +not tell Sir Harry of her failure. She thought that she had expressed +the caution; and she thought also that her daughter would be wise +enough to be guided,--not by her mother's wisdom, but by the words of +her father. Poor dear woman! She was thinking of it every hour of the +day; but she said nothing more on the subject, either to her daughter +or to Sir Harry. + +The black sheep came, and made one of a number of numerous visitors. +It had been felt that the danger would be less among a multitude; and +there was present a very excellent young man, as to whom there were +hopes. Steps had not been taken about this excellent young man as had +been done in reference to Lord Alfred; but still there were hopes. He +was the eldest son of a Lincolnshire squire, a man of fair property +and undoubted family; but who, it was thought, would not object to +merge the name of Thoresby in that of Hotspur. Nothing came of the +young man, who was bashful, and to whom Miss Hotspur certainly gave +no entertainment of a nature to remove his bashfulness. But when +the day for George's coming had been fixed, Sir Harry thought it +expedient to write to young Thoresby and accelerate a visit which had +been previously proposed. Sir Harry as he did so almost hated himself +for his anxiety to dispose of his daughter. He was a gentleman, every +inch of him; and he thoroughly desired to do his duty. He knew, +however, that there was much in his feelings of which he could not +but be ashamed. And yet, if something were not done to assist his +girl in a right disposal of all that she had to bestow with her hand, +how was it probable that it could be disposed aright? + +The black sheep came, and found young Thoresby and some dozen other +strangers in the house. He smiled upon them all, and before the first +evening was over had made himself the popular man of the house. Sir +Harry, like a fool as he was, had given his cousin only two fingers, +and had looked black at their first meeting. Nothing could be gained +by conduct such as that with such a guest. Before the gentlemen left +the dinner-table on the first day even he had smiled and joked and +had asked questions about "Altringham's mountains." "The worst of you +fellows who go to Scotland is that you care nothing for real sport +when you come down south afterwards." All this conversation about +Lord Altringham's grouse and the Scotch mountains helped George +Hotspur, so that when he went into the drawing-room he was in the +ascendant. Many men have learned the value of such ascendancy, and +most men have known the want of it. + +Poor Lady Elizabeth had not a chance with Cousin George. She +succumbed to him at once, not knowing why, but feeling that she +herself became bright, amusing, and happy when talking to him. She +was a woman not given to familiarities; but she did become familiar +with him, allowing him little liberties of expression which no other +man would take with her, and putting them all down to the score of +cousinhood. He might be a black sheep. She feared there could be but +little doubt that he was one. But, from her worsted-work up to the +demerits of her dearest friend, he did know how to talk better than +any other young man she knew. To Emily, on that first evening, he +said very little. When he first met her he had pressed her hand, and +looked into her eyes, and smiled on her with a smile so sweet that +it was as though a god had smiled on her. She had made up her mind +that he should be nothing to her,--nothing beyond a dear cousin; +nevertheless, her eye had watched him during the whole hour of +dinner, and, not knowing that it was so, she had waited for his +coming to them in the evening. Heavens and earth! what an oaf was +that young Thoresby as the two stood together near the door! She did +not want her cousin to come and talk to her, but she listened and +laughed within herself as she saw how pleased was her mother by the +attentions of the black sheep. + +One word Cousin George did say to Emily Hotspur that night, just as +the ladies were leaving the room. It was said in a whisper, with a +little laugh, with that air of half joke half earnest which may be so +efficacious in conversation: "I did not go to Goodwood, after all." + +She raised her eyes to his for a quarter of a second, thanking him +for his goodness in refraining. "I don't believe that he is really a +black sheep at all," she said to herself that night, as she laid her +head upon her pillow. + +After all, the devil fights under great disadvantages, and has to +carry weights in all his races which are almost unfair. He lies as a +matter of course, believing thoroughly in lies, thinking that it is +by lies chiefly that he must make his running good; and yet every lie +he tells, after it has been told and used, remains as an additional +weight to be carried. When you have used your lie gracefully and +successfully, it is hard to bury it and get it well out of sight. +It crops up here and there against you, requiring more lies; and +at last, too often, has to be admitted as a lie, most usually +so admitted in silence, but still admitted,--to be forgiven or +not, according to the circumstances of the case. The most perfect +forgiveness is that which is extended to him who is known to lie +in everything. The man has to be taken, lies and all, as a man is +taken with a squint, or a harelip, or a bad temper. He has an uphill +game to fight, but when once well known, he does not fall into the +difficulty of being believed. + +George Hotspur's lie was believed. To our readers it may appear to +have been most gratuitous, unnecessary, and inexpedient. The girl +would not have quarrelled with him for going to the races,--would +never have asked anything about it. But George knew that he must make +his running. It would not suffice that she should not quarrel with +him. He had to win her, and it came so natural to him to lie! And the +lie was efficacious; she was glad to know that he stayed away from +the races--for her sake. Had it not been for her sake? She would not +bid him stay away, but she was so glad that he had stayed! The lie +was very useful;--if it only could have been buried and put out of +sight when used! + +There was partridge-shooting for four days; not good shooting, but +work which carried the men far from home, and enabled Sir Harry to +look after his cousin. George, so looked after, did not dare to say +that on any day he would shirk the shooting. But Sir Harry, as he +watched his cousin, gradually lost his keenness for watching him. +Might it not be best that he should let matters arrange themselves? +This young squire from Lincolnshire was evidently an oaf. Sir Harry +could not even cherish a hope on that side. His girl was very good, +and she had been told, and the work of watching went so much against +the grain with him! And then, added to it all, was the remembrance +that if the worst came to the worst, the title and property would be +kept together. George Hotspur might have fought his fight, we think, +without the aid of his lie. + +On the Friday the party was to some extent broken up. The oaf and +sundry other persons went away. Sir Harry had thought that the cousin +would go on the Saturday, and had been angry with his wife because +his orders on that head had not been implicitly obeyed. But when the +Friday came, and George offered to go in with him to Penrith, to +hear some case of fish-poaching which was to be brought before the +magistrates, he had forgiven the offence. George had a great deal to +say about fish, and then went on to say a good deal about himself. If +he could only get some employment, a farm, say, where he might have +hunting, how good it would be! For he did not pretend to any virtuous +abnegation of the pleasures of the world, but was willing,--so he +said,--to add to them some little attempt to earn his own bread. On +this day Sir Harry liked his cousin better than he had ever done +before, though he did not even then place the least confidence in his +cousin's sincerity as to the farm and the earning of bread. + +On their return to the Hall on Friday they found that a party +had been made to go to Ulleswater on the Saturday. A certain Mrs. +Fitzpatrick was staying in the house, who had never seen the lake, +and the carriage was to take them to Airey Force. Airey Force, as +everybody knows, is a waterfall near to the shores of the lake, and +is the great lion of the Lake scenery on that side of the mountains. +The waterfall was full fifteen miles from Humblethwaite, but the +distance had been done before, and could be done again. Emily, Mrs. +Fitzpatrick, and two other young ladies were to go. Mr. Fitzpatrick +would sit on the box. There was a youth there also who had left +school and not yet gone to college. He was to be allowed to drive a +dog-cart. Of course George Hotspur was ready to go in the dog-cart +with him. + +George had determined from the commencement of his visit, when he +began to foresee that this Saturday would be more at his command than +any other day, that on this Saturday he would make or mar his fortune +for life. He had perceived that his cousin was cautious with him, +that he would be allowed but little scope for love-making, that she +was in some sort afraid of him; but he perceived also that in a quiet +undemonstrative way she was very gracious to him. She never ignored +him, as young ladies will sometimes ignore young men, but thought of +him even in his absence, and was solicitous for his comfort. He was +clever enough to read little signs, and was sure at any rate that she +liked him. + +"Why did you not postpone the party till George was gone?" Sir Harry +said to his wife. + +"The Fitzpatricks also go on Monday," she answered, "and we could not +refuse them." + +Then again it occurred to Sir Harry that life would not be worth +having if he was to be afraid to allow his daughter to go to a picnic +in company with her cousin. + +There is a bridge across the water at the top of Airey Force, which +is perhaps one of the prettiest spots in the whole of our Lake +country. The entire party on their arrival of course went up to +the bridge, and then the entire party of course descended. How it +happened that in the course of the afternoon George and Emily were +there again, and were there unattended, who can tell? If she had +meant to be cautious, she must very much have changed her plans in +allowing herself to be led thither. And as he stood there, with no +eye resting on them, his arm was round her waist and she was pressed +to his side. + +"Dearest, dearest," he said, "may I believe that you love me?" + +"I have said so. You may believe it if you will." + +She did not attempt to make the distance greater between them. She +leant against him willingly. + +"Dear George, I do love you. My choice has been made. I have to trust +to you for everything." + +"You shall never trust in vain," he said. + +"You must reform, you know," she said, turning round and looking up +into his face with a smile. "They say that you have been wild. You +must not be wild any more, sir." + +"I will reform. I have reformed. I say it boldly; I have become an +altered man since I knew you. I have lived with one hope, and even +the hope alone has changed me. Now I have got all that I have hoped +for. Oh, Emily, I wish you knew how much I love you!" + +They were there on the bridge, or roaming together alone among the +woods, for nearly an hour after that, till Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who knew +the value of the prize and the nature of the man, began to fear that +she had been remiss in her duty as chaperon. As Emily came down and +joined the party at last, she was perfectly regardless either of +their frowns or smiles. There had been one last compact made between +the lovers. + +"George," she had said, "whatever it may cost us, let there be no +secrets." + +"Of course not," he replied. + +"I will tell Mamma to-night; and you must tell Papa. You will promise +me?" + +"Certainly. It is what I should insist on doing myself. I could not +stay in his house under other circumstances. But you too must promise +me one thing, Emily." + +"What is it?" + +"You will be true to me, even though he should refuse his consent?" + +She paused before she answered him. + +"I will be true to you. I cannot be otherwise than true to you. My +love was a thing to give, but when given I cannot take it back. I +will be true to you, but of course we cannot be married unless Papa +consents." + +He urged her no further. He was too wise to think it possible that he +could do so without injuring his cause. Then they found the others, +and Emily made her apologies to Mrs. Fitzpatrick for the delay with a +quiet dignity that struck her Cousin George almost with awe. How had +it been that such a one as he had won so great a creature? + +George, as he was driven home by his young companion, was full of +joyous chatter and light small talk. He had done a good stroke of +business, and was happy. If only the Baronet could be brought round, +all the troubles which had enveloped him since a beard had first +begun to grow on his chin would disappear as a mist beneath the +full rays of the sun; or even if there still might be a trouble or +two,--and as he thought of his prospects he remembered that they +could not all be made to disappear in the mist fashion,--there would +be that which would gild the clouds. At any rate he had done a good +stroke of business. And he loved the girl too. He thought that of all +the girls he had seen about town, or about the country either, she +was the bonniest and the brightest and the most clever. It might well +have been that a poor devil like he in search of an heiress might +have been forced to put up with personal disadvantages,--with age, +with plain looks, with vulgar manners, with low birth; but here, so +excellent was his fortune, there was everything which fortune could +give! Love her? Of course he loved her. He would do anything on earth +for her. And how jolly they would be together when they got hold of +their share of that L20,000 a year! And how jolly it would be to owe +nothing to anybody! As he thought of this, however, there came upon +him the reminiscence of a certain Captain Stubber, and the further +reminiscence of a certain Mr. Abraham Hart, with both of whom he had +dealings; and he told himself that it would behove him to call up +all his pluck when discussing those gentlemen and their dealings, +with the Baronet. He was sure that the Baronet would not like Captain +Stubber nor Mr. Hart, and that a good deal of pluck would be needed. +But on the whole he had done a great stroke of business; and, as +a consequence of his success, talked and chatted all the way home, +till the youth who was driving him thought that George was about the +nicest fellow that he had ever met. + +Emily Hotspur, as she took her place in the carriage, was very +silent. She also had much of which to think, much on which--as she +dreamed--to congratulate herself. But she could not think of it and +talk at the same time. She had made her little apology with graceful +ease. She had just smiled,--but the smile was almost a rebuke,--when +one of her companions had ventured on the beginning of some little +joke as to her company, and then she had led the way to the carriage. +Mrs. Fitzpatrick and the two girls were nothing to her now, let +them suspect what they choose or say what they might. She had given +herself away, and she triumphed in the surrender. The spot on which +he had told her of his love should be sacred to her for ever. It was +a joy to her that it was near to her own home, the home that she +would give to him, so that she might go there with him again and +again. She had very much to consider and to remember. A black sheep! +No! Of all the flock he should be the least black. It might be that +in the energy of his pleasures he had exceeded other men, as he did +exceed all other men in everything that he did and said. Who was so +clever? who so bright? who so handsome, so full of poetry and of +manly grace? How sweet was his voice, how fine his gait, how gracious +his smile! And then in his brow there was that look of command which +she had ever recognized in her father's face as belonging to his race +as a Hotspur,--only added to it was a godlike beauty which her father +never could have possessed. + +She did not conceal from herself that there might be trouble with her +father. And yet she was not sure but that upon the whole he would be +pleased after a while. Humblethwaite and the family honours would +still go together, if he would sanction this marriage; and she knew +how he longed in his heart that it might be so. For a time probably +he might be averse to her prayers. Should it be so, she would simply +give him her word that she would never during his lifetime marry +without his permission,--and then she would be true to her troth. As +to her truth in that respect there could be no doubt. She had given +her word; and that, for a Hotspur, must be enough. + +She could not talk as she thought of all this, and therefore had +hardly spoken when George appeared at the carriage door to give the +ladies a hand as they came into the house. To her he was able to give +one gentle pressure as she passed on; but she did not speak to him, +nor was it necessary that she should do so. Had not everything been +said already? + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +"I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE." + + +The scene which took place that night between the mother and daughter +may be easily conceived. Emily told her tale, and told it in a manner +which left no doubt of her persistency. She certainly meant it. Lady +Elizabeth had almost expected it. There are evils which may come or +may not; but as to which, though we tell ourselves that they may +still be avoided, we are inwardly almost sure that they will come. +Such an evil in the mind of Lady Elizabeth had been Cousin George. +Not but what she herself would have liked him for a son-in-law had it +not been so certain that he was a black sheep. + +"Your father will never consent to it, my dear." + +"Of course, Mamma, I shall do nothing unless he does." + +"You will have to give him up." + +"No, Mamma, not that; that is beyond what Papa can demand of me. I +shall not give him up, but I certainly shall not marry him without +Papa's consent, or yours." + +"Nor see him?" + +"Well; if he does not come I cannot see him." + +"Nor correspond with him?" + +"Certainly not, if Papa forbids it." + +After that, Lady Elizabeth did give way to a considerable extent. +She did not tell her daughter that she considered it at all probable +that Sir Harry would yield; but she made it to be understood that +she herself would do so if Sir Harry would be persuaded. And she +acknowledged that the amount of obedience promised by Emily was all +that could be expected. "But, Mamma," said Emily, before she left her +mother, "do you not know that you love him yourself?" + +"Love is such a strong word, my dear." + +"It is not half strong enough," said Emily, pressing her two hands +together. "But you do, Mamma?" + +"I think he is very agreeable, certainly." + +"And handsome?--only that goes for nothing." + +"Yes, he is a fine-looking man." + +"And clever? I don't know how it is; let there be who there may in +the room, he is always the best talker." + +"He knows how to talk, certainly." + +"And, Mamma, don't you think that there is a something,--I don't know +what,--something not at all like other men about him that compels +one to love him? Oh, Mamma, do say something nice to me! To me he is +everything that a man should be." + +"I wish he were, my dear." + +"As for the sort of life he has been leading, spending more money +than he ought, and all that kind of thing, he has promised to reform +it altogether; and he is doing it now. At any rate, you must admit, +Mamma, that he is not false." + +"I hope not, my dear." + +"Why do you speak in that way, Mamma? Does he talk like a man that +is false? Have you ever known him to be false? Don't be prejudiced, +Mamma, at any rate." + +The reader will understand that when the daughter had brought her +mother as far as this, the elder lady was compelled to say "something +nice" at last. At any rate there was a loving embrace between them, +and an understanding that the mother would not exaggerate the +difficulties of the position either by speech or word. + +"Of course you will have to see your papa to-morrow morning," Lady +Elizabeth said. + +"George will tell him everything to-night," said Emily. She as she +went to her bed did not doubt but what the difficulties would melt. +Luckily for her,--so luckily!--it happened that her lover possessed +by his very birth a right which, beyond all other possessions, would +recommend him to her father. And then had not the man himself all +natural good gifts to recommend him? Of course he had not money or +property, but she had, or would have, property; and of all men alive +her father was the least disposed to be greedy. As she half thought +of it and half dreamt of it in her last waking moments of that +important day, she was almost altogether happy. It was so sweet to +know that she possessed the love of him whom she loved better than +all the world beside. + +Cousin George did not have quite so good a time of it that night. The +first thing he did on his return from Ulleswater to Humblethwaite +was to write a line to his friend Lady Altringham. This had been +promised, and he did so before he had seen Sir Harry. + + + DEAR LADY A.--I have been successful with my younger + cousin. She is the bonniest, and the best, and the + brightest girl that ever lived, and I am the happiest + fellow. But I have not as yet seen the Baronet. I am to do + so to-night, and will report progress to-morrow. I doubt I + shan't find him so bonny and so good and so bright. But, + as you say, the young birds ought to be too strong for the + old ones.--Yours most sincerely, + + G. H. + + +This was written while he was dressing, and was put into the +letter-box by himself as he came downstairs. It was presumed that the +party had dined at the Falls; but there was "a tea" prepared for them +on an extensive scale. Sir Harry, suspecting nothing, was happy and +almost jovial with Mr. Fitzpatrick and the two young ladies. Emily +said hardly a word. Lady Elizabeth, who had not as yet been told, but +already suspected something, was very anxious. George was voluble, +witty, and perhaps a little too loud. But as the lad who was going +to Oxford, and who had drank a good deal of champagne and was now +drinking sherry, was loud also, George's manner was not specially +observed. It was past ten before they got up from the table, and +nearly eleven before George was able to whisper a word to the +Baronet. He almost shirked it for that night, and would have done so +had he not remembered how necessary it was that Emily should know +that his pluck was good. Of course she would be asked to abandon him. +Of course she would be told that it was her duty to give him up. Of +course she would give him up unless he could get such a hold upon her +heart as to make her doing so impossible to her. She would have to +learn that he was an unprincipled spendthrift,--nay worse than that, +as he hardly scrupled to tell himself. But he need not weight his own +character with the further burden of cowardice. The Baronet could +not eat him, and he would not be afraid of the Baronet. "Sir Harry," +he whispered, "could you give me a minute or two before we go to +bed?" Sir Harry started as though he had been stung, and looked his +cousin sharply in the face without answering him. George kept his +countenance, and smiled. + +"I won't keep you long," he said. + +"You had better come to my room," said Sir Harry, gruffly, and +led the way into his own sanctum. When there, he sat down in his +accustomed arm-chair without offering George a seat, but George soon +found a seat for himself. "And now what is it?" said Sir Harry, with +his blackest frown. + +"I have asked my cousin to be my wife." + +"What! Emily?" + +"Yes, Emily; and she has consented. I now ask for your approval." We +must give Cousin George his due, and acknowledge that he made his +little request exactly as he would have done had he been master of +ten thousand a year of his own, quite unencumbered. + +"What right had you, sir, to speak to her without coming to me +first?" + +"One always does, I think, go to the girl first," said George. + +"You have disgraced yourself, sir, and outraged my hospitality. You +are no gentleman!" + +"Sir Harry, that is strong language." + +"Strong! Of course it is strong. I mean it to be strong. I shall make +it stronger yet if you attempt to say another word to her." + +"Look here, Sir Harry, I am bound to bear a good deal from you, but I +have a right to explain." + +"You have a right, sir, to go away from this, and go away you shall." + +"Sir Harry, you have told me that I am not a gentleman." + +"You have abused my kindness to you. What right have you, who have +not a shilling in the world, to speak to my daughter? I won't have +it, and let that be an end of it. I won't have it. And I must desire +that you will leave Humblethwaite to-morrow. I won't have it." + +"It is quite true that I have not a shilling." + +"Then what business have you to speak to my daughter?" + +"Because I have that which is worth many shillings, and which you +value above all your property. I am the heir to your name and title. +When you are gone, I must be the head of this family. I do not in the +least quarrel with you for choosing to leave your property to your +own child, but I have done the best I could to keep the property and +the title together. I love my cousin." + +"I don't believe in your love, sir." + +"If that is all, I do not doubt but that I can satisfy you." + +"It is not all; and it is not half all. And it isn't because you are +a pauper. You know it all as well as I do, without my telling you, +but you drive me to tell you." + +"Know what, sir?" + +"Though you hadn't a shilling, you should have had her if you could +win her,--had your life been even fairly decent. The title must go to +you,--worse luck for the family. You can talk well enough, and what +you say is true. I would wish that they should go together." + +"Of course it will be better." + +"But, sir,--" then Sir Henry paused. + +"Well, Sir Harry?" + +"You oblige me to speak out. You are such a one, that I do not dare +to let you have my child. Your life is so bad, that I should not be +justified in doing so for any family purpose. You would break her +heart." + +"You wrong me there, altogether." + +"You are a gambler." + +"I have been, Sir Harry." + +"And a spendthrift?" + +"Well--yes; as long as I had little or nothing to spend." + +"I believe you are over head and ears in debt now, in spite of the +assistance you have had from me within twelve months." + +Cousin George remembered the advice which had been given him, that +he should conceal nothing from his cousin. "I do owe some money +certainly," he said. + +"And how do you mean to pay it?" + +"Well--if I marry Emily, I suppose that--you will pay it." + +"That's cool, at any rate." + +"What can I say, Sir Harry?" + +"I would pay it all, though it were to half the property--" + +"Less than a year's income would clear off every shilling I owe, Sir +Harry." + +"Listen to me, sir. Though it were ten years' income, I would pay it +all, if I thought that the rest would be kept with the title, and +that my girl would be happy." + +"I will make her happy." + +"But, sir, it is not only that you are a gambler and spendthrift, +and an unprincipled debtor without even a thought of paying. You are +worse than this. There;--I am not going to call you names. I know +what you are, and you shall not have my daughter." + +George Hotspur found himself compelled to think for a few moments +before he could answer a charge so vague, and yet, as he knew, so +well founded. Nevertheless he felt that he was progressing. His debts +would not stand in his way, if only he could make this rich father +believe that in other matters his daughter would not be endangered by +the marriage. "I don't quite know what you mean, Sir Harry. I am not +going to defend myself. I have done much of which I am ashamed. I was +turned very young upon the world, and got to live with rich people +when I was myself poor. I ought to have withstood the temptation, +but I didn't, and I got into bad hands. I don't deny it. There is a +horrid Jew has bills of mine now." + +"What have you done with that five thousand pounds?" + +"He had half of it; and I had to settle for the last Leger, which +went against me." + +"It is all gone?" + +"Pretty nearly. I don't pretend but what I have been very reckless as +to money; I am ready to tell you the truth about everything. I don't +say that I deserve her; but I do say this,--that I should not have +thought of winning her, in my position, had it not been for the +title. Having that in my favour I do not think that I was misbehaving +to you in proposing to her. If you will trust me now, I will be as +grateful and obedient a son as any man ever had." + +He had pleaded his cause well, and he knew it. Sir Harry also felt +that his cousin had made a better case than he would have believed +to be possible. He was quite sure that the man was a scamp, utterly +untrustworthy, and yet the man's pleading for himself had been +efficacious. He sat silent for full five minutes before he spoke +again, and then he gave judgment as follows: "You will go away +without seeing her to-morrow." + +"If you wish it." + +"And you will not write to her." + +"Only a line." + +"Not a word," said Sir Harry, imperiously. + +"Only a line, which I will give open to you. You can do with it as +you please." + +"And as you have forced upon me the necessity, I shall make inquiries +in London as to your past life. I have heard things which perhaps may +be untrue." + +"What things, Sir Harry?" + +"I shall not demean myself or injure you by repeating them, unless +I find cause to believe they are true. I do believe that the result +will be such as to make me feel that in justice to my girl I cannot +allow you to become her husband. I tell you so fairly. Should the +debts you owe be simple debts, not dishonourably contracted, I will +pay them." + +"And then she shall be mine?" + +"I will make no such promise. You had better go now. You can have +the carriage to Penrith as early as you please in the morning; or to +Carlisle if you choose to go north. I will make your excuses to Lady +Elizabeth. Good night." + +Cousin George stood for a second in doubt, and then shook hands with +the Baronet. He reached Penrith the next morning soon after ten, and +breakfasted alone at the hotel. + +There were but very few words spoken on the occasion between the +father and daughter, but Emily did succeed in learning pretty nearly +the truth of what had taken place. On the Monday her mother gave her +the following note:-- + + + DEAREST,--At your father's bidding, I have gone suddenly. + You will understand why I have done so. I shall try to do + just as he would have me; but you will, I know, be quite + sure that I should never give you up.--Yours for ever and + ever, + + G. H. + + +The father had thought much of it, and at last had determined that +Emily should have the letter. + +In the course of the week there came other guests to Humblethwaite, +and it so chanced that there was a lady who knew the Altringhams, +who had unfortunately met the Altringhams at Goodwood, and who, most +unfortunately, stated in Emily's hearing that she had seen George +Hotspur at Goodwood. + +"He was not there," said Emily, quite boldly. + +"Oh, yes; with the Altringhams, as usual. He is always with them at +Goodwood." + +"He was not at the last meeting," said Emily, smiling. + +The lady said nothing till her lord was present, and then appealed to +him. "Frank, didn't you see George Hotspur with the Altringhams at +Goodwood, last July?" + +"To be sure I did, and lost a pony to him on Eros." + +The lady looked at Emily, who said nothing further; but she was still +quite convinced that George Hotspur had not been at those Goodwood +races. + +It is so hard, when you have used a lie commodiously, to bury it, and +get well rid of it. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MR. HART AND CAPTAIN STUBBER. + + +When George Hotspur left Humblethwaite, turned out of the house +by the angry Baronet early in the morning,--as the reader will +remember,--he was at his own desire driven to Penrith, choosing to +go south rather than north. He had doubted for a while as to his +immediate destination. The Altringhams were still at Castle Corry, +and he might have received great comfort from her ladyship's advice +and encouragement. But, intimate as he was with the Altringhams, he +did not dare to take a liberty with the Earl. A certain allowance of +splendid hospitality at Castle Corry was at his disposal every year, +and Lord Altringham always welcomed him with thorough kindness. But +George Hotspur had in some fashion been made to understand that he +was not to overstay his time; and he was quite aware that the Earl +could be very disagreeable upon occasions. There was a something in +the Earl of which George was afraid; and, to tell the truth, he did +not dare to go back to Castle Corry. And then, might it not be well +for him to make immediate preparation in London for those inquiries +respecting his debts and his character which Sir Harry had decided +to make? It would be very difficult for him to make any preparation +that could lead to a good result; but if no preparation were made, +the result would be very bad indeed. It might perhaps be possible +to do something with Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber. He had no other +immediate engagements. In October he was due to shoot pheasants with +a distinguished party in Norfolk, but this business which he had now +in hand was of so much importance that even the pheasant-shooting and +the distinguished party were not of much moment to him. + +He went to Penrith, and thence direct to London. It was the habit of +his life to give up his London lodgings when he left town at the end +of the season, and spare himself the expense of any home as long as +he could find friends to entertain him. There are certain items of +the cost of living for which the greatest proficient in the art of +tick must pay, or he will come to a speedy end;--and a man's lodging +is one of them. If indeed the spendthrift adapts himself to the +splendour of housekeeping, he may, provided his knowledge of his +business be complete, and his courage adequate, house himself +gloriously for a year or two with very small payment in ready money. +He may even buy a mansion with an incredibly small outlay, and, when +once in it, will not easily allow himself to be extruded. George +Hotspur, however, not from any want of knowledge or of audacity, but +from the nature of the life he chose to lead, had abstained from such +investment of his credit, and had paid for his lodgings in St. James' +Street. He was consequently houseless at the moment, and on his +arrival in London took himself to an hotel close behind the military +club to which he belonged. + +At this moment he was comparatively a rich man. He had between three +and four hundred pounds at a bank at which he kept an account when +possessed of funds. But demands upon him were very pressing, and +there was a certain Captain Stubber who was bitter against him, +almost to blood, because one Mr. Abraham Hart had received two +thousand pounds from the proceeds of Sir Harry's generosity. Captain +Stubber had not received a shilling, and had already threatened +Cousin George with absolute exposure if something were not done to +satisfy him. + +George, when he had ordered his dinner at his club, wrote the +following letter to Lady Altringham. He had intended to write from +Penrith in the morning, but when there had been out of sorts and +unhappy, and had disliked to confess, after his note of triumph +sounded on the previous evening, that he had been turned out of +Humblethwaite. He had got over that feeling during the day, with +the help of sundry glasses of sherry and a little mixed curacoa and +brandy which he took immediately on his arrival in London,--and, so +supported, made a clean breast of it, as the reader shall see. + + + DEAR LADY A., [he said]--Here I am, back in town, banished + from heaven. My darling, gentle, future papa-in-law + gave me to understand, when I told him the extent of my + hopes last night, that the outside of the park-gates at + Humblethwaite was the place for me; nevertheless he sent + me to Penrith with the family horses, and, taking it as + a whole, I think that my interview with him, although + very disagreeable, was not unsatisfactory. I told him + everything that I could tell him. He was kind enough to + call me a blackguard (!!!) because I had gone to Emily + without speaking to him first. On such occasions, however, + a man takes anything. I ventured to suggest that what I + had done was not unprecedented among young people, and + hinted that while he could make me the future master of + Humblethwaite, I could make my cousin the future Lady + Hotspur; and that in no other way could Humblethwaite and + the Hotspurs be kept together. It was wonderful how he + cooled down after a while, saying that he would pay all my + debts if he found them--satisfactory. I can only say that + I never found them so. + + It ended in this--that he is to make inquiry about me, and + that I am to have my cousin unless I am found out to be + very bad indeed. How or when the inquiries will be made I + do not know; but I am here to prepare for them. + + Yours always most faithfully, + + G. H. + + I do not like to ask Altringham to do anything for me. No + man ever had a kinder friend than I have had in him, and + I know he objects to meddle in the money matters of other + people. But if he could lend me his name for a thousand + pounds till I can get these things settled, I believe + I could get over every other difficulty. I should as a + matter of course include the amount in the list of debts + which I should give to Sir Harry; but the sum at once, + which I could raise on his name without trouble to him, + would enable me to satisfy the only creditor who will be + likely to do me real harm with Sir Harry. I think you + will understand all this, and will perceive how very + material the kindness to me may be; but if you think that + Altringham will be unwilling to do it, you had better not + show him this letter. + + +It was the mixed curacoa and brandy which gave George Hotspur the +courage to make the request contained in his postscript. He had not +intended to make it when he sat down to write, but as he wrote the +idea had struck him that if ever a man ought to use a friend this was +an occasion for doing so. If he could get a thousand pounds from Lord +Altringham, he might be able to stop Captain Stubber's mouth. He did +not believe that he should be successful, and he thought it probable +that Lord Altringham might express vehement displeasure. But the +game was worth the candle, and then he knew that he could trust the +Countess. + +London was very empty, and he passed a wretched evening at his club. +There were not men enough to make up a pool, and he was obliged to +content himself with a game of billiards with an old half-pay naval +captain, who never left London, and who would bet nothing beyond +a shilling on the game. The half-pay navy captain won four games, +thereby paying for his dinner, and then Cousin George went sulkily to +bed. + +He had come up to town expressly to see Captain Stubber and Mr. Hart, +and perhaps also to see another friend from whom some advice might +be had; but on the following morning he found himself very averse to +seeking any of these advisers. He had applied to Lady Altringham for +assistance, and he told himself that it would be wise to wait for her +answer. And yet he knew that it would not be wise to wait, as Sir +Harry would certainly be quick in making his promised inquiries. For +four days he hung about between his hotel and his club, and then he +got Lady Altringham's answer. We need only quote the passage which +had reference to George's special request:-- + + + Gustavus says that he will have nothing to do with money. + You know his feelings about it. And he says that it would + do no good. Whatever the debts are, tell them plainly to + Sir Harry. If this be some affair of play, as Gustavus + supposes, tell that to Sir Harry. Gustavus thinks that the + Baronet would without doubt pay any such debt which could + be settled or partly settled by a thousand pounds. + + +"D----d heartless, selfish fellow! quite incapable of anything like +true friendship," said Cousin George to himself, when he read Lady +Altringham's letter. + +Now he must do something. Hitherto neither Stubber, nor Hart, nor the +other friend knew of his presence in London. Hart, though a Jew, was +much less distasteful to him than Captain Stubber, and to Mr. Abraham +Hart he went first. + +Mr. Abraham Hart was an attorney,--so called by himself and +friends,--living in a genteel street abutting on Gray's Inn Road, +with whose residence and place of business, all beneath the same +roof, George Hotspur was very well acquainted. Mr. Hart was a man +in the prime of life, with black hair and a black beard, and a new +shining hat, and a coat with a velvet collar and silk lining. He was +always dressed in the same way, and had never yet been seen by Cousin +George without his hat on his head. He was a pleasant-spoken, very +ignorant, smiling, jocose man, with a slightly Jewish accent, who +knew his business well, pursued it diligently, and considered himself +to have a clear conscience. He had certain limits of forbearance +with his customers--limits which were not narrow; but, when those +were passed, he would sell the bed from under a dying woman with her +babe, or bread from the mouth of a starving child. To do so was the +necessity of his trade,--for his own guidance in which he had made +laws. The breaking of those laws by himself would bring his trade to +an end, and therefore he declined to break them. + +Mr. Hart was a man who attended to his business, and he was found at +home even in September. "Yes, Mr. 'Oshspur, it's about time something +was done now; ain't it?" said Mr. Hart, smiling pleasantly. + +Cousin George, also smiling, reminded his friend of the two thousand +pounds paid to him only a few months since. "Not a shilling was +mine of that, Captain 'Oshspur, not a brass fardin'. That was quite +neshesshary just then, as you know, Captain 'Oshspur, or the fat must +have been in the fire. And what's up now?" + +Not without considerable difficulty Cousin George explained to the +Jew gentleman what was "up." He probably assumed more inclination on +the part of Sir Harry for the match than he was justified in doing; +but was very urgent in explaining to Mr. Hart that when inquiry was +made on the part of Sir Harry as to the nature of the debt, the naked +truth should not be exactly told. + +"It was very bad, vasn't it, Captain 'Oshspur, having to divide with +that fellow Stubber the money from the 'Orse Guards? You vas too +clever for both of us there, Mr. 'Oshspur; veren't you now, Captain +'Oshspur? And I've two cheques still on my 'ands which is marked 'No +account!' 'No account' is very bad. Isn't 'No account' very bad on +a cheque, Captain 'Oshspur? And then I've that cheque on Drummond, +signed;--God knows how that is signed! There ain't no such person +at all. Baldebeque! That's more like it than nothing else. When you +brought me that, I thought there vas a Lord Baldebeque; and I know +you live among lords, Captain 'Oshspur." + +"On my honour I brought it you,--just as I took it at Tattersall's." + +"There was an expert as I showed it to says it is your handwriting, +Captain 'Oshspur." + +"He lies!" said Cousin George, fiercely. + +"But when Stubber would have half the sale money, for the +commission--and wanted it all too! lord, how he did curse and swear! +That was bad, Captain 'Oshspur." + +Then Cousin George swallowed his fierceness for a time, and proceeded +to explain to Mr. Hart that Sir Harry would certainly pay all his +debts if only those little details could be kept back to which Mr. +Hart had so pathetically alluded. Above all it would be necessary to +preserve in obscurity that little mistake which had been made as to +the pawning of the commission. Cousin George told a great many lies, +but he told also much that was true. The Jew did not believe one of +the lies; but then, neither did he believe much of the truth. When +George had finished his story, then Mr. Hart had a story of his own +to tell. + +"To let you know all about it, Captain 'Oshspur, the old gent has +begun about it already." + +"What, Sir Harry?" + +"Yes, Sir 'Arry. Mr. Boltby--" + +"He's the family lawyer." + +"I suppose so, Captain 'Oshspur. Vell, he vas here yesterday, and vas +very polite. If I'd just tell him all about everything, he thought +as 'ow the Baronet would settle the affair off 'and. He vas very +generous in his offer, vas Mr. Boltby; but he didn't say nothin' of +any marriage, Captain 'Oshspur." + +"Of course he didn't. You are not such a fool as to suppose he +would." + +"No; I ain't such a fool as I looks, Captain Oshspur, am I? I didn't +think it likely, seeing vat vas the nature of his interrogatories. +Mr. Boltby seemed to know a good deal. It is astonishing how much +them fellows do know." + +"You didn't tell him anything?" + +"Not much, Captain 'Oshspur--not at fust starting. I'm a going to +have my money, you know, Captain 'Oshspur. And if I see my vay to my +money one vay, and if I don't see no vay the other vay, vy, vhat's +a man to do? You can't blame me, Captain 'Oshspur. I've been very +indulgent with you; I have, Captain 'Oshspur." + +Cousin George promised, threatened, explained, swore by all his +gods, and ended by assuring Mr. Abraham Hart that his life and death +were in that gentleman's keeping. If Mr. Hart would only not betray +him, the money would be safe and the marriage would be safe, and +everything would easily come right. Over and above other things, +Cousin George would owe to Mr. Abraham Hart a debt of gratitude which +never would be wholly paid. Mr. Hart could only say that he meant to +have his money, but that he did not mean to be "ungenteel." Much in +his opinion must depend on what Stubber would do. As for Stubber, +he couldn't speak to Stubber himself, as he and Stubber "were two." +As for himself, if he could get his money he certainly would not be +"ungenteel." And he meant what he said--meant more than he said. He +would still run some risk rather than split on an old customer such +as "Captain 'Oshspur." But now that a sudden way to his money was +opened to him, he could not undertake to lose sight of it. + +With a very heavy heart Cousin George went from Mr. Hart's house to +the house of call of Captain Stubber. Mr. Boltby had been before him +with Hart, and he augured the worst from Sir Harry's activity in the +matter. If Mr. Boltby had already seen the Captain, all his labour +would probably be too late. Where Captain Stubber lived, even so +old a friend of his as Cousin George did not know. And in what way +Captain Stubber had become a captain, George, though he had been a +military man himself, had never learned. But Captain Stubber had a +house of call in a very narrow, dirty little street near Red Lion +Square. It was close to a public-house, but did not belong to the +public-house. George Hotspur, who had been very often to the place +of call, had never seen there any appurtenances of the Captain's +business. There were no account-books, no writing-table, no ink even, +except that contained in a little box with a screw, which Captain +Stubber would take out of his own pocket. Mr. Hart was so far +established and civilized as to keep a boy whom he called a clerk; +but Captain Stubber seemed to keep nothing. A dirty little girl at +the house of call would run and fetch Captain Stubber, if he were +within reach; but most usually an appointment had to be made with +the Captain. Cousin George well remembered the day when his brother +Captain first made his acquaintance. About two years after the +commencement of his life in London, Captain Stubber had had an +interview with him in the little waiting-room just within the club +doors. Captain Stubber then had in his possession a trumpery note of +hand with George's signature, which, as he stated, he had "done" for +a small tradesman with whom George had been fool enough to deal for +cigars. From that day to the present he and Captain Stubber had been +upon most intimate and confidential terms. If there was any one in +the world whom Cousin George really hated, it was Captain Stubber. + +On this occasion Captain Stubber was forthcoming after a delay of +about a quarter of an hour. During that time Cousin George had stood +in the filthy little parlour of the house of call in a frame of mind +which was certainly not to be envied. Had Mr. Boltby also been with +Captain Stubber? He knew his two creditors well enough to understand +that the Jew, getting his money, would be better pleased to serve +him than to injure him. But the Captain would from choice do him an +ill turn. Nothing but self-interest would tie up Captain Stubber's +tongue. Captain Stubber was a tall thin gentleman, probably over +sixty years of age, with very seedy clothes, and a red nose. He +always had Berlin gloves, very much torn about the fingers, carried +a cotton umbrella, wore--as his sole mark of respectability--a very +stiff, clean, white collar round his neck, and invariably smelt of +gin. No one knew where he lived, or how he carried on his business; +but, such as he was, he had dealings with large sums of money, or at +least with bills professing to stand for large sums, and could never +have been found without a case in his pocket crammed with these +documents. The quarter of an hour seemed to George to be an age; but +at last Captain Stubber knocked at the front door and was shown into +the room. + +"How d'ye do, Captain Stubber?" said George. + +"I'd do a deal better, Captain Hotspur, if I found it easier +sometimes to come by my own." + +"Well, yes; but no doubt you have your profit in the delay, Captain +Stubber." + +"It's nothing to you, Captain Hotspur, whether I have profit or loss. +All you 'as got to look to is to pay me what you owe me. And I intend +that you shall, or by G---- you shall suffer for it! I'm not going to +stand it any longer. I know where to have you, and have you I will." + +Cousin George was not quite sure whether the Captain did know where +to have him. If Mr. Boltby had been with him, it might be so; but +then Captain Stubber was not a man so easily found as Mr. Hart, and +the connection between himself and the Captain might possibly have +escaped Mr. Boltby's inquiries. It was very difficult to tell the +story of his love to such a man as Captain Stubber, but he did tell +it. He explained all the difficulties of Sir Harry's position in +regard to the title and the property, and he was diffuse upon his own +advantages as head of the family, and of the need there was that he +should marry the heiress. + +"But there is not an acre of it will come to you unless he gives it +you?" inquired Captain Stubber. + +"Certainly not," said Cousin George, anxious that the Captain should +understand the real facts of the case to a certain extent. + +"And he needn't give you the girl?" + +"The girl will give herself, my friend." + +"And he needn't give the girl the property?" + +"But he will. She is his only child." + +"I don't believe a word about it. I don't believe such a one as Sir +Harry Hotspur would lift his hand to help such as you." + +"He has offered to pay my debts already." + +"Very well. Let him make the offer to me. Look here, Captain Hotspur, +I am not a bit afraid of you, you know." + +"Who asks you to be afraid?" + +"Of all the liars I ever met with, you are the worst." + +George Hotspur smiled, looking up at the red nose of the malignant +old man as though it were a joke; but that which he had to hear at +this moment was a heavy burden. Captain Stubber probably understood +this, for he repeated his words. + +"I never knew any liar nigh so bad as you. And then there is such a +deal worse than lies. I believe I could send you to penal servitude, +Captain Hotspur." + +"You could do no such thing," said Cousin George, still trying to +look as though it were a joke, "and you don't think you could." + +"I'll do my best at any rate, if I don't have my money soon. You +could pay Mr. Hart two thousand pounds, but you think I'm nobody." + +"I am making arrangements now for having every shilling paid to you." + +"Yes, I see. I've known a good deal about your arrangements. Look +here, Captain Hotspur, unless I have five hundred pounds on or before +Saturday, I'll write to Sir Harry Hotspur, and I'll give him a +statement of all our dealings. You can trust me, though I can't trust +you. Good morning, Captain Hotspur." + +Captain Stubber did believe in his heart that he was a man much +injured by Cousin George, and that Cousin George was one whom he was +entitled to despise. And yet a poor wretch more despicable, more +dishonest, more false, more wicked, or more cruel than Captain +Stubber could not have been found in all London. His business +was carried on with a small capital borrowed from a firm of low +attorneys, who were the real holders of the bills he carried, and the +profits which they allowed him to make were very trifling. But from +Cousin George during the last twelve months he had made no profit at +all. And Cousin George in former days had trodden upon him as on a +worm. + +Cousin George did not fail to perceive that Mr. Boltby had not as yet +applied to Captain Stubber. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MRS. MORTON. + + +Five hundred pounds before Saturday, and this was Tuesday! As Cousin +George was taken westward from Red Lion Square in a cab, three or +four different lines of conduct suggested themselves to him. In the +first place, it would be a very good thing to murder Captain Stubber. +In the present effeminate state of civilization and with the existing +scruples as to the value of human life, he did not see his way +clearly in this direction, but entertained the project rather as a +beautiful castle in the air. The two next suggestions were to pay him +the money demanded, or to pay him half of it. The second suggestion +was the simpler, as the state of Cousin George's funds made it +feasible; but then that brute would probably refuse to take the half +in lieu of the whole when he found that his demand had absolutely +produced a tender of ready cash. As for paying the whole, it might +perhaps be done. It was still possible that, with such prospects +before him as those he now possessed, he could raise a hundred or +hundred and fifty pounds; but then he would be left penniless. The +last course of action which he contemplated was, to take no further +notice of Captain Stubber, and let him tell his story to Sir Harry if +he chose to tell it. The man was such a blackguard that his entire +story would probably not be believed; and then was it not almost +necessary that Sir Harry should hear it? Of course there would be +anger, and reproaches, and threats, and difficulty. But if Emily +would be true to him, they might all by degrees be levelled down. +This latter line of conduct would be practicable, and had this +beautiful attraction,--that it would save for his own present use +that charming balance of ready money which he still possessed. Had +Altringham possessed any true backbone of friendship, he might now, +he thought, have been triumphant over all his difficulties. + +When he sat down to his solitary dinner at his club, he was very +tired with his day's work. Attending to the affairs of such gentlemen +as Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber,--who well know how to be masterful +when their time for being masterful has come,--is fatiguing enough. +But he had another task to perform before he went to bed, which he +would fain have kept unperformed were it possible to do so. He had +written to a third friend to make an appointment for the evening, +and this appointment he was bound to keep. He would very much rather +have stayed at his club and played billiards with the navy captain, +even though he might again have lost his shillings. The third friend +was that Mrs. Morton to whom Lord Altringham had once alluded. +"I supposed that it was coming," said Mrs. Morton, when she had +listened, without letting a word fall from her own lips, to the long +rambling story which Cousin George told her,--a rambling story in +which there were many lies, but in which there was the essential +truth, that Cousin George intended, if other things could be made to +fit, to marry his cousin Emily Hotspur. Mrs. Morton was a woman who +had been handsome,--dark, thin, with great brown eyes and thin lips +and a long well-formed nose; she was in truth three years younger +than George Hotspur, but she looked to be older. She was a clever +woman and well read too, and in every respect superior to the man +whom she had condescended to love. She earned her bread by her +profession as an actress, and had done so since her earliest years. +What story there may be of a Mr. Morton who had years ago married, +and ill-used, and deserted her, need not here be told. Her strongest +passion at this moment was love for the cold-blooded reprobate who +had now come to tell her of his intended marriage. She had indeed +loved George Hotspur, and George had been sufficiently attached to +her to condescend to take aid from her earnings. + +"I supposed that it was coming," she said in a low voice when he +brought to an end the rambling story which she had allowed him to +tell without a word of interruption. + +"What is a fellow to do?" said George. + +"Is she handsome?" + +George thought that he might mitigate the pain by making little of +his cousin. "Well, no, not particularly. She looks like a lady." + +"And I suppose I don't." For a moment there was a virulence in this +which made poor George almost gasp. This woman was patient to a +marvel, long-bearing, affectionate, imbued with that conviction +so common to woman and the cause of so much delight to men,--that +ill-usage and suffering are intended for woman; but George knew that +she could turn upon him if goaded far enough, and rend him. He could +depend upon her for very much, because she loved him; but he was +afraid of her. "You didn't mean that, I know," she added, smiling. + +"Of course I didn't." + +"No; your cruelties don't lie in that line; do they, George?" + +"I'm sure I never mean to be cruel to you, Lucy." + +"I don't think you do. I hardly believe that you ever mean +anything,--except just to get along and live." + +"A fellow must live, you know," said George. + +In ordinary society George Hotspur could be bright, and he was proud +of being bright. With this woman he was always subdued, always made +to play second fiddle, always talked like a boy; and he knew it. He +had loved her once, if he was capable of loving anything; but her +mastery over him wearied him, even though he was, after a fashion, +proud of her cleverness, and he wished that she were,--well, dead, if +the reader choose that mode of expressing what probably were George's +wishes. But he had never told himself that he desired her death. He +could build pleasant castles in the air as to the murder of Captain +Stubber, but his thoughts did not travel that way in reference to +Mrs. Morton. + +"She is not pretty, then,--this rich bride of yours?" + +"Not particularly; she's well enough, you know." + +"And well enough is good enough for you;--is it? Do you love her, +George?" + +The woman's voice was very low and plaintive as she asked the +question. Though from moment to moment she could use her little skill +in pricking him with her satire, still she loved him; and she would +vary her tone, and as at one minute she would make him uneasy by her +raillery, so at the next she would quell him by her tenderness. She +looked into his face for a reply, when he hesitated. "Tell me that +you do not love her," she said, passionately. + +"Not particularly," replied George. + +"And yet you would marry her?" + +"What's a fellow to do? You see how I am fixed about the title. These +are kinds of things to which a man situated as I am is obliged to +submit." + +"Royal obligations, as one might call them." + +"By George, yes," said George, altogether missing the satire. From +any other lips he would have been sharp enough to catch it. "One +can't see the whole thing go to the dogs after it has kept its head +up so long! And then you know, a man can't live altogether without an +income." + +"You have done so, pretty well." + +"I know that I owe you a lot of money, Lucy; and I know also that I +mean to pay you." + +"Don't talk about that. I don't know how at such a time as this you +can bring yourself to mention it." Then she rose from her seat and +flashed into wrath, carried on by the spirit of her own words. "Look +here, George; if you send me any of that woman's money, by the living +God I will send it back to herself. To buy me with her money! But it +is so like a man." + +"I didn't mean that. Sir Harry is to pay all my debts." + +"And will not that be the same? Will it not be her money? Why is he +to pay your debts? Because he loves you?" + +"It is all a family arrangement. You don't quite understand." + +"Of course I don't understand. Such a one as I cannot lift myself so +high above the earth. Great families form a sort of heaven of their +own, which poor broken, ill-conditioned, wretched, common creatures +such as I am cannot hope to comprehend. But, by heaven, what a lot of +the vilest clay goes to the making of that garden of Eden! Look here, +George;--you have nothing of your own?" + +"Not much, indeed." + +"Nothing. Is not that so? You can answer me at any rate." + +"You know all about it," he said,--truly enough, for she did know. + +"And you cannot earn a penny." + +"I don't know that I can. I never was very good at earning anything." + +"It isn't gentlemanlike, is it? But I can earn money." + +"By George! yes. I've often envied you. I have indeed." + +"How flattering! As far as it went you should have had it +all,--nearly all,--if you could have been true to me." + +"But, Lucy,--about the family?" + +"And about your debts? Of course I couldn't pay debts which were +always increasing. And of course your promises for the future were +false. We both knew that they were false when they were made. Did +we not?" She paused for an answer, but he made none. "They meant +nothing; did they? He is dead now." + +"Morton is dead?" + +"Yes; he died in San Francisco, months ago." + +"I couldn't have known that, Lucy; could I?" + +"Don't be a fool! What difference would it have made? Don't pretend +anything so false. It would be disgusting on the very face of it. It +mattered nothing to you whether he lived or died. When is it to be?" + +"When is what to be?" + +"Your marriage with this ill-looking young woman, who has got money, +but whom you do not even pretend to love." + +It struck even George that this was a way in which Emily Hotspur +should not be described. She had been acknowledged to be the beauty +of the last season, one of the finest girls that had ever been seen +about London; and, as for loving her,--he did love her. A man might +be fond of two dogs, or have two pet horses, and why shouldn't he +love two women! Of course he loved his cousin. But his circumstances +at the moment were difficult, and he didn't quite know how to explain +all this. + +"When is it to be?" she said, urging her question imperiously. + +In answer to this he gave her to understand that there was still a +good deal of difficulty. He told her something of his position with +Captain Stubber, and defined,--not with absolute correctness,--the +amount of consent which Sir Harry had given to the marriage. + +"And what am I to do?" she asked. + +He looked blankly into her face. She then rose again, and unlocking a +desk with a key that hung at her girdle, she took from it a bundle of +papers. + +"There," she said; "there is the letter in which I have your promise +to marry me when I am free;--as I am now. It could not be less +injurious to you than when locked up there; but the remembrance of +it might frighten you." She threw the letter to him across the table, +but he did not touch it. "And here are others which might be taken to +mean the same thing. There! I am not so injured as I might seem to +be,--for I never believed them. How could I believe anything that you +would say to me,--anything that you would write?" + +"Don't be down on me too hard, Lucy." + +"No, I will not be down upon you at all. If these things pained you, +I would not say them. Shall I destroy the letters?" Then she took +them, one after another, and tore them into small fragments. "You +will be easier now, I know." + +"Easy! I am not very easy, I can tell you." + +"Captain Stubber will not let you off so gently as I do. Is that it?" + +Then there was made between them a certain pecuniary arrangement, +which if Mrs. Morton trusted at all the undertaking made to her, +showed a most wonderful faith on her part. She would lend him L250 +towards the present satisfaction of Captain Stubber; and this sum, to +be lent for such a purpose, she would consent to receive back again +out of Sir Harry's money. She must see a certain manager, she said; +but she did not doubt but that her loan would be forthcoming on the +Saturday morning. Captain George Hotspur accepted the offer, and was +profuse in his thanks. After that, when he was going, her weakness +was almost equal to his vileness. + +"You will come and see me," she said, as she held his hand. Again he +paused a moment. "George, you will come and see me?" + +"Oh, of course I will." + +"A great deal I can bear; a great deal I have borne; but do not be +a coward. I knew you before she did, and have loved you better, and +have treated you better than ever she will do. Of course you will +come?" + +He promised her that he would, and then went from her. + +On the Saturday morning Captain Stubber was made temporarily happy by +the most unexpected receipt of five hundred pounds. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE HUNT BECOMES HOT. + + +September passed away with Captain Hotspur very unpleasantly. He had +various interviews with Captain Stubber, with Mr. Hart, and with +other creditors, and found very little amusement. Lady Altringham +had written to him again, advising him strongly to make out a +complete list of his debts, and to send them boldly to Sir Harry. He +endeavoured to make out the list, but had hardly the audacity to do +it even for his own information. When the end of September had come, +and he was preparing himself to join the party of distinguished +pheasant-shooters in Norfolk, he had as yet sent no list to +Sir Harry, nor had he heard a word from Humblethwaite. Certain +indications had reached him,--continued to reach him from day to +day,--that Mr. Boltby was at work, but no communication had been made +actually to himself even by Mr. Boltby. When and how and in what form +he was expected to send the schedule of his debts to Sir Harry he +did not know; and thus it came to pass that when the time came for +his departure from town, he had sent no such schedule at all. His +sojourn, however, with the distinguished party was to last only for a +week, and then he would really go to work. He would certainly himself +write to Sir Harry before the end of October. + +In the meantime there came other troubles,--various other troubles. +One other trouble vexed him sore. There came to him a note from a +gentleman with whom his acquaintance was familiar though slight,--as +follows:-- + + + DEAR HOTSPUR,--Did I not meet you at the last Goodwood + meeting? If you don't mind, pray answer me the question. + You will remember, I do not doubt, that I did; that I lost + my money too, and paid it.--Yours ever, + + F. STACKPOOLE. + + +He understood it all immediately. The Stackpooles had been at +Humblethwaite. But what business had the man to write letters to him +with the object of getting him into trouble? He did not answer the +note, but, nevertheless, it annoyed him much. And then there was +another great vexation. He was now running low in funds for present +use. He had made what he feared was a most useless outlay in +satisfying Stubber's immediate greed for money, and the effect was, +that at the beginning of the last week in September he found himself +with hardly more than fifty sovereigns in his possession, which would +be considerably reduced before he could leave town. He had been worse +off before,--very much worse; but it was especially incumbent on him +now to keep up that look of high feather which cannot be maintained +in its proper brightness without ready cash. He must take a +man-servant with him among the distinguished guests; he must fee +gamekeepers, pay railway fares, and have loose cash about him for +a hundred purposes. He wished it to be known that he was going to +marry his cousin. He might find some friend with softer heart than +Altringham, who would lend him a few hundreds on being made to +believe in this brilliant destiny; but a roll of bank-notes in his +pocket would greatly aid him in making the destiny credible. Fifty +pounds, as he well knew, would melt away from him like snow. The +last fifty pounds of a thousand always goes quicker than any of the +nineteen other fifties. + +Circumstances had made it impossible for him to attend the Leger +this year, but he had put a little money on it. The result had done +nothing for or against him,--except this, that whereas he received +between one and two hundred pounds, he conceived the idea of paying +only a portion of what he had lost. With reference to the remainder, +he wrote to ask his friend if it would be quite the same if the money +were paid at Christmas. If not, of course it should be sent at once. +The friend was one of the Altringham set, who had been at Castle +Corry, and who had heard of George's hopes in reference to his +cousin. George added a postscript to his letter: "This kind of thing +will be over for me very soon. I am to be a Benedict, and the house +of Humblethwaite and the title are to be kept together. I know you +will congratulate me. My cousin is a charming girl, and worth all +that I shall lose ten times over." It was impossible, he thought, +that the man should refuse him credit for eighty pounds till +Christmas, when the man should know that he was engaged to be married +to L20,000 a year! But the man did refuse. The man wrote back to say +that he did not understand this kind of thing at all, and that he +wanted his money at once. George Hotspur sent the man his money, not +without many curses on the illiberality of such a curmudgeon. Was it +not cruel that a fellow would not give him so trifling an assistance +when he wanted it so badly? All the world seemed to conspire to hurt +him just at this most critical moment of his life! In many of his +hardest emergencies for ready money he had gone to Mrs. Morton. But +even he felt that just at present he could not ask her for more. + +Nevertheless, a certain amount of cash was made to be forthcoming +before he took his departure for Norfolk. In the course of the +preceding spring he had met a young gentleman in Mr. Hart's small +front parlour, who was there upon ordinary business. He was a young +gentleman with good prospects, and with some command of ready money; +but he liked to live, and would sometimes want Mr. Hart's assistance. +His name was Walker, and though he was not exactly one of that class +in which it delighted Captain Hotspur to move, nevertheless he was +not altogether disdained by that well-born and well-bred gentleman. +On the third of October, the day before he left London to join his +distinguished friends in Norfolk, George Hotspur changed a cheque +for nearly three hundred pounds at Mr. Walker's banker's. Poor Mr. +Walker! But Cousin George went down to Norfolk altogether in high +feather. If there were play, he would play. He would bet about +pulling straws if he could find an adversary to bet with him. He +could chink sovereigns about at his ease, at any rate, during the +week. Cousin George liked to chink sovereigns about at his ease. And +this point of greatness must be conceded to him,--that, however black +might loom the clouds of the coming sky, he could enjoy the sunshine +of the hour. + +In the meantime Mr. Boltby was at work, and before Cousin George had +shot his last pheasant in such very good company, Sir Harry was up +in town assisting Mr. Boltby. How things had gone at Humblethwaite +between Sir Harry and his daughter must not be told on this page; +but the reader may understand that nothing had as yet occurred to +lessen Sir Harry's objection to the match. There had been some +correspondence between Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby, and Sir Harry had +come up to town. When the reader learns that on the very day on +which Cousin George and his servant were returning to London by the +express train from Norfolk, smoking many cigars and drinking many +glasses,--George of sherry, and the servant probably of beer and +spirits alternately,--each making himself happy with a novel; +George's novel being French, and that of the servant English +sensational,--the reader, when he learns that on this very day Sir +Harry had interviews with Captain Stubber and also with Mrs. Morton, +will be disposed to think that things were not going very well for +Cousin George. But then the reader does not as yet know the nature of +the persistency of Emily Hotspur. + +What Sir Harry did with Captain Stubber need not be minutely +described. There can be no doubt that Cousin George was not spared by +the Captain, and that when he understood what might be the result of +telling the truth, he told all that he knew. In that matter of the +L500 Cousin George had really been ill-treated. The payment had done +him no sort of service whatever. Of Captain Stubber's interview with +Sir Harry nothing further need now be said. But it must be explained +that Sir Harry, led astray by defective information, made a mistake +in regard to Mrs. Morton, and found out his mistake. He did not much +like Mrs. Morton, but he did not leave her without an ample apology. +From Mrs. Morton he learned nothing whatever in regard to Cousin +George,--nothing but this, that Mrs. Morton did not deny that she +was acquainted with Captain Hotspur. Mr. Boltby had learned, however, +that Cousin George had drawn the money for a cheque payable to her +order, and he had made himself nearly certain of the very nature of +the transaction. + +Early on the morning after George's return he was run to ground by +Mr. Boltby's confidential clerk, at the hotel behind the club. It +was so early, to George at least, that he was still in bed. But the +clerk, who had breakfasted at eight, been at his office by nine, and +had worked hard for two hours and a half since, did not think it at +all early. George, who knew that his pheasant-shooting pleasure was +past, and that immediate trouble was in store for him, had consoled +himself over-night with a good deal of curacoa and seltzer and +brandy, and had taken these comforting potations after a bottle of +champagne. He was, consequently, rather out of sorts when he was run +to ground in his very bedroom by Boltby's clerk. He was cantankerous +at first, and told the clerk to go and be d----d. The clerk pleaded +Sir Harry. Sir Harry was in town, and wanted to see his cousin. A +meeting must, of course, be arranged. Sir Harry wished that it might +be in Mr. Boltby's private room. When Cousin George objected that he +did not choose to have any interview with Sir Harry in presence of +the lawyer, the clerk very humbly explained that the private room +would be exclusively for the service of the two gentlemen. Sick as he +was, Cousin George knew that nothing was to be gained by quarrelling +with Sir Harry. Though Sir Harry should ask for an interview in +presence of the Lord Mayor, he must go to it. He made the hour as +late as he could, and at last three o'clock was settled. + +At one, Cousin George was at work upon his broiled bones and tea +laced with brandy, having begun his meal with soda and brandy. He was +altogether dissatisfied with himself. Had he known on the preceding +evening what was coming, he would have dined on a mutton chop and a +pint of sherry, and have gone to bed at ten o'clock. He looked at +himself in the glass, and saw that he was bloated and red,--and a +thing foul to behold. It was a matter of boast to him,--the most +pernicious boast that ever a man made,--that in twenty-four hours +he could rid himself of all outward and inward sign of any special +dissipation; but the twenty-four hours were needed, and now not +twelve were allowed him. Nevertheless, he kept his appointment. He +tried to invent some lie which he might send by a commissioner, and +which might not ruin him. But he thought upon the whole that it would +be safer for him to go. + +When he entered the room he saw at a glance that there was to be +war,--war to the knife,--between him and Sir Harry. He perceived at +once that if it were worth his while to go on with the thing at all, +he must do so in sole dependence on the spirit and love of Emily +Hotspur. Sir Harry at their first greeting declined to shake hands +with him, and called him Captain Hotspur. + +"Captain Hotspur," he said, "in a word, understand that there must be +no further question of a marriage between you and my daughter." + +"Why not, Sir Harry?" + +"Because, sir--" and then he paused--"I would sooner see my girl dead +at my feet than entrust her to such a one as you. It was true what +you said to me at Humblethwaite. There would have been something +very alluring to me in the idea of joining the property and the +title together. A man will pay much for such a whim. I would not +unwillingly have paid very much in money; but I am not so infamously +wicked as to sacrifice my daughter utterly by giving her to one so +utterly unworthy of her as you are." + +"I told you that I was in debt, Sir Harry." + +"I wanted no telling as to that; but I did want telling as to your +mode of life, and I have had it now. You had better not press me. You +had better see Mr. Boltby. He will tell you what I am willing to do +for you upon receiving your written assurance that you will never +renew your offer of marriage to Miss Hotspur." + +"I cannot do that," said Cousin George, hoarsely. + +"Then I shall leave you with your creditors to deal with as they +please. I have nothing further to suggest myself, and I would +recommend that you should see Mr. Boltby before you leave the +chambers." + +"What does my cousin say?" he asked. + +"Were you at Goodwood last meeting?" asked Sir Harry. "But of course +you were." + +"I was," he answered. He was obliged to acknowledge so much, not +quite knowing what Stackpoole might have said or done. "But I can +explain that." + +"There is no need whatever of any explanation. Do you generally +borrow money from such ladies as Mrs. Morton?" Cousin George blushed +when this question was asked, but made no answer to it. It was one +that he could not answer. "But it makes no difference, Captain +Hotspur. I mention these things only to let you feel that I know you. +I must decline any further speech with you. I strongly advise you to +see Mr. Boltby at once. Good afternoon." + +So saying, the Baronet withdrew quickly, and Cousin George heard him +shut the door of the chambers. + +After considering the matter for a quarter of an hour, Cousin George +made up his mind that he would see the lawyer. No harm could come +to him from seeing the lawyer. He was closeted with Mr. Boltby for +nearly an hour, and before he left the chamber had been forced to +confess to things of which he had not thought it possible that Mr. +Boltby should ever have heard. Mr. Boltby knew the whole story of +the money raised on the commission, of the liabilities to both Hart +and Stubber, and had acquainted himself with the history of Lord +Baldebeque's cheque. Mr. Boltby was not indignant, as had been Sir +Harry, but intimated it as a thing beyond dispute that a man who had +done such things as could be proved against Cousin George,--and as +would undoubtedly be proved against him if he would not give up his +pursuit of the heiress,--must be disposed of with severity, unless +he retreated at once of his own accord. Mr. Boltby did indeed hint +something about a criminal prosecution, and utter ruin, +and--incarceration. + +But if George Hotspur would renounce his cousin utterly,--putting +his renunciation on paper,--Sir Harry would pay all his debts to the +extent of twenty thousand pounds, would allow him four hundred a year +on condition that he would live out of England, and would leave him a +further sum of twenty thousand pounds by his will, on condition that +no renewed cause of offence were given. + +"You had better, perhaps, go home and think about it, Mr. Hotspur," +said the lawyer. Cousin George did go away and think about it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +"I WILL NOT DESERT HIM." + + +Sir Harry, before he had left Humblethwaite for London in October, +had heard enough of his cousin's sins to make him sure that the +match must be opposed with all his authority. Indeed he had so felt +from the first moment in which George had begun to tell him of +what had occurred at Airey Force. He had never thought that George +Hotspur would make a fitting husband for his daughter. But, without +so thinking, he had allowed his mind to dwell upon the outside +advantages of the connection, dreaming of a fitness which he knew did +not exist, till he had vacillated, and the evil thing had come upon +him. When the danger was so close upon him to make him see what it +was, to force him to feel what would be the misery threatened to his +daughter, to teach him to realize his own duty, he condemned himself +bitterly for his own weakness. Could any duty which he owed to the +world be so high or so holy as that which was due from him to his +child? He almost hated his name and title and position as he thought +of the evil that he had already done. Had his cousin George been in +no close succession to the title, would he have admitted a man of +whom he knew so much ill, and of whom he had never heard any good, +within his park palings? And then he could not but acknowledge to +himself that by asking such a one to his house,--a man such as this +young cousin who was known to be the heir to the title,--he had given +his daughter special reason to suppose that she might regard him as +a fitting suitor for her hand. She of course had known,--had felt as +keenly as he had felt, for was she not a Hotspur?--that she would be +true to her family by combining her property and the title, and that +by yielding to such a marriage she would be doing a family duty, +unless there were reasons against it stronger than those connected +with his name. But as to those other reasons, must not her father and +her mother know better than she could know? When she found that the +man was made welcome both in town and country, was it not natural +that she should suppose that there were no stronger reasons? All this +Sir Harry felt, and blamed himself and determined that though he must +oppose his daughter and make her understand that the hope of such a +marriage must be absolutely abandoned, it would be his duty to be +very tender with her. He had sinned against her already, in that he +had vacillated and had allowed that handsome but vile and worthless +cousin to come near her. + +In his conduct to his daughter, Sir Harry endeavoured to be just, +and tender, and affectionate; but in his conduct to his wife on +the occasion he allowed himself some scope for the ill-humour not +unnaturally incident to his misfortune. "Why on earth you should +have had him in Bruton Street when you knew very well what he was, I +cannot conceive," said Sir Harry. + +"But I didn't know," said Lady Elizabeth, fearing to remind her +husband that he also had sanctioned the coming of the cousin. + +"I had told you. It was there that the evil was done. And then to let +them go to that picnic together!" + +"What could I do when Mrs. Fitzpatrick asked to be taken? You +wouldn't have had me tell Emily that she should not be one of the +party." + +"I would have put it off till he was out of the house." + +"But the Fitzpatricks were going too," pleaded the poor woman. + +"It wouldn't have happened at all if you had not asked him to stay +till the Monday," said Sir Harry; and to this charge Lady Elizabeth +knew that there was no answer. There she had clearly disobeyed her +husband; and though she doubtless suffered much from some dim idea of +injustice, she was aware that as she had so offended she must submit +to be told that all this evil had come from her wrong-doing. + +"I hope she will not be obstinate," said Sir Harry to his wife. +Lady Elizabeth, though she was not an acute judge of character, did +know her own daughter, and was afraid to say that Emily would not +be obstinate. She had the strongest possible respect as well as +affection for her own child; she thoroughly believed in Emily--much +more thoroughly than she did in herself. But she could not say that +in such a matter Emily would not be obstinate. Lady Elizabeth was +very intimately connected with two obstinate persons, one of whom was +young and the other old; and she thought that perhaps the younger was +the more obstinate of the two. + +"It is quite out of the question that she should marry him," said Sir +Harry, sadly. Still Lady Elizabeth made no reply. "I do not think +that she will disobey me," continued Sir Harry. Still Lady Elizabeth +said nothing. "If she gives me a promise, she will keep it," said Sir +Harry. + +Then the mother could answer, "I am sure she will." + +"If the worst come to the worst, we must go away." + +"To Scarrowby?" suggested Lady Elizabeth, who hated Scarrowby. + +"That would do no good. Scarrowby would be the same as Humblethwaite +to her, or perhaps worse. I mean abroad. We must shut up the place +for a couple of years, and take her to Naples and Vienna, or perhaps +to Egypt. Everything must be changed to her!--that is, if the evil +has gone deep enough." + +"Is he so very bad?" asked Lady Elizabeth. + +"He is a liar and a blackguard, and I believe him to be a swindler," +said Sir Harry. Then Lady Elizabeth was mute, and her husband left +her. + +At this time he had heard the whole story of the pawning of the +commission, had been told something of money raised by worthless +cheques, and had run to ground that lie about the Goodwood races. But +he had not yet heard anything special of Mrs. Morton. The only attack +on George's character which had as yet been made in the hearing of +Emily had been with reference to the Goodwood races. Mrs. Stackpoole +was a lady of some determination, and one who in society liked to +show that she was right in her assertions, and well informed on +matters in dispute; and she hated Cousin George. There had therefore +come to be a good deal said about the Goodwood meeting, so that the +affair reached Sir Harry's ears. He perceived that Cousin George +had lied, and determined that Emily should be made to know that her +cousin had lied. But it was very difficult to persuade her of this. +That everybody else should tell stories about George and the Goodwood +meeting seemed to her to be natural enough; she contented herself +with thinking all manner of evil of Mr. and Mrs. Stackpoole, and +reiterating her conviction that George Hotspur had not been at the +meeting in question. + +"I don't know that it much signifies," Mrs. Stackpoole had said in +anger. + +"Not in the least," Emily had replied, "only that I happen to know +that my cousin was not there. He goes to so many race meetings that +there has been some little mistake." + +Then Mr. Stackpoole had written to Cousin George, and Cousin George +had thought it wise to make no reply. Sir Harry, however, from other +sources had convinced himself of the truth, and had told his daughter +that there was evidence enough to prove the fact in any court of law. +Emily when so informed had simply held her tongue, and had resolved +to hate Mrs. Stackpoole worse than ever. + +She had been told from the first that her engagement with her cousin +would not receive her father's sanction; and for some days after +that there had been silence on the subject at Humblethwaite, while +the correspondence with Mr. Boltby was being continued. Then there +came the moment in which Sir Harry felt that he must call upon his +daughter to promise obedience, and the conversation which has been +described between him and Lady Elizabeth was preparatory to his doing +so. + +"My dear," he said to his daughter, "sit down; I want to speak to +you." + +He had sent for her into his own morning room, in which she did not +remember to have been asked to sit down before. She would often +visit him there, coming in and out on all manner of small occasions, +suggesting that he should ride with her, asking for the loan of a +gardener for a week for some project of her own, telling him of a big +gooseberry, interrupting him ruthlessly on any trifle in the world. +But on such occasions she would stand close to him, leaning on him. +And he would scold her,--playfully, or kiss her, or bid her begone +from the room,--but would always grant what she asked of him. To him, +though he hardly knew that it was so, such visits from his darling +had been the bright moments of his life. But up to this morning he +had never bade her be seated in that room. + +"Emily," he said, "I hope you understand that all this about your +cousin George must be given up." She made no reply, though he waited +perhaps for a minute. "It is altogether out of the question. I am +very, very sorry that you have been subjected to such a sorrow. I +will own that I have been to blame for letting him come to my house." + +"No, Papa, no." + +"Yes, my dear, I have been to blame, and I feel it keenly. I did not +then know as much of him as I do now, but I had heard that which +should have made me careful to keep him out of your company." + +"Hearing about people, Papa! Is that fair? Are we not always hearing +tales about everybody?" + +"My dear child, you must take my word for something." + +"I will take it for everything in all the world, Papa." + +"He has been a thoroughly bad young man." + +"But, Papa--" + +"You must take my word for it when I tell you that I have positive +proof of what I am telling you." + +"But, Papa--" + +"Is not that enough?" + +"No, Papa. I am heartily sorry that he should have been what you call +a bad young man. I wish young men weren't so bad;--that there were no +racecourses, and betting, and all that. But if he had been my brother +instead of my cousin--" + +"Don't talk about your brother, Emily." + +"Should we hate him because he has been unsteady? Should we not do +all that we could in the world to bring him back? I do not know that +we are to hate people because they do what they ought not to do." + +"We hate liars." + +"He is not a liar. I will not believe it." + +"Why did he tell you that he was not at those races, when he was +there as surely as you are here? But, my dear, I will not argue about +all this with you. It is not right that I should do so. It is my duty +to inquire into these things, and yours to believe me and to obey +me." Then he paused, but his daughter made no reply to him. He looked +into her face, and saw there that mark about her eyes which he knew +he so often showed himself; which he so well remembered with his +father. "I suppose you do believe me, Emily, when I tell you that he +is worthless." + +"He need not be worthless always." + +"His conduct has been such that he is unfit to be trusted with +anything." + +"He must be the head of our family some day, Papa." + +"That is our misfortune, my dear. No one can feel it as I do. But I +need not add to it the much greater misfortune of sacrificing to him +my only child." + +"If he was so bad, why did he come here?" + +"That is true. I did not expect to be rebuked by you, Emily, but I am +open to that rebuke." + +"Dear, dear Papa, indeed I did not mean to rebuke you. But I cannot +give him up." + +"You must give him up." + +"No, Papa. If I did, I should be false. I will not be false. You say +that he is false. I do not know that, but I will not be false. Let me +speak to you for one minute." + +"It is of no use." + +"But you will hear me, Papa. You always hear me when I speak to +you." She had left her chair now, and was standing close to him, not +leaning upon him as was her wont in their pleasantest moments of +fellowship, but ready to do so whenever she should find that his mood +would permit it. "I will never marry him without your leave." + +"Thanks, Emily; I know how sacred is a promise from you." + +"But mine to him is equally sacred. I shall still be engaged to him. +I told him how it would be. I said that, as long as you or Mamma +lived, I would never marry without your leave. Nor would I see him, +or write to him without your knowledge. I told him so. But I told him +also that I would always be true to him. I mean to keep my word." + +"If you find him to be utterly worthless, you cannot be bound by such +a promise." + +"I hope it may not be so. I do not believe that it is so. I know him +too well to think that he can be utterly worthless. But if he was, +who should try to save him from worthlessness if not his nearest +relatives? We try to reclaim the worst criminals, and sometimes we +succeed. And he must be the head of the family. Remember that. Ought +we not to try to reclaim him? He cannot be worse than the prodigal +son." + +"He is ten times worse. I cannot tell you what has been his life." + +"Papa, I have often thought that in our rank of life society is +responsible for the kind of things which young men do. If he was at +Goodwood, which I do not believe, so was Mr. Stackpoole. If he was +betting, so was Mr. Stackpoole." + +"But Mr. Stackpoole did not lie." + +"I don't know that," she said, with a little toss of her head. + +"Emily, you have no business either to say or to think it." + +"I care nothing for Mr. Stackpoole whether he tells truth or not. He +and his wife have made themselves very disagreeable,--that is all. +But as for George, he is what he is, because other young men are +allowed to be the same." + +"You do not know the half of it." + +"I know as much as I want to know, Papa. Let one keep as clear of it +as one can, it is impossible not to hear how young men live. And yet +they are allowed to go everywhere, and are flattered and encouraged. +I do not pretend that George is better than others. I wish he were. +Oh, how I wish it! But such as he is he belongs in a way to us, and +we ought not to desert him. He belongs, I know, to me, and I will not +desert him." + +Sir Harry felt that there was no arguing with such a girl as this. +Some time since he had told her that it was unfit that he should be +brought into an argument with his own child, and there was nothing +now for him but to fall back upon the security which that assertion +gave him. He could not charge her with direct disobedience, because +she had promised him that she would not do any of those things +which, as a father, he had a right to forbid. He relied fully on her +promise, and so far might feel himself to be safe. Nevertheless he +was very unhappy. Of what service would his child be to him or he +to her, if he were doomed to see her pining from day to day with an +unpermitted love? It was the dearest wish of his heart to make her +happy, as it was his fondest ambition to see her so placed in the +world that she might be the happy transmitter of all the honours +of the house of Humblethwaite,--if she could not transmit all the +honours of the name. Time might help him. And then if she could be +made really to see how base was the clay of which had been made this +image which she believed to be of gold, might it not be that at last +she would hate a thing that was so vile? In order that she might do +so, he would persist in finding out what had been the circumstances +of this young man's life. If, as he believed, the things which George +Hotspur had done were such as in another rank of life would send the +perpetrator to the treadmill, surely then she would not cling to her +lover. It would not be in her nature to prefer that which was foul +and abominable and despised of all men. It was after this, when he +had seen Mr. Boltby, that the idea occurred to him of buying up +Cousin George, so that Cousin George should himself abandon his +engagement. + +"You had better go now, my dear," he said, after his last speech. "I +fully rely upon the promise you have made me. I know that I can rely +upon it. And you also may rely upon me. I give you my word as your +father that this man is unfit to be your husband, and that I should +commit a sin greater than I can describe to you were I to give my +sanction to such a marriage." + +Emily made no answer to this, but left the room without having once +leaned upon her father's shoulder. + +That look of hers troubled him sadly when he was alone. What was to +be the meaning of it, and what the result? She had given him almost +unasked the only promise which duty required her to give, but at the +same time she had assured him by her countenance, as well as by her +words, that she would be as faithful to her lover as she was prepared +to be obedient to her father. And then if there should come a long +contest of that nature, and if he should see her devoted year after +year to a love which she would not even try to cast off from her, how +would he be able to bear it? He, too, was firm, but he knew himself +to be as tender-hearted as he was obstinate. It would be more than +he could bear. All the world would be nothing for him then. And if +there were ever to be a question of yielding, it would be easier +to do something towards lessening the vileness of the man now than +hereafter. He, too, had some of that knowledge of the world which had +taught Lady Altringham to say that the young people in such contests +could always beat the old people. Thinking of this, and of that look +upon his child's brows, he almost vacillated again. Any amount of +dissipation he could now have forgiven; but to be a liar, too, and a +swindler! Before he went to bed that night he had made up his mind to +go to London and to see Mr. Boltby. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PERTINACITY. + + +On the day but one after the scene narrated in the last chapter +Sir Harry went to London, and Lady Elizabeth and Emily were left +alone together in the great house at Humblethwaite. Emily loved her +mother dearly. The proper relations of life were reversed between +them, and the younger domineered over the elder. But the love +which the daughter felt was probably the stronger on this account. +Lady Elizabeth never scolded, never snubbed, never made herself +disagreeable, was never cross; and Emily, with her strong perceptions +and keen intelligence, knew all her mother's excellence, and loved +it the better because of her mother's weakness. She preferred her +father's company, but no one could say she neglected her mother for +the sake of her father. + +Hitherto she had said very little to Lady Elizabeth as to her lover. +She had, in the first place, told her mother, and then had received +from her mother, second-hand, her father's disapproval. At that time +she had only said that it was "too late." Poor Lady Elizabeth had +been able to make no useful answer to this. It certainly was too +late. The evil should have been avoided by refusing admittance to +Cousin George both in London and at Humblethwaite. It certainly was +too late;--too late, that is, to avoid the evil altogether. The girl +had been asked for her heart, and had given it. It was very much too +late. But evils such as that do admit of remedy. It is not every girl +that can marry the man whom she first confesses that she loves. Lady +Elizabeth had some idea that her child, being nobler born and of more +importance than other people's children, ought to have been allowed +by fate to do so,--as there certainly is a something withdrawn from +the delicate aroma of a first-class young woman by any transfer of +affections;--but if it might not be so, even an Emily Hotspur must +submit to a lot not uncommon among young women in general, and +wait and wish till she could acknowledge to herself that her heart +was susceptible of another wound. That was the mother's hope at +present,--her hope, when she was positively told by Sir Harry that +George Hotspur was quite out of the question as a husband for the +heiress of Humblethwaite. But this would probably come the sooner if +little or nothing were said of George Hotspur. + +The reader need hardly be told that Emily herself regarded the matter +in a very different light. She also had her ideas about the delicacy +and the aroma of a maiden's love. She had confessed her love very +boldly to the man who had asked for it; had made her rich present +with a free hand, and had grudged nothing in the making of it. But +having given it, she understood it to be fixed as the heavens that +she could never give the same gift again. It was herself that she +had given, and there was no retracting the offering. She had thought, +and had then hoped, and had afterwards hoped more faintly, that the +present had been well bestowed;--that in giving it she had disposed +of herself well. Now they told her that it was not so, and that she +could hardly have disposed of herself worse. She would not believe +that; but, let it be as it might, the thing was done. She was his. +He had a right in her which she could not withdraw from him. Was not +this sort of giving acknowledged by all churches in which the words +for "better or for worse" were uttered as part of the marriage vow? +Here there had been as yet no church vow, and therefore her duty +was still due to her father. But the sort of sacrifice,--so often a +sacrifice of the good to the bad,--which the Church not only allowed +but required and sanctified, could be as well conveyed by one promise +as by another. What is a vow but a promise? and by what process are +such vows and promises made fitting between a man and a woman? Is it +not by that compelled rendering up of the heart which men call love? +She had found that he was dearer to her than everything in the world +besides; that to be near him was a luxury to her; that his voice was +music to her; that the flame of his eyes was sunlight; that his touch +was to her, as had never been the touch of any other human being. +She could submit to him, she who never would submit to any one. She +could delight to do his bidding, even though it were to bring him his +slippers. She had confessed nothing of this, even to herself, till he +had spoken to her on the bridge; but then, in a moment, she had known +that it was so, and had not coyed the truth with him by a single nay. +And now they told her that he was bad. + +Bad as he was, he had been good enough to win her. 'Twas thus she +argued with herself. Who was she that she should claim for herself +the right of having a man that was not bad? That other man that had +come to her, that Lord Alfred, was, she was told, good at all points; +and he had not moved her in the least. His voice had possessed no +music for her; and as for fetching his slippers for him,--he was to +her one of those men who seem to be created just that they might +be civil when wanted and then get out of the way! She had not been +able for a moment to bring herself to think of regarding him as her +husband. But this man, this bad man! From the moment that he had +spoken to her on the bridge, she knew that she was his for ever. + +It might be that she liked a bad man best. So she argued with herself +again. If it were so she must put up with what misfortune her own +taste might bring upon her. At any rate the thing was done, and why +should any man be thrown over simply because the world called him +bad? Was there to be no forgiveness for wrongs done between man and +man, when the whole theory of our religion was made to depend on +forgiveness from God to man? It is the duty of some one to reclaim an +evident prodigal; and why should it not be her duty to reclaim this +prodigal? Clearly, the very fact that she loved the prodigal would +give her a potentiality that way which she would have with no other +prodigal. It was at any rate her duty to try. It would at least be +her duty if they would allow her to be near enough to him to make +the attempt. Then she filled her mind with ideas of a long period +of probation, in which every best energy of her existence should +be given to this work of reclaiming the prodigal, so that at last +she might put her own hand into one that should be clean enough +to receive it. With such a task before her she could wait. She +could watch him and give all her heart to his welfare, and never be +impatient except that he might be made happy. As she thought of this, +she told herself plainly that the work would not be easy, that there +would be disappointment, almost heart-break, delays and sorrows; but +she loved him, and it would be her duty; and then, if she could be +successful, how great, how full of joy would be the triumph! Even +if she were to fail and perish in failing, it would be her duty. As +for giving him up because he had the misfortune to be bad, she would +as soon give him up on the score of any other misfortune;--because +he might lose a leg, or become deformed, or be stricken deaf by +God's hand! One does not desert those one loves, because of their +misfortunes! 'Twas thus she argued with herself, thinking that she +could see,--whereas, poor child, she was so very blind! + +"Mamma," she said, "has Papa gone up to town about Cousin George?" + +"I do not know, my dear. He did not say why he was going." + +"I think he has. I wish I could make him understand." + +"Understand what, my dear?" + +"All that I feel about it. I am sure it would save him much trouble. +Nothing can ever separate me from my cousin." + +"Pray don't say so, Emily." + +"Nothing can. Is it not better that you and he should know the truth? +Papa goes about trying to find out all the naughty things that George +has ever done. There has been some mistake about a race meeting, and +all manner of people are asked to give what Papa calls evidence that +Cousin George was there. I do not doubt but George has been what +people call dissipated." + +"We do hear such dreadful stories!" + +"You would not have thought anything about them if it had not been +for me. He is not worse now than when he came down here last year. +And he was always asked to Bruton Street." + +"What do you mean by this, dear?" + +"I do not mean to say that young men ought to do all these things, +whatever they are,--getting into debt, and betting, and living fast. +Of course it is very wrong. But when a young man has been brought +up in that way, I do think he ought not to be thrown over by his +nearest and dearest friends"--that last epithet was uttered with all +the emphasis which Emily could give to it--"because he falls into +temptation." + +"I am afraid George has been worse than others, Emily." + +"So much the more reason for trying to save him. If a man be in the +water, you do not refuse to throw him a rope because the water is +deep." + +"But, dearest, your papa is thinking of you." Lady Elizabeth was not +quick enough of thought to explain to her daughter that if the rope +be of more value than the man, and if the chance of losing the rope +be much greater than that of saving the man, then the rope is not +thrown. + +"And I am thinking of George," said Emily. + +"But if it should appear that he had done things,--the wickedest +things in the world?" + +"I might break my heart in thinking of it, but I should never give +him up." + +"If he were a murderer?" suggested Lady Elizabeth, with horror. + +The girl paused, feeling herself to be hardly pressed, and then came +that look upon her brow which Lady Elizabeth understood as well as +did Sir Harry. "Then I would be a murderer's wife," she said. + +"Oh, Emily!" + +"I must make you understand me, Mamma, and I want Papa to understand +it too. No consideration on earth shall make me say that I will +give him up. They may prove if they like that he was on all the +racecourses in the world, and get that Mrs. Stackpoole to swear to +it;--and it is ten times worse for a woman to go than it is for a +man, at any rate;--but it will make no difference. If you and Papa +tell me not to see him or write to him,--much less to marry him,--of +course I shall obey you. But I shall not give him up a bit the more, +and he must not be told that I will give him up. I am sure Papa will +not wish that anything untrue should be told. George will always be +to me the dearest thing in the whole world,--dearer than my own soul. +I shall pray for him every night, and think of him all day long. And +as to the property, Papa may be quite sure that he can never arrange +it by any marriage that I shall make. No man shall ever speak to me +in that way, if I can help it. I won't go where any man can speak to +me. I will obey,--but it will be at the cost of my life. Of course +I will obey Papa and you; but I cannot alter my heart. Why was he +allowed to come here,--the head of our own family,--if he be so bad +as this? Bad or good, he will always be all the world to me." + +To such a daughter as this Lady Elizabeth had very little to say that +might be of avail. She could quote Sir Harry, and entertain some dim +distant wish that Cousin George might even yet be found to be not +quite so black as he had been painted. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +COUSIN GEORGE IS HARD PRESSED. + + +The very sensible and, as one would have thought, very manifest idea +of buying up Cousin George originated with Mr. Boltby. "He will have +his price, Sir Harry," said the lawyer. Then Sir Harry's eyes were +opened, and so excellent did this mode of escape seem to him that he +was ready to pay almost any price for the article. He saw it at a +glance. Emily had high-flown notions, and would not yield; he feared +that she would not yield, let Cousin George's delinquencies be shown +to be as black as Styx. But if Cousin George could be made to give +her up,--then Emily must yield; and, yielding in such manner, having +received so rude a proof of her lover's unworthiness, it could not +be but that her heart would be changed. Sir Harry's first idea of a +price was very noble; all debts to be paid, a thousand a year for +the present, and Scarrowby to be attached to the title. What price +would be too high to pay for the extrication of his daughter from +so grievous a misfortune? But Mr. Boltby was more calm. As to the +payment of the debts,--yes, within a certain liberal limit. For the +present, an income of five hundred pounds he thought would be almost +as efficacious a bait as double the amount; and it would be well to +tack to it the necessity of a residence abroad. It might, perhaps, +serve to get the young man out of the country for a time. If the +young man bargained on either of these headings, the matter could be +reconsidered by Mr. Boltby; as to settling Scarrowby on the title, +Mr. Boltby was clearly against it. "He would raise every shilling he +could on post-obits within twelve months." At last the offer was made +in the terms with which the reader is already acquainted. George was +sent off from the lawyer's chambers with directions to consider the +terms, and Mr. Boltby gave his clerk some little instructions for +perpetuating the irritation on the young man which Hart and Stubber +together were able to produce. The young man should be made to +understand that hungry creditors, who had been promised their money +on certain conditions, could become very hungry indeed. + +George Hotspur, blackguard and worthless as he was, did not at first +realize the fact that Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby were endeavouring to +buy him. He was asked to give up his cousin, and he was told that +if he did so a certain very generous amount of pecuniary assistance +should be given to him; but yet he did not at the first glance +perceive that one was to be the price of the other,--that if he took +the one he would meanly have sold the other. It certainly would have +been very pleasant to have all his debts paid for him, and the offer +of five hundred pounds a year was very comfortable. Of the additional +sum to be given when Sir Harry should die, he did not think so much. +It might probably be a long time coming, and then Sir Harry would +of course be bound to do something for the title. As for living +abroad,--he might promise that, but they could not make him keep his +promise. He would not dislike to travel for six months, on condition +that he should be well provided with ready money. There was much that +was alluring in the offer, and he began to think whether he could not +get it all without actually abandoning his cousin. But then he was to +give a written pledge to that effect, which, if given, no doubt would +be shown to her. No; that would not do. Emily was his prize; and +though he did not value her at her worth, not understanding such +worth, still he had an idea that she would be true to him. Then at +last came upon him an understanding of the fact, and he perceived +that a bribe had been offered to him. + +For half a day he was so disgusted at the idea that his virtue was +rampant within him. Sell his Emily for money? Never! His Emily,--and +all her rich prospects, and that for a sum so inadequate! They little +knew their man when they made a proposition so vile! That evening, at +his club, he wrote a letter to Sir Harry, and the letter as soon as +written was put into the club letter-box, addressed to the house in +Bruton Street; in which, with much indignant eloquence, he declared +that the Baronet little understood the warmth of his love, or the +extent of his ambition in regard to the family. "I shall be quite +ready to submit to any settlements," he said, "so long as the +property is entailed upon the Baronet who shall come after myself; +I need not say that I hope the happy fellow may be my own son." + +But, on the next morning, on his first waking, his ideas were more +vague, and a circumstance happened which tended to divert them from +the current in which they had run on the preceding evening. When he +was going through the sad work of dressing, he bethought himself that +he could not at once force this marriage on Sir Harry--could not do +so, perhaps, within a twelvemonth or more, let Emily be ever so true +to him,--and that his mode of living had become so precarious as +to be almost incompatible with that outward decency which would be +necessary for him as Emily's suitor. He was still very indignant at +the offer made to him, which was indeed bribery of which Sir Harry +ought to be ashamed; but he almost regretted that his letter to Sir +Harry had been sent. It had not been considered enough, and certainly +should not have been written simply on after-dinner consideration. +Something might have been inserted with the view of producing ready +money, something which might have had a flavour of yielding, but +which could not have been shown to Emily as an offer on his part +to abandon her; and then he had a general feeling that his letter +had been too grandiloquent,--all arising, no doubt, from a fall in +courage incidental to a sick stomach. + +But before he could get out of his hotel a visitor was upon him. +Mr. Hart desired to see him. At this moment he would almost have +preferred to see Captain Stubber. He remembered at the moment that +Mr. Hart was acquainted with Mr. Walker, and that Mr. Walker would +probably have sought the society of Mr. Hart after a late occurrence +in which he, Cousin George, had taken part. He was going across +to breakfast at his club, when he found himself almost forced to +accompany Mr. Hart into a little private room at the left hand of the +hall of the hotel. He wanted his breakfast badly, and was altogether +out of humour. He had usually found Mr. Hart to be an enduring +man, not irascible, though very pertinacious, and sometimes almost +good-natured. For a moment he thought he would bully Mr. Hart, but +when he looked into Mr. Hart's face, his heart misgave him. + +"This is a most inconvenient time--," he had begun. But he hesitated, +and Mr. Hart began his attack at once. + +"Captain 'Oshspur--sir, let me tell you this von't do no longer." + +"What won't do, Mr. Hart?" + +"Vat von't do? You know vat von't do. Let me tell you this. You'll be +at the Old Bailey very soon, if you don't do just vat you is told to +do." + +"Me at the Old Bailey!" + +"Yes, Captain 'Oshspur,--you at the Old Bailey. In vat vay did you +get those moneys from poor Mr. Valker? I know vat I says. More than +three hundred pounds! It was card-sharping." + +"Who says it was card-sharping?" + +"I says so, Captain 'Oshspur, and so does Mr. Bullbean. Mr. Bullbean +vill prove it." Mr. Bullbean was a gentleman known well to Mr. Hart, +who had made one of the little party at Mr. Walker's establishment, +by means of which Cousin George had gone, flush of money, down among +his distinguished friends in Norfolk. "Vat did you do with poor +Valker's moneys? It vas very hard upon poor Mr. Valker,--very hard." + +"It was fair play, Mr. Hart." + +"Gammon, Captain 'Oshspur! Vere is the moneys?" + +"What business is that of yours?" + +"Oh, very well. Bullbean is quite ready to go before a +magistrate,--ready at once. I don't know how that vill help us with +our pretty cousin with all the fortune." + +"How will it help you then?" + +"Look here, Captain 'Oshspur; I vill tell you vat vill help me, and +vill help Captain Stubber, and vill help everybody. The young lady +isn't for you at all. I know all about it, Captain 'Oshspur. Mr. +Boltby is a very nice gentleman, and understands business." + +"What is Mr. Boltby to me?" + +"He is a great deal to me, because he vill pay me my moneys, and he +vill pay Captain Stubber, and vill pay everybody. He vill pay you +too, Captain 'Oshspur,--only you must pay poor Valker his moneys. +I have promised Valker he shall have back his moneys, or Sir Harry +shall know that too. You must just give up the young woman;--eh, +Captain 'Oshspur!" + +"I'm not going to be dictated to, Mr. Hart." + +"When gentlemans is in debt they must be dictated to, or else be +quodded. We mean to have our money from Mr. Boltby, and that at once. +Here is the offer to pay it,--every shilling,--and to pay you! You +must give the lady up. You must go to Mr. Boltby, and write just what +he tells you. If you don't--!" + +"Well, if I don't!" + +"By the living God, before two weeks are over you shall be in prison. +Bullbean saw it all. Now you know, Captain 'Oshspur. You don't like +dictating to, don't you? If you don't do as you're dictated to, and +that mighty sharp, as sure as my name is Abraham Hart, everything +shall come out. Every d----d thing, Captain 'Oshspur! And now good +morning, Captain 'Oshspur. You had better see Mr. Boltby to-day, +Captain 'Oshspur." + +How was a man so weighted to run for such stakes as those he was +striving to carry off? When Mr. Hart left him he was not only sick +in the stomach, but sick at heart also,--sick all over. He had gone +from bad to worse; he had lost the knowledge of the flavour of vice +and virtue; and yet now, when there was present to him the vanishing +possibility of redeeming everything by this great marriage, it seemed +to him that a life of honourable ease--such a life as Sir Harry would +wish him to live if permitted to marry the girl and dwell among his +friends at Humblethwaite--would be much sweeter, much more to his +real taste, than the life which he had led for the last ten years. +What had been his positive delights? In what moments had he actually +enjoyed them? From first to last had there not been trouble and +danger and vexation of spirit, and a savour of dirt about it all, +which even to his palate had been nauseous? Would he not willingly +reform? And yet, when the prospect of reform was brought within reach +of his eyes, of a reform so pleasant in all its accompaniments, of +reform amidst all the wealth of Humblethwaite, with Emily Hotspur by +his side, there came these harpies down upon him rendering it all +impossible. Thrice, in speaking of them to himself, he called them +harpies; but it never occurred to him to think by what name Mr. +Walker would have designated him. + +But things around him were becoming so serious that he must do +something. It might be that he would fall to the ground, losing +everything. He could not understand about Bullbean. Bullbean had +had his share of the plunder in regard to all that he had seen. The +best part of the evening's entertainment had taken place after Mr. +Bullbean had retired. No doubt, however, Mr. Bullbean might do him a +damage. + +He had written to Sir Harry, refusing altogether the offer made to +him. Could he, after writing such a letter, at once go to the lawyer +and accept the offer? And must he admit to himself, finally, that it +was altogether beyond his power to win his cousin's hand? Was there +no hope of that life at Humblethwaite which, when contemplated at a +distance, had seemed to him to be so green and pleasant? And what +would Emily think of him? In the midst of all his other miseries that +also was a misery. He was able, though steeped in worthlessness, so +to make for himself a double identity as to imagine and to personify +a being who should really possess fine and manly aspirations with +regard to a woman, and to look upon himself,--his second self,--as +that being; and to perceive with how withering a contempt such a +being would contemplate such another man as was in truth the real +George Hotspur, whose actual sorrows and troubles had now become so +unendurable. + +Who would help him in his distress? The Altringhams were still in +Scotland, and he knew well that, though Lady Altringham was fond of +him, and though Lord Altringham liked him, there was no assistance +to be had there of the kind that he needed. His dearly intimate +distinguished friends in Norfolk, with whom he had been always +"George," would not care if they heard that he had been crucified. +It seemed to him that the world was very hard and very cruel. Who +did care for him? There were two women who cared for him, who really +loved him, who would make almost any sacrifice for him, who would +even forget his sins, or at least forgive them. He was sure of that. +Emily Hotspur loved him, but there were no means by which he could +reach Emily Hotspur. She loved him, but she would not so far disobey +her father and mother, or depart from her own word, as to receive +even a letter from him. But the other friend who loved him,--he still +could see her. He knew well the time at which he would find her at +home, and some three or four hours after his interview with Mr. Hart +he knocked at Mrs. Morton's door. + +"Well, George," she said, "how does your wooing thrive?" + +He had no preconceived plan in coming to her. He was possessed by +that desire, which we all of us so often feel, to be comforted by +sympathy; but he hardly knew even how to describe the want of it. + +"It does not thrive at all," he said, throwing himself gloomily into +an easy chair. + +"That is bad news. Has the lady turned against you?" + +"Oh no," said he, moodily,--"nothing of that sort." + +"That would be impossible, would it not? Fathers are stern, but to +such a one as you daughters are always kind. That is what you mean; +eh, George?" + +"I wish you would not chaff me, Lucy. I am not well, and I did not +come to be chaffed." + +"The chaffing is all to be on one side, is it, George? Well; I will +say nothing to add to your discomforts. What is it ails you? You will +drink liqueurs after dinner. That is what makes you so wretched. And +I believe you drink them before dinner too." + +"Hardly ever. I don't do such a thing three times in a month. It is +not that; but things do trouble me so." + +"I suppose Sir Harry is not well pleased." + +"He is doing what he ought not to do, I must say that;--quite what I +call ungentlemanlike. A lawyer should never be allowed to interfere +between gentlemen. I wonder who would stand it, if an attorney were +set to work to make all manner of inquiries about everything that he +had ever done?" + +"I could not, certainly. I should cave in at once, as the boys say." + +"Other men have been as bad as I have, I suppose. He is sending about +everywhere." + +"Not only sending, George, but going himself. Do you know that Sir +Harry did me the honour of visiting me?" + +"No!" + +"But he did. He sat there in that very chair, and talked to me in a +manner that nobody ever did before, certainly. What a fine old man he +is, and how handsome!" + +"Yes; he is a good-looking old fellow." + +"So like you, George." + +"Is he?" + +"Only you know, less,--less,--less, what shall I say?--less +good-natured, perhaps." + +"I know what you mean. He is not such a fool as I am." + +"You're not a fool at all, George; but sometimes you are weak. He +looks to be strong. Is she like him?" + +"Very like him." + +"Then she must be handsome." + +"Handsome; I should think she is too!" said George, quite forgetting +the description of his cousin which he had given some days previously +to Mrs. Morton. + +She smiled, but took no notice aloud of his blunder. She knew him so +well that she understood it all. "Yes," she went on; "he came here +and said some bitter things. He said more, perhaps, than he ought to +have done." + +"About me, Lucy?" + +"I think that he spoke chiefly about myself. There was a little +explanation, and then he behaved very well. I have no quarrel with +him myself. He is a fine old gentleman; and having one only daughter, +and a large fortune, I do not wonder that he should want to make +inquiries before he gives her to you." + +"He could do that without an attorney." + +"Would you tell him the truth? The fact is, George, that you are not +the sort of son-in-law that fathers like. I suppose it will be off; +eh, George?" George made no immediate reply. "It is not likely that +she should have the constancy to stick to it for years, and I am sure +you will not. Has he offered you money?" Then George told her almost +with accuracy the nature of the proposition made to him. + +"It is very generous," she said. + +"I don't see much of that." + +"It certainly is very generous." + +"What ought a fellow to do?" + +"Only fancy, that you should come to me to ask me such a question!" + +"I know you will tell me true." + +"Do you love her?" + +"Yes." + +"With all your heart?" + +"What is the meaning of that? I do love her." + +"Better than her father's money?" + +"Much better." + +"Then stick to her through thick and thin. But you don't. I must not +advise you in accordance with what you say, but with what I think. +You will be beaten, certainly. She will never be your wife; and were +you so married, you would not be happy with such people. But she +will never be your wife. Take Sir Harry's offer, and write to her a +letter, explaining how it is best for all that you should do so." + +He paused a moment, and then he asked her one other question: "Would +you write the letter for me, Lucy?" + +She smiled again as she answered him: "Yes; if you make up your mind +to do as Sir Harry asks you, I will write a draft of what I think you +should say to her." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SIR HARRY'S RETURN. + + +Sir Harry received the grandly worded and indignant letter which had +been written at the club, and Cousin George hesitated as to that +other letter which his friend was to dictate for him. Consequently it +became necessary that Sir Harry should leave London before the matter +was settled. In truth the old Baronet liked the grandly worded and +indignant letter. It was almost such a letter as a Hotspur should +write on such an occasion. There was an admission of pecuniary +weakness which did not quite become a Hotspur, but otherwise the +letter was a good letter. Before he left London he took the letter +with him to Mr. Boltby, and on his way thither could not refrain from +counting up all the good things which would befall him and his if +only this young man might be reclaimed and recast in a mould such as +should fit the heir of the Hotspurs. He had been very bad,--so bad +that when Sir Harry counted up his sins they seemed to be as black +as night. And then, as he thought of them, the father would declare +to himself that he would not imperil his daughter by trusting her +to one who had shown himself to be so evil. But again another mode +of looking at it all would come upon him. The kind of vice of which +George had been undoubtedly guilty was very distasteful to Sir Harry; +it had been ignoble and ungentlemanlike vice. He had been a liar, +and not only a gambler, but a professional gambler. He had not +simply got into debt, but he had got into debt in a fashion that was +fraudulent;--so at least Sir Harry thought. And yet, need it be said +that this reprobate was beyond the reach of all forgiveness? Had not +men before him done as bad, and yet were brought back within the pale +of decent life? In this still vacillating mood of mind Sir Harry +reached his lawyer's. Mr. Boltby did not vacillate at all. When he +was shown the letter he merely smiled. + +"I don't think it is a bad letter," said Sir Harry. + +"Words mean so little, Sir Harry," said Mr. Boltby, "and come so +cheap." + +Sir Harry turned the letter over in his hand and frowned; he did not +quite like to be told even by his confidential lawyer that he was +mistaken. Unconsciously he was telling himself that after all George +Hotspur had been born a gentleman, and that therefore, underlying all +the young man's vileness and villany there must be a substratum of +noble soil of which the lawyer perhaps knew nothing. Mr. Boltby saw +that his client was doubting, and having given much trouble to the +matter, and not being afraid of Sir Harry, he determined to speak his +mind freely. + +"Sir Harry," he said, "in this matter I must tell you what I really +think." + +"Certainly." + +"I am sorry to have to speak ill of one bearing your name; and were +not the matter urgent as it is, I should probably repress something +of my opinion. As it is, I do not dare to do so. You could not in all +London find a man less fit to be the husband of Miss Hotspur than her +cousin." + +"He is a gentleman--by birth," said Sir Harry. + +"He is an unprincipled blackguard by education, and the more +blackguard because of his birth; there is nothing too bad for him to +do, and very little so bad but what he has done it. He is a gambler, +a swindler, and, as I believe, a forger and a card-sharper. He has +lived upon the wages of the woman he has professed to love. He has +shown himself to be utterly spiritless, abominable, and vile. If my +clerk in the next room were to slap his face, I do not believe that +he would resent it." Sir Harry frowned, and moved his feet rapidly +on the floor. "In my thorough respect and regard for you, Sir Harry," +continued Mr. Boltby, "I have undertaken a work which I would not +have done for above two or three other men in the world beside +yourself. I am bound to tell you the result, which is this,--that I +would sooner give my own girl to the sweeper at the crossing than to +George Hotspur." + +Sir Harry's brow was very black. Perhaps he had not quite known his +lawyer. Perhaps it was that he had less power of endurance than +he had himself thought in regard to the mention of his own family +affairs. "Of course," he said, "I am greatly indebted to you, Mr. +Boltby, for the trouble you have taken." + +"I only hope it may be of service to you." + +"It has been of service. What may be the result in regard to this +unfortunate young man I cannot yet say. He has refused our offer,--I +must say as I think--honourably." + +"It means nothing." + +"How nothing, Mr. Boltby?" + +"No man accepts such a bargain at first. He is playing his hand +against yours, Sir Harry, and he knows that he has got a very good +card in his own. It was not to be supposed that he would give in at +once. In besieging a town the surest way is to starve the garrison. +Wait a while and he will give in. When a town has within its walls +such vultures as will now settle upon him, it cannot stand out very +long. I shall hear more of him before many days are over." + +"You think, then, that I may return to Humblethwaite." + +"Certainly, Sir Harry; but I hope, Sir Harry, that you will return +with the settled conviction on your mind that this young man must not +on any consideration be allowed to enter your family." + +The lawyer meant well, but he overdid his work. Sir Harry got up and +shook hands with him and thanked him, but left the room with some +sense of offence. He had come to Mr. Boltby for information, and +he had received it. But he was not quite sure that he had intended +that Mr. Boltby should advise him touching his management of his +own daughter. Mr. Boltby, he thought, had gone a little beyond his +tether. Sir Harry acknowledged to himself that he had learned a great +deal about his cousin, and it was for him to judge after that whether +he would receive his cousin at Humblethwaite. Mr. Boltby should not +have spoken about the crossing-sweeper. And then Sir Harry was not +quite sure that he liked that idea of setting vultures upon a man; +and Sir Harry remembered something of his old lore as a hunting man. +It is astonishing what blood will do in bringing a horse through mud +at the end of a long day. Mr. Boltby probably did not understand how +much, at the very last, might be expected from breeding. When Sir +Harry left Mr. Boltby's chambers he was almost better-minded towards +Cousin George than he had been when he entered them; and in this +frame of mind, both for and against the young man, he returned to +Humblethwaite. It must not be supposed, however, that as the result +of the whole he was prepared to yield. He knew, beyond all doubt, +that his cousin was thoroughly a bad subject,--a worthless and, as +he believed, an irredeemable scamp; but yet he thought of what might +happen if he were to yield! + +Things were very sombre when he reached Humblethwaite. Of course +his wife could not refrain from questions. "It is very bad," he +said,--"as bad as can be." + +"He has gambled?" + +"Gambled! If that were all! You had better not ask about it; he is a +disgrace to the family." + +"Then there can be no hope for Emily?" + +"No hope! Why should there not be hope? All her life need not depend +on her fancy for a man of whom after all she has not seen so very +much. She must get over it. Other girls have had to do the same." + +"She is not like other girls, Harry." + +"How not like them?" + +"I think she is more persistent; she has set her heart upon loving +this young man, and she will love him." + +"Then she must." + +"She will break her heart," said Lady Elizabeth. + +"She will break mine, I know," said Sir Harry. + +When he met his daughter he had embraced her, and she had kissed +him and asked after his welfare; but he felt at once that she was +different from what she used to be,--different, not only as regarded +herself, but different also in her manner. There came upon him a sad, +ponderous conviction that the sunlight had gone out from their joint +lives, that all pleasant things were over for both of them, and that, +as for him, it would be well for him that he should die. He could +not be happy if there were discord between him and his child,--and +there must be discord. The man had been invited with a price to take +himself off, and had not been sufficiently ignoble to accept the +offer. How could he avoid the discord, and bring back the warmth of +the sun into his house? Then he remembered those terribly forcible +epithets which Mr. Boltby had spoken. "He is an unprincipled +blackguard; and the worse blackguard because of his birth." The words +had made Sir Harry angry, but he believed them to be true. If there +were to be any yielding, he would not yield as yet; but that living +in his house without sunshine was very grievous to him. "She will +kill me," he said to himself, "if she goes on like this." + +And yet it was hard to say of what it was that he complained. Days +went by and his daughter said nothing and did nothing of which he +could complain. It was simply this,--that the sunshine was no longer +bright within his halls. Days went by, and George Hotspur's name had +never been spoken by Emily in the hearing of her father or mother. +Such duties as there were for her to do were done. The active duties +of a girl in her position are very few. It was her custom of a +morning to spread butter on a bit of toast for her father to eat. +This she still did, and brought it to him as was her wont; but +she did not bring it with her old manner. It was a thing still +done,--simply because not to do it would be an omission to be +remarked. "Never mind it," said her father the fourth or fifth +morning after his return, "I'd sooner do it for myself." She did +not say a word, but on the next morning the little ceremony, which +had once been so full of pleasant affection, was discontinued. She +had certain hours of reading, and these were prolonged rather than +abandoned. But both her father and mother perceived that her books +were changed; her Italian was given up, and she took to works of +religion,--sermons, treatises, and long commentaries. + +"It will kill me," said Sir Harry to his wife. + +"I am afraid it will kill her," said Lady Elizabeth. "Do you see how +her colour has gone, and she eats so little!" + +"She walks every day." + +"Yes; and comes in so tired. And she goes to church every Wednesday +and Friday at Hesket. I'm sure she is not fit for it such weather as +this." + +"She has the carriage?" + +"No, she walks." + +Then Sir Harry gave orders that his daughter should always have the +carriage on Wednesdays and Fridays. But Emily, when her mother told +her this, insisted that she would sooner walk. + +But what did the carriage or no carriage on Wednesday signify? The +trouble was deeper than that. It was so deep that both father and +mother felt that something must be done, or the trouble would become +too heavy for their backs. Ten days passed and nothing was heard +either from Mr. Boltby or from Cousin George. Sir Harry hardly knew +what it was then he expected to hear; but it seemed that he did +expect something. He was nervous at the hour of post, and was aware +himself that he was existing on from day to day with the idea of soon +doing some special thing,--he knew not what,--but something that +might put an end to the frightful condition of estrangement between +him and his child in which he was now living. It told even upon his +duty among his tenants. It told upon his farm. It told upon almost +every workman in the parish. He had no heart for doing anything. It +did not seem certain to him that he could continue to live in his own +house. He could not bring himself to order that this wood should be +cut, or that those projected cottages should be built. Everything was +at a standstill; and it was clear to him that Emily knew that all +this had come from her rash love for her cousin George. She never +now came and stood at his elbow in his own room, or leaned upon his +shoulder; she never now asked him questions, or brought him out from +his papers to decide questions in the garden,--or rather to allow +himself to be ruled by her decisions. There were greetings between +them morning and evening, and questions were asked and answered +formally; but there was no conversation. "What have I done that I +should be punished in this way?" said Sir Harry to himself. + +If he was prompt to think himself hardly used, so also was his +daughter. In considering the matter in her own mind she had found it +to be her duty to obey her father in her outward conduct, founding +her convictions in this matter upon precedent and upon the general +convictions of the world. In the matter of bestowing herself upon +a suitor, a girl is held to be subject to her parents. So much she +knew, or believed that she knew; and therefore she would obey. She +had read and heard of girls who would correspond with their lovers +clandestinely, would run away with their lovers, would marry their +lovers as it were behind their fathers' backs. No act of this kind +would she do. She had something within her which would make it +dreadful to her ever to have to admit that she had been personally +wrong,--some mixture of pride and principle, which was strong enough +to keep her stedfast in her promised obedience. She would do nothing +that could be thrown in her teeth; nothing that could be called +unfeminine, indelicate, or undutiful. But she had high ideas of what +was due to herself, and conceived that she would be wronged by her +father, should her father take advantage of her sense of duty to +crush her heart. She had her own rights and her own privileges, with +which grievous and cruel interference would be made, should her +father, because he was her father, rob her of the only thing which +was sweet to her taste or desirable in her esteem. Because she was +his heiress he had no right to make her his slave. But even should he +do so, she had in her own hands a certain security. The bondage of a +slave no doubt he might allot to her, but not the task-work. Because +she would cling to her duty and keep the promise which she had made +to him, it would be in his power to prevent the marriage upon which +she had set her heart; but it was not within his power, or within +his privilege as a father, to force upon her any other marriage. She +would never help him with her hand in that adjustment of his property +of which he thought so much unless he would help her in her love. +And in the meantime sunshine should be banished from the house, such +sunshine as had shone round her head. She did not so esteem herself +as to suppose that, because she was sad, therefore her father +and mother would be wretched; but she did feel herself bound to +contribute to the house in general all the wretchedness which might +come from her own want of sunlight. She suffered under a terrible +feeling of ill-usage. Why was she, because she was a girl and +an heiress, to be debarred from her own happiness? If she were +willing to risk herself, why should others interfere? And if the +life and conduct of her cousin were in truth so bad as they were +represented,--which she did not in the least believe,--why had he +been allowed to come within her reach? It was not only that he was +young, clever, handsome, and in every way attractive, but that, in +addition to all this, he was a Hotspur, and would some day be the +head of the Hotspurs. Her father had known well enough that her +family pride was equal to his own. Was it not natural that, when a +man so endowed had come in her way, she should learn to love him? And +when she had loved him, was it not right that she should cling to her +love? + +Her father would fain treat her like a beast of burden kept in the +stables for a purpose; or like a dog whose obedience and affections +might be transferred from one master to another for a price. She +would obey her father; but her father should be made to understand +that hers was not the nature of a beast of burden or of a dog. She +was a Hotspur as thoroughly as was he. And then they brought men +there to her, selected suitors, whom she despised. What did they +think of her when imagining that she would take a husband not of +her own choosing? What must be their idea of love, and of marriage +duty, and of that close intercourse of man and wife? To her feeling +a woman should not marry at all unless she could so love a man as +to acknowledge to herself that she was imperatively required to +sacrifice all that belonged to her for his welfare and good. Such was +her love for George Hotspur,--let him be what he might. They told +her that he was bad and that he would drag her into the mud. She was +willing to be dragged into the mud; or, at any rate, to make her own +struggle during the dragging, as to whether he should drag her in, or +she should drag him out. + +And then they brought men to her--walking-sticks,--Lord Alfred and +young Mr. Thoresby, and insulted her by supposing of her that she +would marry a man simply because he was brought there as a fitting +husband. She would be dutiful and obedient as a daughter, according +to her idea of duty and of principle; but she would let them know +that she had an identity of her own, and that she was not to be +moulded like a piece of clay. + +No doubt she was hard upon her father. No doubt she was in very +truth disobedient and disrespectful. It was not that she should have +married any Lord Alfred that was brought to her, but that she should +have struggled to accommodate her spirit to her father's spirit. +But she was a Hotspur; and though she could be generous, she could +not yield. And then the hold of a child upon the father is so much +stronger than that of the father on the child! Our eyes are set in +our face, and are always turned forward. The glances that we cast +back are but occasional. + +And so the sunshine was banished from the house of Humblethwaite, and +the days were as black as the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +"LET US TRY." + + +Things went on thus at Humblethwaite for three weeks, and Sir Harry +began to feel that he could endure it no longer. He had expected to +have heard again from Mr. Boltby, but no letter had come. Mr. Boltby +had suggested to him something of starving out the town, and he had +expected to be informed before this whether the town were starved +out or not. He had received an indignant and grandiloquent letter +from his cousin, of which as yet he had taken no notice. He had taken +no notice of the letter, although it had been written to decline a +proposal of very great moment made by himself. He felt that in these +circumstances Mr. Boltby ought to have written to him. He ought to +have been told what was being done. And yet he had left Mr. Boltby +with a feeling which made it distasteful to him to ask further +questions from the lawyer on the subject. Altogether his position was +one as disagreeable and painful as it well could be. + +But at last, in regard to his own private life with his daughter, he +could bear it no longer. The tenderness of his heart was too much for +his pride, and he broke down in his resolution to be stern and silent +with her till all this should have passed by them. She was so much +more to him than he was to her! She was his all in all;--whereas +Cousin George was hers. He was the happier at any rate in this, that +he would never be forced to despise where he loved. + +"Emily," he said to her at last, "why is it that you are so changed +to me?" + +"Papa!" + +"Are you not changed? Do you not know that everything about the house +is changed?" + +"Yes, Papa." + +"And why is it so? I do not keep away from you. You used to come to +me every day. You never come near me now." + +She hesitated for a moment with her eyes turned to the ground, and +then as she answered him she looked him full in the face. "It is +because I am always thinking of my cousin George." + +"But why should that keep us apart, Emily? I wish that it were not +so; but why should that keep us apart?" + +"Because you are thinking of him too, and think so differently! You +hate him; but I love him." + +"I do not hate him. It is not that I hate him. I hate his vices." + +"So do I." + +"I know that he is not a fit man for you to marry. I have not been +able to tell you the things that I know of him." + +"I do not wish to be told." + +"But you might believe me when I assure you that they are of a nature +to make you change your feelings towards him. At this very moment he +is attached to--to--another person." + +Emily Hotspur blushed up to her brows, and her cheeks and forehead +were suffused with blood; but her mouth was set as firm as a rock, +and then came that curl over her eye which her father had so dearly +loved when she was a child, but which was now held by him to be so +dangerous. She was not going to be talked out of her love in that +way. Of course there had been things,--were things of which she knew +nothing and desired to know nothing. Though she herself was as pure +as the driven snow, she did not require to be told that there were +impurities in the world. If it was meant to be insinuated that he was +untrue to her, she simply disbelieved it. But what if he were? His +untruth would not justify hers. And untruth was impossible to her. +She loved him, and had told him so. Let him be ever so false, it +was for her to bring him back to truth or to spend herself in the +endeavour. Her father did not understand her at all when he talked to +her after this fashion. But she said nothing. Her father was alluding +to a matter on which she could say nothing. + +"If I could explain to you the way in which he has raised money for +his daily needs, you would feel that he had degraded himself beneath +your notice." + +"He cannot degrade himself beneath my notice;--not now. It is too +late." + +"But, Emily,--do you mean to say then that, let you set your +affections where you might,--however wrongly, on however base a +subject,--your mamma and I ought to yield to them, merely because +they are so set?" + +"He is your heir, Papa." + +"No; you are my heir. But I will not argue upon that. Grant that he +were my heir; even though every acre that is mine must go to feed his +wickedness the very moment that I die, would that be a reason for +giving my child to him also? Do you think that you are no more to +me than the acres, or the house, or the empty title? They are all +nothing to my love for you." + +"Papa!" + +"I do not think that you have known it. Nay, darling, I have hardly +known it myself. All other anxieties have ceased with me now that +I have come to know what it really is to be anxious for you. Do you +think that I would not abandon any consideration as to wealth or +family for your happiness? It has come to that with me, Emily, that +they are nothing to me now;--nothing. You are everything." + +"Dear Papa!" And now once again she leant upon his shoulder. + +"When I tell you of the young man's life, you will not listen to me. +You regard it simply as groundless opposition." + +"No, Papa; not groundless,--only useless." + +"But am I not bound to see that my girl be not united to a man who +would disgrace her, misuse her, drag her into the dirt,"--that idea +of dragging George out was strong in Emily's mind as she listened to +this,--"make her wretched and contemptible, and degrade her? Surely +this is a father's duty; and my child should not turn from me, and +almost refuse to speak to me, because I do it as best I can!" + +"I do not turn from you, Papa." + +"Has my darling been to me as she used to be?" + +"Look here, Papa; you know what it is I have promised you." + +"I do, dearest." + +"I will keep my promise. I will never marry him till you consent. +Even though I were to see him every day for ten years, I would not do +so when I had given my word." + +"I am sure of it, Emily." + +"But let us try, you and I and Mamma together. If you will do that; +oh, I will be so good to you! Let us see if we cannot make him good. +I will never ask to marry him till you yourself are satisfied that +he has reformed." She looked into his face imploringly, and she saw +that he was vacillating. And yet he was a strong man, not given in +ordinary things to much doubt. "Papa, let us understand each other +and be friends. If we do not trust each other, who can trust any +one?" + +"I do trust you." + +"I shall never care for any one else." + +"Do not say that, my child. You are too young to know your own heart. +These are wounds which time will cure. Others have suffered as you +are suffering, and yet have become happy wives and mothers." + +"Papa, I shall never change. I think I love him more because he +is--so weak. Like a poor child that is a cripple, he wants more +love than those who are strong. I shall never change. And look here, +Papa; I know it is my duty to obey you by not marrying without your +consent. But it can never be my duty to marry any one because you or +Mamma ask me. You will agree to that, Papa?" + +"I should never think of pressing any one on you." + +"That is what I mean. And so we do understand each other. Nothing +can teach me not to think of him, and to love him, and to pray for +him. As long as I live I shall do so. Nothing you can find out about +him will alter me in that. Pray, pray do not go on finding out bad +things. Find out something good, and then you will begin to love +him." + +"But if there is nothing good?" Sir Harry, as he said this, +remembered the indignant refusal of his offer which was at that +moment in his pocket, and confessed to himself that he had no right +to say that nothing good could be found in Cousin George. + +"Do not say that, Papa. How can you say that of any one? Remember, he +has our name, and he must some day be at the head of our family." + +"It will not be long, first," said Sir Harry, mournfully. + +"Many, many, many years, I hope. For his sake as well as ours, I pray +that it may be so. But still it is natural to suppose that the day +will come." + +"Of course it will come." + +"Must it not be right, then, to make him fit for it when it comes? It +can't be your great duty to think of him, as it is mine; but still it +must be a duty to you too. I will not excuse his life, Papa; but have +there not been temptations,--such great temptations? And then, other +men are excused for doing what he has done. Let us try together, +Papa. Say that you will try." + +It was clear to Sir Harry through it all that she knew nothing as yet +of the nature of the man's offences. When she spoke of temptation not +resisted, she was still thinking of commonplace extravagance, of the +ordinary pleasures of fast young men, of racecourses, and betting, +perhaps, and of tailors' bills. That lie which he had told about +Goodwood she had, as it were, thrown behind her, so that she should +not be forced to look at it. But Sir Harry knew him to be steeped +in dirty lies up to the hip, one who cheated tradesmen on system, +a gambler who looked out for victims, a creature so mean that he +could take a woman's money! Mr. Boltby had called him a swindler, a +card-sharper, and a cur; and Sir Harry, though he was inclined at +the present moment to be angry with Mr. Boltby, had never known the +lawyer to be wrong. And this was the man for whom his daughter was +pleading with all the young enthusiasm of her nature,--was pleading, +not as for a cousin, but in order that he might at last be welcomed +to that house as her lover, her husband, the one human being chosen +out from all the world to be the recipient of the good things of +which she had the bestowal! The man was so foul in the estimation of +Sir Harry that it was a stain to be in his presence; and this was the +man whom he as a father was implored to help to save, in order that +at some future time his daughter might become the reprobate's wife! + +"Papa, say that you will help me," repeated Emily, clinging to him, +and looking up into his face. + +He could not say that he would help her, and yet he longed to say +some word that might comfort her. "You have been greatly shaken by +all this, dearest." + +"Shaken! Yes, in one sense I have been shaken. I don't know quite +what you mean. I shall never be shaken in the other way." + +"You have been distressed." + +"Yes; distressed." + +"And, indeed, so have we all," he continued. "I think it will be best +to leave this for a while." + +"For how long, Papa?" + +"We need not quite fix that. I was thinking of going to Naples for +the winter." He was silent, waiting for her approbation, but she +expressed none. "It is not long since you said how much you would +like to spend a winter in Naples." + +She still paused, but it was but for a moment. "At that time, Papa, +I was not engaged." Did she mean to tell him, that because of this +fatal promise which she had made, she never meant to stir from +her home till she should be allowed to go with that wretch as +her husband; that because of this promise, which could never be +fulfilled, everything should come to an end with her? "Papa," she +said, "that would not be the way to try to save him, to go away and +leave him among those who prey upon him;--unless, indeed, he might go +too!" + +"What! with us?" + +"With you and Mamma. Why not? You know what I have promised. You can +trust me." + +"It is a thing absolutely not to be thought of," he said; and then he +left her. What was he to do? He could take her abroad, no doubt, but +were he to do so in her present humour, she would, of course, relapse +into that cold, silent, unloving, undutiful obedience which had been +so distressing to him. She had made a great request to him, and he +had not absolutely refused it. But the more he thought of it the more +distasteful did it become to him. You cannot touch pitch and not be +defiled. And the stain of this pitch was so very black! He could pay +money, if that would soothe her. He could pay money, even if the man +should not accept the offer made to him, should she demand it of him. +And if the man would reform himself, and come out through the fire +really purified, might it not be possible that at some long future +time Emily should become his wife? Or, if some sort of half promise +such as this were made to Emily, would not that soften her for +the time, and induce her to go abroad with a spirit capable of +satisfaction, if not of pleasure? If this could be brought about, +then time might do the rest. It would have been a delight to him to +see his daughter married early, even though his own home might have +been made desolate; but now he would be content if he thought he +could look forward to some future settlement in life that might +become her rank and fortune. + +Emily, when her father left her, was aware that she had received +no reply to her request, which she was entitled to regard as +encouraging; but she thought that she had broken the ice, and that +her father would by degrees become accustomed to her plan. If she +could only get him to say that he would watch over the unhappy one, +she herself would not be unhappy. It was not to be expected that she +should be allowed to give her own aid at first to the work, but she +had her scheme. His debts must be paid, and an income provided for +him. And duties, too, must be given to him. Why should he not live +at Scarrowby, and manage the property there? And then, at length, he +would be welcomed to Humblethwaite, when her own work might begin. +Neither for him nor for her must there be any living again in London +until this task should have been completed. That any trouble could be +too great, any outlay of money too vast for so divine a purpose, did +not occur to her. Was not this man the heir to her father's title; +and was he not the owner of her own heart? Then she knelt down and +prayed that the Almighty Father would accomplish this good work for +her;--and yet, not for her, but for him; not that she might be happy +in her love, but that he might be as a brand saved from the burning, +not only hereafter, but here also, in the sight of men. Alas, +dearest, no; not so could it be done! Not at thy instance, though thy +prayers be as pure as the songs of angels;--but certainly at his, if +only he could be taught to know that the treasure so desirable in thy +sight, so inestimable to thee, were a boon worthy of his acceptance. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +GOOD ADVICE. + + +Two or three days after the little request made by Cousin George to +Mrs. Morton, the Altringhams came suddenly to town. George received a +note from Lady Altringham addressed to him at his club. + + + We are going through to the Draytons in Hampshire. It + is a new freak. Four or five horses are to be sold, and + Gustavus thinks of buying the lot. If you are in town, + come to us. You must not think that we are slack about you + because Gustavus would have nothing to do with the money. + He will be at home to-morrow till eleven. I shall not go + out till two. We leave on Thursday.--Yours, A. A. + + +This letter he received on the Wednesday. Up to that hour he had done +nothing since his interview with Mr. Hart; nor during those few days +did he hear from that gentleman, or from Captain Stubber, or from Mr. +Boltby. He had written to Sir Harry refusing Sir Harry's generous +offer, and subsequently to that had made up his mind to accept +it,--and had asked, as the reader knows, for Mrs. Morton's +assistance. But the making up of George Hotspur's mind was nothing. +It was unmade again that day after dinner, as he thought of all the +glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby combined. Any one knowing +him would have been sure that he would do nothing till he should be +further driven. Now there had come upon the scene in London one who +could drive him. + +He went to the Earl's house just at eleven, not wishing to seem to +avoid the Earl, but still desirous of seeing as little of his friend +on that occasion as possible. He found Lord Altringham standing in +his wife's morning-room. "How are you, old fellow? How do things go +with the heiress?" He was in excellent humour, and said nothing about +the refused request. "I must be off. You do what my Lady advises; you +may be sure that she knows a deal more about it than you or I." Then +he went, wishing George success in his usual friendly, genial way, +which, as George knew, meant very little. + +With Lady Altringham the case was different. She was in earnest about +it. It was to her a matter of real moment that this great heiress +should marry one of her own set, and a man who wanted money so +badly as did poor George. And she liked work of that kind. George's +matrimonial prospects were more interesting to her than her husband's +stables. She was very soon in the thick of it all, asking questions, +and finding out how the land lay. She knew that George would lie; but +that was to be expected from a man in his position. She knew also +that she could with fair accuracy extract the truth from his lies. + +"Pay all your debts, and give you five hundred pounds a year for his +life." + +"The lawyer has offered that," said George, sadly. + +"Then you may be sure," continued Lady Altringham, "that the young +lady is in earnest. You have not accepted it?" + +"Oh dear, no. I wrote to Sir Harry quite angrily. I told him I wanted +my cousin's hand." + +"And what next?" + +"I have heard nothing further from anybody." + +Lady Altringham sat and thought. "Are these people in London +bothering you?" George explained that he had been bothered a good +deal, but not for the last four or five days. "Can they put you in +prison, or anything of that kind?" + +George was not quite sure whether they might or might not have some +such power. He had a dreadful weight on his mind of which he could +say nothing to Lady Altringham. Even she would be repelled from +him were she to know of that evening's work between him and Messrs. +Walker and Bullbean. He said at last that he did not think they could +arrest him, but that he was not quite sure. + +"You must do something to let her know that you are as much in +earnest as she is." + +"Exactly." + +"It is no use writing, because she wouldn't get your letters." + +"She wouldn't have a chance." + +"And if I understand her she would not do anything secretly." + +"I am afraid not," said George. + +"You will live, perhaps, to be glad that it is so. When girls +come out to meet their lovers clandestinely before marriage, they +get so fond of the excitement that they sometimes go on doing it +afterwards." + +"She is as,--as--as sure to go the right side of the post as any girl +in the world." + +"No doubt. So much the better for you. When those girls do catch the +disease, they always have it very badly. They mean only to have one +affair, and naturally want to make the most of it. Well, now what I +would do is this. Run down to Humblethwaite." + +"To Humblethwaite!" + +"Yes. I don't suppose you are going to be afraid of anybody. Knock +at the door, and send your card to Sir Harry. Drive into the +stable-yard, so that everybody about the place may know that you are +there, and then ask to see the Baronet." + +"He wouldn't see me." + +"Then ask to see Lady Elizabeth." + +"She wouldn't be allowed to see me." + +"Then leave a letter, and say that you'll wait for an answer. Write +to Miss Hotspur whatever you like to say in the way of a love-letter, +and put it under cover to Sir Harry--open." + +"She'll never get it." + +"I don't suppose she will. Not but what she may--only that isn't the +first object. But this will come of it. She'll know that you've been +there. That can't be kept from her. You may be sure that she was very +firm in sticking to you when he offered to pay all that money to get +rid of you. She'll remain firm if she's made to know that you are the +same. Don't let her love die out for want of notice." + +"I won't." + +"If they take her abroad, go after them. Stick to it, and you'll wear +them out if she helps you. And if she knows that you are sticking to +it, she'll do the same for honour. When she begins to be a little +pale, and to walk out at nights, and to cough in the morning, they'll +be tired out and send for Dr. George Hotspur. That's the way it will +go if you play your game well." + +Cousin George was lost in admiration at the wisdom and generalship of +this great counsellor, and promised implicit obedience. The Countess +went on to explain that it might be expedient to postpone this +movement for a week or two. "You should leave just a little interval, +because you cannot always be doing something. For some days after his +return her father won't cease to abuse you, which will keep you well +in her mind. When those men begin to attack you again, so as to make +London too hot, then run down to Humblethwaite. Don't hide your light +under a bushel. Let the people down there know all about it." + +George Hotspur swore eternal gratitude and implicit obedience, and +went back to his club. + +Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber did not give him much rest. From Mr. +Boltby he received no further communication. For the present Mr. +Boltby thought it well to leave him in the hands of Mr. Hart and +Captain Stubber. Mr. Boltby, indeed, did not as yet know of Mr. +Bullbean's story, although certain hints had reached him which had, +as he thought, justified him in adding the title of card-sharper to +those other titles with which he had decorated his client's cousin's +name. Had he known the entire Walker story, he would probably have +thought that Cousin George might have been bought at a considerably +cheaper price than that fixed in the Baronet's offer, which was +still in force. But then Mr. Hart had his little doubts also and his +difficulties. He, too, could perceive that were he to make this last +little work of Captain Hotspur's common property in the market, it +might so far sink Captain Hotspur's condition and value in the world +that nobody would think it worth his while to pay Captain Hotspur's +debts. At present there was a proposition from an old gentleman, +possessed of enormous wealth, to "pay all Captain Hotspur's debts." +Three months ago, Mr. Hart would willingly have sold every scrap +of the Captain's paper in his possession for the half of the +sum inscribed on it. The whole sum was now promised, and would +undoubtedly be paid if the Captain could be worked upon to do as +Mr. Boltby desired. But if the gentlemen employed on this delicate +business were to blow upon the Captain too severely, Mr. Boltby would +have no such absolute necessity to purchase the Captain. The Captain +would sink to zero, and not need purchasing. Mr. Walker must have +back his money,--or so much of it as Mr. Hart might permit him +to take. That probably might be managed; and the Captain must be +thoroughly frightened, and must be made to write the letter which Mr. +Boltby desired. Mr. Hart understood his work very well;--so, it is +hoped, does the reader. + +Captain Stubber was in these days a thorn in our hero's side; but Mr. +Hart was a scourge of scorpions. Mr. Hart never ceased to talk of Mr. +Walker, and of the determination of Walker and Bullbean to go before +a magistrate if restitution were not made. Cousin George of course +denied the foul play, but admitted that he would repay the money if +he had it. There should be no difficulty about the money, Mr. Hart +assured him, if he would only write that letter to Mr. Boltby. In +fact, if he would write that letter to Mr. Boltby, he should be made +"shquare all round." So Mr. Hart was pleased to express himself. But +if this were not done, and done at once, Mr. Hart swore by his God +that Captain "'Oshspur" should be sold up, root and branch, without +another day's mercy. The choice was between five hundred pounds a +year in any of the capitals of Europe, and that without a debt,--or +penal servitude. That was the pleasant form in which Mr. Hart put the +matter to his young friend. + +Cousin George drank a good deal of curacoa, and doubted between Lady +Altringham and Mr. Hart. He knew that he had not told everything to +the Countess. Excellent as was her scheme, perfect as was her wisdom, +her advice was so far more dangerous than the Jew's, that it was +given somewhat in the dark. The Jew knew pretty well everything. The +Jew was interested, of course, and therefore his advice must also be +regarded with suspicion. At last, when Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber +between them had made London too hot to hold him, he started for +Humblethwaite,--not without leaving a note for "dear Mr. Hart," +in which he explained to that gentleman that he was going to +Westmoreland suddenly, with a purpose that would, he trusted, very +speedily enable him to pay every shilling that he owed. + +"Yesh," said Mr. Hart, "and if he ain't quick he shall come back with +a 'andcuff on." + +Captain Hotspur could not very well escape Mr. Hart. He started by +the night-train for Penrith, and before doing so prepared a short +letter for Miss Hotspur, which, as instructed, he put open under +an envelope addressed to the Baronet. There should be nothing +clandestine, nothing dishonourable. Oh dear, no! He quite taught +himself to believe that he would have hated anything dishonourable or +clandestine. His letter was as follows:-- + + + DEAREST EMILY,--After what has passed between us, I cannot + bear not to attempt to see you or to write to you. So + I shall go down and take this letter with me. Of course + I shall not take any steps of which Sir Harry might + disapprove. I wrote to him two or three weeks ago, telling + him what I proposed, and I thought that he would have + answered me. As I have not heard from him I shall take + this with me to Humblethwaite, and shall hope, though I do + not know whether I may dare to expect, to see the girl I + love better than all the world.--Always your own, + + GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + +Even this was not composed by himself, for Cousin George, though +he could often talk well,--or at least sufficiently well for the +purposes which he had on hand,--was not good with his pen on such an +occasion as this. Lady Altringham had sent him by post a rough copy +of what he had better say, and he had copied her ladyship's words +verbatim. There is no matter of doubt at all but that on all such +subjects an average woman can write a better letter than an average +man; and Cousin George was therefore right to obtain assistance from +his female friends. + +He slept at Penrith till nearly noon, then breakfasted and started +with post-horses for Humblethwaite. He felt that everybody knew what +he was about, and was almost ashamed of being seen. Nevertheless he +obeyed his instructions. He had himself driven up through the lodges +and across the park into the large stable-yard of the Hall. Lady +Altringham had quite understood that more people must see and hear +him in this way than if he merely rang at the front door and were +from thence dismissed. The grooms and the coachman saw him, as did +also three or four of the maids who were in the habit of watching to +see that the grooms and coachman did their work. He had brought with +him a travelling-bag,--not expecting to be asked to stay and dine, +but thinking it well to be prepared. This, however, he left in the +fly as he walked round to the hall-door. The footman was already +there when he appeared, as word had gone through the house that +Mr. George had arrived. Was Sir Harry at home? Yes, Sir Harry was +at home;--and then George found himself in a small parlour, or +book-room, or subsidiary library, which he had very rarely known to +be used. But there was a fire in the room, and he stood before it, +twiddling his hat. + +In a quarter of an hour the door was opened, and the servant came +in with a tray and wine and sandwiches. George felt it to be an +inappropriate welcome; but still, after a fashion, it was a welcome. + +"Is Sir Harry in the house?" he asked. + +"Yes, Mr. Hotspur." + +"Does he know that I am here?" + +"Yes, Mr. Hotspur, I think he does." + +Then it occurred to Cousin George that perhaps he might bribe the +servant; and he put his hand into his pocket. But before he had +communicated the two half-crowns, it struck him that there was no +possible request which he could make to the man in reference to which +a bribe would be serviceable. + +"Just ask them to look to the horses," he said; "I don't know whether +they were taken out." + +"The horses is feeding, Mr. Hotspur," said the man. + +Every word the man spoke was gravely spoken, and George understood +perfectly that he was held to have done a very wicked thing in coming +to Humblethwaite. Nevertheless, there was a decanter full of sherry, +which, as far as it went, was an emblem of kindness. Nobody should +say that he was unwilling to accept kindness at his cousin's hands, +and he helped himself liberally. Before he was interrupted again he +had filled his glass four times. + +But in truth it needed something to support him. For a whole hour +after the servant's disappearance he was left alone. There were books +in the room,--hundreds of them; but in such circumstances who could +read? Certainly not Cousin George, to whom books at no time gave much +comfort. Twice and thrice he stepped towards the bell, intending to +ring it, and ask again for Sir Harry; but twice and thrice he paused. +In his position he was bound not to give offence to Sir Harry. At +last the door was opened, and with silent step, and grave demeanour, +and solemn countenance, Lady Elizabeth walked into the room. "We are +very sorry that you should have been kept so long waiting, Captain +Hotspur," she said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE NEW SMITHY. + + +Sir Harry was sitting alone in the library when the tidings were +brought to him that George Hotspur had reached Humblethwaite with +a pair of post-horses from Penrith. The old butler, Cloudesdale, +brought him the news, and Cloudesdale whispered it into his ears with +solemn sorrow. Cloudesdale was well aware that Cousin George was no +credit to the house of Humblethwaite. And much about the same time +the information was brought to Lady Elizabeth by her housekeeper, and +to Emily by her own maid. It was by Cloudesdale's orders that George +was shown into the small room near the hall; and he told Sir Harry +what he had done in a funereal whisper. Lady Altringham had been +quite right in her method of ensuring the general delivery of the +information about the house. + +Emily flew at once to her mother. "George is here," she said. Mrs. +Quick, the housekeeper, was at that moment leaving the room. + +"So Quick tells me. What can have brought him, my dear?" + +"Why should he not come, Mamma?" + +"Because your papa will not make him welcome to the house. Oh, +dear,--he knows that. What are we to do?" In a few minutes Mrs. Quick +came back again. Sir Harry would be much obliged if her ladyship +would go to him. Then it was that the sandwiches and sherry were +ordered. It was a compromise on the part of Lady Elizabeth between +Emily's prayer that some welcome might be shown, and Sir Harry's +presumed determination that the banished man should continue to be +regarded as banished. "Take him some kind of refreshment, Quick;--a +glass of wine or something, you know." Then Mrs. Quick had cut the +sandwiches with her own hand, and Cloudesdale had given the sherry. +"He ain't eaten much, but he's made it up with the wine," said +Cloudesdale, when the tray was brought back again. + +Lady Elizabeth went down to her husband, and there was a +consultation. Sir Harry was quite clear that he would not now, on +this day, admit Cousin George as a guest into his house; nor would he +see him. To that conclusion he came after his wife had been with him +some time. He would not see him, there, at Humblethwaite. If George +had anything to say that could not be said in a letter, a meeting +might be arranged elsewhere. Sir Harry confessed, however, that +he could not see that good results could come from any meeting +whatsoever. "The truth is, that I don't want to have anything more to +do with him," said Sir Harry. That was all very well, but as Emily's +wants in this respect were at variance with her father's, there was +a difficulty. Lady Elizabeth pleaded that some kind of civility, at +least some mitigation of opposition, should be shown, for Emily's +sake. At last she was commissioned to go to Cousin George, to send +him away from the house, and, if necessary, to make an appointment +between him and Sir Harry at the Crown, at Penrith, for the morrow. +Nothing on earth should induce Sir Harry to see his cousin anywhere +on his own premises. As for any meeting between Cousin George and +Emily, that was, of course, out of the question,--and he must go from +Humblethwaite. Such were the instructions with which Lady Elizabeth +descended to the little room. + +Cousin George came forward with the pleasantest smile to take Lady +Elizabeth by the hand. He was considerably relieved when he saw Lady +Elizabeth, because of her he was not afraid. "I do not at all mind +waiting," he said. "How is Sir Harry?" + +"Quite well." + +"And yourself?" + +"Pretty well, thank you." + +"And Emily?" + +Lady Elizabeth knew that in answering him she ought to call her own +daughter Miss Hotspur, but she lacked the courage. "Emily is well +too. Sir Harry has thought it best that I should come to you and +explain that just at present he cannot ask you to Humblethwaite." + +"I did not expect it." + +"And he had rather not see you himself,--at least not here." Lady +Elizabeth had not been instructed to propose a meeting. She had +been told rather to avoid it if possible. But, like some other +undiplomatic ambassadors, in her desire to be civil, she ran at once +to the extremity of the permitted concessions. "If you have anything +to say to Sir Harry--" + +"I have, Lady Elizabeth; a great deal." + +"And if you could write it--" + +"I am so bad at writing." + +"Then Sir Harry will go over and see you to-morrow at Penrith." + +"That will be so very troublesome to him!" + +"You need not regard that. At what hour shall he come?" + +Cousin George was profuse in declaring that he would be at his +cousin's disposal at any hour Sir Harry might select, from six in the +morning throughout the day and night. But might he not say a word to +Emily? At this proposition Lady Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. +It was quite out of the question. Circumstanced as they all were at +present, Sir Harry would not think of such a thing. And then it would +do no good. Lady Elizabeth did not believe that Emily herself would +wish it. At any rate there need be no further talk about it, as +any such interview was at present quite impossible. By all which +arguments and refusals, and the tone in which they were pronounced, +Cousin George was taught to perceive that, at any rate in the mind +of Lady Elizabeth, the process of parental yielding had already +commenced. + +On all such occasions interviews are bad. The teller of this story +ventures to take the opportunity of recommending parents in such +cases always to refuse interviews, not only between the young lady +and the lover who is to be excluded, but also between themselves and +the lover. The vacillating tone,--even when the resolve to suppress +vacillation has been most determined,--is perceived and understood, +and at once utilized, by the least argumentative of lovers, even by +lovers who are obtuse. The word "never" may be so pronounced as to +make the young lady's twenty thousand pounds full present value for +ten in the lover's pocket. There should be no arguments, no letters, +no interviews; and the young lady's love should be starved by the +absence of all other mention of the name, and by the imperturbable +good humour on all other matters of those with whom she comes in +contact in her own domestic circle. If it be worth anything, it won't +be starved; but if starving to death be possible, that is the way to +starve it. Lady Elizabeth was a bad ambassador; and Cousin George, +when he took his leave, promising to be ready to meet Sir Harry at +twelve on the morrow, could almost comfort himself with a prospect +of success. He might be successful, if only he could stave off +the Walker and Bullbean portion of Mr. Hart's persecution! For he +understood that the success of his views at Humblethwaite must +postpone the payment by Sir Harry of those moneys for which Mr. Hart +and Captain Stubber were so unreasonably greedy. He would have dared +to defy the greed, but for the Walker and Bullbean portion of the +affair. Sir Harry already knew that he was in debt to these men; +already knew with fair accuracy the amount of those debts. Hart and +Stubber could not make him worse in Sir Harry's eyes than he was +already, unless the Walker and Bullbean story should be told with the +purpose of destroying him. How he did hate Walker and Bullbean and +the memory of that evening;--and yet the money which now enabled him +to drink champagne at the Penrith Crown was poor Mr. Walker's money! +As he was driven back to Penrith he thought of all this, for some +moments sadly, and at others almost with triumph. Might not a letter +to Mr. Hart, with perhaps a word of truth in it, do some good? That +evening, after his champagne, he wrote a letter:-- + + + DEAR MR. HART,--Things are going uncommon well here, only + I hope you will do nothing to disturb just at present. + It _must_ come off, if a little time is given, and then + _every shilling_ will be paid. A few pounds more or less + won't make any difference. Do arrange this, and you'll + find I'll never forget how kind you have been. I've been + at Humblethwaite to-day, and things are going quite + smooth. + + Yours most sincerely, + + GEORGE HOTSPUR. + + Don't mention Walker's name, and everything shall be + settled just as you shall fix. + + The Crown, Penrith, Thursday. + + +The moment the letter was written he rang the bell and gave it to the +waiter. Such was the valour of drink operating on him now, as it had +done when he wrote that other letter to Sir Harry! The drink made him +brave to write, and to make attempts, and to dare consequences; but +even whilst brave with drink, he knew that the morning's prudence +would refuse its assent to such courage; and therefore, to save +himself from the effects of the morning's cowardice, he put the +letter at once out of his own power of control. After this fashion +were arranged most of Cousin George's affairs. Before dinner on +that day the evening of which he had passed with Mr. Walker, he had +resolved that certain hints given to him by Mr. Bullbean should be +of no avail to him;--not to that had he yet descended, nor would he +so descend;--but with his brandy after dinner divine courage had +come, and success had attended the brave. As soon as he was awake on +that morning after writing to Mr. Hart, he rang his bell to inquire +whether that letter which he had given to the waiter at twelve +o'clock last night were still in the house. It was too late. The +letter in which so imprudent a mention had been made of Mr. Walker's +name was already in the post. "Never mind," said Cousin George to +himself; "None but the brave deserve the fair." Then he turned round +for another nap. It was not much past nine, and Sir Harry would not +be there before twelve. + +In the mean time there had been hope also and doubt also at +Humblethwaite. Sir Harry was not surprised and hardly disappointed +when he was told that he was to go to Penrith to see his cousin. +The offer had been made by himself, and he was sure that he would +not escape with less; and when Emily was told by her mother of the +arrangement, she saw in it a way to the fulfilment of the prayer +which she had made to her father. She would say nothing to him that +evening, leaving to him the opportunity of speaking to her, should he +choose to do so. But on the following morning she would repeat her +prayer. On that evening not a word was said about George while Sir +Harry and Lady Elizabeth were together with their daughter. Emily had +made her plan, and she clung to it. Her father was very gentle with +her, sitting close to her as she played some pieces of music to him +in the evening, caressing her and looking lovingly into her eyes, as +he bade God bless her when she left him for the night; but he had +determined to say nothing to encourage her. He was still minded that +there could be no such encouragement; but he doubted;--in his heart +of hearts he doubted. He would still have bought off Cousin George +by the sacrifice of half his property, and yet he doubted. After all, +there would be some consolation in that binding together of the name +and the property. + +"What will you say to him?" Lady Elizabeth asked her husband that +night. + +"Tell him to go away." + +"Nothing more than that?" + +"What more is there to say? If he be willing to be bought, I will buy +him. I will pay his debts and give him an income." + +"You think, then, there can be no hope?" + +"Hope!--for whom?" + +"For Emily." + +"I hope to preserve her--from a--scoundrel." And yet he had thought +of the consolation! + +Emily was very persistent in carrying out her plan. Prayers at +Humblethwaite were always read with admirable punctuality at a +quarter-past nine, so that breakfast might be commenced at half-past. +Sir Harry every week-day was in his own room for three-quarters of an +hour before prayers. All this was like clock-work at Humblethwaite. +There would always be some man or men with Sir Harry during these +three-quarters of an hour,--a tenant, a gamekeeper, a groom, a +gardener, or a bailiff. But Emily calculated that if she made her +appearance and held her ground, the tenant or the bailiff would +give way, and that thus she would ensure a private interview with +her father. Were she to wait till after breakfast, this would be +difficult. A very few minutes after the half-hour she knocked at the +door and was admitted. The village blacksmith was then suggesting a +new smithy. + +"Papa," said Emily, "if you would allow me half a minute--" + +The village blacksmith and the bailiff, who was also present, +withdrew, bowing to Emily, who gave to each of them a smile and a +nod. They were her old familiar friends, and they looked kindly at +her. She was to be their future lady; but was it not all important +that their future lord should be a Hotspur? + +Sir Harry had thought it not improbable that his daughter would come +to him, but would have preferred to avoid the interview if possible. +Here it was, however, and could not be avoided. + +"Papa," she said, kissing him, "you are going to Penrith to-day." + +"Yes, my dear." + +"To see Cousin George?" + +"Yes, Emily." + +"Will you remember what we were saying the other day;--what I said?" + +"I will endeavour to do my duty as best I may," said Sir Harry, after +a pause. + +"I am sure you will, Papa;--and so do I. I do endeavour to do my +duty. Will you not try to help him?" + +"Certainly, I will try to help him; for your sake rather than for his +own. If I can help him with money, by paying his debts and giving him +means to live, I will do so." + +"Papa, that is not what I mean." + +"What else can I do?" + +"Save him from the evil of his ways." + +"I will try. I would,--if I knew how,--even if only for the name's +sake." + +"For my sake also, Papa. Papa, let us do it together; you and I and +Mamma. Let him come here." + +"It is impossible." + +"Let him come here," she said, as though disregarding his refusal. +"You need not be afraid of me. I know how much there is to do that +will be very hard in doing before any,--any other arrangement can be +talked about." + +"I am not afraid of you, my child." + +"Let him come, then." + +"No;--it would do no good. Do you think he would live here quietly?" + +"Try him." + +"What would people say?" + +"Never mind what people would say: he is our cousin; he is your heir. +He is the person whom I love best in all the world. Have you not a +right to have him here if you wish it? I know what you are thinking +of; but, Papa, there can never be anybody else;--never." + +"Emily, you will kill me, I think." + +"Dear Papa, let us see if we cannot try. And, oh, Papa, pray, pray +let me see him." When she went away the bailiff and the blacksmith +returned; but Sir Harry's power of resistance was gone, so that he +succumbed to the new smithy without a word. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +COUSIN GEORGE'S SUCCESS. + + +Thoughts crowded quick into the mind of Sir Harry Hotspur as he +had himself driven over to Penrith. It was a dull, dreary day in +November, and he took the close carriage. The distance was about ten +miles, and he had therefore something above an hour for thinking. +When men think much, they can rarely decide. The affairs as to which +a man has once acknowledged to himself that he may be either wise or +foolish, prudent or imprudent, are seldom matters on which he can by +any amount of thought bring himself to a purpose which to his own +eyes shall be clearly correct. When he can decide without thinking, +then he can decide without a doubt, and with perfect satisfaction. +But in this matter Sir Harry thought much. There had been various +times at which he was quite sure that it was his duty to repudiate +this cousin utterly. There had never been a time at which he had been +willing to accept him. Nevertheless, at this moment, with all his +struggles of thought he could not resolve. Was his higher duty due +to his daughter, or to his family,--and through his family to his +country, which, as he believed, owed its security and glory to the +maintenance of its aristocracy? Would he be justified,--justified +in any degree,--in subjecting his child to danger in the hope that +his name and family pride might be maintained? Might he take his own +desires in that direction as any make-weight towards a compliance +with his girl's strong wishes, grounded as they were on quite other +reasons? Mr. Boltby had been very eager in telling him that he ought +to have nothing to say to this cousin, had loaded the cousin's name +with every imaginable evil epithet; and of Mr. Boltby's truth and +honesty there could be no doubt. But then Mr. Boltby had certainly +exceeded his duty, and was of course disposed, by his professional +view of the matter, to think any step the wisest which would tend to +save the property from dangerous hands. Sir Harry felt that there +were things to be saved of more value than the property;--the family, +the title, perhaps that reprobate cousin himself; and then, above +all, his child. He did believe that his child would not smile for him +again, unless he would consent to make some effort in favour of her +lover. + +Doubtless the man was very bad. Sir Harry was sick at heart as +he thought of the evil nature of the young man's vices. Of a man +debauched in his life, extravagant with his money, even of a gambler, +a drunkard, one fond of low men and of low women;--of one even such +as this there might be hope, and the vicious man, if he will give up +his vices, may still be loved and at last respected. But of a liar, a +swindler, one mean as well as vicious, what hope could there be? It +was essential to Sir Harry that the husband of his daughter should at +any rate be a gentleman. The man's blood, indeed, was good; and blood +will show at last, let the mud be ever so deep. So said Sir Harry to +himself. And Emily would consent that the man should be tried by what +severest fire might be kindled for the trying of him. If there were +any gold there, it might be possible to send the dross adrift, and +to get the gold without alloy. Could Lady Altringham have read Sir +Harry's mind as his carriage was pulled up, just at twelve o'clock, +at the door of the Penrith Crown, she would have been stronger than +ever in her belief that young lovers, if they be firm, can always +conquer opposing parents. + +But alas, alas, there was no gold with this dross, and in that matter +of blood, as to which Sir Harry's ideas were so strong, and indeed +so noble, he entertained but a muddled theory. Noblesse oblige. High +position will demand, and will often exact, high work. But that rule +holds as good with a Buonaparte as with a Bourbon, with a Cromwell +as with a Stewart; and succeeds as often and fails as often with +the low born as with the high. And good blood too will have its +effect,--physical for the most part,--and will produce bottom, +lasting courage, that capacity of carrying on through the mud to +which Sir Harry was wont to allude; but good blood will bring no +man back to honesty. The two things together, no doubt, assist in +producing the highest order of self-denying man. + +When Sir Harry got out of his carriage, he had not yet made up his +mind. The waiter had been told that he was expected, and showed him +up at once into the large sitting-room looking out into the street, +which Cousin George had bespoke for the occasion. He had had a +smaller room himself, but had been smoking there, and at this moment +in that room there was a decanter and a wine-glass on the chiffonier +in one corner. He had heard the bustle of the arrival, and had at +once gone into the saloon prepared for the reception of the great +man. "I am so sorry to give you this trouble," said Cousin George, +coming forward to greet his cousin. Sir Harry could not refuse his +cousin's hand, though he would willingly have done so, had it been +possible. "I should not mind the trouble," he said, "if it were of +any use. I fear it can be of none." + +"I hope you will not be prejudiced against me, Sir Harry." + +"I trust that I am not prejudiced against any one. What is it that +you wish me to do?" + +"I want permission to go to Humblethwaite, as a suitor for your +daughter's hand." So far Cousin George had prepared his speech +beforehand. + +"And what have you to recommend you to a father for such permission? +Do you not know, sir, that when a gentleman proposes to a lady it is +his duty to show that he is in a condition fit for the position which +he seeks; that in character, in means, in rank, in conduct, he is at +least her equal." + +"As for our rank, Sir Harry, it is the same." + +"And for your means? You know that my daughter is my heiress?" + +"I do; but it is not that that has brought me to her. Of course, +I have nothing. But then, you know, though she will inherit the +estates, I must inherit--" + +"If you please, sir, we will not go into all that again," said Sir +Harry, interrupting him. "I explained to you before, sir, that +I would have admitted your future rank as a counterpoise to her +fortune, if I could have trusted your character. I cannot trust it. I +do not know why you should thrust upon me the necessity of saying all +this again. As I believe that you are in pecuniary distress, I made +you an offer which I thought to be liberal." + +"It was liberal, but it did not suit me to accept it." George had +an inkling of what would pass within Sir Harry's bosom as to the +acceptance or rejection of that offer. "I wrote to you, declining it, +and as I have received no answer, I thought that I would just run +down. What was I to do?" + +"Do? How can I tell? Pay your debts. The money was offered you." + +"I cannot give up my cousin. Has she been allowed to receive the +letter which I left for her yesterday?" + +Now Sir Harry had doubted much in his own mind as to the letter. +During that morning's interview it had still been in his own +possession. As he was preparing to leave the house he had made +up his mind that she should have it; and Lady Elizabeth had been +commissioned to give it her, not without instruction and explanation. +Her father would not keep it from her, because he trusted her +implicitly; but she was to understand that it could mean nothing to +her, and that the letter must not of course be answered. + +"It does not matter whether she did or did not," said Sir Harry. +"I ask you again, whether you will accept the offer made you by Mr. +Boltby, and give me your written promise not to renew this suit." + +"I cannot do that, Sir Harry." + +Sir Harry did not know how to proceed with the interview. As he had +come there, some proposition must be made by himself. Had he intended +to be altogether obstinate he should have remained at Humblethwaite, +and kept his cousin altogether out of the house. And now his +daughter's prayers were ringing in his ears: "Dear Papa, let us see +if we cannot try." And then again that assurance which she had made +him so solemnly: "Papa, there never can be anybody else!" If the +black sheep could be washed white, the good of such washing would on +every side be so great! He would have to blush,--let the washing be +ever so perfect,--he must always blush in having such a son-in-law; +but he had been forced to acknowledge to himself of late, that there +was infinitely more of trouble and shame in this world than of joy or +honour. Was it not in itself a disgrace that a Hotspur should do such +things as this cousin had done; and a disgrace also that his daughter +should have loved a man so unfit to be her lover? And then from day +to day, and from hour to hour, he remembered that these ills were +added to the death of that son, who, had he lived, would have been +such a glory to him. More of trouble and disgrace! Was it not all +trouble and disgrace? He would have wished that the day might come +for him to go away and leave it all, were it not that for one +placed as he was placed his own life would not see the end of these +troubles. He must endeavour to provide that everything should not go +to utter ruin as soon as he should have taken his departure. + +He walked about the room, again trying to think. Or, perhaps, all +thinking was over with him now, and he was resolving in his own mind +how best he might begin to yield. He must obey his daughter. He could +not break the heart of the only child that was left to him. He had no +delight in the world other than what came to him reflected back from +her. He felt now as though he was simply a steward endeavouring on +her behalf to manage things to the best advantage; but still only a +steward, and as such only a servant who could not at last decide on +the mode of management to be adopted. He could endeavour to persuade, +but she must decide. Now his daughter had decided, and he must begin +this task, so utterly distasteful to him, of endeavouring to wash the +blackamoor white. + +"What are you willing to do?" he asked. + +"How to do, Sir Harry?" + +"You have led a bad life." + +"I suppose I have, Sir Harry." + +"How will you show yourself willing to reform it?" + +"Only pay my debts and set me up with ready money, and I'll go along +as slick as grease!" Thus would Cousin George have answered the +question had he spoken his mind freely. But he knew that he might not +be so explicit. He must promise much; but, of course, in making his +promise he must arrange about his debts. "I'll do almost anything +you like. Only try me. Of course it would be so much easier if those +debts were paid off. I'll give up races altogether, if you mean that, +Sir Harry. Indeed, I'm ready to give up anything." + +"Will you give up London?" + +"London!" In simple truth, George did not quite understand the +proposition. + +"Yes; will you leave London? Will you go and live at Scarrowby, and +learn to look after the farm and the place?" + +George's face fell,--his face being less used to lying than his +tongue; but his tongue lied at once: "Oh yes, certainly, if you wish +it. I should rather like a life of that sort. For how long would it +be?" + +"For two years," said Sir Harry, grimly. + +Cousin George, in truth, did not understand. He thought that he was +to take his bride with him when he went to Scarrowby. "Perhaps Emily +would not like it," he said. + +"It is what she desires. You do not suppose that she knows so little +of your past life as to be willing to trust herself into your hands +at once. She is attached to you." + +"And so am I to her; on my honour I am. I'm sure you don't doubt +that." + +Sir Harry doubted every word that fell from his cousin's mouth, but +still he persevered. He could perceive though he could not analyse, +and there was hardly a tone which poor Cousin George used which did +not discourage the Baronet. Still he persevered. He must persevere +now, even if it were only to prove to Emily how much of basest clay +and how little of gold there was in this image. + +"She is attached to you," he continued, "and you bear our name, and +will be the head of our family. If you will submit yourself to a +reformed life, and will prove that you are fit for her, it may be +possible that after years she should be your wife." + +"After years, Sir Harry?" + +"Yes, sir,--after years. Do you suppose that the happiness of such an +one as she can be trusted to such keeping as yours without a trial of +you? You will find that she has no such hope herself." + +"Oh, of course; what she likes--" + +"I will pay your debts; on condition that Mr. Boltby is satisfied +that he has the entire list of them." + +George, as he heard this, at once determined that he must persuade +Mr. Hart to include Mr. Walker's little account in that due to +himself. It was only a matter of a few hundreds, and might surely be +arranged when so much real money would be passing from hand to hand. + +"I will pay everything; you shall then go down to Scarrowby, and the +house shall be prepared for you." + +It wasn't supposed, George thought, that he was absolutely to live in +solitary confinement at Scarrowby. He might have a friend or two, and +then the station was very near. + +"You are fond of shooting, and you will have plenty of it there. +We will get you made a magistrate for the county, and there is +much to do in looking after the property." Sir Harry became almost +good-humoured in his tone as he described the kind of life which he +intended that the blackamoor should live. "We will come to you for a +month each year, and then you can come to us for a while." + +"When shall it begin?" asked Cousin George, as soon as the Baronet +paused. This was a question difficult to be answered. In fact, the +arrangement must be commenced at once. Sir Harry knew very well that, +having so far yielded, he must take his cousin back with him to +Humblethwaite. He must keep his cousin now in his possession till all +those debts should be paid, and till the house at Scarrowby should be +prepared; and he must trust to his daughter's prudence and high sense +of right not to treat her lover with too tender an acknowledgment of +her love till he should have been made to pass through the fire of +reform. + +"You had better get ready and come back to Humblethwaite with me +now," said Sir Harry. + +Within five minutes after that there was bustling about the passages +and hall of the Crown Hotel. Everybody in the house, from the august +landlord down to the humble stableboy, knew that there had been a +reconciliation between Sir Harry and his cousin, and that the cousin +was to be made welcome to all the good the gods could give. While +Cousin George was packing his things, Sir Harry called for the bill +and paid it,--without looking at it, because he would not examine how +the blackamoor had lived while he was still a blackamoor. + +"I wonder whether he observed the brandy," thought Cousin George to +himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +EMILY HOTSPUR'S SERMON. + + +The greater portion of the journey back to Humblethwaite was passed +in silence. Sir Harry had undertaken an experiment in which he had no +faith himself, and was sad at heart. Cousin George was cowed, half +afraid, and yet half triumphant. Could it be possible that he should +"pull through" after all? Some things had gone so well with him. His +lady friends had been so true to him! Lady Altringham, and then Mrs. +Morton,--how good they had been! Dear Lucy! He would never forget +her. And Emily was such a brick! He was going to see his Emily, and +that would be "so jolly." Nevertheless, he did acknowledge to himself +that an Emily prepared to assist her father in sending her lover +through the fire of reform, would not be altogether "so jolly" as the +Emily who had leaned against him on the bridge at Airey Force, while +his arm had been tightly clasped round her waist. He was alive to the +fact that romance must give place to business. + +When they had entered the park-gates, Sir Harry spoke. "You must +understand, George"--he had not called him George before since the +engagement had been made known to him--"that you cannot yet be +admitted here as my daughter's accepted suitor, as might have been +the case had your past life been different." + +"I see all that," said Cousin George. + +"It is right that I should tell you so; but I trust implicitly to +Emily's high sense of duty and propriety. And now that you are here, +George, I trust that it may be for your advantage and for ours." + +Then he pressed his cousin's hand, if not with affection, at least +with sincerity. + +"I'm sure it is to be all right now," said George, calculating +whether he would be able to escape to London for a few days, so that +he might be able to arrange that little matter with Mr. Hart. They +couldn't suppose that he would be able to leave London for two years +without a day's notice! + +Sir Harry got out of the carriage at the front door, and desired +Cousin George to follow him into the house. He turned at once into +the small room where George had drunk the sherry, and desired that +Lady Elizabeth might be sent to him. + +"My dear," said he, "I have brought George back with me. We will do +the best that we can. Mrs. Quick will have a room for him. You had +better tell Emily, and let her come to me for a moment before she +sees her cousin." This was all said in George's hearing. And then Sir +Harry went, leaving his cousin in the hands of Lady Elizabeth. + +"I am glad to see you back again, George," she said, with a +melancholy voice. + +Cousin George smiled, and said, that "it would be all right." + +"I am sure I hope so, for my girl's sake. But there must be a great +change, George." + +"No end of a change," said Cousin George, who was not in the least +afraid of Lady Elizabeth. + +Many things of moment had to be done in the house that day before +dinner. In the first place there was a long interview between the +father and daughter. For a few minutes, perhaps, he was really happy +when she was kneeling with her arms upon his knees, thanking him for +what he had done, while tears of joy were streaming down her cheeks. +He would not bring himself to say a word of caution to her. Would it +not be to paint the snow white to caution her as to her conduct? + +"I have done as you bade me in everything," he said. "I have proposed +to him that he should go to Scarrowby. It may be that it will be your +home for a while, dear." + +She thanked him and kissed him again and again. She would be so +good. She would do all she could to deserve his kindness. And as for +George,--"Pray, Papa, don't think that I suppose that it can be all +done quite at once." Nevertheless it was in that direction that her +thoughts erred. It did seem to her that the hard part of the work was +already done, and that now the pleasant paths of virtue were to be +trod with happy and persistent feet. + +"You had better see him in your mother's presence, dearest, before +dinner; and then the awkwardness will be less afterwards." + +She kissed him again, and ran from his room up to her mother's +apartment, taking some back stairs well known to herself, lest she +should by chance meet her lover after some undue and unprepared +fashion. And there she could sit down and think of it all! She +would be very discreet. He should be made to understand at once +that the purgation must be thorough, the reform complete. She would +acknowledge her love to him,--her great and abiding love; but of +lover's tenderness there could be but little,--almost none,--till the +fire had done its work, and the gold should have been separated from +the dross. She had had her way so far, and they should find that she +had deserved it. + +Before dinner Sir Harry wrote a letter to his lawyer. The mail-cart +passed through the village on its way to Penrith late in the evening, +and there was time for him to save the post. He thought it incumbent +on him to let Mr. Boltby know that he had changed his mind; and, +though the writing of the letter was not an agreeable task, he did it +at once. He said nothing to Mr. Boltby directly about his daughter, +but he made it known to that gentleman that Cousin George was at +present a guest at Humblethwaite, and that he intended to pay all the +debts without entering into any other specific engagements. Would Mr. +Boltby have the goodness to make out a schedule of the debts? Captain +Hotspur should be instructed to give Mr. Boltby at once all the +necessary information by letter. Then Sir Harry went on to say that +perhaps the opinions formed in reference to Captain Hotspur had been +too severe. He was ashamed of himself as he wrote these words, but +still they were written. If the blackamoor was to be washed white, +the washing must be carried out at all times, at all seasons, and in +every possible manner, till the world should begin to see that the +blackness was going out of the skin. + +Cousin George was summoned to meet the girl who loved him in her +mother's morning-room, before they dressed for dinner. He did not +know at all in what way to conduct himself. He had not given a +moment's thought to it till the difficulty flashed upon him as she +entered the apartment. But she had considered it all. She came up to +him quickly, and gave him her lips to kiss, standing there in her +mother's presence. + +"George," she said, "dear George! I am so glad that you are here." + +It was the first; and it should be the last,--till the fire had done +its work; till the fire should at least have done so much of its work +as to make the remainder easy and fairly sure. He had little to say +for himself, but muttered something about his being the happiest +fellow in the world. It was a position in which a man could hardly +behave well, and neither the mother nor the daughter expected much +from him. A man cannot bear himself gracefully under the weight of a +pardon as a woman may do. A man chooses generally that it shall be +assumed by those with whom he is closely connected that he has done +and is doing no wrong; and, when wronged, he professes to forgive +and to forget in silence. To a woman the act of forgiveness, either +accepted or bestowed, is itself a pleasure. A few words were then +spoken, mostly by Lady Elizabeth, and the three separated to prepare +for dinner. + +The next day passed over them at Humblethwaite Hall very quietly, but +with some mild satisfaction. Sir Harry told his cousin of the letter +to his lawyer, and desired George to make out and send by that day's +post such a schedule as might be possible on the spur of the moment. + +"Hadn't I better run up and see Mr. Boltby?" said Cousin George. + +But to this Sir Harry was opposed. Let any calls for money reach them +there. Whatever the calls might be, he at any rate could pay them. +Cousin George repeated his suggestion; but acquiesced when Sir Harry +frowned and showed his displeasure. He did make out a schedule, and +did write a letter to Mr. Boltby. + +"I think my debt to Mr. Hart was put down as L3,250," he wrote, "but +I believe I should have added another L350 for a transaction as to +which I fancy he does not hold my note of hand. But the money is +due." + +He was fool enough to think that Mr. Walker's claim might be +liquidated after this fashion. In the afternoon they rode +together,--the father, the daughter, and the blackamoor, and much was +told to Cousin George as to the nature of the property. The names +of the tenants were mentioned, and the boundaries of the farms were +pointed out to him. He was thinking all the time whether Mr. Hart +would spare him. + +But Emily Hotspur, though she had been thus reticent and quiet in her +joy, though she was resolved to be discreet, and knew that there were +circumstances in her engagement which would for a while deter her +from being with her accepted lover as other girls are with theirs, +did not mean to estrange herself from her cousin George. If she were +to do so, how was she to assist, and take, as she hoped to do, the +first part in that task of refining the gold on which they were all +now intent? She was to correspond with him when he was at Scarrowby. +Such was her present programme, and Sir Harry had made no objection +when she declared her purpose. Of course they must understand each +other, and have communion together. On the third day, therefore, it +was arranged they two should walk, without other company, about the +place. She must show him her own gardens, which were at some distance +from the house. If the truth be told, it must be owned that George +somewhat dreaded the afternoon's amusement; but had she demanded of +him to sit down to listen to her while she read to him a sermon, he +would not have refused. + +To be didactic and at the same time demonstrative of affection is +difficult, even with mothers towards their children, though with +them the assumption of authority creates no sense of injury. Emily +specially desired to point out to the erring one the paths of virtue, +and yet to do so without being oppressive. + +"It is so nice to have you here, George," she said. + +"Yes, indeed; isn't it?" He was walking beside her, and as yet they +were within view of the house. + +"Papa has been so good; isn't he good?" + +"Indeed he is. The best man I know out," said George, thinking that +his gratitude would have been stronger had the Baronet given him the +money and allowed him to go up to London to settle his own debts. + +"And Mamma has been so kind! Mamma is very fond of you. I am sure she +would do anything for you." + +"And you?" said George, looking into her face. + +"I!--As for me, George, it is a matter of course now. You do not want +to be told again what is and ever must be my first interest in the +world." + +"I do not care how often you tell me." + +"But you know it; don't you?" + +"I know what you said at the waterfall, Emily." + +"What I said then I said for always. You may be sure of that. I told +Mamma so, and Papa. If they had not wanted me to love you, they +should not have asked you to come here. I do love you, and I hope +that some day I may be your wife." + +She was not leaning on his arm, but as she spoke she stopped, and +looked stedfastly into his face. He put out his hand as though to +take hers; but she shook her head, refusing it. "No, George; come on. +I want to talk to you a great deal. I want to say ever so much,--now, +to-day. I hope that some day I may be your wife. If I am not, I shall +never be any man's wife." + +"What does some day mean, Emily?" + +"Ever so long;--years, perhaps." + +"But why? A fellow has to be consulted, you know, as well as +yourself. What is the use of waiting? I know Sir Harry thinks I have +been very fond of pleasure. How can I better show him how willing I +am to give it up than by marrying and settling down at once? I don't +see what's to be got by waiting?" + +Of course she must tell him the truth. She had no idea of keeping +back the truth. She loved him with all her heart, and was resolved +to marry him; but the dross must first be purged from the gold. "Of +course you know, George, that Papa has made objections." + +"I know he did, but that is over now. I am to go and live at +Scarrowby at once, and have the shooting. He can't want me to remain +there all by myself." + +"But he does; and so do I." + +"Why?" + +In order that he might be made clean by the fire of solitude and the +hammer of hard work. She could not quite say this to him. "You know, +George, your life has been one of pleasure." + +"I was in the army,--for some years." + +"But you left it, and you took to going to races, and they say that +you gambled and are in debt, and you have been reckless. Is not that +true, George?" + +"It is true." + +"And should you wonder that Papa should be afraid to trust his only +child and all his property to one who,--who knows that he has been +reckless? But if you can show, for a year or two, that you can give +up all that--" + +"Wouldn't it be all given up if we were married?" + +"Indeed, I hope so. I should break my heart otherwise. But can you +wonder that Papa should wish for some delay and some proof?" + +"Two years!" + +"Is that much? If I find you doing what he wishes, these two years +will be so happy to me! We shall come and see you, and you will come +here. I have never liked Scarrowby, because it is not pretty, as this +place is; but, oh, how I shall like to go there now! And when you are +here, Papa will get to be so fond of you. You will be like a real son +to him. Only you must be steady." + +"Steady! by Jove, yes. A fellow will have to be steady at Scarrowby." +The perfume of the cleanliness of the life proposed to him was not +sweet to his nostrils. + +She did not like this, but she knew that she could not have +everything at once. "You must know," she said, "that there is a +bargain between me and Papa. I told him that I should tell you +everything." + +"Yes; I ought to be told everything." + +"It is he that shall fix the day. He is to do so much, that he has a +right to that. I shall never press him, and you must not." + +"Oh, but I shall." + +"It will be of no use; and, George, I won't let you. I shall scold +you if you do. When he thinks that you have learned how to manage the +property, and that your mind is set upon that kind of work, and that +there are no more races,--mind, and no betting, then,--then he will +consent. And I will tell you something more if you would like to hear +it." + +"Something pleasant, is it?" + +"When he does, and tells me that he is not afraid to give me to you, +I shall be the happiest girl in all England. Is that pleasant?--No, +George, no; I will not have it." + +"Not give me one kiss?" + +"I gave you one when you came, to show you that in truth I loved you. +I will give you another when Papa says that everything is right." + +"Not till then?" + +"No, George, not till then. But I shall love you just the same. I +cannot love you better than I do." + +He had nothing for it but to submit, and was obliged to be content +during the remainder of their long walk with talking of his future +life at Scarrowby. It was clearly her idea that he should be +head-farmer, head-steward, head-accountant, and general workman for +the whole place. When he talked about the game, she brought him back +to the plough;--so at least he declared to himself. And he could +elicit no sympathy from her when he reminded her that the nearest +meet of hounds was twenty miles and more from Scarrowby. "You can +think of other things for a while," she said. He was obliged to say +that he would, but it did seem to him that Scarrowby was a sort +of penal servitude to which he was about to be sent with his own +concurrence. The scent of the cleanliness was odious to him. + +"I don't know what I shall do there of an evening," he said. + +"Read," she answered; "there are lots of books, and you can always +have the magazines. I will send them to you." It was a very dreary +prospect of life for him, but he could not tell her that it would be +absolutely unendurable. + +When their walk was over,--a walk which she never could forget, +however long might be her life, so earnest had been her purpose,--he +was left alone, and took another stroll by himself. How would it suit +him? Was it possible? Could the event "come off"? Might it not have +been better for him had he allowed his other loving friend to prepare +for him the letter to the Baronet, in which Sir Harry's munificent +offer would have been accepted? Let us do him the justice to remember +that he was quite incapable of understanding the misery, the utter +ruin which that letter would have entailed upon her who loved him so +well. He knew nothing of such sufferings as would have been hers--as +must be hers, for had she not already fallen haplessly into the pit +when she had once allowed herself to fix her heart upon a thing so +base as this? It might have been better, he thought, if that letter +had been written. A dim dull idea came upon him that he was not fit +to be this girl's husband. He could not find his joys where she would +find hers. No doubt it would be a grand thing to own Humblethwaite +and Scarrowby at some future time; but Sir Harry might live for these +twenty years, and while Sir Harry lived he must be a slave. And then +he thought that upon the whole he liked Lucy Morton better than +Emily Hotspur. He could say what he chose to Lucy, and smoke in her +presence, own that he was fond of drink, and obtain some sympathy for +his "book" on the Derby. He began to feel already that he did not +like sermons from the girl of his heart. + +But he had chosen this side now, and he must go on with the game. +It seemed certain to him that his debts would at any rate be paid. +He was not at all certain how matters might go in reference to +Mr. Walker, but if matters came to the worst the Baronet would +probably be willing to buy him off again with the promised income. +Nevertheless, he was not comfortable, and certainly did not shine at +Sir Harry's table. "Why she has loved him, what she has seen in him, +I cannot tell," said Sir Harry to his wife that night. + +We must presume Sir Harry did not know how it is that the birds pair. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +GEORGE HOTSPUR YIELDS. + + +On the morning of Cousin George's fourth day at Humblethwaite, there +came a letter for Sir Harry. The post reached the Hall about an hour +before the time at which the family met for prayers, and the letters +were taken into Sir Harry's room. The special letter of which mention +is here made shall be given to the reader entire:-- + + + ----, Lincoln's Inn Fields, + 24th Nov. 186--. + + MY DEAR SIR HARRY HOTSPUR,--I have received your letter + in reference to Captain Hotspur's debts, and have also + received a letter from him, and a list of what he says he + owes. Of course there can be no difficulty in paying all + debts which he acknowledges, if you think proper to do so. + As far as I am able to judge at present, the amount would + be between twenty-five and thirty thousand pounds. I + should say nearer the former than the latter sum, did + I not know that the amount in such matters always goes + on increasing. You must also understand that I cannot + guarantee the correctness of this statement. + + But I feel myself bound in my duty to go further + than this, even though it may be at the risk of your + displeasure. I presume from what you tell me that you are + contemplating a marriage between George Hotspur and your + daughter; and I now repeat to you, in the most solemn + words that I can use, my assurance that the marriage is + one which you should not countenance. Captain Hotspur is + not fit to marry your daughter. + + +When Sir Harry had read so far he had become very angry, but his +anger was now directed against his lawyer. Had he not told Mr. Boltby +that he had changed his mind; and what business had the lawyer to +interfere with him further? But he read the letter on to its bitter +end:-- + + + Since you were in London the following facts have become + known to me. On the second of last month Mr. George + Hotspur met two men, named Walker and Bullbean, in the + lodgings of the former, at about nine in the evening, + and remained there during the greater part of the night, + playing cards. Bullbean is a man well known to the police + as a card-sharper. He once moved in the world as a + gentleman. His trade is now to tout and find prey for + gamblers. Walker is a young man in a low rank of life, who + had some money. George Hotspur on that night won between + three and four hundred pounds of Walker's money; and + Bullbean, over and above this, got for himself some + considerable amount of plunder. Walker is now prepared, + and very urgent, to bring the circumstances of this case + before a magistrate, having found out, or been informed, + that some practice of cheating was used against him; and + Bullbean is ready to give evidence as to George Hotspur's + foul play. They have hitherto been restrained by Hart, the + Jew whom you met. Hart fears that were the whole thing + made public, his bills would not be taken up by you. + + I think that I know all this to be true. If you conceive + that I am acting in a manner inimical to your family, you + had better come up to London and put yourself into the + hands of some other lawyer. If you can still trust me, I + will do the best I can for you. I should recommend you to + bring Captain Hotspur with you,--if he will come. + + I grieve to write as I have done, but it seems to me that + no sacrifice is too great to make with the object of + averting the fate to which, as I fear, Miss Hotspur is + bringing herself.--My dear Sir Harry Hotspur, I am, very + faithfully yours, + + JOHN BOLTBY. + + +It was a terrible letter! Gradually, as he read it and re-read it, +there came upon Sir Harry the feeling that he might owe, that he did +owe, that he certainly would owe to Mr. Boltby a very heavy debt +of gratitude. Gradually the thin glazing of hope with which he had +managed to daub over and partly to hide his own settled convictions +as to his cousin's character fell away, and he saw the man as he had +seen him during his interview with Captain Stubber and Mr. Hart. It +must be so. Let the consequences be what they might, his daughter +must be told. Were she to be killed by the telling, it would be +better than that she should be handed over to such a man as this. The +misfortune which had come upon them might be the death of him and of +her;--but better that than the other. He sat in his chair till the +gong sounded through the house for prayers; then he rang his bell +and sent in word to Lady Elizabeth that she should read them in +his absence. When they were over, word was brought that he would +breakfast alone, in his own room. On receiving that message, both his +wife and daughter went to him; but as yet he could tell them nothing. +Tidings had come which would make it necessary that he should go at +once to London. As soon as breakfast should be over he would see +George Hotspur. They both knew from the tone in which the name was +pronounced that the "tidings" were of their nature bad, and that they +had reference to the sins of their guest. + +"You had better read that letter," he said as soon as George was in +the room. As he spoke his face was towards the fire, and in that +position he remained. The letter had been in his hand, and he only +half turned round to give it. George read the letter slowly, and when +he had got through it, only half understanding the words, but still +knowing well the charge which it contained, stood silent, utterly +conquered. "I suppose it is true?" said Sir Harry, in a low voice, +facing his enemy. + +"I did win some money," said Cousin George. + +"And you cheated?" + +"Oh dear no;--nothing of the sort." + +But his confession was written in his face, and was heard in his +voice, and peeped out through every motion of his limbs. He was a +cur, and denied the accusation in a currish manner, hardly intended +to create belief. + +"He must be paid back his money," said Sir Harry. + +"I had promised that," said Cousin George. + +"Has it been your practice, sir, when gambling, to pay back money +that you have won? You are a scoundrel,--a heartless scoundrel,--to +try and make your way into my house when I had made such liberal +offers to buy your absence." To this Cousin George made no sort of +answer. The game was up. And had he not already told himself that +it was a game that he should never have attempted to play? "We will +leave this house if you please, both of us, at eleven. We will go to +town together. The carriage will be ready at eleven. You had better +see to the packing of your things, with the servant." + +"Shall I not say a word of adieu to Lady Elizabeth?" + +"No, sir! You shall never speak to a female in my house again." + +The two were driven over to Penrith together, and went up to London +in the same carriage, Sir Harry paying for all expenses without a +word. Sir Harry before he left his house saw his wife for a moment, +but he did not see his daughter. "Tell her," said he, "that it must +be,--must be all over." The decision was told to Emily, but she +simply refused to accept it. "It shall not be so," said she, flashing +out. Lady Elizabeth endeavoured to show her that her father had done +all he could to further her views--had been ready to sacrifice to her +all his own wishes and convictions. + +"Why is he so changed? He has heard of some new debt. Of course there +are debts. We did not suppose that it could be done all at once, and +so easily." She refused to be comforted, and refused to believe. +She sat alone weeping in her own room, and swore, when her mother +came to her, that no consideration, no tidings as to George's past +misconduct, should induce her to break her faith to the man to whom +her word had been given;--"my word, and Papa's, and yours," said +Emily, pleading her cause with majesty through her tears. + +On the day but one following there came a letter from Sir Harry to +Lady Elizabeth, very short, but telling her the whole truth. "He has +cheated like a common low swindler as he is, with studied tricks at +cards, robbing a poor man, altogether beneath him in station, of +hundreds of pounds. There is no doubt about it. It is uncertain even +yet whether he will not be tried before a jury. He hardly even denies +it. A creature viler, more cowardly, worse, the mind of man cannot +conceive. My broken-hearted, dearest, best darling must be told +all this. Tell her that I know what she will suffer. Tell her that +I shall be as crushed by it as she. But anything is better than +degradation such as this. Tell her specially that I have not decided +without absolute knowledge." Emily was told. The letter was read to +her and by her till she knew it almost by heart. There came upon +her a wan look of abject agony, that seemed to rob her at once of +her youth and beauty; but even now she would not yield. She did +not longer affect to disbelieve the tidings, but said that no man, +let him do what he might, could be too far gone for repentance and +forgiveness. She would wait. She had talked of waiting two years. She +would be content to wait ten. What though he had cheated at cards! +Had she not once told her mother that should it turn out that he had +been a murderer, then she would become a murderer's wife? She did not +know that cheating at cards was worse than betting at horse-races. It +was all bad,--very bad. It was the kind of life into which men were +led by the fault of those who should have taught them better. No; +she would not marry him without her father's leave: but she would +never own that her engagement was broken, let them affix what most +opprobrious name to him they might choose. To her card-sharpers +seemed to be no worse than gamblers. She was quite sure that Christ +had come to save men who cheat at cards as well as others. + +As Sir Harry and his cousin entered the London station late at +night,--it was past midnight,--Sir Harry bade his companion meet him +the next morning at Mr. Boltby's chambers at eleven. Cousin George +had had ample time for meditation, and had considered that it might +be best for him to "cut up a little rough." + +"Mr. Boltby is my enemy," he said, "and I don't know what I am to get +by going there." + +"If you don't, sir, I'll not pay one shilling for you." + +"I have your promise, Sir Harry." + +"If you are not there at the time I fix, I will pay nothing, and the +name may go to the dogs." + +Then they both went to the station hotel,--not together, but the +younger following the elder's feet,--and slept for the last time in +their lives under one roof. + +Cousin George did not show himself at Mr. Boltby's, being still in +his bed at the station hotel at the time named; but at three o'clock +he was with Mrs. Morton. + +For the present we will go back to Sir Harry. He was at the lawyer's +chambers at the time named, and Mr. Boltby smiled when told of the +summons which had been given to Cousin George. By this time Sir Harry +had acknowledged his gratitude to Mr. Boltby over and over again, and +Mr. Boltby perhaps, having no daughter, thought that the evil had +been cured. He was almost inclined to be jocular, and did laugh at +Sir Harry in a mild way when told of the threat. + +"We must pay his debts, Sir Harry, I think." + +"I don't see it at all. I would rather face everything. And I told +him that I would pay nothing." + +"Ah, but you had told him that you would. And then those cormorants +have been told so also. We had better build a bridge of gold for +a falling enemy. Stick to your former proposition, without any +reference to a legacy, and make him write the letter. My clerk shall +find him to-morrow." + +Sir Harry at last gave way; the lucky Walker received back his full +money, Bullbean's wages of iniquity and all; and Sir Harry returned +to Humblethwaite. + +Cousin George was sitting in Mrs. Morton's room with a very bad +headache five days after his arrival in London, and she was reading +over a manuscript which she had just written. "That will do, I +think," she said. + +"Just the thing," said he, without raising his head. + +"Will you copy it now, George?" + +"Not just now, I am so seedy. I'll take it and do it at the club." + +"No; I will not have that. The draft would certainly be left out on +the club table; and you would go to billiards, and the letter never +would be written." + +"I'll come back and do it after dinner." + +"I shall be at the theatre then, and I won't have you here in my +absence. Rouse yourself and do it now. Don't be such a poor thing." + +"That's all very well, Lucy; but if you had a sick headache, you +wouldn't like to have to write a d----d letter like that." + +Then she rose up to scold him, being determined that the letter +should be written then and there. "Why, what a coward you are; what a +feckless, useless creature! Do you think that I have never to go for +hours on the stage, with the gas in a blaze around me, and my head +ready to split? And what is this? A paper to write that will take you +ten minutes. The truth is, you don't like to give up the girl!" Could +she believe it of him after knowing him so well; could she think that +there was so much of good in him? + +"You say that to annoy me. You know that I never cared for her." + +"You would marry her now if they would let you." + +"No, by George. I've had enough of that. You're wide awake enough to +understand, Lucy, that a fellow situated as I am, over head and ears +in debt, and heir to an old title, should struggle to keep the things +together. Families and names don't matter much, I suppose; but, after +all, one does care for them. But I've had enough of that. As for +Cousin Emily, you know, Lucy, I never loved any woman but you in my +life." + +He was a brute, unredeemed by any one manly gift; idle, +self-indulgent, false, and without a principle. She was a woman +greatly gifted, with many virtues, capable of self-sacrifice, +industrious, affectionate, and loving truth if not always true +herself. And yet such a word as that from this brute sufficed to +please her for the moment. She got up and kissed his forehead and +dropped for him some strong spirit in a glass, which she mixed with +water, and cooled his brow with eau-de-cologne. "Try to write it, +dearest. It should be written at once if it is to be written." Then +he turned himself wearily to her writing-desk, and copied the words +which she had prepared for him. + +The letter was addressed to Mr. Boltby, and purported to be +a renunciation of all claim to Miss Hotspur's hand, on the +understanding that his debts were paid for him to the extent of +L25,000, and that an allowance were made to him of L500 a year, +settled on him as an annuity for life, as long as he should live out +of England. Mr. Boltby had given him to understand that this clause +would not be exacted, unless circumstances should arise which should +make Sir Harry think it imperative upon him to demand its execution. +The discretion must be left absolute with Sir Harry; but, as Mr. +Boltby said, Captain Hotspur could trust Sir Harry's word and his +honour. + +"If I'm to be made to go abroad, what the devil are you to do?" he +had said to Mrs. Morton. + +"There need be no circumstances," said Mrs. Morton, "to make it +necessary." + +Of course Captain Hotspur accepted the terms on her advice. He had +obeyed Lady Altringham, and had tried to obey Emily, and would now +obey Mrs. Morton, because Mrs. Morton was the nearest to him. + +The letter which he copied was a well-written letter, put together +with much taste, so that the ignoble compact to which it gave assent +should seem to be as little ignoble as might be possible. "I entered +into the arrangement," the letter said in its last paragraph, +"because I thought it right to endeavour to keep the property and the +title together; but I am aware now that my position in regard to my +debts was of a nature that should have deterred me from the attempt. +As I have failed, I sincerely hope that my cousin may be made happy +by some such splendid alliance as she is fully entitled to expect." +He did not understand all that the words conveyed; but yet he +questioned them. He did not perceive that they were intended to imply +that the writer had never for a moment loved the girl whom he had +proposed to marry. Nevertheless they did convey to him dimly some +idea that they might give,--not pain, for as to that he would have +been indifferent,--but offence. "Will there be any good in all that?" +he asked. + +"Certainly," said she. "You don't mean to whine and talk of your +broken heart." + +"Oh dear, no; nothing of that sort." + +"This is the manly way to put it, regarding the matter simply as an +affair of business." + +"I believe it is," said he; and then, having picked himself up +somewhat by the aid of a glass of sherry, he continued to copy the +letter, and to direct it. + +"I will keep the rough draft," said Mrs. Morton. + +"And I must go now, I suppose," he said. + +"You can stay here and see me eat my dinner if you like. I shall not +ask you to share it, because it consists of two small mutton chops, +and one wouldn't keep me up through Lady Teazle." + +"I've a good mind to come and see you," said he. + +"Then you'd better go and eat your own dinner at once." + +"I don't care about my dinner. I should have a bit of supper +afterwards." + +Then she preached to him a sermon; not quite such a one as Emily +Hotspur had preached, but much more practical, and with less +reticence. If he went on living as he was living now, he would "come +to grief." He was drinking every day, and would some day find that he +could not do so with impunity. Did he know what delirium tremens was? +Did he want to go to the devil altogether? Had he any hope as to his +future life? + +"Yes," said he, "I hope to make you my wife." She tossed her head, +and told him that with all the will in the world to sacrifice +herself, such sacrifice could do him no good if he persisted in +making himself a drunkard. "But I have been so tried these last two +months. If you only knew what Mr. Boltby and Captain Stubber and Sir +Harry and Mr. Hart were altogether. Oh, my G----!" But he did not +say a word about Messrs. Walker and Bullbean. The poor woman who was +helping him knew nothing of Walker and Bullbean. Let us hope that she +may remain in that ignorance. + +Cousin George, before he left her, swore that he would amend his mode +of life, but he did not go to see Lady Teazle that night. There were +plenty of men now back in town ready to play pool at the club. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +"I SHALL NEVER BE MARRIED." + + +Sir Harry Hotspur returned to Humblethwaite before Cousin George's +letter was written, though when he did return all the terms had been +arranged, and a portion of the money paid. Perhaps it would have been +better that he should have waited and taken the letter with him in +his pocket; but in truth he was so wretched that he could not wait. +The thing was fixed and done, and he could but hurry home to hide his +face among his own people. He felt that the glory of his house was +gone from him. He would sit by the hour together thinking of the boy +who had died. He had almost, on occasions, allowed himself to forget +his boy, while hoping that his name and wide domains might be kept +together by the girl that was left to him. He was beginning to +understand now that she was already but little better than a wreck. +Indeed, was not everything shipwreck around him? Was he not going to +pieces on the rocks? Did not the lesson of every hour seem to tell +him that, throughout his long life, he had thought too much of his +house and his name? + +It would have been better that he should have waited till the letter +was in his pocket before he returned home, because, when he reached +Humblethwaite, the last argument was wanting to him to prove to Emily +that her hope was vain. Even after his arrival, when the full story +was told to her, she held out in her resolve. She accepted the truth +of that scene at Walker's rooms. She acknowledged that her lover had +cheated the wretched man at cards. After that all other iniquities +were of course as nothing. There was a completeness in that of which +she did not fail to accept, and to use the benefit. When she had once +taken it as true that her lover had robbed his inferior by foul play +at cards, there could be no good in alluding to this or that lie, in +counting up this or that disreputable debt, in alluding to habits of +brandy-drinking, or even in soiling her pure mind with any word as +to Mrs. Morton. It was granted that he was as vile as sin could make +him. Had not her Saviour come exactly for such as this one, because +of His great love for those who were vile; and should not her human +love for one enable her to do that which His great heavenly love did +always for all men? Every reader will know how easily answerable +was the argument. Most readers will also know how hard it is to win +by attacking the reason when the heart is the fortress that is in +question. She had accepted his guilt, and why tell her of it any +further? Did she not pine over his guilt, and weep for it day and +night, and pray that he might yet be made white as snow? But guilty +as he was, a poor piece of broken vilest clay, without the properties +even which are useful to the potter, he was as dear to her as when +she had leaned against him believing him to be a pillar of gold set +about with onyx stones, jaspers, and rubies. There was but one sin on +his part which could divide them. If, indeed, he should cease to love +her, then there would be an end to it! It would have been better that +Sir Harry should have remained in London till he could have returned +with George's autograph letter in his pocket. + +"You must have the letter in his own handwriting," Mr. Boltby had +said, cunningly, "only you must return it to me." + +Sir Harry had understood, and had promised, that the letter should +be returned when it had been used for the cruel purpose for which it +was to be sent to Humblethwaite. For all Sir Harry's own purposes Mr. +Boltby's statements would have quite sufficed. + +She was told that her lover would renounce her, but she would not +believe what she was told. Of course he would accept the payment +of his debts. Of course he would take an income when offered to +him. What else was he to do? How was he to live decently without +an income? All these evils had happened to him because he had been +expected to live as a gentleman without proper means. In fact, he was +the person who had been most injured. Her father, in his complete, in +his almost abject tenderness towards her, could not say rough words +in answer to all these arguments. He could only repeat his assertion +over and over again that the man was utterly unworthy of her, and +must be discarded. It was all as nothing. The man must discard +himself. + +"He is false as hell," said Sir Harry. + +"And am I to be as false as hell also? Will you love me better when I +have consented to be untrue? And even that would be a lie. I do love +him. I must love him. I may be more wicked than he is, because I do +so. But I do." + +Poor Lady Elizabeth in these days was worse than useless. Her +daughter was so strong that her weakness was as the weakness of +water. She was driven hither and thither in a way that she herself +felt to be disgraceful. When her husband told her that the cousin, as +matter of course, could never be seen again, she assented. When Emily +implored her to act as mediator with her father on behalf of the +wicked cousin, she again assented. And then, when she was alone with +Sir Harry, she did not dare to do as she had promised. + +"I do think it will kill her," she said to Sir Harry. + +"We must all die, but we need not die disgraced," he said. + +It was a most solemn answer, and told the thoughts which had been +dwelling in his mind. His son had gone from him; and now it might +be that his daughter must go too, because she could not survive +the disappointment of her young love. He had learned to think that +it might be so as he looked at her great grave eyes, and her pale +cheeks, and her sorrow-laden mouth. It might be so; but better that +for them all than that she should be contaminated by the touch of +a thing so vile as this cousin. She was pure as snow, clear as a +star, lovely as the opening rosebud. As she was, let her go to her +grave,--if it need be so. For himself, he could die too,--or even +live if it were required of him! Other fathers, since Jephtha and +Agamemnon, have recognised it as true that heaven has demanded from +them their daughters. + +The letter came, and was read and re-read by Sir Harry before he +showed it to his child. He took it also to his wife, and explained it +to her in all its points. "It has more craft," said he, "than I gave +him credit for." + +"I don't suppose he ever cared for her," said Lady Elizabeth. + +"Nor for any human being that ever lived,--save himself. I wonder +whether he got Boltby to write it for him." + +"Surely Mr. Boltby wouldn't have done that." + +"I don't know. I think he would do anything to rid us from what he +believed to have been our danger. I don't think it was in George +Hotspur to write such a letter out of his own head." + +"But does it signify?" + +"Not in the least. It is his own handwriting and his signature. +Whoever formed the words, it is the same thing. It was needed only to +prove to her that he had not even the merit of being true to her." + +For a while Sir Harry thought that he would entrust to his wife the +duty of showing the letter to Emily. He would so willingly have +escaped the task himself! But as he considered the matter he feared +that Lady Elizabeth might lack the firmness to explain the matter +fully to the poor girl. The daughter would be so much stronger +than the mother, and thus the thing that must be done would not be +effected! At last, on the evening of the day on which the letter +had reached him, he sent for her, and read it to her. She heard it +without a word. Then he put it into her hands, and she read the +sentences herself, slowly, one after another, endeavouring as she did +so to find arguments by which she might stave off the conclusion to +which she knew that her father would attempt to bring her. + +"It must be all over now," said he at last. + +She did not answer him, but gazed into his face with such a look of +woe that his heart was melted. She had found no argument. There had +not been in the whole letter one word of love for her. + +"My darling, will it not be better that we should meet the blow?" + +"I have met it, all along. Some day, perhaps, he might be different." + +"In what way, dearest? He does not even profess to hope so himself." + +"That gentleman in London, Papa, would have paid nothing for him +unless he wrote like this. He had to do it. Papa, you had better just +leave me to myself. I will not trouble you by mentioning his name." + +"But Emily--" + +"Well, Papa?" + +"Mamma and I cannot bear that you should suffer alone." + +"I must suffer, and silence is the easiest. I will go now and think +about it. Dear Papa, I know that you have always done everything for +the best." + +He did not see her again that evening. Her mother was with her in +her own room, and of course they were talking about Cousin George +for hours together. It could not be avoided, in spite of what Emily +had herself said of the expediency of silence. But she did not once +allude to the possibility of a future marriage. As the man was so +dear to her, and as he bore their name, and as he must inherit her +father's title, could not some almost superhuman exertion be made for +his salvation? Surely so much as that might be done, if they all made +it the work of their lives. + +"It must be the work of my life, Mamma," she said. + +Lady Elizabeth forbore from telling her that there was no side on +which she could approach him. The poor girl herself, however, must +have felt that it was so. As she thought of it all she reminded +herself that, though they were separated miles asunder, still she +could pray for him. We need not doubt this at least,--that to him who +utters them prayers of intercession are of avail. + +On the following morning she was at breakfast, and both her father +and mother remarked that something had been changed in her dress. The +father only knew that it was so, but the mother could have told of +every ribbon that had been dropped, and every ornament that had been +laid aside. Emily Hotspur had lived a while, if not among the gayest +of the gay, at least among the brightest of the bright in outside +garniture, and having been asked to consult no questions of expense, +had taught herself to dress as do the gay and bright and rich. Even +when George had come on his last wretched visit to Humblethwaite, +when she had known that he had been brought there as a blackamoor +perhaps just capable of being washed white, she had not thought it +necessary to lessen the gauds of her attire. Though she was saddened +in her joy by the knowledge of the man's faults, she was still the +rich daughter of a very wealthy man, and engaged to marry the future +inheritor of all that wealth and riches. There was then no reason why +she should lower her flag one inch before the world. But now all was +changed with her! During the night she had thought of her apparel, +and of what use it might be during her future life. She would never +more go bright again, unless some miracle might prevail, and he still +might be to her that which she had painted him. Neither father nor +mother, as she kissed them both, said a word as to her appearance. +They must take her away from Humblethwaite, change the scene, try to +interest her in new pursuits; that was what they had determined to +attempt. For the present, they would let her put on what clothes she +pleased, and make no remark. + +Early in the day she went out by herself. It was now December, but +the weather was fine and dry, and she was for two hours alone, +rambling through the park. She had made her attempt in life, and had +failed. She owned her failure to herself absolutely. The image had no +gold in it;--none as yet. But it was not as other images, which, as +they are made, so must they remain to the end. The Divine Spirit, +which might from the first have breathed into this clay some particle +of its own worth, was still efficacious to bestow the gift. Prayer +should not be wanting; but the thing as it now was she saw in all its +impurity. He had never loved her. Had he loved her he would not have +written words such as those she had read. He had pretended to love +her in order that he might have money, that his debts might be paid, +that he might not be ruined. "He hoped," he said in his letter, "he +hoped that his cousin might be made happy by a splendid alliance!" +She remembered well the abominable, heartless words. And this was +the man who had pledged her to truth and firmness, and whose own +truth and firmness she had never doubted for a moment, even when +acknowledging to herself the necessity of her pledge to him. He had +never loved her; and, though she did not say so, did not think so, +she felt that of all his sins that sin was the one which could not be +forgiven. + +What should she now do with herself,--how bear herself at this +present moment of her life? She did not tell herself now that she +would die, though as she looked forward into life all was so dreary +to her, that she would fain have known that death would give an +escape. But there were duties for her still to do. During that winter +ramble, she owned to herself for the first time that her father had +been right in his judgment respecting their cousin, and that she, by +her pertinacity, had driven her father on till on her account he had +been forced into conduct which was distasteful to him. She must own +to her father that he had been right; that the man, though she dearly +loved him still, was of such nature that it would be quite unfit that +she should marry him. There might still be the miracle; her prayers +were still her own to give; of them she would say nothing to her +father. She would simply confess to him that he had been right, and +then beg of him to pardon her the trouble she had caused him. + +"Papa," she said to him the following morning, "may I come to you?" +She came in, and on this occasion sat down at his right hand. "Of +course, you have been right, Papa," she said. + +"We have both been right, dearest, I hope." + +"No, Papa; I have been wrong! I thought I knew him, and I did not. I +thought when you told me that he was so bad, that you were believing +false people; and, Papa, I know now that I should not have loved him +as I did;--so quickly, like that." + +"Nobody has blamed you for a moment. Nobody has thought of blaming +you." + +"I blame myself enough; I can tell you that. I feel as though I had +in a way destroyed myself." + +"Do not say that, my darling." + +"You will let me speak now; will you not, Papa? I wish to tell you +everything, that you may understand all that I feel. I shall never +get over it." + +"You will, dearest; you will, indeed." + +"Never! Perhaps I shall live on; but I feel that it has killed me for +this world. I don't know how a girl is to get over it when she has +said that she has loved any one. If they are married, then she does +not want to get over it; but if they are not,--if he deserts her, or +is unworthy, or both,--what can she do then, but just go on thinking +of it till--she dies?" + +Sir Harry used with her all the old accustomed arguments to drive +such thoughts out of her head. He told her how good was God to His +creatures, and, specially, how good in curing by the soft hand of +time such wounds as those from which she was suffering. She should +"retrick her beams," and once more "flame in the forehead of the +morning sky," if only she would help the work of time by her own +endeavours. "Fight against the feeling, Emily, and try to conquer it, +and it will be conquered." + +"But, Papa, I do not wish to conquer it. I should not tell you of all +this, only for one thing." + +"What thing, dearest?" + +"I am not like other girls, who can just leave themselves alone and +be of no trouble. You told me that if I outlived you--" + +"The property will be yours; certainly. Of course, it was my +hope,--and is,--that all that shall be settled by your marriage +before my death. The trouble and labour is more than a woman should +be called on to support alone." + +"Just so. And it is because you are thinking of all this, that I feel +it right to tell you. Papa, I shall never be married." + +"We will leave that for the present, Emily." + +"Very well; only if it would make a change in your will, you should +make it. You will have to be here, Papa, after I am gone,--probably." + +"No, no, no." + +"But, if it were not so, I should not know what to do. That is all, +Papa; only this,--that I beg your pardon for all the trouble I have +caused you." Then she knelt before him, and he kissed her head, and +blessed her, and wept over her. + +There was nothing more heard from Cousin George at Humblethwaite, and +nothing more heard of him for a long time. Mr. Boltby did pay his +debts, having some terribly hard struggles with Mr. Hart and Captain +Stubber before the liquidations were satisfactorily effected. It was +very hard to make Mr. Hart and Captain Stubber understand that the +Baronet was paying these debts simply because he had said that he +would pay them once before, under other circumstances, and that no +other cause for their actual payment now existed. But the debts +were paid, down to the last farthing of which Mr. Boltby could have +credible tidings. "Pay everything," Sir Harry had said; "I have +promised it." Whereby he was alluding to the promise which he had +made to his daughter. Everything was paid, and Cousin George was able +to walk in and out of his club, a free man,--and at times almost +happy,--with an annuity of five hundred pounds a year! Nothing more +was said to him as to the necessity of expatriation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE END. + + +Among playgoing folk, in the following April there was a great deal +of talk about the marriage of that very favourite actress, Mrs. +Morton. She appeared in the playbills as Mrs. George Hotspur, late +Mrs. Morton. Very many spoke of her familiarly, who knew her only on +the stage,--as is the custom of men in speaking of actresses,--and +perhaps some few of these who spoke of her did know her personally. +"Poor Lucy!" said one middle-aged gentleman over fifty, who spent +four nights of every week at one theatre or another. "When she was +little more than a child they married her to that reprobate Morton. +Since that she has managed to keep her head above water by hard work; +and now she has gone and married another worse than the first!" + +"She is older now, and will be able to manage George," said another. + +"Manage him! If anybody can manage to keep him out of debt, or from +drink either, I'll eat him." + +"But he must be Sir George when old Sir Harry dies," said he who was +defending the prudence of the marriage. + +"Yes, and won't have a penny. Will it help her to be able to put Lady +Hotspur on the bills? Not in the least. And the women can't forgive +her and visit her. She has not been good enough for that. A grand old +family has been disgraced, and a good actress destroyed. That's my +idea of this marriage." + +"I thought Georgy was going to marry his cousin--that awfully proud +minx," said one young fellow. + +"When it came to the scratch, she would not have him," said another. +"But there had been promises, and so, to make it all square, Sir +Harry paid his debts." + +"I don't believe a bit about his debts being paid," said the +middle-aged gentleman who was fond of going to the theatre. + +Yes, George Hotspur was married: and, as far as any love went +with him, had married the woman he liked best. Though the actress +was worlds too good for him, there was not about her that air of +cleanliness and almost severe purity which had so distressed him +while he had been forced to move in the atmosphere of his cousin. +After the copying of the letter and the settlement of the bills, Mrs. +Morton had found no difficulty in arranging matters as she pleased. +She had known the man perhaps better than any one else had known him; +and yet she thought it best to marry him. We must not inquire into +her motives, though we may pity her fate. + +She did not intend, however, to yield herself as an easy prey to +his selfishness. She had also her ideas of reforming him, and +ideas which, as they were much less grand, might possibly be more +serviceable than those which for a while had filled the mind and +heart of Emily Hotspur. "George," she said, one day to him, "what +do you mean to do?" This was before the marriage was fixed;--when +nothing more was fixed than that idea of marriage which had long +existed between them. + +"Of course we shall be spliced now," said he. + +"And if so, what then? I shall keep to the stage, of course." + +"We couldn't do with the L500 a year, I suppose, any how?" + +"Not very well, I'm afraid, seeing that as a habit you eat and drink +more than that yourself. But, with all that I can do, there must be a +change. I tell you for your own sake as well as for mine, unless you +can drop drinking, we had better give it up even yet." After that, +for a month or two under her auspices, he did "drop it,"--or at least +so far dropped it as to induce her to run the risk. In April they +were married, and she must be added to the list of women who have +sacrificed themselves on behalf of men whom they have known to be +worthless. We need not pursue his career further; but we may be sure, +that though she watched him very closely, and used a power over him +of which he was afraid, still he went gradually from bad to worse, +and was found at last to be utterly past redemption. He was one +who in early life had never known what it was to take delight in +postponing himself to another; and now there was no spark in him of +love or gratitude by which fire could be kindled or warmth created. +It had come to that with him,--that to eat and to drink was all that +was left to him; and it was coming to that too, that the latter of +these two pleasant recreations would soon be all that he had within +his power of enjoyment. There are such men; and of all human beings +they are the most to be pitied. They have intellects; they do think; +the hours with them are terribly long;--and they have no hope! + +The Hotspurs of Humblethwaite remained at home till Christmas was +passed, and then at once started for Rome. Sir Harry and Lady +Elizabeth both felt that it must be infinitely better for their girl +to be away; and then there came the doctor's slow advice. There was +nothing radically amiss with Miss Hotspur, the doctor said; but it +would be better for her to be taken elsewhere. She, knowing how her +father loved his home and the people around him, begged that she +might be allowed to stay. Nothing ailed her, she said, save only that +ache at the heart which no journey to Rome could cure. "What's the +use of it, Papa?" she said. "You are unhappy because I'm altered. +Would you wish me not to be altered after what has passed? Of course +I am altered. Let us take it as it is, and not think about it." She +had adopted certain practices in life, however, which Sir Harry was +determined to check, at any rate for the time. She spent her days +among the poor, and when not with them she was at church. And there +was always some dreary book in her hands when they were together in +the drawing-room after dinner. Of church-going and visiting the poor, +and of good books, Sir Harry approved thoroughly; but even of good +things such as these there may be too much. So Sir Harry and Lady +Elizabeth got a courier who spoke all languages, and a footman who +spoke German, and two maids, of whom one pretended to speak French, +and had trunks packed without number, and started for Rome. All that +wealth could do was done; but let the horseman be ever so rich, or +the horseman's daughter, and the stud be ever so good, it is seldom +they can ride fast enough to shake off their cares. + +In Rome they remained till April, and while they were there the name +of Cousin George was never once mentioned in the hearing of Sir +Harry. Between the mother and daughter no doubt there was speech +concerning him. But to Emily's mind he was always present. He was to +her as a thing abominable, and yet necessarily tied to her by bonds +which she could never burst asunder. She felt like some poor princess +in a tale, married to an ogre from whom there was no escape. She had +given herself up to one utterly worthless, and she knew it. But yet +she had given herself, and could not revoke the gift. There was, +indeed, still left to her that possibility of a miracle, but of +that she whispered nothing even to her mother. If there were to +be a miracle, it must be of God; and at God's throne she made her +whispers. In these days she was taken about from sight to sight with +apparent willingness. She saw churches, pictures, statues, and ruins, +and seemed to take an interest in them. She was introduced to the +Pope, and allowed herself to be apparelled in her very best for that +august occasion. But, nevertheless, the tenor of her way and the +fashions of her life, as was her daily dress, were grey and sad and +solemn. She lived as one who knew that the backbone of her life was +broken. Early in April they left Rome and went north, to the Italian +lakes, and settled themselves for a while at Lugano. And here the +news reached them of the marriage of George Hotspur. + +Lady Elizabeth read the marriage among the advertisements in the +_Times_, and at once took it to Sir Harry, withdrawing the paper from +the room in a manner which made Emily sure that there was something +in it which she was not intended to see. But Sir Harry thought that +the news should be told to her, and he himself told it. + +"Already married!" she said. "And who is the lady?" + +"You had better not ask, my dear." + +"Why not ask? I may, at any rate, know her name." + +"Mrs. Morton. She was a widow,--and an actress." + +"Oh yes, I know," said Emily, blushing; for in those days in which +it had been sought to wean her from George Hotspur, a word or two +about this lady had been said to her by Lady Elizabeth under the +instructions of Sir Harry. And there was no more said on that +occasion. On that day, and on the following, her father observed no +change in her; and the mother spoke nothing of her fears. But on +the next morning Lady Elizabeth said that she was not as she had +been. "She is thinking of him still--always," she whispered to her +husband. He made no reply, but sat alone, out in the garden, with his +newspaper before him, reading nothing, but cursing that cousin of his +in his heart. + +There could be no miracle now for her! Even the thought of that was +gone. The man who had made her believe that he loved her, only in the +last autumn,--though indeed it seemed to her that years had rolled +over since, and made her old, worn-out, and weary;--who had asked for +and obtained the one gift she had to give, the bestowal of her very +self; who had made her in her baby folly believe that he was almost +divine, whereas he was hardly human in his lowness,--this man, whom +she still loved in a way which she could not herself understand, +loving and despising him utterly at the same time,--was now the +husband of another woman. Even he, she had felt, would have thought +something of her. But she had been nothing to him but the means of +escape from disreputable difficulties. She could not sustain her +contempt for herself as she remembered this, and yet she showed but +little of it in her outward manner. + +"I'll go when you like, Papa," she said when the days of May had +come, "but I'd sooner stay here a little longer if you wouldn't +mind." There was no talk of going home. It was only a question +whether they should go further north, to Lucerne, before the warm +weather came. + +"Of course we will remain; why not?" said Sir Harry. "Mamma and I +like Lugano amazingly." Poor Sir Harry. As though he could have liked +any place except Humblethwaite! + +Our story is over now. They did remain till the scorching July sun +had passed over their heads, and August was upon them; and then--they +had buried her in the small Protestant cemetery at Lugano, and Sir +Harry Hotspur was without a child and without an heir. + +He returned home in the early autumn, a grey, worn-out, tottering old +man, with large eyes full of sorrow, and a thin mouth that was seldom +opened to utter a word. In these days, I think, he recurred to +his early sorrow, and thought almost more of his son than of his +daughter. But he had instant, pressing energy left to him for one +deed. Were he to die now without a further will, Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby would go to the wretch who had destroyed him. What was the +title to him now, or even the name? His wife's nephew was an Earl +with an enormous rent-roll, something so large that Humblethwaite and +Scarrowby to him would be little more than additional labour. But to +this young man Humblethwaite and Scarrowby were left, and the glories +of the House of Hotspur were at an end. + +And so the story of the House of Humblethwaite has been told. + + + +London: R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor Printers Bread Street Hill. + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Specific changes in wording of the text are listed below. + + Chapter V, paragraph 1. The word "of" was deleted + from the sentence which in the original read: + It was of this taste OF which Pope was conscious + when he declared that every woman was at heart a rake. + + Chapter VII, paragraph 17. The word "like" was added + to the sentence: A girl LIKE that learns everything. + + Chapter VIII, paragraph 33. The spelling of the word + "commencment" was changed in the sentence beginning: + George had determined from the COMMENCEMENT of his + visit . . . + + Chapter XX, paragraph 4. The word "uncle" was changed + to "cousin" in the sentence: "I am so sorry to give you + this trouble," said Cousin George, coming forward to + greet his COUSIN. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIR HARRY HOTSPUR OF HUMBLETHWAITE*** + + +******* This file should be named 27712.txt or 27712.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/7/1/27712 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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