“How glad Bessie must have been to have you!”
“I believe she was. She has too much good
taste for much of what went on there.”
“I doubt,” said Mr. Clare, laughing, “if
you could have been an agreeable acquisition.”
“I don’t know. Bessie fools one
into thinking oneself always doing her a favour.
Oh, Rachel, I am thankful you have never taken to
being agreeable.”
THE HUNTSFORD CROQUET.
“Une femme egoiste, non seulement de coeur,
mais d’esprit,
ne pent pas sortir d’elle-meme. Le moi
est indelible chez elle.
Une veritable egoiste ne sait meme pas etre fausse.”
—Mme.
E. De Girardin.
“I am come to prepare you,” said Lady
Keith, putting her arm into her brother’s, and
leading him into the peacock path. “Mrs.
Huntsford is on her way to call and make a dead set
to get you all to a garden party.”
“Then we are off to the Earlsworthy Woods.”
“Nay, listen, Alick. I have let you alone
and defended you for a whole month, but if you persist
in shutting up you wife, people won’t stand
it.”
“Which of us is the Mahometan?”
“You are pitied! But you see it was a
strong thing our appearing without our several incumbrances,
and though an old married woman like me may do as
she pleases, yet for a bridegroom of not three weeks’
standing to resort to bazaars solus argues some weighty
cause.”
“And argues rightly.”
“Then you are content to be supposed to have
an unproduceably eccentric melancholy bride?”
“Better they should think so than that she should
be so. She has been victimized enough already
to her mother’s desire to save appearances.”
“You do not half believe me, Alick, and this
is really a very kind, thoughtful arrangement of Mrs.
Huntsford’s. She consulted me, saying
there were such odd stories about you two that she
was most anxious that Rachel should appear and confute
them; and she thought that an out-of-door party like
this would suit best, because it would be early, and
Rachel could get away if she found it too much for
her.”
“After being walked out to satisfy a curious
neighbourhood.”
“Now Alick, do consider it. This sort
of thing could remind her of nothing painful; Uncle
George would enjoy it.”
“And fall over the croquet traps.”
“No; if you wanted to attend to him, I could
take care of Rachel.”
“I cannot tell, Bessie, I believe it is pure
goodnature on Mrs. Huntsford’s part, but if
we go, it must be from Rachel’s spontaneous
movement. I will not press her on any account.
I had rather the world said she was crazy at once
than expose her to the risk of one of the dreadful
nights that haunted us till we came here to perfect
quiet.”
“But she is well now. She looks better
and nicer than I ever saw her. Really, Alick,
now her face is softer, and her eyes more veiled, and
her chin not cocked up, I am quite proud of her.
Every one will be struck with her good looks.”
