“I don’t object to home, but I do to marriage.”
“Depend on it there is no home for man where
there is no woman.”
“Prettily said. In that case I resign
the home.”
“Do you mean seriously to tell me that you never
see the woman you could love enough to make her your
wife, and never enter any home that you do not quit
with a touch of envy at the happiness of married life?”
“Seriously, I never see such a woman; seriously,
I never enter such a home.”
“Patience, then; your time will come, and I
hope it is at hand. Listen to me. It was
only yesterday that I felt an indescribable longing
to see you again,—to know your address that
I might write to you; for yesterday, when a certain
young lady left my house after a week’s visit,
I said this girl would make a perfect wife, and, above
all, the exact wife to suit Kenelm Chillingly.”
“Kenelm Chillingly is very glad to hear that
this young lady has left your house.”
“But she has not left London: she is here
to-night. She only stayed with me till her father
came to town, and the house he had taken for the season
was vacant; those events happened yesterday.”
“Fortunate events for me: they permit me
to call on you without danger.”
“Have you no curiosity to know, at least, who
and what is the young lady who appears to me so well
suited to you?”
“No curiosity, but a vague sensation of alarm.”
“Well, I cannot talk pleasantly with you while
you are in this irritating mood, and it is time to
quit the hermitage. Come, there are many persons
here, with some of whom you should renew old acquaintance,
and to some of whom I should like to make you known.”
“I am prepared to follow Lady Glenalvon wherever
she deigns to lead me,—except to the altar
with another.”
The rooms were now full,—not overcrowded,
but full,—and it was rarely even in that
house that so many distinguished persons were collected
together. A young man thus honoured by so grande
a dame as Lady Glenalvon could not but be cordially
welcomed by all to whom she presented him, Ministers
and Parliamentary leaders, ball-givers, and beauties
in vogue,—even authors and artists; and
there was something in Kenelm Chillingly, in his striking
countenance and figure, in that calm ease of manner
natural to his indifference to effect, which seemed
to justify the favour shown to him by the brilliant
princess of fashion and mark him out for general observation.
That first evening of his reintroduction to the polite
world was a success which few young men of his years
achieve. He produced a sensation. Just
as the rooms were thinning, Lady Glenalvon whispered
to Kenelm,—
“Come this way: there is one person I must
reintroduce you to; thank me for it hereafter.”
Kenelm followed the marchioness, and found himself
face to face with Cecilia Travers. She was leaning
on her father’s arm, looking very handsome,
and her beauty was heightened by the blush which overspread
her cheeks as Kenelm Chillingly approached.
