Mrs. Campion had so contrived that she had forced
that question upon Cecilia, and she feared, by the
girl’s change of countenance, that the girl’s
heart had answered “yes.”
WHILE the conversation just narrated took place, Kenelm
had walked forth to pay a visit to Will Somers.
All obstacles to Will’s marriage were now cleared
away; the transfer of lease for the shop had been
signed, and the banns were to be published for the
first time on the following Sunday. We need not
say that Will was very happy. Kenelm then paid
a visit to Mrs. Bowles, with whom he stayed an hour.
On reentering the Park, he saw Travers, walking slowly,
with downcast eyes and his hands clasped behind him
(his habit when in thought). He did not observe
Kenelm’s approach till within a few feet of him,
and he then greeted his guest in listless accents,
unlike his usual cheerful tones.
“I have been visiting the man you have made
so happy,” said Kenelm.
“Who can that be?”
“Will Somers. Do you make so many people
happy that your reminiscence of them is lost in their
number?”
Travers smiled faintly, and shook his head.
Kenelm went on. “I have also seen Mrs.
Bowles, and you will be pleased to hear that Tom is
satisfied with his change of abode: there is
no chance of his returning to Graveleigh; and Mrs.
Bowles took very kindly to my suggestion that the
little property you wish for should be sold to you,
and, in that case, she would remove to Luscombe to
be near her son.”
“I thank you much for your thought of me,”
said Travers, “and the affair shall be seen
to at once, though the purchase is no longer important
to me. I ought to have told you three days ago,
but it slipped my memory, that a neighbouring squire,
a young fellow just come into his property, has offered
to exchange a capital farm, much nearer to my residence,
for the lands I hold in Graveleigh, including Saunderson’s
farm and the cottages: they are quite at the outskirts
of my estate, but run into his, and the exchange will
be advantageous to both. Still I am glad that
the neighbourhood should be thoroughly rid of a brute
like Tom Bowles.”
“You would not call him brute if you knew him;
but I am sorry to hear that Will Somers will be under
another landlord.”
“It does not matter, since his tenure is secured
for fourteen years.”
“What sort of man is the new landlord?”
“I don’t know much of him. He was
in the army till his father died, and has only just
made his appearance in the county. He has, however,
already earned the character of being too fond of the
other sex: it is well that pretty Jessie is to
be safely married.”
Travers then relapsed into a moody silence from which
Kenelm found it difficult to rouse him. At length
the latter said kindly,—
“My dear Mr. Travers, do not think I take a
liberty if I venture to guess that something has happened
this morning which troubles or vexes you. When
that is the case, it is often a relief to say what
it is, even to a confidant so unable to advise or
to comfort as myself.”
