Kenelm Chillingly — Complete eBook

“My dear Kenelm, how are you?  When did you come to London?  Why have you not called on me; and what on earth are you hiding yourself for?”

Kenelm had now recovered the self-possession which he rarely lost long in the presence of others.  He returned cordially his kinsman’s greeting, and kissed with his wonted chivalrous grace the fair hand which the lady withdrew from his shoulder and extended to his pressure.  “Remember you!” he said to Lady Glenalvon with the kindliest expression of his soft dark eyes; “I am not so far advanced towards the noon of life as to forget the sunshine that brightened its morning.  My dear Mivers, your questions are easily answered.  I arrived in England two weeks ago, stayed at Exmundham till this morning, to-day dined with Lord Thetford, whose acquaintance I made abroad, and was persuaded by him to come here and be introduced to his father and mother, the Beaumanoirs.  After I had undergone that ceremony, the sight of so many strange faces frightened me into shyness.  Entering this room at a moment when it was quite deserted, I resolved to turn hermit behind the screen.”

“Why, you must have seen your cousin Gordon as you came into the room.”

“But you forget I don’t know him by sight.  However, there was no one in the room when I entered; a little later some others came in, for I heard a faint buzz, like that of persons talking in a whisper.  However, I was no eavesdropper, as a person behind a screen is on the dramatic stage.”

This was true.  Even had Gordon and Danvers talked in a louder tone, Kenelm had been too absorbed in his own thoughts to have heard a word of their conversation.

“You ought to know young Gordon; he is a very clever fellow, and has an ambition to enter Parliament.  I hope no old family quarrel between his bear of a father and dear Sir Peter will make you object to meet him.”

“Sir Peter is the most forgiving of men, but he would scarcely forgive me if I declined to meet a cousin who had never offended him.”

“Well said.  Come and meet Gordon at breakfast to-morrow,—­ten o’clock.  I am still in the old rooms.”

While the kinsmen thus conversed, Lady Glenalvon had seated herself on the couch beside Kenelm, and was quietly observing his countenance.  Now she spoke.  “My dear Mr. Mivers, you will have many opportunities of talking with Kenelm; do not grudge me five minutes’ talk with him now.”

“I leave your ladyship alone in your hermitage.  How all the men in this assembly will envy the hermit!”

CHAPTER II.

“I AM glad to see you once more in the world,” said Lady Glenalvon; “and I trust that you are now prepared to take that part in it which ought to be no mean one if you do justice to your talents and your nature.”

KENELM.—­“When you go to the theatre, and see one of the pieces which appear now to be the fashion, which would you rather be,—­an actor or a looker-on?”