‘And where is he staying?’
‘Who?—Lake?’
‘Yes.’
’I don’t know; but I think he mentioned
Larkins’s house, didn’t he? I’m
not quite sure.’
’I suppose he this I’m made of money.
By Jove! if he wants to borrow any I’ll surprise
him, the cur; I’ll talk to him; ha, ha, ha!’
And Wylder chuckled angrily, and the small change
in his pocket tinkled fiercely, as his eye glanced
on the graceful captain, who was entertaining the
ladies, no doubt, very agreeably in the distance.
IN WHICH LAKE UNDER THE TREES OF BRANDON, AND I IN
MY CHAMBER, SMOKE OUR NOCTURNAL CIGARS.
Miss Lake declined the carriage to-night. Her
brother was to see her home, and there was a leave-taking,
and the young ladies whispered a word or two, and
kissed, after the manner of their kind. To Captain
Lake, Miss Brandon’s adieux were as cold and
haughty as her greeting.
‘Did you see that?’ said Wylder in my
ear, with a chuckle; and, wagging his head, he added,
rather loftily for him, ’Miss Brandon, I reckon,
has taken your measure, Master Stanley, as well as
I. I wonder what the deuce the old dowager sees in
him. Old women always like rascals.’
And he added something still less complimentary.
I suppose the balance of attraction and repulsion
was overcome by Miss Lake, much as he disliked Stanley,
for Wylder followed them out with Lord Chelford, to
help the young lady into her cloak and goloshes, and
I found myself near Miss Brandon for the first time
that evening, and much to my surprise she was first
to speak, and that rather strangely.
’You seem to be very sensible, Mr. De Cresseron;
pray tell me, frankly, what do you think of all this?’
‘I am not quite sure, Miss Brandon, that I understand
your question,’ I replied, enquiringly.
’I mean of the—the family arrangements,
in which, as Mr. Wylder’s friend, you seem to
take an interest?’ she said.
’There can hardly be a second opinion, Miss
Brandon; I think it a very wise measure,’ I
replied, much surprised.
’Very wise—exactly. But don’t
these very wise things sometimes turn out very foolishly?
Do you really think your friend, Mr. Wylder, cares
about me?’
’I take that for granted: in the nature
of things it can hardly be otherwise,’ I replied,
a good deal startled and perplexed by the curious
audacity of her interrogatory.
’It was very foolish of me to expect from Mr.
Wylder’s friend any other answer; you are very
loyal, Mr. De Cresseron.’
And without awaiting my reply she made some remark
which I forget to Lady Chelford, who sat at a little
distance; and, appearing quite absorbed in her new
subject, she placed herself close beside the dowager,
and continued to chat in a low tone.
I was vexed with myself for having managed with so
little skill a conversation which, opened so oddly
and frankly, might have placed me on relations so
nearly confidential, with that singular and beautiful
girl. I ought to have rejoiced—but
we don’t always see what most concerns our peace.
In the meantime I had formed a new idea of her.
She was so unreserved, it seemed, and yet in this
directness there was something almost contemptuous.
