CHAPTER XIII.
INTENTIONS.
The position in which Lady Theobald found herself placed, after theseoccurrences, was certainly a difficult and unpleasant one. It was Mr.Francis Barold's caprice, for the time being, to develop an intimacy withMr. Burmistone. He had, it seemed, chosen to become interested in himduring their sojourn at Broadoaks. He had discovered him to be adesirable companion, and a clever, amiable fellow. This much hecondescended to explain incidentally to her ladyship's self.
"I can't say I expected to meet a nice fellow or a companionable fellow,"he remarked, "and I was agreeably surprised to find him both. Never saystoo much or too little. Never bores a man."
To this Lady Theobald could make no reply. Singularly enough, she haddiscovered early in their acquaintance that her wonted weapons werelikely to dull their edges upon the steely coldness of Mr. FrancisBarold's impassibility. In the presence of this fortunate young man,before whom his world had bowed the knee from his tenderest infancy, shelost the majesty of her demeanor. He refused to be affected by it: he waseven implacable enough to show openly that it bored him, and to insinuateby his manner that he did not intend to submit to it. He entirely ignoredthe claim of relationship, and acted according to the promptings of hisown moods. He did not feel it at all incumbent upon him to remain atOldclough Hall, and subject himself to the time-honored customs therein vogue. He preferred to accept Mr. Burmistone's invitation to becomehis guest at the handsome house he had just completed, in which he livedin bachelor splendor. Accordingly he installed himself there, and therebycomplicated matters greatly.
Slowbridge found itself in a position as difficult as, and far moredelicate than, Lady Theobald's. The tea-drinkings in honor of thattroublesome young person, Miss Octavia Bassett, having been inauguratedby her ladyship, must go the social rounds, according to ancient custom.But what, in discretion's name, was to be done concerning Mr. FrancisBarold? There was no doubt whatever that he must not be ignored; and, inthat case, what difficulties presented themselves!
The mamma of the two Misses Egerton, who was a nervous and easilysubjugated person, was so excited and overwrought by the prospect beforeher, that, in contemplating it when she wrote her invitations, she wasaffected to tears.
"I can assure you, Lydia," she said, "that I have not slept for threenights, I have been so harassed. Here, on one hand, is Mr. FrancisBarold, who must be invited; and on the other is Mr. Burmistone, whom wecannot pass over; and here is Lady Theobald, who will turn to stone themoment she sees him,--though, goodness knows, I am sure he seems a veryquiet, respectable man, and said some of the most complimentary thingsabout your playing. And here is that dreadful girl, who is enough to giveone cold chills, and who may do all sorts of dreadful things, and iscertainly a living example to all respectable, well-educated girls. Andthe blindest of the blind could see that nothing would offend LadyTheobald more fatally than to let her be thrown with Francis Barold;and how one is to invite them into the same room, and keep them apart,I'm sure I don't know how. Lady Theobald herself could not do it, and howcan we be expected to? And the refreshments on my mind too; and Forbesfailing on her tea-cakes, and bringing up Sally Lunns like lead."
That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer inprospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs.Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs.Egerton upon the subject.
Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising,the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter overin solemn conclave.
"I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson,"announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arriveat any conclusion."
Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully.
"Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,--"don't, I beg of you! Ihave thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydiahas been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave itup at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one andall, let the consequences be what they may."
Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at MissPilcher.
"Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as wellfor you to mention your impressions."
Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forwardslightly.
"My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald hasany--intentions, so to speak?"
"Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton.
"Yes," with deep significance,--"so to speak. With regard to Lucia."
Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless.
"Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think ofit. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!"
Mrs. Burnham became more significant still.
"_And_" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold."
Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact inher countenance.
"Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever."
"It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be adesirable one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr.Francis Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited tomake her house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he hasnot done so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicablereluctance upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald onceplainly intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, amatrimonial alliance."
"Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is allvery well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if theyoung man has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likelyto result in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold isnot in the mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely toentertain himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in themoonlight, and make herself agreeable to him in her American style."
Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again.
"My dear," said Mrs. Burnham, "he has called upon her twice since LadyTheobald's tea. They say she invites him herself, and flirts with himopenly in the garden."
"Her conduct is such," said Miss Pilcher, with a shudder, "that theblinds upon the side of the seminary which faces Miss Bassett's gardenare kept closed by my orders. I have young ladies under my care whosecharacters are in process of formation, and whose parents reposeconfidence in me."
"Nothing but my friendship for Belinda Bassett," remarked Mrs. Burnham,"would induce me to invite the girl to my house." Then she turned to Mrs.Egerton. "But--ahem--have you included them _all_ in your invitations?"she observed.
Mrs. Egerton became plaintive again.
"I don't see how I could be expected to do any thing else," she said."Lady Theobald herself could not invite Mr. Francis Barold from Mr.Burmistone's house, and leave Mr. Burmistone at home. And, after all, Imust say it is my opinion nobody would have objected to Mr. Burmistone,in the first place, if Lady Theobald had not insisted upon it."
Mrs. Burnham reflected.
"Perhaps that is true," she admitted cautiously at length. "And it mustbe confessed that a man in his position is not entirely without hisadvantages--particularly in a place where there are but few gentlemen,and those scarcely desirable as"--
She paused there discreetly, but Mrs. Egerton was not so discreet.
"There are a great many young ladies in Slowbridge," she said, shakingher head,--"a great many! And with five in a family, all old enough to beout of school, I am sure it is flying in the face of Providence toneglect one's opportunities."
When the two ladies took their departure, Mrs. Burnham seemed reflective.Finally she said,--"Poor Mrs. Egerton's mind is not what it was, and itnever was remarkably strong. It must be admitted, too, that there is alack of--of delicacy. Those great plain girls of hers must be a trial toher."
As she spoke they were passing the privet hedge which surrounded
MissBassett's house and garden; and a sound caused both to glance around. Thefront door had just been opened; and a gentleman was descending thesteps,--a young gentleman in neat clerical garb, his guilelessecclesiastical countenance suffused with mantling blushes of confusionand delight. He stopped on the gravel path to receive the last words ofMiss Octavia Bassett, who stood on the threshold, smiling down upon himin the prettiest way in the world.
"Tuesday afternoon," she said. "Now don't forget; because I shall ask Mr.Barold and Miss Gaston, on purpose to play against us. Even St. Jamescan't object to croquet."
"I--indeed, I shall be _most_ happy and--and delighted," stammered herdeparting guest, "if you will be so kind as to--to instruct me, andforgive my awkwardness."
"Oh! I'll instruct you," said Octavia. "I have instructed people before,and I know how."
Mrs. Burnham clutched Miss Pilcher's arm.
"Do you see who _that_ is?" she demanded. "Would you have believed it?"
Miss Pilcher preserved a stony demeanor.
"I would believe any thing of Miss Octavia Bassett," she replied. "Therewould be nothing at all remarkable, to my mind, in her flirting with thebishop himself! Why should she hesitate to endeavor to entangle thecurate of St. James?"