The Way We Live Now

  CHAPTER XLI.

  ALL PREPARED.

  During all these days Miss Melmotte was by no means contented withher lover's prowess, though she would not allow herself to doubt hissincerity. She had not only assured him of her undying affection inthe presence of her father and mother, had not only offered to bechopped in pieces on his behalf, but had also written to him, tellinghow she had a large sum of her father's money within her power, andhow willing she was to make it her own, to throw over her father andmother, and give herself and her fortune to her lover. She felt thatshe had been very gracious to her lover, and that her lover was alittle slow in acknowledging the favours conferred upon him. But,nevertheless, she was true to her lover, and believed that he wastrue to her. Didon had been hitherto faithful. Marie had writtenvarious letters to Sir Felix, and had received two or three veryshort notes in reply, containing hardly more than a word or two each.But now she was told that a day was absolutely fixed for her marriagewith Lord Nidderdale, and that her things were to be got ready.She was to be married in the middle of August, and here they were,approaching the end of June. "You may buy what you like, mamma," shesaid; "and if papa agrees about Felix, why then I suppose they'll do.But they'll never be of any use about Lord Nidderdale. If you were tosew me up in the things by main force, I wouldn't have him." MadameMelmotte groaned, and scolded in English, French, and German, andwished that she were dead; she told Marie that she was a pig, andass, and a toad, and a dog. And ended, as she always did end, byswearing that Melmotte must manage the matter himself. "Nobody shallmanage this matter for me," said Marie. "I know what I'm about now,and I won't marry anybody just because it will suit papa." "Quenous etions encore a Francfort, ou New York," said the elder lady,remembering the humbler but less troubled times of her earlier life.Marie did not care for Francfort or New York; for Paris or forLondon;--but she did care for Sir Felix Carbury.

  While her father on Sunday morning was transacting business in hisown house with Paul Montague and the great commercial magnates ofthe city,--though it may be doubted whether that very respectablegentleman Sir Gregory Gribe was really in Grosvenor Square when hisname was mentioned,--Marie was walking inside the gardens; Didon wasalso there at some distance from her; and Sir Felix Carbury was therealso close along side of her. Marie had the key of the gardens forher own use; and had already learned that her neighbours in thesquare did not much frequent the place during church time on Sundaymorning. Her lover's letter to her father had of course been shown toher, and she had taxed him with it immediately. Sir Felix, who hadthought much of the letter as he came from Welbeck Street to keep hisappointment,--having been assured by Didon that the gate should beleft unlocked, and that she would be there to close it after he hadcome in,--was of course ready with a lie. "It was the only thing todo, Marie;--it was indeed."

  "But you said you had accepted some offer."

  "You don't suppose I wrote the letter?"

  "It was your handwriting, Felix."

  "Of course it was. I copied just what he put down. He'd have sent youclean away where I couldn't have got near you if I hadn't writtenit."

  "And you have accepted nothing?"

  "Not at all. As it is, he owes me money. Is not that odd? I gave hima thousand pounds to buy shares, and I haven't got anything from himyet." Sir Felix, no doubt, forgot the cheque for L200.

  "Nobody ever does who gives papa money," said the observant daughter.

  "Don't they? Dear me! But I just wrote it because I thought anythingbetter than a downright quarrel."

  "I wouldn't have written it, if it had been ever so."

  "It's no good scolding, Marie. I did it for the best. What do youthink we'd best do now?" Marie looked at him, almost with scorn.Surely it was for him to propose and for her to yield. "I wonderwhether you're sure you're right about that money which you say issettled."

  "It's no good scolding."]

  "I'm quite sure. Mamma told me in Paris,--just when we were comingaway,--that it was done so that there might be something if thingswent wrong. And papa told me that he should want me to sign somethingfrom time to time; and of course I said I would. But of course Iwon't,--if I should have a husband of my own." Felix walked along,pondering the matter, with his hands in his trowsers pockets. Heentertained those very fears which had latterly fallen upon LordNidderdale. There would be no "cropper" which a man could "come"so bad as would be his cropper were he to marry Marie Melmotte, andthen find that he was not to have a shilling! And, were he now torun off with Marie, after having written that letter, the fatherwould certainly not forgive him. This assurance of Marie's as to thesettled money was too doubtful! The game to be played was too full ofdanger! And in that case he would certainly get neither his L800, northe shares. And if he were true to Melmotte, Melmotte would probablysupply him with ready money. But then here was the girl at his elbow,and he no more dared to tell her to her face that he meant to giveher up, than he dared to tell Melmotte that he intended to stick tohis engagement. Some half promise would be the only escape for thepresent. "What are you thinking of, Felix?" she asked.

  "It's d---- difficult to know what to do."

  "But you do love me?"

  "Of course I do. If I didn't love you why should I be here walkinground this stupid place? They talk of your being married toNidderdale about the end of August."

  "Some day in August. But that's all nonsense, you know. They can'ttake me up and marry me, as they used to do the girls ever so longago. I won't marry him. He don't care a bit for me, and never did.I don't think you care much, Felix."

  "Yes, I do. A fellow can't go on saying so over and over again in abeastly place like this. If we were anywhere jolly together, then Icould say it often enough."

  "I wish we were, Felix. I wonder whether we ever shall be."

  "Upon my word I hardly see my way as yet."

  "You're not going to give it up!"

  "Oh no;--not give it up; certainly not. But the bother is a fellowdoesn't know what to do."

  "You've heard of young Mr. Goldsheiner, haven't you?" suggestedMarie.

  "He's one of those city chaps."

  "And Lady Julia Start?"

  "She's old Lady Catchboy's daughter. Yes; I've heard of them. Theygot spliced last winter."

  "Yes,--somewhere in Switzerland, I think. At any rate they went toSwitzerland, and now they've got a house close to Albert Gate."

  "How jolly for them! He is awfully rich, isn't he?"

  "I don't suppose he's half so rich as papa. They did all they couldto prevent her going, but she met him down at Folkestone just as thetidal boat was starting. Didon says that nothing was easier."

  "Oh;--ah. Didon knows all about it."

  "That she does."

  "But she'd lose her place."

  "There are plenty of places. She could come and live with us, andbe my maid. If you would give her L50 for herself, she'd arrange itall."

  "And would you come to Folkestone?"

  "I think that would be stupid, because Lady Julia did that. We shouldmake it a little different. If you liked I wouldn't mind goingto--New York. And then, perhaps, we might--get--married, you know, onboard. That's what Didon thinks."

  "And would Didon go too?"

  "That's what she proposes. She could go as my aunt, and I'd callmyself by her name;--any French name you know. I should go as aFrench girl. And you could call yourself Smith, and be an American.We wouldn't go together, but we'd get on board just at the lastmoment. If they wouldn't--marry us on board, they would at New York,instantly."

  "That's Didon's plan?"

  "That's what she thinks best,--and she'll do it, if you'll give herL50 for herself, you know. The 'Adriatic,'--that's a White Star boat,goes on Thursday week at noon. There's an early train that would takeus down that morning. You had better go and sleep at Liverpool, andtake no notice of us at all till we meet on board. We could be backin a month,--and then papa would be obliged to make the best of it."

  Sir Felix at once felt that it would
be quite unnecessary for him togo to Herr Vossner or to any other male counsellor for advice as tothe best means of carrying off his love. The young lady had it allat her fingers' ends,--even to the amount of the fee required by thefemale counsellor. But Thursday week was very near, and the wholething was taking uncomfortably defined proportions. Where was he toget funds if he were to resolve that he would do this thing? He hadbeen fool enough to intrust his ready money to Melmotte, and now hewas told that when Melmotte got hold of ready money he was not apt torelease it. And he had nothing to show;--no security that he couldoffer to Vossner. And then,--this idea of starting to New York withMelmotte's daughter immediately after he had written to Melmotterenouncing the girl, frightened him.

  "There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune."

  Sir Felix did not know these lines, but the lesson taught by themcame home to him at this moment. Now was the tide in his affairs atwhich he might make himself, or utterly mar himself. "It's deucedimportant," he said at last with a groan.

  "It's not more important for you than me," said Marie.

  "If you're wrong about the money, and he shouldn't come round, whereshould we be then?"

  "Nothing venture, nothing have," said the heiress.

  "That's all very well; but one might venture everything and getnothing after all."

  "You'd get me," said Marie with a pout.

  "Yes;--and I'm awfully fond of you. Of course I should get you!But--"

  "Very well then;--if that's your love," said Marie, turning back fromhim.

  Sir Felix gave a great sigh, and then announced his resolution. "I'llventure it."

  "Oh, Felix, how grand it will be!"

  "There's a great deal to do, you know. I don't know whether it can beThursday week." He was putting in the coward's plea for a reprieve.

  "I shall be afraid of Didon if it's delayed long."

  "There's the money to get, and all that."

  "I can get some money. Mamma has money in the house."

  "How much?" asked the baronet eagerly.

  "A hundred pounds, perhaps;--perhaps two hundred."

  "That would help certainly. I must go to your father for money. Won'tthat be a sell? To get it from him, to take you away!"

  It was decided that they were to go to New York, on a Thursday,--onThursday week if possible, but as to that he was to let her know in aday or two. Didon was to pack up the clothes and get it sent out ofthe house. Didon was to have L50 before she went on board; and as oneof the men must know about it, and must assist in having the trunkssmuggled out of the house, he was to have L10. All had been settledbeforehand, so that Sir Felix really had no need to think aboutanything. "And now," said Marie, "there's Didon. Nobody's lookingand she can open that gate for you. When we're gone, do you creepout. The gate can be left, you know. Then we'll get out on the otherside." Marie Melmotte was certainly a clever girl.