CHAPTER XLIII.
THE MEETING.
There was ruin in the Ascot family, we know. And Lord Ascot, crippledwith paralysis at six-and-forty, was lying in South Audley Street,nursed by Lady Ascot. The boxes, which we saw packed ready for theirforeign tour at the London Bridge Hotel, were still there--not goneabroad yet, for the simple reason that Herodias had won the Oaks, andthat Lord Welter had won, some said seven, others said seventy thousandpounds. (He had really won nine). So the boxes might stay where theywere a few days, and he might pursue his usual avocations in peace, allhis debts of honour being satisfied.
He had barely saved himself from being posted. Fortunately for him, hehad, on the Derby, betted chiefly with a few friends, one of whom wasHornby; and they waited and said nothing till after the Oaks, when theywere paid, and Welter could hold up his head again. He was indebted tothe generosity of Hornby and Sir Charles Ferrars for his honour--thevery men whom he would have swindled. But he laughed and ate hisdinner, and said they were good fellows, and thought no more of it.
The bailiffs were at Ranford. The servants were gone, and the horseswere advertised at Tattersall's already. It was reported in the countythat an aged Jew, being in possession, and prowling about the premises,had come into the poultry-yard, and had surreptitiously slain, cooked,and essayed to eat, the famous cock "Sampson," the champion bird ofEngland, since his match with "Young Countryman." On being informed bythe old keeper that my lord had refused sixty guineas for him a fewweeks before, he had (so said the county) fled out of the house, tearinghis hair, and knocked old Lady Hainault, who had also come prowling overin her pony-carriage, down the steps, flat on her back. Miss Hicks, whowas behind with her shawls, had picked her up, they said, and "caughtit."
If Adelaide was beautiful everywhere, surely she was more beautiful onhorseback than anywhere else, and no one knew it better than herself.She was one of the few who appeared in the park in a low-crowned hat--a"wide-awake." They are not _de rigueur_ even yet, I believe; butAdelaide was never very particular, so long as she could look well. Shehad found out how splendid her perfect mask looked under the careless,irregular curves of such a head-dress, and how bright her banded hairshone in contrast with a black ostrich feather which drooped on hershoulder. And so she had taken to wear one since she had been LadyWelter, and had appeared in the park in it twice.
Lord Welter bethought himself once in these times--that is, just afterthe Oaks--that he would like to take his handsome wife out, and show herin the park. His Hornby speculation had turned out ill; in fact, Hornbyhad altogether made rather a handsome sum out of him, and he must lookfor some one else. The some one else, a young Austrian, Pscechenyi byname, a young fellow of wealth, had received his advances somewhatcoldly, and it became necessary to hang out Adelaide as a lure.
Lord Welter was aware that, if he had asked Adelaide to come and ridewith him, on the ground of giving her an afternoon's amusement, andtried to persuade her to it by fair-spoken commonplaces, she wouldprobably not have come; and so he did nothing of the kind. He and hiswife thoroughly understood one another. There was perfect confidencebetween them in everything. Towards one another they were perfectlysincere; and this very sincerity begot a feeling of trust between them,which ultimately ripened into something better. They began life togetherwithout any professions of affection; but out of use, and a similarityof character, there grew a liking in the end. She knew everything aboutLord Welter, save one thing, which she was to know immediately, andwhich was of no importance; and she was always ready to help him,provided, as she told him, "he didn't humbug," which his lordship, as weknow, was not inclined to do, without her caution.
Lord Welter went into her dressing-room, in the morning, and said--
"Here's a note from Pscechenyi. He won't come to-night."
"Indeed!" said Adelaide, brushing her hair. "I did not give him creditfor so much sense. Really, you know, he can't be such a fool as helooks."
"We must have him," said Lord Welter.
"Of course we must," said Adelaide. "I really cannot allow such a fatgoose to run about with a knife and fork in him any longer. Heigh ho!Let's see. He affects Lady Brittlejug, don't he? I am going to her partyto-night, and I'll capture him for you, and bring him home to you fromunder her very nose. Now, do try and make a better hand of him than youdid of Hornby, or we shall all be in the workhouse together."
"I'll do my best," said Lord Welter, laughing. "But look here. I don'tthink you'll catch him so, you know. She looks as well as you bycandlelight; but she can't ride a hang. Come out in the park thisafternoon. He will be there."
"Very well," said Adelaide; "I suppose you know best. I shall be glad ofa ride. Half-past two, then."
So, at the time appointed, these two innocent lambkins rode forth totake the air. Lord Welter, big, burly, red-faced, good-humoured,perfectly dressed, and sitting on his horse as few others could sit, themodel of a frank English nobleman. Adelaide, beautiful and fragilebeyond description, perfect in dress and carriage, riding trustingly andlovingly in the shadow of her lord, the happy, timid bride all over.They had no groom. What should a poor simple couple like them want witha groom? It was a beautiful sight, and many turned to look at them.
But Lord Saltire, who was looking out of the drawing-room window of LordAscot's house in South Audley Street, as they passed, turned to Marston,and said very emphatically--
"Now, I do really wonder what infernal mischief those two are after.There is an air of pastoral simplicity about their whole get-up, whichforebodes some very great--very great"--here he paused, took snuff, andlooked Marston straight in the face--"obliquity of moral purpose."
Meanwhile the unconscious innocents sauntered on into the park, underthe Marble Arch, and down towards Rotten Row. When they got into theRow, they had a canter. There was Pscechenyi riding with Hornby and MissBuckjumper, but they gave them the "go by," and went sortly on towardsKensington Gate. "Who is the woman in the hat and feathers?" saideverybody who didn't know. "Lady Welter" said everybody who did; and,whatever else they said of her, they all agreed that she was wonderfullybeautiful, and rode divinely. When they came slowly back, they foundHornby and the Austrian were standing against the rail, talking to someladies. They drew close up, and entered into conversation; and Adelaidefound herself beside Miss Buckjumper, now Lady Handlycross.
Adelaide was somewhat pleased to find herself at the side of this famoushorsewoman and beauty. She was so sure that comparisons would befavourable to herself. And they were. If ever an exquisitely-formed nosewas, so to speak put out of joint, that nose was in the middle of MissBuckjumper's face that day. Nevertheless, she did not show anything. Shehad rather a respect for Adelaide, as being a successful woman. Was notshe herself cantering for a coronet? There was very soon a group roundthem, and Lord Welter's hoarse, jolly laugh was heard continually.People, who were walking in the park to see the great people, pausedoutside the circle to look at her, and repassed again. Mr. Pelagius J.Bottom, of New York, whose father emigrated to Athens, and made a greatfortune at the weaving business in the time of King Theseus, got on abench, and looked at her through a double-barrelled opera-glass. Therenever was such a success. The Austrian thought no more of Hornby'scautions, thought no more of Miss Buckjumper or Lady Brittlejug. He wasdesperately in love, and was dying for some excuse to withdraw hisrefusal of this morning. Pelagius Jas. Bottom would have come, andmortgaged the paternal weaving business at the dice, but unfortunatelyhis letters of introduction, being all addressed to respectable people,did not include one to Lord and Lady Welter. All the young fellows wouldhave come and played all night, till church-time next morning, for hersake. As Lord Welter candidly told her that night, she was the bestinvestment he had ever made.
They did not want all the young fellows though. Too many cooks spoil thebroth. They only wanted the young Austrian, and so Lord Welter said,after a time, "I was in hopes of seeing you at my house last night."That was quite enough. Fifty Hornbys would not have stopped him now.
br /> Still they stood there talking. Adelaide was almost happy. Which ofthese staid women had such power as she? There was a look of pride andadmiration even on Lord Welter's stupid face. Yes, it was a greatsuccess. Suddenly all people began to look one way and come towards therails, and a buzz arose, "The Queen--the Queen!"
Adelaide turned just as the outriders were opposite to her. She saw thedark claret-coloured carriage, fifty yards off, and she knew that LadyEmily Montford, who had been her sister bridesmaid at Lady Hainault'swedding, was in waiting that day. Hornby declares the whole thing wasdone on purpose. Let us be more charitable, and suppose that her horsewas startled at the scarlet coats of the outriders; however it was, thebrute took fright, stood on its hind legs, and bolted straight towardsthe royal carriage. She reined it up within ten feet of the carriagestep, plunging furiously. Raising her whip hand to push her hat morefirmly on, she knocked it off, and sat there bareheaded, with one loopof her hair fallen down, a sight which no man who saw it ever forgot.She saw a look of amazed admiration in the Queen's face. She saw LadyEmily's look of gentle pity. She saw her Majesty lean forward, and askwho it was. She saw her name pass Lady Emily's lips, and then she sawthe Queen turn with a frown, and look steadily the other way.
Wrath and rage were in her heart, and showed themselves one instant inher face. A groom had run out and picked up her hat. She bent down totake it from him, and saw that it was Charles Ravenshoe.
Her face grew soft again directly. Poor thing! she must have had a kindheart after all, crusted over as it was with vanity, pride, andselfishness. Now, in her anger and shame, she could have cried to seeher old love so degraded. There was no time for crying, or for sayingmore than a few sharp words, for they were coming towards her.
"What nonsense is this, Charles?" she said. "What is this masquerade?Are you come to double my shame? Go home and take that dress off andburn it. Is your pride dead, that you disgrace yourself like this inpublic? If you are desperate, as you seem, why are you not at the war?They want desperate men there. Oh! if I was a man!"
They parted then! no one but Lord Welter and Hornby knew who Charleswas. The former saw that Adelaide had recognised him, and, as they rodesimply home together, said--
"I knew poor Charles was a groom. He saw his sister the other night atour house. I didn't tell you; I hardly know why. I really believe, doyou know, that the truth of the matter is, Adelaide, that I did not wantto vex you. Now!"
He looked at her as if he thought she would disbelieve him, but shesaid--
"Nay, I do believe you, Welter. You are not an ill-natured man, but youare selfish and unprincipled. So am I, perhaps to a greater extent thanyou. At what time is that fool of a German coming?"
"At half-past eleven."
"I must go to that woman Brittlejug's party. I must show there, to keepfriends with her. She has such a terrible tongue, I will be back bytwelve or so."
"I wish you could stay at home."
"I really dare not, my dear Welter. I must go. I will be back in goodtime."
"Of course you will please yourself about it," said Lord Welter, athought sulkily. And, when he was by himself he said--
"She is going to see Charles Ravenshoe. Well, perhaps she ought. Shetreated him d----d bad! And so did I."