The Young Duke

  CHAPTER X.

  _'Love is Like a Dizziness.'_

  MR. DACRE returned home with an excellent appetite, and almost as keen adesire to renew his conversation with his guest; but dinner and the Dukewere neither to be commanded. Miss Dacre also could not be found. Noinformation could be obtained of them from any quarter. It was nearlyseven o'clock, the hour of dinner. That meal, somewhat to Mr. Dacre'sregret, was postponed for half an hour, servants were sent out, and thebell was rung, but no tidings. Mr. Dacre was a little annoyed and morealarmed; he was also hungry, and at half-past seven he sat down to asolitary meal.

  About a quarter-past eight a figure rapped at the dining-room window:it was the young Duke. The fat butler seemed astonished, not to sayshocked, at this violation of etiquette; nevertheless, he slowly openedthe window.

  'Anything the matter, George? Where is May?'

  'Nothing. We lost our way. That is all. May--Miss Dacre desired me tosay, that she would not join us at dinner.'

  'I am sure, something has happened.'

  'I assure you, my dear sir, nothing, nothing at all the leastunpleasant, but we took the wrong turning. All my fault.'

  'Shall I send for the soup?'

  'No. I am not hungry, I will take some wine.' So saying, his Gracepoured out a tumbler of claret.

  'Shall I take your Grace's hat?' asked the fat butler.

  'Dear me! have I my hat on?'

  This was not the only evidence afforded by our hero's conduct that hispresence of mind had slightly deserted him. He was soon buried in a deepreverie, and sat with a full plate, but idle knife and fork before him,a perfect puzzle to the fat butler, who had hitherto considered hisGrace the very pink of propriety.

  'George, you have eaten no dinner,' said Mr. Dacre.

  'Thank you, a very good one indeed, a remarkably good dinner. Give mesome red wine, if you please.'

  At length they were left alone.

  'I have some good news for you, George.'

  'Indeed.'

  'I think I have let Rosemount.'

  'So!'

  'And exactly to the kind of person that you wanted, a man who will takea pride, although merely a tenant, in not permitting his poor neighboursto feel the _want_ of a landlord. You will never guess: Lord Mildmay!'

  'What did you say of Lord Mildmay, sir?'

  'My dear fellow, your wits are wool-gathering; I say I think I have letRosemount.'

  'Oh! I have changed my mind about letting Rosemount.'

  'My dear Duke, there is no trouble which I will grudge, to further yourinterests; but really I must beg, in future, that you will, at least,apprise me when you change your mind. There is nothing, as we have bothagreed, more desirable than to find an eligible tenant for Rosemount.You never can expect to have a more beneficial one than Lord Mildmay;and really, unless you have positively promised the place to anotherperson (which, excuse me for saying, you were not authorised to do) Imust insist, after what has passed, upon his having the preference.'

  'My dear sir, I only changed my mind this afternoon: I couldn't tellyou before. I have promised it to no one; but I think of living theremyself.'

  'Yourself! Oh! if that be the case, I shall be quite reconciled to thedisappointment of Lord Mildmay. But what in the name of goodness, mydear fellow, has produced this wonderful revolution in all your plans inthe course of a few hours? I thought you were going to mope away life onthe Lake of Geneva, or dawdle it away in Florence or Rome.'

  'It is very odd, sir. I can hardly believe it myself: and yet it must betrue. I hear her voice even at this moment. Oh! my dear Mr. Dacre, I amthe happiest fellow that ever breathed!'

  'What is all this?'

  'Is it possible, my dear sir, that you have not long before detectedthe feelings I ventured to entertain for your daughter? In a word, sherequires only your sanction to my being the most fortunate of men.'

  'My dear friend, my dear, dear boy!' cried Mr. Dacre, rising from hischair and embracing him, 'it is out of the power of man to impart to meany event which could afford me such exquisite pleasure! Indeed, indeed,it is to me most surprising! for I had been induced to suspect, George,that some explanation had passed between you and May, which, whileit accounted for your mutual esteem, gave little hope of a strongersentiment.'

  'I believe, sir,' said the young Duke, with a smile, 'I was obstinate.'

  'Well, this changes all our plans. I have intended, for this fortnightpast, to speak to you finally on your affairs. No better time than thepresent; and, in the first place----'

  But, really, this interview is confidential.