Tales and Novels Volume X Part 15

"How better than the general, who was present, and heard and saw the whole?" said Lady Cecilia.

"Yes, better, for he saw only effects, and I know causes; and I appeal to Lady Davenant,--from Lady Davenant sarcastic to Lady Davenant philosophic I appeal--may not the man who discovers causes, say he knows more than he who merely sees effects?"

"He may say he knows more, at all events," replied Lady Davenant; "but now for the discovery of causes, metaphysical sir."

"I have done," cried the general, turning to leave the breakfast-room; "when Beauclerc goes to metaphysics I give it up."

"No, no, do not give it up, my dear general," cried Lady Cecilia; "do not stir till we have heard what will come next, for I am sure it will be something delightfully absurd."

Beauclerc bowed, and feared he should not justify her ladys.h.i.+p's good opinion, for he had nothing delightfully absurd to say, adding that the cause of his friend's appearing like a brute was, that he feared to be a hypocrite among hypocrites.

"Lord Beltravers was in company with a set who were striving, with all their might of dissimulation, to appear better than they are, and he, as he always does, strove to make himself appear worse than he really is."

"Unnecessary, I should think," said Lady Davenant.

"Impossible, I should think," said the general.

"Impossible I know it is to change your opinion, general, of any one,"

said Beauclerc.

"For my own part, I am glad of that," said Lady Cecilia, rising; "and I advise you, Granville, to rest content with the general's opinion of yourself, and say no more."

"But," said Beauclerc; "one cannot be content to think only of one's-self always."

"Say no more, say no more," repeated Lady Cecilia, smiling as she looked back from the door, where she had stopped the general. "For my sake say no more, I entreat, I do dislike to hear so much said about anything or anybody. What sort of a road is it to Old Forest?" continued she; "why should not we ladies go with you, my dear Clarendon, to enliven the way."

Clarendon's countenance brightened at this proposal. The road was certainly beautiful, he said, by the banks of the Thames. Lady Cecilia and the general left the room, but Beauclerc remained sitting at the breakfast-table, apparently intently occupied in forming a tripod of three tea-spoons; Lady Davenant opposite to him, looking at him earnestly, "Granville!" said she. He started, "Granville! set my mind at ease by one word, tell me the _mot d'enigme_ of this sudden friends.h.i.+p."

"Not what you suppose," said he steadily, yet colouring deeply. "The fact is, that Beltravers and I were school-fellows; a generous little fellow he was as ever was born; he got me out of a sad sc.r.a.pe once at his own expense, and I can never forget it. We had never met since we left Eton, till about three weeks ago in town, when I found him in great difficulties, persecuted too, by a party--I could not turn my back on him--I would rather be shot!"

"No immediate necessity for being shot, my dear Granville, I hope," said Lady Davenant. "But if this be indeed _all_, I will never say another word against your Lord Beltravers; I will leave it to you to find out his character, or to time to show it. I shall be quite satisfied that you throw away your money, if it be only money that is in the question; be this Lord Beltravers what he may. Let him say, 'or let them do, it is all one to me,' provided that he does not marry you to his sister."

"He has not a thought of it," cried Beauclerc; "and if he had, do you conceive, Lady Davenant, that any man on earth could dispose of me in marriage, at his pleasure?"

"I hope not," said Lady Davenant.

"Be a.s.sured not; my own will, my own heart alone, must decide that matter."

"The horses are at the door!" cried Cecilia, as she entered; but "where's Helen?"

Helen had made her escape out of the room when Lady Davenant had p.r.o.nounced the words, "Set my mind at rest, Granville," as she felt it must then be embarra.s.sing to him to speak, and to herself to hear. Her retreat, had not, however, been effected with considerable loss, she had been compelled to leave a large piece of the c.r.a.pe-tr.i.m.m.i.n.g of her gown under the foot of Lady Davenant's inexorable chair.

"Here is something that belongs to Miss Stanley, if I mistake not," said the general, who first spied the fragment. The aid-de-camp stooped for it--Lady Cecilia pitied it--Lady Davenant p.r.o.nounced it to be Helen's own fault--Beauclerc understood how it happened, and said nothing.

"But, Helen," cried Lady Cecilia, as she re-appeared,--"but, Helen, are you not coming with us?"

Helen had intended to have gone in the pony-carriage with Lady Davenant, but her ladys.h.i.+p now declared that she had business to do at home; it was settled therefore that Helen was to be of the riding party, and that party consisted of Lady Cecilia and the general, Beauclerc and herself.

CHAPTER X.

It was a delightful day, sun s.h.i.+ning, not too hot, air balmy, birds singing, all nature gay; and the happy influence was quickly felt by the riding party. Unpleasant thoughts of the past or future, if any such had been, were now lost in present enjoyment. The general, twice a man on horseback, as he always felt himself, managed his own and Helen's horse to admiration, and Cecilia, riding on with Beauclerc, was well pleased to hear his first observation, that he had been quite wrong last night, in not acknowledging that Miss Stanley was beautiful. "People look so different by daylight and by candlelight," said he; "and so different when one does not know them at all, and when one begins to know something of them."

"But what can you know yet of Helen?"

"One forms some idea of character from trifles light as air. How delightful this day is!"

"And now you really allow she may be called beautiful?"

"Yes, that is, with some expression of mind, heart, soul, which is what I look for in general," said Beauclerc.

"In general, what can you mean by in general?"

"Not in particular; in particular cases I might think--I--I might feel--otherwise."

"In particular, then, do you like fools that have no mind, heart, or soul, Granville?--Answer me."

"Take care," said he, "that horse is too spirited for a lady."

"Not for me," said Lady Cecilia; "but do not think you shall get off so; what did you mean?"

"My meaning lies too deep for the present occasion."

"For the present company--eh?"

Beauclerc half smiled and answered--"You know you used to tell me that you hated long discussions on words and nice distinctions."

"Well, well, but let me have the nice distinction now."

"Between love and friends.h.i.+p, then, there is a vast difference in what one wishes for in a woman's face; there are, 'faces which pale pa.s.sion loves.'"

"To the right, turn," the general's voice far behind was heard to say.

To the right they turned, into a glade of the park, which opened to a favourite view of the general's, to which Cecilia knew that all attention must be paid. He came up, and they proceeded through a wood which had been planted by his father, and which seemed destined to stand for ever secure from sacrilegious axe. The road led them next into a village, one of the prettiest of that sort of scattered English villages, where each habitation seems to have been suited to the fancy as well as to the convenience of each proprietor; giving an idea at once of comfort and liberty, such as can be seen only in England. Happy England, how blest, would she but know her bliss!

This village was inhabited by the general's tenants. His countenance brightened and expanded, as did theirs, whenever he came amongst them; he saw them happy, and they knew that they owed their happiness in just proportion to their landlord and themselves; therefore there was a comfortable mixture in their feelings of grat.i.tude and self-respect.

Some old people who were sitting on the stone benches, sunning themselves at their doors, rose as he pa.s.sed, cap in hand, with cordial greeting. The oldest man, the father of the village, forgot his crutch as he came forward to see his landlord's bride, and to give him joy. At every house where they stopped, out came husband, wife, and children, even "wee toddling things;" one of these, while the general was speaking to its mother, made its way frightfully close to his horse's heels: Helen saw it, and called to the mother. The general, turning and leaning back on his horse, said to the bold little urchin as the mother s.n.a.t.c.hed him up, "My boy, as long as you live never again go behind a horse's heels."

"And remember, it was general Clarendon gave you this advice," added Beauclerc, and turning to Lady Cecilia--"'_Et souvenez vous que c'est Marechal Turenne qui vous l'a dit_.'"

While the general searched for that English memento, six-pence, Lady Cecilia repeated, "Marshal Turenne! I do not understand."

"Yes, if you recollect," said Helen, "you do."

"I dare say I know, but I don't remember," said Cecilia. "It was only,"