Scenes and Characters, or, Eighteen Months at Beechcroft Part 45

'What heroine? What do you mean?'

'Honest Phyl, of course. Did you think I meant Miss Weston?'

'With Eleanor, somewhere. Is the next dance a quadrille?'

Lord Rotherwood ran up the bank to the terraced walks, where the undancing part of the company sat or walked about. Soon he spied Phyllis standing by Eleanor, looking rather wearied. 'Phyllis, can you dance a quadrille?'

Phyllis opened her eyes, and Eleanor desired her to answer.

'Come, Phyllis, let me see what M. Le Roi has done for you.'

He led her away, wondering greatly, and thinking how very good- natured Cousin Rotherwood was.

Emily was much surprised to find Phyllis her vis a vis. Emily was very generally known and liked, and had no lack of grand partners, but she would have liked to dance with the Marquis. When the quadrille was over, she was glad to put herself in his way, by coming up to take charge of Phyllis.

'Well done, Phyl,' said he; 'no mistakes. You must have another dance. Whom shall we find for you?'

'Oh! Rotherwood,' said Emily, 'you cannot think how you gratified us all with your speech.'

'Ah! I always set my heart on saying something of the kind; but I wished I could have dared to add the bride's health.'

'The bride!'

'Do not pretend to have no eyes,' said Lord Rotherwood, with a significant glance, which directed Emily's eyes to the terrace, where Mr. Mohun and Alethea were walking together in eager conversation.

Emily was ready to sink into the earth. Jane's surmises, and the mysterious words of her father, left her no further doubt. At this moment some one asked her to dance, and scarcely knowing what she did or said, she walked to her place. Lord Rotherwood now found a partner for Phyllis, and a farmer's daughter for himself.

This dance over, Phyllis's partner did not well know how to dispose of her, and she grew rather frightened on finding that none of her sisters were in sight. At last she perceived Reginald standing on the bank, and made her escape to him.

'Redgie, did you see who I have been dancing with? Cousin Rotherwood and Claude's grand Oxford friend--Mr. Travers.'

'It is all nonsense,' said Reginald. 'Come out of this mob of people.'

'But where is Eleanor?'

'Somewhere in the midst. They are all absurd together.'

'What is the matter, Redgie?' asked Phyllis, unable to account for this extraordinary fit of misanthropy.

'Papa and William both driving me about like a dog,' said Reginald; 'first I danced with Miss Weston--then she saw that woman--that Miss Aylmer--shook hands--talked--and then nothing would serve her but to find papa. As soon as the Baron sees me he cries out, "Why are not you dancing, Redgie? We do not want you!" Up and down they walk, ever so long, and presently papa turns off, and begins talking to Miss Aylmer. Then, of course, I went back to Miss Weston, but then up comes William, as savage as one of his Canadian bears; he orders me off too, and so here I am! I am sure I am not going to ask any one else to dance. Come and walk with me in peace, Phyl. Do you see them?--Miss Weston and Marianne under that tulip-tree, and the Captain helping them to ice.'

'Redgie, did you give Miss Weston her nosegay? Some one put such beautiful flowers in it, such as I never saw before.'

'How could I? They sent me off with Lily and Jane. I told William I had the flowers in charge, and he said he would take care of them.

By the bye, Phyl,' and Reginald gave a wondrous spring, 'I have it!

I have it! I have it! If he is not in love with Miss Weston you may call me an a.s.s for the rest of my life.'

'I should not like to call you an a.s.s, Redgie,' said Phyllis.

'Very likely; but do not make me call you one. Hurrah! Now ask Marianne if it is not so. Marianne must know. How jolly! I say, Phyl, stay there, and I will fetch Marianne.'

Away ran Reginald, and presently returned with Marianne, who was very glad to be invited to join Phyllis. She little knew what an examination awaited her.

'Marianne,' began Phyllis, 'I'll tell you what--'

'No, I will do it right,' said Reginald; 'you know nothing about it, Phyl. Marianne, is not something going on there?'

'Going on?' said Marianne, 'Alethea is speaking to Mrs. Hawkesworth.'

'Nonsense, I know better, Marianne. I have a suspicion that I could tell what the Captain was about yesterday when he walked off after dinner.'

'How very wise you think you look, Reginald!' said Marianne, laughing heartily.

'But tell us; do tell us, Marianne,' said Phyllis.

'Tell you whet?'

'Whether William is going to marry Miss Weston,' said the straightforward Phyllis. 'Redgie says so--only tell us. Oh! it would be so nice!'

'How you blurt it out, Phyl,' said Reginald. 'You do not know how those things are managed. Mind, I found it out all myself. Just say, Marianne. Am not I right?'

'I do not know whether I ought to tell,' said Marianne.

'Oh! then it is all right,' said Reginald, 'and I found it out. Now, Marianne, there is a good girl, tell us all about it.'

'You know I could not say "No" when you asked me,' said Marianne; 'I could not help it really; but pray do not tell anybody, or Captain Mohun will not like it.'

'Does any one know?' said Reginald.

'Only ourselves and Mr. Mohun; and I think Lord Rotherwood guesses, from something I heard him say to Jane.'

'To Jane?' said Reginald. 'That is provoking; she will think she found it out all herself, and be so conceited!'

'You need not be afraid,' said Marianne, laughing; 'Jane is on a wrong scent.'

'Jane? Oh! I should like to see her out in her reckonings! I should like to have a laugh against her. What does she think, Marianne?'

'Oh! I cannot tell you; it is too bad.'

'Oh! do; do, pray. You may whisper it if it is too bad for Phyllis to hear.'

'No, no,' said Marianne; 'it is nothing but nonsense. If you hear it, Phyllis shall too; but mind, you must promise not to say anything to anybody, or I do not know what will become of me.'

'Well, we will not,' said Reginald; 'boys can always keep secrets, and I'll engage for Phyl. Now for it.'

'She is in a terrible fright lest it should be Mr. Mohun. She got it into her head last autumn, and all I could say would not persuade her out of it. Why, she always calls me Aunt Marianne when we are alone.

Now, Reginald, here comes Maurice. Do not say anything, I beg and entreat. It is my secret, you know. I daresay you will all be told to-morrow,--indeed, mamma said so,--but pray say nothing about me or Jane. It was only settled yesterday evening.'

At this moment Maurice came up, with a message that Miss Weston and Eleanor were going away, and wanted the little girls. They followed him to the tent, which had been cleared of the tables, and lighted up, in order that the dancing might continue there. Most of their own party were collected at the entrance, watching for them. Lilias came up just as they did, and exclaimed in a tone of disappointment, on finding them preparing to depart. She had enjoyed herself exceedingly, found plenty of partners, and was not in the least tired.