CHAPTER XXVIII
THIS DEAR GIRL BELONGS TO US
I forget all about the night that followed. I also forget the nextday. I think I stayed in my room most of the time, but the dayfollowing I went down to the drawing-room. London was already emptyingfast. Jim had not come back. I sat in the drawing-room wondering whatwas going to happen, feeling that something must happen soon--a greatcatastrophe--a great shattering of that castle in the air which I hadbuilt so proudly a few months ago. While I was sitting there Jasminebustled in.
"Now that is good, West," she said. "You are better. I want to have alittle chat with you."
I raised my eyes. I knew very well what she was going to talk about,but I was not prepared to tell the whole truth yet. There was onematter I kept in reserve--my engagement to Albert Fanning. Whether Idid right or wrong, the announcement of that extreme news could notpass my lips. I often struggled to tell it, but never yet had I beenable. I knew, of course, that if Jim came to see me again I must tellhim everything, but I hoped in my mad misery that he would not comeagain. Then the next hour I hoped the other way. I longed mostpassionately to see him, and so I was torn from hour to hour and fromminute to minute with longings and doubts and despairs; but allthrough everything, I kept my secret untold within my breast.
"It is so nice about Jim Randolph," said Jasmine, sitting down nearme. "Do you know that when Sir Henry Severn dies, Jim will be thesuccessor to the baronetcy. While Jim was away in Australia, SirHenry's son Theodore died quite suddenly. It was awfully sad, and nowJames is the next in succession. Sir Henry wishes him to live eitherwith him at Severn Towers, in Somersetshire, or to have a house closeby. James went down yesterday to see the old man, and will probably becoming back to-morrow. He was very sorry to leave you, but he had togo. He will be a rich man in the future, for Sir Henry Severn is verywealthy. It is a grand chance for Jim. He never for a moment supposedthat the title would come to him."
I sat silent. I had a little ring on my finger--a very plain ring,with one tiny diamond in it. It had been given to me by AlbertFanning. I would not allow him to give me a flashy or showy ring, ashe wanted to do, and I think he would gladly have spent a couple ofhundred pounds on my engagement-ring, but I would not have it, notuntil the whole thing was known, then he might lavish jewellery on meas much as he pleased for all I cared. I twisted the little ringround and thought of my bond, and said after a pause--
"I do grieve about one thing, and that is that mother did not see Mr.Randolph before she died."
"But she always knew about everything. It is an open secret," saidJasmine. "I cannot imagine, Westenra, why you are so reserved with me.Every one knows. The Duchess knows, your mother knew, I know thatJames loves you, that he has loved you for months and months. Whatelse would have taken a young man like James, a man of the world, sopolished, so distinguished, so charming, to live in a place likeGraham Square? Besides, dear, he has told you himself, has he not?"
I felt myself turning white.
"He has told you, has he not?" repeated Jasmine.
"I would rather not say," I replied.
"Your face tells me; besides, I saw the Duchess yesterday, and shesaid that she was so happy, for now you would be back again in yourown set. You will make a very pretty and graceful Lady Severn."
"I care nothing whatever about that," I said, and I jumped up andwalked to the window. "I hate titles," I continued. "I hate rank; Ihate the whole thing. It is humbug, Jasmine; humbug. Why is itnecessary for us all to class together in Mayfair, or to live in largehouses in the country, in order to love each other? Why should we notgo on loving, whatever our worldly position? Oh! it is cruel; thewhole thing is cruel."
"But you ought to be rejoiced about James," continued Jasmine, who didnot evidently think it worth her while even to answer my last words."He has come back; he is quite well. In a few years at latest he willbe Sir James Severn, for of course he must take the name with thebaronetcy, and you will be his pretty wife. Doubtless he will want tomarry you very soon--as soon, I mean, darling, as you can bringyourself to go to him after your dear mother's death; but I knew yourmother quite well enough, Westenra, to be sure that the sooner youmade yourself happy the better pleased she would be, and you will behappy with such a good man. Why, he is a catch in a thousand. I cannottell you how many girls are in love with him, and I never saw him talkto any one or flirt the least bit in the world except with yourcharming self. You are lucky, Westenra; very lucky."
I went now and stood by the window, and as I stood there I felt myheart give a great thump, and then go low down in my breast. I turnedimpulsively.
"I--I am not quite well," I began; but then I hastily thought that Imust see it out. The moment had come when Jasmine Thesiger was to haveall her doubts answered, her questions replied to, and my future wouldbe clear in her eyes, for I had seen the chocolate-coloured broughamdraw up at the door, and Mrs. and Mr. Fanning get out.
"What is the matter? Are you ill?" said Jasmine.
"No, no; I am quite well," I replied. I sank down on a chair. "I onlysaw some visitors just arrive," I continued.
"Visitors at this hour! I will tell Tomkins we are not at home."
"It is too late," I answered; "they are coming up. They are friends ofmine."
"All right, child; but how queer you look," Jasmine gazed at me ingreat astonishment.
I hoped earnestly that I did not show my emotion too plainly, when thenext moment the door was thrown open by Lady Thesiger's smart servant,and Mrs. and Mr. Fanning walked in.
Mrs. Fanning had put on black on my account. She had told me that shemeant to go into mourning, as we were practically relations already. Ihad begged of her not, but she had not regarded my wishes in theleast. She was in a heavy black serge dress, and a voluminous capewhich came down nearly to her knees, and she had a black bonnet on,and her face was all beaming and twinkling with affection and sympathyand suppressed happiness. And Albert Fanning, also in a mostmelancholy suit of black, with his hair as upright as ever, came up tomy side. I heard his usual formula--
"How is Westenra?" and then I found myself introducing him and hismother to Lady Thesiger, and Lady Thesiger gave a haughty little bow,and then sat down, with her eyes very bright, to watch events. Perhapsalready she had an inkling of what was about to follow.
"We have come," said Mrs. Fanning, looking at her son and thenglancing at me, "to tell you, Westenra, that we think you had betterarrange to spend your holidays with us. Considering all things, itseems most fitting."
"What I say is this," interrupted Albert Fanning. "Westenra must do asshe pleases. If she likes to come with us to Switzerland we shall be,I need not say, charmed; but if she prefers to stay with herladyship"--here he gave a profound bow in the direction of LadyThesiger--"we must submit. It is not in the bond, you know, mother,and anything outside the bond I for one debar."
"You always were so queer, my son Albert," said Mrs. Fanning, who hadlost her shyness, and now was determined to speak out her mind fully.
"It's this way, your ladyship," she continued, turning to LadyThesiger. "I may as well be plain, and I may as well out with thetruth. This pretty young girl, this dear girl, belongs to us. She doesnot belong to you--she belongs to us."
"No, no, mother; you are wrong there," cried Mr. Fanning; "she doesnot belong to us at present."
"It's all the same," said Mrs. Fanning; "don't talk nonsense to me.When a girl is engaged to a man--"
"Engaged! Good heavens!" I heard Lady Thesiger mutter, and then shesat very still, and fixed her eyes for a moment on my face, with asort of glance which seemed to say, "Are you quite absolutely mad?"
"Yes, engaged," continued Mrs. Fanning. "It is a very queerengagement, it seems to me, but it is a _bona fide_ one for all that."
"As _bona fide_," said Mr. Fanning, with a profound sigh, "as there isa sky in the heavens. As _bona fide_ as there is a day and a night; as_bona fide_ as that I am in existence; but the marriage is not to beconsummated until the 1st of
June of next year. That is in the bond,and we have nothing to complain of if--if Westenra"--here his voicedropped to a sound of absolute tenderness--"if Westenra would rathernot come with us now."
"Please explain," said Lady Thesiger. "I knew nothing of this. Do youmean to tell me, madam, that my friend Westenra Wickham is engagedto--to whom?"
"To my son Albert," said Mrs. Fanning, with great emphasis and withquite as much pride as Lady Thesiger's own.
"Is that the case, Westenra?" continued Jasmine, looking at me.
I bowed my head. I was silent for a moment; then I said, "I am engagedto Albert Fanning. I mean to marry him on the 1st of June next year."
"Then, of course, I have nothing to say. Do you wish to go away withthe Fannings, Westenra? You must do what you wish."
I looked at her and then I looked at Mrs. Fanning, and then I lookedat Albert, whose blue eyes were fixed on my face with all the soul hepossessed shining out of them. He came close to me, took my hand, andpatted it.
"You must do just as you please, little girl," he said; "just exactlyas you please."
"Then I will write and let you know," I answered. "I cannot tell youto-day."
"That is all right--that is coming to business," said Mrs. Fanning;"that is as it should be. Albert, we are not wanted here, and we'llgo. You'll let us know to-morrow, my dearie dear. Don't keep uswaiting long, for we have to order rooms in advance at the big hotelsin Switzerland at this time of year. Your ladyship, we will be wishingyou good morning, and please understand one thing, that though we maynot be quite so stylish, nor quite so up in the world as you are, yetwe have got money enough, money enough to give us everything thatmoney can buy, and Westenra will have a right good time with my sonAlbert and me. Come, Albert."
Albert Fanning gave me a piteous glance, but I could not reply to itjust then, and I let them both go away, and felt myself a wretch forbeing so cold to them, and for their society so thoroughly.
When they were gone, and the sound of wheels had died away in thestreet, Jasmine turned to me.
"What does it mean?" she cried. "It cannot be true--you, Westenra,engaged to that man! Jim Randolph wants you; he loves you with all hisheart; he has been chivalrous about you; he is a splendid fellow, andhe is rich and in your own set, and you choose that man!"
"Yes, I choose Albert Fanning," I said. "I can never marry JamesRandolph."
"But why, why, why?" asked Jasmine.