CHAPTER V
Philip did not neglect to go to luncheon at Rewtham house, and a verypleasant luncheon it was; indeed, it would have been difficult for himto have said which he found the pleasantest: Maria's cheerful chatterand flattering preference, or Hilda's sweet and gracious presence.
After luncheon, at Maria's invitation he gave Fraulein von Holtzhausenher first lesson in writing in English character; and to speak truthhe found the task of guiding her fair hand through the mysteries ofthe English alphabet a by no means uncongenial occupation. When hecame away his admiration of Hilda's blue eyes was more pronounced thanever; but, on the other hand, so was his conviction that he would bevery foolish if he allowed it to interfere with his intention ofmaking Maria Lee his wife.
He who would drive two women thus in double harness must needs have alight hand and a ready lash, and it is certainly to the credit ofPhilip's cleverness that he managed so well as he did. For as timewent on he discovered his position to be this. Both Hilda and Mariawere in love with him, the former deeply and silently, the latteropenly and ostensibly. Now, however gratifying this fact might be tohis pride, it was in some ways a thorny discovery, since he dared notvisibly pay his attentions to either. For his part he returned Hildavon Holtzhausen's devotion to a degree that surprised himself; hispassion for her burnt him like a fire, utterly searing away the tracesof his former affection for Maria Lee. Under these circumstances, mostyoung men of twenty-one would have thrown prudence to the winds andacknowledged, either by acts or words, the object of their love; butnot so Philip, who even at that age was by no means deficient in thecharacteristic caution of the Caresfoot family. He saw clearly thathis father would never consent to his marriage with Hilda, nor, tospeak truth, did he himself at all like the idea of losing Miss Leeand her estates.
On the other hand, he knew Hilda's proud and jealous mind. She was nomelting beauty who would sigh and submit to an affront, but, for allher gracious ways, at heart a haughty woman, who, if she reigned atall, would reign like Alexander, unrivalled and alone. That she waswell aware of her friend's tendresse for Philip the latter veryshortly guessed; indeed, as he suspected, Maria was in the habit ofconfiding to her all her hopes and fears connected with himself, asuspicion that made him very careful in his remarks to that younglady.
The early summer passed away whilst Philip was still thinking over hisposition, and the face of the country was blushing with all the gloryof July, when one afternoon he found himself, as he did prettyfrequently, in the shady drawing-room at Miss Lee's. As he entered,the sound of voices told him that there were other visitors besidehimself, and, as soon as his eyes had grown accustomed to the light,he saw his cousin George, together with his partner Mr. Bellamy, and alady with whom he was not acquainted.
George had improved in appearance somewhat since we last saw himmeeting with severe treatment at his cousin's hands. The face hadfilled up a little, with the result that the nose did not look sohooked, nor the thick lips so coarse and sensual. The hair, however,was as red as ever, and as for the small, light-blue eyes, theytwinkled with the added sharpness and lustre that four years of suchexperience of the shady side of humanity as can be gathered in alawyer's office, is able to give to the student of men and manners.
So soon as Philip had said how-do-you-do to Maria and Hilda, giving toeach a gentle pressure of the hand, George greeted him with warmth.
"How are you, Philip? delighted to see you; how is my uncle? Bellamysaw him this morning, and thought that he did not look well."
"I certainly did think, Mr. Philip," said the gentleman alluded to, avery young-looking, apple-faced little man, with a timid manner, whostood in the background nervously rubbing his dry hands together--"Icertainly did think that the squire looked aged when I saw him thismorning."
"Well, you see, Mr. Bellamy, eighty-two is a good age, is it not?"said Philip, cheerfully.
"Yes, Mr. Philip, a good age, a very good age, for the _next heir_,"and Mr. Bellamy chuckled softly somewhere down in his throat, andretreated a little.
"He is getting facetious," broke in George, "that marriage has donethat for him. By the way, Philip, do you know Mrs. Bellamy? she hasonly been down here a fortnight, you know. What, no! Then you have apleasure to come" (raising his voice so that it might be heard at theother end of the room), "a very clever woman, and as handsome as sheis clever."
"Indeed! I must ask you to introduce me presently, Mr. Bellamy. I onlyrecently heard that you were married."
Mr. Bellamy blushed and twisted and was about to speak, when Georgecut in again.
"No, I dare say you didn't; sly dog, Bellamy; do you know what he did?I introduced him to the lady when we were up in town together lastChristmas. I was dreadfully hard hit myself, I can assure you, and assoon as my back was turned he went and cut me out of the water--andturned my adored into Mrs. Bellamy."
"What are you taking my name in vain about, Mr. Caresfoot?" said arich, low voice behind them.
"Bless me, Anne, how softly you move, you quite startled me," saidlittle Mr. Bellamy, putting on his spectacles in an agitated manner.
"My dear, a wife, like an embodied conscience, should always be at herhusband's shoulder, especially when he does not know it."
Bellamy made no reply, but looked as though the sentiment was one ofwhich he did not approve; meantime the lady repeated her question toGeorge, and the two fell into a bantering conversation. Philip, havingdropped back a little, had an opportunity of carefully observing Mrs.Bellamy, an occupation not without interest, for she was certainlyworthy of notice.
About twenty years of age, and of medium height, her figure was sofinely proportioned and so roomily made that it gave her theappearance of being taller than she really was. The head was setsquarely on the shoulders, the hair was cut short, and clustered inringlets over the low, broad brow; whilst the clearly carved Egyptianfeatures and square chin gave the whole face a curious expression ofresoluteness and power. The eyes were heavily-lidded and greyish-greenin hue, with enormously large dark pupils that had a strange habit ofexpanding and contracting without apparent reason.
Gazing at her, Philip was at a loss to know whether this woman sobizarrely beautiful fascinated or repelled him; indeed, neither thennor at any future time did he succeed in deciding the question. Whilsthe was still contemplating, and wondering how Bellamy of all people inthe world had managed to marry such a woman, and what previousacquaintance George had had with her, he saw the lady whispersomething to his cousin, who at once turned and introduced him.
"Philip," he said, "let me introduce you to the most charming lady ofmy acquaintance, Mrs. Bellamy."
Philip bowed and expressed himself delighted, whilst the lady curtsiedwith a mixture of grace and dignity that became her infinitely well.
"Your cousin has often spoken to me of you, Mr. Caresfoot, but henever told me----" here she hesitated, and broke off.
"What did he never tell you, Mrs. Bellamy? Nothing to my disadvantage,I hope."
"On the contrary, if you wish to know," she said, in that tone offlattering frankness which is sometimes so charming in a woman'smouth, "he never told me that you were young and handsome. I fanciedyou forty at least."
"I should dearly like to tell you, Mrs. Bellamy, what my cousin Georgenever told _me_; but I won't, for fear I should make Bellamy jealous."
"Jealousy, Mr. Caresfoot, is a luxury that _my_ husband is not allowedto indulge in; it is very well for lovers, but what is a compliment ina lover becomes an impertinence in a husband. But if I keep you heremuch longer, I shall be drawing the enmity of Miss Lee, and--yes, ofFraulein von Holtzhausen, too, on to my devoted head, and, as that isthe only sort of jealousy I have any fear of, or indeed any respectfor, being as it is the expression of the natural abhorrence of onewoman for another, I had rather avoid it."
Philip followed the direction of her sleepy eyes, and saw that bothMiss Lee and Hilda appeared to be put out. The former was talkingabsently to Mr. Bellam
y, and glancing continually in the direction ofthat gentleman's wife. The latter, too, whilst appearing to listen tosome compliment from George, was gazing at Mrs. Bellamy with a curiouslook of dislike and apprehension in her face.
"You see what I mean; Fraulein von Holtzhausen actually looks asthough she were afraid of me. Can you fancy any one being afraid ofme, except my husband, of course?--for as you know, when a woman istalking of men, her husband is _always_ excepted. Come, we must begoing; but, Mr. Caresfoot, bend a little nearer; if you will accept itfrom such a stranger, I want to give you a bit of advice--make yourchoice pretty soon, or you will lose them both."
"What do you mean--how do you know----"
"I mean nothing at all, or just as much as you like, and for the restI use my eyes. Come, let us join the others."
A few minutes later Hilda put down her work, and, declaring that shefelt hot, threw open the French window and went out into the garden,whither, on some pretext or other, Philip followed her.
"What a lovely woman that is," said Mrs. Bellamy, with enthusiasm, toMiss Lee, as soon as Philip was out of earshot. "Her _tout ensemble_positively kills one. I feel plain and dowdy as a milkmaid alongsideof a Court-beauty when I am in the room with her. Don't you, MissLee?"
"Oh, I don't know, I never thought about it, but of course she islovely and I'm plain, so there is no possibility of comparison betweenus."
"Well, I think you rate yourself rather low, if you will allow me tosay so; but most women would but 'poorly satisfy the sight' of a manwhen she was present. I know that I should not care to trust myadmirer (if I had one), however devoted he might be, for a single dayin her company; would you?"
"I really don't know; what _do_ you mean?"
"Mean, Miss Lee, why I mean nothing at all; what should I mean, exceptthat beauty is a magnet which attracts all men; it serves them for astandard of morality and a test of right and wrong. Men are differentfrom women. If a man is faithful to one of us, it is only because noother woman of sufficient charm has become between him and us. You cannever trust a man."
"What dreadful ideas you have."
"Do you think so? I hope not. I only speak what I have observed. Takethe case of Fraulein von Holtzhausen, for instance. Did you not noticethat whilst she was in the room the eyes of the three gentlemen wereall fixed upon her, and as soon as she leaves it one of them followsher, as the others would have done had they not been forestalled? Onecannot blame them; they are simply following a natural law. Any otherman would do the same where such a charming person is concerned."
"I certainly did not notice it; indeed, to speak the truth, I thoughtthat they were more occupied with you----"
"With me! why, my dear Miss Lee, _I_ don't set up for being good-looking. What a strange idea. But I dare say you are right, it is onlyone of my theories based upon my own casual observations, and, afterall, men are not a very interesting subject, are they? Let's talk ofsomething more exciting--dresses, for instance."
But poor Maria was too uncomfortable and disturbed to talk of anythingelse, so she collapsed into silence, and shortly after Mr. and Mrs.Bellamy and George made their adieux.
Meanwhile Philip and Hilda had been walking leisurely down theshrubberies adjoining the house.
"Why have you come out?" she asked in German, a language he understoodwell.
"To walk with you. Why do you speak to me in German?"
"Because it is my pleasure to do so, and I never asked you to walkwith me. You are wanted in the drawing-room, you had better go back."
"No, I won't go, Hilda; that is, not until you have promised mesomething."
"Do not call me Hilda, if you please. I am the Fraulein vonHoltzhausen. What is it you want me to promise?"
"I want you to meet me this evening at nine o'clock in the summer-house."
"I think, Mr. Caresfoot, that you are forgetting a little what is dueto me, to yourself, and--to Miss Lee?"
"What do you mean by due to Miss Lee?"
"Simply that she is in love with you, and that you have encouraged herin her affection; you need not contradict me, she tells me all aboutit."
"Nonsense, Hilda; if you will meet me to-night, I will explaineverything; there is no need for you to be jealous."
She swept round upon him, tossing her head, and stamping her daintyfoot upon the gravel.
"Mr. Caresfoot," she said, "once and for all I am not jealous, and Iwill not meet you; I have too much respect for myself, and too littlefor you," and she was gone.
Philip's face, as he stood looking after her, was not pleasant to see;it was very hard and angry.
"Jealous, is she? I will give her something to be jealous for, theproud minx;" and in his vexation he knocked off the head of acarnation with his stick.
"Philip, what _are_ you doing? Those are my pet Australian carnations;at least, I think they are Australian. How can you destroy them likethat?"
"All right, Maria; I was only plucking one for you. Won't you put itin your dress? Where are the others?"
"They have all gone. Come in, it is so hot out there; and tell me whatyou think of Mrs. Bellamy."
"I think that she is very handsome and very clever. I wonder whereBellamy picked her up."
"I don't know; I wish he hadn't picked her up at all. I don't likeher, she says unpleasant things; and, though I have only seen herthree times, she seems to know all about me and everybody else. I amnot very quick; but do you know just now I thought that she wasinsinuating that you were in love with Hilda; that's not true, is it,Philip? Don't think me forward if I ask you if that is true, and if Isay that, if it is, it is better that I should know it. I sha'n't beangry, Philip;" and the girl stood before him to await his answer, onehand pressed against her bosom to still the beating of her heart,whilst with the other she screened her blushing brow.
And Philip too stood face to face with her sweet self, withconscience, and with opportunity. "Now," whispered conscience, "is thetime, before very much harm is done; now is the acceptable time totell her all about it, and, whilst forbidding her love, to enlist hersympathy and friendship. It will be wrong to encourage her affection;when you ardently love another woman, you cannot palter any more.""Now," whispered opportunity, shouldering conscience aside, "is thetime to secure her, her love, and her possessions, and to reward Hildafor her pride. Do not sacrifice yourself to an infatuation; do nottell her about Hilda--it would only breed jealousies; you can settlewith her afterwards. Take the goods the gods provide you."
All this and more passed through his mind; and he had made his choicelong before the rich blood that mantled in the lady's cheek had sunkback to the true breast from whence it came.
Oh, instant of time born to colour all eternity to thine own hue, forthis man thou hast come and gone! Oh, fleeting moment, bearingdesolation or healing on thy wings, how the angels, in whose chargelie the souls of men, must tremble and turn pale, as they mark thyflight through the circumstances of a man's existence, and thencetaking thy secrets with thee away to add thy fateful store to therecords of his past!
He took her hand, the hand that was pressed upon her bosom.
"Maria," he said, "you should not get such ideas into your head. Iadmire Hilda very much, and that is all. Why, dear, I have alwayslooked upon myself as half engaged to you--that is, so far as I amconcerned; and I have only been waiting till circumstances would allowme to do so, to ask you if you think me worth marrying."
For a while she made no reply, but only blushed the more; at last shelooked up a little.
"You have made me very happy, Philip." That was all she said.
"I am very glad, dear, that you can find anything in me to like; butif you do care for me, and think me worth waiting for, I am going toask something of your affection: I am going to ask you to trust me aswell as to love me. I do not, for reasons that I will not enter into,but which I beg you to believe are perfectly straightforward, wishanything to be said of our engagement at present, not even to yourfriend Hilda. Do you trust me sufficiently t
o agree to that?"
"Philip, I trust you as much as I love you, and for years I have lovedyou with all my heart. And now, dear, please go; I want to think."
In the hall a servant gave him a note; it was from Hilda, and ranthus--
"I have changed my mind. I will meet you in the summer-house thisevening. I have something to say to you."
Philip whistled as he read it.
"Devilish awkward," he thought to himself; "if I am going to marryMaria, she must leave this. But I cannot bear to part with her. I loveher! I love her!"