CHAPTER XXII.
Nothing had ever surprised and annoyed Captain De Crespigny more thanthe unadmiring indifference with which, week after week, Marionreceived his visits. Her easy, good humored courtesy of manner wasunpardonable! No peculiar consciousness became visible in her manner,when he addressed her; no accession of sensibility in her voice; noagitation in her smile; no increase of her natural timidity; no desireof captivation, nor the slightest coquetry in displaying her ownfascinations.
To be thus treated like a cousin or a brother was mortifying in theextreme, and appeared to him perfectly unaccountable, because he littleguessed the contrast which incessantly presented itself to Marion'smind, between the low, every-day tone of his thoughts, on all theessential objects of existence, and the elevated sentiments or generousfeelings, to which she had lately become accustomed in the society ofMr. Granville. Captain De Crespigny's conversation always diverted heron account of its eccentricity; but in the selfishness and vanity heinadvertently betrayed, she saw how little he could know the realnature and value of that happiness springing from principle andaffection, which alone could satisfy her heart.
Formerly, Captain De Crespigny would have gloried in surmountingdifficulties, if he had ever found any difficulties to conquer; and nowhe was determined not to become discouraged, though he felt, if such athing could be possible, almost humbled. His eye followed Marionwherever she turned, and he was now for ever by her side, though sheevidently made it her continual business to avoid him, as she hadlatterly become more aware than before of his assiduity.
Fortified by the consciousness of her own secret engagement, and by theknowledge that Agnes had a well-founded belief in his attachment toherself, Marion's countenance, which told every transient emotion ofher heart, never betrayed a thought of love; and it seemed to CaptainDe Crespigny as if her heart must be of granite, so cold and hardbeneath a smiling stream. She was long of even suspecting the worst,and would not fully believe when she did, that his volatile fancy hadreally changed; yet a spell seemed over her, that she could not escapefrom Captain De Crespigny's society, without giving offence to SirPatrick and Agnes, who both, for different reasons, insisted on herbeing present when he called, though, unlike her sister, who would havesacrificed every one to herself, she would have sacrificed herself forevery one, and only thought with considerate affection, how she couldbest spare the feelings of Agnes, and at the same time escape fromoccasioning any jealousy, the fear of which now haunted her like aperpetual night-mare.
One morning, when Agnes was seated in a state of exceedingly full-blownsatisfaction, expecting Captain De Crespigny's usual visit, andconsidering him as much her own property as either her reticule or herwork-box, she observed Marion, who had occupations for every hour ofthe day, hastily gather up her drawing materials, and glide towards thedoor, evidently anxious to escape without observation, but in vain.
The barometer of Agnes's countenance had become exceedingly stormy,while watching Marion's progress; and being one who rather enjoyed theexcitement of a quarrel than otherwise, she asked Marion in a voiceraised an octave higher than usual, which sounded as sharp and cuttingas an east wind, where she was about to go, adding, in her mostsarcastic tone,
"Pray inform me, Marion, why I am to be left in solitude here, wheneverybody knows that in a place like this I cannot possibly receivevisitors alone. One would suppose that you wished to prevent me fromseeing Captain De Crespigny this morning."
"By no means, Agnes. But is there any occasion for me to remain, whenPatrick of course accompanies him here as usual?"
"Nonsense, Marion. You know perfectly well that Patrick may or may notbe here, for that all depends on whims like your own, and nothingrenders it correct to receive gentlemen in the morning, except therebeing two of us at home. I expected more friendship and considerationfrom you; but people never will think of any one but themselves!"
"You are like a Hebrew scholar, and always read me backwards, Agnes. Ihave only to know your wishes in order to comply with them," repliedMarion, good-humoredly re-seating herself, and adding, with a beautifultimidity of manner and voice, "I cannot but think that, until you areactually engaged, it would perhaps be better if--if--Captain DeCrespigny's attentions were not to--to be at all divided."
"Divided!" exclaimed Agnes, looking perfectly sublime in her anger."What can you mean?"
"Excuse me, Agnes," replied Marion, trying to steady her voice, and tohide her confusion. "I mean that Captain De Crespigny has thereputation of being a confirmed flirt; that I hope and trust, if it bereally for your happiness, he is, as you think, irretrievably attachedand engaged to yourself; but if a housemaid enter the room, he cannotresist attempting to look handsome, and to attract her admiration;therefore you cannot but suppose he will endeavor to waste some of hisfascinations occasionally upon me, and till he is my brother, I wouldrather avoid any such absurdity."
"Your meaning is plain enough now, and requires no interpreter!" saidAgnes, with an angry toss of her head. "Every one must see and know,that Captain De Crespigny is exclusively and entirely devoted to me."
"That is a point, Agnes, of which no third person can be an adequatejudge," replied Marion, evasively; "but I am as anxious to believe itas yourself."
"If you entertain any fear of causing me a disappointment, make yourown mind perfectly easy, as mine is. If Captain De Crespigny couldhesitate a moment between us, I should scarcely think him worth livingfor, and still less worth dying for. Be assured I shall never endure amoment's uneasiness on your account. Here he comes, regular as therising sun, and quite as welcome."
After all the lively badinage of Captain De Crespigny's first receptionwas over, Marion quietly retreated into the deep embrasure of a window,where her work-table stood, and busied herself with answering somenotes, while almost entirely shaded from observation; yet still CaptainDe Crespigny's eye incessantly wandered to the place where she sat,for there was something unintentionally _piquante_ in the totalindifference with which she thus secluded herself from his attentionsand civilities. Observing, at length, that Marion had begun carefullypruning the dead leaves from a bouquet of rather drooping flowers,which seemed still vainly affecting to look fresh and gay, he broke offin the middle of a sentence from Agnes, and clandestinely approachingthe table when Marion was looking in another direction, he stole themall away, and substituted one so fresh and fragrant that Marion utteredan exclamation of rapturous admiration. She neither blushed nor lookeddown, however; but as if it were no more than an every day civility,held it up to Agnes for admiration, and endeavored to attract hertowards the table by the perfume of her beautiful flowers.
"Nothing withered or blighted should ever be here," said Captain DeCrespigny, in his most sentimental tone. "I should like, in onerespect, to resemble flowers, which give nothing but pleasure to allwho see them. Are you writing prose, or is this Poet's Corner? If I hadthe pen of Moore, I could find one subject for my muse more beautifulthan any he ever wrote upon, and feelings more deep than he everexpressed! My eyes have ached for the last half hour with trying to seeyou; and half my eye-strings are cracked with looking from so great adistance."
Marion was now seriously annoyed, and a glow of indignant vexationmantled upon her cheek; but Captain De Crespigny, mistaking her blushesand silence, began to flatter himself that the fortress was not soimpregnable as he had feared. A scrap of paper lay on the table, whichMarion had carelessly flung aside, after trying a pen, by writing downseveral times her own Christian name, and Captain De Crespigny havingpicked it up, laughingly added to it the name of De Crespigny.
"How does this look?" asked he, showing her the signature of "Marion DeCrespigny," while a gleam of light shot through his dark eye-lashes."This is a valuable autograph, which I shall certainly preserve. Thesignature is not yet a common one, but I hope it may become so, as noother looks half so well to my eye--or to my heart."
"There may be another that I should very much prefer," replied Marion,decidedly, while the bright c
arnation mounted to her cheek, and sheturned her large eyes towards Agnes, who stood at some distance placidand secure, in the certain belief that her own supremacy wasestablished, and that the conversation probably related to herself."Give me back that paper, Captain De Crespigny, for it contains amischievous forgery--a name that can never exist upon the earth."
"But it may in fairy-land, and it shall!" replied he, with undauntedpertinacity. "The fates are perpetually weaving people together, andmay do something for me! When we are unwillingly separated for a shortperiod, sometime hereafter, I shall every day see this name appended tothe most interesting accounts of your garden, your lap-dog, and----"
"And my sister!" added Marion, coldly. "She is always the first objectof interest to me. Agnes! do come here and admire the last few stitchesI have added to this bible-cover."
"How well it will look at Beaujolie Park!" muttered De Crespigny,almost inaudibly, in that low musical voice which had beenirresistible, and with a significance of manner which Marion seemed notto remark. "I hope one day to see it there."
"I intend it as a present to Agnes," replied Marion, dryly.--"That andthe prayer-book are both for her dressing-table."
Captain De Crespigny, assuming a look of respectful despondency,examined the volumes during several minutes in silence; but havingaccidentally opened the service of matrimony, he smilingly pointed itout to Marion, saying, "he hoped this might be considered a good omen,"and doubling down the page, he placed the prayer-book opposite to her,saying, "Let me request you will study that till we meet again, as Iwish to ask your opinion of it."
Before Marion had time to reply, or to hurry away, as she had been forsome time projecting, Agnes advanced with an air of exceedingly forcedvivacity, while there was a perceptible flutter of anger in her tone,and Marion felt as much confused as if she had been guilty of a realindiscretion, when she saw that her sister's face had become as whiteas the wall, her eyes glassy, and her manner unusually excited, thoughshe tried to assume a careless tone, saying:
"What is all the world talking about here? Captain De Crespigny, youmust have learned the whole mysteries of worsted work by this time!"
"I was merely showing your sister that most interesting of allcompositions, the marriage service," replied Captain De Crespigny,throwing as much meaning into his voice as it could carry, "andmentioning that the fashionable blacksmith for these occasions now ismy cousin, the Dean of Chester."
Agnes looked down with an interesting blush, and Marion looked up witha start of astonishment, at the hardened intrepidity of manner in whichCaptain De Crespigny carried on his double game, adapting his toneequally to suit either or both of his companions; and it was with asensation of extreme relief that she saw him at last rise to takeleave, looking most charmingly distressed; but he had glanced at hiswatch, "never being able to measure time at St. John's Lodge," and anunlucky engagement obliged him to depart.
"All engagements are unlucky," observed Agnes, impatiently. "I nevermade one yet, without afterwards finding it a tyrannical restraint."
"There is only one engagement I ever wish to make," replied Captain DeCrespigny, in a sentimental voice, but carefully looking at nobody. "Ihope soon to make an engagement for life!"
"What is all this!" exclaimed Sir Patrick, entering the room. "Can DeCrespigny not be persuaded into remaining with you two or three hourslonger, girls?"
"We have not yet tried the experiment," replied Marion, seeing Agnesunwilling to speak. "I intend to be busy this morning reading yourfavorite character in Shakespeare, Malvolio. He had the very commonfault of over-estimating himself."
"To some people that is impracticable!" replied Captain De Crespigny,with a self-satisfied smile. "The world really spoils me for one."
"Perhaps," observed Sir Patrick, "you flatter yourself, and that is themost dangerous of all flattery."
"Not to me! I only wish it were possible for me to think as much ofmyself as every body else does."
"I hear old Doncaster is likely to make a die of it soon; thereforewait till you are established at Beaujolie Park, and then you shall seehow much we all think of you!" replied Sir Patrick, laughing. "I hopeyou mean to be the most hospitable Marquis in the whole peerage ofEngland?"
"Most undoubtedly! Hospitality is my weakness, if I have any! Dunbar,my very dear friend, I make a point of your coming to dine with me oncea-year at Beaujolie Park! I am sorry it will not be in my power tooffer you a bed; but the Highflyer passes my door at nine everyevening. I wish for a very long visit from you! We are old friends, mygood fellow! so I must really stretch a point! I am quite serious!therefore come by the early mail for breakfast, and take the eveningone for your departure! I always was, and always shall be the mosthospitable man upon earth! Have you half a moment to spare to-morrow? Iwant you to help me in my bargain for a bay horse with Duncombe ofours. He has the prettiest sister in the world, if that will be anyinducement to come. I wish he would throw her into the bargain! Goodmorning! I could not stay a minute longer to save all your lives!"
"How I do sometimes hate Captain De Crespigny!" exclaimed Agnes, withangry vehemence, after he had made a very conceited exit from herpresence, accompanied by Sir Patrick, while she watched him from thewindow, as he sprang upon his horse, and galloped out of sight. "I knowhe is perfectly devoted to me! I cannot allow myself to doubt it! Mywhole happiness in life is cast on that die, and must not be lost! No!"continued she, speaking to Marion in a tone of unwonted perplexity, "itwould indeed be a disgraceful triumph, to awaken in my heart affectionswhich, if they must die, I shall die with them. My hopes and feelingsappear all frozen into icicles this morning; yet I can scarcely tellwhy! A sensation of utter discouragement torments me! What is man, andwhat is woman that trusts him? If all my happiness is now torn up bythe roots, I shall never again incur the grief of forming any earthlyplan! I shall continue for life a bankrupt in hope and peace! Do notspeak to me, Marion! Do not look as if you believed the worst! I willnot hear it! I know you wish to say and do all that is kind; but Idetest sympathy! I abhor being pitied! and I will not be advised."
Even after she had retired to the gloomy solitude of her lonely room,Agnes buried her face in her hands, as if she would hide herself fromthe whole world, and struggled to banish thought; yet the suspicionwould force itself into her mind, that Captain De Crespigny intended totreat her as she had seen him treat others; and though formerly she hadoften laughed at the credulity of those girls who believed half therubbish he talked to them, now she repeated to herself all hisprofessions of admiration, his looks, smiles, innuendoes, impliedflattery, and openly expressed interest, till her cheek regained itsbloom, her eyes their brightness, and she looked into her mirror withperfectly restored self-complacency, and with renovated confidence inthe truth, honor, and sincerity of Captain De Crespigny.