CHAPTER VIII.
AN ACCOUNT OF MRS. TAPPITT'S BALL--CONCLUDED.
It came to be voted by public acclamation that Rachel Ray was thebelle of the evening. I think this was brought about quite as muchby Mrs. Butler Cornbury's powerful influence as by Rachel's beauty.Mrs. Butler Cornbury having begun the work of chaperon carried iton heartily, and talked her young friend up to the top of the tree.Long before supper her card was quite full, but filled in a mannerthat was not comfortable to herself,--for she knew that she had mademistakes. As to those spaces on which the letter R was written, shekept them very sacred. She was quite resolved that she would notstand up with him on all those occasions,--that she would omit atany rate two; but she would accept no one else for those two dances,not choosing to select any special period for throwing him over. Sheendeavoured to explain this when she waltzed with him, shortly beforesupper; but her explanation did not come easy, and she wanted allher attention for the immediate work she had in hand. "If you'd onlygive yourself to it a little more eagerly," he said, "you'd waltzbeautifully."
"I shall never do it well," she answered. "I don't suppose I shallever try again."
"But you like it?"
"Oh yes; I like it excessively. But one can't do everything that onelikes."
"No; I can't. You won't let me do what I like."
"Don't talk in that way, Mr. Rowan. If you do you'll destroy all mypleasure. You should let me enjoy it while it lasts." In this way shewas becoming intimate with him.
"How very nicely your house does for a dance," said Mrs. Cornbury toMrs. Tappitt.
"Oh dear,--I don't think so. Our rooms are so small. But it's verykind of you to say so. Indeed, I never can be sufficiently obliged--"
"By-the-by," said Mrs. Cornbury, "what a nice girl Rachel Ray hasgrown."
"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Tappitt.
"And dances so well! I'd no idea of it. The young men seem rathertaken with her. Don't you think so?"
"I declare I think they are. I always fancy that is rather amisfortune to a young girl,--particularly when it must mean nothing,as of course it can't with poor Rachel."
"I don't see that at all."
"Her mother, you know, Mrs. Cornbury;--they are not in the way ofseeing any company. It was so kind of you to bring her here, andreally she does look very nice. My girls are very good-natured toher. I only hope her head won't be turned. Here's Mr. Tappitt. Youmust go down Mrs. Cornbury, and eat a little bit of supper." Then Mr.Tappitt in his blue waistcoat led Mrs. Cornbury away.
"I am a very bad hand at supper," said the lady.
"You must take just one glass of champagne," said the gentleman. Nowthat the wine was there, Mr. Tappitt appreciated the importance ofthe occasion.
For the last dance before supper,--or that which was intended to bethe last,--Rachel had by long agreement been the partner of WalterCornbury. But now that it was over, the majority of the performerscould not go into the supper-room because of the crowd. YoungCornbury therefore proposed that they should loiter about till theirtime came. He was very well inclined for such loitering with Rachel.
"You're flirting with that girl, Master Walter," said Mrs. Cornbury.
"I suppose that's what she came for," said the cousin.
"By no means, and she's under my care; therefore I beg you'll talk nononsense to her."
Walter Cornbury probably did talk a little nonsense to her, but itwas very innocent nonsense. Most of such flirtations if they weredone out loud would be very innocent. Young men are not nearly sopointed in their compliments as their elders, and generally confinethemselves to remarks of which neither mothers nor grandmotherscould disapprove if they heard them. The romance lies rather inthe thoughts than in the words of those concerned. Walter Cornburybelieved that he was flirting and felt himself to be happy, but hehad uttered nothing warmer to Rachel than a hope that he might meether at the next Torquay ball.
"I never go to public balls," said Rachel.
"But why not, Miss Ray?" said Walter.
"I never went to a dance of any description before this."
"But now that you've begun of course you'll go on." Mr. Cornbury'sflirtation never reached a higher pitch than that.
When he had got as far as that Luke Rowan played him a trick,--aninhospitable trick, seeing that he, Rowan, was in some sort at home,and that the people about him were bound to obey him. He desiredthe musicians to strike up again while the elders were eating theirsupper,--and then claimed Rachel's hand, so that he might have thepleasure of serving her with cold chicken and champagne.
"Miss Ray is going into supper with me," said Cornbury.
"But supper is not ready," said Rowan, "and Miss Ray is engaged todance with me."
"Quite a mistake on your part," said Cornbury.
"No mistake at all," said Rowan.
"Indeed it is. Come, Miss Ray, we'll take a turn down into the hall,and see if places are ready for us." Cornbury rather despised Rowan,as being a brewer and mechanical; and probably he showed that he didso.
"Places are not ready, so you need not trouble Miss Ray to go down asyet. But a couple is wanted for a quadrille, and therefore I'm sureshe'll stand up."
"Come along, Rachel," said Cherry. "We just want you. This will bethe nicest of all, because we shall have room."
Rachel had become unhappy seeing that the two men were in earnest.Had not Cherry spoken she would have remained with Mr. Cornbury,thinking that to be her safer conduct; but Cherry's voice hadoverpowered her, and she gave her arm to young Rowan, moving awaywith slow, hesitating step.
"Of course Miss Ray will do as she pleases," said Cornbury.
"Of course she will," said Rowan.
"I am so sorry," said Rachel, "but I was engaged, and it seems I amreally wanted." Walter Cornbury bowed very stiffly, and there was anend of his flirtation. "That's the sort of thing that always happenswhen a fellow comes among this sort of people!" It was thus heconsoled himself as he went down solitary to his supper.
"That's all right," said Rowan; "now we've Cherry for our vis-a-vis,and after that we'll go down to supper comfortably."
"But I said I'd go with him."
"You can't now, for he has gone without you. What a brick Cherry is!Do you know what she said of you?"
"No; do tell me."
"I won't. It will make you vain."
"Oh, dear no; but I want Cherry to like me, because I am so fond ofher."
"She says you're by far-- But I won't tell you. I hate compliments,and that would look like one. Come, who's forgetting the figurenow? I shouldn't wonder if young Cornbury went into the brewery anddrowned himself in one of the vats."
It was very nice,--very nice indeed. This was her third dance withLuke Rowan, and she was beginning to think that the other two mightperhaps come off without any marked impropriety on her part. She wasa little unhappy about Mr. Cornbury,--on his cousin's account ratherthan on his own. Mrs. Cornbury had been so kind to her that sheought to have remained with Walter when he desired it. So she toldherself;--but yet she liked being taken down to supper by LukeRowan. She had one other cause of uneasiness. She constantly caughtMrs. Tappitt's eye fixed upon herself, and whenever she did soMrs. Tappitt's eye seemed to look unkindly at her. She had also aninstinctive feeling that Augusta did not regard her with favour, andthat this disfavour arose from Mr. Rowan's attentions. It was allvery nice; but still she felt that there was danger around her, andsometimes she would pause a moment in her happiness, and almosttremble as she thought of things. She was dividing herself polesasunder from Mrs. Prime.
"And now we'll go to supper," said Rowan. "Come, Cherry; do youand Boyd go on first." Boyd was a friend of Rowan's. "Do you know,I've done such a clever trick. This is my second descent among theeatables. As I belong in a manner to the house I took down MissHarford, and hovered about her for five minutes. Then I managedto lose myself in the crowd, and coming up here got the music up.The fellows were just going off. We've plenty of time now, becausethey're in the kit
chen eating and drinking. I contrived all thatdodge that I might give you this glass of wine with my own hands."
"Oh, Mr. Rowan, it was very wrong!"
"And that's my reward! I don't care about its being wrong as long asit's pleasant."
"What shocking morality!"
"All is fair in-- Well, never mind, you'll own it is pleasant."
"Oh, yes; it's very pleasant."
"Then I'm contented, and will leave the moral of it for Mr. Cornbury.I'll tell you something further if you'll let me."
"Pray don't tell me anything that you ought not."
"I've done all I could to get up this party on purpose that we mighthave you here."
"Nonsense."
"But I have. I have cared about it just because it would enable me tosay one word to you;--and now I'm afraid to say it."
She was sitting there close to him, and she couldn't go away. Shecouldn't run as she had done from the stile. She couldn't showany feeling of offence before all those who were around her; andyet,--was it not her duty to do something to stop him? "Pray don'tsay such things," she whispered.
"I tell you that I'm afraid to say it. Here; give me some wine.You'll take some more. No? Well; shall we go? I am afraid to say it."They were now out in the hall, standing idly there, with their backsto another door. "I wonder what answer you would make me!"
"We had better go up-stairs. Indeed we had."
"Stop a moment, Miss Ray. Why is it that you are so unwilling even tostay a moment with me?"
"I'm not unwilling. Only we had better go now."
"Do you remember when I held your arm at the stile?"
"No; I don't remember anything about it. You ought not to havedone it. Do you know, I think you are very cruel." As she made theaccusation, she looked down upon the floor, and spoke in a low,trembling voice that almost convinced him that she was in earnest.
"Cruel!" said he. "That's hard too."
"Or you wouldn't prevent me enjoying myself while I am here, bysaying things which you ought to know I don't like."
"I have hardly thought whether you would like what I say or not; butI know this; I would give anything in the world to make myself surethat you would ever look back upon this evening as a happy one."
"I will if you'll come up-stairs, and--"
"And what?"
"And go on without,--without seeming to mind me so much."
"Ah, but I do mind you. Rachel--no; you shall not go for a minute.Listen to me for one moment." Then he tried to stand before her, butshe was off from him, and ran up-stairs by herself. What was it thathe wished to say to her? She knew that she would have liked to haveheard it;--nay, that she was longing to hear it. But she was startledand afraid of him, and as she gently crept in at the door of thedancing-room, she determined that she would tell Mrs. Cornbury thatshe was quite ready for the carriage. It was impossible that sheshould go through those other two dances with Luke Rowan; and as forher other engagements, they must be allowed to shift for themselves.One had been made early in the evening with Mr. Griggs. It would be agreat thing to escape dancing with Mr. Griggs. She would ask Cherryto make her apologies to everybody. As she entered the room she feltashamed of herself, and unable to take any place. She was oppressedby an idea that she ought not to be walking about without somegentleman with her, and that people would observe her. She was stillvery near the door when she perceived that Mr. Rowan was also comingin. She determined to avoid him if she could, feeling sure thatshe could not stop him in anything that he might say, while somany people would be close around them. And yet she felt almostdisappointment when she heard his voice as he talked merrily withsome one at the door. At that moment Mrs. Cornbury came up to her,walking across the room on purpose to join her.
"What, all alone! I thought your hand was promised for every dance upto five o'clock."
"I believe I'm engaged to some one now, but I declare I don't knowwho it is. I dare say he has forgotten."
"Ah, yes; people do get confused a little just about this time. Willyou come and sit down?"
"Thank you, I should like that. But, Mrs. Cornbury, when you're readyto go away, I am,--quite ready."
"Go away! Why I thought you intended to dance at least for the nexttwo hours."
In answer to this, Rachel declared that she was tired. "And, Mrs.Cornbury, I want to avoid that man," and she pointed out Mr. Griggsby a glance of her eye. "I think he'll say I'm engaged to him for thenext waltz, and--I don't like him."
"Poor man; he doesn't look very nice, certainly; but if that's allI'll get you out of the scrape without running away." Then Mr. Griggscame up, and, with a very low bow, struck out the point of his elbowtowards Rachel, expecting her immediately to put her hand within it.
"I'm afraid, sir, you must excuse Miss Ray just at present. She's tootired to dance immediately."
Mr. Griggs looked at his card, then looked at Rachel, then lookedat Mrs. Cornbury, and stood twiddling the bunch of little giltplaythings that hung from his chain. "That is too hard," said he;"deuced hard."
"I'm very sorry," said Rachel.
"So shall I be,--uncommon. Really, Mrs. Cornbury, I think a turn ortwo would do her good. Don't you?"
"I can't say I do. She says she would rather not, and of course youwon't press her."
"I don't see it in that light,--I really don't. A gentleman has hisrights you know, Mrs. Cornbury. Miss Ray won't deny--"
"Miss Ray will deny that she intends to stand up for this dance. Andone of the rights of a gentleman is to take a lady at her word."
"Really, Mrs. Cornbury, you are down upon one so hard."
"Rachel," said she, "would you mind coming across the room with me?There are seats on the sofa on the other side." Then Mrs. Cornburysailed across the floor, and Rachel crept after her more dismayedthan ever. Mr. Griggs the while stood transfixed to his place,stroking his mustaches with his hand, and showing plainly by hiscountenance that he didn't know what he ought to do next. "Well,that's cool," said he; "confounded cool!"
"Anything wrong, Griggs, my boy?" said a bank clerk, slapping him onthe back.
"I call it very wrong; very wrong, indeed," said Griggs; "but peopledo give themselves such airs! Miss Cherry, may I have the honour ofwaltzing with you?"
"Certainly not," said Cherry, who was passing by. Then Mr. Griggsmade his way back to the door.
Rachel felt that things were going wrong with her. It had so happenedthat she had parted on bad terms with three gentlemen. She hadoffended Mr. Cornbury and Mr. Griggs, and had done her best to makeMr. Rowan understand that he had offended her! She conceived thatall the room would know of it, and that Mrs. Cornbury would becomeashamed of her. That Mrs. Tappitt was already very angry with her shewas quite sure. She wished she had not come to the ball, and beganto think that perhaps her sister might be right. It almost seemed toherself that she had not known how to behave herself. For a shorttime she had been happy,--very happy; but she feared that she hadin some way committed herself during the moments of her happiness."I hope you are not angry with me," she said, "about Mr. Griggs?"appealing to her friend in a plaintive voice.
"Angry!--oh dear, no. Why should I be angry with you? I should beangry with that man, only I'm a person that never gets angry withanybody. You were quite right not to dance with him. Never be madeto dance with any man you don't like; and remember that a young ladyshould always have her own way in a ball-room. She doesn't get muchof it anywhere else; does she, my dear? And now I'll go whenever youlike it, but I'm not the least in a hurry. You're the young lady, andyou're to have your own way. If you're quite in earnest, I'll getsome one to order the carriage."--Rachel said that she was quitein earnest, and then Walter was called. "So you're going, are you?"said he. "Miss Ray has ill-treated me so dreadfully that I can'texpress my regret." "Ill-treated you, too, has she? Upon my word,my dear, you've shown yourself quite great upon the occasion. WhenI was a girl, there was nothing I liked so much as offending all mypartners." But Rachel was red with dismay, and wretche
d that such anaccusation should be made against her. "Oh, Mrs. Cornbury, I didn'tmean to offend him! I'll explain it all in the carriage. What willyou think of me?" "Think, my dear?--why, I shall think that you aregoing to turn all the young men's heads in Baslehurst. But I shallhear all about it from Walter to-morrow. He tells me of all his lovesand all his disappointments."
While the carriage was being brought round, Rachel kept close toher chaperon; but every now and again her eyes, in spite of herself,would wander away to Mr. Rowan. Was he in any way affected by herleaving him, or was it all a joke to him? He was dancing now withCherry Tappitt, and Rachel was sure that all of it was a joke.But it was a cruel joke,--cruel because it exposed her to so muchill-natured remark. With him she would quarrel,--quarrel really.She would let him know that he should not call her by her Christianname just when it suited him to do so, and then take himself offto play with others in the same way. She would tell Cherry, andmake Cherry understand that all walks and visiting and friendlyintercommunications must be abandoned because this young man wouldtake advantage of her position to annoy her! He should be made tounderstand that she was not in his power! Then, as she thought ofthis, she caught his eye as he made a sudden stop in the dance closeto her, and all her hard thoughts died away. Ah, dear, what was itthat she wanted of him?
At that moment they got up to go away. Such a person as Mrs. ButlerCornbury could not, of course, escape without a parade of adieux. Mr.Tappitt was searched up from the little room in which the card-partyheld their meeting in order that he might hand the guest that hadhonoured him down to her carriage; and Mrs. Tappitt fluttered about,profuse in her acknowledgments for the favour done to them. "And wedo so hope Mr. Cornbury will be successful," she said, as she badeher last farewell. This was spoken close to Mr. Tappitt's ear; andMrs. Cornbury flattered herself that after that Mr. Tappitt's votewould be secure. Mr. Tappitt said nothing about his vote, but handedthe lady down stairs in solemn silence.
The Tappitt girls came and clustered about Rachel as she was going."I can't conceive why you are off so early," said Martha. "No,indeed," said Mrs. Tappitt; "only of course it would be very wrong tokeep Mrs. Cornbury waiting when she has been so excessively kind toyou." "The naughty girl! It isn't that at all," said Cherry. "It'sshe that is hurrying Mrs. Cornbury away." "Good night," said Augustavery coldly. "And Rachel," said Cherry, "mind you come up to-morrowand talk it all over; we shall have so much to say." Then Rachelturned to go, and found Luke Rowan at her elbow waiting to take herdown. She had no alternative;--she must take his arm; and thus theywalked down stairs into the hall together.
"You'll come up here to-morrow," said he.
"No, no; tell Cherry that I shall not come."
"Then I shall go to Bragg's End. Will your mother let me call?"
"No, don't come. Pray don't."
"I certainly shall;--certainly, certainly! What things have you got?Let me put your shawl on for you. If you do not come up to the girls,I shall certainly go down to you. Now, good-night. Good-night, Mrs.Cornbury." And Luke, getting hold of Rachel's reluctant hand, pressedit with all his warmth.
"I don't want to ask indiscreet questions," said Mrs. Cornbury; "butthat young man seems rather smitten, I think."
"Oh, no," said Rachel, not knowing what to say.
"But I say,--oh, yes; a nice good-looking man he is too, and agentleman, which is more than I can say for all of them there. Whatan escape you had of Mr. Griggs, my dear!"
"Yes, I had. But I was so sorry that you should have to speak tohim."
"Of course I spoke to him. I was there to fight your battles for you.That's why married ladies go to balls. You were quite right not todance with him. A girl should always avoid any intimacy with such menas that. It is not that he would have done you any harm; but theystand in the way of your satisfaction and contentment. Balls aregiven specially for young ladies; and it is my theory that they areto make themselves happy while they are there, and not sacrificethemselves to men whom they don't wish to know. You can't alwaysrefuse when you're asked, but you can always get out of an engagementafterwards if you know what you're about. That was my way when I wasa girl." And this was the daughter of Mr. Comfort, whose somewhatmelancholy discourses against the world's pleasures and vanities hadso often filled Rachel's bosom with awe!
Rachel sat silent, thinking of what had occurred at Mrs. Tappitt's;and thinking also that she ought to make some little speech to herfriend, thanking her for all that she had done. Ought she not also toapologise in some way for her own conduct? "What was that between youand my cousin Walter?" Mrs. Cornbury asked, after a few moments.
"I hope I wasn't to blame," said Rachel. "But--"
"But what? Of course you weren't to blame;--unless it was in beingrun after by so many gentlemen at once."
"He was going to take me down to supper,--and it was so kind of him.And then while we were waiting because the room down-stairs was full,there was another quadrille, and I was engaged to Mr. Rowan."
"Ah, yes; I understand. And so Master Walter got thrown once. Hiswrath in such matters never lasts very long. Here we are at Bragg'sEnd. I've been so glad to have you with me; and I hope I may takeyou again with me somewhere before long. Remember me kindly to yourmother. There she is at the door waiting for you." Then Rachel jumpedout of the carriage, and ran across the little gravel-path into thehouse.
Mrs. Ray had been waiting up for her daughter, and had been listeningeagerly for the wheels of the carriage. It was not yet two o'clock,and by ball-going people the hour of Rachel's return would have beenconsidered early; but to Mrs. Ray anything after midnight was verylate. She was not, however, angry, or even vexed, but simply pleasedthat her girl had at last come back to her. "Oh, mamma, I'm afraidit has been very hard upon you, waiting for me!" said Rachel; "butI did come away as soon as I could." Mrs. Ray declared that she hadnot found it all hard, and then,--with a laudable curiosity, seeinghow little she had known about balls,--desired to have an immediateaccount of Rachel's doings.
"And did you get anybody to dance with you?" asked the mother,feeling a mother's ambition that her daughter should have been"respectit like the lave."
"Oh, yes; plenty of people asked me to dance."
"And did you find it come easy?"
"Quite easy. I was frightened about the waltzing, at first."
"Do you mean that you waltzed, Rachel?"
"Yes, mamma. Everybody did it. Mrs. Cornbury said she always waltzedwhen she was a girl; and as the things turned out I could not helpmyself. I began with her cousin. I didn't mean to do it, but I got soashamed of myself that I couldn't refuse."
Mrs. Ray still was not angry; but she was surprised, and perhaps alittle dismayed. "And did you like it?"
"Yes, mamma."
"Were they all kind to you?"
"Yes, mamma."
"You seem to have very little to say about it; but I suppose you'retired."
"I am tired, but it isn't that. It seems that there is so much tothink about. I'll tell you everything to-morrow, when I get quietagain. Not that there is much to tell."
"Then I'll wish you good-night, dear."
"Good-night, mamma. Mrs. Cornbury was so kind,--you can have no ideahow good-natured she is."
"She always was a good creature."
"If I'd been her sister she couldn't have done more for me. I feelas though I were really quite fond of her. But she isn't a bit likewhat I expected. She chooses to have her own way; but then she is sogood-humoured! And when I got into any little trouble she--"
"Well, what else did she do; and what trouble had you?"
"I can't quite describe what I mean. She seemed to make so much ofme;--just as she might have done if I'd been some grand young ladydown from London, or any, any;--you know what I mean."
Mrs. Ray sat with her candle in her hand, receiving great comfortfrom the knowledge that her daughter had been "respectit." She knewwell what Rachel meant, and reflected, with perhaps a pardonablepride, that she herself had "come of decent p
eople." The Tappittswere higher than her in the world, and so were the Griggses. But sheknew that her forbears had been gentlefolk, when there were, so tospeak, no Griggses and no Tappitts in existence. It was pleasant toher to think that her daughter had been treated as a lady.
"And she did do me such a kindness. That horrid Mr. Griggs was goingto dance with me, and she wouldn't let him."
"I don't like that young man at all."
"Poor Cherry! you should hear her talk of him! And she would havestayed ever so much longer if I had not pressed her to go; and thenshe has such a nice way of saying things."
"She always had that, when she was quite a young girl."
"I declare I feel that I quite love her. And there was such a grandsupper. Champagne!"
"No!"
"I got some cold turkey. Mr. Rowan took me down to supper." Theselast words were spoken very mildly, and Rachel, as she uttered them,did not dare to look into her mother's face.
"Did you dance with him?"
"Yes, mamma, three times. I should have stayed later only I wasengaged to dance with him twice more; and I didn't choose to do so."
"Was he--? Did he--?"
"Oh, mamma; I can't tell you. I don't know how to tell you. I wishyou knew it all without my saying anything. He says he shall comehere to-morrow if I don't go up to the brewery; and I can't possiblygo there now, after that."
"Did he say anything more than that, Rachel?"
"He calls me Rachel, and speaks--I can't tell you how he speaks. Ifyou think it wrong, mamma, I won't ever see him again."
Mrs. Ray didn't know whether she ought to think it wrong or not. Shewas inclined to wish that it was right and to believe that it waswrong. A few minutes ago Rachel was unable to open her mouth, and wasanxious to escape to bed; but, now that the ice was broken betweenher and her mother, they sat up for more than an hour talking aboutLuke Rowan.
"I wonder whether he will really come?" Rachel said to herself, asshe laid her head upon her pillow--"and why does he want to come?"