TWO ARE COMPANY
VI.
"The shape Which has made escape, And before my countenance Answers me glance for glance."
_Mesmerism._
Leander hastened eagerly to his trysting-place. All these obstacles anddifficulties had rendered his Matilda tenfold dearer and more preciousto him; and besides, it was more than a fortnight since he had last seenher. But he was troubled and anxious still at the recollection of theGreek statue shut up in his hair-cutting saloon. What would Matilda sayif she knew about it; and still worse, what might it not do if it knewabout her? Matilda might decline to continue his acquaintance--for shewas a very right-minded girl--unless Venus, like the jealous andvindictive heathen she had shown herself to be, were to crush her beforeshe even had the opportunity.
"It's a mess," he thought disconsolately, "whatever way I look at it.But after to-night I won't meet Matilda any more while I've got thatstatue staying with me, or no one could tell the consequences." However,when he drew near the appointed spot, and saw the slender form whichawaited him there by the railings, he forgot all but the present joy.Even the memory of the terrible divinity could not live in the wholesomepresence of the girl he had the sense to truly and honestly love.
Matilda Collum was straight and slim, though not tall; she had a neatlittle head of light brown hair, which curled round her temples in softrings; her complexion was healthily pale, with the slightest tinge ofdelicate pink in it; she had a round but decided chin, and her grey eyeswere large and innocently severe, except on the rare occasions when shelaughed, and then their expression was almost childlike in its gaiety.
Generally, and especially in business hours, her pretty face was calmand slightly haughty, and rash male customers who attempted to make thechoice of a "button-hole" an excuse for flirtation were not encouragedto persevere. She was seldom demonstrative to Leander--it was not herway--but she accepted his effusive affection very contentedly, and,indeed, returned it more heartily than her principles allowed her toadmit; for she secretly admired his spirit and fluency, and, as is oftenthe case in her class of life, had no idea that she was essentially herlover's superior.
After the first greetings, they walked slowly round the square together,his arm around her waist. Neither said very much for some minutes, butLeander was wildly, foolishly happy, and there was no severity inMatilda's eyes when they shone in the lamp-light.
"Well," he said, at last, "and so I've actually got you safe back again,my dear, darling Tillie! It seems like a long eternity since last wemet. I've been so beastly miserable, Matilda!"
"You do seem to have got thinner in the face, Leander dear," saidMatilda, compassionately. "What _have_ you been doing while I've beenaway?"
"Only wishing my dearest girl back, that's all _I've_ been doing."
"What! haven't you given yourself any enjoyment at all--not gone outanywhere all the time?"
"Not once--leastwise, that is to say----" A guilty memory of Rosherwichmade him bungle here.
"Why, of course I didn't expect you to stop indoors all the time," saidMatilda, noticing the amendment, "so long as you never went where youwouldn't take me."
Oh, conscience, conscience! But Rosherwich didn't count--it was outsidethe radius; and besides, he _hadn't_ enjoyed himself.
"Well," he said, "I did go out one evening, to hear a lecture onAstronomy at the Town Hall, in the Gray's Inn Road; but then I had theticket given me by a customer, and I reely was surprised to find howregular the stars was in their habits, comets and all. But my 'Tilda isthe only star of the evening for me, to-night. I don't want to talkabout anything else."
The diversion was successful, and Matilda asked no more inconvenientquestions. Presently she happened to cough slightly, and he touchedaccusingly the light summer cloak she was wearing.
"You're not dressed warm enough for a night like this," he said, with alover's concern. "Haven't you got anything thicker to put on than that?"
"I haven't bought my winter things yet," said Matilda; "it was so mild,that I thought I'd wait till I could afford it better. But I've chosenthe very thing I mean to buy. You know Mrs. Twilling's, at the top ofthe Row, the corner shop? Well, in the window there's a perfectly lovelylong cloak, all lined with squirrel's fur, and with those nice oxidizedsilver fastenings. A cloak like that lasts ever so long, and will alwayslook neat and quiet; and any one can wear it without being staredafter; so I mean to buy it as soon as it turns really cold."
"Ah!" said he, "I can't have you ketching cold, you know; it ain'tsummer any longer, and I--I've been thinking we must give up our eveningstrolls together for the present."
"When you've just been saying how miserable you've been without them.Oh, Leander!"
"Without _you_," he amended lamely. "I shall see you at aunt's, ofcourse; only we'd better suspend the walks while the nights are so raw.And, oh, Tillie, ere long you will be mine, my little wife! Only tothink of you keeping the books for me with your own pretty littlefingers, and sending out the bills! (not that I give much credit). Ah,what a blissful dream it sounds! Does it to you, Matilda?"
"I'm not sure that you keep your books the same way as we do," shereplied demurely; "but I dare say"--(and this was a great concession forMatilda)--"I dare say we shall suit one another."
"Suit one another!" he cried. "Ah! we shall be inseparable as a brushand comb, Tillie, if you'll excuse so puffessional a stimulus. And whata future lies before me! If I can only succeed in introducing some of myinventions to public notice, we may rise, Tilly, 'like an exclamation,'as the poet says. I believe my new nasal splint has only to be known tobecome universally worn; and I've been thinking out a little machinelately for imparting a patrician arch to the flattest foot, that oughtto have an extensive run. I almost wish you weren't so pretty, Tillie.I've studied you careful, and I'm bound to say, as it is there reallyisn't room for any improvement I could suggest. Nature's beaten methere, and I'm not too proud to own it."
"Would you rather there _was_ room!" inquired Matilda.
"From a puffessional point of view, it would have inspired me," he said."It would have suggested ideers, and I shouldn't have loved you less,not if you hadn't had a tooth in your mouth nor a hair on your head; youwould still be my beautiful Tillie."
"I would rather be as I am, thank you," said Matilda, to whom this fancysketch did not appeal. "And now, let's talk about something else. Do youknow that mamma is coming up to town at the end of the week on purposeto see you?"
"No," said Leander, "I--I didn't."
"Yes, she's taken the whole of your aunt's first floor for a week. (Youknow, she knew Miss Tweddle when she was younger, and that was how Icame to lodge there, and to meet you.) Do you remember that Sundayafternoon you came to tea, and your aunt invited me in, because shethought I must be feeling so dull, all alone?"
"Ah, I should think I did! Do you remember I helped to toast thecrumpets? What a halcyon evening that was, Matilda!"
"Was it?" she said. "I don't remember the weather exactly; but it wasnice indoors."
"But, I say, Tillie, my own," he said, somewhat anxiously, "how doesyour ma like your being engaged to me?"
"Well, I don't think she does like it quite," said Matilda. "She saysshe will reserve her consent till she sees whether you are worthy; butdirectly she sees you, Leander, her objections will vanish."
"She has got objections, then? What to?"
"Mother always wanted me to keep my affections out of trade," saidMatilda. "You see, she never can forget what poor papa was."
"And what was your poor papa?" asked Leander.
"Didn't you know? He was a dentist, and that makes mamma so veryparticular, you see."
"But, hang it, Matilda! you're employed in a flower-shop, you know."
"Yes, but mamma never really approved of it; only she had to give waybecause she couldn't afford to keep me at home, and I scorned to go outas a governess. Never mind, Leander; when she comes to know you and hearyour conversa
tion, she will relent; her pride will melt."
"But suppose it keeps solid; what will you do, Matilda?"
"I am independent, Leander; and though I would prefer to marry withmamma's approval, I shouldn't feel bound to wait for it. So long as youare all I think you are, I shouldn't allow any one to dictate to me."
"Bless you for those words, my angelic girl!" he said, and hugged herclose to his breast. "Now I can beard your ma with a light 'art. Oh,Matilda! you can form no ideer how I worship you. Nothing shall evercome betwixt us two, shall it?"
"Nothing, as far as I am concerned, Leander," she replied. "What's thematter?"
He had given a furtive glance behind him after the last remarks, and hisembrace suddenly relaxed, until his arm was withdrawn altogether.
"Nothing is the matter, Matilda," he said. "Doesn't the moon look redthrough the fog?"
"Is that why you took away your arm?" she inquired.
"Yes--that is, no. It occurred to me I was rendering you tooconspicuous; we don't want to go about advertising ourselves, you know."
"But who is there here to notice?" asked Matilda.
"Nobody," he said; "oh, nobody! but we mustn't get into the _way_ ofit;" and he cast another furtive rearward look. In the full flow of hisraptures the miserable hairdresser had seen a sight which had frozen hisvery marrow--a tall form, in flowing drapery, gliding up behind with atigress-like stealth. The statue had broken out, in spite of all hisprecautions! Venus, jealous and exacting, was near enough to overhearevery word, and he could scarcely hope she had escaped seeing the arm hehad thrown round Matilda's waist.
"You were going to tell me how you worshipped me," said Matilda.
"I didn't say _worship_," he protested; "it--it's only images and suchthat expect that. But I can tell you there's very few brothers feel toyou as I feel."
"_Brothers_, Leander!" exclaimed Matilda, and walked farther apart fromhim.
"Yes," he said. "After all, what tie's closer than a brother? A uncle'sall very well, and similarly a cousin; but they can't feel like abrother does, for brothers they are not."
"I should have thought there were ties still closer," said Matilda; "youseemed to think so too, once."
"Oh, ah! _that_!" he said. (Every frigid word gave him a pang to utter;but it was all for Matilda's sake.) "There's time enough to think ofthat, my girl; we mustn't be in a hurry."
"I'm _not_ in a hurry," said Matilda.
"That's the proper way to look at it," said he; "and meanwhile I haven'tgot a sister I'm fonder of than I am of you."
"If you've nothing more to say than that, we had better part," sheremarked; and he caught at the suggestion with obvious relief. He hadbeen in an agony of terror, lest, even in the gathering fog, she shoulddetect that they were watched; and then, too, it was better to part withher under a temporary misconception than part with her altogether.
"Well," he said, "I mustn't keep you out any longer, with that cold."
"You are very ready to get rid of me," said poor Matilda.
"The real truth is," he answered, simulating a yawn with a heavy heart;"I am most uncommon sleepy to-night, and all this standing about is toomuch for me. So good-bye, and take care of yourself!"
"I needn't say that to you," she said; "but I won't keep you up a minutelonger. I wonder you troubled to come out at all."
"Oh," he said, carefully keeping as much in front of the statue as hecould, "it's no trouble; but you'll excuse me seeing you to the doorthis evening?"
"Oh, certainly," said Matilda, biting her lip. She touched his hand withthe ends of her fingers, and hurried away without turning her head.
When she was out of sight, Leander faced round to the irrepressiblegoddess. He was in a white rage; but terror and caution made himsuppress it to some extent.
"So here you are again!" he said.
"Why did you not wait for me?" she answered. "I remained long for you;you came not, and I followed."
"I see you did," said the aggrieved Leander; "I can't say I like beingspied upon. If you're a goddess, act as such!"
"What! you dare to upbraid me?" she cried. "Beware, or I----"
"I know," said Leander, flinching from her. "Don't do that; I only madea remark."
"I have the right to follow you; I choose to do so."
"If you must, you must," he groaned; "but it does seem hard that Imayn't slip out for a few minutes' talk with my only sister."
"You said you were going to run for business, and you told me you hadthree sisters."
"So I have; but only one _youngest_ one."
"And why did they not all come to talk with you?"
"I suppose because the other two stayed at home," rejoined Leander,sulkily.
"I know not why, but I doubt you; that one who came, she is not likeyou!"
"No," said Leander, with a great show of candour, "that's what every onesays; all our family are like that; we are like in a way, because we'reall of us so different. You can tell us anywhere just by the difference.My father and mother were both very unlike: I suppose we take afterthem."
The goddess seemed satisfied with this explanation. "And now that I haveregained you, let us return to your abode," she said; and Leander walkedback by her side, a prey to rage and humiliation.
"It is a miserable thing," he was thinking, "for a man in my rank oflife to have a female statue trotting after him like a great dorg. I'md----d if I put up with it! Suppose we happen on somebody as knows me!"
"IT IS A MISERABLE THING," HE WAS THINKING, "FOR A MAN... TO HAVE A FEMALE STATUE TROTTING AFTER HIM LIKE A GREAT DORG."]
Fortunately, at that time of night Bloomsbury Square is not muchfrequented; the increasing fog prevented the apparition of a female inclassical garments from attracting the notice to which it mightotherwise have been exposed, and they reached the shop without anydisagreeable encounter.
"She shan't stop in the saloon," he determined; "I've had enough ofthat! If you've no objections," he said, with a mixture of deference anddictation, "I shall be obliged if you'd settle yourself in the littleshrine in the upstairs room before proceeding to evaporate out of yourstatue; it would be more agreeable to my feelings."
"Ah!" she said, smiling, "you would have me nearer you? Your stubbornheart is yielding; a little while, and you will own the power ofAphrodite!"
"Now, don't you go deceiving yourself with any such ideers," said thehairdresser, irritably. "I shan't do no such thing, so you needn't thinkit. And, to come to the point, how long do you mean to carry on thislittle game?"
"Game?" repeated the goddess, absently.
"How long are you going to foller me about in this ridiclous way?"
"Till you submit, and profess your willingness to redeem your promise."
"Oh, and you're coming every evening till then, are you?"
"At nightfall of each day I have power to revisit you."
"Well, come then!" he said, with a fling of impatient anger. "I tell youbeforehand that you won't get anything by it. Not if you was to come andbring a whole stonemason's yard of sculptures along with you, youwouldn't! You ought to know better than to come pestering a respectabletradesman in this bold-faced manner!"
She smiled with a languid contemptuous tolerance, which maddenedLeander.
"Rave on," she said. "Truly, you are a sorry prize for such as I tostoop to win; yet I will it, nor shall you escape me. There will come aday when, forsaken by all you hold dear on earth, despised, ruined,distracted, you will pray eagerly for the haven of refuge to which Ialone can guide you. Take heed, lest your conduct now be rememberedthen! I have spoken."
They were indeed her last words that evening, and they impressed thehairdresser, in spite of himself. Custom habituates the mind to anymarvel, and already he had overcome his first horror at the periodicalawakenings of the statue, and surprise was swallowed up by exasperation;now, however, he quailed under her dark threats. Could it ever reallycome to pass that he would sue to this stone to hide him in the realmsof the supernatural?
"I know this," he told himself, "if it once gets about that there's ahairdresser to be seen in Bloomsbury chivied about after dark by aclassical statue, I shan't dare to show my face. Yet I don't know howI'm to prevent her coming out after me, at all events now and then. Ifshe was only a little more like other people, I shouldn't mind so much;but it's more than I can bear to have to go about with a _tablow vivant_or a _pose plastique_ on my arm!"
All at once he started to his feet. "I've got it!" he cried, and wentdownstairs to his laboratory, to reappear with some camel-hair brushes,grease-paints, and a selection from his less important discoveries inthe science of cosmetics; namely, an "eyebrow accentuator," a vase of"Tweddle's Cream of Carnations" and "Blondinette Bloom," a china box of"Conserve of Coral" for the lips, and one of his most expensive_chevelures_.
He was trembling as he arranged them upon his table; not that he wasaware of the enormity of the act he contemplated, but he was afraid thegoddess might revisit the marble while he was engaged upon it.
He furnished the blank eye-sockets with a pair of eyes, which, if notexactly artistic, at least supplied a want; he pencilled the eyebrows,laid on several coats of the "Bloom," which he suffused cunningly with atinge of carnation, and stained the pouting lips with his "Conserve ofCoral."
So far, perhaps, he had not violated the canons of art, and may evenhave restored to the image something of its pristine hues; but his nextaddition was one the vandalism of which admits of no possible defence,and when he deftly fitted the coiffure of light closely-curled hair uponthe noble classical head, even Leander felt dimly that something waswrong!
"I don't know how it is," he pondered; "she looks more natural, but nothalf so respectable. However, when she's got something on to cover themarble, there won't be anything much to notice about her. I'll buy acloak for her the first thing to-morrow morning. Matilda was sayingsomething about a shop near here where I could get that. And then, ifthis Venus must come following me about, she'll look less outlandish atany rate, and that's something!"