A Terrible Temptation | Page 3

brightened up and looked handsome, and greeted her with
momentary warmth.
After the usual inquiries she asked him if he had met any body.
"Where?"
"Here; just now."

"No."
"What, nobody at all?"
"Only my sulky cousin; I don't call him anybody," drawled Sir Charles,
who was now relapsing into his normal condition of semi-apathy.
"Oh," said Miss Bruce gayly, "you must expect him to be a little cross.
It is not so very nice to be disinherited, let me tell you."
"And who has disinherited the fellow?"
"I forget; but you disinherited him among you. Never mind; it can't be
helped now. When did you come back to town? I didn't see you at Lady
d'Arcy's ball, did I?"
"You did not, unfortunately for me; but you would if I had known you
were to be there. But about Richard: he may tell you what he likes, but
he was not disinherited; he was bought out. The fact is, his father was
uncommonly fast. My grandfather paid his debts again and again; but at
last the old gentleman found he was dealing with the Jews for his
reversion. Then there was an awful row. It ended in my grandfather
outbidding the Jews. He bought the reversion of his estate from his own
son for a large sum of money (he had to raise it by mortgages); then
they cut off the entail between them, and he entailed the mortgaged
estate on his other son, and his grandson (that was me), and on my
heir-at-law. Richard's father squandered his thirty thousand pounds
before he died; my father husbanded the estates, got into Parliament,
and they put a tail to his name."
Sir Charles delivered this version of the facts with a languid composure
that contrasted deliciously with Richard's heat in telling the story his
way (to be sure, Sir Charles had got Huntercombe and Bassett, and it is
easier to be philosophical on the right side of the boundary hedge), and
wound up with a sort of corollary: "Dick Bassett suffers by his father's
vices, and I profit by mine's virtues. Where's the injustice?"
"Nowhere, and the sooner you are reconciled the better."
Sir Charles demurred. "Oh, I don't want to quarrel with the fellow: but
he is a regular thorn in my side, with his little trumpery estate, all in
broken patches. He shoots my pheasants in the unfairest way." Here the
landed proprietor showed real irritation, but only for a moment. He
concluded calmly, "The fact is, he is not quite a gentleman. Fancy his
coming and whining to you about our family affairs, and then telling
you a falsehood!"

"No, no; be did not mean. It was his way of looking at things. You can
afford to forgive him."
"Yes, but not if he sets you against me."
"But he cannot do that. The more any one was to speak against you, the
more I--of course."
This admission fired Sir Charles; he drew nearer, and, thanks to his
cousin's interference, spoke the language of love more warmly and
directly than he had ever done before.
The lady blushed, and defended herself feebly. Sir Charles grew
warmer, and at last elicited from her a timid but tender avowal, that
made him supremely happy.
When he left her this brief ecstasy was succeeded by regrets on account
of the years he had wasted in follies and intrigues.
He smoked five cigars, and pondered the difference between the pure
creature who now honored him with her virgin affections and beauties
of a different character who had played their parts in his luxurious life.
After profound deliberation he sent for his solicitor. They lighted the
inevitable cigars, and the following observations struggled feebly out
along with the smoke.
"Mr. Oldfield, I'm going to be married."
"Glad to hear it, Sir Charles." (Vision of settlements.) "It is a high time
you were." (Puff-puff.)
"Want your advice and assistance first."
"Certainly."
"Must put down my pony-carriage now, you know."
"A very proper retrenchment; but you can do that without my
assistance,
"There would be sure to be a row if I did. I dare say there will be as it is.
At any rate, I want to do the thing like a gentleman."
"Send 'em to Tattersall's." (Puff.)
"And the girl that drives them in the park, and draws all the duchesses
and countesses at her tail--am I to send her to Tattersall's?" (Puff.)
"Oh, it is her you want to put down, then?"
"Why, of course."
CHAPTER II
.

SIR CHARLES and Mr. Oldfield settled that lady's retiring pension,
and Mr. Oldfield took the memoranda home, with instructions to
prepare a draft deed for Miss Somerset's approval.
Meantime Sir Charles visited Miss Bruce every day. Her affections for
him grew visibly, for being engaged gave