A Terrible Temptation | Page 9

to talk to the servants in Portman Square. He learned that the wedding

was now to be on the 15th of June, instead of the 31st of May.
Convinced that this postponement was only a blind, and that the
marriage would never be, he breathed more freely at the news.
But the fact is, although Sir Charles had yielded so far to dread of
scandal, he was ashamed of himself, and his shame became remorse
when he detected a furtive tear in the dove-like eyes of her he really
loved and esteemed.
He went and told his trouble to Mr. Oldfield. "I am afraid she will do
something desperate," he said.
Mr. Oldfield heard him out, and then asked him had he told Miss
Somerset what he was going to settle on her.
"Not I. She is not in a condition to be influenced by that, at present."
"Let me try her. The draft is ready. I'll call on her to-morrow." He did
call, and was told she did not know him.
"You tell her I am a lawyer, and it is very much to her interest to see
me," said Mr. Oldfield to the page.
He was admitted, but not to a _tete-a-tete._ Polly was kept in the room.
The Somerset had peeped, and Oldfield was an old fellow, with white
hair; if he had been a young fellow, with black hair, she might have
thought that precaution less necessary.
"First, madam," said Oldfield, "I must beg you to accept my apologies
for not coming sooner. Press of business, etc."
"Why have you come at all? That is the question," inquired the lady,
bluntly.
"I bring the draft of a deed for your approval. Shall I read it to you?"
"Yes; if it is not very long." He began to read it. The lady interrupted
him characteristically.
"It's a beastly rigmarole. What does it mean--in three words?"
"Sir Charles Bassett secures to Rhoda Somerset four hundred pounds a
year, while single; this is reduced to two hundred if you marry. The
deed further assigns to you, without reserve, the beneficial lease of this
house, and all the furniture and effects, plate, linen, wine, etc."
"I see--a bribe."
"Nothing of the kind, madam. When Sir Charles instructed me to
prepare this deed he expected no opposition on your part to his
marriage; but he thought it due to him and to yourself to mark his
esteem for you, and his recollection of the pleasant hours he has spent

in your company."
Miss Somerset's eyes searched the lawyer's face. He stood the battery
unflinchingly. She altered her tone, and asked, politely and almost
respectfully, whether she might see that paper.
Mr. Oldfield gave it her. She took it, and ran her eye over it; in doing
which, she raised it so that she could think behind it unobserved. She
handed it back at last, with the remark that Sir Charles was a gentleman
and had done the right thing.
"He has; and you will do the right thing too, will you not?"
"I don't know. I am just beginning to fall in love with him myself."
"Jealousy, madam, not love," said the old lawyer. "Come, now! I see
you are a young lady of rare good sense; look the thing in the face: Sir
Charles is a landed gentleman; he must marry, and, have heirs. He is
over thirty, and his time has come. He has shown himself your friend;
why not be his? He has given you the means to marry a gentleman of
moderate income, or to marry beneath you, if you prefer it--"
"And most of us do--"
"Then why not make his path smooth? Why distress him with your
tears and remonstrances?"
He continued in this strain for some time, appealing to her good sense
and her better feelings.
When he had done she said, very quietly, "How about the ponies and
my brown mare? Are they down in the deed?"
"I think not; but if you will do your part handsomely I'll guarantee you
shall have them."
"You are a good soul." Then, after a pause, "Now just you tell me
exactly what you want me to do for all this."
Oldfield was pleased with this question. He said, "I wish you to abstain
from writing to Sir Charles, and him to visit you only once more before
his marriage, just to shake hands and part, with mutual friendship and
good wishes."
"You are right," said she, softly; "best for us both, and only fair to the
girl." Then, with sudden and eager curiosity, "Is she very pretty?"
"I don't know."
"What, hasn't he told you?"
"He says she is lovely, and every way adorable; but then he is in love.
The chances are she is not half