Celt and Saxon | Page 9

the look of it, the next morning; and then he
remembered the niceness of her manners. He supposed her to have
been educated where the interfusion of a natural liveliness with a
veiling retenue gives the title of lady. She had enjoyed the advantage of
having an estimable French lady for her governess, she informed him,
as they sauntered together on the terrace.
'A Protestant, of course,' Patrick spoke as he thought.
'Madame Dugue is a Catholic of Catholics, and the most honourable of
women.'
'That I'll believe; and wasn't for proselytisms,' said he.
'Oh, no: she was faithful to her trust.'
'Save for the grand example!'
'That,' said Caroline, 'one could strive to imitate without embracing her
faith.'
'There's my mind clear as print!' Patrick exclaimed. 'The Faith of my
fathers! and any pattern you like for my conduct, if it's a good one.'
Caroline hesitated before she said: 'You have noticed my Uncle
Adister's prepossession; I mean, his extreme sensitiveness on that
subject.'

'He blazed on me, and he seemed to end by a sort of approval.'
She sighed. 'He has had cause for great unhappiness.'
'Is it the colonel, or the captain? Forgive me!'
Her head shook.
'Is it she? Is it his daughter? I must ask!'
'You have not heard?'
Oh! then, I guessed it,' cried Patrick, with a flash of pride in his arrowy
sagacity. 'Not a word have I heard, but I thought it out for myself;
because I love my brother, I fancy. And now, if you'll be so good, Miss
Caroline, let me beg, it's just the address, or the city, or the
country--where she is, can you tell me?--just whereabouts! You're
surprised: but I want her address, to be off, to see her; I'm anxious to
speak to her. It's anywhere she may be in a ring, only show me the ring,
I'll find her, for I've a load; and there's nothing like that for sending you
straight, though it's in the dark; it acts like an instinct. But you know
the clear address, and won't let me be running blindfold. She's on the
Continent and has been a long time, and it was the capital of Austria,
which is a Catholic country, and they've Irish blood in the service there,
or they had. I could drop on my knees to you!'
The declaration was fortunately hushed by a supplicating ardour, or Mr.
Adister would have looked more surprised than his niece. He stepped
out of the library window as they were passing, and, evidently with a
mind occupied by his own affairs, held up an opened letter for
Caroline's perusal. She took a view of the handwriting.
'Any others?' she said.
'You will consider that one enough for the day,' was his answer.
Patrick descended the terrace and strolled by the waterside, grieved at
their having bad news, and vexed with himself for being a stranger,

unable to console them.
Half an hour later they were all three riding to the market-town, where
Mr. Adister paid a fruitless call on his lawyer.
'And never is at home! never was known to be at home when wanted!'
he said, springing back to the saddle.
Caroline murmured some soothing words. They had a perverse effect.
'His partner! yes, his partner is at home, but I do not communicate upon
personal business with his partner; and by and by there will be, I
suppose, a third partner. I might as well deposit my family history in
the hands of a club. His partner is always visible. It is my belief that
Camminy has taken a partner that he may act the independent
gentleman at his leisure. I, meantime, must continue to be the mark for
these letters. I shall expect soon to hear myself abused as the positive
cause of the loss of a Crown!'
'Mr. Camminy will probably appear at the dinner hour,' said Caroline.
'Claret attracts him: I wish I could say as much of duty,' rejoined her
uncle.
Patrick managed to restrain a bubbling remark on the respective charms
of claret and duty, tempting though the occasion was for him to throw
in a conversational word or two.
He was rewarded for listening devoutly.
Mr. Adister burst out again: 'And why not come over here to settle this
transaction herself?--provided that I am spared the presence of her
Schinderhannes! She could very well come. I have now received three
letters bearing on this matter within as many months. Down to the sale
of her hereditary jewels! I profess no astonishment. The jewels may
well go too, if Crydney and Welvas are to go. Disrooted body and soul!
--for a moonshine title!--a gaming-table foreign knave!--Known for a
knave!--A young gentlewoman?--a wild Welsh . . . !'

Caroline put her horse to a canter, and