Oswald Langdon | Page 9

further plans, all
were surprised by the appearance of a young man from London.
That evening Sir Donald told Oswald the following story:
"For many years Paul Lanier has known Alice, and they are quite
friendly. He was a frequent caller at her London home. Though Alice
never felt toward him much of interest and doubted his sincerity of
purpose, yet this tireless suitor persistently continued his attentions.
"Paul is the son of a rich broker, who until recently has been the
guardian of Alice Webster.
"Alice's father, William Webster, acquired wealth in India. Pierre
Lanier was his partner.
"Reverses came. In a fit of insane madness over his losses, resort was
had to the suicide's refuge. Pierre Lanier settled the complicated affairs
of his dead partner. All was absorbed but a small estate in England,
yielding an annual rental of one hundred pounds. This income has been
devoted to the care and education of the orphan daughter, Alice
Webster, who at the time of her father's death was four years old. Her
mother died when Alice was a babe, and was buried at Calcutta.
"Paul is the only son of Pierre Lanier, and until he reached the age of
sixteen lived with his father in India. Nine years ago his father brought
Paul to London, where he has since resided. Through his father's
finesse, Paul moved in select London circles. He attended the same
church as Alice Webster. The father being wealthy and of pleasant
address, Paul was regarded as a promising young man with good
prospects, but both, for some reason, seem interested in the future of
this young orphan girl with the moderate allowance.
"Alice and Paul were much together, and became quite good friends.
Paul's father still resided abroad, but made frequent visits to London.

The growing friendship between these two young people seemed to
meet his hearty approval. About nine months ago Paul joined his father
at Calcutta, and Alice thought he was still there until she was surprised
by his unheralded appearance.
"Less than a year previous to this meeting, Pierre Lanier was in London.
At this time Paul proposed to Alice that they be married during his
father's stay. Alice gently but positively declined this proposal. Paul
insisted, and was fiercely indignant at her continued refusal. Finally,
seeing there was then no hope of a favorable answer, his tactics took
more subtle form, and Paul said:
"'It is unreasonable that I should expect an immediate answer. You
have known me as a boy, and have seen little of society. You will like
me better after seeing the hollow mockery of social compliments. My
love for you will be constant. Will you not kindly leave me some hope,
and wait a year before final decision? I will go abroad, hoping that at
the end of twelve anxious months Alice Webster will consent to
become my bride.'
"Thus appealed to, this generous-hearted girl consented to grant the
desired time, and to defer until then the final reply. Soon after this
Pierre Lanier left London, and in a few weeks Paul went to India."
Oswald was much interested in this romance and awaited
developments.
Alice experienced much uneasiness because of her promise to wait. She
felt determined upon refusing to become the wife of Paul Lanier, but
dreaded the ordeal. She doubted his sincerity, and felt dread of both
father and son. For several weeks before her visit at Northfield Alice
had experienced an unaccountable sense of being watched, and often in
her walks met a strange man with familiar, furtive, shifting glances.
Fully determined forever to end this unwelcome affair, Alice gladly
accepted Esther's invitation to visit Northfield. In the sweet infatuation
of the past few weeks Alice almost had forgotten her former distresses,
and was experiencing a sense of unmitigated pleasure at this beautiful
home. Her growing interest in Oswald Langdon would make easier

dismissal forever of Paul's attentions.
Though when in company of Esther and Oswald, Alice often had
experienced a temporary sense of being watched, yet her pleasure was
too genuine long to feel the presence of unreal objects. More than once
had the reflected shadow of Paul Lanier appeared in startling clearness.
Far from being homely or of unpleasant features, judged by approved
standards of manly beauty, yet compared with Oswald Langdon, Paul
Lanier was to Alice Webster an uninteresting deformity.
The two girls were sitting upon the lawn, in shade of a tree, listening to
Oswald's full, well-modulated voice reading from the opening chapter
of "Aurora Leigh," when a neatly dressed, stylish-appearing young man
stood before them. Lifting his hat with a low bow, he responded to
Alice's startled "Mr. Lanier!" with "Good-evening, Alice."
With apparent fear, Alice presented Paul to Esther and Oswald as her
friend from London, "Mr. Paul Lanier."