The Three Brides | Page 8

"Do you mean that they have really come home to live here?"
demanded Julius, with singular indifference to the personal
insinuations.
"I am sorry it is so painful to you," said I Frank, somewhat ironically;
"but Sir Harry thinks it right to return and end his days among his own
people."
"Is he ill, then?"
"I can't gratify you so far," returned Frank; "he is a fine old fellow of
sixty-five. Just what humbugging papers call a regular specimen of an
old English gentleman," he added to Cecil.
"Humbugging indeed, I should hope," muttered Julius. "The old
English gentleman has reason to complain!"
"There's the charity of the clergy!" exclaimed Frank. "No forgiveness
for a man who has spent a little in his youth!"
"As an essential of the old English gentleman?" asked Julius.

"At any rate, the poor old fellow has been punished enough," said
Charlie.
"But what is it? Tell me all about it," said Cecil. "I am sure my father
would not wish me to associate with dissipated people."
"Ah! Cecil," said Rosamond. "You'll have to take refuge with the
military, after all!"
"It is just this," said Charlie. "Sir Harry and his only son were always
extravagant, one as bad as the other--weren't they, Julius? Phil Bowater
told me all about it, and how Tom Vivian lost fifteen thousand pounds
one Derby Day, and was found dead in his chambers the next morning,
they said from an over-dose of chloroform for neuralgia. Then the
estate was so dipped that Sir Harry had to give up the estate to his
creditors, and live on an allowance abroad or at watering-places till
now, when he has managed to come home. That is to say, the house is
really leased to Lady Tyrrell, and he is in a measure her guest--very
queer it must be for him in his own house."
"Is Lady Tyrrell that woman?" asked Rosamond.
"I conclude so," said Charlie. "She was the eldest daughter, and married
Lord Tyrrell, who died about two years ago. She has no children, so she
has taken the family in charge, patches up Sir Harry's affairs with her
jointure, and chaperons her sister."
"What is she like?"
"Ask Frank," said Charlie, slyly.
"No!" said Frank, with dignity. "I shall say no more, I only excite
prejudice."
"You are right, Frank," said Julius, who had evidently recovered from
the shock. "It is not fair to judge people now from what they were
eleven years ago. They have had some terrible lessons, and may be
much changed."

"Ay," said Frank; "and they have been living in an atmosphere
congenial to you, at Rockpier, and are hand and glove with all the St.
Chrysostom folk there. What do you say to that, Julius? I can tell you
they are enchanted with your curate!"
"They are not in this parish."
"No, but they turn up here--the ladies, at least--at all the services at odd
times that Bindon has begun with."
"Ah! by the bye, is Herbert Bowater come?"
"Yes, the whole family came over to his installation in Mrs.
Hornblower's lodgings."
"I saw him this morning, poor old Herbs," added Frank, "looking
uncommonly as if he felt himself in a strait waistcoat."
"What, are there two curates?" demanded Cecil, in a tone of
reprobation.
Julius made a gesture of assent, with a certain humorous air of
deprecation, which, however, was lost upon her.
"We never let Mr. Venn have one," continued Cecil, "except one winter
when he was ill, and then not a young one. Papa says idle young
clergymen are not to be encouraged."
"I am entirely of Mr. Charnock's opinion. But if I have exceeded the
Dunstone standard, it was not willingly. Herbert Bowater is the son of
some old friends of my mother's, who wanted to keep their son near
home, and made it their request that I would give him a title."
"And the Bowaters are the great feature in the neighbourhood," added
Frank. "Herbert tells me there are wonderful designs for entertaining
the brides."
"What do they consist of?" asked Rosamond.

"All the component parts of a family," said Frank. "The eldest daughter
is a sort of sheet-anchor to my mother, as well as her own. The eldest
son is at home now. He is in the army."
"In the Light Dragoons?" asked Rosamond. "Oh! then I knew him at
Edinburgh! A man with yellow whiskers, and the next thing to a
stutter."
"I declare, Julius, she is as good as any army list," exclaimed Charlie.
"There's praise!" cried Frank. "The army list is his one book! What a
piece of luck to have you to coach him up in it!"
"I dare say Rosamond can tell me lots of wrinkles for my outfit," said
Charles.
"I should hope so, having rigged