Town Versus Country | Page 4

stopped.
"Only what, Miss Susy?'
"Only I don't see how you can possibly go into the copse in this dress.
Think how the brambles would prick and tear, and how that chain
would catch in the hazel stems! and as to climbing the holly-tree in that
fine tight coat, or beating the stubbles for a hare in those delicate thin
shoes, why the thing is out of the question. And I really don't believe,"

continued Susan, finding it easier to go on than to begin, "I really don't
believe that either Hector or Harebell would know you if they saw you
so decked out."
William laughed outright
"I don't mean to go coursing in these shoes, I assure you, Susy. This is
an evening dress. I have a shooting-jacket and all thereunto belonging
in the britschka, which will not puzzle either Harebell or Hector,
because it's just what they have been used to see me wear."
"Put it on, then, I beseech you?" exclaimed Susy; "put it on directly!"
"Why, I am not going coursing this evening."
"No--but my father!--Oh, dear William! if you did but know how he
hates finery, and foreigners, and whiskers, and britschkas! Oh, dear
William, send off the French gentleman and the outlandish
carriage--run into the coppice and put on the shooting-dress!"
"Oh, Susan!" began William; but Susan having once summoned up
courage sufficient to put her remonstrances into words, followed up the
attack with an earnestness that did not admit a moment's interruption.
"My father hates finery even more than Harebell or Hector would do.
You know his country notions, dear William; and I think that latterly he
has hated everything that looks Londonish and new-fangled worse than
ever. We are old-fashioned people at Rutherford. There's your pretty
old friend Mary Amott can't abide gewgaws any more than my father."
"Mary Arnott! You mean Mrs. Giles. What do I care for her likes and
dislikes?" exclaimed William, haughtily.
"I mean Mary Arnott, and not Mrs. Giles, and you do care for her likes
and dislikes a great deal," replied his sister, with some archness. "Poor
Mary, when the week before that fixed for the wedding arrived, felt that
she could not marry Master Jacob Giles; so she found an opportunity of
speaking to him alone, and told him the truth. I even believe, although I

have no warrant for saying so, that she confessed she could not love
him because she loved another. Master Giles behaved like a wise man,
and told her father that it would be very wrong to force her inclinations.
He behaved kindly as well as wisely, for he endeavoured to reconcile
all parties, and put matters in train for the wedding that had hindered
his. This at that time Master Arnott would not hear of, and therefore we
did not tell you that the marriage which you took for granted had gone
off. Till about three months ago, that odious lawsuit was in full action,
and Master Arnott as violently set against my father as ever. Then,
however, he was taken ill, and, upon his deathbed, he sent for his old
friend, begged his pardon, and appointed him guardian to Mary. And
there she is at home--for she would not come to meet you--but there she
is, hoping to find you just what you were when you went away, and
hating Frenchmen, and britschkas, and finery, and the smell of musk,
just as if she were my father's daughter in good earnest. And now, dear
William, I know what has been passing in your mind, quite as well as if
hearts were peep-shows, and one could see to the bottom of them at the
rate of a penny a look. I know that you went away for love of Mary,
and flung yourself into the finery of London to try to get rid of the
thought of her, and came down with all this nonsense of britschkas, and
whiskers, and waistcoats, and rings, just to show her what a beau she
had lost in losing you--Did not you, now? Well! don't stand squeezing
my hand, but go and meet your French friend, who has got a man, I see,
to help to pick up the fallen equipage. Go and get rid of him," quoth
Susan.
"How can I?" exclaimed William, in laughing perplexity.
"Give him the britschka!" responded his sister, "and send them off
together as fast as may be. That will be a magnificent farewell. And
then take your portmanteau into the copse, and change all this trumpery
for the shooting-jacket and its belongings; and then come back and let
me trim these whiskers as closely as scissors can trim them, and then
we'll go to the farm, to gladden the hearts of Harebell, Hector, my dear
father, and--somebody else;