Other
Read books online Ā» Other Ā» Man and Wife Wilkie Collins (read 50 shades of grey .TXT) šŸ“–

Book online Ā«Man and Wife Wilkie Collins (read 50 shades of grey .TXT) šŸ“–Ā». Author Wilkie Collins



1 ... 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 ... 221
Go to page:
to her room. Miss Silvester persists in being ill. Have you noticed, Sir Patrick, that these half-bred sort of people are almost invariably rude when they are ill?ā€

Blancheā€™s bright face flushed up. ā€œIf you think Anne a half-bred person, Lady Lundie, you stand alone in your opinion. My uncle doesnā€™t agree with you, Iā€™m sure.ā€

Sir Patrickā€™s interest in the first quadrille became almost painful to see. ā€œDo tell me, my dear, when is the dancing going to begin?ā€

ā€œThe sooner the better,ā€ interposed Lady Lundie; ā€œbefore Blanche picks another quarrel with me on the subject of Miss Silvester.ā€

Blanche looked at her uncle. ā€œBegin! begin! Donā€™t lose time!ā€ cried the ardent Sir Patrick, pointing toward the house with his cane. ā€œCertainly, uncle! Anything that you wish!ā€ With that parting shot at her stepmother, Blanche withdrew. Arnold, who had thus far waited in silence at the foot of the steps, looked appealingly at Sir Patrick. The train which was to take him to his newly inherited property would start in less than an hour; and he had not presented himself to Blancheā€™s guardian in the character of Blancheā€™s suitor yet! Sir Patrickā€™s indifference to all domestic claims on himā ā€”claims of persons who loved, and claims of persons who hated, it didnā€™t matter whichā ā€”remained perfectly unassailable. There he stood, poised on his cane, humming an old Scotch air. And there was Lady Lundie, resolute not to leave him till he had seen the governess with her eyes and judged the governess with her mind. She returned to the chargeā ā€”in spite of Sir Patrick, humming at the top of the steps, and of Arnold, waiting at the bottom. (Her enemies said, ā€œNo wonder poor Sir Thomas died in a few months after his marriage!ā€ And, oh dear me, our enemies are sometimes right!)

ā€œI must once more remind you, Sir Patrick, that I have serious reason to doubt whether Miss Silvester is a fit companion for Blanche. My governess has something on her mind. She has fits of crying in private. She is up and walking about her room when she ought to be asleep. She posts her own lettersā ā€”and, she has lately been excessively insolent to me. There is something wrong. I must take some steps in the matterā ā€”and it is only proper that I should do so with your sanction, as head of the family.ā€

ā€œConsider me as abdicating my position, Lady Lundie, in your favor.ā€

ā€œSir Patrick, I beg you to observe that I am speaking seriously, and that I expect a serious reply.ā€

ā€œMy good lady, ask me for anything else and it is at your service. I have not made a serious reply since I gave up practice at the Scottish Bar. At my age,ā€ added Sir Patrick, cunningly drifting into generalities, ā€œnothing is seriousā ā€”except indigestion. I say, with the philosopher, ā€˜Life is a comedy to those who think, and tragedy to those who feel.ā€™ā€Šā€ He took his sister-in-lawā€™s hand, and kissed it. ā€œDear Lady Lundie, why feel?ā€

Lady Lundie, who had never ā€œfeltā€ in her life, appeared perversely determined to feel, on this occasion. She was offendedā ā€”and she showed it plainly.

ā€œWhen you are next called on, Sir Patrick, to judge of Miss Silvesterā€™s conduct,ā€ she said, ā€œunless I am entirely mistaken, you will find yourself compelled to consider it as something beyond a joke.ā€ With those words, she walked out of the summerhouseā ā€”and so forwarded Arnoldā€™s interests by leaving Blancheā€™s guardian alone at last.

It was an excellent opportunity. The guests were safe in the houseā ā€”there was no interruption to be feared, Arnold showed himself. Sir Patrick (perfectly undisturbed by Lady Lundieā€™s parting speech) sat down in the summerhouse, without noticing his young friend, and asked himself a question founded on profound observation of the female sex. ā€œWere there ever two women yet with a quarrel between them,ā€ thought the old gentleman, ā€œwho didnā€™t want to drag a man into it? Let them drag me in, if they can!ā€

Arnold advanced a step, and modestly announced himself. ā€œI hope I am not in the way, Sir Patrick?ā€

ā€œIn the way? of course not! Bless my soul, how serious the boy looks! Are you going to appeal to me as the head of the family next?ā€

It was exactly what Arnold was about to do. But it was plain that if he admitted it just then Sir Patrick (for some unintelligible reason) would decline to listen to him. He answered cautiously, ā€œI asked leave to consult you in private, Sir; and you kindly said you would give me the opportunity before I left Windygates?ā€

ā€œAy! ay! to be sure. I remember. We were both engaged in the serious business of croquet at the timeā ā€”and it was doubtful which of us did that business most clumsily. Well, here is the opportunity; and here am I, with all my worldly experience, at your service. I have only one caution to give you. Donā€™t appeal to me as ā€˜the head of the family.ā€™ My resignation is in Lady Lundieā€™s hands.ā€

He was, as usual, half in jest, half in earnest. The wry twist of humor showed itself at the corners of his lips. Arnold was at a loss how to approach Sir Patrick on the subject of his niece without reminding him of his domestic responsibilities on the one hand, and without setting himself up as a target for the shafts of Sir Patrickā€™s wit on the other. In this difficulty, he committed a mistake at the outset. He hesitated.

ā€œDonā€™t hurry yourself,ā€ said Sir Patrick. ā€œCollect your ideas. I can wait! I can wait!ā€

Arnold collected his ideasā ā€”and committed a second mistake. He determined on feeling his way cautiously at first. Under the circumstances (and with such a man as he had now to deal with), it was perhaps the rashest resolution at which he could possibly have arrivedā ā€”it was the mouse attempting to outmanoeuvre the cat.

ā€œYou have been very kind, Sir, in offering me the benefit of your experience,ā€ he began. ā€œI want a word of advice.ā€

ā€œSuppose you take it sitting?ā€ suggested Sir Patrick.

1 ... 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 ... 221
Go to page:

Free ebook Ā«Man and Wife Wilkie Collins (read 50 shades of grey .TXT) šŸ“–Ā» - read online now

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet. You can be the first!
Add a comment