_ CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. LADY CASTLETON
Whatever resolutions Captain Headland might have made when he first went to Texford, he had not been there long before he felt a strong inclination to break them. Once or twice he had almost determined to go away, but on hinting at the possibility of his having to do so, Julia had given him a look which made him immediately alter his mind, and every day he remained he found a greater difficulty in tearing himself away.
The party were assembled in the evening in the drawing-room after Lady Castleton's visit to Downside. Julia had had no opportunity of taking the sketches on the lake she proposed.
"You promised to act as my boatman, Captain Headland."
He had not forgotten it, and they agreed to go the following morning.
Without being vain, Headland could not help discovering that Julia seemed happy in his society. As she sang that evening he looked over her music, and asked her to sing a ballad, which described the grief of a maiden whose sailor lover had fallen in the hour of victory. Julia hesitated, and tears sprung to her eyes as she turned them towards the young officer, while he placed the music before her. She quickly recovered herself, but he would have been blind had he not observed that there was a tenderness in her manner towards him, though she apparently was unaware of it.
After the ladies had retired, Harry invited Headland to take a stroll through the grounds to enjoy the moonlight. Harry did not speak till they had got to some distance from the house.
"You remember, Headland, the advice you gave me yesterday," he said at length. "I would have followed it, much as it might have cost me, had I found May indifferent to my affection, but she has confessed that she loves me, and nothing shall prevent me from making her my wife. If you saw her, you would agree that she is well worthy of the most devoted love a man can give, and I will do my utmost to make her happy. There may be opposition, but that I am resolved to overcome, unless she herself changes her sentiments, and that, I think, is impossible. You, I know, will stand my friend, whatever may occur."
"Of course I will, Harry, though I fear I can give you but little assistance," said Headland. "I am very unwilling to run the risk of hurting your feelings, but, my dear fellow, are you certain that the mutual affection which you tell me exists is as deep on both sides as you say? You were struck by the girl's beauty, and she is flattered by your attentions. Perhaps if you were to be separated for a time, and mixed in society, you would find them more evanescent than you are at present disposed to believe possible."
"I am very certain that I love her as much as a man can love a woman, and that I should be miserable if I were to be doomed to lose her," answered Harry, firmly. "I can only judge by what she says and how she looks, and by my knowledge of her character, which is perfect in every respect, and, I am sure, one of the most valuable of qualities, constancy is not wanting in it. My cousins, who have known her from her childhood, highly esteem her, and bestow on her the love as to the nearest relative. What more can I say? I must get you to come and be introduced to her. Will you ride over with me to-morrow? and if you do not agree with me, never trust my opinion again."
"I promised to row your sister on the lake to-morrow--she wishes to sketch," said Headland, "or I should be glad to accept your invitation."
"I won't ask you to break such an engagement," said Harry, smiling archly; "but if you and Julia will ride over in the afternoon, I will come back and meet you, for I want my sister to become better acquainted with May."
"I shall be at Miss Castleton's service, and will gladly accompany her," said Headland.
The two friends continued pacing up and down the moonlight walk. Harry, knowing Julia's secret, would liked to have ascertained his friend's feelings towards her. He was certain that he admired her, but aware how diffident he was in consequence of his position, he was very doubtful whether he would venture to tell her so. Harry's respect for his sister prevented him from even suggesting the probability that he would not be refused should he make her an offer. From everything Headland said, however, Harry felt convinced that he only required encouragement to do so.
The following morning Julia appeared with her sketch-book.
"I have not forgotten my promise," said Headland, and his countenance brightened as he looked at her. "I shall be happy to accompany you on the lake."
They set out, and Harry went to order his horse to ride to Downside.
Just as he was starting, the servant brought a message from Lady Castleton, who wished to speak to him. Though disliking the delay, he went immediately, guessing why she had sent for him.
"Sit down, Harry," she said in her gentle tone. "I was very much struck yesterday with the beauty of the young lady we met at our cousins. Knowing how you must naturally admire her, I am very sure that she is the attraction which draws you daily to Downside."
"Yes, mother, I do not deny it," answered Harry; "and I am delighted that you and Julia admire her so much."
"We could not fail to do that. But let me ask you, Harry, do you know her history? are you acquainted with her family? She is, I suspect, a dependant on the Miss Pemberton's bounty. And have you not reflected that you may have won her heart as you may possibly have lost your own?"
"Mother," said Harry, rising and taking Lady Castleton's hand, "I love her for herself and herself alone; she has given me her love in return, and you would not wish your son to marry for mercenary or any other motives except such as influence me."
"I wish to see your happiness secured, my dear Harry, but I fear that your father will not view matters in the light you do. He will certainly not approve of your marrying any one beneath you in rank."
Harry argued as most young men would have done under similar circumstances.
"You might persuade me, my dear boy, but I fear that you will find it impossible to overcome your father's strong notions on the subject. I must write and inform him of the state of affairs; and depend upon it, I will do my utmost to give him a favourable impression of the young lady."
"But why trouble my father now about the matter?" urged Harry. "It will be time enough when he returns home to let him know my wishes, and he can then express his opinion. Pray do not object in the meantime to my visiting Downside. Our cousins invited me there in the first instance, without the slightest idea of the consequences; and I surely have a right to visit them as long as they give me permission. Remember I persuaded you to call there, a proof that I had no desire for concealment. However, as only you and Julia even suspect the state of the case, do let me ask you to keep the matter a secret at present, for I do not wish even Algernon to know it, as I am doubtful how he might act; he entertains the same opinion as Sir Ralph on most points, and might think fit to expostulate in a way I should not approve of."
In spite of her previous resolutions, Lady Castleton was so far gained over by Harry, that she promised to wait and see how things were likely to go.
"Thank you, mother," exclaimed Harry, kissing her brow; "all will go right. We must get Sir Ralph to see May without knowing who she is, and depend on it he will be enchanted with her, perhaps insist that I shall forthwith go and make her an offer of marriage."
Lady Castleton smiled at her son's enthusiasm, but directly afterwards sighed, for she knew her husband far better than did her son.
Harry was eager to set off for Downside, and hurrying downstairs mounted his horse, which the groom had been leading up and down waiting for him.
Just as he was starting, a dark, black-whiskered man, on a strong looking horse, rode up. Harry fancied that he recollected his features.
"Good morning, Mr Castleton," said the stranger, lifting his hat. "I remember you, though a good many years have passed since you were at Texford."
"You have the advantage of me, knowing my name. Have you business with any one here?"
"Yes; I wish to see Mr Groocock, the steward. I am the miller at Hurlston, and have to say a word or two about the rent of the mill," answered Gaffin. "I remember you as a young midshipman, when I had the pleasure of offering to give you a cruise in my lugger, though for some reason or other you objected to accompany me."
"I probably had good reasons for doing so," answered Harry, recollecting what he had heard of Gaffin's character, and that he was the father of the young man who had insulted May. "If you have business with the steward, you will find him in his room; good morning, sir," and Harry was riding on.
"Pardon me, Mr Castleton, if I detain you for a minute," backing his horse across the road. "You are perhaps not aware that though I have held the mill at Hurlston for a number of years, and have expended considerable sums in repairing it, Mr Groocock has given me notice that the rent is to be raised, and I wish to appeal to Sir Ralph against the injustice of the proceedings."
"I cannot interfere in the matter, as Mr Groocock has my father's perfect confidence, and he probably considers the rent you have hitherto paid as too low."
"Where there is a will there is a way; if you wished to serve me, Mr Castleton, you could do so," exclaimed Gaffin in an angry tone, as if his aim was to pick a quarrel with the young officer.
"I have no wish to interfere, and have no intention of doing so," answered Harry. "I must again say good morning, sir."
"You are willing to see an act of injustice done without any desire to prevent it," said Gaffin.
"I do not believe that Mr Groocock would commit an act of injustice, and I consider it impertinent in you to infer that Sir Ralph Castleton acts unjustly."
"I infer nothing; facts are stubborn things, Mr Castleton. I see how it is, your father wishes to drive me from the mill; but he is mistaken if he expects to succeed. If I am compelled, I will pay the additional rent, and remain, though I am not likely to be grateful to those who have ill-treated me. A few words from you would probably have favoured my cause."
"I have already given you my answer, I cannot be longer delayed in discussing the subject," and Harry, putting spurs to his horse, rode on.
Gaffin gave an angry glance towards the young officer, and then turning round, made his way towards the wing of the mansion in which Mr Groocock's office was situated. _