Silverbridge pondered it all much as he went home. What a terrible story was that he had heard! The horror to him was chiefly in this,--that she should yet be driven to marry some man without even fancying that she could love him! And his was Lady Mabel Grex, who, on his own first entrance into London life, now not much more than twelve months ago, had seemed to him to stand above all other girls in beauty, charm, and popularity!
As he opened the door of his house with his latch-key, who should be coming out but Frank Tregear,--Frank Tregear with his arm in a sling, but still with an unmistakable look of general satisfaction. 'When on earth did you come up?' asked Silverbridge.
Tregear told him that he had arrived on the previous evening from Harrington. 'And why? The doctor would not have let you come if he could have helped it.'
'When he found he could not help it, he did let me come. I am nearly all right. If I had been nearly all wrong I should have had to come.'
'And what are you doing here?'
'Well; if you'll allow me I'll go back with you for a moment. What do you think I have been doing?'
'Have you seen my sister?'
'Yes, I have seen your sister. And I have done better than that. I have seen your father. Lord Silverbridge,--behold your brother-in-law.'
'You don't mean to say that it is arranged?'
'I do.'
'What did he say?'
'He made me understand by most unanswerable arguments, that I had no business to think of such a thing. I did not fight the point with him,--but simply stood there, as conclusive evidence of my business. He told me that we should have nothing to live on unless he gave us an income. I assured him that I would never ask him for a shilling. "But I cannot allow her to marry a man without an income," he said.'
'I know his way so well.'
'I have just two facts to go upon,--that I would not give her up, and that she would not give me up. When I pointed that out he tore up his hair,--in a mild way, and said that he did not understand that kind of thing at all.'
'And yet he gave way.'
'Of course he did. They say that when a king of old would consent to see a petitioner for his life, he was bound by his royalty to mercy. So it was with the Duke. Then, very early in the argument, he forgot himself, and called her,--Mary. I knew that he had thrown up the sponge then.'
'How did he give way at last?'
'He asked me what were my ideas about life in general. I said that I thought Parliament was a good sort of thing, that I was lucky enough to have a seat, and that I should take lodgings somewhere near Westminster till-"Till what?" he asked. Till something is settled I replied. Then he turned away from me and remained silent. May I see Lady Mary? I asked. "Yes; you may see her," he replied, as he rang the bell. Then when the servant was gone he stopped me. "I love her too dearly to see her grieve," he said. "I hope you will show that you can be worthy of her." Then I made some sort of protestation and went upstairs. While I was with Mary there came a message to me, telling me to come to dinner.'
'The Boncassens are all dining there.'
'Then we shall be a family party. So far I suppose I may say it is settled. When he will let us marry heaven only knows. Mary declares that she will not press him. I certainly cannot do so.
It is all a matter of money.'
'He won't care about that.'
'But he may perhaps think that a little patience will do us good.
You will have to soften him.' Then Silverbridge told all he knew about himself. He was to be married in May; was to go to Matching for a week or two after his wedding, was then to see the Session to an end, and after that to travel with his wife to the United States. 'I don't suppose we shall be allowed to run about the world together so soon as that,' said Tregear, 'but I am too well satisfied with my day's work to complain.'
'Did he say what he meant to give her?'
'Oh dear no;--nor even that he meant to give her anything. I should not dream of asking a question about it. Nor when he makes any proposition shall I think of having any opinion of my own.'
'He'll make it all right;--for her sake you know.'
'My chief object as regards him, is that he should not think I have been looking for her money. Well; good-bye. I suppose we shall all meet at dinner?'
When Tregear left him Silverbridge went to his father's room. He was anxious that they should understand each other as to Mary's engagement. 'I thought you were at the House,' said the Duke.
'I was going there, but I met Tregear at the door. He tells me you have accepted him for Mary.'
'I wish that he had never seen her. Do you think that a man can be thwarted in everything and not feel it?'
'I thought--you had reconciled yourself--to Isabel.'
'If it were that alone I could do so the more easily, because personally she wins upon me. And this man too;--it is not that I find fault with himself.'
'He is in all respects a high-minded gentleman.'
'I hope so. But yet, had he a right to set his heart there, where he could make his fortune,--having none of his own?'
'He did not think of it.'
'A gentleman should do more than not think of it. He should think that it shall not be so. a man should own his means or should earn them.'
'How many, sir, do neither?'
'Yes, I know,' said the Duke. 'Such a doctrine nowadays is caviare to the general. One must live as others live around one, I suppose. I could not see her suffer. It was too much for me. When I became convinced that this was no temporary passion, no romantic love which time might banish, that she was of such a temperament that she could not change,--that I had to give way. Gerald I suppose will bring me some kitchen-maid for his wife.'
'Oh sir, you should not say that to me.'
'No;--I should not have said it to you. I beg your pardon, Silverbridge.' Then he paused a moment, turning over certain thoughts within his own bosom. 'Perhaps after all it is well that a pride of which I am conscious should be rebuked. And it may be that the rebuke has come in such a form that I should be thankful.
I know that I can love Isabel.'
'That to me will be everything.'
