第120章

There was a terrible rebuke in this; but still, as he had called it down upon himself, he would not resent it, even in his heart.

'Thank you,' he said, rising from his chair. 'Perhaps you will see her again this afternoon.' Of course she assented, and as the interview had taken place in his rooms she took her leave.

This which Mrs Finn had said to him was all to the same effect as that which had come from Lady Cantrip; only it was said with a higher spirit. Both the women saw the matter in the same light.

There must be a fight between him and his girl; but she, if she could hold out for a certain time, would be the conqueror. He might take her away and try what absence would do, or he might have recourse to that specific which had answered so well in reference to his own wife; but if she continued to sorrow during absence, and if she would have nothing to do with the other lever,--then he must at last give way! He had declared that he was willing to sacrifice himself,--meaning thereby that if a lengthened visit to the cities of China, or a prolonged sojourn in the Western States of America would wean her from her love, he would go to China or to the Western States. At present his self-banishment had been carried no farther than Vienna. During their travels hitherto Tregear's name had not once been mentioned. The Duke had come away from home resolved not to mention it,--and she was minded to keep it in reserve till some seeming catastrophe should justify a declaration of her purpose. But from first to last she had been sad, and latterly she had been ill. When asked as to her complaint she would simply say that she was not happy.

To go on with this through the Chinese cities could hardly be good for either of them. She could not wake herself to any enthusiasm in regard to scenery, costume, pictures, or even discomforts.

Wherever she was taken it was barren to her.

As their plans stood at present they were to return to England so as to enable her to be at Custins by the middle of October. Had he taught himself to hope that any good could be done by prolonged travelling he would readily have thrown over Custins and Lord Popplecourt. He could not bring himself to trust much to the Popplecourt scheme. But the same contrivance had answered on that former occasion. When he spoke to her about their plans, she expressed herself quite ready to go back to England. When he suggested those Chinese cities, her face became very long and she was immediately attacked by paroxysms of headaches.

'I think I should take her to some place on the seashores of England,' said Mrs Finn.

'Custins is close to the sea,' he replied. 'It is Lord Cantrip's place in Dorsetshire. It was partly settled that she was to go there.'

'I suppose she likes Lady Cantrip.'

'Why should she not?'

'She has not said a word to me to the contrary. I only fear that she would feel that she was being sent there,--as to a convent.'

'What ought I to do then?'

'How can I venture to answer that? What she would like best, I think, would be to return to Matching with you, and settle down in a quiet way for the winter.' The Duke shook his head. That would be worse than travelling. She would still have headaches and still tell him that she was unhappy. 'Of course I do not know what your plans are, and pray believe me that I should not obtrude my advice if you did not ask me.'

'I know it,' he said. 'I know how good you are and how reasonable.

I know how much you have to forgive.'

'Oh no.'

'And if I have not said so as I should have done it has not been from want of feeling. I do believe you did what you thought best when Mary told you that story at Matching.'

'Why should your Grace go back to that?'

'Only that I may acknowledge my indebtedness to you, and say to you somewhat fuller than I could do in my letter that I am sorry for the pain which I gave you.'

'All that is over now;--and shall be forgiven.'

Then he spoke of his immediate plans. He would at once go back to England by slow stages,--by very slow stages,--staying a day or two at Salzburg, at Ratisbon, at Nuremberg, at Frankfurt, and so on.

In this way he would reach England about the tenth of October, and Mary would then be ready to go to Custins by the time appointed.

In a day or two Lady Mary was better. 'It is terrible while it lasts,' she said, speaking to Mrs Finn of her headache, 'but when it has gone then I am quite well. Only'--she added after a pause,--'only I can never be happy again while papa thinks as he does now.'

Then there was a party made up before they separated for an excursion to the Hintersee and the Obersee. On this occasion Lady Mary seemed to enjoy herself, as she liked the companionship of Mrs Finn. Against Lady Cantrip she never said a word. But Lady Cantrip was always a duenna to her, whereas Mrs Finn was a friend.

While the Duke and Phineas were discussing politics together, thoroughly enjoying the weakness of Lord Drummond and the iniquity of Sir Timothy, which they did with augmented vehemence from their ponies' backs, the two women in lower voices talked over their own affairs. 'I dare say you will be happy at Custins,' said Mrs Finn.

'No; I shall not. There will be people there whom I don't know, and I don't want to know. Have you heard anything about him, Mrs Finn?'

Mrs Finn turned round and looked at her,--for a moment almost angrily. Then her heart relented, 'Do you mean--Mr Tregear?'

'Yes, Mr Tregear.'

'I think I heard that he was shooting with Lord Silverbridge.'

'I am glad of that,' said Mary.

'It will be pleasant for both of them.'

'I am very glad they should be together. While I know that, I feel that we are not altogether separated. I will never give it up, Mrs Finn,--never, never. It is not use taking me to China.' In that Mrs Finn quite agreed with her.