Ernest Maltravers, Book 8

rd has much tha

."-CRABBE: /Tal

did he cast up the various sums which, invested in various speculations, swelled his income

all. Deer are very gentlemanlike things, very. De Clifford's place is to be sold, I know; they ask too much for it, but ready money is tempting. I can bargain-bargain, I am a good hand at a bargain. Should I be now Lord Baron Vargrave, if I had always

ce of the new peeress appeared. "I

t to talk to you-I want to talk

rgrave

will make a great change in our mode of life, Mrs. Temple-I mean Lady Vargrave. This villa is all very well-my country house is not amiss for a country gentleman-but now we must support our rank.

did to me," said Lad

ally ladylike, though I say it-you have good taste, you don't talk much, you don't show your ignorance-quite right. You must be presented at court, Lady Vargrave-we m

Mr. Tem

, if your lady

lord-I am not fit to share them: it is only in our quiet life that I

ehind a counter? rank is a glove that stretches to the hand that wears it. And the child, dear child,-dea

d Lady Vargrave, and the

rave was

ved more from a child

e my duty," said Lady Va

e, tapping at the window, "come and p

glowing with health and mirth-her light hair tossed

ourself-you have not quite recovered that horri

" and, nodding and laughing from very glee, away scamp

my nephew-of Lumley

at is amiable, f

f as my heir-I owe something to him, beyond the poor estate which goes with, but never can adequately support, /my/ title. Family honours, hereditary rank, must be properly regarded. But

ident surprise, "if I understand y

y when they marry; I was between fifty and sixty when I married you, Lady Vargrave. I don't like boy and girl marriages: a man should be older than his wife. But you are so romantic, Lady Vargrave. Besides, Lumley is so gay and good-lo

ak so-my friend

ll-feel younger than ever I did-but still life is uncertain; and if you

hings over her destiny; but so young-so soft-he

e Lumley. I have another reason-a cogent one-our secret!-to him it can be confided-it should not go o

h her-he played with her-that stiff, stately man!-he laughed louder than she did, and ran almost as fast. And when she was fatigued and breathless, he made her sit down beside him, in a

ed, so kind: he has given me such

le wife-you would like

is a wife, and she is

t is a fine thing to be a wife and have a carriage of your own, and a fine house, and

should lik

a protector, child,

into that childish heart. Evelyn lifted her eyes, gazed at him ea

his own eyes, and co

fe, his honoured wife, heiress

all that pa

ely. "Think over what I have said. Now let us join mamma. But, as I live, here is Lumley himself.