Evan Harrington -- Volume 5

slopes to the margin of the stream. Here the bull-dogs held revel. The hollow between the slopes was crowned by a bending birch, which rose three-stemmed from the root, and hung a noiseless g

ssus, but Parnassus was broader and altogether better adapted for the games of the Muses. Round the edges of both there was a well-trimmed bush of laurel, obscuring only the feet of the dancers from the observi

ingly; slightly in a foreign style, the bodice being peaked at the waist, as was then the Portuguese persuasion. The neck, too, was deliciously veiled with fine lace-and thoroughly veiled, for it was a feature the Countess did not care to expose to the vulgar daylight. Off her gentle shoulders, as it were some fringe of cloud blown by the breeze this sweet lady opened her bosom to, curled a lovely black lace scarf: not Caroline's. If she laughed, the tinge of mourning lent her laughter new charms. If she sighed, the exuberant array of her apparel bade the spectator be of good cheer. Was she witty, men surrendered reason and adored her. Only when she entered the majestic mood, and assumed the languors of greatness, and recited musky anecdotes of her intimacy with it, only then did mankind, as represented at Beckley Court, open an internal eye and reflect that it was wonderful in a tailor's daughter. And she felt that mankind did so reflect. Her instincts did not deceive her. She knew not how mu

o Evan and Rose. She could see the first couple walking under an avenue of limes, and near them that young

tess. 'It is my constant marvel where my broth

d the diplomatist. 'Do

for another bottle last

d. Up got this Mr. Raik

igently interjected in a

Joc

s nominee,

aw's brother, you see, is most eccentric. We can manage him best through this Mr. Raikes, for a

pursed, and he

seems like a monkey j

out the tail,' a

ness in the mind of Mr. Raikes, he, though he worshipped a coronet and would gladly have recalled the feudal times to a corrupt land, could not help thinking that his bow had beaten the Duke's and was better. He would rather not have thought so, for it upset his preconceptions and threatened a revolution in his ideas. For this reason he followed the Duke, and tried, if possible, to correct, or at least chasten the impressions he had of possessing a glaring advantage over the nobleman. The Duke's second notice of him was hardly a nod. 'Well!' Mr. Raikes reflected, 'if this is your Duke, why, egad! for figure and style my fr

, when Lady Jocelyn mounted it, quite unconscious that she was scaling

ne here, Lady Jocelyn: to look at everybody

,' replied her ladyship, panting. 'By the way, C

d, I d

r is a woman who doesn't dance: and her male at

and Sir John, who both protested that it

, with Laxley morall

ried the Countess, musically.

p,' rejoined Rose. 'I suppose

the pic-nic play, I bel

Countess?' Rose inquired, for t

e bit of her mournful draperies, adding: 'Besides, you, dear child, know your company,

ophic spectator of what was to her a horrible assumption and hypocrisy. For the sake of him she loved, she had swallowed a nauseous cup bravely. The Countess was too much for her. She felt sick to think of being allied to this person. She had a shuddering d

came trippi

'douairiere or demoisel

p distinction, or Ol

n the mass. I see ten girls in a bunch. It's shocking. Ferdinand, pray disperse you

is species unless some one quickly relieves him. He's already half eat

wed, and murmur

ismi

Jocelyn, may not compete wit

d Sir John for the ladies in question w

prang from Farmer Conley, a well-to-do son of the soil, who farmed about a couple of thou

indeed be pernicious for any youth to associate wi

She thought 'Those girls would

calm contemplation of the lady was more distressing than if she had expressed th

her fingers to the occupants of Olympus, and fixing her fancy on the diverse thoughts of the ladies and gent

Caroline cleverly contrive this, as she might, without any compromise, and the stay at Beckley Court would be a great gain. Yes, Caroline was still with the Duke; they were talking earnestly. The Countess breathed a short appeal to Providence that Caroline might not prove a fool. Overnight she had said to Caroline: 'Do not be so English. Can one not enjoy friendship with a nobleman wit

Caroline, who, acceptin

I cannot live a life of decei

ss gave her advice, and this advice she now implored h

beheld little Dorothy Loring glancing up at

y do make the room so hot! My Jane declared she almost fainted, but I burnt them out! Then I only had very little left for a horse to mount my doll on; and I wasn't going to get a screw, so I went to Papa, and he gave me five shillings. And, oh, do you know, Rose can't bear me to be with you. Jealousy, I suppose, for you'r

ieved the Countess of Dor

ss's blood turned deadly chill. Had it been her father she would not have feared, but her mother was so vilely plain

Countess grasped at straws. Did Dorothy hear that? And if Harry and Juliana spo

wley?' she exclaimed, plunging to what

s to be a day of battle. Where was Harry? Still in the midst of the Conley t

t into a fit of laughter at some fun of one of the Conley girls. The Countess passed on, and met Juliana pacing by herself near the lower gates of the park. She wished only to

d the Countess. 'Has he told you

eplied

look well, s

g that you did

alas! All our visitors have b

come a

ty to the beautiful dame, which novel idea stung Harry with delight, and he held out to indulge in it a little longer. His back was half turned, and as he talked noisily, he could not observe the serene and resolute march of the Countess toward him. The yout

compromise m

ere spoken out of the he

you!' mutt

ntrived to speak angrily and as an injured woman,

elyn, you are not the jackanapes you try to

tendency was the reverse: and he objected to the application of the word jackanapes to himself, and was rea

kindness to me

asked

o, I am innocent; it is my consolation; I have resisted you, but you by this cowardly behaviour place me-and my repu

s totally n

sing you,' he said. 'Upon my hono

ing whipped. The art of it is evident-you are but carrying on the game.-Listen. If you permit yourself to exhibit an unkindness to me, you show to any man who

of a man and a gentleman to behave in that way.-And yet it

am your humble slave. I come to you and sue for peace. To sa

ully, miraculously, clever to be able to twist and spin about such a woman as this in that way. He did not object to conceive tha

aid: 'Now, didn

if yesterday, persecuted as I am, with dreadful falsehoods abroad respecting me and mine, if

stible encompassed him. It was a fatal mistake of Juliana's to enlist Harry Jocelyn against the Countess de Saldar. He engaged, still without any direct allusion

er she was alon

he forcible phrase she could use when necessary. 'Don't

er reasons for desiring

dashed at h

make us blush publicly. Publicly blush! They have written to Mama to come and speak out. N

at Rose would do such a

endure more than has

matter of her own to ponder over. A swift

support to us. May I deem you have not been too cruel to-day? You dear silly English creature, "Duck," I used to

g. Yet they understood one another perfectly. Women have a subtler language than

ath was in her heart. She did not le

ross the sun to Mr. Raikes, who had taken refreshment, and in obedience to his insti

said, drawing him asi

the exuberant flow!' r

s get the better of me,'

animal spirits to my se

'os frontis' to the chine!'

ss made a

icle is in

park palings. They are there, even Franko and Fred. I 'm afraid I promised to get them in at a later period of

'you are amusing; but in addressing me, you must be preci

ly. 'Oh, that I m

lunacy would prevent my taking offence, th

xclamations, Raikes a

to me,' said the

to about the prospects of the poor infant. I leave that to your inventive genius. Evan wishes her here. Bring her, and should you see the mad captain who behaves so

communication with his friends Franko and Fred. One t

easure. But if her mother came as well, what a diversion that would be! If her mother came before the Captain, his arrival would cover the retreat; if the Capt

ns sharpened her instincts, which produced her actions. The reflections ensued: as in nature, the co

arked: her messenger might have been overhauled and, lastly, Mrs. Mel-'Gorgon of a mother!' the Countess cried out: for Mrs. Mel was like a Fate to her. She could

de her. My prayers will infuriate her!' said the Countess, an

nts, looking from time to time at that apprehensive lady, doating on her terrors. And Mr. George seconded her by his clouded face, for he was ashamed not to show that he did not know Louisa Harrington in the Countess de Saldar, and had not the courage to declare that he did. The Countess spoke familiarly, but without any hint of an ancient acquaintance between them. 'What a post her husband's got!' thought Mr. Geo

ed, 'cela se voit',

How could such a pers

or

s may have done it purposely: by conquering she establishes a principle. A Duke adores her sister, the daughter of the house her brother, and for herself she has many protestations in honour of her charms: nor are they empty ones. She can confound Mrs

ntil we reflect the face of dinner. To this, then, all who were not lovers began seriously to look forward, and the advance of an excellent county band, specially hire

Andrew. The first object he encountered was John Raikes

he beast gave a spring and came slap on my chest, with his dirty wet muzzle on my neck! I felt instantly it was the death of my frill, but gallant as you know me, I still asked for the lady. "If you will please, or an it meet your favour, to extend your hand to me!" I confess I did think it rather odd, the idea of a lady coming in that way over the palings! but my curst love of adventure always blinds me. It always misleads my better sense, Harrington. Well, instead of a lady, I see a fellow-he may have been a lineal descendant of Ce

ts shrewdness,' remarke

men will approve you: but I assure you they much prefer the man of wit in his slouched hat and stockings down. I was intr

gglesby fell into

. Raikes, turning to hi

likeness! Good

ere on the skirts of the company, the band struck up a lively tune, and quite unconsciously, the legs of Raikes, affected, it may be, by supernatural reminiscences, loosely horn

nst this poor fellow?'

e concentrated on Raikes, and it was observed as a singular sign that he was constantly facing about, and flushing the fiercest red. Once he made an effort to get hold of Evan's arm and drag him away, as one who had an urgent confession to be delivered of, but Evan was talking to Lady

self seated between Mrs. Evremonde and one of the Conley girls. The dinner had commenced. The first half of the Battl