Evan Harrington -- Volume 7

But to the Countess de Saldar, it was simply an occasion for reflecting that she had misunderstood-and could most sincerely forgive-Providence. She admitted to herself that it was not entirely

ovidence consented to serve her. She swallowed it with her wonted courage. In half an hour subsequent to her arrival at Lymport, she laid siege to the heart of Old Tom Cogglesby, whom she found installed in the parlour, comfortably sipping at a t

k, ma'am?' a

the Countess, with a

't suit me as wel

mulation,' she returned, gracious

our chuckle on his cheeks. Now and then, during the evening, he rubbed his hands sharply, but spoke little. The un

ed with affairs of business-I ca

!' Old Tom exclaime

of fortune, and that Evan desired her to continue so for the present. Caroline appeared to b

ove of concealment-h

kind. Harriet and Caroline went next. The Countess said she would wait up for Evan, but hearing that his hours of return were about the chimes of matins, she cried exultingly: 'Darling Papa all over!' and departed likewise. Mrs. Mel, when she had mixed Old Tom's third glass, wished the brothers good night, and they were left to exchange what

s at the early brea

me yet?' was the Coun

l repli

here he has go

ses his

it leads somewhere?

ds to knocking up t

night! But don't you see, dear old pet! h

lesson to read to the guests of her son, 'Ready money doesn't come by joking. What will th

u mean,' said Old Tom, co

tily she kissed, by pouting out her playful lips to her parent. 'Do be economical always! And min

ce of intelligenc

Andrew, 'you keep good

a! 'fraid he won't be so early when

that have put their noses to a hot coal, and the Countess, who was less insensible to the aristocracy of the d

s subjected to the hottest embrace he had

gnominy I see you compelled for a moment to endure. But it is but for a

as glad to give us a wel

d laughed. The Cou

turning to her mother, added: 'And yet I doubt not you think the smallest of our

up a horse a week, and never go to his natural bed,' said Mrs.

tainly not!' sa

have to complain any more,' said Evan, touching h

ngly. Such powers of acting she

out of Glamorganshire-were we Tudors, according to Papa? or only Pow

good ale, though!'

its fitness, till Evan burst i

ashamed of the Brewer

gle

uisa was justified in not permitting herself and family to be classed too low. At this Andrew, coming from a private interview with Evan, threw up his hands and eyes as one who foretold astonishment but counselled humility. What with the effort of those who knew a little to imply a great

the parlour to assist at

opened the door, and a

Joc

there. But when his eyes discerned Rose behind them, the passions of his lower nat

use for this visit. Of course, it was to beg time! Bu

All this while Rose sat talking to Mrs. Andrew Cogglesby, Mrs. Strike, and Evan's mother. She saw by his face the offe

of the suggestion, Old Tom had j

drawing room, upstairs, young l

om her hand, and awaited a movement from Evan. It was too late to object to it on either side. Old Tom had caught the

e?' she began, looki

ose,' he answered, wi

uch to wound you. We came to thank you for your generosity. Do you refuse to accept

osed. 'You see me here.

e, you would ask? That is what you cannot forgive! I se

y you,

hat you lov

d, and his love cried out: 'I said "till

you loved something better than me? And now you think me false! Which of us two has been false? It 's silly to

r lovely humility he saw the baseness of that

I was born and am to live, can you r

quivere

else but regret it

ble for him to k

gagement you cannot fulfil. Break it and belong to me. It sounds ill for me to say that in such a place. But Rose, I will leave it. I will accept any assistance that your father-th

change in him, that was hurrying her she knew not

ht me what love can be. Y

No. I do not love him;

ledge. Can

ion choked him, just as

the world wi

so. Why did she trust me to be with you here, but that she thinks me engaged to him, and has such fait

ely to a sacrifice, the horrors of which they insist that she ought to know: half-hating her for her calmness-adoring her for her innocenc

ured, 'F

r hope for now? And yet a light of hunger grew in her eyes

nd once,' s

took, and she with closed eyes l

n by the opening of t

d Lady Jocel

dy?' cried Old Tom. However satisfactorily they mig

eased. Old Tom was chuckling at her elbo

le to settle a thing, this is how

do it well!'

ot in effrontery, but earnestly, and as the only way of escaping from the

hat, now?' Ol

van. He bent and

said Lady Jocelyn. 'Do you still hol

ung fellow, and she's a jolly little

dering that fact, you will oblige

ther the tailor's a gentl

ve to see whether a cert

ed her of her brother's last fine performance. Afte

assure you he was sincere; and even

ccepted, Count

est

to increase the effect of his generosit

Countess, directing a st

e to ask what

very poor one, Countess! He h

ld not have played goose to them, you may be sure. She believed that Evan had been wheedl

ich she had vast difficulty in masking, she said

ady Jocelyn, in pity for the poor lady, who always a

n about a week,' she said. 'May I expe

dignity to be far supe

t I enjoy the gratifica

must know that I am

e twice pulled down t

clamation that he was not such a fool as he seemed: all passed dream-like, and when he was left to the fury of the Countess, he did not ask her to spare him, nor did he defend himself. She bade adieu to him and their mutual relationship that ver

he women such fools! a

hort interview with him (before she took her departure to join her husband, u