V. HOW CAPTAIN DANVERS WAS THROWN OVER BY BOTH LADIES.
Mrs. Calverley was in the drawing-room occupied with a novel; and feeling easy, as far as she was concerned, the two young gentlemen went out in quest of the girls, and soon found them.
At a sign from Captain Danvers, Emmeline came and sat down beside him on a lawn-chair, while Chetwynd and his sister walked on.
“Now, Charles, what have you got to say to me?” she inquired.
“I want to talk to you about Mildred.”
“Well, I am prepared to listen. It would be quite superfluous to tell me you are in love with her, for I know that very well. Indeed, if I am not mistaken, you were interrupted in making a proposal this very morning!”
“I own the soft impeachment. But the interruption seems to have been fortunate, for I should have got into a serious scrape if the proposal had been actually made.”
“How so?” she exclaimed in astonishment.
“Mrs. Calverley holds her step-daughter's destiny—that is, her fortune—in her own hands; and has since given me clearly to understand that, in my case, Mildred would be portionless.”
“And pray what else could you expect? You have been flirting so outrageously with Mrs. Calverley herself, that you have caused her to regard her stepdaughter as a rival. Were it not that Mildred may suffer from your conduct, I should say you were very properly punished. I declare I thought you had proposed to Mrs. Calverley!”
“Not quite!” he replied, laughing.
“Then you have misled her. No wonder she is angry when she finds you so inconstant.”
“Will you do me a good turn, dearest Emmeline?”
“I can't promise. I feel greatly displeased with you myself.”
“I'm sorry for that. But perhaps the mistake can be remedied.”
“How can it be done? No! You have lost Mildred, and must put up with Mrs. Calverley!”
This suggestion threw the captain into a fit of despair.
“She is very handsome,” pursued Emmeline, “very rich, and has got this fine house, with all the furniture, plate, pictures, horses and carriages. You won't be so badly off.”
“I would rather have Mildred with her portion,” sighed the captain.
“But you must take her without a portion you see. How will you like that?”
“It is not to be thought of! Give me some advice.”
“My advice to you is to retire from the field altogether.”
“You are laughing at me; that is cruel, under the circumstances.”
“It is the best thing you can do.”
“But I mean to stay, and hope to gain my point.”
“Mildred's hand?”
“Yes, and the portion.”
“You must cease to pay attentions to Mrs. Calverley.”
“I have done so, and you see the result. I think I had better resume them.”
“That would be most improper, and I cannot countenance such a proceeding. One or the other it must be—not both.”
“But I must keep Mrs. Calverley in good humour, or there will be a quarrel; and that must be avoided.”
“You are incorrigible,” laughed Emmeline. “The sooner you go, the better!”
“I have just told you I don't mean to go! Ah! here comes Mrs. Calverley! Pray don't desert me!”
“Expect no assistance from me, deluder!”
As Mrs. Calverley came up, they rose to receive her.
“I am sorry to disturb you!” she said. “You seemed engaged in a very interesting discourse.”
“We were talking about you,” replied Emmeline.
“About me?” cried Mrs. Calverley, in affected surprise.
“Yes; but I can't tell you what we were saying. It mightn't be agreeable to you.”
“I will take my chance of that.”
“Well, then, I was just saying to Captain Danvers that if I had such a charming place as you possess, and such a good income, I would never marry again.”
“I have no idea of marrying again,” observed Mrs. Calverley, carelessly. “I may sometimes listen to the nonsense talked to me,” she added, glancing at Captain Danvers, “but I rate it at what it is worth. I prefer being my own mistress. If I wanted companionship, I might think differently; but as things stand at present, I shall certainly adhere to my resolution.”
“Such resolutions are never kept,” said Captain Danvers. “Your sex are allowed to change their mind as often as they please.”
“At all events, I shall wait till Mildred is married,” she rejoined.
“Then I don't think you will have to wait long,” remarked Captain Danvers.
“You are mistaken,” rejoined Mrs. Calverley. “Mildred, I feel sure, will not marry immediately.” This was said with so much significance that both her hearers were struck by it; and Emmeline gave her cousin a slight pinch, as much as to say:
“There, sir, you see what you have done.”
At this instant Chetwynd and Mildred returned from the further end of the garden, and joined the party on the lawn.
Captain Danvers thought Mildred's manner colder to him than it had been before, but he soon received an explanation of the change from Chetwynd, who took him aside and said:
“I have had some conversation about you with my sister, and have ascertained her sentiments. It will be useless to propose to her. You will be refused.”
“Is this quite certain, my dear Chetwynd?”
“Quite certain. Whether she is acting by Mrs. Calverley's advice, I can't say; but she has made up her mind to refuse you.”
The captain was confounded.
Apparently he had lost his chance with both ladies.