VI. ROSE HARTLEY.
|Rose Hartley was just nineteen, and had all the freshness and bloom of youth.
A remarkably neat, but rather plump, figure, comely features, brilliant complexion, sparkling eyes, nut-brown hair and particularly small feet, constituted the sum total of her charms; and she had considerably more than fall to the lot of nine girls out of ten.
Rose was puzzled upon one point. She could not exactly understand how Walter had found his way to her father's house; and her mother did not care to enlighten her. However, his appearance and manner pleased her, and she felt sure she should soon learn all about him.
“Mr. Tankard.” said Mrs. Hartley, “I must get you to help us out of a difficulty.”
“With the greatest pleasure, my dear madam, if it lies in my power.”
“I needn't tell you our accommodation is very limited; and now Rose has returned, I fear——”
“I know what you are going to say,” interrupted Tankard. “You wish Mr. Liddel to have a bed at my house. I expected the request, and am, luckily, able to comply with it. He shall have a room.”
“Upon my word, Mr. Tankard, I'm very much obliged to you,” said Walter.
“Not in the least,” rejoined Tankard. “But we must have a merry meeting to-night, Mrs. Hartley. You must all come and sup with me. Mr. Higgins, Lady Thicknesse's butler, has promised to give the pleasure of his company; and, since Miss Rose has returned, I'll ask Harry Netterville, of Gray's Inn, as I'm well aware she likes the society of that amiable and agreeable young man.”
“Pray don't ask Mr. Netterville on my account, Mr Tankard!” observed Rose, with affected indifference. “I'm not particularly anxious to meet him.”
Mr. Tankard, however, knew better; and said that as soon as he got back, he would send off a note to the young gentleman in question. Mr. Netterville, he explained to Walter, belonged to the legal profession, being clerk to an eminent solicitor in Gray's Inn.
“And now, Mr. Liddel, I must take you with me,” said Tankard. “I've got some arrangements to make with you. If we don't meet before,” he added to Rose and her mother, “I shall see you all at nine this evening—that's understood.”
Rose would have preferred Walter remaining a little longer, but as he promised to come round in the course of the afternoon, she felt quite reconciled to his departure.
Mr. Tankard first took his companion to the shop of Mr. Pledger Dapp, in the York Road. Mr. Dapp, as we have said, was a pastrycook and confectioner, and the numerous good things on the counter looked very tempting at that hour.
Mr. Dapp was delighted to see them, insisted on serving each with a basin of mock-turtle soup, and stood beside them while they discussed it at a small table at the further end of the room.
“Well, is all satisfactorily settled, may I inquire, Mr. Liddel?” he said.
“Yes; all's settled, Dapp,” said Tankard, answering for his friend. “The very livery is ready!”
“Indeed!” cried Walter, looking up in surprise. “Has it appeared by magic?”
“I've not yet had time to enter into details,” rejoined Tankard; “but when I saw Higgins this morning, he told me Lady Thicknesse had left the arrangements entirely to him, so we had only to talk them over together; and it was then agreed that he should come to my house this evening, where he could have an opportunity of meeting you, and judge for himself, though he entertained no doubt, from description, that you would suit.”
“So far good,” remarked Walter. “But about the livery?”
“You shall hear,” replied the other. “It seems that Charles Brownlow, the late footman, who was as near as possible your height and figure, was discharged at a moment's notice for impertinence. His livery, no doubt, will fit you.”
“But has he worn it?” cried Walter.
“No; it has not been delivered. Higgins will order the suit to be sent to me, so that you can try it in the evening, and we can judge of the effect.”
“A capital plan,” laughed Dapp.
“A dress rehearsal, in fact,” said Walter. “Well, it may be useful.”
“No doubt you'll play your part to perfection,” said Tankard.
“I shall see how I like it myself,” rejoined Walter. “This is why you've invited the party to supper, I conclude?”
“Exactly,” replied Tankard, laughing. “You've divined my purpose. By-the-by, Dapp, you must send me a good supper to-night—a very good supper, mind!”
“For how many guests?”
“A dozen; and make one of them yourself. That'll keep you up to the mark.
“I'll give you a supper worthy of the 'Silver Tankard,'” replied Dapp. “At what hour shall it be?
“Ten o'clock precisely. Direct Larkins to send me some flowers—cut flowers; and tell him to come, too. We'll do the thing in style.”
“Nothing shall be neglected. I know how particular you are,” replied Dapp. “But won't you take one of these?” he added, placing a dish of pates before them.
Just then he was obliged to leave his friends to attend to some customers. When a couple of pates had been devoured, Tankard and his companion arose, and quitted the shop.
“Who is that tall young man?” remarked one of the customers at the counter.
“Mr. Walter Liddel,” replied Dapp.
“I don't think that's the name,” said the individual. “I've heard it before, and feel almost certain it's not Liddel.”
Dapp made no remark at the time; but he afterwards pondered a little upon the matter.
“He's a very singular fellow, that Walter Liddel,” he thought. “I expect he'll turn out a Claimant of some sort, or he may be a dook in disguise. Shouldn't wonder.”