“But—” There was so much expressed in that “but” that Adeline began to answer one of the sentiments she supposed it to convey. “He can do it easily—for all the rest are provided for by the Marble Works—except the two eldest brothers. Richard has gone away, and Alexis—oh, you know he has notions of his own that Mr. White does not like.”
“Does Mr. White know all about Lord Roger, or why the Duke should cut him off as far as possible?”
“My dear Jane, it is not charitable to bring things up against young men’s follies.”
“It is a pretty considerable folly to have done what compelled him to retire. Reginald was called in at the inquiry, and knows all about it.”
“But that was ages ago, and he has been quite distinguished in the Turkish army.”
“Yes; and I also know that English gentlemen have associated with him as little as possible. I should call it a fatal thing to let Maura marry him. What does Captain Henderson say?”
“Mr. White thinks that it is all jealousy. And really, Jenny, I do not in the least believe that he will make her unhappy. He is old enough to have quite outgrown all his wild ways, and he has quite gentlemanly manners and ways. Besides, Maura likes him, and is quite bent upon it.”
Still there was a dissatisfied look on Jane’s face, and Adeline went on answering it, with tears in her eyes. “My dear Jane, I know what you would say, and what Reginald and all the rest feel, that it is not what we should like! But, my dear, don’t let the whole family rise up in arms! It would be of no use, only make it painful for me. Maura is quite bent upon it, and she has arrived at turning her uncle round her finger so much that I am sometimes hardly mistress of the house! Oh, I don’t tell any one, not Lily nor any one, but it will really be a relief to me when she is gone, with her Greek coaxing ways. Her uncle is wrapped up in her, and so proud of her being a Duchess that he would condone anything. Indeed, I am always afraid of her putting it into his head to suppose that her disappointment about Ivinghoe was in any way owing to my family pride.”
Jane was sorry for Adeline, and able to perceive how the wifely feelings, which she had taken on herself, by choosing a man of inferior breeding and nature clashed with her hereditary character and principles.
“You are absolutely relieved that the Beechcroft wedding takes all of us out of the way naturally and without offence,” she said so kindly that Ada laid her head on her sisterly shoulder, and allowed herself to shed a few tears.