Chapter Twelve.
Wherein Sundry People act Foolishly.
“Why for the dead, who are at rest?
Pray for the living, in whose breast
The struggle between right and wrong
Is raging terrible and strong.”
Longfellow.
Amphillis Neville was a most unsuspicious person. It never occurred to her to expect any one to do what, in his place, she would not have done; and all that she would have done was so simple and straightforward, that scheming of every sort was an impossible idea, until suggested by some one else. She was consequently much surprised when Perrote said one evening—
“Phyllis, I could find in mine heart to wish thy cousin had tarried hence.”
The discovery of Ricarda’s deception was the only solution of this remark which presented itself to Amphillis, but her natural caution stood her in good stead, and she merely inquired her companion’s meaning.
“Hast not seen that she laboureth to catch Master Hylton into her net?”
Thoughts, which were not all pleasant, chased one another through the mind of Amphillis. If Ricarda were trying to win Norman Hylton, would she be so base as to leave him under the delusion that she was a Neville, possibly of the noble stock of the Lords of Raby? Mr Hylton’s friends, if not himself, would regard with unutterable scorn the idea of marriage with a confectioner’s daughter. He would be held to have demeaned himself to the verge of social extinction. And somehow, somewhere, and for some reason—Amphillis pushed the question no further than this—the thought of assisting, by her silence, in the ruin of Norman Hylton, seemed much harder to bear than the prospect of being hated by Ricarda Altham, even though it were for ever and ever. When these meditations had burned within her for a few seconds, Amphillis spoke.
“Mistress Perrote, wit you how my cousin came hither?”
“Why, by reason my Lady Foljambe sent to thine uncle, to ask at him if thou hadst any kin of the father’s side, young maids of good birth and breeding, and of discreet conditions, that he should be willing to put forth hither with thee.”