“Right! right! A thousand times right!” exclaimed the debauchee, his pride getting the ascendency.
“For the present, then,” continued the quadroon, “you, a married man, must hardly look on her. Consent to this, and I’ll take the whole trouble of the affair off your hands. I’ll bring the girl here, and so mould her that she will be prepared to be your lawful wife as soon as decency may permit.”
Ratcliff rose from the table, and paced the floor. Under Josephine’s way of presenting the subject, what had seemed rather an embarrassing job began to assume a new and attractive aspect. How well-judged the whole arrangement! The idea of elevating Clara to the exalted position of successor to the present Mrs. Ratcliff was fast becoming more and more inviting to his contemplation. Wealth in a wife would be of no account. He would have enough of his own. Family rank was desirable; but did not the girl give every sign of high blood? It would not be surprising if, in fact, she were of a stock almost equal to his own in gentility. Besides, would not he, a Ratcliff, carry, lodged in his own person, sufficient dignity of pedigree to cover the genealogical shortcomings of a wife?
The fact that Onslow and Kenrick admired her did much to enhance the girl’s value in his eyes; and he could readily see how it would be for Madame Volney’s interests, since she knew he meant to marry again, to have the training, to a certain extent, of his future wife, and put her under a seeming obligation. And so the quadroon’s protestations that she had conquered all jealousy on the subject seemed to him the most natural thing in the world.
“Well, Josy,” said he, after a silence of some minutes, “I accept your condition; I give the promise you demand.”
“Honor bright?”
“Yes; you’ll have me close under your eyes. I commit the girl entirely to your keeping. I will myself go at once and see Esha, and send her to you here. I’ll also see Tremaine, and shut up his mouth with a plug that will be effectual. The fellow owes me money. Then you can take Esha in the carriage, and go and put your plan in execution.”
“Good! You’ve decided wisely, Carberry. Shall I order the carriage for you?”
“Yes. I’ll send it back to you with Esha, and then myself go on foot to the St. Charles to see Tremaine.”
Ratcliff passed out of the breakfast-room, and the quadroon went to the hat-closet in the hall, and removed the straw hat with a black ribbon on it, leaving the one distinguished by a green band. She then rang and ordered the carriage.