II
It was the candidly expressed opinion of the Vicar’s children that Mama must have had a great work to prevail upon Papa to consent to Arabella’s going to London. Few things were more reprehensible in his eyes than vanity and pleasure-seeking; and although he never raised any objection to Mama’s chaperoning Arabella and Sophia to the Assemblies at Harrowgate, and had even been known to comment favourably upon their gowns, he always impressed upon them that such diversions, innocent in themselves, would, if indulged in to excess, inevitably ruin the character of the most virtuous female. He had himself no taste for society, and had frequently been heard to animadvert severely on the useless and frivolous lives led by ladies of fashion. Moreover, although he was not in the least above enjoying a good joke, he had the greatest dislike of levity, could never be brought to tolerate idle chatter, and if the conversation turned upon worldly trifles would never fail to give it a more proper direction.
But Lady Bridlington’s invitation to Arabella did not take the Vicar by surprise. He knew that Mrs. Tallant had written to her old friend, and however little he approved of the chief motive behind her resolve to launch her daughter into society, certain of the arguments she employed to persuade him could not but carry weight.
“My dear Mr. Tallant,” said his lady, “do not let us dispute about the merits of an advantageous match! But even you will allow that Arabella is an uncommonly handsome girl!”
Mr. Tallant allowed it, adding reflectively that Arabella put him forcibly in mind of what her Mama was at the same age. Mrs. Tallant was not impervious to this flattery: she blushed, and looked a little roguishly, but said that he need not try to bamboozle her (an expression she had picked up from her sons).
“All I wish to point out to you, Mr. Tallant, is that Arabella is fit to move in the first circles!” she announced.
“My love,” responded the Vicar, with one of his humorous looks, “if I believed you, I should perhaps consider it my duty to show you that an ambition to move in the first circles, as you call them, could never be an ideal I could wish any of my daughters to aspire to. But as I am persuaded that you have a great many other arguments to advance, I will hold my peace, and merely beg you to continue!”
“Well,” said Mrs. Tallant seriously, “I fancy—but you must tell me if I am mistaken—that you would not regard with any degree of complaisance an alliance with the Draytons of Knaresborough!”
The Vicar was plainly startled, and directed an enquiring look at his spouse.
“Young Joseph Drayton is growing extremely particular in his attentions,” pronounced Mrs. Tallant, in a voice of doom. She observed the effect of this, and continued in the blandest way: “Of course, I am aware that he is considered to be a great catch, for he will inherit all his father’s wealth.”