It was upon their return from this expedition, and while Kitty was still describing to Meg some of the tilings she had seen, that Mr. Jack Westruther paid a formal call in Berkeley Square, and brought with him the Chevalier d’Evron.
Any apprehensions engendered by Freddy’s gloomy forebodings were put to flight on the instant. The Chevalier was a handsome young man, with a lively, intelligent pair of eyes, beautifully glossy locks of a light brown, cut and curled d la cherubim, and an air and deportment worthy of the first circles. His long-tailed coat of bottle-green had obviously been fashioned for him by a master; his fawn pantaloons admirably became a pair of really excellent legs; his linen was meticulously starched; and his Hessian boots would have furnished anyone with a very tolerable mirror. If Mr. Westruther, a careless beau, thought those cherubim ringlets a trifle effeminate; and Mr. Standen, a high stickler, considered the Chevalier’s waistcoat to be rather too florid, these were faults of style which the ladies were easily able to overlook. The Chevalier’s bow almost put Freddy’s to shame; air and address were alike distinguished; and when, to the advantages of a handsome face and a good figure, he was found to add a very slight foreign accent to his speech his success with the fair sex was assured.
Kitty, who had been staring at him while he bowed over Meg’s hand, exclaimed suddenly: “But—You are Camille!”
He turned towards her, smiling. “But yes! I am Camille, little cousin! I did not dare to think that I could hold a place in your memory. Tell me, I beg of you!—did she long survive my surgery, that blonde beauty? Alas, that I should have forgotten her name!”
She laughed, warmly shaking hands with him. “Rosabel —and indeed she survived for many years! I am so happy to see you again! I hope my uncle, and your brother, are both well.’”
“I thank you, very well. And your amiable guardian?”
“Yes, indeed. Are you—upon a visit to England? Where do you stay?”
He told her that he was lodging in Duke Street, which, however little it might convey to country-bred Kitty, served to convince Meg that his domicile was as unimpeachable as his manners. Very well-pleased to add so personable a young man to her circle, she extended to him an invitation to a ;,rnall rout-party she was holding three days later. He accepted with just the right degree of gratitude, and took his leave, after a visit lasting for a correct half-hour, in an atmosphere of general approval, even Freddy acknowledging that he seemed to be a tolerable fellow. It had transpired, during the course of conversation, that he, like Lady liuckhaven and the engaged couple, meant to be present at the Non-Pareil Theatre that evening, to see a new play which was being put on there; he begged to be allowed to visit her ladyship’s box during the interval, was accorded a gracious permission, and bowed himself out in a manner which led Meg to say that only a man accustomed to move in the world of ton could get himself out of a room with such ease and grace.
Kitty was so much delighted to have met again one of whom she cherished the kindest memories that her transports might have been expected to have cast her betrothed into agonies of jealousy. Mr. Standen managed without effort to preserve his equanimity, a fact of which his cousin’s .irnused eyes took due note.
“Seems a good enough sort of a fellow,” Freddy said cautiously. “Mind, I didn’t like his waistcoat, but, then, I Jon’t like yours either, coz, so I daresay it don’t signify. Where did you meet him? I haven’t seen him before.”