He sounded amused. “What made you think I was hanging out for a rich wife, my love?”
“Oh, no! But your mother—your sister——”
“Will adore you! I am more afraid of what your grandfather may say to my pretensions. My fortune I should rather call an independence; and I have no expectations worth the name. Tell me when it will be most convenient for me to visit Sir Peter!”
But at that she drew herself out of his arm, trouble in her face. “No, you must not! Please, John, don’t try to see him!”
“But, my darling———!”
“Yes, yes, I know what you would say, and indeed I want more than anything that you and he should be acquainted! But I dare not present you to him yet! You see, he insisted on sending for Coate last night, and we are in the greatest anxiety! He seemed not to be disturbed, but Winkfield—his valet—could not be easy about him. He knows him so well, you understand: better than anyone, I think! He thought him too quiet. He has told me since that had Grandpapa but flown into one of his old rages he would not have felt so apprehensive—though Dr. Bacup has warned us never to provoke him! He did not go to bed, and he thinks Grandpapa scarcely closed his eyes all night. He desired Joseph to ride over to Dr. Bacup’s as soon as it was light, but before the doctor could reach Kellands my grandfather had sent for my cousin to go to him. Winkfield dared not oppose him: he will never tolerate opposition! We don’t know what he said to Henry—or what Henry may have said to him, but he scarcely spoke to Winkfield or to me afterwards, and he looked so old and so white that we were cast into alarm. He is laid down upon his bed now, for Dr. Bacup gave him some drops of laudanum, which sent him to sleep. The doctor has charged us most straitly not to vex or to agitate him, but to keep him as quiet as we may, and above all not to permit him to tease himself with worry. We mean to tell him, if he should ask, that Coate has gone away, though Winkfield doubts he will not believe us. Dr. Bacup considers he may well rally—he is so strong, you know!—and if he does so, then I will tell him that my absurd gatekeeper is so foolish as to wish to marry me, and ask him if you may come to visit him. You must not try to see him yet!” She saw that he was looking grave, and laid her hand shyly on his knee. “Please, John——I”
He took her hand at once, and held it comfortingly. “You must know that I should do nothing to injure your grandfather, Nell. I was only wondering——But you are the judge! My poor girl! I wish I could help you!”
She smiled at him. “Oh, if you knew the happiness of knowing you are close, and would come to me, if I called to you! I must go now: I left Rose to watch by my grandfather while Winkfield rests.”
He made no effort to detain her, but got up, saying: “You have your horse?”
“Tethered outside—was not that indiscreet of me? What a ramshackle wife you have chosen, Captain Staple! Good gracious, how comes my hat to be lying on the ground?”