“Why don’t you speak up and make yourself pleasant?” said the Captain, with a kind of growl, under his breath.
Lottie came to herself a little by dint of this pressure. She did not seem to know how it had come about, or what the emergency meant. “I beg your pardon,” she said, her head swimming and everything going round with her, “I am—taken very much by surprise. If I had known what was going to happen I—might have been more prepared.”
“I can understand that,” said Polly. “Hold your tongue, Captain. She is quite right. You ought to have written and told her, as I asked you. But now that you do know I hope you mean to be friendly, miss. Them that treats me well, I treats them well. I don’t wonder that you don’t like it at first,” she added graciously; “a girl no older than yourself! But he would have it, you know, and what could I do? When a man’s in that way, it’s no use talking to him. I resisted as long as I could, but I had to give in at the last.”
“By George!” said the Captain, helping the beef. He had some one to stand by him now, who he felt might be a match for Lottie; but he was still a little afraid of Lottie, and consequently eager to crow over her in the strength of his backer. “The trouble I’ve had to bring matters to this point!” he said. “But never mind, my love, it is all right now you are here. At one time I thought it never was going to be accomplished. But perseverance——”
“Perseverance does a deal; but, bless you, I never had no doubt on the subject,” said the new Mrs. Despard, taking up her teacup in a way that was very offensive to Lottie. The Captain looked at her from the other end of the table with a kind of adoration; but nevertheless the Captain himself, with all his faults, was painfully aware of her double negatives, and thought to himself, even when he looked at her so admiringly, that he must give her a few lessons. He had never paid much attention to Lottie, and yet he could not help getting a glimpse of his new wife through Lottie’s eyes.
“Where is my son?” said Polly. “Harry, darling, where is that dear Law? He won’t be so much surprised, will he? He had a notion how things were going. But I’ve got a great deal to say to him, I can tell you. I don’t approve of his goings on. There’s a many things as I mean to put a stop to. Nobody shall say as I don’t do my duty by your children. I shall tell him——”
“Do you know Law?” said Lottie. This gave her a little chill of horror; though indeed she remembered that Law had spoken of some one—some one about whom Lottie had not cared to inquire.
“Oh, yes, miss, I know Law.” (Polly did not know how it was that she said Miss to Lottie. She did not mean to do it. She did it, not in respect, but in derision; but the word came to her lips, whether she would or not.) “Law and I are old friends. Time was when I didn’t feel sure—not quite sure, you know,” she said, with a laugh of mingled vanity and malice, “if it was to be the father or the son; but, Lord, there’s no comparison,” she added hastily, seeing that even on the Captain’s fine countenance this boast produced a momentary cloud. “Law will never be as fine a man as his father. He hasn’t got the Captain’s carriage, nor he ain’t so handsome. Bless us, are you listening, Harry? I didn’t mean you to hear. I don’t think you handsome a bit, now, do I? I’m sure I’ve told you times and times——”
The two thus exchanging glances and pretty speeches across the table were too much occupied with themselves to think of anything else. And no one heard Law’s approach till he pushed open the door, and with a “Hillo!” of absolute amazement, stood thunderstruck, gazing upon this astonishing spectacle. The sight that Law beheld was not a disagreeable sight in itself: the table, all bright with its bouquet of crimson leaves, which the Captain had pushed to one side in order that he might see his wife—and the three faces round it, two of them beaming with triumph and satisfaction. The young man stood at the door and took it all in, with a stare at first, of dismay. Opposite to him sat Lottie, put out of her place, looking stunned, as if she had fallen from a height and did not know where she was. As he stood there she lifted her eyes to him with a look of wondering and bewildered misery which went to Law’s heart; but the next moment he burst into a loud laugh, in spite of himself. To see the governor casting languishing looks at Polly was more than his gravity could bear. He could think of nothing, after the first shock, but “what a joke” it was. A man in love, especially a man in the first imbecility of matrimonial bliss, is a joke at any time; but when it’s your governor, Law said to himself! He gave a great roar of laughter. “Polly, by Jove!” he said; “so you’ve been and done it!” It had alarmed him much beforehand, and no doubt it might be tragical enough after; but for the moment it was the best joke that Law had encountered for years.
“Yes, we’ve been and done it,” said Polly, rising and holding out her hand to him. “Come here and kiss me, my son. I am delighted to see you. It’s so nice to hear a good laugh, and see a bright face. Lottie, Law, hasn’t found her tongue yet. She hasn’t a word to throw at a dog, much less her new mamma. But you, it’s a pleasure to see you. Ah!” said Polly, with effusion, “the gentlemen for me! Ladies, they’re spiteful, and they’re jealous, and they’re stuck up; but gentlemen does you justice. You mustn’t call me Polly, however, though I forgive you the first time. You must know that I am your mamma.”