CHAPTER IX.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2212, 11 September 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER IX.

"WHAT A TEASE YOU ARE, HERBERT." When Mrs Foxborough heard her daughter's account of Herbert Morant's visit she looked somewhat serious. Nid had not told all the particulars of this visit and her mother knew very well that she had not. Mrs Foxborough quite understood from the way the girl told her story that there had been definite love passages between her and Herbert Morant, and Mrs Foxborought now asked herself whether it had been wise on her part now merely to allow but to encourage the intimacy between them. She in her own heart wai decidedly averse to Nid's appearing on the atage. What shfc desired for her daughter Was that she should marry a gentleman in easy circumstances, and never have anything to do with the profession. She would have scorned the idea of endeavouring to entrap Herbert Morant; in her eyes Nid was good enough for any scion of the peerage ; but she liked the young fellow ; she thought Nid also had a penchant that way, and well, if they should happen to fancy one another, Morant was just the sun-inlaw she should welcome with much satisfaction. But this account of his impecuniosity was a startling surprise for Mrs Foxborough. She had no idea but what Moraut was a man in easy circumstances — a rich man no, but a man who could take very good care of her child if she gave her into his hands. Mrs Foxborough thought now, if Nid married him, the girl would hare to begin at once to take her share of bringing grist to the j mill ; and then Mrs Foxborough had grim reminiscences of many a case in her j own experience in which tho wife had rnado the income while the husband contented himself with spending threefourths of it. She was much too clever !\ woman to say anything to Nid, but she bitterely regretted that she had allowed Morant to attain so intimate a footing in the house. As for her erratic lord and master, ho was once more off on one of his country tours, but even had he not been it is doubtful whether Mrs Foxborough would have deemed this quite a casp for consulting him about. She yielded, of course, to Nid's petition, and allowed that young lady to send off a note of invitation to dinner for Friday night, but she puzzled her brain meanwhile no little as to how she should manage to place Herbert Morant on that distant footing that she was now ex- j tremely desirous to see him upon. She was worldly and vigilant, as keenly alive to a detriment as any Belgravin mother when it came to the disposal of her treasure. Of no gentle birth herself, she had mixed enough in fair society to attain refined manners and to appreciate them. That Nid should marry a bona jldc gentleman was an article of faith with her, but then he must undoubtedly have enough money to support a wife. Herbert Morant, meanwhile, was simply delighted with the so far success of Nid's idea, and sanguine after his manner as to the result. Philip Soames had not only answered his letter, but answered it in the most satisfactory way. 1 Not only,' he said,' do I still stick to my old theory that there's work to bo had by any man with averagp brains and energy, But I can find it for you. Come down and stay with me for a fort- ! night, and talk it over. I shall be dej lighted to see. you, old man, If nothing ' else comes of it, but if you are really in earnest something else will. Given you're good to put your neck into the collar, I'll guarantee you're earning your coin. Any way, come and hoar what I have to say. It's a dullish place, no doubt, but it's all now to you. I'll do you decently, and, bar finding fault with the malt, you can please yourself on all points. Sneering at our bro.se is insulting the family scutcheon, and you'll run the risk of heinjr mashed in one of our own tubs. We bear with no deriding of beer in our stronghold. Once more, my dear Herbert, I say come ; if you're half the man you were at Cambridge, I'll show you an opening which may be a good deal what you choose to make it. — Ever yours, Purr, Soamer. Mallington house, B<ium borough." Mr Morant was jubilant over this letter. He was not only bored with the troadinill of fashion up which his feet incessantly trod, but in his love for Nid he had an incentive for work such as he had long required. Ho felt, too, that he bad it in him. Ho had worked hard enough at times in the getting up of all kinds of amusements, such as ball«, private theatricals, cricket matches, pic-mes, &c, why should he not expend this energy on something remunerative ? Yes, office hours would, of course, at firjt come irksome. It would bo a deuce of a bore getting up at half -past eight, or thereabouts, and going to bed at midnight would no doubt have a humdrum flavour about it to start with. Bub there were some of his acquaintance in tho Guards who he knew had often to meet terribly early engagements, and yet these things never seemed to disturb the equanimity of those lighthearted warriors amid the small hours. He supposed it was easy to educate yourself and to get along upon four hours' sleep. We are all creatures of habit, and lying in bed till twelve is simply chronic indolence. No, in the future, like "Young Phillis, the falconer," of tho old ballad, he meant to be 'up with the dawn,' and then he burftt out laughing as he thought of young Dimfdale's rendering of the old saw the night before last at a late supper party — Early to bed and early to riso Shows a man can be a fool if he tries. Mr Morant arrived in excellent time at Tapton Cottage, but if he had counted upon the chance of a tete-a-tete with Nid he was mistaken, for he found Mrs Foxborough aiono in the drawing-room when he entered. That lady welcomed him w.irmly, thanked him for sending the box, and murmuring bouiething about dinner being ready directly, motioned him to a .sent. ' I am going to bid you good-l>ye'for' a bit after to-night, Mrs Foxborough,' said Herbert. • I am 'going iuto the country.' 'Ah, for some shooting,' rejoined his hostess. ' I don't know muuh about such things, but U not thih tho month you kill parti idges !"' ' No, I am going away with far higher views than mere amusement,' rejoined Morant in a grandiloquent fashion. Ho had a misty idea, that there was something heroic in earning his own living. ' I am going into the country to discuss my future career with au old friend.' ' I am sure I wish you every success most heartily, Mr Morant. 1 fancy you will do well in whatever you set your hand to. I was sorry to hear from Nid that it had become nece.ss ary, not but that I think it all for your good. Still, lam afraid it means that you havo lost money in some way which is rather disheartening.' ' No, Mrs Foxborough ; I have lost; no money, but I have spent it. You sco before you a reformed character, bubbling over with virtuous resolutions.' 'Lnt mesoe him quick, 'cried Nid, ' before he has bubbled over and there is no virtuous resolution loft.' 1 Nid, my darliug,' replied her mother, reprovingly. ' You are right, Miss Foxborough ; ' methinks he doth protest too much.' Nevertheless, my fair confederate, your

advice has been taken, the oracle has spoken. I am going to rice in future at half-past eight, to retire to bed early: in faot, to become a regular business man and leading citizen.' ' And what is to be the buaines.4 and where P' asked Nid as they walked in to dinner. ' Upon my honour, I don't know, but it must bo immensely facilitated by early rising ; don't you think »o, Mrs Foxborough ? Let me manage that chicken for you. I assure you I spent this morning in the study of alarum clocks. I never yet slept with one of those fiendish instruments of torture in the room. It must be a perfect acoustic shower-bath when it goes off.' ' But mind, you will havo to get up when it oalls you, and not behave like that bad-tempered man at Cambridge you told me about, who only threw his boots at them and broke twenty-seven in one terra, 1 laughed Nid. •Ah, poor Tom Rawlinaon. I am afraid lam a little like him. He was always going to begin reading, but ho go*/ plucked for his ' smplls,' and faded away from academic groves in spite of all his resolutions and mechanical contrivances.' ' Ah, Mr Morant,but you are not going to shuro the fate of Mr KawlioHou, and be what do you call it ? I don't know what it means in the least, but presume that it raeiins failure in some shape, 1 exclaimed Mrs FoTborough. ' Here's success to the new undertaking, whatever it be, and best wishes.' And so saying the hostess raided her glass to her lips with a cheery smile. ' And now, Nid, run und get your cloak and tell Ellen to bring mine ; the brougham will be round directly.' No sooner had her daughter left tho room than Mrs Foxborough, with her accustomed frankness, came to tho point. 'You are going away, Mr Mor.mt,' she said, ' nnd hare no sincerer well-wisher than I urn. When you come back I must ask you to visit us rather more sparingly. You doubtless mean nothing, but you pay my little girl a good deal of attention. She has seen nothing of the world as yet, and I don't want tho child made a fool of. Girls of her age, especially with her somewhat romantic temperament, are j quite apt to mistake good-natured courtesy for something more, and I do you tho justice to think you would wish th;it no more than I should.' 'If I pay your daughter attention, Mrs Foxboroutfb, it is with the deliberate) intent of winning her for my wife if I can, so pray don'l think of me visiting here in any other sense. If I have said nothing to yon us yet, well, I am not quito Pure th.it I have mado progress enough with Nid to justify my doing so.' These lovers, these lovers — can they ever be relied on to tell tho exact truth ? To each other, of course not, for the glamour of their passion colours all their speech ; they mean it at the time, but it rarely lusts for all time. Herbert Morant was hardly speaking to the best of his belief when ho professed to doubt his progress with Nid. ' We won't discuss that for the present, Mr Morant. By your own confession you cannot afford to marry as yet, and therefore it would bo hardly fair on so young a girl as Nid to hamper her with an engagement. Don't get angry at the word hamper — I use it advisedly. You can both well afford to wait ; and though I don't want you to come too often, pray don't thinlr you are 'boycotted.' Succeed in your new career, and show mo you can maintain a wife, and if Nid can make up her mind you will have no enemy in me. Now, Mr Morant, \vp understand each other, and there's my hand.' Herbert pressed his hostess's hind and uttered some incoherent words of gr.ititude, in tho midst of which the door opened, nnd in walked the subject of their conversation. 4 Really, Mr Morant, if it wasn't with mamma, who can do no wiong, I should say I hud interrupted a love scene,' exclaimed Nid. ' I am not at all sure you haven't,' rejoined her mother, lauirhing ; 'but, quick Ellen, give me my cloak, it is high tune we were off.'* ' What were you and mamma having such a confabulation about ?' asked Nid, between the acts of the Trovatore. • Shall I tell you. She was giving her consent to my marriage whouever I had acquired sufficient means to maintain a wife.' Nid coloured, and became absorbed in contemplation of the hou-Ne, sweeping it with her glasses as if in anxious search of some much rallied acquaintance. 1 The trouble will be getting someone else's consent afterwards,' continued Herbert. 'Do you think I have any chance, Nid ?' ' How should I know ?' rejoined the girl pettishly over her shoulder. She knew very well whit ho meant. She regarded herself as tacitly engaged to him, but yet she was a little flustered at the idea of being askeel to marry him in downright plain English. She was very young, bear in mind. 1 Who should know better, darling 1 I don't want to ask your mother this, Nid. Have I a chance ?' Still no answer, and Miss Foxborousrh, apparently more intent upon seeking that valued acquaintance than evor. 4 You won't see me again for some time, dearest. Say, at least you shall bo glad to see me back.' Suddenly Nid dropped her opera glasses, a littl« hand stolo into Morant' s, and a murmured "What ix tease you are, Herbert,' fell upon his ear. It was not a very direct answer to his question, but he seemed quite content, and till tho fall of the curtain Mrs Foxborough was, sad to say, left entirely to her own meditations.