The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray (top books to read txt) π
Read free book Β«The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray (top books to read txt) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: William Makepeace Thackeray
Read book online Β«The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray (top books to read txt) πΒ». Author - William Makepeace Thackeray
Harry's aunt, Madame de Bernstein, after a week or two, began to tire of Castlewood and the inhabitants of that mansion, and the neighbours who came to visit them. This clever woman tired of most things and people sooner or later. So she took to nodding and sleeping over the chaplain's stories, and to doze at her whist and over her dinner, and to be very snappish and sarcastic in her conversation with her Esmond nephews and nieces, hitting out blows at my lord and his brother the jockey, and my ladies, widowed and unmarried, who winced under her scornful remarks, and bore them as they best might. The cook, whom she had so praised on first coming, now gave her no satisfaction; the wine was corked; the house was damp, dreary, and full of draughts; the doors would not shut, and the chimneys were smoky. She began to think the Tunbridge waters were very necessary for her, and ordered the doctor, who came to her from the neighbouring town of Hexton, to order those waters for her benefit.
βI wish to heaven she would go!β growled my lord, who was the most independent member of his family. βShe may go to Tunbridge, or she may go to Bath, or she may go to Jericho, for me.β
βShall Fanny and I come with you to Tunbridge, dear Baroness?β asked Lady Castlewood of her sister-in-law.
βNot for worlds, my dear! The doctor orders me absolute quiet, and if you came I should have the knocker going all day, and Fanny's lovers would never be out of the house,β answered the Baroness, who was quite weary of Lady Castlewood's company.
βI wish I could be of any service to my aunt!β said the sentimental Lady Maria, demurely.
βMy good child, what can you do for me? You cannot play piquet so well as my maid, and I have heard all your songs till I am perfectly tired of them! One of the gentlemen might go with me: at least make the journey, and see me safe from highwaymen.β
βI'm sure, ma'am, I shall be glad to ride with you,β said Mr. Will.
βOh, not you! I don't want you, William,β cried the young man's aunt. βWhy do not you offer, and where are your American manners, you ungracious Harry Warrington? Don't swear, Will, Harry is much better company than you are, and much better ton too, sir.β
βTong, indeed! Confound his tong,β growled envious Will to himself.
βI dare say I shall be tired of him, as I am of other folks,β continued the Baroness. βI have scarcely seen Harry at all in these last days. You shall ride with me to Tunbridge, Harry!β
At this direct appeal, and to no one's wonder more than that of his aunt, Mr. Harry Warrington blushed, and hemmed and ha'd and at length said, βI have promised my cousin Castlewood to go over to Hexton Petty Sessions with him to-morrow. He thinks I should see how the Courts here are conductedβandβandβthe partridge-shooting will soon begin, and I have promised to be here for that, ma'am.β Saying which words, Harry Warrington looked as red as a poppy, whilst Lady Maria held her meek face downwards, and nimbly plied her needle.
βYou actually refuse to go with me to Tunbridge Wells?β called out Madame Bernstein, her eyes lightening, and her face flushing up with anger, too.
βNot to ride with you, ma'am; that I will do with all my heart; but to stay thereβI have promised...β
βEnough, enough, sir! I can go alone, and don't want your escort,β cried the irate old lady, and rustled out of the room.
The Castlewood family looked at each other with wonder. Will whistled. Lady Castlewood glanced at Fanny, as much as to say, His chance is over. Lady Maria never lifted up her eyes from her tambour-frame.
CHAPTER XVII. On the Scent
Young Harry Warrington's act of revolt came so suddenly upon Madame de Bernstein, that she had no other way of replying to it, than by the prompt outbreak of anger with which we left her in the last chapter. She darted two fierce glances at Lady Fanny and her mother as she quitted the room. Lady Maria over her tambour-frame escaped without the least notice, and scarcely lifted up her head from her embroidery, to watch the aunt retreating, or the looks which mamma-in-law and sister threw at one another.
βSo, in spite of all, you have, madam?β the maternal looks seemed to say.
βHave what?β asked Lady Fanny's eyes. But what good in looking innocent? She looked puzzled. She did not look one-tenth part as innocent as Maria. Had she been guilty, she would have looked not guilty much more cleverly; and would have taken care to study and compose a face so as to be ready to suit the plea. Whatever was the expression of Fanny's eyes, mamma glared on her as if she would have liked to tear them out.
But Lady Castlewood could not operate upon the said eyes then and there, like the barbarous monsters in the stage-direction in King Lear. When her ladyship was going to tear out her daughter's eyes, she would retire smiling, with an arm round her dear child's waist, and then gouge her in private.
βSo you don't fancy going with the old lady to Tunbridge Wells?β was all she said to Cousin Warrington, wearing at the same time a perfectly well-bred simper on her face.
βAnd small blame to our cousin!β interposed my lord. (The face over the tambour-frame looked up for one instant.) βA young fellow must not have it all idling and holiday. Let him
Comments (0)