And only seventeen! Capital soil, promising good crops. What would you have more?
A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of matrimony. I am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you; but I must decline taking a lease of it for life.
Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament you are only a tenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I owe to the family that the estate should be re-united. That can only be done by one of our family marrying Miss Percival; and as you will not, I shall now write to your cousin James, and if he accept my proposal, shall make him my heir. Probably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five thousand acres in a ring-fence.
And Mr Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door.
Stop, my dear uncle, cried William, rising up from his easy-chair; we do not quite understand one another. It is very true that I would prefer half the property and remaining single, to the two estates and the estate of marriage; but at the same time I did not tell you that I would prefer beggary to a wife and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. I know you to be a man of your word. I accept your proposal, and you need not put my cousin James to the expense of postage.
Very good, William; I require no more: and as I know you to be a man of your word, I shall consider this match as settled. It was on this account only that I sent for you, and now you may go back again as soon as you please. I will let you know when all is ready.
I must be at Tattersalls on Monday, uncle; there is a horse I must have for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask when you are likely to want me?
Let me seethis is Mayabout July, I should think.
July, uncle! Spare meI cannot marry in the dog-days. No, hang it! Not July.
Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once or twice to see the propertyMiss Percival, I should sayit may be too soonsuppose we put it off till October.
OctoberI shall be down at Melton.
Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is not, with you, dog-days?
Why, uncle, next April, nowI think that would do.
Next April! Eleven months, and a winter between. Suppose Miss Percival was to take a cold and die.
I should be excessively obliged to her, thought William.
No! No! continued Mr Ponsonby: there is nothing certain in this world, William.
Well, then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first hard frost.
We have had no hard frosts, lately, William. We may wait for years. The sooner it is over the better. Go back to town, buy your horse, and then come down here, my dear William, to oblige your unclenever mind the dog-days.
Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done by halves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without any regard to the thermometer.
You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?
I have had one to-day, thought William, and was almost at fault. I shall be most thankful, sirthey sell horse-flesh by the ounce now-a-days.
And you pay in pounds. There, William.
Thank you, sir, Im all obedience; and Ill keep my word, even if there should be a comet. Ill go and buy the horse, and then I shall be ready to take the ring-fence as soon as you please.
Yes, and youll get over it cleverly, Ive no doubt. Five thousand acres, William, anda pretty wife!
Have you any further commands, uncle? said William, depositing the cheque in his pocket-book.
None, my dear boy: are you going?
Yes, sir; I dine at the Clarendon.
Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and excuses to your friend Seagrove. You will come on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Thus was concluded the marriage between William Ponsonby and Emily Percival, and the junction of the two estates, which formed together the great desideratumfive thousand acres in a ring-fence.
Mr Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation.
Very good, indeed, Seagrove, said his lordship; you must take a glass of wine after that.
I would not give much for Miss Percivals chance of happiness, observed the elder Miss Ossulton.
Of two evils choose the least, they say, observed Mr Hautaine. Poor Ponsonby could not help himself.
Thats a very polite observation of yours, Mr HautaineI thank you in the name of the sex, replied Cecilia Ossulton.
Nay, Miss Ossulton; would you like to marry a person whom you never saw?
Most certainly not; but when you mentioned the two evils, Mr Hautaine, I appeal to your honour, did you not refer to marriage or beggary?
I must confess it, Miss Ossulton; but it is hardly fair to call on my honour to get me into a scrape.
I only wish that the offer had been made to me, observed Vaughan; I should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did.
Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me, said Mrs Lascelles, laughing; for Mr Vaughan had been excessively attentive.
It appears to me, Vaughan, observed Seagrove, that you have slightly committed yourself by that remark.
Vaughan, who thought so too, replied: Mrs Lascelles must be aware that I was only joking.
Fie! Mr Vaughan, cried Cecilia Ossulton; you know it came from your heart.
My dear Cecilia, said the elder Miss Ossulton, you forget yourselfwhat can you possibly know about gentlemens hearts?
The Bible says that they are deceitful and desperately wicked, aunt.
And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex, Miss Ossulton? replied Seagrove.
Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it, replied Miss Ossulton, carelessly.
Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet down to the gentlemen, observed Lord B; but I shall throw my warder down, and not permit this combat à loutrance.I perceive you drink no more wine, gentlemen, we will take our coffee on deck.
We were just about to retire, my lord, observed the elder Miss Ossulton, with great asperity: I have been trying to catch the eye of Mrs Lascelles for some time, but
I was looking another way, I presume, interrupted Mrs Lascelles, smiling.
I am afraid that I am the unfortunate culprit, said Mr Seagrove. I was telling a little anecdote to Mrs Lascelles
Which, of course, from its being communicated in an undertone, was not proper for all the company to hear, replied the elder Miss Ossulton; but if Mrs Lascelles is now ready, continued she, bridling up, as she rose from her chair.
At all events, I can hear the remainder of it on deck, replied Mrs Lascelles. The ladies rose and went into the cabin, Cecilia and Mrs Lascelles exchanging very significant smiles as they followed the precise spinster, who did not choose that Mrs Lascelles should take the lead merely because she had once happened to have been married. The gentlemen also broke up, and went on deck.
We have a nice breeze now, my lord, observed Mr Stewart, who had remained on deck, and we lie right up Channel.
So much the better, replied his lordship; we ought to have been anchored at Cowes a week ago. They will all be there before us.
Tell Mr Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar, said Mr Ossulton to one of the men.