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By-and-by there was a cricket-match in the farmer's meadow, Highcombe and Huntercombe eleven against the town of Staveleigh. All clubs liked to play at Huntercombe, because Sir Charles found the tents and the dinner, and the young farmers drank his champagne to their hearts' content. Ruperta took her maid and went to see the match. They found it going against Huntercombe. The score as follows
"It shall not take years, nor yet months," said Lady Bassett. "I know Mr. Bassett's objection, and I will remove it, cost me what it may." This speech surprised the other two ladies so, they made no reply. Said Lady Bassett firmly, "Do you pledge yourself to me, if I can obtain Mr. Bassett's consent?" "I do," said Ruperta. "But " "You think my power with your father must be smaller than yours.
"My dear," said she to Ruperta, "when I first saw you, I wondered at my son Compton's audacity in loving a young lady so much more advanced than himself; but now I must be frank with you; I think the poor boy's audacity was only a proper courage.
She was in raptures with Lady Bassett, and told her daughter all that had passed; and, in conclusion, that she had promised Lady Bassett to take her to Huntercombe to-morrow. "Me, dear!" cried Ruperta; "why, what can she want of me?" "All I know is, her ladyship wishes very much to see you. In my opinion, you will be very welcome to poor Lady Bassett." "Is she very ill?" Mrs.
"Compton assures me that Lady Bassett wishes it." "Indeed! But Sir Charles and papa, Ruperta?" "Oh, Compton must talk Sir Charles over, and I will persuade papa. I'll begin this evening, when he comes home from London." Accordingly, as he was sitting alone in the dining-room sipping his glass of port, Ruperta slipped away from her mother's side and found him.
She spoke to the mother first; but presently took occasion to turn to the daughter, and to say, "May I hope, Miss Bassett, that you are on the side of peace, like your dear mother and myself?" "I am," said Ruperta, firmly; "I always was especially after that beautiful sermon, you know, mamma."
"No, dear." "Please." The young lady fixed her eyes on him, and said, with a pretty solemnity, "Let us play at catechism." "I don't know that game." "The governess asks questions, and the good little boy answers. That's catechism. I'm the governess." "Then I'm the good little boy." "Yes, dear; and so now look me full in the face." "There you're very pretty, Ruperta."
Bassett drew her on one side, and soon soothed her. When their gentle bosoms got over their agitation, they rather enjoyed the thing, especially Ruperta: she detested Reginald for his character, and for having insulted her father. All of a sudden, she cried out, "He has taken my handkerchief. How dare he?" And she affected anger. "Never mind, dear," said Mrs.
She is netting two simple birds that I have the care of. Now, listen to me; I forbid you two ever to set foot in that house again. Do you hear me?" "We hear you, papa," said Mrs. Bassett, quietly; "we must be deaf, if we did not." Ruperta kept her countenance with difficulty. "It is not a request, it is a command." Mrs. Bassett for once in her life fired up. "And a most tyrannical one," said she.
Lady Bassett shuddered, but said nothing. But by-and-by her beloved son came to her in distress with a grief of his own. Ruperta Bassett was now the beauty of the county, and it seems Mr. Rutland had danced with her at her first ball, and been violently smitten with her; he had called more than once at Highmore, and his attentions were directly encouraged by Mr. Bassett. Now Mr.
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