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Half-hours between young ladies and young gentlemen before breakfast are very serious things." "And I mean to be serious," said Augustus. "But I don't," said Sophia. "I am to understand then that under no possible circumstances " "Bless me, Mr. Staveley, how solemn you are." "There are occasions in a man's life when he is bound to be solemn. You are going away from us, Miss Furnival "
He had no objection to talk to his grandfather about Miss Staveley, but he felt ashamed of having allowed the matter to escape him in this sort of way. "I will tell you why I ask, my boy," continued the baronet. "I am going to do that which many people will call a very foolish thing." "You mean about Lady Mason." "Yes; I mean my own marriage with Lady Mason.
On their return from church, Miss Furnival insisted on walking, in order, as she said, that Miss Staveley might not have all the fatigue; but Miss Staveley would walk also, and the carriage, after a certain amount of expostulation and delay, went off with its load incomplete. "And now for the plum-pudding part of the arrangement," said Felix Graham. "Yes, Mr.
Furnival was there, having got over those domestic difficulties in which we lately saw him as best he might; and Lucius Mason was there, having been especially asked by Lady Staveley when she heard that his mother was to be at The Cleeve.
The door however was opened, and he was in the room before he could make up his mind to any such step, and he found himself being walked across the floor to some especial seat, while a dozen kindly anxious faces were crowding round him. "Here's an arm-chair, Mr. Graham, kept expressly for you, near the fire," said Lady Staveley. "And I am extremely glad to see you well enough to fill it."
"Nasty, sly girl," said Lady Staveley to herself as she took up her work and sat herself down in her own chair. Augustus did go up to his friend and found him reading letters. There was no one else in the room, and the door when Augustus reached it was properly closed. "I think I shall be off to-morrow, old boy," said Felix. "Then I think you'll do no such thing," said Augustus.
When Felix Graham had before been at Noningsby, she would have rebelled against nature with all her force rather than have slept while he was left to whisper what he would to her darling. But now he was authorised to whisper, and why should not Lady Staveley sleep if she wished it? She did sleep, and Felix was left alone with his love. And yet he was not altogether alone.
He would himself see the judge, if it were thought expedient, and explain what liberal settlement would be made on the lady in the event of her altering her mind. "Young ladies, you know, are very prone to alter their minds on such matters," said the old man. In answer to which Peregrine declared his conviction that Madeline Staveley would not alter her mind.
"Upon my word she is a very clever girl," he said afterwards, as young Orme and Graham were sitting with him in an outside room which had been fitted up for smoking. "And uncommonly handsome," said Peregrine. "And they say she'll have lots of money," said Graham. "After all, Staveley, perhaps you could not do better." "She's not my style at all," said he.
By which latter remark Lady Staveley did not show her knowledge of human nature. "And I suppose I had better go now?" said Peregrine sheepishly. "If you like to go into the drawing-room, I'm sure they will all be very glad to see you." But Peregrine declared that he would not do this on any account. "You do not know, Lady Staveley, what a fool I should make myself.
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