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Vaura managed while speaking to detach from her corsage some violets and a crushed rose, which, when Everly and De Vesey were not observing, she dropped at Trevalyon's feet; and turning her head as she took Sir Tilton's arm, gave him her own syren smile from eyes and lips and Lionel was alone.
"Whether she is yours or his does not signify; throw down the gauntlet; give her the lie; tell her she is an adventuress; anything! to put a spoke in Trevalyon's wheel; all the women go with him; a man has no chance," drawing himself up to his full height of five feet five inches, and pulling his whiskers furiously; "even with a handle to his name, and an M.P.; if you don't care to go in yourself, let Rivers, Everly, or myself be your spokesman."
The officers of the Everly Troop of Yeomanry had, as they thought, offered me an insult, and one which I had no power to resent; they were his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and if they chose to mix up their revenge with their duty of conservators of the peace, I had no power to prevent it, nor, as they kept their own council, could I ever remonstrate.
Tedril, with the huntress, stood beside them; while small Everly, accustomed to the role and remembering the mutual promise of Blanche and himself, sat at the feet of Madame, alternating fanning or saying something pretty to her, nerved to his task by the fact that Tisdale Follard, who had just bought his M.P., had told him "he must and would have his money at dawn." Clarmont.
"Move, Blanche, Lion, one of you, and make room for me quick," cried Vaura, breathlessly. "No, darling; you had better stay where you are," he said excitedly, forgetting at such a time their companions were ignorant of their engagement. "Poor Haughton, surely, Lady Everly, you do not consider yonder scene a fitting subject to make game of?"
"You deserve better company than I, just now, ma belle, and Everly is aching to be with you." And rising, he took the chair Everly vacated, near Mrs. Wingfield. "What have you done to Trevalyon? Miss Vernon," said Everly, as he seated himself beside her. "In five minutes his expression changed from unclouded happiness to the blackness of despair; queer fellow to wear such a look beside you."
Tompkins, your looks tell me," said Col. Haughton. "No, I am not one of the ill-kine, Colonel," laughed his bride-elect. "Nor yet one of the lean-kine," said Trevalyon gaily. As the other ladies gathered about, a small London swell, who had come forward with a beaming face, saying: "Here we are again," and whom Mrs. Tompkins presented to Col. Haughton and Capt Trevalyon as "Sir Tilton Everly."
They waited while I threw off my frock and took off my spurs, and having unbuttoned the knees of my breeches, we set to; and in ten minutes after the sun had sunk below the horizon, the last swarth was laid flat, and not an oat left standing; a day's work which stands unrivalled in that country, and which is the more uncommon, as, in fact, there were only four scythes at work during the greater part of the day; for, it being excessively hot, one of the men, the worst mower of course, was principally employed in riding to and from the Inn at Everly, to replenish the bottles.
He loved me throughout his life, and with wealth poured his all at my feet. But no more, dearest, I hear Blanche." "How wretched the poor fellow must have been, beloved; and how blest am I." "Hush, dear, here they are;" and Vaura is at one of the windows as Everly says: "Here we are again."
I thank you Everly, that air is refreshing; I am quite myself again," and he would have stood up. "No, no; rest a minute," said Vaura gently. "Yes, sit still; you are our patient, and all the patience we have till we hear from you all about Melty's fire-works," said Blanche eagerly. "Rather Lucifer's bonfire over the old Adam in that woman," said Vaura, contemptuously.
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