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Updated: June 28, 2025
He turned his head round, to get a glance at the said suit behind. Sir Edmund laid his hand affectionately on his shoulder. Young as Jan had been before Edmund Hautley went out, they had lived close friends. "The clothes are all right, Jan. And if you had come without a coat at all, you would have been equally welcome to me."
"Bury me quietly; bury me without show," had been his charge. And yet a show it was, that procession, if only from its length. Close to the coffin walked the heir, Lionel; Jan and Dr. West came next; Mr. Bitterworth and Sir Rufus Hautley. Other gentlemen were there, followers or pall-bearers; the tenants followed; the servants came last.
"Dear Lady Verner, if Decima remained at home ever so, I should not go," interposed Lucy. "Only fancy my intruding there without an invitation! Miss Hautley might order me out again." "It is well to make a joke of it, Lucy, when I am vexed," said Lady Verner. "I dare say it is only a mistake; but I don't like such mistakes." "I dare say it is nothing else," replied Lucy, laughing.
Sir Edmund Hautley, quitting Decima, took her hand compassionately and led her to a seat. Mrs. Verner did not like the attention. Pity, compassion was in every line of his face in every gesture of his gentle hand; and she resented it. "I am not ill," she declared to Sir Edmund between the paroxysms of her distressing cough.
"I hope he may not deserve it in any worse way than as connected with them," returned Decima, with more acrimony than she, in her calm gentleness, was accustomed to speak. The significant tone struck Lionel. "What do you mean, Decima?" Decima glanced round. They were standing at the far end of the corridor at the window which overlooked the domains of Sir Rufus Hautley.
But not a word had he spoken to Decima Verner, not a look had he given her. The omission was unnoticed by the others; not by Decima. The crimson of her cheeks had faded to an ashy paleness, and she silently let fall her veil to hide it. What secret understanding could there be between herself and Sir Rufus Hautley?
Mrs. Verner lay in it dying. She had been conveyed home from the Hall on the morning following the catastrophe. Miss Hautley and Sir Edmund urged her remaining longer, offering every possible hospitality; but poor Sibylla seemed to have taken a caprice against it. Caprices she would have, up to her last breath. All her words were "Home! home!"
Should it unfortunately have reached her ears, it might tend to place them in the black books of the future Lady Hautley. Lady Verner was rather against Jan's going to church. Lady Verner's private opinion was indeed it may be said her proclaimed opinion as well as her private one that Jan would be no ornament to a wedding party.
In vain those who deemed themselves privileged to speak, pointed out to Miss Hautley that a fête might be considered out of place, given before Sir Rufus had been dead a twelvemonth, and that Sir Edmund might deem it so; furthermore, that Sir Edmund might prefer to find quietness on his arrival instead of a crowd.
But Decima had already got Jan's promise to be present, which Jan had given conditionally that no patients required him at the time. But Jan's patients proved themselves considerate that day; and Jan appeared not only at the church, but at the breakfast. At the dinner, also, in the evening. Sir Edmund and Lady Hautley had left then; but those who remained of course wanted some dinner; and had it.
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