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Updated: June 5, 2025
Before that time, however, he had lunched with Mrs. Langrishe and her son after a talk with the latter. Now that he had succeeded in breaking down the lover's scruples, Godfrey Langrishe was only too anxious to fling himself into the next train and be carried off to his love. But the General would not have it so, though he was pleased at the young man's impatience.
"You were engaged to your cousin, were you not, just as you are to-day?" "I never accepted my cousin till till Captain Langrishe had gone. It was understood that when we grew up we should marry to please our parents if we saw nothing against it. No one would have wanted to bind me if I did not wish to be bound." Mrs. Rooke flung up her hands with a dramatic gesture.
They would be together till they closed his eyes. The thought of it now was like a green oasis in the desert; but it was a mirage, only a mirage! And Nelly must not suffer. Langrishe had rejected her rejected that sweet thing, confound him! And there was her cousin Robin, patient and faithful, waiting to make her happy.
His indignation was ebbing into a dull acquiescence. If Langrishe did not care why, no one on earth could make him care. No one could blame him even. "You must give up thinking of him, Nell," he said at last. He could not bring himself to ask her if Langrishe cared. "You must forget him, little girl, and try to be satisfied with your old father till someone more worthy comes along."
The General had meant to have some play with Nell, but that forlorn look of hers went to his heart. "I saw Langrishe to-day, Nell," he said. "He's coming for Christmas. We can put him up hey?" "Papa!" He heard the incredulously joyful half-whisper, and he felt the pang that comes to all fathers at such a moment. Nell was not going to be only his ever again.
She was no more fond of the newspapers than any other young girl. For the moment he was grateful to the Dowager that she claimed so much of Nelly's time. He began to look forward with a fearful anticipation to Nelly's marriage to her cousin. Something must be settled at once, before she could begin to grieve over Langrishe. He would be alone, of course, but Nelly would be in harbour.
Yet, there would be all those weeks of June and July when bad news might come any day about Langrishe: and Nell would be in London and would hear of it. So, although the thing had come about which he desired, the General was not happy. It was the latter end of April when Sir Robin Drummond presented himself again in the big bare room where Mary Gray transacted the business of her Bureau.
"No one," Nelly answered mournfully. The General suddenly stiffened. His one explanation of Langrishe's pride standing in the way was forgotten; it was not reason enough. Was it possible that Langrishe had been playing fast-and-loose with his girl? Was it possible this was more incredible still that he did not return her innocent passion? For a few seconds he did not speak.
And Robin was out of his element at such gatherings, since he did not dance and could find no conversation to his mind while he leant against the wall of the ball-room or hung about the doors. Life was so full of work for him that it seemed unreasonable to keep him where there was nothing he could do. Captain Langrishe turned up at the dances as unfailingly as Nelly herself.
From where they sat the General could see Sir Rodney Vivash and Grogan button-holing each other. They were the bores of the club, and for once they had foregathered, willingly or unwillingly. After all, there were compensations there were compensations; and the General was hungry. His manner towards young Langrishe had an air of fatherly kindness.
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