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Decima came in, sent by Lady Verner to demand Lionel's attendance. "I am coming directly," replied Lionel. And Decima went back again. "You ought to take Jan to live at Verner's Pride," said Lucy to him, the words unconsciously proving that she had understood Lionel's allusion to it. "If he were my brother, I would not let him be always slaving himself at his profession."
Lionel returned late in the evening; he had been detained at Verner's Pride. Sibylla appeared sullen still. She was in her own sitting-room, upstairs, and Lucy was bearing her company. Decima was in Lady Verner's chamber. "Have you had any dinner?" inquired Lucy. She did not ask. She would not have asked had he been starving. "I took a bit with John Massingbird," he replied.
The servants at Verner's Pride were informed that a mistress for them was in contemplation, and preparations for the marriage were begun. Not until summer would it take place, when twelve months should have elapsed from the demise of Frederick Massingbird. Deerham was, of course, free in its comments, differing in no wise on that score from other places.
I heard how you lost the estate; of your coming to stay at Lady Verner's; of a long illness you had there; of your regaining the estate through the death of the Massingbirds; and next of your marriage to Frederick Massingbird's widow. From that time Lucy said less: in fact, her letters were nearly silent as to you: and, for myself, I never gave another thought to the subject.
Lady Verner's illness had commenced near the latter end of April, and it was growing towards the end of June before she began to get better, or would give Lionel leave to depart. Jan, plain-speaking, truth-telling Jan, had at length quietly told his mother that there was nothing the matter with her but "vexing and temper."
What did he think of his work when the news came of Frederick's death? What did he think of it when John Massingbird returned in person? What did he think of it when he read Sibylla's dying message, written to him by Amilly "Tell papa it is the leaving Verner's Pride that has killed me?" "I shall take possession of this," said Jan Verner.
"You are going out this evening, I see?" He made the remark as a question, noticing her dress; and Lucy, gathering her senses about her, and relapsing into her calm composure, looked somewhat surprised. "We are going to dinner to Verner's Pride; I and Decima. Did you not expect us?" "I did not know it," he was obliged to answer. "Mrs.
The doctor looked taller, and stouter, and redder than ever, and as he leaned thoughtfully forward, and the crimson blaze played upon his face, Jan thought how like he was growing to his sister, the late Mrs. Verner. "Mr. Jan," said the doctor, "it is not right that my nephew, John Massingbird, should enjoy Verner's Pride." "Of course it's not," answered Jan.
Their interview was a long one. Two hours, full, had they been closeted together when Robin Frost made his appearance again at Verner's Pride, and craved once more an interview with Mr. Verner. "If it was only for a minute only for a minute!" he implored. Remembering the overwhelming sorrow which had fallen on the man, Lionel did not like again to deny him without first asking Mr. Verner.
West did not point out how purposeless were her words. His intention was to come in in the morning, and talk to her seriously of her state of health, and the precautions it was necessary to observe. He took a sip of his coffee, and turned to Lionel. "I was about to ask you a superfluous question, Mr. Verner whether that lost codicil has been heard of. But your leaving Verner's Pride is an answer."
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