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Lionel, at any rate, felt that he should like, for his own satisfaction, to have the matter set at rest, and he took his way to Verner's Pride.
The sun had sunk in the west when Verner's Pride was left in quiet; the gratified feasters, Master Cheese included, having wended their way home. Lionel was with his wife at the window of her dressing-room, where he had formerly stood with Sibylla. The rosy hue of the sky played upon Lucy's face. Lionel watched it as he stood with his arm round her.
Lady Verner seated herself in her low violet-velvet chair, and looked composedly at Lionel. She did not dread the communication very much. He was secure in Verner's Pride; what could there be that she need fear? She no more cast a glance to the possibility of his marrying the widow of Frederick Massingbird, than she would have done to his marrying that gentleman's wife.
"No." "You will give up Verner's Pride without a struggle! You will give up me! Then, are you a coward, Lionel Verner?" "You know that I would give up neither willingly, Sibylla." Grievously pained was his tone as he replied to her. She was meeting this as she did most other things without sense or reason; not as a thinking, rational being.
Poor girl! what a thing it seems to have to return to her old house again!" Jan put in his head. "I thought you said you were coming, Lionel?" "So I am this instant." And they departed together: encountering Mr. Bitterworth in the road. He grasped hold of Lionel in much excitement. "Is it true what people are saying? That you have come into Verner's Pride?" "Quite true," replied Lionel.
Don't you perceive?" "I don't perceive, and I don't understand," replied Lionel. "You are speaking in an unknown language." "I'll speak in a known one, then. It was through me that old Ste Verner left Verner's Pride away from you." "What!" uttered Lionel. "True," nodded John, with composure. "I told him a a bit of scandal of you.
Forgive my asking you the question, Stephen." "Do you think I have forgotten it?" wailed Mr. Verner. "It has cost me my peace my happiness, to will it away from Lionel. To see Verner's Pride in possession of any but a Verner will trouble me so if, indeed, we are permitted in the next world still to mark what goes on in this that I shall scarcely rest quiet in my grave."
A pleasant man, of eight-and-twenty years; and he was often at Lady Verner's. He had been intimate there a long while, going in and out as unceremoniously as did Lionel or Jan. Lady Verner and Decima could tell a tale that no one else suspected. How, in the years gone by some four or five years ago now he had grown to love Decima with his whole heart; and Decima had rejected him.
"I thought they were in the study at Verner's Pride." "I brought them home a day or two ago," replied Lionel. "Some alteration was required, and I thought I would do it quietly here." "You are a rare I suppose if I say 'steward' I shall offend your pride, Lionel? 'Bailiff' would be worse. If real stewards were as faithful and indefatigable as you, landlords might get on better than they do.
One's pen goes glibly when one's heart is in the work. I am glad you are willing it back to Mr. Lionel." "Draw it up then, and bring it here as soon as it's ready. You won't find me gone out," Mr. Verner added, with a faint attempt at jocularity. The lawyer did as he was bid, and returned to Verner's Pride about five o'clock in the afternoon. He found Dr. West there.
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