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Updated: May 24, 2025
"Egad, ma'am, let me have the luxury of hating you. For I am the Wavertons' gentleman usher and you are the nonpareil Miss Lambourne, vastly rich and " he ended with a shrug and a rueful grin. "And ?" Miss Lambourne softly insisted. "And damnably lovely. Lord, you know that." "I thank God," said Miss Lambourne devoutly. "Is it true, Mr. Boyce do the meek inherit the earth?"
"I believe you would not miss a chance to say a bitter thing though it ruined you, Lud, Harry, if you can't be grateful, don't be a fool too. What a pox are your Wavertons to me? I don't value them a pinch of snuff. What I am doing, I am doing for you. You know what you were when I found you no better than a footman out of livery. Now, they treat you like a gentleman."
Not that he had a liking for ale-house company or indeed any company. But within the precincts of the Wavertons' house tobacco was forbidden and all the more for that tobacco he loved with a solid devotion. The alehouse of the cross roads offered a clean floor, a clean fire, air not too foul, a tolerable chair, a landlord who did not talk, and until evening, sufficient solitude.
Harry, dazed at the mere fact, could not be very sure how it had happened or why. The Wavertons, mother and son, had assaulted the Colonel with hospitality for a night for another for longer and longer and he, appearing at first honestly dubious, remained with a benign condescension. There is no doubt that, in an honourable way, Lady Waverton was fascinated by Colonel Boyce.
"Get in, please, for a few minutes," she said. "I want to talk to you. I will take you where you like." They drove off in silence. "You were not at the Wavertons' last night," he remarked. "No!" she answered quietly. "I was not asked." He glanced at her questioningly. "I thought that you were so friendly," he said. "I was," she answered. "Lady Waverton scarcely knows me now!
"They give me bed and board, and a shilling or two by the month." "Bed?" His father shifted upon it. "A bag of stones, I think. And for the board bread of affliction and water of affliction by what I saw of the remains. Egad, Harry, they are savages, these Wavertons." "I did not hear you say so to madame. And Geoffrey is not a bad fellow as far as he has understanding." "A dolt, eh?
After a moment of impressive silence, the Wavertons vigorously directed the conversation to the Duke of Marlborough. Colonel Boyce made no objection. In the most obliging manner he admitted them to a piquant intimacy with His Grace's manners and customs.
"Oh Lud!" said Colonel Boyce, with sincere sympathy. "I suppose they are wealthy folk, your Wavertons. Do they keep much company?" Harry shrugged. "Who is this Mrs. Weston?" "I never saw her before." Harry paused, and then with a laugh added "before yesterday." "That's a fine woman, her mistress. Do you do anything in that quarter, sirrah?" "Why should you think so?"
It's damp after rain, and it's hot after sun, and it's icy after frost. It's a very sympathetic room," said Harry. "They are barbarians, these Wavertons. I vow they give their horses better lodging." "Oh yes. I am not worth so much as a horse," said Harry. "Lud, Harry, don't whine," his father was irritated. "Have some spirit. I hate to hear a lad meek." "I thought you did," said Harry.
Two years ago the Wavertons were delighted to know me. Society seems big, but it isn't. There are no end of little sets, one inside the other. Two years ago, I was in the innermost, today I'm getting towards the outside edge. Look at me! Do you see any change?" He scrutinized her mercilessly in the cold morning light. "You look older," he said, "and you have begun to use rouge, which is a pity."
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