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You know I am to come to Humblethwaite again?" "Of course you are." "You go down next month, I believe?" "Papa talks of going to Scarrowby for a few weeks. He always does every year, and it is so dull. Did you ever see Scarrowby?" "Never." "You ought to come there some day. You know one branch of the Hotspurs did live there for ever so long." "Is it a good house?"
There were plenty of men now back in town ready to play pool at the club. Sir Harry Hotspur returned to Humblethwaite before Cousin George's letter was written, though when he did return all the terms had been arranged, and a portion of the money paid.
The visit was prolonged for three days, and then Lord Alfred left Humblethwaite Hall, with less appreciation of all its beauties than he had felt as he was first being driven up to the Hall doors. When he went, Sir Harry could only bid God bless him, and assure him that, should he ever choose to try his fortune again, he should have all the aid which a father could give him.
Don't you know that you have to put on a special manner, and to talk in a special way? Does not the champagne fly to your head, more or less?" "Of course, the princes and potentates are not the same as old Mrs. Crutchley, if you mean that." "I am not blaming you, you know, only I cannot help being very anxious; and I found you so perfect at Humblethwaite that I cannot say that I like any change.
In the course of the week there came other guests to Humblethwaite, and it so chanced that there was a lady who knew the Altringhams, who had unfortunately met the Altringhams at Goodwood, and who, most unfortunately, stated in Emily's hearing that she had seen George Hotspur at Goodwood. "He was not there," said Emily, quite boldly. "Oh, yes; with the Altringhams, as usual.
I told him everything that I could tell him. On such occasions, however, a man takes anything. I ventured to suggest that what I had done was not unprecedented among young people, and hinted that while he could make me the future master of Humblethwaite, I could make my cousin the future Lady Hotspur; and that in no other way could Humblethwaite and the Hotspurs be kept together.
"Sir Harry, you have told me that I am not a gentleman." "You have abused my kindness to you. What right have you, who have not a shilling in the world, to speak to my daughter? I won't have it, and let that be an end of it. I won't have it. And I must desire that you will leave Humblethwaite to-morrow. I won't have it." "It is quite true that I have not a shilling."
He had already been told to come on Sundays, and on the very next Sunday had been there. He had given no cause of offence at Humblethwaite, and Lady Elizabeth was of opinion that he should be asked to dinner. If he were not asked, the very omission would show that they were afraid of him.
He had written to Sir Harry refusing Sir Harry's generous offer, and subsequently to that had made up his mind to accept it, and had asked, as the reader knows, for Mrs. Morton's assistance. But the making up of George Hotspur's mind was nothing. It was unmade again that day after dinner, as he thought of all the glories of Humblethwaite and Scarrowby combined.
But a man knows that such an offer of renewed hospitality should be repeated at the moment of departure, and George Hotspur, as he was taken away to the nearest station in his cousin's carriage, was quite aware that Sir Harry did not then desire that the visit should be repeated. Lord Alfred was to be at Humblethwaite on Christmas-eve.
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