Volume Ii Part 10 (1/2)

She was fully aware that many difficulties lay in the way of her getting the information she wanted. In the first place, she had no acquaintance except the Peterses, who were his declared enemies; and she loved both justice and the Major too well to let his happiness (which was now avowedly dependant upon her accepting his hand) rest on such doubtful testimony.... And secondly, there was considerable caution required in the manner of asking questions _so special_ as those she wished to propose, lest they might reach the ears of her lover; and it was necessary, if the tender affair finally terminated in wedlock, that it should be brought about without any appearance on her side of such sordid views, lest a suspicion might arise on his that her own wealth was not quite so great as she wished him to believe. Respecting settlements, she had already decided upon what she should propose ...

she would make over the whole of her fortune unconditionally to him, provided he would make her a settlement of one poor thousand a-year for life in return.

Some days pa.s.sed away after the Major had actually proposed and been conditionally accepted ... in case a few weeks' longer acquaintance confirmed their affection ... before Mrs. Barnaby had discovered any method by which she might satisfy her anxious curiosity respecting the actual state of Major Allen's affairs. During this time she was willing to allow, even to herself, that her affections were very deeply engaged, but yet she steadfastly adhered to her resolution of not bestowing upon him the blessing of her hand, till she learned from some one besides himself that he was a man of large fortune.

At length, when almost in despair of meeting with any one whom she could trust on such a subject, it occurred to her that Betty Jacks, who had not only continued to grow till she was nearly as tall as her mistress, but had made such proficiency in the ways of the world since she left Silverton, as rendered her exceedingly acute, might make acquaintance with Major Allen's groom, and learn from him what was generally considered to be the amount of his master's income. The idea had hardly struck her before she determined to put it in execution; and having rung the bell, Betty, after the usual interval that it took her to climb from the kitchen, stood before her.

”Come in, Jerningham,” said Mrs. Barnaby, ”and shut the door. I have something particular that I wish to say to you.”

Betty antic.i.p.ated a scolding, and looked sulky.

”I am very well satisfied with you, Jerningham,” resumed the lady, ”and I called you up chiefly to say that you may have the cap with the pink ribbons that I put off yesterday morning.”

”Thank you, ma'am,” said Betty, turning to go.

”Stay a moment, Jerningham: I have something I want to talk to you about.”

Betty advanced, and took hold of the back of a chair to support her lengthy person, a habit which she had fallen into from the frequent long confidential communications her lady was accustomed to hold with her.

”Pray, Jerningham, do you know Major Allen's groom?” inquired Mrs.

Barnaby in a gentle voice.

”Lor! no, ma'am; how should I come for to know his groom?”

”Nay, my good girl, there would be no harm in it if you did. I have remarked that he is a particularly smart, respectable-looking servant, and I must say I think it would be quite as well if such a good-looking girl as you did make acquaintance with the servant of a gentleman like Major Allen; it would give you a proper protector and companion, Jerningham, in a Sunday evening walk, or anything of that kind; and really it looks as if he did not think you worth noticing, considering how intimate the two families are become.”

”Oh! for that, ma'am, I don't believe the young man would have any objection; and I don't mean to say as how I never spoke to him,” replied Betty.

”Very well, Jerningham, that is just what I wanted to know; because, if you are sufficiently acquainted to speak, such a sharp clever girl as you are, would find it easy enough to improve the intimacy, and that's what I want you to do, Jerningham. And then I want you, some fine evening, perhaps, after I have had my tea, to let him take a walk with you; and when you are talking of one thing and the other, I want you to find out whether his master is reckoned a rich gentleman or a poor one.... Do you understand, Jerningham?”

Betty Jack's black eyes kindled into very keen intelligence at this question, and she answered with very satisfactory vivacity, ”Yes, ma'am, I understands.”

”Well, then, set about it as soon as you can; and remember, Jerningham, if he asks any questions about me, that you make him understand my fortune is a great deal larger than it appears to be, which it really is, you know,--only just now I am travelling quietly by way of a change.

If you do all this cleverly and well, I will give you my old parasol, which only wants a st.i.tch or two to make it quite fit to use.”

”Thankee, ma'am.... I could find him in a minute at the beer-shop, if you like it.”

”Well, then, do so, my good girl, and you may say, if you will, that you could take a walk with him this evening.”

The arrangement was probably made without great difficulty, for on the following morning Betty was ready with her report. Any detailed account of the interview between the Major's man and the widow's woman would be unnecessary, as the girl's account of it was what princ.i.p.ally affected the interests of our widow, and that shall be faithfully given.

Betty Jacks made her appearance in the drawing-room as soon as Agnes had left it after breakfast, with that look of smirking confidence which usually enlivens the countenance of a _soubrette_ when she knows she has something to say worth listening to.

Her anxious mistress instantly saw that the commission had not been in vain.

”Well, Jerningham!” she cried with a deep respiration that was more like panting than sighing, ”what news do you bring me?”

”All that is best and honourablest for the Major, ma'am. His man William says that he is a n.o.ble gentleman every way, with plenty of money to spend, and plenty of spirit to spend it with; and that happy will the lady be who wins his heart, and comes to the glory and honour of being his wife.”