Part 7 (1/2)
”Well next there's Bobdaarly pittance they give one in the army, and he was never one to pinch and scrape Well, as I say, there's Bob, and I never see him, but what it's: 'Lend me a hundred, Andy!' or the like And all to buy his aw That's what sickens me! Why, Bob's for ever in some scrape with a petticoat, and as for Tracy! Gad, how they can! Then there's Lavinia, but I should think you know her by now, and lastly, there's your hu, and the cards, and the bottle, I shall be a ruined man before you can turn round! And the pother is I'll never be any different 'Tis in the blood, so where's the use in trying?” He oing back”
John, engaged in the task of hunting for tadpoles in the water some yards distant, nodded and ran on
”I fear ly ”You wished to see her?”
Andreinked knowingly
”Tantrums, eh? Oh, I know her No, I do not care an I do not see her; 'tis little enough she cares for h she's as thick as thieves with Tracyoh, ay, I'll be dumb”
They walked slowly back to the house, Andrew, silent for once, twirling his gold-mounted cane
”You shall have the money, of course When do you want it?” said Richard presently
”'Pon honour, you're a devilish good fellow, dick! But if 'tis like to put you to any”
”Nonsense When do you need it?”
”I should pay Carew as soon as may be Markham can wait over if-”
”No, no! Wednesday?”
”'Twill do excellently well dick, you're a-”
”Oh, pshaw! 'Tis nought I want your opinion on the bayin the leg, but she's a fine animal”
John had run indoors, and the twoall the way, recounting for his brother-in-law's benefit the choicesttown at the moment That his auditor but attended with half an ear affected him not at all; he never paused for an answer, and, in any case, was far too good-natured to care if he received none
By the time they had duly inspected the mare and walked back to the house, it was nearly four o'clock, and, not altogether to Carstares' surprise, Lavinia aiting theown, and with her hair freshly arranged and curled
”'Twould appear that Lavinia has recovered,” remarked Andrew as they mounted the steps ”She was ever thusnot two ave him a careless hand to kiss, but smiled sweetly up at her husband ”My headache is so much better,” she told him, ”and they said that Andreas coerly to her brother ”Tell me, Andrew, is Tracy at home?”
”Lord, yes! He arrived yesterday, devil take him! Do you want hiain I've not set eyes on hie I want you to take me back with you”
”Surely, my dear, 'tis a trifle late in the day for such a drive?” de to conceal his annoyance ”Can you not wait until to-morrow?”
”Faith, you'll have to, Lavvy, for I'll not take you to-day, that's certain I' to Fletcher's when I leave here Tracy can visit you to-morrow an he chooses”
”Will he?” she asked doubtfully
Andrew clapped his hand to his vest pocket ”If I had not forgot!” he exclai on you to-morrow, in any case Lord, what it is to have a scatter brain like mine!” He pulled a handful of papers from his pocket and selected one, sealed, and addressed in a sloping Italian handwriting
Lavinia pounced upon it joyfully, and tore it open Andrew restored the rest of the docuh
”Duns, Richard! Duns!”
”Give the out his hand
”Oh, no! But many thanks, dick These are quite unied Carstares
”Lord, no! Why, I should be so damned elated that before the day was out there'd be a score of fresh debts staring in on? Could you not keep out of debt?”
”I keep out of debt? Impossible! Don't look so solemn, dick; I told you 'twas in the blood We never have a penny to bless ourselves with, but what's the odds? I shall have a run of luck soona man can't always lose Then I shall be able to repay you, but, of course, I shan't It'll all go at the next table I know!” He spoke so ingenuously that Richard could not be angry with him There was a certain frankness about hiht be spendthrift and heedless, and colossally selfish, Richard felt a genuine affection for hiue the point further, but Lavinia ca to-iously agreeable, will it not?”
He assented, but with a lack of warmth that did not fail to strike her ears
”And he will stay to dine with us!” she cried challengingly
”Certainly, my love”
”Look pleased, dicky, look pleased! Why don't you like Tracy? He is my own brother; you must like him!”
”Of course I like him, Lavinia Pray, do not be foolish”
”Oh, I am not! Don't be cross, dicky dear!”
”Well, if you like him, I'm surprised,” broke in Andrew ”I can't bear him! Ay, flash your eyes at me, Lavvy; I don't mind”
Lavinia opened her mouth to retaliate, but Richard hastily interposed Their bickering was more than he could bear, and he never understood how Lavinia could stoop to quarrel with the boisterous youth, who tried so palpably to rouse her
He bore the much like a nursemaid with two recalcitrant children
CHAPTER V
HIS GRACE OF ANDOVER
LADY LAVINIA dressed herself with even h drove her maid distracted by her flashes of tethy was the toilet that she was only just in her boudoir when his Grace of Andover was announced She had no time to tell the footman that she would receive his Grace, for almost before the words were out of Ja in the doorway, sure of his welcome
He was curiously like his sister, this h cheek-bones and pinched, aristocratic nostrils, but the reen eyes, were totally different His Grace's brows slanted up at the corners, and his eyes, though piercing and bright, were constantly veiled by the black-lashed lids He wore his own black hair, unpowdered, and that, together with the black and silver garreatly enhanced the natural pallor of his countenance Altogether it was a very striking figure that stood just before the closed white door and bowed to ing her pearl-grey brocades
”Oh, Tracy!” she cooed, holding out both hands
His Grace advanced into the room and bent low over them