something to do with the injustice of those horrid mandarins to our traders, but for my part I think Buckhaven would have done better to have stayed at home. Why, he and poor Meg have not been married a year! But tell me, dearest, where have you been this age? You said you were going into Leicestershire, but I quite thought you told me you would be in town again before this.”
“Very good sport,” explained Freddy. “As a matter of fact, did come back, two days ago. Meant to wait on you, ma’am, but the thing was, found I had to go to Arnside.”
“Arnside!” exclaimed Lady Legerwood. “Never tell me Uncle Matthew is dead?”
“Oh, no, he ain’t dead!” said Freddy. “Pity, if you ask me! Sent for all of us.”
“All of you?”
“Great-nephews. At least, Dolph would have it he didn’t send for George, and I daresay he was right. No reason why he should have. Claud couldn’t go, of course, and Jack didn’t choose to.”
“Freddy, is my uncle making his Will at last?” asked her ladyship eagerly.
“That’s it. Ramshackle sort of a business. Leaving his fortune to Kitty, provided she marries one of us.”
“What?”
“Thought you’d be surprised,” nodded Freddy. “Poor girl didn’t want to marry Dolph—stands to reason she wouldn’t! Didn’t fancy Hugh either. I wouldn’t, myself. Prosy sort of a fellow! Long and the short of it is, ma’am, she accepted me!”
His mother’s eyes started at him. “Freddy!” she said faintly. “You offered for Kitty Charing?”
Mr. Standen perceived that his announcement was productive of more astonishment than delight, and blushed. “Thought you’d be pleased,” he said. “Time I was getting married. Dash it, ma’am, told me so not a month ago!”
“Yes, but—Oh, Freddy, I believe it is a take-in! How can you be so—? Now, tell me it is untrue!” He shook his head, resolutely, adhering to his promise, made to Miss Charing, not to tell his parents any such thing. Lady Legerwood sank back against the sofa-pillows, and pressed the vinegar-soaked handkerchief to her brow. “Oh, good heavens! What can have possessed you? Surely you have never—Freddy, do not tell me you have offered for Kitty for the sake of Uncle Matthew’s fortune!”
“No, I haven’t,” replied Freddy. “It’s what everyone else will tell you, though. Bound to!”
She stared at him. “But is it possible that you can have a
“No reason why he should object, ma’am. Daresay he’ll be glad of it. Very good sort of a girl, Kit: always liked her!”
This lover-like encomium caused her ladyship to give a gasp. “‘A very good sort of—’ Freddy!”
“Well, ain’t she?” demanded Freddy. “Thought you was fond of her, ma’am! Often told me you pitied her, having to live cooped up with Uncle Matthew. Quite right! Never saw such an old curmudgeon in my life! What’s more, that Fish of hers seems queer in her attic to me. Shouldn’t wonder at it if between the pair of them they drove Kit into Bedlam. That’s why I brought her up to town with me.”
Lady Legerwood sat up with a jerk. “You did what? Freddy, you haven’t brought her here?”
“Thought you’d like to see her,” said Freddy feebly. “Engaged to me—present her to the family—show her the sights! Besides, nowhere else I could take her!”
Many thoughts jostled one another in Lady Legerwood’s bemused brain; she uttered the most immediate of them. “With measles in the house!”
“It’s a pity about that,” agreed Freddy. “May have had ’em, though. I’ll ask her.”
“But it is impossible,” she cried. “What in heaven’s name do you expect me to do with her?”
“First thing to do is to buy her some clothes. Can’t have her going about like a dowd. Must see that, ma’am!”
“I am to buy clothes for her?” exclaimed her ladyship.
“Help her to choose ’em,” amended Freddy. “Won’t have to pay for ’em. Fact is, the old gentleman gave her a handsome sum for the purpose. Taking care of it for her. You tell me what the figure comes to, and I’ll sport the blunt.”
“Uncle Matthew gave her a handsome sum?” exclaimed his mother, momentarily diverted. “You don’t mean it!”
“Surprised me too,” murmured Freddy. “Surprised me when he said she might come to town for a month, as well.”
“A month! No, no, Freddy, indeed I cannot have her here! I would not for the world behave shabbily towards your betrothed, even though I cannot like this engagement, for I had hoped to see you make a much better match, and, indeed, I—not that that signifies now! And you are not to be thinking that I do not like Kitty, for I am sure she is a excellent girl, and I should be very glad to show her any kindness in my power! But I do not mean to entertain until the children are well again, and as for devoting myself to Kitty at such a moment, it is not to be thought of! Later, perhaps! She must return to Arnside for the present: I am persuaded she will understand how it is!”
“Won’t do at all,” said Freddy firmly. “Promised her she should spend a month in town. Can’t break my word to her. Cruel thing to do. Set her heart on coming to London.”
“Oh, dear, what is to be done, then?” sighed her ladyship, abandoning all attempt to grapple with the problem. “Where is she all this while?”
“Left her in the Blue Saloon. Said I’d break the news to you. Took a notion into her head you might not like it, and went into a quake. Wouldn’t come upstairs with me.”
“Well, I am sure I am not astonished at that! Poor child, I suppose she was so anxious to escape from that odious old man she was prepared to do anything to accomplish it! She must remain here for tonight, of course, and then we must consider what is best to be done. I will come down to her in a moment, tell her. And what your father will say when you break this news to him, Freddy, I dare not consider!”
But in the event Freddy was spared the necessity of having to break the news to Lord Legerwood. While he was closeted with his mama, his lordship had walked into the Blue Saloon, to find it inhabited by a damsel in an oldfashioned bonnet and a drab pelisse, who turned an apprehensive and vaguely familiar face towards the opening door, and then rose to her feet, and dropped a shy curtsy. “How—how-do-you-do, sir?” she said, with a valiant assumption of ease.
“How-do-you-do?” responded his lordship politely.
“Perhaps,” said Kitty, swallowing, “you don’t remember me, sir. I am Kitty Charing.”
“Of course!” he responded, coming forward, and shaking hands. “I thought I knew your face. But what a delightful surprise! Are you staying in London?”
“Well—well—I do hope so!” Kitty said, blushing vividly. “Only I am not expected, and perhaps it might not be quite convenient!”
Lord Legerwood’s calm gray eyes took note of the blush; a twinkle came into them. “Can it be that you have come to stay with us?” he suggested.
She stood considerably in awe of him, for his cool, well-bred manners were quite unlike her guardian’s, and made him seem immeasurably superior. He had an air of decided fashion, too, and an occasionally satirical tongue. The twinkle, however, reassured her. She smiled confidingly up at him, and said: “Yes, that is it! Freddy said you would not object to it, only, for my part, I did think we should have asked you first!”
“Freddy?” he said interrogatively.
She became a little confused. “Yes, sir. You see—Freddy brought me! He—he has gone to tell Lady Legerwood!”
That sapient eye caused her blushes to rise again. “Indeed?” said his lordship. “Has Freddy been visiting his great-uncle? Dear me! But what am I about, to be keeping you standing? Do, pray, sit down again, and tell me how all this comes about!”
She obeyed the first part of this command (for such she felt it to be), but said: “I think, perhaps, Freddy ought to tell you, sir. In fact, I am quite sure he should!”
He drew up another chair, and seated himself in it. “Really? I am persuaded I shall much prefer to be told it by you. I always find it so difficult to follow Freddy when he tries to explain anything to me.”
“Yes, but it wouldn’t be the thing for me to tell you, sir!” objected Kitty.
“A delicate matter, I apprehend?” She nodded. “In that case, I cannot too strongly recommend you not to
