matters fast and gaily. Percy handed Mrs. Martindale out, and gave her his arm, leaving Theodora to her brother.
It was a small select party, almost every one known to Theodora; and she was soon in eager conversation at some distance from Violet, who was sorry for Percy, as he stood in silence beside her own chair, vexation apparent on his honest face.
'Who is that talking to Theodora?' he presently asked. It was a small light-complexioned gentleman, whose head and face, and the whole style of his dress and person, might have made him appear a boy of seventeen, but for a pale moustache and tuft on the chin. Theodora looked very animated, and his face was glowing with the pleasure of her notice.
'I cannot tell,' said Violet; 'there is Arthur, ask him.'
Percy was moving towards Arthur, when he was caught by the master of the house, and set to talk to the Oriental in his own language. Violet had never been so impressed by his talents as while listening to his fluent conversation in the foreign tongue, making the stranger look delighted and amused, and giving the English audience lively interpretations, which put them into ready communication with the wonder at whom they had hitherto looked in awkwardness. Theodora did not come near the group, nor seem to perceive Violet's entreating glances; and when the Eastern prince departed, Percy had also disappeared. Violet was gratified by the ladies around her descanting on his book and his Syriac, and wished Theodora could hear them.
At that moment she found Theodora close to her, presenting Lord St. Erme to Mrs. Arthur Martindale! After so much dislike to that little insignificant light man for being the means of vexing Percy, to find him the poet hero, the feudal vision of nobility, the Lord of Wrangerton! What an adventure for her mother to hear of!
It was a pleasant and rather pretty face when seen near, with very good blue eyes, and an air of great taste and refinement, and the voice was very agreeable, as he asked some question about the Eastern prince. Violet hardly knew what she answered.
'I met him yesterday, but it was flat,' he said. 'They had a man there whose Syriac was only learnt from books, and who could not understand him. The interpreter to-night was far more au-fait--very clever he seemed. Who was he?'
'Mr. Fotheringham,' said Theodora.
'The Crusader? Was it, indeed?' said Lord St. Erme, eagerly. 'Is he here? I wish particularly to make his acquaintance.'
'I believe he is gone,' said Violet, pitying the unconscious victim, and at once amused, provoked, and embarrassed.
'You know him?'
Violet marvelled at the composure of Theodora's reply. 'Yes, my eldest brother was his travelling companion.'
'Is it possible? Your brother the 'M' of the book?' exclaimed the young Earl, with enthusiastic delight and interest. 'I never guessed it! I must read it again for the sake of meeting him.'
'You often do meet him there,' said Theodora, 'as my sister can testify. She was helping him to revise it last summer at Ventnor.'
'I envy you!' cried Lord St. Erme; 'to go through such a book with such a companion was honour indeed!'
'It was delightful,' said Violet.
'Those are such delicious descriptions,' proceeded he. 'Do you remember the scene where he describes the crusading camp at Constantinople? It is the perfection of language--places the whole before you--carries you into the spirit of the time. It is a Tasso unconscious of his powers, borne along by his innate poetry;' then pausing, 'surely yon admire it, Miss Martindale?'
'O, yes,' said Theodora, annoyed at feeling a blush arising. The Earl seemed sensible of a check, and changed his tone to a sober and rather timid one, as he inquired after Mr. Martindale. The reply was left to Violet.
'He has never been so well in his life. He is extremely busy, and much enjoys the beauty of the place.'
'I suppose it is very pretty,' said Lord St. Erme.
'Nothing can be more lovely than the colour of the sea, and the wonderful foliage, and the clearness. He says all lovers of fine scenery ought to come there.'
'Scenery can hardly charm unless it has a past,' he replied.
'I can controvert that,' said Theodora.
With much diffidence he replied: 'I speak only of my own feeling. To me, a fine landscape without associations has no soul. It is like an unintellectual beauty.'
'There are associations in the West Indies,' said Theodora.
'Not the most agreeable,' said Lord St. Erme.
'There is the thought of Columbus,' said Violet, 'his whole character, and his delight as each island surpassed the last.'
'Now, I have a fellow-feeling for the buccaneers,' said Theodora. 'Bertram Risingham was always a hero of mine. I believe it is an ancestral respect, probably we are their descendants.'
Violet wondered if she said so to frighten him.
''Rokeby' has given a glory to buccaneering,' he replied. 'It is the office of poetry to gild nature by breathing a soul into her. It is what the Americans are trying to do for their new world, still turning to England as their Greece.'
'I meant no past associations,' said Theodora, bluntly. 'John carries his own with him.'
'Yes; all may bear the colour of the imagination within.'
'And of the purpose,' said Theodora. 'It is work in earnest, no matter where, that gives outward things their interest. Dreaming will never do it. Working will.'
Their conversation here closed; but Theodora said as they went home: 'What did you think of him, Violet?'
'He looks younger than I expected.'
'He would be good for something if he could be made to work. I long to give him a pickaxe, and set him on upon the roads. Then he would see the beauty of them! I hate to hear him maunder on about imagination, while he leaves his tenantry to take their chance. HE knows what eyes Percy and John see things with!'
'I am glad to have seen him,' said Violet, reassured.
'He desired to be introduced to you.'
'I wonder--do you think--do you suppose he remembers--?'
'I don't suppose he thinks anything about it,' said Theodora, shortly.
CHAPTER 14
I am not yet of Earl Percy's mind.--King Henry IV
'Violet,' said Theodora, the next morning, 'I want to know if Percy said more to Arthur than to us?'
She spoke with deepening colour, and Violet's glowed still more, as she answered: 'Arthur asked him, and he said he would not BEGIN an acquaintance, but that there was no occasion to break off the ordinary civilities of society. He accused her of no more than levity. Yes, those were Arthur's words.'
'I am going to get to the bottom of it,' said Theodora; 'and give Georgina a thorough lecture.'
She departed; and Violet sat down to her letters, with little Johnnie crawling at her feet; but in a few minutes she was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Fotheringham, asking for Theodora.
'She is gone out. She could not rest without an explanation from Mrs. Finch.'
'A proper farrago she will hear,' said Percy. 'I found I could settle to nothing, so I thought it best to come and have it out.'
'I hope she will soon come in.'
'Don't let me interrupt you. Go on with your letters.--Ha! little master!'
In his present temper, play with the baby was the most congenial occupation, and he made the little fellow very happy till he was carried off for his midday sleep. Then he tried to read, but seemed so uneasy, that Violet wondered if it would be intermeddling to hint at Theodora's real views. At last, as if he could bear it no longer, he abruptly said, 'Mrs. Martindale, do you know anything of these people?'
'Very little,' she answered. 'Theodora was telling me about them yesterday, before you came. I believe she only likes them for old acquaintance' sake.'
