in a tone of authority, 'How long do you intend to go on in this way!'
'In what way?'
'Do you wish to keep all our disputes as a spectacle for Arthur's edification?'
Colouring with shame and displeasure, she sat down with a sort of 'I am ready' air, and took off her walking things, laying them down deliberately, and waiting in complete silence. Did she wish to embarrass him, or did she await his first word to decide what line she should take?
'Theodora,' he said at length, 'when I spoke last night, I did not know how early your acquaintance with this lady had begun, or I should have shown more regard to the feeling that arises between old companions. I am afraid I gave you some unnecessary pain.'
This was unexpected; and she could not at once harden herself in displeasure, so that though she spoke not, her countenance was relenting.
'Did Mrs. Martindale mention what I told her yesterday!'
'No; she only said you had been here while I was gone to satisfy my mind.'
'And did you?'
'I should never have defended Georgina's marriage if I had known the whole; but the rest of what you have heard is slander.'
'That is what I came to explain;' and Percy repeated the history he had before given to Violet, adding a warning of the same kind as John's against placing Arthur in Mr. Gardner's way.
'The point is,' said Theodora, 'what construction is to be placed on the present state of things? You and Lady Fotheringham, who have not seen them, take one view; I, who do see them, and who know Georgina intimately, take another, in which I agree with her husband and with the elder sister, who lives with her.'
'Intimately! When you had no idea of this first affair!'
'Such follies are not to be published.'
'You WILL defend them!' cried Percy, impatiently.
'Am I to sit quiet when I hear injustice done to my oldest friend?'
'I wish that unhappy friendship had never begun!'
A silence broken by her coolly saying, 'Well, what is to come of all this?'
Percy walked about the room and said, 'What do you mean?'
With a provoking air of meekness she said, 'I only want to know what you expect of me.'
Excessively annoyed, he sharply answered, 'To be a reasonable woman.'
'Well?' said Theodora, with the same submissive voice. He had recovered himself, and with no further show of temper, he sat down by her, saying, 'This is folly. We had better say what we mean. You feel strongly with regard to your old playfellow; I cannot think well of her; but while this is matter of opinion, it is childish to dispute. Time will show which is the correct view--I shall be glad if it is yours. The elder sister is a steady amiable person, whom my aunt likes, and that is in their favour. I do not wish you to break with an old friend while we know of no positive charge against her, though I should think there could be little to attract you. For me it is another matter, and I will not.'
'You will not adopt my friends?'
I will not be talked into it.'
'I do not understand your principle,' said Theodora, but without asperity. 'Why do you decline an acquaintance to which you do not object for me?'
'The beginning has been made in your case, and I know it is old affection, not present approval. You can't be hurt by one like her. But for my part, knowing what I do of them, I will enter on no acquaintance; it is a line of which I have resolved to keep clear. She would think herself patronizing a literary man.'
'Oh! you could not submit to that!' cried Theodora--'never. Stay away, I beg of you.'
'It is for no such nonsense,' said Percy. 'But thinking of them as I do, I cannot receive from them the favours which rich folks consider invitations to poor ones. My connection with them makes it all the more undesirable. I totally disapprove their style of conduct, and will not seem to sanction it by beginning an acquaintance, or appearing at their grand dinners and parties. If I had known them before, the case might be different.'
'I will say no more. You are quite right,' said Theodora, well able to appreciate the manliness of his independence.
She thought over several times the way of communicating to Mrs. Finch, Percy's rejection of her invitation, and made some attempts at seeing her, but without success, until the night of the party. Violet had an undefined dread of it, and was especially glad that her husband was able to go with them. It was one of the occasions when he was most solicitous about her appearance; and he was well pleased, for she was in very good looks, and prettily dressed with some Irish lace, that to Theodora's amusement she had taken off Miss Marstone's hands; and with his beautiful wife and distinguished-looking sister, he had his wish of displaying woman as she should be.
The room was full, but Violet saw few acquaintance; as Mrs. Finch, with much display of streamer, flounce, jewellery, and shoulders, came to meet them with vehement welcome, and quite oppressed Violet with her attention in finding a seat for her on the sofa.
With a nod and look of gay displeasure at Theodora, she said, 'So, you have brought me no Crusader, you naughty girl! Where's your Red Cross Knight?'
'He would not come,' said Theodora, gravely.
'You dare own it! Where's your power? Ah! you will say it was idleness.'
'I will tell you another time,' said Theodora, blushing inconveniently, and Violet, as she felt her cheeks responding, fancied Mrs. Finch must know why.
'You won't confess! No, you never tried. If you had once set your mind on it, you would have accomplished it. I always cite Theodora Martindale as the person who cannot be resisted.'
'You see your mistake,' returned Theodora. A gentleman here greeted her, then claimed Mrs. Finch's attention, and evidently by his desire, she turned to Violet, and presented him as her cousin, Mr. Gardner, an old friend of Captain Martindale.
Violet acknowledged the courtesy, but it was in confusion and distress.
'I am delighted to make your acquaintance,' was his address. 'Is Captain Martindale here? I have not seen him for years.'
'He is in the room,' said Violet, looking round for him, hoping either that he would come, or that Mr. Gardner would go in search of him, but the conversation continued, though she answered without knowing what she said, till at last he moved away to communicate to Mrs. Finch that Arthur Martindale's pretty wife had nothing but fine eyes and complexion.
Theodora was satisfied to see a very slight recognition pass between Mr. Gardner and her brother, who was intent on conducting to Violet an officer newly returned from the West Indies, where he had met John. After a pleasant conversation, the two gentlemen moved away, and presently the place next to her was taken by Miss Gardner, with civil inquiries for her little boy.
'We are so vexed at not seeing Mr. Fotheringham! Georgina is furious. We reckoned on him as the lion of the night.'
Violet had no answer to make, and Jane continued. 'I have taken Theodora to task. Fame makes men capricious, and he is very odd; but I tell her she ought to have more influence, and I seriously think so. Do you not?'
'I believe he convinced her,' said Violet, wishing the next moment to recall her words.
'Indeed! I am curious.'
'I believe he thinks it better--fashionable life--' faltered Violet.
'He might have made an exception in favour of such near connections! Why, we shall be related ourselves, Mrs. Martindale. How charmed I shall be.'
Violet turned a bracelet on her arm, and could make no response.
'It is strange enough that we have never met Percival Fotheringham,' said Miss Gardner. 'He is an eccentric being, I hear, but our dear Theodora has a spice of eccentricity herself. I hope it will be for the best.'
'He is an admirable person,' said Violet.
'I rejoice to hear it. I had some doubts. The dear girl is so generous, of such peculiar decision, so likely to be dazzled by talent, and so warmly attached to her eldest brother, that I almost feared it might not have been well weighed. But you are satisfied?'
