Looking at the matter from this point of view, Mr. Sampson was surprised to perceive a certain air of gloom and despondency about his companion which seemed quite unnatural to a man in his position. John Treverton’s eye kindled with a gleam of triumph as he gazed across the broad bare fields which the lawyer showed him; but in the next minute his face grew sombre again, and he listened to the description of the property with an absent air that was inexplicable to Thomas Sampson. The solicitor ventured to say as much by-and-bye, when they were driving homeward through the winter dusk.
“Well you see, my dear Sampson, there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip,” John Treverton answered, with that light airy tone which most people found particularly agreeable. “I must confess that the manner in which this estate has been left is rather a disappointment to me. My cousin Jasper told me that his death would make me a rich man. Instead of this I find myself with a blank year of waiting before me, and with my chances of coming into possession of this fortune entirely dependent upon the whims and caprices of a young lady.”
“You don’t suppose for a moment that Miss Malcolm will refuse you?”
John Treverton was so long before he answered this question, that the lawyer presently repeated it in a louder tone, fancying that it had not been heard upon the first occasion.
“Do I think she’ll refuse me?” repeated Mr. Treverton, in rather an absent tone. “Well, I don’t know about that. Women are apt to have romantic notions on the money question. She has enough to live upon, you see. She told me as much last night, and she may prefer to marry someone else. The very terms of this will are calculated to set a high-spirited girl against me.”
“But she would know that in refusing you she would deprive you of the estate, and frustrate the wishes of her friend and benefactor. She’d scarcely be so ungrateful as to do that. Depend upon it, she’ll consider it her duty to accept you—not a very unpleasant duty either, to marry a man with fourteen thousand a year. Upon my word, Mr. Treverton, you seem to have a very poor opinion of yourself, when you imagine the possibility of Laura Malcolm refusing you.”
John Treverton made no reply to this remark, and was silent during the rest of the drive. His spirits improved, or seemed to improve a little at dinner, however, and he did his best to make himself agreeable to his host and hostess. Miss Sampson thought him the most agreeable man she had ever met, especially when he consented to sit down to chess with her after dinner, and from utter listlessness and absence of mind allowed her to win three games running.
“What do you think of Miss Malcolm, Mr. Treverton?” she asked, by-and-bye, as she was pouring out the tea.
“You mustn’t ask Mr. Treverton any questions on that subject, Eliza,” said her brother, with a laugh.
“Why not?”
“For a reason which I am not at liberty to discuss.”
“Oh, indeed!” said Miss Sampson, with a sudden tightening of her thin lips. “I had no idea—at least I thought—that Laura Malcolm was almost a stranger to Mr. Treverton.”
“And you’re quite right in your supposition, Miss Sampson,” answered John Treverton, “nor is there any reason why the subject should be tabooed. I think Miss Malcolm very handsome, and that her manner is remarkable for grace and dignity—and that is all I am able to think about her at present, for we are, as you say, almost strangers to each other. As far as I could judge she seemed to me to be warmly attached to my cousin Jasper.”
Eliza Sampson shook her head rather contemptuously.
“She had reason to be fond of him,” she said. “Of course you are aware that she was completely destitute when he brought her home, and her family were, I believe, a very disreputable set.”
“I fancy you must be mistaken, Miss Sampson,” John Treverton answered, with some warmth, “my cousin Jasper told me that Stephen Malcolm had been his friend and fellow-student at the University. He may have died poor, but I heard nothing which implied that he had fallen into disreputable courses.”
“Oh, really,” said Miss Sampson, “of course you know best, and, no doubt, whatever your cousin told you was correct. But to tell the truth Miss Malcolm has never been a favourite of mine. There’s a reserve about her that I’ve never been able to get over. I know the gentlemen admire her very much, but I don’t think she’ll ever have many female friends. And what is of so much consequence to a young woman as a female friend?” concluded the lady sententiously.
“Oh, the gentlemen admire her very much, do they?” repeated John Treverton. “I suppose, then she has had several opportunities of marrying already?”
“I don’t know about that, but I know of one man who is over head and ears in love with her.”
“Would it be any breach of confidence on your part to say who the
