There came back an answer from Mr. Crump, in which that gentleman expressed a very strong idea that Mr. Gibson should be prosecuted for damages with the utmost virulence, and with the least possible delay. No compromise should be accepted. Mr. Crump would himself come to Exeter and see the lawyer as soon as he should be told that there was a lawyer to be seen. As to the carving knife, Mr. Crump was of opinion that it did not mean anything. Mr. Crump was a gentleman who did not believe in strong romance, but who had great trust in all pecuniary claims. The Frenches had always been genteel. The late Captain French had been an officer in the army, and at ordinary times and seasons the Frenches were rather ashamed of the Crump connection. But now the timber merchant might prove himself to be a useful friend.
Mrs. French showed her brother’s letter to Bella—and poor Bella was again sore-hearted, seeing that nothing was said in it of her claims. “It will be dreadful scandal to have it all in the papers!” said Bella.
“But what can we do?”
“Anything would be better than that,” said Bella. “And you don’t want to punish Mr. Gibson, mamma.”
“But, my dear, you see what your uncle says. What can I do, except go to him for advice?”
“Why don’t you go to Mr. Gibson yourself, mamma?”
But nothing was said to Camilla about Mr. Crump;—nothing as yet. Camilla did not love Mr. Crump, but there was no other house except that of Mr. Crump’s at Gloucester to which she might be sent, if it could be arranged that Mr. Gibson and Bella should be made one. Mrs. French took her eldest daughter’s advice, and went to Mr. Gibson;—taking Mr. Crump’s letter in her pocket. For herself she wanted nothing—but was it not the duty of her whole life to fight for her daughters? Poor woman! If somebody would only have taught her how that duty might best be done, she would have endeavoured to obey the teaching. “You know I do not want to threaten you,” she said to Mr. Gibson; “but you see what my brother says. Of course I wrote to my brother. What could a poor woman do in such circumstances except write to her brother?”
“If you choose to set the bloodhounds of the law at me, of course you can,” said Mr. Gibson.
“I do not want to go to law at all;—God knows I do not!” said Mrs. French. Then there was a pause. “Poor dear Bella!” ejaculated Mrs. French.
“Dear Bella!” echoed Mr. Gibson.
“What do you mean to do about Bella?” asked Mrs. French.
“I sometimes think that I had better take poison and have done with it!” said Mr. Gibson, feeling himself to be very hard pressed.
LXXXIII
Bella Victrix
Mr. Crump arrived at Exeter. Camilla was not told of his coming till the morning of the day on which he arrived; and then the tidings were communicated, because it was necessary that a change should be made in the bedrooms. She and her sister had separate rooms when there was no visitor with them, but now Mr. Crump must be accommodated. There was a long consultation between Bella and Mrs. French, but at last it was decided that Bella should sleep with her mother. There would still be too much of the lioness about Camilla to allow of her being regarded as a safe companion through the watches of the night. “Why is Uncle Jonas coming now?” she asked.
“I thought it better to ask him,” said Mrs. French.
After a long pause, Camilla asked another question. “Does Uncle Jonas mean to see Mr. Gibson?”
“I suppose he will,” said Mrs. French.
“Then he will see a low, mean fellow;—the lowest, meanest fellow that ever was heard of! But that won’t make much difference to Uncle Jonas. I wouldn’t have him now, if he was to ask me ever so;—that I wouldn’t!”
Mr. Crump came, and kissed his sister and two nieces. The embrace with Camilla was not very affectionate. “So your Joe has been and jilted you?” said Uncle Jonas;—“it’s like one of them clergymen. They say so many prayers, they think they may do almost anything afterwards. Another man would have had his head punched.”
“The less talk there is about it the better,” said Camilla.
On the following day Mr. Crump called by appointment on Mr. Gibson, and remained closeted with that gentleman for the greater portion of the morning. Camilla knew well that he was going, and went about the house like a perturbed spirit during his absence. There was a look about her that made them all doubt whether she was not, in truth, losing her mind. Her mother more than once went to the pantry to see that the knives were right; and, as regarded that sharp-pointed weapon, was careful to lock it up carefully out of her daughter’s way. Mr. Crump had declared himself willing to take Camilla back to Gloucester, and had laughed at the obstacles which his niece might, perhaps, throw in the way of such an arrangement. “She mustn’t have much luggage;—that is all,” said Mr. Crump. For Mr. Crump had been made aware of the circumstances of the trousseau. About three o’clock Mr. Crump came back from Mr. Gibson’s, and expressed a desire to be left alone with Camilla. Mrs. French was prepared for everything; and Mr. Crump soon found himself with his younger niece.
“Camilla, my dear,” said he, “this has been a bad business.”
“I don’t know what business you mean, Uncle Jonas.”
“Yes, you do, my dear;—you know. And I hope it won’t come too late to prove to you that young women shouldn’t be too keen in setting their caps at the gentlemen. It’s better for them to be hunted, than to hunt.”
“Uncle Jonas, I
