CHAPTER VIIL. /

“ Arcthusa, Tis well, my lord, your courting of ladies, * * * * * *
Claremont. Sure this lady has a good turn done her against her will.” PHILASTER,
IN the breakfast-room at Knaresdean, the same day, and almost at the same hour, in which occurred the scene and con-
versation at the rectory recorded in our last chapter, sat Lord
Vargrave and Caroline alone. The party had dispersed, as was usual, at noon. They heard at a distance the sounds of the
billiard-balls. Lord Doltimore was playing with Colonel
Legard, one of the best players in Europe, but who, fortu- nately for Doltimore, had, of late, made it a rule never to play for money. Mrs. and the Misses Cipher, and most of the guests, were in the billiard-room looking on. Lady Raby was writing letters, and Lord Raby riding over his home farm. Caroline and Lumley had been for some time in close and earnest conversation. Miss Merton was seated in a large arm-
chair, much moved, with her handkerchief to her eyes. Lord
Vargrave, with his back to the chimneypiece, was bending down and speaking in a very low voice, while his quick eye glanced, ever and anon, from the lady’s countenance to the windows— to the doors, to be prepared against any interruption.
“No, my dear friend,” said he, “ believe me that I am sincere, My feelings for you are, indeed, such as no words can paint.”
“ Then why
aye
“Why wish you wedded to another — why wed another — myself? Caroline, I have often before explained to you that we are in this the victims of an inevitable fate. It is absolutely ‘necessary that I should wed Miss Cameron. I never deceived you from the first. I should have loved her,—my heart would _ have accompanied my hand, but for your too seductive beauty, _ —your superior mind !—yes, Caroline, your mind attracted me. ; more than your beauty. Your mind seemed kindred to my — - own—inspired with the proper and wise ambition which regards 3 _ the fools of the world as puppets—as counters—as chessmen. . For myself, a very angel from heaven could not make me give — up the great game of life !—yield to my enemies—slip from Za “the ladder—unravel the web I have woven! Share my heart— — my friendship—my schemes! this is the true and dignified — affection that should exist between minds like ours; all the a3 rest is the prejudice of children.” “Vargrave, I am ambitious—worldly: I own it, but I could — give up all for you!” “You think so, for you do not know the sacrifice. You see ' me now apparently rich—in power—courted ; and this fate you are willing to share; and this fate you should share, were it the] real one I could bestow on you. But reverse the medal. De- prived of office — fortune gone — debts pressing — destitution — notorious —the ridicule of embarrassments — the — disrepute 5 attached to poverty and defeated ambition — an exile in | ‘some foreign town on the poor pension to which alone I should be entitled—a mendicant on the public purse; and that, too, so. eaten into by demands and debts, that there is not a grocer in the next market-town who would envy the income of the retired minister! Retire, fallen---despised,—in the prime of life—in the zenith of my hopes! Suppose that I could bear this for myself—could I bear it for you? You, born to be the ornament of courts! and you—could you see me thus? life embittered — career lost—and feel, ge serous as you are, that your love had entailed on me—on us both—on our children —this miserable lot! Impossible, Caroline! we are too wise for such romance. It is not because we love too ‘little, but because our love is worthy of each other, that we bos I 2
disdain to make love a curse! We cannot wrestle against the ‘
- world, but we may shake hands with it, and worm the miser out of its treasures. My heart must be ever yours—my hand
~. must be Miss Cameron’s. Money I must have!—my whole
career depends on it. It is literally with me the highwayman’s choice—money or life.”
Vargrave paused, and took Caroline’s hand.
“T cannot reason with you,” said she; “you know the strange - empire you have obtained over me, and, certainly, in spite of all that has passed (and Caroline turned pale) I could bear anything rather than that you should hereafter reproach me for selfish — disregard of your interests—your just ambition.”
“My noble friend! I do not say that I shall not feel a deep and sharp pang at seeing you wed another,—but I shall be con- soled by the thought that I have assisted to procure for you a station worthier of your merits than that which I can offer. Lord Doltimore is rich—you will teach him to employ his riches well; he is weak—your intellect will govern him ; he is in love —your beauty will suffice to preserve his regard. Ah, we shall
f _ be dear friends to the last!”
More—but to the same effect—did this able and crafty villain continue to address to Caroline, whom he alternately soothed, irritated, flattered, and revolted. Love him she certainly did, as far as love in her could extend; but perhaps his rank, his reputation, had served to win her affection; and, not knowing his embarrassments, she had encouraged a worldly hope that if
Evelyn should reject his hand it might be offered to her. ‘
Under this impression she had trifled—she had coquetted— she had played with the serpent till it had coiled around her— and she could not escape its fascination and its folds. She was _ sincere—she could have resigned much for Lord Vargrave ; but his picture startled and appalled her. For difficulties in a palace she might be prepared—perhaps even for some ptivations in a cothige ornée—but certainly not for penury in a lodging-house ! She listened by degrees with more attention to Vargrave’s description of the power and homage that would be hers if she could secure Lord Doltimore: she listened, and was in part consoled. But the thought of Evelyn again crossed her; and, |
le. aR.
nae
he fate to which Lord ioe thus coldly APES to ndemn one so lovely and so innocent. - “But do not, Vargrave,” she said, “do not be too sanguine ; Evelyn may reject you. She does not see you with my eyes; ‘it is only a sense of honour that, as yet, forbids her openly to — refuse the fulfilment of an engagement from which I know that she shrinks; and if she does refuse, and you be free,—-and I another's a “Even in that case,’ winder sien Vargrave, “I must turn to the | Golden Idol ; my rank and name must buy me an heiress, if not — so endowed as Evelyn, wealthy enough, at least, to take from — my wheels the drag-chain of disreputable debt. But Evelyn— I will not doubt of her !—her heart is still unoccupied !” “True, as yet her affections are not engaged.” _ And this Maltravers—she is romantic, I fancy—did he seem - captivated by her beauty or her fortune?” _ “No, indeed, I think not; he has been very little with us of — late. de talked to her more as to a child—there is a disparity of years.” “Tam many years older than Maltravers,” muttered Vargrave, 4 moodily.
€ You—but your manner is livelier, and, therefore, younger
“ Fair flatterer ! Maltravers does not love me: I fear his report
of my character——” - “J never heard him speak of you, Taree: and I will do _ Evelyn the justice to say, that precisely as she does not love 4 _ she esteems and respects you.” _ “Esteems — respects —these are the feelings for a prudent - Hymen,” said Vargrave, with a smile. “But, hark! I don’t hear the billiard-balls; they may find us here—we had better
separate.”
i?
>
Lord Vargrave lounged into the billiard-room. The young men had just finished playing, and were about to visit Thunderer, who had won the race, and was now the property of Lord Doltimore.
Vargrave accompanied them to the stables; and after con-
a profusion of compliments on fore-hand, hind-quarters, breeding,
bone, substance, and famous points, he contrived to draw Dolti- more into the court-yard, while Colonel Legard remained in
~~ converse high with the head groom.
“Doltimore, I leave Knaresdean to-morrow; you go to London, I suppose? Will you take a little packet for me to the Home Office ?”
“Certainly, when I go; but I think of staying a few days’
with Legard’s uncle—the old admiral—he has a hunting-box
in the neighbourhood, and has asked us both over.”
“Oh, I can detect the attraction—but certainly it is a fair one—the handsomest girl in the county; pity she has no money.”
“I don’t care for money,” said Lord Doltimore, colouring and settling his chin in his neckcloth; “but you are mistaken ; I have no thoughts that way. Miss Merton is a very fine girl; but I doubt much if she cares for me. I would never marry any woman who was not very much in love with me.” And Lord Doltimore laughed rather foolishly.
“You are more modest than clear-sighted,” said Vargrave
smiling ; “but mark my words—I predict that the beauty of
next season will be a certain Caroline Lady Doltimore.” The conversation dropped.
“T think that will be settled well,” said Vargrave to himself, as he was dressing for dinner. “ Caroline will manage Doltimore, and I shall manage one vote in the Lords and three in the Com-
mons. I have already talked him into proper politics ; a trifle
all this, to be sure: but I had nothing else to amuse me, and one must never lose an occasion. Besides, Doltimore is rich, and rich friends are always useful. I have Caroline, too, in my power, and she may be of service with respect to this Evelyn, who, instead of loving, I half hate: she has crossed my path, robbed me of wealth; and now—if she does refuse
me—but no, I will not think of that /” :
cealing his ignorance of horseflesh as well as he could, beneath a