`Not quite so fast,' interposed Mr.Ablewhite.`I have a last word to say, which I should have said some time since, if this'--he looked my way, pondering what abominable name he should call me--`if this Rampant Spinster had not interrupted us.I beg to inform you, sir, that, if my son is not good enough to be Miss Verinder's husband, I cannot presume to consider his father good enough to be Miss Verinder's guardian.Understand, if you please, that I refuse to accept the position which is offered to me by Lady Verinder's Will.In your legal phrase, I decline to act.This house has necessarily been hired in my name.I take the entire responsibility of it on my shoulders.It is my house.I can keep it, or let it, just as I please.I have no wish to hurry Miss.Verinder.On the contrary, I beg her to remove her guest and her luggage, at her own entire convenience.'
He made a low bow, and walked out of the room.
That was Mr.Ablewhite's revenge on Rachel, for refusing to marry his son!
The instant the door closed, Aunt Ablewhite exhibited a phenomenon which silenced us all.She became endowed with energy enough to cross the room!
`My dear,' she said, taking Rachel by the hand, `I should be ashamed of my husband, if I didn't know that it is his temper which has spoken to you, and not himself.You,' continued Aunt Ablewhite, turning on me in my corner with another endowment of energy, in her looks this time instead of her limbs--`you are the mischievous person who irritated him.I hope I shall never see you or your tracts again.' She went back to Rachel and kissed her.`I beg your pardon, my dear,' she said, `in my husband's name.
What can I do for you?'
Consistently perverse in everything--capricious and unreasonable in all the actions of her life--Rachel melted into tears at those commonplace words, and returned her aunt's kiss in silence.
`If I may be permitted to answer for Miss Verinder,' said Mr.Bruff, `might I ask you, Mrs.Ablewhite, to send Penelope down with her mistress's bonnet and shawl.Leave us ten minutes together,' he added, in a lower tone, `and you may rely on my setting matters right, to your satisfaction as well as to Rachel's.'
The trust of the family in this man was something wonderful to see.
Without a word more, on her side, Aunt Ablewhite left the room.
`Ah!' said Mr.Bruff, looking after her.`The Herncastle blood has its drawbacks, I admit.But there is something in good breeding after all!'
Having made that purely worldly remark, he looked hard at my corner, as if he expected me to go.My interest in Rachel--an infinitely higher interest than his--riveted me to my chair.
Mr.Bruff gave it up, exactly as he had given it up at Aunt Verinder's, in Montagu Square.He led Rachel to a chair by the window, and spoke to her there.
`My dear young lady,' he said, `Mr.Ablewhite's conduct has naturally shocked you, and taken you by surprise.If it was worth while to contest the question with such a man, we might soon show him that he is not to have things all his own way.But it isn't worth while.You were quite right in what you said just now; he is beneath our notice.'
He stopped, and looked round at my corner.I sat there quite immovable, with my tracts at my elbow, and with Miss Jane Ann Stamper on my lap.
`You know,' he resumed, turning back again to Rachel, `that it was part of your poor mother's fine nature always to see the best of the people about her, and never the worst.She named her brother-in-law your guardian because she believed in him, and because she thought it would please her sister.I had never liked Mr.Ablewhite myself, and I induced your mother to let me insert a clause in the Will, empowering her executors, in certain events, to consult with me about the appointment of a new guardian.One of those events has happened to-day; and I find myself in a position to end all these dry business details, I hope agreeably, with a message from my wife.Will you honour Mrs.Bruff by becoming her guest? And will you remain under my roof, and be one of my family, until we wise people have laid our heads together, and have settled what is to be done next?'
At those words, I rose to interfere.Mr.Bruff had done exactly what I had dreaded he would do, when he asked Mrs.Ablewhite for Rachel's bonnet and shawl.