The park at Custins, which was spacious, had many woodland walks attached to it, from which, through vistas of the timber, distant glimpses of the sea were caught. Within half a mile of the house the woods were reached, and within a mile the open sea was in sight,--and yet the wanderers might walk for miles without going over the same ground. Here, without other companions, Lady Mary and Miss Boncassen found themselves one afternoon, and here the latter told her story to her lover's sister. 'I long to tell you something,' she said.
'Is it a secret?' asked Lady Mary.
'Well; yes it is,--if you will keep it so. I would rather you should keep it a secret. But I will tell you.' Then she stood still looking into the other's face. 'I wonder how you will take it.'
'What can it be?'
'Your brother has asked me to be his wife.'
'Silverbridge!'
'Yes;--Lord Silverbridge. You are astonished.'
Lady Mary was much astonished,--so much astonished that words escaped from her, which she regretted afterwards. 'I thought there was someone else.'
'Who else?'
'Lady Mabel Grex. But I know nothing.'
'I think not,' said Miss Boncassen slowly. 'I have seen them together and I think not. There might be somebody, though I think not her. But why do I say that? Why do I malign him, and make so little of myself. There is no one else, Lady Mary. Is he not true?'
'I think he is true.'
'I am sure he is true. And he has asked me to be his wife.'
'What did you say?'
'Well;--what do you think? What is it probable that such a girl as I would say when such a man as your brother asks her to be his wife? Is he not such a man as a girl would love?'
'Oh yes.'
'Is he not handsome as a god?' Mary stared at her with all her eyes. 'And sweeter than any god those pagan races knew? And is he not good-tempered, and loving; and has he not that perfection of manly dash without which I do not think I do not think I could give my heart to any man?'
'Then you have accepted him?'
'And his rank and wealth! The highest position in all the world in my eyes.'
'I do not think you should take him for that.'
'Does it not all help? Can you put yourself in my place? Why should I refuse him? No, not for that. I would not take him for that. But if I love him,--because he is all that my imagination tells me that a man ought to be;--if to be his wife seems to be the greatest bliss that could happen to a woman; if I feel that I could die to serve him, that I would live to worship him, that his touch would be sweet to me, his voice music, his strength the only supports in the world on which I would care to lean,--what then?'
'Is it so?'
'Yes it is so. it is after that fashion that I love him. He is my hero;--and not the less so because there is none higher than he among the nobles of the greatest land under the sun. Would you have me for a sister?' Lady Mary could not answer all at once.
She had to think of her father,--and then she thought of her own lover. Why should not Silverbridge be as well entitled to his choice as she considered herself to be? And yet how would it be with her father? Silverbridge would in process of time be the head of the family. Would it be proper that he should marry an American?
'You would not like me for a sister?'
'I was thinking of my father. For myself I like you.'
'Shall I tell you what I said to him?'
'If you will.'
'I told him that he must ask his friends;--that I would not be his wife to be rejected by them all. Nor will I. Though it be heaven I will not creep there through a hole. If I cannot go with my head upright, I will not go even there.' The she turned round as though she were prepared in her emotion to walk back to the house alone. But Lady mare ran after her, and having caught her put her arm round her waist and kissed her.
'I at any rate will love you,' said Lady Mary.
'I will do as I said,' continued Miss Boncassen. 'I will do as I have said. Though I love your brother down to the ground he shall not marry me without his father's consent.' Then they returned arm-in-arm close together; but very little was said between them.
When Lady Mary entered the house she was told that Lady Cantrip wished to see her in her own room.