Charles Lever - Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I.

“Have you apprised Lady Lendrick of this arrangement?”

“No, sir; nor shall I. it shall be for you to do that ‘officiously,’ as the French say, to distinguish from what is called ‘officially.’ I mean you to call upon her and say, in the course of conversation, informally, accidentally, that Miss Lendrick’s arrival at the Priory has been deferred, or that it is fixed for such a date, – in fact, sir, whatever your own nice tact may deem the neatest mode of alluding to the topic, leaving to her the reply. You understand me?”

“I ‘m not so sure that I do.”

“So much the better; your simplicity will be more inscrutable than your subtlety, Haire. I can deal with the one – the other masters me.”

“I declare frankly I don’t like the mission. I was never, so to say, a favorite with her Ladyship.”

“Neither was I, sir,” said the other, with a peremptory loudness that was almost startling.

“Hadn’t you better intimate it by a few lines in a note? Had n’t you better say that, having seen your son during his late visit to town, and learnt his intention to accept a colonial appointment – ”

“All this would be apologetic, sir, and must not be thought of. Don’t you know, Haire, that every unnecessary affidavit is a flaw in a man’s case? Go and see her; your very awkwardness will imply a secret, and she ‘ll be so well pleased with her acuteness in discovering the mystery, she ‘ll half forget its offence.”

“Let me clearly understand what I’ ve got to do. I ‘m to tell her or to let her find out that you have been reconciled to your son Tom?”

“There is not a word of reconciliation, sir, in all your instructions. You are to limit yourself to the statement that touches my granddaughter.”

“Very well; it will be so much the easier. I’m to say, then, that you have adopted her, and placed her at the head of your house; that she is to live here in all respects as its mistress?”

He paused; and as the Judge bowed a concurrence, he went on: “Of course you will allow me to add that I was never consulted; that you did not ask my opinion, and that I never gave one?”

“You are at liberty to, say all this.”

“I would even say that I don’t exactly see how the thing will work. A very young girl, with of course a limited experience of life, will have no common difficulties in dealing with a world so new and strange, particularly without the companionship of one of her own sex.”

“I cannot promise to supply that want, but she shall see as much of you as possible.” And the words were uttered with a blended courtesy and malice, of which he was perfect master. Poor Haire, however, only saw the complimentary part, and hurriedly pledged himself to be at Miss Lendrick’s orders at all times.

“Come and let me show you how I mean to lodge her. I intend her to feel a perfect independence of me and my humors. We are to see each other from inclination, not constraint: I intend, sir that we should live on good terms; and as the Church will have nothing to say to the compact, it is possible it may succeed.

“These rooms are to be hers,” said he, opening a door which offered a vista through several handsomely furnished rooms, all looking out upon a neatly kept flower-garden. “Lady Lendrick, I believe, had long since destined them for a son and daughter-in-law of hers, who are on their way home from India. The plan will be now all the more difficult of accomplishment.”

“Which will not make my communication to her the pleasanter.”

“But redound so much the more to the credit of your adroitness, Haire, if you succeed. Come over here this evening and report progress.” And with this he nodded an easy good-bye, and strolled down the garden.

“I don’t envy Haire his brief in this case,” muttered he. “He’ll not have the ‘court with him,’ that’s certain;” and he laughed spitefully to himself as he went.

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