"All right, sir."

And the cab drove off, with its occupant wondering and startled at the strange fashion in which every-day affairs will sometimes shape themselves, proving again and again how much more wild the truth can be than fiction, and musing upon what kind of an encounter his would be with the fair traveller when next he went home.

There was no record kept of the number of times the over-dressed gentleman gave utterance to that peculiarly-drawling exclamation; but it is certain that he startled his valet by jumping up suddenly at early morn from a dream of his encounter, to cry, as if disturbed by something almost painful:

"Who could have thought it? Bai Jove!"

Volume 1, Chapter III.

BLANDFIELD COURT.

"Did you ring, sir?" said a footman.

"Yes, Thomas. Go to Mr Charles's room, and tell him that I should be glad of half an hour's conversation with him before he goes out, if he can make it convenient."

The library-door of Blandfield Court closed; and after taking a turn or two up and down the room, Sir Philip Vining--a fine, florid, grey-headed old gentleman--stood for a moment gazing from the window at the sweep of park extending down to a glittering stream, which wound its way amidst glorious glades of beech and chestnut, bright in the virgin green of spring. But anxious of mien, and ill at ease, the old gentleman stepped slowly to the handsome carved-oak chair in which he had been seated, and then, intently watching the door, he leaned back, playing with his double gold eyegla.s.s.

Five minutes pa.s.sed, and then a step was heard crossing the hall--a step which made Sir Philip's face lighten up, as, leaning forward, a pleasant smile appeared upon his lip. Then a heavy bold hand was laid upon the handle, and the patient of Dr Tiddson--fair, flushed, and open-countenanced--strode into the room, seeming as if he had brought with him the outer sunshine lingering in his bright brown hair and golden beard. He swung the door to with almost a bang; and then--free of gait, happy, and careless-looking, suffering from no broken rib, fractured clavicle, or concussed brain, as predicted three months before--he strode towards Sir Philip, who rose hurriedly with outstretched hands.

"My dear Charley, how are you this morning? You look flushed. Effects remaining of that unlucky fall, I'm afraid."

"Fall? Nonsense, dad! Never better in my life," laughed the young man, taking the outstretched hands and then subsiding into a chair. "Mere trifle, in spite of the doctor's long phiz."

"It is going back to old matters, but I'm very glad, my dear boy, that I saw Max Bray, and learned of your condition; and I've never said a word before, Charley, but why should you send for him in preference to your father?"

"Pooh!--nonsense, dad! First man I thought of. Did it to save you pain. Ought to have got up, and walked home. But there, let it pa.s.s.

Mind my cigar?"

"No, no, my dear boy, of course not," said the old gentleman, coughing slightly. "If it troubles me, I'll open the window."

"But really, father," said the young man, laying his hand tenderly on Sir Philip's arm, "don't let me annoy you with my bad habit."

"My dear boy, I don't mind. You know we old fogies used to have our bad habits--two bottles of port after dinner, to run down into our legs and make gouty pains, eh, Charley--eh? And look here, my dear boy--look here!"

Charley Vining laughed, and, leaning back in his chair, began to send huge clouds of perfumed smoke from his cabana, as his father drew out a handsome gold-box, and took snuff _a la_ courtier of George the Fourth's day.

"I don't like smoking, my boy; but it's better than our old drinking habits."

"Hear--hear! Cheers from the opposition!" laughed the son.

"Ah, my dear boy, why don't you give your mind to that sort of thing?

Such a fine opening as there is in the county! Writtlum says they could get you in with a tremendous majority."

"Parliament, dad? Nonsense! Pretty m.u.f.f I should be; get up to speak without half-a-dozen words to say."

"Nonsense, Charley--nonsense! The Vinings never yet disgraced their name."

"Unworthy scion of the house, my dear father."

"Now, my dear Charley!" exclaimed Sir Philip, as he looked with pride at the stalwart young fellow who was heir to his baronetcy and broad acres.

"But, let me see, my dear boy; John Martingale called yesterday while you were out. He says he has as fine a hunter as ever crossed country: good fencer, well up to your weight--such a one as you would be proud of I told him to bring the horse on for you to see; for I should not like you to miss a really good hunter, Charley, and I might be able to screw out a cheque."

"My dear father," exclaimed the young man, throwing his cigar-end beneath the grate, "there really is no need. Martingale's a humbug, and only wants to palm upon us some old screw. The mare is in splendid order--quite got over my reckless riding and the fall. I like her better every day, and she'll carry me as much as I shall want to hunt."

"I'm glad you like her, Charley. You don't think her to blame?"

"Blame? No! I threw her down. I like her better every day, I tell you. But you gave a cool hundred too much for her."

"Never mind that. By the way, Charley, Leathrum says they are hatching plenty of pheasants: the spinneys will be full this season; and I want you to have some good shooting. The last poacher, too, has gone from the village."

"Who's that?" said Charley carelessly.

"Diggles--John Diggles. They brought him before me for stealing pheasants' eggs, and I--and I--"

"Well, what did you do, dad? Fine him forty shillings?"

"Well, no, my boy. You see, he threw himself on my mercy--said he'd such a character no one would employ him, and that he wanted to get out of the country; and that if he stopped he should always be meddling with the game. And you see, my dear boy, it's true enough; so I promised to pay his pa.s.sage to America."

"A pretty sort of a county magistrate!" laughed Charley. "What do you think the reverend rectors, Lingon and Braceby, will say to you? Why, they would have given John Diggles a month."

"Perhaps so, my dear boy; but the man has had no chance, and--No; sit still, Charley. I haven't done yet; I want to talk to you."

"All right, dad. I was only going to give the mare a spin. Let her wait." And he threw himself back in his chair.

"Yes, yes--let her wait this morning, my dear boy. But don't say 'All right!' I don't like you to grow slangy, either in your speech or dress." He glanced at the young man's easy tweed suit. "That was one thing in which the old school excelled, in spite of their wine-bibbing propensities--they were particular in their language, dressed well, and were courtly to the other s.e.x."

"Yes," yawned Charley; "but they were dreadful prigs."

"Perhaps so--perhaps so, my dear boy," said the old gentleman, laying his hand upon his son's knee. "But do you know, Charley, I should like to see you a little more courtly and attentive to--to the ladies?"

"I adore that mare you gave me, dad."

"Don't be absurd. I want to see you more in ladies' society; so polishing--so improving!"

"Hate it!" said Charley laconically.

"Nonsense--nonsense! Now look here!"

"No, dad. Look here," said Charley, leaning towards his father and gazing full in his face with a half-serious, half-bantering smile lighting up his clear blue eye. "You're beating about the bush, dad, and the bird won't start. You did not send for me to say that Martingale had been about a horse, or Leathrum had hatched so many pheasants, or that Diggles was going to leave the country. Frankly, now, governor, what's in the wind?"

Sir Philip Vining looked puzzled; he threw himself back in his chair, took snuff hastily, spilling a few grains upon his cambric shirt-frill.

Then, with his gold-box in his left hand, he bent forward and laid his right upon the young man's ample breast, gazing lovingly in his face, and said:

"Frankly, then, my dear Charley, I want to see you married!"

Volume 1, Chapter IV.

CONCERNING MATRIMONY.