"Nay, he wanteth not for sense, I take it," returned his sister, "but of a truth he is solid matter."

"I marvel if he ever gat into debt," observed Clare quietly from the other side of Jack.

"He!" sneered that young gentleman. "He is the fashion of man that should pay all his trade-debts and ne'er ask for a rebate."

"Well! methinks that were no very ill deed," said Clare.

"A deed whereof no gentleman of spirit should be guilty!"

"There be divers sorts of spirits, Jack."

"There is but one manner of spirit," returned Jack sharply, "and I ne'er saw a spark thereof in yon bale of woollen goods labelled Jack Feversham."

"May be thou wilt, some day," answered Clare.

"That will be when the Ribble runneth up instead of down. He is a coward,--mine head to yon apple thereon."

"Be not so sure thereof."

"But I am sure thereof--as sure as a culverin shot."

Clare dropped the subject.

Rather late on the following evening, with his usual quiet, business-like air, John Feversham asked for a few words with Sir Thomas.

Then--to the astonishment of that gentleman--the purport of his visit came out. He wanted Blanche.

Sir Thomas was quite taken by surprise. It had never occurred to him that silent John Feversham had the faintest design upon any one. And what could this calm, undemonstrative man have seen in the b.u.t.terfly Blanche, which had captivated him, of all people? He promised an answer the next day; and, feeling as if another straw had been added to his burden, he went to consult the ladies.

Lady Enville disapproved of the proposal. So unlike Don Juan!--so totally inferior, in every respect! And would it not be desirable to wait and see whether John were really likely to succeed to his uncle's inheritance within any reasonable time? she calmly urged. Sir Piers might live twenty years yet, or he might have a family of his own, and then where would John Feversham be? In present circ.u.mstances, concluded her Ladyship, enjoying the scent of her pomander, she thought this a most undesirable match for Blanche, who could not do much worse, and might do much better.

Rachel, as might be expected, took the contrary view. Unlike Don Juan!--yes, she hoped so, indeed! This was a sensible young man, who, it might be trusted, would keep Blanche in order, which she was likely enough to need as long as she lived. How should the girl do better? By all means take advantage of the offer.

"Well, should Blanche know? That is, before acceptance."

"Oh, ay!" said Lady Enville.

"Oh, no!" said Rachel.

In Rachel's eyes, the new-fangled plan of giving the young lady a voice in the question was fraught with danger. But Lady Enville prevailed.

Blanche was summoned, and asked what she thought of John Feversham.

It did not appear that Blanche had thought much about him at all. She was rather inclined to laugh at and despise him.

Well, had she any disposition to marry him?

Blanche's shrinking--"Oh no, an' it liked you, Father!"--decided the matter.

To all outward appearance, John Feversham took his rejection very quietly. Sir Thomas couched it in language as kind as possible. John said little in answer, and exhibited no sign of vexation. But Rachel, who was still pursuing her career of amateur detective, thought that he felt more distress than he showed.

Note 1. The embroidery about the heel and ankle, which showed above the low shoes then fashionable.

Note 2. Lest the reader should think this idea too preposterous to have been seriously entertained, I refer him to words actually uttered (and approved by the hearers) on the death of Philippe, Duke of Orleans, brother of Louis the Fourteenth:--"I can a.s.sure you, G.o.d thinks twice before He d.a.m.ns a person of the Prince's quality."--(_Memoires de Dangeau_).

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

WHICH WAS THE COWARD?

"Je crains Dieu, cher Abner, et n'ai point d'autre crainte."

_Racine_.

"There shall be a bull baited to-morrow at Rosso Hall," [now Rossall]

said Jack one evening at rear-supper. "I shall be there, without fail; who goeth withal?"

Lady Enville was doubtful of the weather, but she expressed no compa.s.sion for the bull. Clare declined without giving her reason.

Blanche looked as if she did not know whether or not to ask permission to accompany her brother. Sir Thomas said he had too much to think about; and if not, it was an amus.e.m.e.nt for which he had no fancy.

"And thou, Feversham?"

"No! I thank you."

"No!--and wherefore?"

"Because I count it not right."

"Puritan!" cried Jack in accents of the deepest scorn. Feversham continued his supper with great unconcern.

"Art thou no Puritan?"

"What is a Puritan?" calmly returned John.

"One that reckoneth a laugh sin."

"Then, if so be, I am no Puritan."

"Jack!" reproved his father.

"Sir, of all things in this world, there is nought I do loathe and despise like to a Puritan!"

"There is a worse thing than reckoning a laugh to be sin, Jack," said Sir Thomas gravely; "and that is, reckoning sin a thing to laugh at."

"And wherefore dost loathe a Puritan, quotha?" demanded Rachel. "Be they so much better than thou?"

"There be no gentlemen amongst them, Aunt Rachel," suggested Blanche mischievously.