"I write my own letters of business," said Mr. Haveloc shortly.
"What is come to you all I can't think," pursued Mr. Casement. "But I'll worm it out of Master Grey, that's my comfort. And what are you about little woman? Why don't you give us some music?"
"I am working a bag, Sir," said Margaret rising and laying it down "but I will play if you wish it."
"Do," said Mr. Casement, taking up the bag and examining it. "Mercy, how smart! Who is this for--eh?"
"For Miss Gage," said Margaret with a faultering voice; and as she spoke, she pressed her hand on her side, and sat down suddenly.
Mr. Haveloc, who was standing at the piano arranging her books, now hurried up to her.
"I am afraid you are ill," he said, "do not think of playing. You are quite unequal to the exertion. Do you find the room too hot?"
"It is hot," said Margaret, who seemed on the verge of bursting into tears. "I think, I will go to my uncle, or, perhaps, I shall interrupt him. I--"
"Poor little soul, she has no mother!" said Mr. Casement, whose sagacity had discerned that something unusual occupied the minds of the party; and whose coarse nature was not so destitute of feeling, but that he saw how distressing must be the situation of a young girl, at any important crisis of her life, without the guidance of an experienced female friend.
This remark which Mr. Haveloc feared would entirely destroy her composure, had a contrary effect. After a struggle of a few moments, she forced back her tears, and rose quietly up.
"I cannot play to you to-night," said she to Mr. Casement with a smile, "for I have a head-ache, and I am afraid my hand would not be very steady. Perhaps, Mr. Haveloc, you will be so kind as to wish my uncle good night for me."
She bowed her head, and was about to leave the room, but Mr. Haveloc hastened after her.
"Let me beg you not to leave us," he said, "if you take a few turns in the conservatory where the air is cooler you will find yourself better."
He led her as he spoke into the conservatory, which opened from the drawing-room; and Margaret finding it easier to say nothing, than to trust her voice with a reply, suffered him to do as he pleased. He drew her hand through his arm, and led her slowly up and down.
"You must permit me to prescribe for you," said he gently, "for I think if there is anything that vexes you, you will feel less depressed in company than if you were to go up stairs and sit alone in your own room.
For you have no companion--no--"
"No mother;" said Margaret, looking up into his face, with an expression of quiet sorrow that nearly upset all his plans; for had he then said all that he felt and hoped, he might have set out upon his travels the next morning.
"Are these your azalias?" said he, stopping before one of the stands, "they look very gay. Do you remember when you asked Mr. Grey for them; the first evening I came."
"Oh! do you recollect that, Mr. Haveloc!" said Margaret.
"I remember every particular of those few minutes you chose not to speak to me."
"Oh, Mr. Haveloc, you did not speak to _me_!" said Margaret, smiling, "and, of course, strangers could not have any thing to say to each other."
"Have you read the book upon Etruria?" said Mr. Haveloc.
"Yes--long ago."
"And you were interested by it?"
"Oh! very much. It seems to me so strange that people should almost have forgotten the existence of such a nation, until lately; when these discoveries were made."
"Have you seen any account of the ruined cities in Central America?"
"No; what cities? Who built them?"
"There seems to be some doubt on that subject; but it is generally believed that these are the cities of the Mexicans which were actually depopulated by the Spaniards; and which now lie, temples, altars, and palaces, overrun with vegetation, and buried in forests."
"And are they in any state of preservation?"
"Almost as they were left by their owners; buildings of vast extent and elaborate workmanship. The work which has lately come out on this subject, is crowded with drawings, which give a perfect idea of these remains."
"I should like to see that book;" said Margaret.
"I shall have great pleasure in showing it to you. I have just been reading it," said Mr. Haveloc.
"And these Mexicans were then as civilized a people as the Etruscans?"
"More luxurious; but perhaps less artistical. There is a great deal of elegance in the Etruscan decorations."
"That is true. What a number of new things I have to learn. I did not know that any traces of those cities remained; and I believed there was a great deal of fiction in the accounts of the Spaniards."
"So did Robertson. He had been assured that there were no ruins in that part of the world; and the accounts of the Spanish invaders were too magnificent to be believed without some confirmation."
"And who wrote this work?"
"An American named Stevens, who had displayed a great deal of enterprise and research. A singular occupation for one of that nation, for it was not a very likely means of earning dollars."
"Oh! there is a little prejudice in that remark, Mr. Haveloc," said Margaret. "Perhaps _all_ Americans do not love money better than anything in the world."
"I will attend to all the good advice you give me;" said Mr. Haveloc, smiling, "you warn me, in the present instance, not to indulge in national prejudices."
"Ah! you may well stare at finding me alone," said Mr. Casement; "the young ones--philandering in the green-house yonder."
"Oh! I forgot Mr. Casement," said Margaret, blushing.
"So did I, utterly," returned Mr. Haveloc, as he led Margaret back to the drawing-room.
Now Margaret's emotion had arisen from the idea which suddenly occurred to her, that Miss Gage might withdraw her friendship from her, on account of her rejection of Hubert Gage. But she found that she had greatly undervalued the calm and judicious mind of Elizabeth in attributing to her an injustice, which, however natural, no dispassionate person could consider reasonable.
She called on Margaret the next day, and the first words she spoke were, to assure her that she was not come to plead her brother's cause; but to insist that what had passed, should prove no interruption to their friendship. Most gladly did Margaret, with many tears, give her this promise.
Elizabeth was too considerate to question her upon the cause of her rejection; but Margaret was glad to talk the matter over with her--to hope, and to be assured that she had done nothing wrong throughout the business.
Elizabeth could not charge Margaret with having ever given Hubert any more encouragement than circumstances had almost demanded: but to Margaret's repeated declarations, that Hubert felt no real attachment to her--though she smiled--she shook her head. She knew, that occasionally, a great deal of strong feeling exists beneath a gay and careless temperament. But she said, that her father was exerting himself to get Hubert a ship, and as soon as he was afloat again, she hoped that Margaret would be as much at Chirke Weston as before.
This conversation, which Margaret, full of joy and gratitude, repeated to Mr. Grey, was by him very speedily retailed to Mr. Haveloc; which relieved him of some apprehensions, that Margaret's agitation on the preceding evening had caused him, namely, that she had begun to repent the decision she had given her uncle on the subject of Hubert Gage.
This interview removed from Margaret, the only source of regret, which remained to her on that subject. Her uncle was all kindness, and never referred to her decision; and to crown her content, Mr. Casement, about this time followed the example of his "old woman," and was laid up for several weeks with an attack of rheumatism.
END OF VOL. I.