Читать книгу The Miser's Daughter - William Harrison Ainsworth - Страница 8

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Uncle Abel did not join his nephew and brother till dinner was served, and took little part in the conversation that occurred during the meal. Habituated to his humours, Trussell was as lively and amusing as ever, and rattled away like a young man; but Randulph could not help being oppressed by his elder uncle's grave looks. He also felt, he scarcely knew why, dissatisfied with himself, and wished to regain Abel's esteem. Thus the dinner passed off; the cloth was removed, and the wine placed on the board. The glasses were filled by the attentive Mr. Jukes, who took especial care that on this occasion one of the oldest and choicest bottles should be brought forth, and his attention was speedily rewarded by a very beneficial change in his master's temper.

"Well, Randulph," said Abel, while sipping his second glass, "how do you like your new society?"

"I have seen so little of it at present, sir," replied the young man, "that I can form no precise opinion; but I must say, that I think Mr. Villiers the best bred man I have ever met with. Lady Brabazon a woman of infinite spirit and wit, and her daughter, Clementina—"

"The most beautiful creature you ever beheld!" supplied Abel, laughing drily; "and you have already lost your heart to her."

"So far from thinking her the most beautiful creature I ever beheld," returned Randulph, "she is not to compare with—with—"

He was about to add the name of the miser's daughter, but the looks of his uncles, both of which were fixed on him, though with a very different expression, checked him.

"I know what you are about to say, Randulph," observed uncle Abel, sternly; "you were going to mention Hilda Scarve. Once for all, let me caution you against alluding to her. I have a particular reason for disliking her father—for hating him, indeed, for my feelings towards him are of the bitterest kind, and I cannot endure to hear of any one connected with him."

"Well, sir, your wishes shall be obeyed, so far as it is in my power to obey them," replied Randulph; "but I should not be dealing frankly with you, if I did not tell you that I think them a little unreasonable. I can easily understand that Mr. Scarve may have offended you, but his daughter—"

"Randulph," cried Abel, fixing his grey eye upon him, "you are in love with that girl, or rather, you fancy yourself so; for love, though sown at once, requires time to bring it to maturity. You must subdue this passion, if you entertain it. The daughter of such a man must inherit some of his bad qualities."

"There I think you are unjust, sir," rejoined Randulph. "And, grant that the father may be objectionable, the mother, whom she evidently takes after, may have been—"

"Randulph!" exclaimed Abel, interrupting him with a sharp cry, "would you drive me mad?"

"What have I said, sir?" asked the young man, in astonishment.

"For Heaven's sake, hold your tongue!" whispered uncle Trussell, who had in vain been endeavouring to attract his nephew's attention. "Don't you see he can't bear to talk of these Scarves?"

Randulph was greatly disconcerted. In vain he tried to rally; no subject for conversation occurred to him; but at last uncle Trussell came to his relief.

"We are going to breakfast with Beau Villiers to-morrow morning, sir," he said to his brother. "We were asked to Lady Fazakerly's drum to-night; and Lady Brabazon invited us to accompany her to Ranelagh."

"And why didn't you go?" asked Abel, peevishly.

"Because, sir, I thought it might not be agreeable to you," returned Trussell.

"Pshaw! what care I about it!" rejoined Abel. "Plunge your charge over head and ears in dissipation! Surfeit him, as the grocers do their apprentices with sweets! Never mind me in future. Do what you will."

Uncle Trussell winked at Randulph.

"We'll take him at his word," he whispered.

But Randulph took no notice of the signal. His heart was too fully occupied with Hilda Scarve; and he felt a rising dislike to uncle Abel which he could not conquer. Excusing himself from taking more wine, he repaired to the garden, and entered the summer-house, where he gazed at the broad and beautiful river flowing past it, and the venerable Abbey on the opposite shore, near which she dwelt whom he now began to acknowledge was mistress of his heart.