It was Bashville who now entered the library with a salver, which he
proffered to Alice, saying, "The gentleman is waiting in the round
drawing-room, miss."
Alice took the gentleman's card, and read, "Mr. Wallace Parker."
"Oh!" she said, with vexation, glancing at Bashville as if to divine
his impression of the visitor. "My cousin--the one we were speaking
of just now--has come to see me."
"How fortunate!" said Lydia. "He will tell me the meaning of pug.
Ask him to lunch with us."
"You would not care for him," said Alice. "He is not much used to
society. I suppose I had better go and see him."
Miss Carew did not reply, being plainly at a loss to understand how
there could be any doubt about the matter. Alice went to the round
drawing-room, where she found Mr. Parker examining a trophy of
Indian armor, and presenting a back view of a short gentleman in a
spruce blue frock-coat. A new hat and pair of gloves were also
visible as he stood looking upward with his hands behind him. When
he turned to greet Alice lie displayed a face expressive of resolute
self-esteem, with eyes whose watery brightness, together with the
bareness of his temples, from which the hair was worn away,
suggested late hours and either very studious or very dissipated
habits. He advanced confidently, pressed Alice's hand warmly for
several seconds, and placed a chair for her, without noticing the
marked coldness with which she received his attentions.
"I was surprised, Alice," he said, when he had seated himself
opposite to her, "to learn from Aunt Emily that you had come to live
here without consulting me. I--"
"Consult you!" she said, contemptuously, interrupting him. "I never
heard of such a thing! Why should I consult you as to my movements?"
"Well, I should not have used the word consult, particularly to
such an independent little lady as sweet Alice Goff. Still, I think
you might--merely as a matter of form, you know--have informed me of
the step you were taking. The relations that exist between us give
me a right to your confidence."
"What relations, pray?"
"What relations!" he repeated, with reproachful emphasis.
"Yes. What relations?"
He rose, and addressed her with tender solemnity. "Alice," he began;
"I have proposed to you at least six times--"
"And have I accepted you once?"
"Hear me to the end, Alice. I know that you have never explicitly
accepted me; but it has always been understood that my needy
circumstances were the only obstacle to our happiness. We--don't
interrupt me, Alice; you little know what's coming. That obstacle no
longer exists. I have been made second master at Sunbury College,
with three hundred and fifty pounds a year, a house, coals, and gas.
In the course of time I shall undoubtedly succeed to the head
mastership--a splendid position, worth eight hundred pounds a year.
You are now free from the troubles that have pressed so hard upon
you since your father's death; and you can quit at
once--now--instantly, your dependent position here."