Wives and Daughters: An Every-Day Story - Page 507/572

"He is a barrister," put in Cynthia, unable to restrain herself any

longer. "Barrister-at-law."

"Ah, yes. Attorney-at-law. Barrister-at-law. I understand without

your speaking so loud, my dear. What was I going to say before you

interrupted me? When you have been a little in society you will find

that it is reckoned bad manners to interrupt. I had a great deal more

to say to you, and you have put it all out of my head. There was

something else your father wanted me to ask--what was it, Harriet?"

"I suppose you mean about Mr. Hamley?"

"Oh, yes! we are intending to have the house full of Lord

Hollingford's friends next month, and Lord Cumnor is particularly

anxious to secure Mr. Hamley."

"The Squire?" asked Mrs. Gibson in some surprise. Lady Cumnor bowed

slightly, as much as to say, "If you did not interrupt me I should

explain."

"The famous traveller--the scientific Mr. Hamley, I mean. I imagine

he is son to the Squire. Lord Hollingford knows him well; but when we

asked him before, he declined coming, and assigned no reason."

Had Roger indeed been asked to the Towers and declined? Mrs. Gibson

could not understand it. Lady Cumnor went on--

"Now this time we are particularly anxious to secure him, and my

son Lord Hollingford will not return to England until the very week

before the Duke of Atherstone is coming to us. I believe Mr. Gibson

is very intimate with Mr. Hamley; do you think he could induce him to

favour us with his company?"

And this from the proud Lady Cumnor; and the object of it Roger

Hamley, whom she had all but turned out of her drawing-room two years

ago for calling at an untimely hour; and whom Cynthia had turned out

of her heart. Mrs. Gibson was surprised, and could only murmur out

that she was sure Mr. Gibson would do all that her ladyship wished.

"Thank you. You know me well enough to be aware that I am not the

person, nor is the Towers the house, to go about soliciting guests.

But in this instance I bend my head; high rank should always be the

first to honour those who have distinguished themselves by art or

science."

"Besides, mamma," said Lady Harriet, "papa was saying that the

Hamleys have been on their land since before the Conquest; while we

only came into the county a century ago; and there is a tale that

the first Cumnor began his fortune through selling tobacco in King

James's reign."

If Lady Cumnor did not exactly shift her trumpet and take snuff

there on the spot, she behaved in an equivalent manner. She began

a low-toned but nevertheless authoritative conversation with Clare

about the details of the wedding, which lasted until she thought it

fit to go, when she abruptly plucked Lady Harriet up, and carried

her off in the very midst of a description she was giving to Cynthia

about the delights of Spa, which was to be one of the resting-places

of the newly-married couple on their wedding-tour.