At this point, a diversion was created by Charis, who took the strongest exception to his unflattering description of her beloved Endymion’s noble demeanour, and rose to his defence with unaccustomed vigour. During the interchange which followed, Endymion, conceding to Harry his brotherly rights, became plunged in profound thought, from which he emerged presently, to startle the combatants by saying: “Ay, so they would!” Perceiving that the two Merrivilles were staring at him with a sad want of comprehension, he added: “What you said, Harry! My mother, and Frederica! Come round! What’s more, if we could do the thing — get the knot tied! — without either of ’em knowing it, we should have it blocked at both ends! Well, what I mean is — no sense in kicking up a dust! no sense in having spasms! Come to think of it, no sense in getting me transferred, or sent on a curst mission, or some such devilish thing! Stands to reason!”
Charis’s soft eyes glowed with admiration of this powerful ratiocination, but Harry was unimpressed.
“No, and there’s no sense in airmongering either! How the deuce could you get the knot tied without everyone’s knowing all about it? If you’ve got a notion of eloping with Charis, I’ll tell you to your head it won’t fadge! And if you think I’ll help my sister to sink herself below reproach, a mighty pretty notion you must have of me!”
“Never, never would I do such a thing!” declared Charis.
“No!” said Endymion, flushing darkly. “And a mighty pretty notion you must have of me, Harry, if you think I would either! Talk of loose screws —! I wonder at it that you should allow Charis even to exchange the time of day with me!”
“Oh, take a damper!” said Harry. “Of course I don’t — think it! But if you haven’t got elopement in mind, what have you got? I’m dashed if I can see any other way of doing the thing secretly!”
“No,” agreed Endymion gloomily. “Well, for God’s sake —!”
“Haven’t got anything in mind,” explained Endymion. “Just thinking it would be a devilish good thing if it could be done.”
Luckily, since Harry, striving to recover his breath, showed alarming signs of allowing his feelings to overcome him, the symposium was brought to an end by the clock on the mantel-shelf, which, inexorably striking the hour, recalled Endymion to the realization of his military duties. Taking hurried leave, he fled.
“If ever I met such a knock-in-the-cradle!” exploded Harry. “ ‘Just thinking it would be a devilish good thing if it could be done —!’ Yes, and another devilish good thing would be if either of you had as much rumgumption as a couple of sparrows! Only you haven’t, and it’s my belief you never will have!” Charis burst into tears.
XXVI
Except that Harry, repenting of his harsh words, became reconciled with his sister, matters were in the same unsatisfactory state when the Hertfordshire party returned to London three days later.
Before her feet had touched the flagway, Frederica saw that Charis was looking pale and fagged; but in the bustle of arrival there was no opportunity for any private talk. Not until the baggage had been carried in, the servants greeted, Felix’s medicine unpacked, and Felix himself persuaded, not without difficulty, to retire to bed, to recover from the journey, was Frederica able to turn her attention to her sister. She then invited her to come to her own bedchamber, to help her to unpack her portmanteau, saying: “It seems as if I hadn’t seen you for months! I hope to heaven we never have to live through another such period!”
“Oh, no!” said Charis, shuddering. “It must have been so dreadful for you!”
“Well, it was,” admitted Frederica. “Indeed, if it hadn’t been for Alverstoke I don’t know how I should have managed. I can never be sufficiently grateful to him. So firm and patient with Felix! Such an unfailing support to me, particularly during those two days when I feared — But don’t let us talk of it! My dear, have you been ill? You are looking positively whey-faced!”
“Oh, no! I am perfectly well! It’s the hot weather.”
“Very likely. I have been feeling it very much myself, even in the country: horridly languid, and a sort of lowness and oppression. It must have been far worse here. Indeed, when we got between the houses Jessamy said it was like driving into an oven. Never mind! I hope we shall be many miles from London within a few days. Did Alverstoke tell you of the delightful scheme he has made for us?”
“No,” Charis answered, staring at her apprehensively.
“We are to go down to Alver, and to stay there for as long as we choose!” said Frederica, beginning to unpack her portmanteau. “I daresay I ought to have declined the offer, but it was too tempting! so exactly what the boys will like! It is in Somerset, you know, and quite near Bath, which is an advantage. — Oh, dear, just look at this muslin! I shall coax you to do my packing when we set out for Alver!” Receiving no reply, she looked round, to find that Charis had sunk into a chair, and had buried her face in her hands. “Charis! Dearest, what’s the matter?”
“I am so very unhappy!”
“Good God, why?”
“I don’t want to go to Alver!”
Curbing her exasperation, Frederica said calmly: “Do you mean that you had liefer go to the seaside?”
“Oh, no! I don’t wish to go anywhere!”
“Charis, I don’t think you perfectly understand the case,” said Frederica. “It is necessary for Felix’s health to take him out of London. And if this is what London is like during the summer months, so intolerably stuffy and dusty, I am very sure it is necessary for all our healths! Are you thinking that it will be dull? Perhaps you may find it so, after our rakings, but you were not used to think the country dull. I believe Alver is a most beautiful place, too: do you remember what the guide-book said about its park, and its pleasure gardens, and its lake, with all the rare shrubs planted round it? We shall never be tired of sketching there! Alverstoke says that the boys may fish the trout-stream, too — I wish you might have seen Jessamy, when he learned of the scheme! You wouldn’t want to deny him such a treat! After all, love, neither he nor Felix grudged us ours, did they?”
“Oh, no, no! I didn’t mean — Of course they must go! If only I might remain here! I thought perhaps I could stay in Harley Street. If Aunt Seraphina goes with you, poor Aunt Amelia will be glad to have me, I daresay.”
“Aunt Seraphina will not go with us, for I don’t mean to ask her. I see no need for any chaperon, and if Idid I shouldn’t call upon her services, for I’m quite out of charity with her! As for leaving you with Aunt Amelia, you may put that notion out of your head!”
“Oh, Frederica —!”
“If you don’t want to drive me into a pelter, stop moaning.!” snapped Frederica. “You may stop shamming it, too! Upon my word, Charis, I wonder at you! What you wish to do is to remain in London, making a cake of yourself over Endymion Dauntry, and well I know it! I should suppose that that is what you have been doing while I was away! I wish you may not have set people in a bustle!”
“I love Endymion!” declared Charis, rearing up her head. “And he loves me!”
“Then I see no occasion for all these die-away airs,” responded Frederica prosaically.
Charis started up, eagerness in her face. “Do you mean — can you mean that you consent to our marriage?”
“There’s no saying what I might do, if your attachment proved to be more lasting than any of your previous ones,” replied Frederica lightly.
“You don’t mean to let- me marry him — ever!” said Charis, in throbbing accents. “You mean to separate us!”
“What, by spending a few months at Alver? If your mutual passion won’t survive — ”