She did not imagine that she had it in her to have hated any one so much.
Yet, somehow, when the bright, open face appeared, it had the kindred, familiar air, and the look of eagerness so visibly fell at the sight of her alone in the carriage, that she could not defend herself from a certain amusement and interest, while she graciously desired him to get in, and drive with her round the Park, since she had something to tell him that could not be said in a hurry. Then as he looked up in inquiry, suspecting, perhaps, that she had heard of his engagement, she rushed at once to the point.
'I believe you know,' she said, 'that I have no nearer relation than yourself?'
'Not Sandbrook?' he asked, in surprise.
'He is on my mother's side. I speak of my own family. When the Holt came to me, it was as a trust for my lifetime to do my best for it, and to find out to whom afterwards it should belong. I was told that the direct heir was probably in America. Owen Sandbrook has convinced me that you are that person.'
'Thank you,' began young Randolf, somewhat embarrassed; 'but I hope that this will make little difference to me for many years!'
Did he underrate the Holt, the wretch, or was it civility? She spoke a little severely. 'It is not a considerable property, but it gives a certain position, and it should make a difference to you to know what your prospects are.'
The colour flushed into his cheeks as he said, 'True! It may have a considerable effect in my favour. Thank you for telling me;' and then paused, as though considering whether to volunteer more, but as yet her manner was not encouraging, but had all the dryness of effort.
'I have another reason for speaking,' she continued. 'It is due to you to warn you that the estate wants looking after. I am unequal to the requirements of modern agriculture, and my faithful old bailiff, who was left to me by my dear cousin, is past his work. Neither the land nor the people are receiving full justice.'
'Surely Sandbrook could find a trustworthy steward,' returned the young man.
'Nay, had you not better, according to his suggestion, come and live on the estate yourself, and undertake the management, with an allowance in proportion to your position as the heir?'
Her heart beat high with the crisis, and she saw his colour deepen from scarlet to crimson as he said, 'My engagement with Mr. Currie-'
'Mr. Currie knows the state of things. Owen Sandbrook has been in communication with him, and he does not expect to take you back with him, unless you prefer the variety and enterprise of your profession to becoming a country gentleman of moderate means.' She almost hoped that he would, as she named the rental and the proposed allowance, adding, 'The estate must eventually come to you, but it is for you to consider whether it may not be better worth having if, in the interim, it be under your superintendence.'
He had had time to grow more familiar with the idea, and spoke readily and frankly. 'Indeed, Miss Charlecote, I need no inducement. It is the life I should prefer beyond all others, and I can only hope to do my duty by you, and whatever you may think fit to intrust to me.' And, almost against her will, the straightforward honesty of his look brought back to her the countenance where she had always sought for help.
'Then your past misfortunes have not given you a distaste to farming?'
'They did not come from farming, but speculation. I was brought up to farm work, and am more at home in it than in anything else, so that I hope I could be useful to you.'
She was silent. Oh, no; she had not the satisfaction of being displeased. He was ready enough, but not grasping; and she found herself seeing more of the Charlecote in him, and liking him better than she was ready to grant.
'Miss Charlecote,' he said after a few moments' thought, 'in the relations you are establishing between us, it is right that you should know the full extent of the benefits you are conferring.'
It was true, then? Well, it was better than a New World lady, and Honora contrived to look pleasantly expectant.
'I know it was very presumptuous,' he said; 'but I could not help making my feelings known to one who is very dear to you-Miss Fulmort.'
'Indeed she is,' said Honor; though maybe poor Phoebe had of late been a shade less dear to her.
'And with your consent,' said be, perhaps a little disconcerted by her want of warmth, 'I hope this kindness of yours may abridge the term of waiting to which we looked forward.'
'What were you waiting for?'
'Until such time as I could provide a home to which she could take her sister Maria. So you see what you have done for us.'
'Maria!'
'Yes. She promised her mother, on her death-bed, that Maria should be her charge, and no one could wish her to lay it aside.'
'And the family are aware of the attachment?'
'The brothers are, and have been kinder than I dared to expect. It was thought better to tell no one else until we could see our way; but you have a right to know now, and I have the more hope that you will find comfort in the arrangement, since I know how warmly and gratefully she feels towards you. I may tell her?' he added, with a good deal of affirmation in his question.
'What would you do if I told you not?' she asked, thawing for the first time out of her set speeches.
'I should feel very guilty and uncomfortable in writing.'
'Then come home with me to-morrow, and let us talk it over,' she said, acting on a mandate of Owen's which she had strenuously refused to promise to obey. 'You may leave your work in Owen's hands. He wants to stay a few days in town, to arrange his plans, and, I do believe, to have the pleasure of independence; but he will come back on Saturday, and we will spend Easter together.'
'Miss Charlecote,' said Humfrey, suddenly, 'I have no right to ask, but I cannot but fear that my having turned up is an injury to Sandbrook.'
'I can only tell you that he has been exceedingly anxious for the recognition of your rights.'
'I understand now!' exclaimed Humfrey, turning towards her quickly; 'he betrayed it when his mind was astray. I am thrusting him out of what would have been his!'
'It cannot be helped,' began Honor; 'he never expected-'
'I can say nothing against it,' said the young man, with much emotion. 'It is too generous to be talked of, and these are not matters of choice, but duty; but is it not possible to make some compensation?'
'I have done my best to lay up for those children,' said Honor; 'but his sister will need her full half, and my City property has other claimants. I own I should be glad to secure that, after me, he should not be entirely dependent upon health which, I fear, will never be sound again.'
'I know you would be happier in arranging it yourself, though he has every claim on my gratitude. Could not the estate be charged with an annuity to him?'
'Thank you!' said Honor, warmly. 'Such a provision will suit him best. I see that London is his element; indeed, he is so much incapacitated for a country life that the estate would have been a burthen to him, could he have rightly inherited it. He is bent on self-maintenance; and all I wish is, that when I am gone, he should have sonething to fall back upon.'
'I do not think that I can thank you more heartily for any of your benefits than for making me a party to this!' he warmly said. 'But there is no thanking you; I must try to do so by deeds.'
She was forced to allow that her Atheling was winning upon her!
'Two points I liked,' she said to Robert, who spent the evening with her, while Owen was dining with Mr. Currie-'one that he accepted the Holt as a charge, not a gift-the other that he never professed to be marrying for my sake.'