WHO ARE THE DACRES?
NOW he was gone, and with the moment of departure came that revulsion which always followed her interviews with him.
How was it that he had stolen into those strangely confidential terms with her? So soon as he went she felt like a somnambulist awakened, who opens her eyes in the confusion of an interrupted dream, and in an unintelligible situation. Something for a moment like the panic of such an awaking, agitated Miss Gray.
Next day, at about five o’clock, came the old Countess of Ardenbroke. The invalid either could not or would not get out of her carriage, so Laura Gray came down and got into it, and was very affably received by the thin old lady in an ermine tippet, propped with cushions, and with her feet upon a heated stool. It was hard to say which was paying this visit. She made Laura sit opposite to her, and told her all about her health and her sufferings, and her wants and sorrows with her maid, and various little bits of news about fifty people of whom Laura had never heard before. And now the visit being over, before Laura bid her good-bye, she said —
“You know something, Lady Ardenbroke, of the De Beaumirails, who were related to us?”
“Yes; not a great deal, but something.”
“Can you tell me anything about relations or connexions of theirs named Dacre?”
“Yes, there were Dacres.”
“Are they related to us?”
“No. De Beaumirail’s uncle married a Dacre, that’s all. Why?”
“Nothing, only that; I know that a Mr. Dacre has turned up in London who claims to be a relative of the De Beaumirails.”
“Don’t believe it, my dear. The last of those Dacres was Alfred Dacre, who died, let me see fully ten years ago.”
“Alfred! Are you sure?”
“Yes. Alfred.”
“Oh, then, it must be a brother of his.”
“No, it can’t be that. There was no, brother. The property has gone to the Davenants,” said the old lady.
“Alfred Dacre, a friend of Ardenbroke’s,” repeated Miss Gray; “then you have seen him, I dare say?”
“Oh, dear, yes, a hundred times.”
“Then it must be a mistake. Was he agreeable?”
“Yes; agreeable, amusing, and odd. I think he was clever.”
“And young?”
“Yes, young — quite a young man.”
“And good-looking?”
“Oh, very good-looking. The Dacres were all that. I’ll tell you what will give you an idea. If you suppose Mario, the Tenore at the Opera, in some of his most becoming parts, you have a very good idea of him.”
“Oh!” said Laura Gray in a very low tone, dropping her eyes for a moment. She had seen the great Tenore, and the general likeness had struck her on seeing her mysterious visitor.
“Yes, it must be a mistake,” she repeated.
“I think so,” said the old lady. “There is not one of that family left, and it is ten years since that handsome creature died. There may be cousins. I don’t say positively; but if there are I never heard. And why do you ask me all these questions?”
“I haven’t asked many, have I? But it was only that when we heard him mentioned, Julia Wardell remembered the name, and was puzzling over it.”
“Well, if there is one of that handsome family left, pray don’t think of making him master of Gray Forest. Dear me, how the little creature blushes!”
She had blushed very brilliantly.
“I — I didn’t know; but if I have,” said Laura, “it is because I blush more capriciously than any other person I ever heard of, and totally without a cause.”
And hereupon she blushed still more intensely.
“Well, dear, don’t mind; it’s very becoming.”
And she kissed her. And Miss Gray said, with a laugh —
“It is very provoking; but I assure you my blushes bear false witness, and there is not the slightest excuse for them. And now your horses are impatient, and I have delayed you a great deal too long.”
So in turn she kissed the old lady, who forthwith departed for her drive in the park.
“It must be a cousin, then,” thought the young lady as old Lady Ardenbroke’s carriage drove away, “and when we come to know him a little better, of course he will tell us everything.”
That evening the two ladies sat as usual in the drawing-room of Guildford Hall, and the hour of tea was approaching when Charles Mannering joined the little party.
Laura Challys Gray was very frank and true; but was she quite so glad to see him as she seemed? Perhaps she was; but if so, she quickly recollected something that qualified that sentiment.
Mr. Dacre would probably look in as usual, and would he quite like an introduction to a stranger under his present circumstances?
I don’t know whether he imagined some little constraint or coldness in his reception, for he said —
“I’m afraid it’s very cool my coming this way. I should have waited, I dare say, until I was sent for?”
Though he laughed; Miss Gray thought he was piqued.
“If you stay away, Charlie, until I send for you, it will be a long wait. Not,” she added kindly, “that I should not wish to see you back, but being just as proud as you are — if you choose to stand aloof and grow ceremonious — I shall draw back a step too, and then, little by little, we shall stand so far that the tips of our fingers can’t touch, and shaking hands any more will be quite out of the question. Therefore, Charlie Mannering, you must never be high or cold with me; but if you are angry scold me, and if you think I have affronted you, say so, and we may quarrel for ten minutes very spiritedly, but at the end of that time we’ll be sure to shake hands, and then we’ll be better friends than ever.”
He smiled on her, very much pleased. He looked on her as if he would have given her the Kohinoor at that moment, had he possessed it. But he only said, after a little silence —
“I don’t know, Challys, that you are not preaching a very good philosophy — what shall we call it? the sect of the plain-speakers — of which it would hereafter be written: This school of philosophers was founded by Laura Challys Gray, the first of the wise women of Brompton, who practised her philosophy with such a charm and success, that she speedily drew about her a school of disciples of the other sex. But it needed so much beauty as well as so much natural goodness to make the things they said go down with the unlearned, that her followers were ultimately beaten and dispersed; and the doctrine and practice of the plain-speakers being discovered, in a short time, to amount simply to speaking the truth, fell speedily into contempt, and in deference to the devil, whom it was intended to shame, and who is always paramount in London and the suburbs, it was peremptorily put down by the respectable inhabitants, and so fell into absolute neglect.”
“Many thanks for that page of history, which will also recount,” said Miss Gray, “that, in the same remarkable age, one Charles Mannering, of the same city, set up as a prophet, in which profession he had some moderate success, up to the period of fulfilment, when nothing ever came of his prophecies; and when he and the wise woman of Brompton met of an evening, they had so much to say to one another, and were so very wise, that they invariably forgot that it was time to take their tea, the more especially as in that dull age their audience usually fell asleep, and there was no one consequently to remind them. So as Julia Wardell is taking her nap, would you mind touching the bell? for I think a little tea would do us all good.”
They had tea, and talked on pleasantly, and Mrs. Wardell, waking, said —
“By-the-bye, Charles Mannering, you know Mr. Dacre, don’t you?”
“Haven’t that pleasure. Who is he?”
“Oh, dear! a most agreeable and handsome young man, whose acquaintance we have made. He’ll probably be here to tea. Did not Laura mention him?”
“No, I think not.”
“Did you?” said Mrs. Wardell.
“No,” said Charles, “but I’m really glad to hear you have made an agreeable acquaintance. I told you you would find your solitude here insupportable, didn’t I?”
He spoke with a smile; but I don’t think that he was a bit pleased, nevertheless, to find that solitude invaded. I suspect he would have liked very much to ask some questions about this charming Mr. Dacre, of whom he had already an uncomfortable perception, as an insupportable puppy whom these ladies were, no doubt, bent upon making him still more conceited. But what need he care, or how could it possibly interest him? So, with the hand next it, he gently touched a few notes of the piano, and hummed an air.
While he was thus engaged, the door opened, and Mr. Dacre was announced.