Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1800-1837 -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Political fiction
Sir Robert muttered something under his breath, and it was not
flattering to the Honourable Bob. Then he turned his chair and held his
hands over the blaze. “That will do, White,” he said. “That will do.”
And he did not look round until the agent had left the room.
But White was certain that even on this day of sad memories, with the
ordeal of the morrow before him, Arthur Vaughan’s attitude troubled his
patron. And when, twenty-four hours later, the agent’s eyes travelling
round the vast assemblage which regard for the family had gathered
about the grave, fell upon Arthur Vaughan, and he knew that he had
repented and come, he was glad.
The young Member held himself a little apart from the small group of
family mourners; a little apart also from the larger company whom
respect or social ties had brought thither. Among these last, who were
mostly Tories, many were surprised to see Lord Lansdowne and his son.
But more, aware of the breach between Mr. Vaughan and his cousin, and
of the former’s peculiar position in the borough, were surprised to see
him. And these, while their thoughts should have been elsewhere, stole
furtive glances at the sombre figure; and when Vaughan left, still
alone and without speaking to any, followed his departure with
interest. In those days of mutes and crape-coloured staves, mourning
cloaks and trailing palls, it was not the custom for women to bury
their dead. And Vaughan, when he had made up his mind to come, knew
that he ran no risk of seeing Mary.
That he might escape with greater case, he had left his post-chaise at
a side-gate of the park. The moment the ceremony was over, he made his
way to it, now traversing beds of fallen chestnut and sycamore leaves,
now striding across the sodden turf. The solemn words which he had
heard, emphasised as they were by the scene, the grey autumn day, the
lonely park, and the dark groups threading their way across it, could
not hold his thoughts from Mary. She would be glad that he had come.
Perhaps it was for that reason that he had come.
He had passed through the gate of the park and his foot was on the step
of the chaise, when he heard White’s voice, calling after him. He
turned and saw the agent hurrying desperately after him. White’s
mourning suit was tight and new and ill made for haste; and he was hot
and breathless. For a moment, “Mr. Vaughan! Mr. Vaughan!” was all he
could say.
Vaughan turned a reluctant, almost a stern face to him. Not that he
disliked the agent, but he thought that he had got clear.
“What is it?” he asked, without removing his foot from the step.
White looked behind him. “Sir Robert, sir,” he said, “has something to
say to you. The carriage is following. If you’ll be good enough,” he
continued, mopping his face, “to wait a moment!”
“Sir Robert cannot wish to see me at such a time,” Vaughan answered,
between wonder and impatience. “He will write, doubtless.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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