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Chapter XXXV. A Lady Displays Powers of Conquest—Another Does Not.

Fanny, who happened to be very busy, after giving Julia a kindly welcome, asked Miss Grave to take her into her room to take off her things.

‘So you have your old flame, Harry Baker, here, all to yourself, the last few days,’ began Julia, as soon as they were alone. ‘I hope you have improved the occasion, and made the most of a chance you are not likely to get again. No wonder you were so anxious to remain here to comfort Miss Melton. Wasn't that the excuse?’

‘Now Julia, that is most unfair. It was really only when Fanny pressed me very earnestly to stay, and out of pity for her, that I consented. I thought, under the circumstances, your mamma wouldn't mind.’

‘Oh, yes, of course, I can quite believe that (this very incredulously). But, joking apart, if you were not such a noodle I should be jealous of you, for, between ourselves, I mean to accept Harry the next time he asks me, and I shall do my best to-night to hurry him up,’

Her companion listened to this with a quiet, self-confident smile.

‘I know it is no good speaking to you, Julia, for you never will listen to me; but I do hope you will not do anything unladylike or forward that you may afterwards repent.’

‘Listen to you! I should think not, indeed! What do you know about such things? Nothing, and never will. You are not the sort of girl gentlemen like at all, and are certain to live and die an old maid. Now you see if Master Harry doesn't propose to me this very night. I'm determined to bring him to the scratch to show you that I can do more in one evening with, what you call, my fast manner, than you can with all your ladylike reserve and grand opportunities.’ (This very sarcastically.)

‘I never allowed, nor will I, that I am trying to win any one, Julia; remember that.

‘Oh, no, of course not. It would be no good if you did though; that's one thing.’

Another quiet smile was the sole response Miss Grave vouchsafed to this rude speech. Miss Julia did not notice it, being too busily engaged complacently surveying her charms in the glass, and being satisfied with the result, she prepared to join the company, remarking: ‘There now, I think that will do the trick.’

Mrs Robinson made a very clumsy and confused bungle of her share in the explanation, but aunt wisely took it all in good part. Julia professed that, notwithstanding the peculiarity of the circumstances, she had never ceased to love Fanny, and was so very sorry for her. This, however, my cousin could not stand.

‘Sorry for me, are you? I am not sorry for myself, and I see no need for my friends to express sorrow for me. Keep your sympathy for yourself, Miss Robinson.’

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‘Oh! I don't need it. I was only joking that evening about being engaged to Gus.—Mr Grosvenor I mean. We were taking a rise out of you, Fanny. We did it well, didn't we? It was not likely I'd become engaged to a man like him. I saw through him on board ship. I could have told you all about him if you had only confided in me.’

Fanny knew she was telling untruths, and longed to tell her so, but judged it best to let them pass, and only took means to show Miss Julia that the subject had better be dropped.

‘Well, Julia, be that as it may, I think we can find nicer subjects to talk over.’

Miss Grave, as I must still term her, for though Fanny always called her by her Christian name, which was Annie, the rest of us all talked and thought of her as Miss Grave. The name seemed so applicable and natural to us. Miss Grave, then, was rudely rebuked by the old lady for remaining so long away from her duties. Knowing it was undeserved, as she had written and asked permission, she took little notice of this displeasure on the part of her employer.

Nothing could exceed Miss Julia's gushing manner with Harry, nor the cool way in which she monopolized him the greater part of the evening. Miss Grave watched him closely several times, but it was with a pleased expression on her fair face. There was no element of pain or jealousy, nor was there the slightest cause for it. She was satisfied at once that he was merely interested in talking over old times with an acquaintance he had not met for some time. She could see that the reminiscences which that acquaintance playfully recalled, with her most fascinating manner and sunniest smiles mingling in Harry's mind with others—which she would have given a good deal to have left in oblivion—did not appear to bring the tender glances to his eyes which adorned them when engaged in the most ordinary conversation with herself. She saw this, and was content, and, convinced that her patient waiting and sisterly care would soon be rewarded, as it truly deserved to be, with the earnest, undivided love of a manly heart. She had owned to herself that she would have all or none, and now she felt that all was hers. She had watched to see first if Fanny's charms would have any effect in turning away this all from her; but they had not. Then she waited to witness his meeting with Miss Julia, and she saw that however fickle and changeable he might once have been in his love affairs, he was now true to her and to her only.

And he, what were his feelings and thoughts? I believe I must admit that when Miss Julia made her attempt at fascinating him, he did not strive much to counteract it. He thought it would be a good chance to try what effect his paying attention to her would have on his cool-hearted lady-love. Cool-hearted! He little knew her yet. A warmer heart than lay hid under that calm exterior never beat, and that he was yet to prove to his indescribable advantage. He made his little attempt at provoking jealousy, and looked to see what effect it would create. The pleasant expression he met showed him the uselessness of his attempt, and his response could only be one of those true and loving glances. This made assurance doubly sure to her. It was a complete contrast to the simulated ones with which he had favoured Julia, as he hung over her at the piano, while she sang extra sentimental songs, emphasizing the most touching parts by casting her liquid eyes up into his.

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But if that glance of his made assurance doubly sure to Miss Grave, it had an entirely opposite effect on Miss Julia, for she saw it. She had come, as we have seen, feeling that it would be a very easy matter to bring to her feet the man whom she imagined she had held in her power, more or less, ever since she had known him—a man who had raved about her as he had done in the hospital. She had certainly on a few occasions been a little jealous of her companion, but this was forgotten. Now, after trying all her arts of fascinating, singing love songs, and bringing up past tender scenes in the most bewitching manner, it was hard not to obtain one reassuring glance which might betoken a chance of success in the future; harder still to see such a one bestowed on the girl whom she despised too much to consider a rival; whom she had but a short time since pitied, as being ‘too quiet and reserved to attract the attention of gentlemen’; and to whom she had strongly proclaimed her intentions with regard to the gentleman in question. What wonder, then, at the sight of that glance that her dark eyes should glitter angrily, her full lips quiver, and her shapely bosom heave in a manner which showed the tumult of jealousy within? Yet it had to be suppressed, though at a cost only known to herself. She could have flown at the nasty, sneaking thing (as she termed her in her own mind), and torn her fair smiling face with her ruthless nails. But it would not do. She must not lose all chance of the game by one rash move, although her adversary had, to all appearance, the best of it. So, with enforced calm and gaiety, she turned from the piano. ‘How did you like the song I sang just now, Mr Baker? It was a great favourite of yours on board ship, you will remember.’

‘Was it?' he replied, carelessly, ‘I had forgotten. The air is certainly very pretty. What a pity they could not have found some sensible words for it instead of that abominable love-sick nonsense.’

‘Oh, Mr Baker! how dare you say such a shocking thing about one of my songs? There was a time when you said much prettier things to me,’ the last sentence in a low tone.

He pretended not to have heard it, and conversed about songs in general. Generalities, however, were not to her taste just now. She altered the subject to that of his military career, hoping for better success.

‘I was so pleased to hear how bravely you acquitted yourself in the field of battle, Mr Baker. Everyone was speaking of your courage and pluck. I do love a man who is some good to his country, and not afraid of a few hard knocks like our friend, Mr Gus. Grosvenor.’

‘Your friend if you like, Miss Robinson, but don't say ours, please. I always utterly detested him. I heard of your engagement to him, by-the-bye. Accept my congratulations.’

‘Engagement! I never was engaged to him. You must imagine you're speaking to Miss Melton,’ answered the young lady, warmly and mendaciously.

‘Oh, I understood you were. Brown told me of it. Of course, as you say you were not, he must have been wrongly informed.’

‘Mr Brown knew nothing about it. But I want to hear all about your attacks on the rebels.’

‘You must excuse me the recital, Miss Robinson; it's too much like blowing my own trumpet. Besides, the doings of a penniless private in a militia regiment cannot possess the slightest interest in your eyes.’

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She could stand it no longer, and the torrent of her wrath burst forth. Fortunately the others had moved out on to the verandah, and were not within hearing. Harry had risen to follow them, but Julia detained him.

‘So that remarkably ladylike companion of mine has been repeating things I have said—I mean, has been making up things to set you against me, Mr Baker; has she? I could see some malicious person had been at work, you are so unlike what you used to be to me, but I did not think it would turn out to be anyone professing such friendship to me as she does, the nasty deceitful cat! Why do you believe what she says about me?’

‘Wait a bit, Miss Robinson. How came you to think it was Miss Grave who “repeated the things you said—I mean made them up?”’ replied Harry, using her own words.

‘Oh, I can see quite as well as most people; she has been “gone on you” for ever so long, and knowing she could not win you by fair means, she has tried all sorts of spiteful, underhand ways. I wonder you are taken in by such low tricks.’

Harry's patience was now quite exhausted.

‘Your surmise is utterly unfounded. The lady you speak of so unkindly has never breathed a word to your discredit in any way to me. It was through one of the hospital nurses that I learnt your feelings for me at the time, as expressed by yourself to Miss Grave at the door. I'll admit I was hurt when I heard it first, lying there almost between life and death, but I have cause to be very thankful to you since for so plainly expressing yourself. As to that young lady being what you call “gone on me,” I wish to Heaven I could be quite certain she was. I should then be the happiest man alive. Her affection is worth winning. Her sisterly care of me never ceased when I was poor and friendless, or when I sorely wanted a kindly feminine influence to keep me in the path of duty.’

‘Sisterly, pooh! I can see through her now. She was poor, and didn't care what she did to secure a husband whether well off or not at the time. She knew your family at home, and guessed you'd come into money some time or other. She is deeper than I used to give her credit for. A girl of her position could, of course, go into a hospital and nurse a young fellow without anyone knowing or troubling about her, but it would not have been proper for me; mamma said so at the time. There is such a difference in us, you know.’

‘Yes, I should just think there was! You could no more understand her motives and feelings than you could fly. I must, therefore, decline discussing either them or her with you,’ exclaimed Harry, hotly, losing all patience.

Her indignation knew no bounds. ‘Sir, your rudeness is unbearable! Go and inflict it on that girl!’ (The emphasis on the word ‘that’ made any adjective superfluous.) ‘She will doubtless be proud to bear it. She will gladly put up with the manners of a barman, but spare me the infliction!’

‘I never had greater pleasure in obeying any commands of Miss Robinson's,’ he retorted with irresistible politeness, the strictest regard to truth, and a most profound bow. Passing out into the garden, he soon joined Miss Grave and Fanny, who, like the rest of the company, were strolling in twos and threes about the garden. The latter mischievously asked him to oblige her by entertaining page 153 her friend while she went to see what had become of Miss Julia, as she had missed her for some time. Harry, nothing loth, wandered off with his charge down the winding garden paths, enjoying the eool evening breeze, charged with the mingled perfume from a thousand different flowers, but if I mistake not, enjoying much more one another's society.

Here it may be as well to take leave of Miss Julia, merely stating the fact that two years later she married, against her father's consent, a man considerably more than twice her age, who was noted equally, for the amount of wealth he had amassed, and the unscrupulous manner in which he had made it. We heard of this with much sorrow, for we were certain such a match could not possibly be a happy one. Nor was it, for after fighting like cat and dog for a year or two, he turned her out of his house, and she was obliged to return to her parent's house a soured and embittered woman.