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His wordly-wise friend subjected this proposition to profound consideration, finally shaking his head, and saying: ‘Shouldn’t think so at all. Well, stands to reason! His ward, ain’t she? Wouldn’t be at all the thing! Unless he wants to get riveted?’
‘Well, he doesn’t. Not to my sister, at all events. She says he likes my sister Frederica better than her – and neither of them above half.’ He grinned suddenly. ‘Lord, though, only to think of it! Frederica! Mind you, she’s a capital girl – sound as a roast! – but she’ll never be married! She hasn’t had an offer in her life! She – she ain’t that sort of female!’
Both he and Charis had spoken in good faith, but both were mistaken: the elder Miss Merriville had received two unexceptionable offers, from Lord Buxted, and Mr Darcy Moreton; and Lord Alverstoke liked her very much above half. She wou
ld have agreed, however, that marriage was not for her; and had indeed told Buxted so, when she declined his offer. She told him that she was born to be an aunt, at which he smiled, and said: ‘You mean a sister, I think!’
‘Why, yes! Just at present I do, but I look forward to the day when I shall take charge of all my nephews and nieces whenever their parents are at a stand, or wish to go jauntering off to the Continent!’
His smile broadened; he said: ‘You will be a much beloved aunt, I daresay, for the liveliness of your spirit must make you as enchanting to children as to their seniors. But be serious for a moment, and consider whether, as a sister, a husband might not be an advantage to you? You have three brothers – for although I am aware that Harry is of age, I do not think him grown, as yet, beyond the need of guidance – and you have, with that nobility and courage which command my admiration, assumed the charge of them. But is any female, however devoted, however elevated her mind, able to succeed in such a task? I don’t think it possible. Indeed, I will venture a guess that you must frequently have felt the want of male support.’
‘Oh, no!’ she answered serenely. ‘The boys mind me very well.’
‘Very well, when one goes off to Margate without leave, and the other hires a dangerous machine, and – as was to be expected! – suffers an accident!’ he said, laughing indulgently.
‘I don’t think it was a dangerous machine. In any event I didn’t forbid either of them to do these things, so there was no question of disobedience.’
‘And no fear in their heads of consequences!’
‘No – or of anything else! They are full of pluck, my brothers.’
‘Very true. One would not wish it to be otherwise; but boys who are – as you put it – full of pluck, stand in need of a guiding hand, you know. It has been so with my own young brother. You see, I don’t speak without experience! My mother has always been a firm parent, but she has been content to leave the management of George to me, realising that a man knows best how and when to deliver a reproof, and is in general better heeded.’
She hardly knew how to keep her countenance. She had not met George, but if his youngest sister were to be believed he was a lively young gentleman, already bidding fair to become one of those choice spirits ripe and ready for any form of jollification, and resenting nothing so much as what he called his brother’s jobations. Nor had the result of a grave lecture addressed to Felix been happy. Not only had it banished from Felix’s head all contrition for having alarmed his sisters, but it had instantly transformed Jessamy into a hot partisan. All his bristles up, Jessamy had demanded to be told what right Cousin Buxted had to shove his oar in; and although he had later offered Buxted a stiff apology for this incivility he cordially agreed with Felix that the fellow was an encroaching windsucker, a prosy bore, and, probably, a slow-top into the bargain.
Remembering this incident, Frederica was obliged to choke down a chuckle before she responded: ‘I daresay you are right, cousin, but if ever I should be married it won’t be because I wish to provide my brothers with a – with a mentor!’
‘I only said that because I thought it might be – because I thought you might regard my offer more favourably!’
The humble note in his voice touched her, but she shook her head; and when he began, in rather stilted language, to enumerate and describe the various excellent qualities in her character which had excited at first his admiration, and then his ardent desire to make her his wife, she checked him even more decidedly, saying kindly, but with a little amusement: ‘I am very much obliged to you, cousin, but pray say no more! Only think how much your mama would dislike such an alliance!’
He looked grave, and sighed; but replied: ‘I hope I am not lacking in respect for my mother, but in such matters a man must decide for himself.’
‘Oh, no, you must not marry to disoblige her! Recollect how much she depends on you!’
‘You must not think I am unmindful of my duty to her, or that I make you an offer without long and careful consideration,’ he said earnestly.
Her eyes danced. ‘No, indeed! No one could think that! I’m excessively flattered – I can’t tell you how much! – but the long and short of it is that I’m not hanging out for a husband – in fact, I don’t in the least wish to change my single state! It suits me very well: far better than I should suit you, Carlton, believe me!’
He looked disconsolate, and said nothing for several moments. But after turning the matter over in his mind, he smiled, and said: ‘I have been too previous, for which you must blame the natural impatience of a man in love. I fancy that your thoughts have hitherto been so wholly devoted to the interests of your family that you have had none to spare for your own future. I shall say no more on this head now, but neither shall I despair.’
He then took his leave; and with real nobility Frederica forbore to regale Charis with an account of the interlude. She was not tempted to tell anyone of Mr Moreton’s offer, for it was simply made; and she liked him too well to betray him. She declined it as gently as she could; but when he sighed, and said, with a faint smile: ‘I feared it!’ her eyes twinkled irrepressibly.
‘And now are quite cast-down.’
‘Well, of course I am!’
‘But also just a trifle relieved! Confess!’
‘Miss Merriville! No, I swear I’m not!’
‘You will be,’ she assured him. ‘You know how comfortably you go on as a bachelor, and how very much you would dislike to be tied to a wife’s apron-strings.’
He laughed a little ruefully, but denied it. ‘I shouldn’t dislike being tied to your apron-strings.’
‘Or to play the mentor to my brothers?’ she asked, quizzing him. ‘You would be obliged to include them in your household, you know!’
‘Yes – at least, won’t they live with your eldest brother?’
