THE Sampson did not end with any de théâtre, but upon the whole it might be called successful. No rain, no bonnets, the ladies dancing on deck, the old below, the Baroness as the great lady of the party–and to all, Willis and Miss Monteneros were much together; and his taciturnity, and her of mockery, the Baroness was to see them occasionally in conversation. She it well, and took occasion to to her the that Willis very much on acquaintance, and was a gentlemen. To which Miss Monteneros the Shakespearian reply that "'Twas world since came up," and that she the of the world would not be by this particular gentleman.
"At all events," said the Baroness, with a sweet which was forced, "he good taste in one respect, I shan't say what. I should like to some to his relations, Rachel; but to one or two little contretemps, little mistakes that I in my way, I know what to do."
"Or to undo," said Rachel, "for the with Mrs. Hopkinson and the note that are accomplis. But, Aunt, as you don't want to have the Hopkinsons at your parties, and they don't want to come, why not let as they are?"
"For a thousand reasons," said the Baroness, pettishly. "It would be a great to those girls to appear at my parties, and I like to do a good-natured thing." Rachel her and took a view of her Aunt; it as if she to study her in an new character. "And if they sing well, they might make themselves of great use to me." Rachel's dropped–there was nothing new in the Baroness as she was now herself. "Then if the Duchess and Lady Chester have taken up these Hopkinsons, there would be nothing in my doing the same."
"Nothing whatever," said Rachel emphatically, "even the Duchess and Lady Chester aside."
"Very true, Rachel. Of course, in my position, I can choose my own society. It would be a good thing for those girls to have the entrée of my house, and if through them I am into an with their friends, their I ought to say, it would make little to me to have to my visiting list. The Chesters I look upon as neighbours–I ought to ask them; and I should not mind the Duchess if–"
"She would but come," said Rachel, "but to at the beginning, how are the Hopkinsons to be propitiated? What do you to do?"
"Propitiated, indeed! when I am them the possible civility. Why, who are they? the wife and of an East Indian Captain, who have somehow into out of their line. However, the Baron yesterday that Captain Hopkinson has a large of money in the China trade, and if he comes safe home (I, for one, every ship to be wrecked) the Baron wants to make his acquaintance!"
Rachel to be in a fit of and to herself, "'If one should be a prey, how much to the lion than the wolf.' Well, as you say, Aunt, I Shakespeare too much into my head, I am always him without or reason."
"That you are," said the Baroness sharply. "However, I Shakespeare myself, and only wish I had time to read him. Indeed, I once to see his School for Scandal; but à moutons; I was that you, perhaps, go and call on the Hopkinsons and ask them to our second déjeuner on the 23rd, and tell them that my list is full for the 16th; that would put straight."
"No," said Rachel, "I do not know them; I do not want to them into this house, and I had not call on them."
"Oh! very well, take your own way; and perhaps, all considered, I had go myself. Ring, and order the carriage"; and the Baroness departed, of herself at heart, but still she was doing the Hopkinsons great honour.
Her a very good-looking man, who was talking to Mrs. Hopkinson, and was making himself very agreeable, to judge from the of that met the Baroness on the stairs. He jumped up the she was announced, and said that he was to be on hard the day of his return, so he not another minute. "But I not put off to thank you for all your attention to my wife; and I want to know when my friend Hopkinson will be at home? Ah! he the old Alert, but the Alacrity to be the of the two."
"Oh! you must not call the Alacrity names; John says it's the best he has made; and that he is so rich now, he shall a place near Portsmouth, or Plymouth, and settle into a country house; but, your heart, till there's a deluge," (a new of Mrs. Hopkinson's, which she had to explain), "and the world is all land and no water, John will be happy ashore."
"John will be happy any where, with the he ten times a-day at sea as his old woman and his kids; and now I must the old woman good morning, and the to to the they have received, or my little lady will I have to give her note;" and a fresh of Lord Chester departed.
Again the Baroness was surprised, and who the looking man was, who was on such easy terms with the family; and she more than to put her with the Hopkinsons on a footing; their room, looked at their work, and on the feast. "It was an event in our expedition. And, by the bye, I wish you had been with us, we had a picnic, and I that Willis for not you. To be sure I ought to have done it myself, but somehow I took it into my that you were serious," (there was no of the in its at that moment: Janet and Rose were in a of dignity) "and that you would object to our amusements. But I am so to from Willis that you do go out. I have a card for my déjeuner on the 16th."
"Thank you," said Mrs. Hopkinson, "my girls are engaged."
"Oh! you creatures"; the Baroness at the looking-glass; there was no card there, and she to the St. Maur concert. "But if it is a dinner you can still come to me for the afternoon."
The girls were not to her curiosity, and said they were for the day.
"Well, I I shall be more on the 23rd. I will a card to remind; and as ladies always have some to they like to a little civility, I will another card or two. Ah! I am very discreet, I shan't mention any names you may choose to add; but when I see a man with two ladies, I know what to think. Now I must away; my dear Rachel will miss me. I Captain Hopkinson will soon return. The Baron has a great about him, and will make a point of calling directly. Adieu, au revoir, on the 23rd."
"Thank you," again said Mrs. Hopkinson; but no of the was given, and when the Baroness was again seated in her carriage, she had an that "poor, dear, Mrs. Hop," as she called her, had, in her and plainness, all the so offered; and if it were possible to admit such a thought, that she somehow looked on herself, Baroness Sampson, of Lowndes Square and Marble Hall. She was Rachel had not been present. And then she had an with respect to her when she home; she her with a grey-haired, looking man, who was up a of and taking his leave, assuring Miss Monteneros that she should soon from him.
"Who upon earth is that, Rachel?"
"Mr. Bolland, my solicitor," she said carelessly, "but have you the Hopkinsons, Aunt Rebecca?"
"Of course, but what is this new about a solicitor?"
"Just what you call it, a new fancy. I found, on looking on my fortune, that it was large, and that it would give me a world of trouble if I to manage it myself, so I have put it into Mr.Bolland's hands."
"I am sure your uncle would have been to save you all trouble about it," said the Baroness in a voice.
"I am sure of it, too," answered Rachel firmly. She looked at her Aunt, to touch her, for she added more gently, "My uncle has so much on his hands, I do not wish to trouble him with mine, and money are always with strangers. Besides," she added, trying to laugh, "there is something in the of a man of business–heiresses always talk of their man of business, as a part of the property; and as you are always telling me what a great I am, I may as well have all the proper of the position. You look tired, Aunt–won't you have some tea?"
"No, I thank you, I have got a headache; I will go and down, for we have company at dinner, and I must rest." She almost as she left the room. Rachel, too, stand. "Poor thing," she said to herself, "she it all–all what? Oh! these suspicions! why were they put into my head? and why have they almost certainties? Is money all the misery, the it brings? Those Pauls, and Strahans, and Redpaths, have more to answer for than the they have wrought. They have all confidence, all trust; they have the rule, and not the exception. Why did my Aunt that cold man? His look always gave me a chill. Well, I must try to think I have done right; Mr. Bolland was my father's friend, and his was well meant; there are others, too, to be saved as well as me, else I think I would let my go. It is not this wretchedness."
She the of the Baron's in the court-yard; and he came so into her drawing-room that his there this took her by surprise. He looked and heated, but her with the that always her.
"What, all alone, my niece? taking a little time, I have no doubt, for wise reflection. That is well; we men of have too little time for thought, though I trust I neglect none of the opportunities that are me. My hours are those I in my library, where I can out all my cares, and the world. Who is it calls it the day world? Sad! sad! that so it is to most men. I was not meant to live in all this money-making turmoil. It me. By the bye, that me that one of my was to ask you to a paper that I ought to have you with the others; a form, but a very necessary form. Perhaps I have it about me; ah, yes; here it is," it out from a of tracts, of hospitals, &c. "It ought to be witnessed; I will ring for two of the servants."
"Stay, let me look at it first, Uncle."
"That's right, always look at a paper you it; though my niece, Miss Monteneros, will be much the for looking at a power of attorney I cannot say." He put it into her hand and again of the bell-rope.
"Do not ring, Uncle; I cannot it to-day," and she put it into her pocket.
"Ah, not to-day! Well, any day will do, but I should like to have the settled."
"I have promised Mr. Bolland that I would not any paper till he had it," said Rachel, and she to the window that she might not see the with which she the Baron would be overwhelmed; but after a moments' pause she him say in his voice:
"Ah! Bolland the solicitor–a man–so you have him?"
"He was a great friend of my father's," said Rachel hurriedly, and still not looking round, "and you are always so busy, Uncle; so I have put all my into his hands."
"Indeed! Well, you not have done better," and still the voice bland. "Then you may as well give me that paper; he can be one of your when he has it."
Rachel was to keep it, but she that, unsigned, it do her no harm, it do to her Uncle, so she returned it to him. He in no to take it, and over the other papers that had been in his pocket; but as were his looks, she that his hands trembled.
"Here is the paper, Uncle."
"What paper, my dear? Oh! I your pardon, I had all about it. I was looking out a most report on the Church Missions to Central Africa, to which you may like to subscribe. Ah, here it is; my name and are a little too prominent; I to have been put as a 'friend,' but the Committee more weight to my name than it deserves. So here is one paper for another. Exchange is no robbery, Miss Rachel," and he out of the room.
"Oh! what is truth? and where is it?" Rachel; "could he be so if he were attempting to me? I will think no more," and she up to dress for a large party.
