Chapter 46 - Page 2

all now agreed, and turned to more
pleasant subjects.

"Master!--here--master," said Peter Johnson, as he stood at a window of
Mr. Benfield's room, stirring a gruel for the old gentleman's supper, and
stretching his neck and straining his eyes to distinguish objects by the
light of the lamps--"I do think there is Mr. Denbigh, handing Miss Emmy
from a coach, covered with gold, and two footmen, all dizened with pride
like."

The spoon fell from the hands of Mr. Benfield. He rose briskly from his
seat, and adjusting his dress, took the arm of the steward, and proceeded
to the drawing-room. While these several movements were in operation,
which consumed some time, the old bachelor relieved the tedium of Peter's
impatience by the following speech:--

"Mr. Denbigh!--what, back?--I thought he never could let that rascal John
shoot him and forsake Emmy after all; (here the old gentleman suddenly
recollected Denbigh's marriage) but now, Peter, it can do no good
either.--I remember, that when my friend the Earl of Gosford "--(and again
he was checked by the image of the card-table and the viscountess) "but,
Peter," he said with great warmth, "we can go down and see him,
notwithstanding."

"Mr. Denbigh!" exclaimed Sir Edward, in astonishment, when he saw the
companion of his sister and child enter the drawing-room, "you are welcome
once more to your old friends: your sudden retreat from us gave us much
pain; but we suppose Lady Laura had too many attractions to allow us to
keep you any longer in Norfolk."

The good Baronet sighed, as he held out his hand to the man whom he had
once hoped to receive as a son.

"Neither Lady Laura nor any other lady, my dear Sir Edward," cried the
earl, as he took the baronet's hand, "drove me from you, but the frowns of
your own fair daughter; and here she is, ready to acknowledge her offence,
and, I hope, to atone for it."

John, who knew of the refusal of his sister, and was not a little
displeased with the cavalier treatment he had received at Denbigh's hands,
felt indignant at such improper levity in a married man, and approached
with--

"Your servant, Mr. Denbigh--I hope my Lady Laura is well."

Pendennyss understood his look, and replied very gravely--

"Your servant, Mr. John Moseley--my Lady Laura is, or certainly ought to
be, very well, as she has this moment gone to a rout, accompanied by her
husband."

The quick eye of John glanced from the earl to his aunt, to Emily; a
lurking smile was on all their features. The heightened color of his
sister, the flashing eyes of the young nobleman, the face of his aunt, all