Cashel Byron's Profession

It was Bashville who now entered the library with a salver, which he

proffered to Alice, saying, "The gentleman is waiting in the round

drawing-room, miss."

Alice took the gentleman's card, and read, "Mr. Wallace Parker."

"Oh!" she said, with vexation, glancing at Bashville as if to divine

his impression of the visitor. "My cousin--the one we were speaking

of just now--has come to see me."

"How fortunate!" said Lydia. "He will tell me the meaning of pug.

Ask him to lunch with us."

"You would not care for him," said Alice. "He is not much used to

society. I suppose I had better go and see him."

Miss Carew did not reply, being plainly at a loss to understand how

there could be any doubt about the matter. Alice went to the round

drawing-room, where she found Mr. Parker examining a trophy of

Indian armor, and presenting a back view of a short gentleman in a

spruce blue frock-coat. A new hat and pair of gloves were also

visible as he stood looking upward with his hands behind him. When

he turned to greet Alice lie displayed a face expressive of resolute

self-esteem, with eyes whose watery brightness, together with the

bareness of his temples, from which the hair was worn away,

suggested late hours and either very studious or very dissipated

habits. He advanced confidently, pressed Alice's hand warmly for

several seconds, and placed a chair for her, without noticing the

marked coldness with which she received his attentions.

"I was surprised, Alice," he said, when he had seated himself

opposite to her, "to learn from Aunt Emily that you had come to live

here without consulting me. I--"

"Consult you!" she said, contemptuously, interrupting him. "I never

heard of such a thing! Why should I consult you as to my movements?"

"Well, I should not have used the word consult, particularly to

such an independent little lady as sweet Alice Goff. Still, I think

you might--merely as a matter of form, you know--have informed me of

the step you were taking. The relations that exist between us give

me a right to your confidence."

"What relations, pray?"

"What relations!" he repeated, with reproachful emphasis.

"Yes. What relations?"

He rose, and addressed her with tender solemnity. "Alice," he began;

"I have proposed to you at least six times--"

"And have I accepted you once?"

"Hear me to the end, Alice. I know that you have never explicitly

accepted me; but it has always been understood that my needy

circumstances were the only obstacle to our happiness. We--don't

interrupt me, Alice; you little know what's coming. That obstacle no

longer exists. I have been made second master at Sunbury College,

with three hundred and fifty pounds a year, a house, coals, and gas.

In the course of time I shall undoubtedly succeed to the head

mastership--a splendid position, worth eight hundred pounds a year.

You are now free from the troubles that have pressed so hard upon

you since your father's death; and you can quit at

once--now--instantly, your dependent position here."