"He is a barrister," put in Cynthia, unable to restrain herself any
longer. "Barrister-at-law."
"Ah, yes. Attorney-at-law. Barrister-at-law. I understand without
your speaking so loud, my dear. What was I going to say before you
interrupted me? When you have been a little in society you will find
that it is reckoned bad manners to interrupt. I had a great deal more
to say to you, and you have put it all out of my head. There was
something else your father wanted me to ask--what was it, Harriet?"
"I suppose you mean about Mr. Hamley?"
"Oh, yes! we are intending to have the house full of Lord
Hollingford's friends next month, and Lord Cumnor is particularly
anxious to secure Mr. Hamley."
"The Squire?" asked Mrs. Gibson in some surprise. Lady Cumnor bowed
slightly, as much as to say, "If you did not interrupt me I should
explain."
"The famous traveller--the scientific Mr. Hamley, I mean. I imagine
he is son to the Squire. Lord Hollingford knows him well; but when we
asked him before, he declined coming, and assigned no reason."
Had Roger indeed been asked to the Towers and declined? Mrs. Gibson
could not understand it. Lady Cumnor went on--
"Now this time we are particularly anxious to secure him, and my
son Lord Hollingford will not return to England until the very week
before the Duke of Atherstone is coming to us. I believe Mr. Gibson
is very intimate with Mr. Hamley; do you think he could induce him to
favour us with his company?"
And this from the proud Lady Cumnor; and the object of it Roger
Hamley, whom she had all but turned out of her drawing-room two years
ago for calling at an untimely hour; and whom Cynthia had turned out
of her heart. Mrs. Gibson was surprised, and could only murmur out
that she was sure Mr. Gibson would do all that her ladyship wished.
"Thank you. You know me well enough to be aware that I am not the
person, nor is the Towers the house, to go about soliciting guests.
But in this instance I bend my head; high rank should always be the
first to honour those who have distinguished themselves by art or
science."
"Besides, mamma," said Lady Harriet, "papa was saying that the
Hamleys have been on their land since before the Conquest; while we
only came into the county a century ago; and there is a tale that
the first Cumnor began his fortune through selling tobacco in King
James's reign."
If Lady Cumnor did not exactly shift her trumpet and take snuff
there on the spot, she behaved in an equivalent manner. She began
a low-toned but nevertheless authoritative conversation with Clare
about the details of the wedding, which lasted until she thought it
fit to go, when she abruptly plucked Lady Harriet up, and carried
her off in the very midst of a description she was giving to Cynthia
about the delights of Spa, which was to be one of the resting-places
of the newly-married couple on their wedding-tour.