第109章

'Just so,' said the major, who now began to reflect that he had been indiscreet in mentioning Grace Crawley's name. No doubt everyone connected with the family, all the Crawleys, all the Dales, and all the Eames's, would soon know the business which had brought him down to Allngton; but he need not have taken the trouble of beginning the story himself. John Eames, in truth, had never heard of Major Grantly's name, and was quite unaware of the fortune which awaited his cousin. Even after what he had now been told, he still suspected the stranger of being an emissary from his enemy; but the major, not giving him credit for his ignorance, was annoyed with himself for having told so much of his own history. 'I will tell the ladies that I had the pleasure of meeting you,' he said; 'that is, if I am lucky enough to see them.' And then he drove on.

'I know I should hate that fellow if I were to meet him anywhere again,' said Johnny to himself as he rode on. 'When I take an aversion to a fellow at first sight, I always stick to it. It's instinct, I suppose.'

And he was still giving himself credit for the strength of his instincts when he reached Lady Julia's cottage. He rode at once into the stable-yard, with the privilege of an accustomed friend of the house, and having given up his horse, entered the cottage by the back door. 'Is my lady at home, Jemima?' he said to the maid.

'Yes, Mr John; she is in the drawing-room, and friends of yours are with her.' Then he was announced, and found himself in the presence of Lady Julia, Lily Dale, and Grace Crawley.

He was very warmly received. Lady Julia really loved him dearly, and would have done anything in her power to bring about a match between him and Lily. Grace was his cousin, and though she had not seen him often, she was prepared to love him dearly as Lily's lover. And Lily--Lily loved him dearly too--if only she could have brought herself to love him as he wished to be loved! To all of them Johnny Eames was something of a hero. At any rate in the eyes of all of them he possessed those virtues which seemed to them to justify them in petting him and making much of him.

'I am so glad you've come--that is, if you've brought my spectacles,' said Lady Julia.

'My pockets are crammed with spectacles,' said Johnny.

'And when are you coming to me?'

'I was thinking of Tuesday.'

'No; don't come till Wednesday. But I mean Monday. No; Monday won't do. Come on Tuesday--early, and drive me out. And now tell us the news.'

Johnny swore that there was no news. He made a brave attempt to be gay and easy before Lily; but he failed, and he knew that he failed--and he knew that she knew that he failed. 'Mamma will be so glad to see you,' said Lily. 'I suppose you haven't seen Bell yet?'

'I only got to Guestwick yesterday afternoon,' said he.

'And it will be so nice our having Grace at the Small House;--won't it?

Uncle Christopher has quite taken a passion for Grace --so that I am hardly anybody now in the Allington world.'

'By-the-by,' said Johnny, 'I came down here with a friend of yours, Grace.'

'A friend of mine?' said Grace.

'So he says, and he is at Allington at this moment. He passed me in the gig down here.'

'And what was his name?' Lily asked.

'I have not the remotest idea,' said Johnny. 'He is a man about my own age, very good-looking, and apparently very well able to take care of himself. He is short-sighted, and holds a glass in one eye when he looks out of a carriage window. That's all I know about him.

Grace Crawley's face had become suffused with blushes at the first mention of the friend and the gig; but then Grace blushed very easily.

Lily knew all about it at once;--at once divined who must be the friend in the gig, and was almost beside herself with joy. Lady Julia, who had heard no more of the major than had Johnny, was still clever enough to perceive that the friend must be a particular friend--for she had noticed Miss Crawley's blushes. And Grace herself had no doubt as to the man. The picture of her lover, with the glass in his eye as he looked out of the window, had been too perfect to admit of a doubt. In her distress she put out her hand and took hold of Lily's dress.

'And you say he is at Allington now?' said Lily.

'I have no doubt he is at the Small House at this moment,' said Johnny.