Read Ebook: A Nine Days' Wonder by Croker B M Bithia Mary

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Ebook has 2013 lines and 81897 words, and 41 pages

"Of course," she eagerly agreed--"certainly he must marry."

"But listen, Johnny," interrupted his wife, "we have a little dinner on Friday--don't you remember? The Colletts and Sir Fred and Lady Hewson."

"No, no, you will do nothing of the sort. I will ask a girl specially to meet him. I know the very one to suit him. What do you say to Julia Barker?"

"Oh," doubtfully, "I don't think she would be his style at all--no--not one little bit."

"Why not? She is handsome, agreeable, well connected--the Hollington-Barkers you know."

"Miss Barker has no money," objected Major Sutton.

"I don't think she will suit, Maudie. He is a quiet, reserved sort of chap, and would like some one of his own caste."

"Not a bit of it: silent men always take talkative wives--every one chooses their opposite--I believe Ju and the Colonel will be an exact match--and here we are!"

"You got my note, Ju?" said Mrs. Sutton. "I hope you are coming on Friday?"

"Oh, never mind the Farmers, Ju," interrupted Mrs. Sutton; "this little dinner of mine is ten million times more important--and," she lowered her voice and concluded her speech in a series of somewhat breathless whispers.

The young lady over the gloves was curious--evidently something mysterious was afoot! Miss Barker now became all animation and interest, and as she took leave of her friend, she kissed her repeatedly, and said--

When Major Sutton received his brother officer at the drawing-room door, he said, "Look here, Pat, I owe you ever so many apologies--I guaranteed a family party, and I've let you in for a 'Burra Khana.' Maudie had arranged it before--better luck next time."

There was indeed a large party at 402 Sloane Street, and Colonel Doran was one of the latest arrivals; he looked very distinguished and soldierly, as he talked to Mrs. Sutton, a vision in yellow and diamonds.

"I know you were told we were to be alone," she said, smiling; "but it makes no matter to a man if there are three, or three hundred--not like us poor women, who have to dress according to numbers. Now I want to introduce you to a most particular old friend of mine, Miss Hollington-Barker," and she towed him over to a sofa, on which was enthroned a handsome Juno-like form. "Julia--this is Johnny's comrade, Colonel Doran; you are to be very nice to him, and he will take you down to dinner"; and with an affable smile Mrs. Sutton sailed away and left them.

Colonel Doran stood before Julia, lamely discoursing of the rain and the east wind--whilst she figuratively proceeded to take his measure. When she descended the stairs on her cavalier's arm, Julia Barker had definitely decided that "he would do."

He was neither too old, nor too young--he was good-looking, a gentleman, and a soldier--with a fine property in Ireland; and as to family, her own was of mushroom growth in comparison! Maudie Sutton had given her this splendid chance, and Miss Barker meant to seize it. She had heard all about Major Sutton's distinguished friend--a man without relatives, but possessing immense savings and a castle--who was looking about him for a wife! There was now no occasion for him to seek further than his present companion. As his partner ate her soup, which he had declined, Colonel Doran studied her stealthily.

The lady was dark-browed, dark-haired, with brown eyes, a high colour, a large mouth, and a short straight nose; her age was considerably over thirty, her figure plump; she was remarkably well dressed , black, with pink velvet, and wore a handsome old-fashioned necklace. Subsequently his eyes travelled round the table and he noted Mrs. Sutton--fair and fluffy-haired, animated and pretty. Sutton was a lucky man! He discovered several attractive-looking ladies; one opposite had dark auburn hair and an ivory skin, whom he admired immensely. And now his own partner began to unmask her fascinations; she was a practised diner-out, and talked well. Little did he guess that on the present occasion she was talking for a wedding ring, and straining every nerve to interest this polite, but unresponsive gentleman. Their conversation really opened with that disastrous catastrophe, the upsetting of the salt-cellar.

"Yes, and it's on a Friday!" she exclaimed, with mock tragic eyes,--"and I've upset it towards you, and will bring you sorrow!"

As soon as the men appeared in the drawing-room, Miss Barker made a significant movement of her hand, and as the enchanted veteran ventured to occupy the seat beside her, she began--

Colonel Doran looked at her doubtfully for a moment: then he laughed aloud.

"Lady Barre is my only sister; I live with her," she resumed. This was not a fact. Julia happened to be staying with her for a few days; but, as the Spanish proverb says, "there is no tax on lies." "Will you come and have tea with us some afternoon?"

"We live at two hundred and five, Grosvenor Street,--shall we say Tuesday at four o'clock?"

"Thank you."

"You won't forget, will you?" again looking up at him. "If you do, I shall feel so hurt and disappointed."

"Fanny," said Julia, as she opened the door of her sister's boudoir. "So you've not gone to bed yet! I am so glad. I've something to say to you, and I want you to help me."

"I've met a man to-night at the Suttons'," broke in her sister.

Lady Barre nodded.

"And I intend to marry him."

"Yes; he is looking for a wife--so Major Sutton told Maudie--and I am looking for a husband. He is middle-aged, wealthy, of good family--a colonel in the army--just retired--with enormous savings; he has a fine estate and castle in Ireland, and not one relation in the wide world!"

"My dear, it sounds too good to be true! Who is he?"

"His name is Doran; he is rather silent and a little shy. I've invited him to tea here on Tuesday. I hope you are not engaged?"

"But I am--yes, to the Lovells; however, I will certainly stay at home and see your--catch."

"Yes, it is time I was married; and I do honestly believe Colonel Doran has taken a fancy to me. He left when I did, and put me into a cab as if I were something precious and breakable. He has offered me tiger-claws."

"What on earth for?"

"To make a necklet, of course."

Julia, who had removed her cloak, now reclined in an arm-chair, as if reposing after some exhausting effort. "To think of it, Fan"--ignoring this scratch--"I am going to be off your hands--and my own hands--at last!"

"Oh, I'll do all that, of course, with pleasure"--and her ladyship sincerely meant it. She would strain every nerve to get Julia settled--a homeless, impecunious sister, always clinging to her--a sister, too, with endless debts, quarrels, and flirtations. Of course she was fond of poor old Ju, but she would be truly grateful to the man who would marry her, and relieve her of an incubus.

And, emboldened by this splendid opening, Colonel Doran figuratively rushed upon his fate.

It was decided that the engagement was to be brief, as the lady frankly declared--

"We are neither of us young; there is nothing to wait for; and the wedding can take place before Fanny leaves town. She won't be back again till February."

To this arrangement the happy bridegroom readily agreed. When money matters came to be discussed, Colonel Doran's large estate dwindled down to ?1,200 a year. This discovery proved a shock. It appeared that most of his surplus income had been lavished on his regiment; still, his pension was considerable, and living was cheap in Ireland. Fanny generously paid her sister's debts and presented the trousseau. The bride-elect talked continually of Kilmoran Castle, and distributed pressing invitations--among friends unlikely to accept. There was a brilliant wedding, and showers of presents descended on old Ju Barker, who had made an unexpectedly good match. After the ceremony the happy pair left, amid a buzz of congratulations and a shower of rice and slippers, for Colonel Doran's Irish seat.

Although he had repeatedly attempted to discount her expectations, Julia had turned a resolutely deaf ear to her fianc?.

"It is really nothing of a place," he protested; "the old family house was burnt down eighty years ago. My ancestors gambled, and raced through most of the property; and though once we owned miles of country, we have only about two thousand acres of land--some of it is bog--and I am the last twig on our family tree. The castle is merely a house tacked on to an ancient keep; there are no grounds or conservatories--it is just a gloomy old barrack. But you will brighten it. I've had some of the rooms papered, and sent over a little modern furniture."

"But your father and mother lived in it, as it was," she argued, in a querulous key.

"Yes, and my grandfather too. I remember him when Nora and I were small children."

"Don't you remember? I told you about her. My only sister--such a pretty girl; but when she was eighteen, she ran away to America--with the postman."

"How awful! Has nothing been heard of her?"

"No, not for many years. I used to write to her, and send her money on the sly; my father would never allow her name to be mentioned."

"He was right, I think; she behaved disgracefully."

Colonel Doran made a gallant struggle to stem the revolution, but found himself powerless. His wife had a strong and ruthless will. Remonstrances merely led to scenes: the lady, with a red face, stormed and scolded; she assured him that he was a fool, living in an old barrack, and being ruined by a pack of greedy parasites, and that she would never stand by and calmly witness such extravagance. So at last, for the sake of a quiet life, the unhappy gentleman succumbed; he was alive to the fact that his marriage had been a terrible mistake, but he bore his sufferings with a patience and resignation that was almost oriental in its character. He busied himself beyond the scope of Julia's operations, became a justice of the peace, farmed, hunted, and took up the broken links of ancient family friendships.

As far as lay in his power, the Colonel helped his poor dependents: in secret, and out of his own pocket he remitted rents, or bought on the sly a cow or an ass; for Mrs. Doran was a woman of business. Precisely like the model French wife, she kept the keys, the accounts, and all domestic power, in her own hands, and, but for her streak of hard greed, was an admirable manager.

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