CHAPTER III.

Icuthimout?” AndMr.Hunsdenstrodeaway.Iwatchedhimthroughtheopenfolding-doorsheoutstrippedWaddy,appliedforthehandofthefinegirl,andledherofftriumphant.Shewasatall,well-made,full-formed,dashingly-dressedyoungwoman,muchinthestyleofMrs.E.CrimsworthHunsdenwhirledherthroughthewaltzwithspirithekeptathersideduringtheremainderoftheevening,andIreadinheranimatedandgratifiedcountenancethathesucceededinmakinghimselfperfectlyagreeable.Themammatoo(astoutpersoninaturban—Mrs.Luptonbyname)lookedwellpleasedpropheticvisionsprobablyflatteredherinwardeye.TheHunsdenswereofanoldstemandscornfulasYorke(suchwasmylateinterlocutor’sname)professedtobeoftheadvantagesofbirth,inhissecrethearthewellknewandfullyappreciatedthedistinctionhisancient,ifnothighlineageconferredonhiminamushroom-placelikeX——,concerningwhoseinhabitantsitwasproverbiallysaid,thatnotoneinathousandknewhisowngrandfather.MoreovertheHunsdens,oncerich,werestillindependentandreportaffirmedthatYorkebadefair,byhissuccessinbusiness,torestoretopristineprosperitythepartiallydecayedfortunesofhishouse.Thesecircumstancesconsidered,Mrs.Lupton’sbroadfacemightwellwearasmileofcomplacencyasshecontemplatedtheheirofHunsdenWoodoccupiedinpayingassiduouscourttoherdarlingSarahMartha.I,however,whoseobservationsbeinglessanxious,werelikelytobemoreaccurate,soonsawthatthegroundsformaternalself-congratulationwereslightindeedthegentlemanappearedtomemuchmoredesirousofmaking,thansusceptibleofreceivinganimpression.IknownotwhatitwasinMr.Hunsdenthat,asIwatchedhim(Ihadnothingbettertodo),suggestedtome,everynowandthen,theideaofaforeigner.InformandfeatureshemightbepronouncedEnglish,thougheventhereonecaughtadashofsomethingGallicbuthehadnoEnglishshyness:hehadlearntsomewhere,somehow,theartofsettinghimselfquiteathisease,andofallowingnoinsulartimiditytointerveneasabarrierbetweenhimandhisconvenienceorpleasure.Refinementhedidnotaffect,yetvulgarhecouldnotbecalledhewasnotodd—noquiz—yetheresemblednooneelseIhadeverseenbeforehisgeneralbearingintimatedcomplete,sovereignsatisfactionwithhimselfyet,attimes,anindescribableshadepassedlikeaneclipseoverhiscountenance,andseemedtomelikethesignofasuddenandstronginwarddoubtofhimself,hiswordsandactionsanenergeticdiscontentathislifeorhissocialposition,hisfutureprospectsorhismentalattainments—Iknownotwhichperhapsafterallitmightonlybeabiliouscaprice.