"Naughty child,you will not comprehend me.I mean the lower orders,the bourgeoisie.My husband says he is a tanner's 'prenticeboy.""He was apprentice;he is now partner in Mr.Fletcher's tan-yard.""That is nearly as bad.And so you are actually going to marry a tanner?""I am going to marry Mr.Halifax.We will,if you please,cease to discuss him,Lady Caroline.""La belle sauvage!"laughed the lady;and,in the dusk,I fancied Isaw her reach over to pat Ursula's hand in her careless,pretty way.
"Nay,I meant no harm."
"I am sure you did not;but we will change the subject.""Not at all.I came to talk about it.I couldn't sleep till I had.
Je t'aime bien,tu le sais,ma petite Ursule.""Thank you,"said Ursula,gently.
"And I would like well to see you married.Truly we women must marry,or be nothing at all.But as to marrying for love,as we used to think of,and as charming poets make believe--my dear,now-a-days,nous avons change tout cela."Ursula replied nothing.
"I suppose my friend the young bourgeois is very much in love with you?With 'les beaux yeux de votre cassette,'Richard swears;but Iknow better.What of that?All men say they love one--but it will not last.It burns itself out.It will be over in a year,as we wives all know.Do we not,Mrs.Jessop?Ah!she is gone away."Probably they thought I was away too--or else they took no notice of me--and went talking on.
"Jane would not have agreed with you,Cousin Caroline;she loved her husband very dearly when she was a girl.They were poor,and he was afraid to marry;so he let her go.That was wrong,I think.""How wise we are growing in these things now!"laughed Lady Caroline.
"But come,I am not interested in old turtle-doves.Say about yourself.""I have nothing more to say."
"Nothing more?Mon Dieu!are you aware that Richard is furious;that he vows he will keep every sou he has of yours--law or no law--for as long as ever he can?He declared so this morning.Did young Halifax tell you?""Mr.Halifax has told me."
"'MR.Halifax!'how proudly she says it.And are you still going to be married to him?""Yes."
"What!a bourgeois--a tradesman?with no more money than those sort of people usually have,I believe.You,who have had all sorts of comforts,have always lived as a gentlewoman.Truly,though I adore a love-marriage in theory,practically I think you are mad--quite mad,my dear.""Do you?"
"And he,too!Verily,what men are!Especially men in love.All selfish together.""Caroline!"
"Isn't it selfish to drag a pretty creature down,and make her a drudge,a slave--a mere poor man's wife?""She is proud of being such!"burst in the indignant young voice.
"Lady Caroline,you may say what you like to me;you were kind always,and I was fond of you;but you shall not say a word against Mr.Halifax.You do not know him--how could you?""And you do?Ah!ma petite,we all think that,till we find out to the contrary.And so he urges you to be married at once--rich or poor--at all risks,at all costs?How lover-like--how like a man!Iguess it all.Half beseeches--half persuades--""He does not!"And the girl's voice was sharp with pain."I would not have told you,but I must--for his sake.He asked me this afternoon if I was afraid of being poor?if I would like to wait,and let him work hard alone,till he could give me a home like that I was born to?He did,Caroline.""And you answered--"
"No--a thousand times,no!He will have a hard battle to fight--would I let him fight it alone?when I can help him--when he says Ican."
"Ah,child!you that know nothing of poverty,how can you bear it?""I will try."
"You that never ruled a house in your life--""I can learn."
"Ciel!'tis wonderful!And this young man has no friends,no connections,no fortune!only himself.""Only himself,"said Ursula,with a proud contempt.
"Will you tell me,my dear,why you marry him?""Because"--and Ursula spoke in low tones,that seemed wrung out of her almost against her will--"because I honour him,because I trust him;and,young as I am,I have seen enough of the world to be thankful that there is in it one man whom I can trust,can honour,entirely.Also--though I am often ashamed lest this be selfish--because when I was in trouble he helped me;when I was misjudged he believed in me;when I was sad and desolate he loved me.And I am proud of his love--I glory in it.No one shall take it from me--no one will--no one can,unless I cease to deserve it."Lady Caroline was silent.Despite her will,you might hear a sigh breaking from some deep corner of that light,frivolous heart.
"Bien!chacun a son gout!But you have never stated one trifle--not unnecessary,perhaps,though most married folk get on quite well without it--'Honour,''trust,'--pshaw!My child--do you LOVE Mr.
Halifax?"
No answer.
"Nay,why be shy?In England,they say,and among the people--no offence,ma petite--one does sometimes happen to care for the man one marries.Tell me,for I must be gone,do you love him?one word,whether or no?"Just then the light coming in showed Ursula's face,beautiful with more than happiness,uplifted even with a religious thankfulness,as she said simply:
"John knows."