Uncle's dream; And The Permanent Husband Part 31

"Why! why, impossible?"

"Oh, why! to let the child go-so suddenly, you know, of course with such a sincere well-wisher as yourself-it's not that!-but a strange house-and such swells, too!-I don't know whether they would receive her!"

"But I tell you I'm like a son of the house!" cried Velchaninoff, almost angrily. "Claudia Petrovna will be delighted to take her, at one word from me! She'd receive her as though she were my own daughter. Deuce take it, sir, you know you are only humbugging me,-what's the use of talking about it?"

He stamped his foot.

"No-no! I mean to say-don't it look a little strange? Oughtn't I to call once or twice first?-such a smart house as you say theirs is-don't you see--"

"I tell you it's the simplest house in the world; it isn't 'smart' in the least bit," cried Velchaninoff; "they have a lot of children: it will make another girl of her!-I'll introduce you there myself, to-morrow, if you like. Of course you'll have to go and thank them, and all that. You shall go down every day with me, if you please."

"Oh, but--"

"Nonsense! You know it's nonsense! Now look here: you come to me this evening-I'll put you up for the night-and we'll start off early to-morrow and be down there by twelve."

"Benefactor!-and I may spend the night at your house?" cried Pavel Pavlovitch, instantly consenting to the plan with the greatest cordiality,-"you are really _too_ good! And where's their country house?"

"At the Liesnoy."

"But look here, how about her dress? Such a house, you know,-a father's heart shrinks--"

"Nonsense!-she's in mourning-what else could she wear but a black dress like this? it's exactly the thing; you couldn't imagine anything more so!-you might let her have some clean linen with her, and give her a cleaner neck-handkerchief."

"Directly, directly. We'll get her linen together in a couple of minutes-it's just home from the was.h.!.+"

"Send for a carriage-can you? Tell them to let us have it at once, so as not to waste time."

But now an unexpected obstacle arose: Liza absolutely rejected the plan; she had listened to it with terror, and if Velchaninoff had, in his excited argument with Pavel Pavlovitch, had time to glance at the child's face, he would have observed her expression of absolute despair at this moment.

"I won't go!" she said, quietly but firmly.

"There-look at that! Just like her mamma!"

"I'm _not_ like mamma, I'm _not_ like mamma!" cried Liza, wringing her little hands in despair. "Oh, papa-papa!" she added, "if you desert me-"

she suddenly threw herself upon the alarmed Velchaninoff-"If you take me away-" she cried-"I'll--"

But Liza had no time to finish her sentence, for Pavel Pavlovitch suddenly seized her by the arm and collar and hustled her into the next room with unconcealed rage. For several minutes Velchaninoff listened to the whispering going on there,-whisperings and seemingly subdued crying on the part of Liza. He was about to follow the pair, when suddenly out came Pavel Pavlovitch, and stated-with a disagreeable grin-that Liza would come directly.

Velchaninoff tried not to look at him and kept his eyes fixed on the other side of the room.

The elderly woman whom Velchaninoff had met on the stairs also made her appearance, and packed Liza's things into a neat little carpet bag.

"Is it you that are going to take the little lady away, sir?" she asked; "if so, you are doing a good deed! She's a nice quiet child, and you are saving her from goodness knows what, here!"

"Oh! come-Maria Sisevna,"-began Pavel Pavlovitch.

"Well? What? Isn't it true! Arn't you ashamed to let a girl of her intelligence see the things that you allow to go on here? The carriage has arrived for you, sir,-_you_ ordered one for the Liesnoy, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, good luck to you!"

Liza came out, looking very pale and with downcast eyes; she took her bag, but never glanced in Velchaninoff's direction. She restrained herself and did not throw herself upon her father, as she had done before-not even to say good-bye. She evidently did not wish to look at him.

Her father kissed her and patted her head in correct form; her lip curled during the operation, the chin trembled a little, but she did not raise her eyes to her father's.

Pavel Pavlovitch looked pale, and his hands shook; Velchaninoff saw that plainly enough, although he did his best not to see the man at all. He (Velchaninoff) had but one thought, and that was how to get away at once!

Downstairs was old Maria Sisevna, waiting to say good-bye; and more kissing was done. Liza had just climbed into the carriage when suddenly she caught sight of her father's face; she gave a loud cry and wrung her hands,-in another minute she would have been out of the carriage and away, but luckily the vehicle went on and she was too late!

CHAPTER VI.

"Are you feeling faint?" asked Velchaninoff of his companion, frightened out of his wits: "I'll tell him to stop and get you some water, shall I?"

She looked at him angrily and reproachfully.

"Where are you taking me to?" she asked coldly and abruptly.

"To a very beautiful house, Liza. There are plenty of children,-they'll all love you there, they are so kind! Don't be angry with me, Liza; I wish you well, you know!"

In truth, Velchaninoff would have looked strange at this moment to any acquaintance, if such had happened to see him!

"How-how-how-oh! _how_ wicked you are!" said Liza, fighting with suppressed tears, and flas.h.i.+ng her fine angry eyes at him.

"But Liza-I--"

"You are bad-bad-and wicked!" cried Liza. She wrung her hands.

Velchaninoff was beside himself.

"Oh, Liza, Liza! if only you knew what despair you are causing me!" he said.

"Is it true that he is coming down to-morrow?" asked the child haughtily-"is it true or not?"

"Quite true-I shall bring him down myself,-I shall take him and bring him!"

"He will deceive you somehow!" cried the child, drooping her eyes.

"Doesn't he love you, then, Liza?"

"No."

"Has he ill-treated you,-has he?"