Roland Cashel Volume I Part 55

"What is it, Mr. Phillis?" said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, in a commanding tone, meant to convey the information of "where the Court sat," and to whom he should address his pleading.

"It's a little matter on which I wanted advice, ma'am, for I am really puzzled bow to act. You know, ma'am, that we are expecting large company at our place in the country--Tubb--something--"

"Tubbermore," interposed Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k.

"Yes, sir, Tubbermore. Well, there have been at least twenty messages this morning from different families, who want to know the best way of going, and when Mr. Cashel means to go himself, and where post-horses are to be had, and how they are to get forward where there are none, and so on."

"Is your master not the person to dictate the answer to these queries?"

said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, with her grandest air.

"Of course, ma'am, but he's not here."

"Where is he, then?" asked she, eagerly.

"He's gone, ma'am; he went last night."

"Gone! gone where?" said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, with an eagerness no artifice could cover.

"It's hard to say, ma'am; but he went down to Kingstown last night, and sailed in the yacht; and from the preparations and sea stores taken from the hotel, it would seem like a long cruise."

"And did he not mention anything of his intention to _you_ Mr. Phillis?"

said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, with a flattering emphasis on the p.r.o.noun.

"A few lines in pencil, ma'am, dated from the harbor, was all I received. Here they are." And he handed a piece of note-paper across the table. The contents ran thus:--

Phillis, send word to Sir Harvey Upton's that I sha'n't dine there to-morrow. Give the bearer of this my dressing-case, and clothes for some days, and have the fourgon ready packed to start for Tubbermore on receiving my next orders.

R. C.--Kingstown Harbor.

"And who brought this note?" said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, who fancied she was conducting the inquiry in true judicial form.

"One of the yacht sailors, ma'am; he came up on Lord Kilgoff s carriage."

"On Lord Kilgoff's carriage--how did that happen?"

"The carriage came into town, ma'am, to bring some things my Lady sent for; at least, so the sailor told me."

"And were Lord and Lady Kilgoff on board the yacht?"

"Yes, ma'am; they both sailed in her last night."

As though drawn by some irresistible influence, every eye was now turned to Aunt f.a.n.n.y, who, up to this, had listened to Mr. Phillis with a breathless attention, and if looks could be translated, every glance thus thrown said plainly, "This is _your_ doing."

"Are you certain that the yacht has not returned to Kingstown?" said Miss O'Hara.

"Perfectly, ma'am. It blew a storm last night, and the sailors about the harbor told me it was a great chance that any small vessel could outlive the gale."

Olivia Kennyf.e.c.k became deadly pale at these words, and whispered something in her sister's ear.

"Of course," replied the other, aloud; then turning to Phillis, said, "Had they a pilot with them?"

"I believe so, miss, but there are so many contradictory reports, one don't know what to credit; some say that Lord Kilgoff was greatly opposed to the cruise, but that her Ladys.h.i.+p insisted, and that, in fact, they got under weigh at last without my Lord's knowing, and while they were at dinner."

"It was a fearful night!" said Mr. Kennyf.e.c.k, whose mind was entirely engrossed by the one idea.

"Take him into the next room, and I'll join you presently," said Mrs.

Kennyf.e.c.k to her husband, for that keen-sighted lady had remarked the intense interest with which Mr. Phillis listened to every remark made around him.

"Here's a pretty piece of business!" cried she, as the door closed after her husband and the valet; "and certainly, I must say, we 've no one to thank for it but you, f.a.n.n.y!"

"Unquestionably not," echoed Miss Kennyf.e.c.k. "Aunt f.a.n.n.y has the entire merit of this catastrophe."

"It is most cruel," sighed Olivia, as she wiped the tears from her eyes, and bent upon her stern relative a glance of most reproachful sadness.

"Are you all mad?" said the a.s.sailed individual, her courage and her color rising together. "How can you pretend to connect me with this disgraceful proceeding? Here's a case as clearly prearranged as ever was heard of."

"Impossible!" cried Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k; "did n't he invite us only yesterday to go down to Tubbermore by sea?"

"And didn't you yourself offer the only impediment?" said Miss Kennyf.e.c.k.

"You are very cruel, aunt," sobbed Olivia.

"You'll drive me out of my senses," said Miss O'Hara; and certainly her look did not belie her words. "I endeavor to rescue you from the snares of a young debauchee, who, as you well know, has a wife still living--"

"There, I hope you are content now," said Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, as Olivia fell fainting into her arms; and the window was thrown open, and all were busied in employing the wonted restoratives for such attacks. Meanwhile, hostilities were continued, but in a less rigorous fas.h.i.+on. "You know you've ruined everything--you know well how your officious meddling has destroyed this poor child's fortune; rub her temples, Cary."

"I know that he is a dissipated, abandoned wretch, that would desert her to-morrow as he has done that unhappy--"

"Hush, she is coming to. You want to kill her."

"Humph!" muttered Aunt f.a.n.n.y; "this scene might be very effective with the young gentleman, but is quite thrown away upon me."

"Aunt, aunt!" cried Miss Kennyf.e.c.k, reprovingly.

"If we had just followed our own counsels, we should have this very hour been on the way to Tubbermore, perhaps never to leave it!"

Aunt f.a.n.n.y shook her head.

"Yes. You may affect to doubt and hesitate, and all that, but where is the wonderful condescension in a Mr. Cashel proposing for the grand-niece of Roger Miles O'Hara, of Kilmurray O'Hara of Mayo, the second cousin of Lawrence O'Hara Kelly, that ought to be Lord Bally Kelly?"

"Fairly enough, if that was all," slipped in Miss O'Hara, hoping to escape from all danger by climbing up the genealogical tree whereon her sister was perched.

"If that was all!" repeated Mrs. Kennyf.e.c.k, indignantly, catching at the last words, "and what more is wanting, I 'd be glad to ask? But, to be sure, it was rather a mistake to call to our counsels, in such a case, one that never could succeed in her own."

This terrible taunt at Miss O'Hara's celibacy didn't go unpunished, for, throwing all attempts at conciliation behind her, she rose, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes and trembling lips.

"So, it is you that tell me this," said she--"_you_ that dare to sneer at _my_ being unmarried--you, that were fain to take up with a Dublin attorney--poor Tom Kennyf.e.c.k--the hack of the quarter sessions, serving lat.i.tats and t.i.the notices over the country in his old gig--Indeed, girls, I 'm sorry to speak that way of your father, but it 's well known--"