Old Friends and New Fancies (21 page)

On the third afternoon, the shooting party having returned earlier on account of bad weather, they were all assembled in the library. Bingley was showing Mr. Bertram some hunting prints that hung on the walls, and the rest were gathered round the fire, the ladies sitting, and William Price leaning on the overmantel glancing at the pieces of porcelain and the miniatures arranged upon it.

"What beautiful little Chinese figures these are, Mrs. Bingley," he suddenly exclaimed. "They are genuinely old, are they not? A man I know brought back just such a pair from Hong Kong, and I know he regarded them as priceless. I do not think they can be imitated in Europe."

"Yes, I believe they are really old," replied Mrs. Bingley. "I do not know the history of them, but they have been in Mr. Bingley's family for a long time, and they are special favourites of his; perhaps you can tell us, Caroline?"

Miss Bingley was beginning to speak when she was interrupted by a cry of dismay from Mr. Price. He had taken the little figure in his hand to examine it more closely, and the head had immediately fallen off and rolled on the hearth. Fortunately a thick rug had received it, and after a search it was discovered intact; but Mr. Price was overwhelmed with self-reproach for his carelessness, until stopped by Mrs. Bingley saying: "You need not mind, Mr. Price, for it was not in the least your fault. The head was broken off already. Look, it has been slung between the shoulders by a piece of wire. I should have mended it, but could not manage to attach a new length of wire."

Price; "that is, if you are quite sure, Mrs. Bingley."
"Indeed I am; and Kitty," she added, turning toward her sis
ter, "perhaps you can help me to clear Mr. Price's character. Do
you happen to know anything about the breaking of this little
mandarin? We found it so a few days after you left, and no one in the house could account for it. I have always meant to ask you
about it, but had forgotten until now."
Owing to the comparative dimness of the firelight, Jane was
unable to perceive her sister's growing confusion; but it became evident in the embarrassed pause which followed her question. Kitty
began to speak, broke off, and began again, stumbling over her
words: "I had thought it had been broken--that is, I knew it had--
but something put it out of my head--I forgot it too till now." "What a pity you did not mention it," said Miss Bingley
severely; "it might have been worse injured next time it was
touched by anyone not knowing the head was loose." "Oh, well, never mind, dear Kitty," said Jane kindly; "it does
not matter; it can easily be repaired, no doubt."
Kitty, on the verge of tears, looked distressfully from one to
the other, torn between her dislike to recalling the occasion, and
her desire to exonerate herself in the eyes of William Price. The
latter consideration prevailed, and addressing Jane, she murmured with deepest blushes; "It was not I who broke it, it was
Mr. Morland."
"Mr. Morland!" repeated Jane, perplexed. "Yes, it was that
last morning he was here. We--he was in the library, you know.
He had the Chinese figure in his hand, and I recollect noticing
it was in two pieces. I never thought of it again until now, and I
suppose he forgot it too."
Kitty's self-consciousness, increased as it was by the knowledge that Jane and Georgiana would now perfectly understand
the reason for the disaster which had befallen the porcelain
ornament, quite mystified her other two hearers, to whom the
explanation taken by itself would have been sufficiently simple.
All they could plainly perceive was that the association of Mr. Morland with the incident made Kitty extremely uncomfortable, and they were left to draw what conclusions they might by her hasty departure from the room. William Price, with a delicacy of feeling for which Georgiana's heart went out to him, immediately filled up the moment of awkwardness by reverting to the original subject of their discussion, which he still held in his hand. "At any rate," he said, smiling, "I have helped to decapitate this poor mandarin, so it seems only fair that I should try to mend him. Have I your permission, Mrs. Bingley? I believe, with a fresh bit of wire and some sealing-wax, I could
make him nod as benevolently as ever."
Bingley was called upon to produce the necessary articles,
and being warned by a glance from his wife not to pursue his
inquiry as to whether they had discovered who had damaged the
old fellow, the incident seemed likely to arouse no further
remark. Georgiana evaded Miss Bingley's eyes, and went away as
soon as she could to Kitty's room, finding her friend lying upon
the bed and weeping bitterly.
"Georgiana, what must he have thought?" she began
instantly, throwing herself into her friend's arms. "Why did Jane
ask me that unfortunate question, just at that time? It could not
have happened worse. I was thinking about it a little, because,
you know, I had not been in that room since Mr. Morland and I
were there together. We were standing in just the same place as
we were all in to-night, and it made me quite miserable to
remember it. And now Mr. Price will not know what to think,
hearing Mr. Morland's name like that. He will suspect something, and perhaps it will prevent him from speaking. I wish we
were back at Pemberley; I knew things would never go so well
here again."
Georgiana comforted her, assured her that what had happened
would never make the slightest difference to Mr. Price, laughingly
reproached her with having run away, saying that no one would
have perceived anything out of the ordinary but for that, and counselled her to behave just as usual when she met the others again,
and everything would be forgotten. Nevertheless, Kitty was far
from comfortable during the rest of their stay, and was in continual expectation of some occurrence which might affect Mr.
Price's attitude towards her, although the cheerful friendliness of
his manner never varied.
This apprehension rendered her particularly uneasy the following day, which was Sunday. They all went to church, where
the service was read by a stranger, and Kitty's sensibility was
sorely tried by having to listen to various questions asked by
their visitors during the walk back. Was that the regular clergyman? He was absent; ah, indeed! Was he a pleasant neighbour?
a good preacher? And so that was the Rectory; what a commodious, attractive-looking house! No doubt the parson was a married man, and he was certainly a lucky fellow to be so
circumstanced, commented Mr. Bertram. Bingley made brief
answers out of compassion for Kitty, and Jane began a conversation with the two girls about something different; but she could
not attend. It was so distressing to think of Mr. Morland, whom
Bingley praised so highly and whom the others thought so enviable, having been driven away from home on her account; that
a man so charming and so desirable should have fallen in love
with her when she was not able to care for him. There seemed
something particularly unfortunate, particularly wasteful, about
the whole affair! If he had been a Mr. Collins, that nobody, not
even Maria Lucas, would have minded refusing! Poor Kitty walked home silently, and as far from Mr. Price as possible, with her muff held up to conceal a countenance which she knew was
unfit to be seen.
On Monday, Bingley and Mr. Bertram went out hunting, and
the ladies, escorted by Mr. Price, drove to the spot where the foxhounds were to meet, in the hope of seeing a little sport. Bingley
had offered to mount Mr. Price also, but the latter had declined,
laughingly declaring that, like all sailors, he was not much of a
horseman, and though he had once hunted from Mansfield Park
when he was a careless youngster, he thought it would be wiser
not to venture over the Derbyshire country, with its rough moors
and high stone walls, on a borrowed horse. "It is most kind of you,
Mr. Bingley," he said; "and for my cousin, it is all right, for he has
hunted here before. But I am sure you would not be pleased, if
you saw me come crashing down at the first big fence, with your
hundred-guinea hunter doubled up in the further ditch." The ladies held up hands of horror, but Bingley, much
amused, said he would not believe a word of it, and that he felt
sure Mr. Price could ride as well as he could shoot. William
shook his head.
"I have ridden all sorts of horses at different times, when
occasion has required it, and have even managed to adhere to
the animal as a rule; but my good luck might desert me to-day.
Perhaps you will let me go for a jogging ride along the lanes
before I go, on your least valuable horse."
"Seeing that I am in charge of you just now, William, I
highly applaud your decision," said his cousin, "as I don't want
to have to send you back to Portsmouth with a broken neck,
which is certainly what could happen."
"You in charge of me! I like that," exclaimed William. "Say
much more, and I will borrow a gypsy's donkey and come to meet
you on it, announcing to everybody that I am bringing along
your second mount."
Mrs. Bingley was a little afraid of the cold wind, and decided
not to go, so Mr. Price took his seat in the barouche with the
other three, and greatly enhanced the gaiety of their party. They
drove about for more than two hours, and when at last, the hunt
having gone away among the hills, they decided to turn homewards, Mr. Price created consternation among his fair companions by asking permission to get out and walk.
"Walk, Mr. Price?" exclaimed Miss Bingley, who, placed on
the front seat, had assumed the direction of the party. "Why
should you want to walk? And in this desolate wilderness! Why,
we must be six or seven miles from home."
"Yes, I thought it was about that," said William "I rather
wanted a walk, and do you know, I like this desolate wilderness,
as you call it. I should enjoy exploring my way homewards, and
I have noted all the landmarks. It is so cold, too; a splendid day
for a walk."
"Oh, Mr. Price, do not go; we are all so snugly tucked in
here," said Kitty imploringly.
"Oh, if you prefer walking, pray do not let us detain you,"
said Miss Bingley, speaking at the same moment, and in rather
an offended voice.
William looked in surprise from one to the other; it had evidently not occurred to him for one moment that he would be
missed by any of them. Unconsciously, his eye sought
Georgiana's, and she said quickly: "Mr. Price must be cold with
sitting still so long; I expect he would enjoy a walk. It really is not so far; from the top of the hill one can see Kympton Church,
I know, and on foot one can take an almost straight route." The carriage had stopped and the servants awaited their
orders. William remained irresolute; he had one lady's leave to
go, another was doing her best to appear indifferent, and the
third plied him with entreaties not to break up their comfortable
little party. Georgiana was amused, but also a little ashamed to
see Caroline and Kitty, for once united in the object of their
wishes, showing those wishes so plainly. It was clear that
William Price felt the awkwardness thus created, for his hesitation only lasted a second or two, and he said lightly: "Why, of
course, I will not get out, if it would be disturbing anybody.
Probably the negotiation of those short cuts would make me very
late for dinner. Shall they drive on?"
Miss Bingley gave the order in a dignified tone, and assured
him that he had done wisely to desist, for he certainly would
have been late. Georgiana could not help remarking that it was
a pity he should have missed his walk, for the others would not
be in before five; but he gave her a glance and a half smile,
which showed her that he was not allowing it to trouble him.
Kitty, delighted that Mr. Price had given this proof of a wish to
please him, talked all the way home, and described with great
animation several
dreadful
walks that Bingley had taken her on
the moors, when, according to her account, they had narrowly
escaped death on many occasions--wild cattle, dangerous bogs,
rushing torrents and venomous snakes being among the risks to
be encountered on such expeditions.
Mr. Price listened with interest, but his courage did not
appear to be shaken, for as soon as they descended from the carriage, he paused only to glance at the clock, and to divest himself of his heavy coat, before asking Miss Darcy if she would accompany him on a walk. "It will be as short as, or as long, as brisk or as leisurely, as you are disposed for," he said, and
Georgiana declined with real regret.
"I should have enjoyed it very much, Mr. Price, but I think
I had better not; it is rather late, and the others may be wanting
me before dinner. Besides," she added, as she saw his disappointed look, "I know you want a good walk, and you can go further if you have not to adapt yourself to the slow paces of a lady." "I should esteem it an honour to have to adapt myself to
yours," replied William Price, with the quick, bright smile which
was so noticeable in him.
"We must all go together to-morrow morning," said Georgiana,
as she turned away. "Mr. Bingley can show us what is the best direction. I hope it will keep fine, but it looks very like snow." Mr. Price did not move from where he stood for some minutes, and Georgiana, as she ascended the stairs, felt strongly to
return and accede to his suggestion, but the fear that Kitty would
not like it withheld her. She wished that he had asked Kitty
instead, or as well, for although anyone might well have
assumed--after the descriptions she had given--that a country
walk, for its own sake, was to her the most uncongenial form of
amusement, yet Georgiana knew well that it would be viewed in
a very different light were a particular companion available. The promised walk did not take place, for the snow, which
had been threatening, fell the following day, not thickly, but
with enough of fog and dampness in the atmosphere to make the
fireside seem by far the most agreeable place. The gentlemen
shot in the first part of the morning, but returned home soon after one, ready for any entertainment that they might be expected to provide or be provided with; and Tom Bertram's inclinations, as usual, were in favour of the former. Not being a card-player, or enthusiast for music, and having found Mr. Bingley to be at billiards an adversary unworthy of his skill, he was obliged to seek some other method of spending a winter's afternoon, and without hesitation he broached to the assembled
party his idea that they should act some charades.
Mrs. Bingley looked doubtful, and William Price gave his
cousin no support; but the notion was warmly taken up by
Bingley, his sister and sister-in-law, and Mr. Bertram set himself
to persuade Mrs. Bingley that, next to a real play, charades were
the most delightful things imaginable, and that they had a party
collected about them remarkably well qualified to undertake any
and every kind of character.
His hostess proved not difficult to persuade when she perceived what pleasurable anticipations were aroused by the suggestion; and only needed to be assured by her husband that it
was a capital notion, and the young people would thoroughly
enjoy it, to promise help of whatever kind was needed. William
Price was ready to enter into it, when it became evident that it
was the general wish; and even Georgiana began to be interested, and concealed her nervousness at the idea of taking part. "You need not be frightened, Georgiana," said Miss Bingley;
"all you will be required to do is to stand perfectly still and
assume a particular expression. Louisa and I have often taken
part in them; there is no acting, it is all the pose."
"Excuse me, Miss Bingley," interposed Mr. Bertram, "the kind
of charades I propose we should do involves a certain amount of movement--acting, in short; and others require impromptu