第21章
HOW SAMUEL TITMARSH REACHED THE HIGHEST POINT OF PROSPERITYIf I had the pen of a George Robins, I might describe the Rookery properly: suffice it, however, to say it is a very handsome country place; with handsome lawns sloping down to the river, handsome shrubberies and conservatories, fine stables, outhouses, kitchen-gardens, and everything belonging to a first-rate rus in urbe, as the great auctioneer called it when he hammered it down some years after.
I arrived on a Saturday at half-an-hour before dinner: a grave gentleman out of livery showed me to my room; a man in a chocolate coat and gold lace, with Brough's crest on the buttons, brought me a silver shaving-pot of hot water on a silver tray; and a grand dinner was ready at six, at which I had the honour of appearing in Von Stiltz's dress-coat and my new silk stockings and pumps.
Brough took me by the hand as I came in, and presented me to his lady, a stout fair-haired woman, in light blue satin; then to his daughter, a tall, thin, dark-eyed girl, with beetle-brows, looking very ill-natured, and about eighteen.
"Belinda my love," said her papa, "this young gentleman is one of my clerks, who was at our ball.""Oh, indeed!" says Belinda, tossing up her head.
"But not a common clerk, Miss Belinda,--so, if you please, we will have none of your aristocratic airs with him.He is a nephew of the Countess of Drum; and I hope he will soon be very high in our establishment, and in the city of London."At the name of Countess (I had a dozen times rectified the error about our relationship), Miss Belinda made a low curtsey, and stared at me very hard, and said she would try and make the Rookery pleasant to any friend of Papa's."We have not much MONDE to-day," continued Miss Brough, "and are only in petit comite; but I hope before you leave us you will see some societe that will make your sejour agreeable."I saw at once that she was a fashionable girl, from her using the French language in this way.
"Isn't she a fine girl?" said Brough, whispering to me, and evidently as proud of her as a man could be."Isn't she a fine girl--eh, you dog? Do you see breeding like that in Somersetshire?""No, sir, upon my word!" answered I, rather slily; for I was thinking all the while how "Somebody" was a thousand times more beautiful, simple, and ladylike.
"And what has my dearest love been doing all day?" said her papa."Oh, Pa!I have PINCED the harp a little to Captain Fizgig's flute.
Didn't I, Captain Fizgig?"
Captain the Honourable Francis Fizgig said, "Yes, Brough, your fair daughter PINCED the harp, and TOUCHED the piano, and EGRATIGNED the guitar, and ECORCHED a song or two; and we had the pleasure of a PROMENADE A L'EAU,--of a walk upon the water.""Law, Captain!" cries Mrs.Brough, "walk on the water?""Hush, Mamma, you don't understand French!" says Miss Belinda, with a sneer.
"It's a sad disadvantage, madam," says Fizgig, gravely; "and I recommend you and Brough here, who are coming out in the great world, to have some lessons; or at least get up a couple of dozen phrases, and introduce them into your conversation here and there.I suppose, sir, you speak it commonly at the office, Mr.What you call it?" And Mr.Fizgig put his glass into his eye and looked at me.
"We speak English, sir," says I, "knowing it better than French." "Everybody has not had your opportunities," Miss Brough, continuedthe gentleman."Everybody has not VOYAGE like NOUS AUTRES, hey? Mais que voulez-vous, my good sir? you must stick to your cursed ledgers and things.What's the French for ledger, Miss Belinda?""How can you ask?Je n'en scais rien, I'm sure.""You should learn, Miss Brough," said her father."The daughter of a British merchant need not be ashamed of the means by which her father gets his bread.I'M not ashamed--I'm not proud.Those who know John Brough, know that ten years ago he was a poor clerk like my friendTitmarsh here, and is now worth half-a-million.Is there any man in the House better listened to than John Brough? Is there any duke in the land that can give a better dinner than John Brough; or a larger fortune to his daughter than John Brough? Why, sir, the humble person now speaking to you could buy out many a German duke! But I'm not proud--no, no, not proud.There's my daughter--look at her--when I die, she will be mistress of my fortune; but am I proud? No! Let him who can win her, marry her, that's what I say.Be it you, Mr.Fizgig, son of a peer of the realm; or you, Bill Tidd.Be it a duke or a shoeblack, what do I care, hey?--what do I care?""O-o-oh!" sighed the gent who went by the name of Bill Tidd: a very pale young man, with a black riband round his neck instead of a handkerchief, and his collars turned down like Lord Byron.He was leaning against the mantelpiece, and with a pair of great green eyes ogling Miss Brough with all his might.
"Oh, John--my dear John!" cried Mrs.Brough, seizing her husband's hand and kissing it, "you are an angel, that you are!""Isabella, don't flatter me; I'm a MAN,--a plain downright citizen of London, without a particle of pride, except in you and my daughter here-- my two Bells, as I call them! This is the way that we live, Titmarsh my boy: ours is a happy, humble, Christian home, and that's all.Isabella, leave go my hand!""Mamma, you mustn't do so before company; it's odious!" shrieked Miss B.; and Mamma quietly let the hand fall, and heaved from her ample bosom a great large sigh.I felt a liking for that simple woman, and a respect for Brough too.He couldn't be a bad man, whose wife loved him so.
Dinner was soon announced, and I had the honour of leading in Miss B., who looked back rather angrily, I thought, at Captain Fizgig, because that gentleman had offered his arm to Mrs.Brough.He sat on the right of Mrs.Brough, and Miss flounced down on the seat next to him, leaving me and Mr.Tidd to take our places at the opposite side of the table.