The Way We Live Now Page 7

  CHAPTER V.

  AFTER THE BALL.

  "It's weary work," said Sir Felix as he got into the brougham withhis mother and sister.

  "What must it have been to me then, who had nothing to do?" said hismother.

  "It's the having something to do that makes me call it weary work.By-the-bye, now I think of it, I'll run down to the club before I gohome." So saying he put his head out of the brougham, and stopped thedriver.

  "It is two o'clock, Felix," said his mother.

  "I'm afraid it is, but you see I'm hungry. You had supper, perhaps;I had none."

  "Are you going down to the club for supper at this time in themorning?"

  "I must go to bed hungry if I don't. Good night." Then he jumpedout of the brougham, called a cab, and had himself driven to theBeargarden. He declared to himself that the men there would think itmean of him if he did not give them their revenge. He had renewed hisplay on the preceding night, and had again won. Dolly Longestaffeowed him now a considerable sum of money, and Lord Grasslough wasalso in his debt. He was sure that Grasslough would go to the clubafter the ball, and he was determined that they should not think thathe had submitted to be carried home by his mother and sister. Sohe argued with himself; but in truth the devil of gambling was hotwithin his bosom; and though he feared that in losing he might losereal money, and that if he won it would be long before he was paid,yet he could not keep himself from the card-table.

  Neither mother or daughter said a word till they reached home and hadgot up-stairs. Then the elder spoke of the trouble that was nearestto her heart at the moment. "Do you think he gambles?"

  "He has got no money, mamma."

  "I fear that might not hinder him. And he has money with him, though,for him and such friends as he has, it is not much. If he gambleseverything is lost."

  "I suppose they all do play,--more or less."

  "I have not known that he played. I am wearied too, out of all heart,by his want of consideration to me. It is not that he will not obeyme. A mother perhaps should not expect obedience from a grown-up son.But my word is nothing to him. He has no respect for me. He would assoon do what is wrong before me as before the merest stranger."

  "He has been so long his own master, mamma."

  "Yes,--his own master! And yet I must provide for him as though hewere but a child. Hetta, you spent the whole evening talking to PaulMontague."

  "No, mamma;--that is unjust."

  "He was always with you."

  "I knew nobody else. I could not tell him not to speak to me. Idanced with him twice." Her mother was seated, with both her hands upto her forehead, and shook her head. "If you did not want me to speakto Paul you should not have taken me there."

  "I don't wish to prevent your speaking to him. You know what Iwant." Henrietta came up and kissed her, and bade her good night."I think I am the unhappiest woman in all London," she said, sobbinghysterically.

  "Is it my fault, mamma?"

  "You could save me from much if you would. I work like a horse,and I never spend a shilling that I can help. I want nothing formyself,--nothing for myself. Nobody has suffered as I have. But Felixnever thinks of me for a moment."

  "I think of you, mamma."

  "If you did you would accept your cousin's offer. What right have youto refuse him? I believe it is all because of that young man."

  "No, mamma; it is not because of that young man. I like my cousinvery much;--but that is all. Good night, mamma." Lady Carbury justallowed herself to be kissed, and then was left alone.

  At eight o'clock the next morning daybreak found four young men whohad just risen from a card-table at the Beargarden. The Beargardenwas so pleasant a club that there was no rule whatsoever as to itsbeing closed,--the only law being that it should not be opened beforethree in the afternoon. A sort of sanction had, however, been givento the servants to demur to producing supper or drinks after six inthe morning, so that, about eight, unrelieved tobacco began to be tooheavy even for juvenile constitutions. The party consisted of DollyLongestaffe, Lord Grasslough, Miles Grendall, and Felix Carbury, andthe four had amused themselves during the last six hours with variousinnocent games. They had commenced with whist, and had culminatedduring the last half-hour with blind hookey. But during the wholenight Felix had won. Miles Grendall hated him, and there had been anexpressed opinion between Miles and the young lord that it would beboth profitable and proper to relieve Sir Felix of the winnings ofthe last two nights. The two men had played with the same object, andbeing young had shown their intention,--so that a certain feeling ofhostility had been engendered. The reader is not to understand thateither of them had cheated, or that the baronet had entertainedany suspicion of foul play. But Felix had felt that Grendall andGrasslough were his enemies, and had thrown himself on Dolly forsympathy and friendship. Dolly, however, was very tipsy.

  At eight o'clock in the morning there came a sort of settling, thoughno money then passed. The ready-money transactions had not lastedlong through the night. Grasslough was the chief loser, and thefigures and scraps of paper which had been passed over to Carbury,when counted up, amounted to nearly L2,000. His lordship contestedthe fact bitterly, but contested it in vain. There were his owninitials and his own figures, and even Miles Grendall, who wassupposed to be quite wide awake, could not reduce the amount. ThenGrendall had lost over L400 to Carbury,--an amount, indeed, thatmattered little, as Miles could, at present, as easily have raisedL40,000. However, he gave his I.O.U. to his opponent with an easyair. Grasslough, also, was impecunious; but he had a father,--alsoimpecunious, indeed; but with them the matter would not be hopeless.Dolly Longestaffe was so tipsy that he could not even assist inmaking up his own account. That was to be left between him andCarbury for some future occasion.

  "I suppose you'll be here to-morrow,--that is to-night," said Miles.

  "Certainly,--only one thing," answered Felix.

  "What one thing?"

  "I think these things should be squared before we play any more!"

  "What do you mean by that?" said Grasslough angrily. "Do you mean tohint anything?"

  "I never hint anything, my Grassy," said Felix. "I believe whenpeople play cards, it's intended to be ready-money, that's all. ButI'm not going to stand on P's and Q's with you. I'll give you yourrevenge to-night."

  "That's all right," said Miles.

  "I was speaking to Lord Grasslough," said Felix. "He is an oldfriend, and we know each other. You have been rather rough to-night,Mr. Grendall."

  "Rough;--what the devil do you mean by that?"

  "And I think it will be as well that our account should be settledbefore we begin again."

  "A settlement once a week is the kind of thing I'm used to," saidGrendall.

  There was nothing more said; but the young men did not part on goodterms. Felix, as he got himself taken home, calculated that if hecould realize his spoil, he might begin the campaign again withhorses, servants, and all luxuries as before. If all were paid, hewould have over L3,000!