第72章

SmithandJones——following，withtheotherguestsatWindygates，inLadyLundie’strain——exchangedtheiropinionsonthemeritsofthehouse，standingonaterraceattheback，nearaflightofstepswhichleddownintothegarden。Theyformedthevan-guardofthevisitors，appearingbytwosandthreesfromthereceptionrooms，andallbentongoingtoseetheswansbeforetheamusementsofthedaybegan。JuliusDelamayncameoutwiththefirstdetachment，recruitedSmithandJones，andotherwanderingbachelors，bytheway，andsetforthforthelake。Anintervalofaminuteortwopassed——andtheterraceremainedempty。Thentwoladies——attheheadofaseconddetachmentofvisitors——appearedundertheoldstoneporchwhichshelteredtheentranceonthatsideofthehouse。Oneoftheladieswasamodest，pleasantlittleperson，verysimplydressed。Theotherwasofthetallandformidabletypeof“finewomen，“cladindazzlingarray。ThefirstwasMrs。JuliusDelamayn。ThesecondwasLadyLundie。

“Exquisite!“criedherladyship，surveyingtheoldmullionedwindowsofthehouse，withtheirframingofcreepers，andthegrandstonebuttressesprojectingatintervalsfromthewall，eachwithitsbrightlittlecircleofflowersbloomingroundthebase。“IamreallygrievedthatSirPatrickshouldhavemissedthis。“

“Ithinkyousaid，LadyLundie，thatSirPatrickhadbeencalledtoEdinburghbyfamilybusiness？“

“Business，Mrs。Delamayn，whichisanythingbutagreeabletome，asonememberofthefamily。Ithasalteredallmyarrangementsfortheautumn。Mystep-daughteristobemarriednextweek。“

“Isitsonearasthat？MayIaskwhothegentlemanis？“

“Mr。ArnoldBrinkworth。“

“SurelyIhavesomeassociationwiththatname？“

“Youhaveprobablyheardofhim，Mrs。Delamayn，astheheirtoMissBrinkworth’sScotchproperty？“

“Exactly!HaveyoubroughtMr。Brinkworthhereto-day？“

“Ibringhisapologies，aswellasSirPatrick’s。TheywenttoEdinburghtogetherthedaybeforeyesterday。Thelawyersengagetohavethesettlementsreadyinthreeorfourdaysmore，ifapersonalconsultationcanbemanaged。Someformalquestion，I

believe，connectedwithtitle-deeds。SirPatrickthoughtthesafestwayandthespeediestwaywouldbetotakeMr。BrinkworthwithhimtoEdinburgh——togetthebusinessoverto-day——andtowaituntilwejointhem，onourwaysouth，to-morrow。“

“YouleaveWindygates，inthislovelyweather？“

“Mostunwillingly!Thetruthis，Mrs。Delamayn，Iamatmystep-daughter’smercy。Herunclehastheauthority，asherguardian——andtheusehemakesofitistogiveherherownwayineverything。ItwasonlyonFridaylastthatsheconsentedtoletthedaybefixed——andeventhenshemadeitapositiveconditionthatthemarriagewasnottotakeplaceinScotland。

Purewillfulness!ButwhatcanIdo？SirPatricksubmits；andMr。

Brinkworthsubmits。IfIamtobepresentatthemarriageImustfollowtheirexample。Ifeelitmydutytobepresent——and，