Davenport Dunn, a Man of Our Day. Volume 1. Lever Charles James

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СКАЧАТЬ have just been telling this dear girl of yours, O’Reilly, that you ought to make this place your own,” said Lord Lackington. “Don’t fancy you ‘d be out of the world here. Why, there ‘s the Villa d’Este, a European celebrity at once; it will be thronged next year to suffocation. The ‘Galignani,’ I see, has already mentioned myself and Lady Lackington as among the visitors. These things have their effect The press in our day is an estate.”

      “Indeed, I ‘m sure of it. There was a cousin of my wife’s drew his two hundred a year out of the ‘Tyrawley Express,’ – a daily little paper, that, maybe, your Lordship never seen.”

      “When I said an estate, sir, I rather alluded to a recognized condition of power and influence than to mere wealth. Not, I will add, that I am one of those who approve of this consummation; nor can I see how men of my order can ever so regard it.”

      “Well,” said O’Reilly, sighing, as though the confession cost something, “there ‘s nothing equal to a newspaper. I ‘m reading ‘Saunders’ this eight-and-forty years, and I own to you I never found one I liked so much. For you see, my Lord, it’s the same with a paper as with your house, – you ought to know where to lay your hand on what you want. Now, you might as well put me in Buckingham Palace, and tell me to find my bedroom, as give me the ‘Times’ and bid me discover the Viceregal Court. If they mention it at all, it ‘s among the accidents and offences.”

      “Castle festivities – Patrick’s Hall – great fun!” said Twining, laughing pleasantly, for he cherished some merry recollections of these hospitalities.

      “Have you – But of course you were too young for presentation,” said his Lordship to Molly.

      “We were n’t out; but, in any case, I ‘m sure we ‘d not have been there,” said Molly.

      “The pleasure of that presentation may perhaps be reserved for me, who knows?” said the Viscount, graciously. “If our people come in, it is the post they ‘d offer me.”

      “Lord-Lieutenant!” said Molly, opening her eyes to the fullest.

      “Even so, ma belle. Shall we rehearse the ceremony of presentation? Twining, do you perform the Chamberlain. Stand aside, O’Reilly; be a gentleman at large, or an Ulster King-at-arms. Now for it!” And so saying, he drew himself proudly up to an attitude of considerable dignity, while Twining, muttering to himself, “What fun!” announced aloud, “Miss Molly O’Reilly, your Excellency;” at which, and before she was aware, his Excellency stepped one step in advance, and sainted her on either cheek with a cordiality that covered her with blushes.

      “That ‘s not it, at all, I ‘m certain,” said she, half angrily.

      “On my life, it’s the exact ceremony, and no more,” said the Viscount. Then resuming the performance, he added, “Take care, Twining, that she is put on your list for the balls. O’Reilly, your niece is charming.”

      “My niece – sure she ‘s – ”

      “You forget, my worthy friend, that we are enacting Viceroy, and cannot charge our memory with the ties of kindred.”

      Spicer now came up to say that a thunderstorm was threatening, and that the wisest course would probably be to land the luncheon and remain where they were till the hurricane should pass over. The proposition was at once approved of, and the party were soon busily occupying themselves in the cares for the entertainment; all agreeing that they felt no regret at being separated from the other boat, which had proceeded up the lake; in fact, as Mr. O’Reilly said, “they were snugger as they were, without the Roosians,” – a sentiment in various ways acknowledged by the rest.

      Strange freemasonry is there in conviviality. The little preparations for this picnic dinner disseminated amidst them all the fellowship of old acquaintance, and, as they assisted and aided each other, a degree of kindliness grew up that bound them together like a family. Each vied with each in displaying his power of usefulness and agreeability; even the noble Viscount, who actually did nothing what-ever, so simulated occupation and activity that he was regarded by all as the very life and soul of the party. And yet we are unjust in saying he did nothing; for he it was who, by the happy charm of his manner, the ready tact of a consummate man of the world, imparted to the meeting its great success. Unused to the agreeable qualities of such men, O’Reilly felt all the astonishment that great conversational gifts inspire, and sat amazed and delighted at the stores of pleasant stories, witty remarks, and acute observations poured out before him.

      He knew nothing of the skill by which these abilities were guided, nor how, like cunning shopkeepers dressing their wares to most advantage, such men exhibit their qualities with all the artifice of display. He never suspected the subtle flattery by which he was led to fancy himself the intimate of men whose names were freely talked of before him, till at length the atmosphere of the great world was to him like the air he had breathed from childhood.

      “How the Prince would have relished O’Reilly!” said the Viscount to Twining, in a whisper easily overheard. “That racy humor, that strong native common-sense, that vigorous disregard of petty obstacles wherever he is bent on following out a path, – his royal Highness would have appreciated all these.”

      “Unquestionably – been charmed with them – thought him most agreeable – great fun.”

      “You remind me of O’Kelly, – Colonel O’Kelly, – O’Reilly; strange enough, too, each of you should be of that same old Celtic blood. But, perhaps, it is just that very element that gives you the peculiar social fascination I was alluding to. You are not old enough, Twining, to remember that small house with the bay-windows opening on the Birdcage Walk; it was like a country parsonage dropped down in the midst of London, with honeysuckles over the porch, and peacocks on the lawn in front of it. O’Kelly and Payne lived there together, – the two pleasantest bachelors that ever joined in partnership. The Prince dined with them by agreement every Friday. The charm of the thing was no state, no parade, whatever. It was just as if O’Reilly here were to take this villa, and say, ‘Now, Lackington, I am rich enough to enjoy myself; I don’t want the worry and fatigue of hunting out the pleasant people of the world; but you know them all, you understand them, – their ways, their wants, and their requirements; just tell me, frankly, could n’t we manage to make this their rallying-spot throughout Europe? Settled down here in the midst of the most lovely scenery in the world, with a good cook and a good cellar, might not this place become a perfect Paradise?’”

      “If I only knew that your Lordship, just yourself alone, and, of course, the present company,” added O’Reilly, with a bow round the table, “would vouchsafe me the honor of a visit, I’d be proud to be the owner of this place to-morrow. Indeed, I don’t see why we would n’t be as well here as traipsing over the world in dust and heat. If, then, the girls see no objection – ”

      “I should like it of all things, papa,” broke in Miss O’Reilly.

      “I am charmed with the very thought of it,” cried Molly.

      “Capital thought – romantic notion – save any amount of money, and no taxes,” muttered Twining.

      “There’s no approach by land whatever,” said Spicer, who foresaw that all his horse capabilities would receive no development here.

      “All the better,” broke in Twining; “no interlopers – no fellows cantering down to luncheon, or driving over to dine – must come by boat, and be seen an hour beforehand.”

      “If I know anything of my friend here,” said the Viscount, “his taste will rather lie in the fashion of a warm welcome СКАЧАТЬ