Father Stafford. Anthony Hope

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СКАЧАТЬ said Lady Claudia, "and his penances and fasting, and so on."

      "Poor old Stafford!" said Eugene. "It's quite enough for him that a thing's pleasant to make it wrong."

      "Not your philosophy, Master Eugene!" said the Rector.

      "No, Doctor."

      "But what's this vow?" asked Kate.

      "There's no such thing as a binding vow of celibacy in the Anglican Church," announced Miss Chambers.

      "Is that right, Doctor?" said Lady Claudia.

      "God bless me, my dear," said the Rector, "I don't know. There wasn't in my time."

      "But, Eugene, surely I'm right," persisted Aunt Jane. "His Bishop can dispense him from it, can't he?"

      "Don't know," answered Eugene. "He says he can."

      "Who says he can?"

      "Why, the Bishop!"

      "Well, then, of course he can."

      "All right," said Eugene; "only Stafford doesn't think so. Not that he wants to be released. He doesn't care a bit about women—very ungrateful, as they're all mad about him."

      "That's very rude, Eugene," said Kate, in reproving tones. "Admiration for a saint is not madness. Shall we go in, Claudia, and leave these men to pipes and beer?"

      "One for you, Rector!" chuckled Bob Territon, who knew no reverence.

      The two girls departed somewhat scornfully, arm in arm, and the Rector too rose with a sigh, and accompanied the elder ladies to the house, whither they were going to meet the pony carriage that stood at the hall door. A daily drive was part of Mrs. Lane's ritual.

      "By the way, you fellows," Eugene resumed, throwing himself on the grass, "I may as well mention that Stafford doesn't drink, or eat meat, or smoke, or play cards, or anything else."

      "What a peculiar beggar!" said Bob.

      "Yes, and he's peculiar in another way," said Eugene, a little dryly; "he particularly objects to any remark being made on his habits—I mean on what he eats and drinks and so on."

      "There I agree," said Bob; "I object to any remarks on what I eat and drink"; and he look a long pull at the beer.

      "You must treat him with respect, young man. Haddington, I know, will study him as a phenomenon. I can't protect him against that."

      Mr. Haddington smiled and remarked that such revivals of mediævalism were interesting, if morbid; and having so delivered himself, he too went his way.

      "That chap's considered very clever, isn't he?" asked Bob of his host, indicating Haddington's retreating figure.

      "Very, I believe," said Eugene. "He's a cuckoo, you see."

      "Dashed if I do," said Bob.

      "He steals other birds' nests—eggs and all."

      "Your natural history is a trifle mixed, old fellow; kindly explain."

      "Well, he's a thief of ideas. Never was the father of one himself, and gets his living by kidnapping."

      "I never knew such a chap!" ejaculated Bob helplessly. "Why can't you say plainly that you think he's an ass?"

      "I don't," said Eugene. "He's by no means an ass. He's a very clever fellow. But he lives on other men's ideas!"

      "Oh! come and play billiards."

      "I can't," said Eugene gravely. "I'm going to read poetry to Kate."

      "By Jove, does she make you do that?"

      Eugene nodded sadly, and Bob went off into a fit of obtrusive chuckling. Eugene cast a large cushion dexterously at him and caught him just in the mouth, and, still sadly, rose and went in search of his lady-love.

      "Why the dickens does he marry that girl?" exclaimed Bob. "It beats me."

      Bob Territon was not the only person in whom Eugene's engagement to Kate Bernard inspired some surprise. But neither he nor any one else succeeded in formulating very definite reasons for the feeling. Kate was a beauty, and a beauty of a type undeniably orthodox and almost aristocratic. She was tall and slight, her nose was the least trifle arched, her fingers tapered, and so, it was believed, did her feet. Her hair was golden, her mouth was small, and her accomplishments considerable. From her childhood she had been considered clever, and had vindicated her reputation by gaining more than one certificate from the various examining bodies which nowadays go up and down seeking whom they may devour. All these varied excellences Eugene had had full opportunities of appreciating, for Kate was a distant cousin of his on the mother's side, and had spent a large part of the last few years at the Manor. It was, in fact, so obviously the duty of the two young people to fall in love with one another, that the surprise exhibited by their friends could only have been based on a somewhat cynical view of humanity. The cynics ought to have considered themselves confuted by the fait accompli, but they refused to do so, and, led by Sir Roderick Ayre, had been known to descend to laying five to four against the permanency of the engagement—an obviously coarse and improper proceeding.

      It is possible that the odds might have risen a point or two, had these reprehensible persons been present at the little scene which occurred on the terrace, whither the girls had betaken themselves, and Eugene in his turn repaired when he had armed himself with Tennyson. As he approached Claudia rose to go and leave the lovers to themselves.

      "Don't go, Lady Claudia," said Eugene. "I'm not going to read anything you ought not to hear."

      Of course it was the right thing for Claudia to go, and she knew it. But she was a mischievous body, and the sight of a cloud on Kate's brow had upon her exactly the opposite effect to what it ought to have had.

      "You don't really want me to stay, do you? Wouldn't you two rather be alone?" she asked.

      "Much rather have you," Eugene answered.

      Kate rose with dignity.

      "We need not discuss that," she said. "I have letters to write, and am going indoors."

      "Oh, I say, Kate, don't do that! I came out on purpose to read to you."

      "Lady Claudia is quite ready to make an audience for you," was the chilling reply, as Kate vanished through the open door.

      "There, you've done it now!" said Eugene. "You really ought not to insist on staying."

      "I'm so sorry, Mr. Lane. But it's all your fault." And Claudia tried to make her face assume a look of gravity.

      A pause ensued, and then they both smiled.

      "What were you going to read?" asked Claudia.

      "Oh, Tennyson—always read Tennyson. Kate likes it, because she thinks it's simple."

      "You flatter yourself that you see the deeper meaning?"

      Eugene СКАЧАТЬ