Can You Forgive Her? (34 page)

Alice felt that she was blushing. The caution had been given to Kate because
Kate still transgressed in her letters, by saying little words about her brother. And Alice did not even now believe Kate to have been false to her; but she saw that she herself had been imprudent.

‘I cannot understand it,’ continued George, speaking without looking at her. ‘It was but the other day that we were such dear friends! Do you remember the balcony at Basle? and now it seems that we
are quite estranged; – nay, worse than estranged; that I am, as it were, under some ban. Have I done anything to offend you, Alice? If so, speak out, like a woman of spirit as you are.’

‘Nothing,’ said Alice.

Then why am I tabooed? Why was I told the other day that I might not congratulate you on your happy emancipation? I say boldly, that had you resolved on that while we were together in Switzerland,
you would have permitted me, as a friend, almost as a brother, to discuss it with you.’

‘I think not, George.’

‘I am sure you would. And why has Kate been warned not to tell me of this visit to the Pallisers? I know she has been warned though she has not confessed it.’

Alice sat silent, not knowing what to say in answer to this charge brought against her, – thinking, perhaps, that the questioner
would allow his question to pass without an answer. But Vavasor was not so complaisant ‘If there be any reason, Alice, I think that I have a right to ask it.’

For a few seconds she did not speak a word, but sat considering. He also remained silent with his eyes fixed upon her. She looked at him and saw nothing but his scar, – nothing but his scar and the brightness of his eyes, which was almost
fierce. She knew that he was in earnest, and therefore resolved that she would be in earnest also. ‘I think that you have such a right,’ she said at last.

‘Then let me exercise it.’

‘I think that you have such a right, but I think also that you are ungenerous to exercise it.’

‘I cannot understand that. By heavens, Alice, I cannot be left in this suspense! If I have done anything to offend you,
perhaps I can remove the offence by apology.’

‘You have done nothing to offend me.’

‘Or if there be any cause why our friendship should be dropped, – why we should be on a different footing to each other in London than we were in Switzerland, I may acknowledge it, if it be explained to me. But I cannot put up with the doubt, when I am told that I have a right to demand its solution.’

‘Then
I will be frank with you, George, though my being so will, as you may guess, be very painful.’ She paused again, looking at him to see if yet he would spare her; but he was all scar and eyes as before, and there was no mercy in his face.

‘Your sister, George, has thought that my parting with Mr Grey might lead to a renewal of a purpose of marriage between you and me. You know her eagerness, and
will understand that it may have been necessary that I should require silence from her on that head. You ought now to understand it all.’

‘I then am being punished for her sins,’ he said; and suddenly
the scar on his face was healed up again, and there was something of the old pleasantness in his eyes.

‘I have said nothing about any sins, George, but I have found it necessary to be on my guard.’

‘Well,’ he said, after a short pause, ‘You are an honest woman, Alice, – the honestest I ever knew. I will bring Kate to order, – and, now, we may be friends again; may we not?’ And he extended his hand to her across the table.

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘certainly, if you wish it.’ She spoke doubtingly, with indecision in her voice, as though remembering at the moment that he had given her no pledge.
‘I certainly do wish it very much,’ said he; and then she gave him her hand.

‘And I may now talk about your new freedom?’

‘No,’ said she; ‘no. Do not speak of that. A woman does not do what I have done in that affair without great suffering. I have to think of it daily; but do not make me speak of it.’

‘But this other subject, this visit to Matching; surely I may speak of that?’ There was something
now in his voice so bright, that she felt the influence of it, and answered him cheerfully, ‘I don’t see what you can have to say about it.’

‘But I have a great deal. I am so glad you are going. Mind you cement a close intimacy with Mr Palliser.’

‘With Mr Palliser?’

‘Yes; with Mr Palliser. You must read all the blue books about finance. I’ll send them to you if you like it’

‘Oh, George!’

‘I’m quite in earnest. That is, not in earnest about the blue books, as you would not have time; but about Mr Palliser. He will be the new Chancellor of the Exchequer without a doubt.’

‘Will he indeed? But why should I make a bosom friend of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I don’t want any public money.’

‘But I do, my girl. Don’t you see?’

‘No; I don’t’

‘I think I shall get returned at this
next election.’

‘I’m sure I hope you will.’

‘And if I do, of course it will be my game to support the
ministry; – or rather the new ministry; for of course there will be changes.’

‘I hope they will be on the right side.’

‘Not a doubt of that, Alice.’

‘I wish they might be changed altogether.’

‘Ah! that’s impossible. It’s very well as a dream; but there are no such men as you want to see,
– men really from the people, – strong enough to take high office. A man can’t drive four horses because he’s a philanthropist, – or rather a philhorseophist, and is desirous that the team should be driven without any hurt to them. A man can’t govern well, simply because he is genuinely anxious that men should be well governed.’

‘And will there never be any such men?’

‘I won’t say that. I don’t
mind confessing to you that it is my ambition to be such a one myself. But a child must crawl before he can walk. Such a one as I, hoping to do something in politics, must spare no chance. It would be something to me that Mr Palliser should become the friend of any dear friend of mine, – especially of a dear friend bearing the same name.’

‘I’m afraid, George, you’ll find me a bad hand at making
any such friendship.’

They say he is led immensely by his wife, and that she is very clever. But I mean this chiefly, Alice, that I do hope I shall have all your sympathy in any political career that I may make, and all your assistance also.’

‘My sympathy I think I can promise you. My assistance, I fear, would be worthless.’

‘By no means worthless, Alice; not if I see you take that place in
the world which I hope to see you fill. Do you think women nowadays have no bearing upon the politics of the times? Almost as much as men have.’ In answer to which Alice shook her head; but, nevertheless, she felt in some way pleased and flattered.

George left her without saying a word more about her marriage prospects past or future, and Alice as she went to bed felt glad that this explanation
between them had been made.

A
LICE
reached the Matching Road Station about three o’clock in the afternoon without adventure, and immediately on the stopping of the train became aware that all trouble was off her own hands. A servant in livery came to the open window, and touching his hat to her, inquired if she were Miss Vavasor. Then her dressing-bag and shawls and cloaks were taken from her,
and she was conveyed through the station by the station-master on one side of her, the footman on the other, and by the railway porter behind. She instantly perceived that she had become possessed of great privileges by belonging even for a time to Matching Priory, and that she was essentially growing upwards towards the light.

Outside, on the broad drive before the little station, she saw an
omnibus that was going to the small town of Matching, intended for people who had not grown upwards as had been her lot; and she saw also a light stylish-looking cart which she would have called a Whitechapel had she been properly instructed in such matters, and a little low open carriage with two beautiful small horses, in which was sitting a lady enveloped in furs. Of course this was Lady Glencora.
Another servant was standing on the ground, holding the horses of the carriage and the cart.

‘Dear Alice, I’m so glad you’ve come,’ said a voice from the furs. ‘Look here, dear; your maid can go in the dog-cart with your things,’ – it wasn’t a dog-cart, but Lady Glencora knew no better; – ‘she’ll be quite comfortable there; and do you get in here. Are you very cold?’

‘Oh, no; not cold at all.’

‘But it is awfully cold. You’ve been in the stuffy carriage, but you’ll find it cold enough out here, I can tell you.’

‘Oh! Lady Glencora, I am so sorry that I’ve brought you out on such a morning,’ said Alice, getting in and taking the place assigned her next to the charioteer.

‘What nonsense! Sorry! Why I’ve looked forward to meeting you all alone, ever since I knew you were coming. If it
had snowed all the morning I should have come just the same. I drive out almost every day when I’m down here, – that is, when the house is not too crowded, or I can make an excuse. Wrap these things over you; there are plenty of them. You shall drive if you like.’ Alice, however, declined the driving, expressing her gratitude in what prettiest words she could find.

‘I like driving better than
anything, I think. Mr Palliser doesn’t like ladies to hunt, and of course it wouldn’t do as he does not hunt himself. I do ride, but he never gets on horseback. I almost fancy I should like to drive four-in-hand, – only I know I should be afraid.’

‘It would look very terrible,’ said Alice.

‘Yes; wouldn’t it? The look would be the worst of it; as it is all the world over. Sometimes I wish there
were no such things as looks. I don’t mean anything improper, you know; only one does get so hampered, right and left, for fear of Mrs Grundy
¹
. I endeavour our to go straight, and get along pretty well on the whole, I suppose. Baker, you must put Dandy in the bar; he pulls so, going home, that I can’t hold him in the check.’ She stopped the horses, and Baker, a very completely-got-up groom of
some forty years of age, who sat behind, got down and put the impetuous Dandy ‘in the bar’, thereby changing the rein, so that the curb was brought to bear on him. ‘They’re called Dandy and Flirt,’ continued Lady Glencora, speaking to Alice. ‘Ain’t they a beautiful match? The Duke gave them to me and named them himself. Did you ever see the Duke?’

‘Never,’ said Alice.

‘He won’t be here before
Christmas, but you shall be introduced some day in London. He’s an excellent creature and I’m a great pet of his; though, after all, I never speak half a dozen words to him when I see him. He’s one of those people who never talk. I’m one of those who like talking, as you’ll find out I think it runs in families; and the Pallisers are non-talkers. That doesn’t mean that they are not speakers, for
Mr Palliser has plenty to say in the House, and they declare that he’s one of the few public men
who’ve got lungs enough to make a financial statement without breaking down.’

Alice was aware that she had as yet hardly spoken herself, and began to bethink herself that she didn’t know what to say. Had Lady Glencora paused on the subject of Dandy and Flirt, she might have managed to be enthusiastic
about the horses, but she could not discuss freely the general silence of the Palliser family, nor the excellent lungs, as regarded public purposes, of the one who was the husband of her present friend. So she asked how far it was to Matching Priory.

‘You’re not tired of me already, I hope,’ said Lady Glencora.

‘I didn’t mean that,’ said Alice. ‘I delight in the drive. But somehow one expects
Matching Station to be near Matching.’

‘Ah, yes; that’s a great cheat. It’s not Matching Station at all but Matching Road Station, and it’s eight miles. It is a great bore, for though the omnibus brings our parcels, we have to be constantly sending over, and it’s very expensive, I can assure you. I want Mr Palliser to have a branch
²
, but he says he would have to take all the shares himself, and
that would cost more, I suppose.’

‘Is there a town at Matching?’

‘Oh, a little bit of a place. I’ll go round by it if you like, and in at the further gate.’

‘Oh, no!’ said Alice.

‘Ah, but I should like. It was a borough once, and belonged to the Duke; but they put it out at the Reform Bill. They made some kind of bargain; – he was to keep either Silverbridge or Matching, but not both. Mr Palliser
sits for Silverbridge, you know. The Duke chose Silverbridge, – or rather his father did, as he was then going to build his great place in Barsetshire; – that’s near Silverbridge. But the Matching people haven’t forgiven him yet He was sitting for Matching himself when the Reform Bill passed. Then his father died, and he hasn’t lived there much since. It’s a great deal nicer place than Gatherum
Castle, only not half so grand. I hate grandeur; don’t you?’

‘I never tried much of it, as you have.’

‘Come now; that’s not fair. There’s no one in the world less grand than I am.’

‘I mean that I’ve not had grand people about me.’

‘Having cut all your cousins, – and Lady Midlothian in particular, like a naughty girl as you are. I was so angry with you when you accused me of selling you about
that. You ought to have known that I was the last person in the world to have done such a thing.’

‘I did not think you meant to sell me, but I thought – ’

‘Yes, you did, Alice. I know what you thought; you thought that Lady Midlothian was making a tool of me that I might bring you under her thumb, so that she might bully you into Mr Grey’s arms. That’s what you thought. I don’t know that I was
at all entitled to your good opinion, but I was not entitled to that special bad opinion.’

‘I had no bad opinion; – but it was so necessary that I should guard myself.’

‘You shall be guarded. I’ll take you under my shield. Mr Grey shan’t be named to you, except that I shall expect you to tell me all about it; and you must tell me all about that dangerous cousin, too, of whom they were saying
such terrible things down in Scotland. I had heard of him before.’ These last words Lady Glencora spoke in a lower voice and in an altered tone, – slowly, as though she were thinking of something that pained her. It was from Burgo Fitzgerald that she had heard of George Vavasor.