MRS DICK'S DINNER PARTY----NO 1.
Our readers must not forget the troubles of poor Emily Wharton amidst the gorgeous festivities of the new Prime Minister.
Throughout April and May she did not once see Ferdinand Lopez.
It may be remembered that on the night when the matter was discussed between her and her father, she promised him that she would not do so without his permission,--saying, however, at the same time very openly that her happiness depended on such permission being given to her.For two or three weeks not a word further was said between her and her father on the subject, and he had endeavoured to banish the subject from his mind,--feeling no doubt that if nothing further were ever said it would be so much the better.But then his daughter referred to the matter, very plainly, with a simple question, and without disguise of her own feeling, but still in a manner which he could not bring himself to rebuke.'Aunt Harriet has asked me once or twice to go there of an evening, when you have been out.I have declined because I thought Mr Lopez would be there.Must I tell her that I am not to meet Mr Lopez, papa?'
'If she has asked him there on purpose to throw him in your way, I shall think very badly of her.'
'But he has been in the habit of being there, papa.Of course if you are decided about this, it is better that I should not see him.'
'Did I not tell you that I was decided?'
'You said you would make some further inquiry, and speak to me again.' Now Mr Wharton had made inquiry, but had learned nothing to reassure himself;--neither had been able to learn any fact, putting his finger on which he could point out to his daughter clearly that the marriage would be unsuitable for her.Of the man's ability and position, as certainly also of his manners, the world at large seemed to speak well.He had been black-balled at two clubs, but apparently without defined reason.He lived as though he possessed a handsome income, and yet was in no degree fast or flashy.He was supposed to be an intimate friend of Mr Mills Happerton, one of the partners in the world-famous commercial house of Hunky and Sons, which dealt in millions.
Indeed there had been at once time a rumour that he was going to be taken into the house of Hunky and Sons as a junior partner.
It was evident that many people had been favourably impressed by his outward demeanour, by his mode of talk, and by his way of living.But no one knew anything about him.With regard to his material position, Mr Wharton could of course ask direct questions if he pleased, and require evidence as to his alleged property.But he felt that by doing so he would abandon his right to object to the man as being a Portuguese stranger, and he did not wish to have Ferdinand Lopez as son-in-law, even though he should be a partner in Hunky and Sons, and able to maintain a gorgeous palace at South Kensington.
'I have made inquiry.'
'Well, papa.'
'I don't know anything about him.Nobody knows anything about him.'
'Could you not ask him yourself anything you want to know? If Imight see him I would ask him.'
'That would not do at all.'
'It comes to this, papa, that I am to sever myself from a man to whom I am attached, and who you must admit that I have been allowed to meet from day to day with no caution that his intimacy was unpleasant to you, because he is called,--Lopez.'
'It isn't that at all.There are English people of that name, but he isn't an Englishman.'
'Of course, if you say so, papa, it must be so.I have told Aunt Harriet that I consider myself prohibited from meeting Mr Lopez by what you have said; but I think, papa, you are a little cruel to me.'
'Cruel to you!' said Mr Wharton, almost bursting into tears.
'I am ready to obey as a child;--but, not being a child, I think I ought to have a reason.' To this Mr Wharton made no further immediate answer, but pulled his hair, and shuffled his feet about, and then escaped out of the room.
A few days afterwards his sister-in-law attached him.'Are we to understand, Mr Wharton, that Emily is not to meet Mr Lopez again?
It makes it very unpleasant, because he has been an intimate at our house.'
'I never said word about her not meeting him.Of course I do not wish that any meeting should be contrived between them.'
'As it stands now it is prejudicial to her.Of course it cannot but be observed, and it so odd that a young lady should be forbidden to meet a certain man.It looks so unpleasant for her, --as though she had misbehaved herself.'
'I have never thought so for a moment.'
'Of course you have not.How could you have thought so, Mr Wharton?'
'I say that I never did.'