By Right of Conquest

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HIS story would be quite worth printing, if only to place on record the amazing impudence of Sublieutenant George Thomas Hoskyns, of her Majesty’s ship Blunderbuss, now serving on the Australian station. It is also sworn evidence as to the enormous and dangerous power vested in the hands of the opposite sex, and of the necessity for proper legislation them affecting.

Solely for the welfare of my country, of course, I bring the following facts under the notice of the Lords Commissioners, and if anything goes wrong hereafter it’s their fault, not mine.

Mrs. De Courcy Fenning will go down to posterity famous for many things, but undoubtedly her greatest talent lay in marrying her daughters well. For this reason an irreverent aide once bestowed upon her the title of the “Official Handicapper,” and by that name she is celebrated through the length and breadth of four colonies.

Her daughters were all very charming and accomplished girls. The eldest, Marion, married a globe-trotter, with ten thousand a year; the second, Gertrude, jilted Burgan, of the Lands Department, to marry an Irish earl; and the third, Ethelwyn, when this story opens, had just “come out.”

Naturally enough Mrs. De Courcy Fenning was very much concerned about the future of this youngest born. The marriage-market that year was unusually depressed, and her list of eligibles only contained a squatter and a permanent Under-Secretary. Either would have done at a pinch, but she was not a Protectionist she said; Free Trade was her motto. She wanted something European and distinguished. Then Fate, or the Admiralty, stepped in and sent her the very man.

Rear-Admiral Sir Dominic Denby, K.C B was a bachelor, and a most gallant and polite old gentleman. Like most of his profession he had an eye for a pretty face and a well turned ankle, and in spite of his years he was still susceptible to their fascinations. He was, moreover, sociably inclined, entertained hospitably, and the officers of Ins squadron ably seconded bis efforts.

When the fleet had been in Sydney harbour a fortnight or so he issued cards for an afternoon “At home” aboard his flagship. Mrs. De Courcy Fenning and Miss Ethelwyn Fenning were among those invited.

Sir Dominic had met the younger lady half, a dozen times before, and on each occasion he had become more and more enamoured of her beauty and accomplishments.

On the evening of the day upon which the invitation arrived she attended the Beetons’ Cinderella. A number of naval men were present, and among them was a certain Sublieutenant George Hoskyns. He was a nice enough young fellow, very pink and clean looking, and irreproachably upholstered. However impossible such a thing may seem, it was a case of love at first sight. They danced and sat out four numbers together, and, because it was the one thing they should have avoided, laid the foundation of a very strong attachment. Her friends noticed this behaviour and told her mother, who next day carpeted her daughter soundly.

To quote the Press, the Blunderbuss “At home” was a brilliant success. The harbour looked its loveliest, and the arrangements were beyond reproach. Steam launches conveyed the guests between the warship and the shore. The flagship herself was decorated with true nautical taste, and the bright uniforms and varied colours of the ladies’ dresses lent an additional lustre to the picture. The fleet band played on the quarterdeck, and a  was arranged upon the bridge. The latter is important.

Mrs. and Miss De Courcy Fenning were among the first to arrive, and the Rear-Admiral coloured like a school-boy as he stepped forward to receive them. The young lady's toilet had been made with exquisite care, and everyone thought it suited her charmingly. Sir Dominic Denby thought so too.

By the exercise of considerable diplomacy he managed to keep her continually by his side, and allowed it to be seen that he paid her open and unmistakable attention. The mother could hardly conceal her delight, but it was evident to us that her daughter was not so pleased.

Sublieutenant Hoskyns watched them from a distance, and in consequence his conversation with pretty Miss Fetterby was disjointed and fragmentary in the extreme. He was being afforded a practical illustration of a naval situation which would prove of value to him in his after career.

When the vice-regal launch was signalled, the guard of honour formed, and the Rear-Admiral had advanced to the gangway to receive the Governor, Hoskyns edged up alongside Miss Ethelwyn and said something in a low voice. There he made a mistake, for she withered him with a glance, and they spoke no more throughout the afternoon.

The officers of the Blunderbuss are proverbially good hosts, and amusements followed thick and fast upon each other. When the Government House party left the ship the Admiral felt at liberty to devote his attention exclusively to Miss Fenning, and he himself escorted her over the vessel. They wound up with the camera obscura tent, where they found themselves alone. Being a woman, her instinct told her what was coming.

For a space they talked the ordinary trivialities. Then while she was examining the picture of the harbour and its shipping, as delineated on the calico disk, Sir Dominic, assuming his most pompous manner, revealed the state of his affections, hummed and hawed over his declaration of the passion that was consuming him, and finally wound up by entreating her to so far honour him as to become my Lady Denby, etc.

It would be hard for an Admiral to hit upon a better place to plead his cause than the bridge of his own flagship. And Miss Ethelwyn, remembering certain advice given her beforehand, turned deadly white and faltered an assent. He was delighted beyond measure. I caught his eye as they left the tent, and I saw that though his hair was gray and his back bent, he was in reality only twenty-three. Mrs. Fenning was devoutly and ostentatiously thankful when she heard the news.

Everybody said (Sublieutenant Hoskyns of course included) that they were a heartless family, and many added various other spiteful assertions just to prove their own disappointment and their vast superiority to the fortunate Sir Dominic.

Next morning the Admiral called upon Mrs. Fenning and placed matters on an. eminently satisfactory basis. When the business interview was ended he went into the garden to find his fiancée, who, upon meeting him, thrust a note hurriedly into her pocket. Her eyes were red and she did not seem best pleased to see him. But he was a kind-hearted old gentleman, in the seventh heaven of happiness, and she found it impossible to be angry with him for long.

After lunch they drove to a jeweller’s shop in George Street, where she chose for an engagement ring a neat half hoop of diamonds, and as a souvenir of the occasion a bracelet that would have brought tears into the eyes of any ordinary girl. His courteous manner of presenting the gifts, equalled their value, and Miss Fenning returned home feeling that after all the situation was not quite as horrible as she had imagined. She told herself repeatedly that she could have endured it well enough if she had never seen Sublieutenant Hoskyns. That little “if”!

Because we are essentially a reciprocating people, a number of ladies clubbed together to give a farewell dance to the officers before the fleet put out to sea. Mrs. De Courcy Fenning was on the committee, and she requested her future son-in-law to allow them the services of a few blue-jackets to assist in the decoration of the ball-room. The petition was immediately granted, and. Sublieutenant Hoskyns obtained permission to go ashore to superintend their exertions.

Now any chaperon of experience will tell you that the preparation of a ball-room is a dangerous business; it presents so many opportunities for flirtation.

Miss Fenning undertook the decoration of the supper room, and the Sublieutenant, discovered that it behoved him to assist her. People whom it did not concern wondered what Sir Dominic would have said had he seen them.

During the afternoon their behaviour became so noticeable that the “Official Handicapper” was compelled to draw her daughter on one side and remonstrate with her. But it had no effect, her conduct became even less restrained than before. There was a desperate air about it that for thinking-people had its own meaning.

Towards dusk Sir Dominic dropped in to an al fresco afternoon tea among the débris. Before he left his fiancée escorted him round the room. In duty bound he praised all the arrangements—the supper room in particular. He prophesied that he would enjoy himself immensely.

The invitations were for nine o’clock, and the guests were received by the ladies of the committee. The large lobby had been arranged as a drawing-room, and somebody had insisted that it should be provided with little snuggeries partitioned off with palms and high green stuff. A knowledge of the geography of this room is essential to the success of my story.

It was really a beautiful little dance, admirably arranged and carried out, yet four people did not enjoy it one bit.

Miss Ethelwyn Fenning arrived in a feverishly excited state that so frightened her maternal parent that she almost forgot she was to dance the opening lancers with his Excellency himself. The young lady was faultlessly dressed, and her heightened colour, radiant beauty and dashing carriage electrified everyone.

She danced the opening set with the Rear-Admiral, and the first waltz with his Sublieutenant. My gracious! how she carried on! She dashed through everything at break-neck pace, complaining that the waltzes were too slow, and that the polkas sounded like dirges. Her temper was by no means amiable, and her partners suffered accordingly. Her eyes sparkled like the brilliants on her wrist.

No. 15 was a Pas de Quatre, No. 16 a square. Hoskyns was her partner for the first, Sir Dominic for the second.

She whirled and bounded through the Pas de Quatre like a mad woman—dashing, crashing, leaping, prancing like a professional danseuse. It was a gorgeous performance, and by no means the least remarkable part of it was the study of her mother’s face. Nobody who saw that will ever forget it.

The Admiral watched from an alcove in amazement, while numbers of the other dancers stopped to look on. Presently the conductor of the orchestra caught the infection, and the band played faster and faster. The couple tore round and round at headlong speed, leaping, whirling, twirling like two possessed. It was glorious!

When the music ceased the Admiral crossed the floor, and in defiance of ball-room etiquette took Miss Fenning from her partner’s arm. Then they passed through the drawing-room into one of the snuggeries together.

For some minutes she was too exhausted to speak, and her future husband watched her with an anxious face. Recovering as the orchestra commenced the lancers, she made as if to rise, hut he signed her back to her seat.

“Ethelwyn,” he said softly, “I can see there is something very wrong. What is it, my dear—can you tell me?”

She did not answer, and an expression of almost terror swept across her face.

He leaned towards her and took her hand.

“Am I not worthy of your trust, Ethelwyn?”

In reply, and before he could prevent her, the poor child had fallen on her knees before him, sobbing as though her heart would break.

“Oh, yes, yes,” she moaned, “too worthy, far too worthy!”

He took a seat on the sofa beside her and gently drew her towards him. Then bit by bit, with infinite tact, he coaxed her into telling him everything, and in the telling she stabbed remorselessly at the heart that loved her best.

He heard her out, striving to conceal the pain of the bitter blow she was dealing him. When she had finished, he said simply—

“Child, I am glad you had the courage to tell me this. It is all my fault. I should have known that it would be impossible for you to love an old man like me. I will show you how much I love you by considering your happiness before my own—if you will leave it to me? I will do my best for you.”

Next day he called upon Mrs. De Courcy Fenning. When the interview was over he had won her consent to the transference of her daughter’s engagement to Sublieutenant George Hoskyns, vice Rear-Admiral Sir Dominic Denby, K.C.B., resigned.

On his return to the flagship he sent for his rival. When they were alone together he commenced abruptly—

“Mr. Hoskyns, Miss Ethelwyn Fenning has told me of your mutual attachment. I presume you are certain as to the stability of your affection?”

“Really, Sir Dominic”

“No procrastination, sir!” the Admiral thundered. “Are you certain?”

“Quite certain, sir.”

“Then understand that I have arranged the matter with the young lady’s mother, who sanctions your engagement. Your career, provided you behave yourself, will be my particular care. But markee this! If ever you give Miss Fenning cause to regret her action, by God, sir, I’ll keel-haul you through the fleet! Now go!”

The sentry, who had overheard the foregoing, affirms that after the Sublieutenant had passed out, a sound very like that of a man crying came from the state-room of Rear-Admiral Sir Dominic Denby, K.C.B.