Page:010 Once a week Volume X Dec 1863 to Jun 64.pdf/14

6 thank me, Mr. Evesham, for offering to show you my babies?"

She hesitated, shook hands with me and then with Norman, just lifting her eyes to his half a second as she did so. I could not help feeling that it was just as well no one else was by.

"Norman," said I, as we turned away, "I suspect you and Mrs. Newton were very good friends once upon a time."

"At any rate, that is no reason why we should not be friends now, is it?" was his reply.

"Cela depend," said I. "Quid si prisca redit Venus, you know? I fancied I saw the iræ amantium yesterday, and something suspiciously like the integratio amoris today."

"For Heaven's sake, my good follow," broke in Norman, almost angrily, "don't go suspecting what does not exist in that way. I beg your pardon," he continued, in his usual cool tone, "but let me entreat you, mon enfant, to be reasonable. Nobody knows better than you that the kind of thing you are talking of is my way with women, and I can't help it. If, as you imagine, Mrs. Newton and I were old friends, she must know me well enough to be in no danger. Really, Charlie, you have an unnecessarily bad opinion of me. I am not a saint, I know, but there has not been, and will not be, any question of love-making between me and the wife of Frank Newton."

"Don't be cross, old fellow," said I; "only do be careful. You know you are dangerous, and I am bound to say, if the aforesaid Frank Newton had been at the gate just now, I fancy he would have thought the aspect of things decidedly queer."

I was not satisfied, and he saw it. It was the very absence of any attempt at that hard flirting which he called his way with women, coupled with his reserve, that bothered me. I felt as if I were smoking in a powder magazine.

I determined to take Mrs. Newton into dinner myself, and succeeded. It was not a large party. The Wintons, and one or two other people from the neighbourhood, were there—all great admirers of the Rector's pretty young wife, and all with singularly little to say for themselves. Our two stars, Norman and Mrs. Newton, were both at their best, and togthertogether [sic] with Sir Ralph, who had great social powers in his way, made the party go off very well. But as the evening went on, it became more and more difficult for the two friends to remember that they were supposed to have been but the merest acquaintances of old. At least, it was the case with Mrs. Newton: and even Norman was by no means always master of the situation. There was a marvellous knowledge of each other's likings and dislikings in the way of songs and books, which showed me that my cynical friend must at one time have opened himself far beyond his wont to that fair young matron. They stood with Jane by the piano, and Norman asked for song after song, saying he was hungry for music. Mrs. Newton sang, as she did everything, very charmingly, though by no means with my cousin's rare skill. The latter bore the greater part in the performance, Mrs. Newton declaring that, whatever Mr. Norman's politeness might induce him to say—not that she believed he ever let that intenfereinterfere [sic] with his pleasure—it was Jane he really wanted to hear. I really believe she did her best to treat him and myself with the same frank friendliness; but the dear child was continually slipping into a different tone with him, seeming to assume a right to say what she pleased to him, and make saucy little speeches that, I think, quite puzzled poor Jane. And then ever and anon she would recollect herself, and draw back into iciness for awhile, which generally ended in the lovely dark eyes being lifted to his for a second, with an appeal in them for him not to be angry, for she did not mean to vex him. Knowing, as I did, the vehemently sensuous nature that lay beneath Norman's outward impassiveness, I could not but feel that all this must try him. But, save that his eyes would sometimes flash out rebelliously with mingled triumph and tenderness upon her, he made no sign. Newton meanwhile was enchanted with the way in which his wife seemed to get on with Norman and me. True, he had not seen all that I had; but, though I said otherwise to Norman, I scarcely think if he had it would have made any impression on him. Looks and tones of voice were matters not in his line. He worshipped his wife, and was immensely proud of her; and her evident success with so fastidious and distingué a man as Norman, not to mention my more humble self, filled him with the most radiant satisfaction.

As soon as our guests had departed, I went to the smoking-room, where I was soon joined by Norman. He filled a little briar-wood pipe with Cavendish, stretched himself on a divan, and smoked awhile in silence. I made some observation, which ho answered absently, as if thinking of something else. At last he roused himself.

"Old fellow," said he, "I was rude to you this afternoon, and beg your pardon again.