CHAPTER LII

The First Visit to the Guestwick Bridge

When John Eames arrived at Guestwick Manor, he was first welcomed by Lady Julia.  “My dear Mr Eames,” she said, “I cannot tell you how glad we are to see you.”  After that she always called him John, and treated him throughout his visit with wonderful kindness.  No doubt that affair of the bull had in some measure produced this feeling; no doubt, also, she was well disposed to the man who she hoped might be accepted as a lover by Lily Dale.  But I am inclined to think that the fact of his having beaten Crosbie had been the most potential cause of this affection for our hero on the part of Lady Julia.  Ladies,—­especially discreet old ladies, such as Lady Julia De Guest,—­are bound to entertain pacific theories, and to condemn all manner of violence.  Lady Julia would have blamed any one who might have advised Eames to commit an assault upon Crosbie.  But, nevertheless, deeds of prowess are still dear to the female heart, and a woman, be she ever so old and discreet, understands and appreciates the summary justice which may be done by means of a thrashing.  Lady Julia, had she been called upon to talk of it, would undoubtedly have told Eames that he had committed a fault in striking Mr Crosbie; but the deed had been done, and Lady Julia became very fond of John Eames.

“Vickers shall show you your room, if you like to go upstairs; but you’ll find my brother close about the house if you choose to go out; I saw him not half an hour since.”  But John seemed to be well satisfied to sit in his arm-chair over the fire, and talk to his hostess; so neither of them moved.

“And now that you’re a private secretary, how do you like it?”

“I like the work well enough; only I don’t like the man, Lady Julia.  But I shouldn’t say so, because he is such an intimate friend of your brother’s.”

“An intimate friend of Theodore’s!—­Sir Raffle Buffle!” Lady Julia stiffened her back and put on a serious face, not being exactly pleased at being told that the Earl De Guest had any such intimate friend.

“At any rate he tells me so about four times a day, Lady Julia.  And he particularly wants to come down here next September.”

“Did he tell you that, too?”

“Indeed he did.  You can’t believe what a goose he is!  Then his voice sounds like a cracked bell; it’s the most disagreeable voice you ever heard in your life.  And one has always to be on one’s guard lest he should make one do something that is—­is—­that isn’t quite the thing for a gentleman.  You understand;—­what the messenger ought to do.”

“You shouldn’t be too much afraid of your own dignity.”

“No, I’m not.  If Lord De Guest were to ask me to fetch him his shoes, I’d run to Guestwick and back for them and think nothing of it,—­just because he’s my friend.  He’d have a right to send me.  But I’m not going to do such things as that for Sir Raffle Buffle.”