the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第7节
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head's as bare as a cannon…ballask Fanny if it isn't。 Such a fright as the
poor thing got when she was a babby； and came upon me suddenly in my
dressing…room without my wig！〃
〃I hope Lady Fanny has recovered from the shock；〃 said 〃Somebody；〃
looking first at her； and then at me as if he had a mind to swallow me。
And would you believe it？ all that Lady Fanny could say was； 〃Pretty well；
I thank you； my Lord；〃 and she said this with as much fluttering and
blushing as we used to say our Virgil at school when we hadn't learned it。
My Lord still kept on looking very fiercely at me； and muttered
something about having hoped to find a seat in Lady Drum's carriage； as
he was tired of riding； on which Lady Fanny muttered something； too；
about 〃a friend of Grandmamma's。〃
〃You should say a friend of yours； Fanny；〃 says Lady Jane： 〃I am
sure we should never have come to the Park if Fanny had not insisted upon
bringing Mr。 Titmarsh hither。 Let me introduce the Earl of Tiptoff to Mr。
Titmarsh。〃 But； instead of taking off his hat； as I did mine； his Lordship
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
growled out that he hoped for another opportunity； and galloped off again
on his black horse。 Why the deuce I should have offended him I never
could understand。
But it seemed as if I was destined to offend all the men that day； for
who should presently come up but the Right Honourable Edmund Preston；
one of His Majesty's Secretaries of State （as I know very well by the
almanac in our office） and the husband of Lady Jane。
The Right Honourable Edmund was riding a grey cob； and was a fat
pale…faced man； who looked as if he never went into the open air。 〃Who
the devil's that？〃 said he to his wife； looking surlily both at me and her。
〃Oh； it's a friend of Grandmamma's and Jane's；〃 said Lady Fanny at
once； looking； like a sly rogue as she was； quite archly at her sisterwho
in her turn appeared quite frightened； and looked imploringly at her sister；
and never dared to breathe a syllable。 〃Yes； indeed；〃 continued Lady
Fanny； 〃Mr。 Titmarsh is a cousin of Grandmamma's by the mother's side：
by the Hoggarty side。 Didn't you know the Hoggarties when you were in
Ireland； Edmund； with Lord Bagwig？ Let me introduce you to
Grandmamma's cousin； Mr。 Titmarsh： Mr。 Titmarsh； my brother； Mr。
Edmund Preston。〃
There was Lady Jane all the time treading upon her sister's foot as hard
as possible； and the little wicked thing would take no notice； and I； who
had never heard of the cousinship； feeling as confounded as could be。
But I did not know the Countess of Drum near so well as that sly minx her
grand…daughter did； for the old lady； who had just before called poor Gus
Hoskins her cousin； had； it appeared； the mania of fancying all the world
related to her； and said …
〃Yes； we're cousins； and not very far removed。 Mick Hoggarty's
grandmother was Millicent Brady； and she and my Aunt Towzer were
related； as all the world knows； for Decimus Brady； of Ballybrady； married
an own cousin of Aunt Towzer's mother； Bell Swiftthat was no relation
of the Dean's； my love； who came but of a so…so family… …and isn't THAT
clear？〃
〃Oh； perfectly； Grandmamma；〃 said Lady Jane； laughing； while the
right honourable gent still rode by us； looking sour and surly。
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〃And sure you knew the Hoggarties； Edmund？the thirteen red…haired
girlsthe nine graces； and four over； as poor Clanboy used to call them。
Poor Clan！a cousin of yours and mine； Mr。 Titmarsh； and sadly in love
with me he was too。 Not remember them ALL now； Edmund？not
remember？not remember Biddy and Minny； and Thedy and Widdy； and
Mysie and Grizzy； and Polly and Dolly and the rest？〃
〃D… the Miss Hoggarties； ma'am；〃 said the right honourable gent； and
he said it with such energy； that his grey horse gave a sudden lash out that
well nigh sent him over his head。 Lady Jane screamed； Lady Fanny
laughed； old Lady Drum looked as if she did not care twopence； and said
〃Serve you right for swearing； you ojous man you！〃
〃Hadn't you better come into the carriage； EdmundMr。 Preston？〃
cried out the lady； anxiously。
〃Oh； I'm sure I'll slip out； ma'am；〃 says I。
〃Poohpooh！ don't stir；〃 said Lady Drum： 〃it's my carriage； and if
Mr。 Preston chooses to swear at a lady of my years in that ojous vulgar
wayin that ojous vulgar way I repeatI don't see why my friends should
be inconvenienced for him。 Let him sit on the dicky if he likes； or come
in and ride bodkin。〃 It was quite clear that my Lady Drum hated her
grandson…in…law heartily； and I've remarked somehow in families that this
kind of hatred is by no means uncommon。
Mr。 Preston； one of His Majesty's Secretaries of State； was； to tell the
truth； in a great fright upon his horse； and was glad to get away from the
kicking plunging brute。 His pale face looked still paler than before； and
his hands and legs trembled； as he dismounted from the cob and gave the
reins to his servant。 I disliked the looks of the chapof the master； I
meanat the first moment he came up； when he spoke rudely to that nice
gentle wife of his； and I thought he was a cowardly fellow； as the
adventure of the cob showed him to be。 Heaven bless you！ a baby could
have ridden it； and here was the man with his soul in his mouth at the very
first kick。
〃Oh； quick！ DO come in； Edmund；〃 said Lady Fanny； laughing； and
the carriage steps being let down； and giving me a great scowl as he came
in； he was going to place himself in Lady Fanny's corner （I warrant you I
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wouldn't budge from mine）； when the little rogue cried out； 〃Oh； no！ by no
means； Mr。 Preston。 Shut the door； Thomas。 And oh！ what fun it will
be to show all the world a Secretary of State riding bodkin！〃
And pretty glum the Secretary of State looked； I assure you！
〃Take my place； Edmund； and don't mind Fanny's folly；〃 said Lady
Jane； timidly。
〃Oh no！ Pray； madam； don't stir！ I'm comfortable； very comfortable；
and so I hope is this Mr。this gentleman。〃
〃Perfectly； I assure you；〃 says I。 〃I was going to offer to ride your
horse home for you； as you seemed to be rather frightened at it； but the
fact was； I was so comfortable here that really I COULDN'T move。〃
Such a grin as old Lady Drum gave when I said that！how her little
eyes twinkled； and her little sly mouth puckered up！ I couldn't help
speaking； for； look you； my blood was up。
〃We shall always be happy of your company； Cousin Titmarsh；〃 says
she； and handed me a gold snuff…box； out of which I took a pinch； and
sneezed with the air of a lord。
〃As you have invited this gentleman into your carriage； Lady Jane
Preston； hadn't you better invite him home to dinner？〃 says Mr。 Preston；
quite blue with rage。
〃I invited him into my carriage；〃 says the old lady； 〃and as we are
going to dine at your house； and you press it； I'm sure I shall be very
happy to see him there。〃
〃I'm very sorry I'm engaged；〃 said I。
〃Oh； indeed； what a pity！〃 says Right Honourable Ned； still glowering
at his wife。 〃What a pity that this gentlemanI forget his namethat
your friend； Lady Jane； is engaged！ I am sure you would have had such
gratification in meeting your relation in Whitehall。〃
Lady Drum was over…fond of finding out relations to be sure； but this
speech of Right Honourable Ned's was rather too much。 〃Now； Sam；〃
says I； 〃be a man and show your spirit！〃 So I spoke up at once； and said；
〃Why； ladies； as the right honourable gent is so VERY pressing； I'll give
up my engagement； and shall have sincere pleasure in cutting mutton with
him。 What's your hour； sir？〃
