Alice, or the Mysteries — Book 07

								

had principally undertaken his journey,--namely, the meditated purchase
of Lisle Court.
"I myself am not a very good judge of landed property," said Vargrave; "I
wish I knew of an experienced surveyor to look over the farms and timber:
can you help me to such a one?"
Mr. Winsley smiled, and glanced at a rosy-cheeked young lady, who
simpered and turned away.  "I think my daughter could recommend one to
your lordship, if she dared."
"Oh, Pa!"
"I see.  Well, Miss Winsley, I will take no recommendation but yours."
Miss Winsley made an effort.
"Indeed, my lord, I have always heard Mr. Robert Hobbs considered very
clever in his profession."
"Mr. Robert Hobbs is my man!  His good health--and a fair wife to him."
Miss Winsley glanced at Mamma, and then at a younger sister; and then
there was a titter, and then a fluttering, and then a rising, and Mr.
Winsley, Lord Vargrave, and the slim secretary were left alone.
"Really, my lord," said the host, resettling himself, and pushing the
wine, "though you have guessed our little family arrangement, and I have
some interest in the recommendation, since Margaret will be Mrs. Robert
Hobbs in a few weeks, yet I do not know a more acute, intelligent young
man anywhere.  Highly respectable, with an independent fortune; his
father is lately dead, and made at least thirty thousand pounds in trade.
His brother Edward is also dead; so he has the bulk of the property, and
he follows his profession merely for amusement.  He would consider it a
great honour."
"And where does he live?"
"Oh, not in this county,--a long way off; close to -----; but it is all
in your lordship's road.  A very nice house he has, too.  I have known
his family since I was a boy; it is astonishing how his father improved
the place,--it was a poor little lath-and-plaster cottage when the late
Mr. Hobbs bought it, and it is now a very excellent family house."
"Well, you shall give me the address and a letter of introduction, and so
much for that matter.  But to return to politics;" and here Lord Vargrave
ran eloquently on, till Mr. Winsley thought him the only man in the world
who could save the country from that utter annihilation, the possibility
of which he had never even suspected before.
It may be as well to add, that, on wishing Lord Vargrave good-night, Mr.
Winsley whispered in his ear, "Your lordship's friend, Lord Staunch, need
be under no apprehension,--we are all right!"

CHAPTER III.


THIS is the house, sir.--Love's Pilgrimage, Act iv, sc. 2.



            Redeunt Saturnia regna.*--VIRGIL.


* "A former state of things returns."
THE next morning, Lumley and his slender companion were rolling rapidly
over the same road on which, sixteen years ago, way-worn and weary, Alice
Darvil had first met with Mrs. Leslie; they were talking about a new
opera-dancer as they whirled by the very spot.
It was about five o'clock in the afternoon, the next day, when the