Wilton. "What will be done with
the man?"
"Oh, we shall keep the matter over his head," said the Earl, "and
make use of him as an evidence. But to return to your visit to the
Duke--I can very well spare you for the next week, if you like to go
down on Monday; and now that I know your arrangements, will contrive
that you shall always have your Saturday evenings and Monday
mornings, so as to be able to go down and return on those days, till
you become his grace's son-in-law, though I am afraid fair Lady Laura
will think you but a cold lover."
Wilton smiled, well knowing that there was no such danger. The
Earl's offer, however, was too tempting to be resisted, and
accordingly he lost no time in bearing down, in person, to Somersbury
Court the happy intelligence that Cook, who was to be the conspirator
most feared, it seemed, had said nothing at his trial to inculpate
the Duke.
His journey, as was not uncommon in those days, was performed on
horseback with a servant charged with his valise behind him, and it
was late in the day before he reached Somersbury; but it was a bright
evening in May; the world was all clad in young green; the calm rich
purple of the sunset spread over the whole scene; and as Wilton rode
down a winding yellow road, amidst rich woods and gentle slopes of
land, into the fine old park that surrounded the mansion, he could
see enough to show him that all the picturesque beauty, which was far
more congenial to his heart and his feelings than even the finest
works of art, was there in store for him on the morrow.
On his arrival, he found the Duke delighted to receive him, though
somewhat suffering from a slight attack of gout. He was more
delighted still, however, when he heard the news his young friend
brought; and when, after a few moments, Laura joined him and the
Duke, her eyes sparkled with double brightness, both from the
feelings of her own heart at meeting again the man she loved best on
earth, and from the pleasure that she saw on her father's
countenance, which told her in a moment that all the news Wilton had
brought was favourable.
The result to the Duke, however, was not so satisfactory as it might
have been. In the joy of his heart he gave way somewhat more to his
appetite at supper than was prudent, ate all those things that Sir
George Millington, his good physician, forbade him to eat, and drank
two or three glasses of wine more than his usual portion. At the
time, all this seemed to do him no harm, and he spoke somewh