ut all
other thoughts to flight, and, to say the truth, banished Sir John
Fenwick and his whole concerns from his young companion's mind in a
moment.
"So, sir, so," he began, using none of the friendly and familiar
terms that he generally applied to Wilton, "so you have really had
the goodness to come down here again."
"My lord duke," replied Wilton, "your invitation to me was not only
so general but so pressing, that always having found you a man of
sincerity and truth, I took it for granted that you wished to see me,
or you would not have asked me."
"So I am, sir, so I am," replied the Duke; "I am a man of sincerity
and truth, and you shall find I am one, too. But from your manner, I
suppose my Lord of Byerdale has not told you the contents of my
letter to him this morning."
"He never told me," replied Wilton, "that your grace had written to
him at all; but so far from even hinting that my visit could be
disagreeable to you, he told me that as he did not require my
assistance I had better come down here."
"He did, he did?" said the Duke. "He is marvellous kind to send
guests to my house, whom he knows that I do not wish to see."
Wilton now began to divine the cause of the Duke's present behaviour.
It was evident that Lord Byerdale, without letting him know anything
about it, had interfered to demand for him the hand of Lady Laura.
How or in what terms he had done so, Wilton was somewhat anxious to
ascertain, but he was so completely thunderstruck and surprised by
his pre sent reception, that he could scarcely play the difficult
game in which he was engaged with anything like calmness or
forethought.
"My lord," he replied, "it is probable that the Earl of Byerdale was
more moved by kindness towards me than consideration for your grace.
As you do not tell me what was the nature of your correspondence, I
can but guess at Lord Byerdale's motives--"
"Which were, sir," interrupted the Duke, "to give you a farther
opportunity of engaging my daughter's affections against her father's
wishes and consent. I suppose this was his object, at least."
"I should think not, my lord," replied Wilton, resolved not to yield
his point so easily. "I should rather imagine that Lord Byerdale's
view was to give me an opportunity, on the contrary, of pleading my
own cause with the Duke of Gaveston--to give me an opportunity of
recalling all those feelings of kindness, friendship, and generosity
which the Duke has constantly displayed towards me, and of urging him
by all