Felix went home through the summer twilight, tired and heavy-hearted, to find Wilmet sitting up over a supper not much less rigorously frugal than Edgar had foretold. Telling Wilmet was perhaps the worst of it to Felix. True, she forbore to reprove or lament when she understood that the deed was actually accomplished, and saw that he was fatigued and out of spirits; but her 'Indeed! Oh! Felix!' and her involuntary gesture and attitude of dismay, went as far as a volume of reproach and evil augury. He was weary beyond vindicating himself or Edgar; but the next morning, when Wilmet and Angela had started for school, there was a sense that the cat was away, and Geraldine looking up under her long black eyelashes, whispered, 'Oh! it is so nice in you to have let him loose, dear Fee! It was such cruel waste to pin him down there!'
'It was mockery for him to pretend to work there against the grain, and live in all that ease and luxury,' said Felix, greatly appreciating her sympathy. 'That must be so clearly wrong, that the more I think it over, the more I trust I did right in not trying to make it up again, as Mr. Audley did.'
'It was only a pity he did!' said Cherry; 'but of course it was for your sake, that you might not have him thrown back on your hands.'
'And for Edgar's own protection too,' said Felix; 'but I cannot think lazy insufficient work, and constant amusement, otherwise than so unworthy, that I am sure Mr. Audley would think it more honest and right to put an end to them, even at some risk.'
'Risk!' said the little sister, ruffling up her feathers; 'he is sure to succeed, and you know it.'
'I did only mean risk in that sense,' said Felix, gravely; 'but I hope he is safely and satisfactorily placed. Renville seems an excellent person, and more trustworthy perhaps because he only commits himself to Edgar's capability.
'Capability!' contemptuously repeated Cherry. 'No one but you and I really understand what Edgar can do!'
'I could have shaken the fellow for his coldness,' said Felix, smiling; 'but no doubt it was right of him, and Edgar will soon show-'
'That he will! Only look at the beauty and freedom of this outline,' as she opened her portfolio.
'Don't beguile me, Cherry; I can't stay. I've all yesterday's work to make up.'
'Here are all the proofs, ready. Only just look at the sentence I marked for you. O Felix, how lucky Edgar has you for a brother, to save him from being blighted and crushed!'
'Is that head yours or his? Yours! I should say he was lucky to have such an unenvious sister. You would draw as well as he if you only had the teaching.'
'Oh no, don't say that! It spoils his! Though I do wish my drawing could be of some use.'
'Never mind about use. You are our pleasure,' as he saw her dissatisfied; 'besides, what would Pur (the household abbreviation of Pursuivant) do without the sub?'
This was much pleasanter! Cherry smiled at his kiss, and he ran downstairs, exulting-like herself-in their artist brother's future fame.
When he returned to the sitting-room in the evening twilight, the first voice he heard, through Theodore's humming, was Wilmet's, as in mitigation-'I daresay he is well educated, and not vulgar.'
'Oh! but the sound of it!' cried Alice Knevett's voice. 'A mere tradesman!'
'Who is the unfortunate?' asked Felix, coming forward.
'O Mr. Underwood, how you do steal upon one! Yes, I'm furious! Here's my old friend Florence Spelman-the dearest girl in the world, and so pretty-gone and engaged herself to young Schneider, of Schneider and Co'., on the tailor's advertisements, you know! It is one of the first houses in London, and he's very rich and handsome and all that; but isn't it dreadful? All her friends will have to drop her! And I was so fond of her.'
'Is it trade itself, or the kind of trade, that outrages your feelings?' asked Felix, in a tone of raillery.
'Oh, a tailor is too horrible! As if all trade wasn't bad enough,' said Alice, laughing, then recollecting herself she turned, blushing and confused, to Cherry-'At least-I mean-your brother makes one forget. He isn't in the least like that!'
'I never wish to forget anything he is!' said Cherry, proudly looking up to him.
'Ah! you don't know what is in my pocket!' said Felix, leaning his back against the mantleshelf.
'Oh! what!' cried Alice and Geraldine both together; while Wilmet looked at him as if she wished to put him in mind of the presence of a stranger.
'Guess!' he said.
'Somebody has left you a fortune! Oh! delightful!' cried Alice, clasping her hands.
'Mr. Thomas Underwood will take Edgar's art study on himself,' exclaimed the more moderate Geraldine.
'You burn, Cherry. It comes from that quarter. Here's a letter by the evening's post to offer me, if I have not closed with Mr. Froggatt, to invest in Kedge and Underwood's concern, and begin with 300 pounds a year as clerk.'
'It can't be possible,' said Wilmet, the only one to speak, as the other two girls looked rather blank.
'Just so far that the deed of partnership here is not signed.'
'What is the business?' asked Alice.
'He is a South American merchant, and deals with Rio for hides and tallow, if you prefer that to books and stationery,' said Felix, in a would-be light tone.
'Oh, but a South American merchant! That sounds quite delightful!' cried Alice. 'And you'll have to live in dear, dear London! How I envy you!'
'That must be the effect you had upon him, Felix,' said Cherry, proudly.
'Well, I thought I had been a specimen of the obstinate,' observed Felix. 'Here is his letter.'
He gave it as of right to Wilmet, but other eyes remarked the address to F. C. Underwood, Esquire, an unusual thing, since, as Mr. Froggatt had never aspired to the squirehood, Felix made all his brothers and sisters write only the Mister, and thus entirely deprived himself of the pleasure of Alda's correspondence.
'Where will you live? Oh! you'll let me come and stay with you sometimes!' cried Alice.
Felix smiled as he answered, 'I'm afraid our house is not built yet.'
'Miss Pearson's maid for Miss Alice,' said Martha, at the door. 'Oh dear, how tiresome! but you'll tell me all about it tomorrow. How horrid it will be here when you are all gone!'
'We are not gone yet,' said Wilmet, repressively. 'And if you please, Alice, do not talk of this.'
'No,' said Felix, 'it must be entirely a family matter. I know we can trust to you.'
'Thank you. I'm so glad I was there. It is so nice to have a secret of yours-and this is a beauty! Why, you'll be a great man with a house in London, just like Mr. Underwood of Centry.'
'Pleasing ambition,' Cherry could not help muttering, with an ironical smile, as Alice laughed and nodded herself away.
'Ready sympathy is a pleasant thing,' returned Felix.
'You don't mean that you think this feasible?' said Wilmet, with a negative inflection in her voice.
'I think it ought to be considered before it is absolutely too late.'
Both were surprised, having always thought that he considered his destiny as fixed; and as Geraldine looked on while the other two discussed pounds, shillings, and pence, it was plain to her that he had an inclination to the change. The probability of rising, the benefit of lodging Edgar, the nearness to Alda, the probable openings for the younger lads, were advantages; but against these Wilmet set the heavy London house-rent, rates and taxes-from which they were free-the expense of living, the loss of her present situation, the dangers of deterioration of health. As to Edgar, his habits must be formed, he was already in a respectable family, and Lance and Bernard ought not to be risked for his sake. In fact Wilmet looked on London with a sage country girl's prudent horror of the great and wicked capital; and when that experienced man of the world, Felix, tried to prove that she did it injustice, he was met with a volley of alarming anecdotes. He hinted that ladies' schools might need teachers there, but was met by the difficulty of forming a new connection; and when he suggested that Cherry's talent might be cultivated, Wilmet hotly exclaimed, 'She could never go about to classes and schools of art!'