Black Sheep

'Oh, that was because –' he checked himself, but continued blandly, after an infinitesimal pause: '– because his uncle is a man of vast interests, and one never knows when the favour of such a man might stand one in good stead.'

'How quickly you made a recover!' said Abby admiringly. 'You were within an ace of telling me that you came to Bath to see your nephew, too!'

'Ah, I did tell you that I didn't know he was here! I rather thought I did,' he said, quite unperturbed. 'I hope he means to return: according to Lady Weaverham, he is a perfect paragon, and I should like to meet a Calverleigh who fitted that description.'

'You won't meet him in the person of your nephew!'

'How do you know? You've never clapped eyes on him!'

'No, but –'

'Furthermore, Selina likes him,' he pursued. 'You told me that yourself, and I have the greatest respect for her judgment.'

'Oh, have you indeed?' she said wrathfully. 'When you have never clapped eyes on her – !'

'Not to my knowledge,' he admitted. 'However, I understand her to be your eldest sister, and there's no saying but what I may have met her – before I was excluded from polite circles, of course. If I didn't, I look forward to making her acquaintance.'

They had reached the corner of Bridge Street, and Abby came to an abrupt halt. 'No! ' she said forcefully. 'I don't wish you to make her acquaintance! She knows nothing of what you dis closed to me – she doesn't even know that I met you yester day! And I have no intention – none whatsoever! – of introducing you to her!'

'Haven't you? But you'll be made to look no-how if you don't, won't you? If Mrs Grayshott doesn't perform that office, would you wager a groat on the chance that Lady

Weaverham won't?'

'No – or on the chance that you wouldn't instantly tell my sister of our previous meetings!' said Abby, with considerable bitterness. 'Without a blush!'

'Very likely,' he agreed.

Unable to think of any suitable rejoinder, she walked on in silence.

'And I promise you I won't blush,' he added reassuringly.

She choked, but managed to retort with tolerable gravity: 'I shouldn't suppose that you know how to!'

'No, I don't think I do,' he said, subjecting the matter to consideration. 'At my age, it is rather too late to acquire the accomplishment, don't you think?'

'Mr Calverleigh!' she said, turning her head to look up at him, 'let us be a little serious! It is true that I haven't yet met your nephew, but you have met my niece! You don't want for sense; you are not a green youth, but a – a man of the world; and you loved Fanny's mother! I don't doubt that, or that seeing Fanny must have given you a – a pang – brought it all back to you!'

'You know, the odd thing is that it didn't,' he interrupted. 'Is she so like Celia?'

Astonished, she gasped: 'Her image!'

'No, is she indeed? What tricks memory plays one! I had thought that Celia had brown eyes.

'Do you mean to say that you have forgotten?' demanded Abby, wholly taken aback.

'Well, it all happened more than twenty years ago,' he said apologetically.

'And no doubt your memory has confused her with some other lady!'

'Yes, that's very possible,' he acknowledged.

Miss Abigail Wendover decided, while she struggled with her

emotions, that one of the worst features of Mr Miles Calverleigh's character was his obnoxious ability to throw her into giggles at quite the wrong moment. Being a woman of strong resolution, she mastered herself, and said: 'But you do remember that you once loved her, and I don't think you would wish her daughter to – to become the victim of a fortune-hunter – even if he is your nephew!'

'No. Not that I've considered the matter, but I don't wish anybody to become the victim of a fortune-hunter. Or, now I come to think of it, of any other predacious person. But I am of the opinion that you may be wronging my foolish nephew: he may well have tumbled into love with her, you know. Undoubtedly a piece of perfection!'

She looked up quickly, kindling to this praise of her darling. 'She is very pretty, isn't she?'