Bassett, quietly; "we must be deaf, if
we did not."
Ruperta kept her countenance with difficulty.
"It is not a request, it is a command."
Mrs. Bassett for once in her life fired up. "And a most tyrannical
one," said she.
Ruperta put her hand before her mother's mouth, then turned to her
father.
"There was no need to express your wish so harshly, papa. We shall
obey."
Then she whispered her mother, "And Mr. Rutland shall pay for it."
Mrs. Bassett communicated this behest to Lady Bassett in a letter.
Then Lady Bassett summoned all her courage, and sent for her son
Compton. "Compton," said she, "I must speak to Reginald. Can you find
him?"
"Oh yes, I can find him. I am sorry to say anybody can find him at this
time of day."
"Why, where is he?"
"I hardly like to tell you."
"Do you think his peculiarities have escaped me?"
"At the public-house."
"Ask him to come to me."
Compton went to the public-house, and there, to his no small disgust,
found Mr. Reginald Bassett playing the fiddle, and four people, men and
women, dancing to the sound, while one or two more smoked and looked
on.
Compton restrained himself till the end of that dance, and then stepped
up to Reginald and whispered him, "Mamma wants to see you directly.
Pages:
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531