Stop a minute, Mr. Carteret, I beg of you! cried Chetwynd. I am yet in hopes that I may move him. Let me make one more appeal to your sense of justice, sir! he added to his father. I promise you it shall be the last!
I cannot listen to you! replied Mr. Calverley.
You refuse, then, to alter your will?
Positively refuse! rejoined the old gentleman. For heavens sake let me die in peace! Can you not prevail on him to go, he added to his wife and daughter. He will kill me outright!
You hear what your father says! cried Mrs. Calverley, in an authoritative tone. Go, I command you!
Yes, I will go, rejoined Chetwynd; but not at your bidding! You are the sole cause of this misunderstanding between my father and myself. By your arts you have cheated me out of my inheritance!
Ah! ejaculated Mrs. Calverley.
This is madness! exclaimed Mr. Carteret, trying to drag him from the room.
Hear my last, words, sir! cried Chetwynd to his father. I never will touch a shilling of your money if it is to be doled out to me by this woman!
And he rushed out of the room.
V. THE OLD BUTLER
Pushing aside the attorneys clerk, whom he found on the landing, he hurried downstairs, and had just snatched up his hat in the hall, when he perceived the old butler eyeing him wistfully.
He had a great regard for this faithful old servant, whom he had known since he was a boy, so he went up to him, and patting him kindly on the shoulder, said
He had a great regard for this faithful old servant, whom he had known since he was a boy, so he went up to him, and patting him kindly on the shoulder, said
Good-bye, dear old Norris. I dont mean to remain a minute longer in my fathers house, and I may never return to it. Farewell, old friend!
You shant go out thus, sir, unless you knock me down, rejoined Norris, detaining him. Youll do yourself a mischief. No one is in the dining-room. Please to go in there. I want to have a few words with you to reason with you.
And he tried to draw him towards the room in question; but Chetwynd resisted.
Reason with me! he exclaimed. I know what youll say, Norris. Youll advise me to make it up with my father, and bow the knee to my stepmother; but Ill die rather!
Mr. Chetwynd, its a chance if your father is alive to-morrow morning. Think of that, and what your feelings will be when hes gone. Youll reproach yourself then, sir, for I know youve a good heart. Ive got you out of many a scrape when you were a boy, and Im persuaded something may be done now, if youll only condescend to listen to me.
Well, Ill stay a few minutes on purpose to talk to you. But I hear Carteret coming downstairs. I dont want to meet him. I dont want to meet anybody not even my sister.
Then Ill tell you what to do, sir. Go up the back staircase to your own room. Its just as you left it. No one will know youre here. Ill come to you as soon as I can.
And he almost forced him through a folding-door into a passage communicating with the back staircase.
Chetwynd had disappeared before the attorney and his clerk reached the hall; but Mr. Carteret stopped for a moment to speak to the old butler.
Ah, weve had a frightful scene, Norris! he said. It will surprise me if the old gentleman survives it. I suppose Mr. Chetwynd is gone?
I really cant say, sir. He was here a few minutes ago.
Looking rather wild, eh?
Im sure he looked wild enough when he passed me just now, observed the clerk. I thought hed have thrown me over the banisters.
Serve you right, too! muttered Norris.
Nothing could be more injudicious, and, I may add, more unfeeling, than his conduct to his father, remarked Carteret.
Im sorry to hear it, said the butler; but you must make some allowance for him.
I can make every allowance, rejoined the attorney. But no good purpose can be answered by such violence as he gave way to. On the contrary, irreparable harm is done.
Not irreparable harm, I hope, sir?
I very much fear so. He used language towards Mrs. Calverley that I dont think she will ever forgive Its of the last importance that he should be set right with her. Should you see him before he goes, tell him so.
I will, sir if I do see him. Theres masters bell. Excuse me; I must go upstairs.
Dont mind me, Norris. I can let myself out. As I drive back, at Mrs. Calverleys request, I shall call on Doctor Spencer, and send him to see Mr. Calverley at once. That will save time.
Very good, sir, replied the butler.
And he flew upstairs; while Mr. Carteret and his clerk went out at the front door.
Has anybody just left the house, Edward? inquired Mr. Carteret of his groom, who was waiting with the phaeton near the door.
No, sir, replied the man.
I fancied he was not gone, thought the attorney. I am glad I spoke to Norris.
VI. SELF-EXAMINATION
Chetwynd had become more tranquillised since he entered the room that had once belonged to him and that might be said to belong to him still since it had always been kept for him.
A comfortable bed-chamber, with windows looking upon the garden. Night was now coming on, but it was still light enough to see every object in the room, and Chetwynd examined them with interest almost with emotion.