CHAPTER LXIX
BELINDA AT SUIT DOLEFUL
Great was the astonishment, both at Handley Cross and in London, at the intelligence of this verdict.
It was viewed and commented upon, according as the tastes and inclinations of the parties inclined towards mirth or took a serious turn. Some thought it quite right; others, that the jury were mad themselves. The Swizzleites and the Melloites divided, as usual. The annoyance of such a thing as a commission of lunacy is enough to drive a sane man mad; and Mr. Jorrocks’s indignant outburst and threatening conduct were construed into violence, and a removal for quiet insisted upon by the promoters of the commission. To Hoxton then he went, to the large brick house, with the pond behind, and the tall poplars before it, which stands so gloomily secluded as almost to mark itself out for such an asylum.
Among the earliest visitors that called upon Mrs. Jorrocks from Handley Cross was Captain Doleful. Hearing of the verdict, he bethought him that something might be done in the matter of the horse, either by way of total or partial refunding; and accordingly, he took a second-class fare by the early train of the Lilywhite-sand Railway, and sought the “lovely retirement” of Great Coram Street.
Mrs. Jorrocks received him with fervour, for she remembered his attention at the fancy ball, and, moreover, had an idea that “Jun” had been rayther too many for him in the matter of the ’oss.
Both sat silent for some time, Mrs. Jorrocks heaving heavy sighs, and the captain playing with the broad crape that enveloped his newly-lined old hat.
“Sad business this, captin,” at length observed Mrs. Jorrocks, with a groan.
“Melancholy in the extreme,” replied the captain.
“Poor Jun! it’s a pity but he’d stuck to the Surrey—might have gone on with them for long.”
“I don’t know that,” rejoined the captain, recollecting that he was the man who got Mr. Jorrocks to take the Handley Cross Hounds; “it would have broken out some other way—set fire to his house, perhaps, or some such thing.”
“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Mrs. Jorrocks, who dreaded fire; “it seems like a hinterposition of Providence that he did take them then.”
“Been better for me if he’d set fire to his house,” observed Captain Doleful, with a ghastly smile.
“’Ow so?” inquired Mrs. Jorrocks.
“I shouldn’t have been done with the horse,” replied he.
“Ah, true!” recollected Mrs. Jorrocks; “that ’oss business was a bad un; Jun understands ’osses rayther too well; but, howsomever, you are rich, and well able to bear it.”
“Mr. Jorrocks is rich, too,” observed Captain Doleful.
“He was afore he took the ’ounds,” replied Mrs Jorrocks.
“Oh, but the hounds couldn’t hurt him—small establishment—large subscription.”
“I doesn’t know; it’s the ’ounds that have done the mischief, howsomever,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks.
“They might turn his head, but they couldn’t hurt his pocket—at least if he has what people say.”
“Well, I doesn’t know nothin’ about that,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks, heaving a sigh.
“I suppose there’ll be no difficulty in the way of an equitable arrangement about the horse,” observed Captain Doleful, after a pause; “it’s hard for me to bear the whole of the brunt.”
“I’m sure I should be werry ’appy to do wot’s genteel,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks: “but I s’pose the Chancellor’s the person that must be applied to—he’s to keep the cash-book, I hear. Doesn’t know how he’s to understand about mexin’ the teas, I’m sure.”
“Then you’ll give me your good word?” inquired the captain, still harping on the horse.
“Indeed I will,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks; “I’m sure you were always most purlite to me: that fancy ball I never shall forget.”
Doleful grinned, and thought how good sometimes came of evil.
“And how’s your lovely niece?” at length inquired Captain Doleful, with a feature-wrinkling grin. “This business will not defer her nuptials, I hope?”
“Oh, I knows nothin’ about nuptials!” exclaimed Mrs. Jorrocks, an idea suddenly striking her that will develop itself as we proceed. “I s’pose you allude to Charles Stobbs?”
“Exactly so,” replied the captain.
“He von’t do,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks, with an ominous shake of the head.
“Indeed!” exclaimed Captain Doleful; “I’m surprised to hear that—thought he was rich.”
“Rich, certainly,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks; “at least he will be; but we must look to somethin’ besides riches in these matters. Stobbs von’t do.”
Captain Doleful wondered how that was.
“It’s a hawful responsibility wot dewelopes upon me now that poor Jun is ‘non compus,”’ sighed Mrs. Jorrocks.
“It must be,” replied Captain Doleful.
“I’m sure I’ve no wish but for Belinda’s welfare, and have neither mercenary nor hambitious views; but that ’are-brained Yorkshireman can never do. Indeed, her uncle’s malady seems like a hinterposition o’Providence on her be’alf. Fancy what a sitivation hers would a’ been had she married this Stobbs, and he’d gone ‘non compus’ down in Yorkshire!—wild, out-o’-the-way country, scarcely inhabited and nobody to lock him up.”
“Dreadful!” ejaculated the M.C., half laughing at her ideas of the country.
“No,” observed Mrs. Jorrocks, thoughtfully; “if she marries at all, it must be a different sort o’ man—some nice, steady person, wot will keep her right, and be kind to her when her poor huncle and I are gone.”
Mrs. Jorrocks burst into tears at the idea of her dissolution. “Had Jun been dead, she’d have looked out for another investment before she thought of that.”
“I wonders you don’t think o’ marryin’, captain?” observed Mrs. Jorrocks, after a pause.
“Time enough for that!” replied he, with a grin, running his fingers through his straggling hair.
“True,” observed Mrs. Jorrocks, “but youth, you know, don’t last for ever. Howsomever, I’m sure,” added she, “you are lookin’ uncommon well: I always said black was quite your become.”
The captain grinned, and thought a flirtation with Belinda might not be amiss.
“Then Mr. Stobbs is gone?” inquired he casually, thinking perhaps Charles might cast up and kick him.
“Gone, decidedly,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks; “at least, he don’t show here no more.”
“Belinda seems a sweet girl,” observed Captain Doleful thoughtfully.
“She’s a hangel!” exclaimed Mrs. Jorrocks; “so affectionate, so tractable, and so engagin’! Whoever gets Belinda, gets a treasure. She’ll have a nice fortin’,” added Mrs. Jorrocks, casually.
“Will she?” observed Captain Doleful, brightening up.
“Oh, yes,” said Mrs. Jorrocks; “her father left summut ’andsome.”
(It was “an ’andsome” amount of debt, for, poor man! he died insolvent.)
“Two or three hundred a year, perhaps?” observed Captain Doleful, carelessly.
“I dare say,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks, “besides what we leaves her.”
“It’s worth thinking of,” thought Captain Doleful.
“You, who are so rich, fortin’ makes little matter to,” observed Mrs. Jorrocks; “but Belinda’s a beautiful figure—all nattural, and not a heap of feathers, like a Jinney Howlet, as some gals are. If Exchequer Bill, as my poor dear ’usband used to call ’im, had put the bustle-tax on, that folks talked about, he’d a’ got nothin’ out o’ Belinda.”
“How nice!” grinned Captain Doleful, thinking what a contrast she was to Miss Crabstick.
“Oh, she’s a sweet gal,” rejoined Mrs. Jorrocks; “you couldn’t ’elp likin’ of her if you know’d her.”
“I’m half in love with her already,” quoth the captain; “she wouldn’t be difficult to come over, I suppose?” inquired he, pulling up his gills, and fingering his straggling whiskers.
“Not by you, I dare say,” said Mrs. Jorrocks. “The gals can’t stand captins.”
“Is her fortune in the funds?” inquired Captain Doleful, after a pause.
“Partly,” replied Mrs. Jorrocks, “partly in somethin’ else; but I really doesn’t understand these matters. Jun used to do them all; but Belinda’s a treasure in herself. S’pose you come and dine with us some day, and see her to adwantage.”
“Most happy, I’m sure,” grinned the captain.
“Then come to-morrow at four,” rejoined Mrs. Jorrocks; “just we three—you understand!”
“Perfectly!” replied the captain, dropping on his knee, and imprinting a kiss on Mrs. Jorrocks’ mutton fist.
That was carrying a sudden thought out quickly, and the captain having taken his departure, Mrs. Jorrocks began considering how she should manage matters with Belinda.
