The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century Read online

  CHAPTER XVI

  MR. BETTISON PROPOSES

  Mr. Bettison could make nothing of Diana of late. Her demeanour, atfirst so charming and so cheerful, had become listless, and evenchilling. She seemed hardly to listen to some of his best tales, andtwice she actually forgot to laugh at what was surely a most wittypleasantry. It struck him that she regarded him with a resentful eye, asif she objected to his presence at Horton House, and had no desire to becourted. But Mr. Bettison was far too egotistic to believe such a thing,and he brushed the incredible suspicion away, deciding that her coldnesswas due to a very proper shyness. He continued his visits until theybecame so frequent that scarce a day passed without his strutting stepbeing heard approaching the house and his voice inquiring for the MissBeauleighs. Mr. Beauleigh, who secretly hoped for Mr. Bettison as ason-in-law, would not permit the ladies to deny themselves, and hefurther counselled Miss Betty to absent herself after the first fewmoments, leaving the young couple together. Thus it was that it socontinually fell to Diana's lot to receive the Squire and to listen tohis never-ending monologues. She persistently snubbed him, hoping toward off the impending proposal, but either her snubs were not severeenough, or Mr. Bettison's skin was too thick to feel them; for not afortnight after my lord's departure, he begged her hand in marriage. Itwas refused him with great firmness, but, taking the refusal forcoquettishness, he pressed his suit still more amorously, and with sucha self-assured air that Mistress Di became indignant.

  "Sir," she cried, "it seems you have indeed misread my attitude towardsyou!"

  Mr. Bettison was struck dumb with amazement. It had never entered hisbrain that Diana could seriously refuse him. He could hardly believe hisears at this quite unmistakable tone of voice, and sat gaping.

  "I must beg," continued Diana, "I must beg that you will discontinueyour all-too-frequent visits here. Please do not deem me unkind, butyour persecution of me--I can call it nothing else--iswearying--and--you will forgive the word--tiresome. I confess I amsurprised that you had not perceived your attentions to be distastefulto me."

  "Distasteful!" cried Mr. Bettison, recovering after two or threeunsuccessful attempts from his speechlessness. "Do you mean what yousay, Miss Diana? That you will not wed me?"

  She nodded.

  "Yes, Mr. Bettison, I do."

  "And that my attentions are displeasing to you! Well, Miss Beauleigh!Well, indeed!"

  Diana softened a little.

  "I am indeed sorry that you should have misconstrued--"

  "No misconstruction, madam!" snapped the Squire, who was fast losingcontrol over his temper. "Do you dare aver that you did not encourage meto visit you?"

  "I do, most emphatically!"

  "Oh, I see what 'tis! You cannot hoodwink me. 'Twas never thus with youbefore that fellow came!"

  "Mr. Bettison, I am entirely at a loss, but I desire you to leave thisroom before you say aught you may afterwards regret."

  He disregarded her.

  "You are infatuated by that over-dressed popinjay--that insufferableCarr, who, from all I hear, is but a shady fellow, and who--"

  With a sweeping movement Diana had risen and walked to the bell-rope.She now pulled it with such vigour that a great peal sounded throughoutthe house.

  She stood perfectly still, a statue of Disdain, tall, beautiful andfurious, with compressed lips and head held high. Mr. Bettison broke offand mopped his brow, glaring at her.

  Startled Thomas appeared at the door.

  "Did you ring, madam?"

  "Show Mr. Bettison out," was the proud answer.

  The Squire got up awkwardly.

  "I am sure I apologise if I said aught that was untrue," he mumbled. "Ihope you will not take my words amiss--"

  "I shall try to forget your insults, sir," she replied. "The door,Thomas!"

  Mr. Bettison went out, and his step had lost some of its self-confidentswagger.

  For a full minute after the great front door had shut behind him, Dianastood where she was, and then the colour suddenly flamed in her cheeks,and she turned and ran out of the room, up the stairs, to her ownchamber, where she indulged in a luxurious fit of crying. From thisenjoyable occupation she was interrupted by a rap on the door, and MissBetty's voice desiring to know if she was within.

  She instantly started up and with hasty fingers straightened her tumbledcurls.

  "Pray enter!" she called, trying to sound jaunty. To complete theillusion, she started to hum. Her aunt entered.

  "I came to see if you had my broidery. I cannot find it, and I am sure'twas you brought it in from the garden this morning."

  "Yes--oh, yes--I am so sorry! 'Tis in that corner on the chair, Ithink," replied Diana, keeping her face averted.

  Miss Betty cast a shrewd glance at her, and sat down on the sofa withthe air of one who means to stay.

  "What is it, my love?" she demanded.

  Diana pretended to search for something in a cupboard.

  "Nothing, aunt! What should there be?"

  "I do not know. 'Tis what I want to find out," answered Miss Bettyplacidly.

  "There is nought amiss, I assure you!" To prove the truth of thisstatement, Diana essayed a laugh. It was a poor attempt, and waveredpitifully into a sob.

  "My pet, don't tell me! You are crying!"

  "I--I'm n-not!" avowed Diana, hunting wildly for herpocket-handkerchief. "'Tis a cold in the head I have had these threedays."

  "Indeed, my love? Longer than that, I fear."

  "Yes--perhaps so--I--What do you mean?"

  "I doubt but what you caught it the day that Mr. Carr left us."

  Diana started.

  "P-pray, do not be ridiculous, auntie!"

  "No, my dear. Come and sit beside me and tell me all about it," coaxedMiss Betty.

  Diana hesitated, gave a damp sniff, and obeyed.

  Miss Betty drew her head down on to her shoulder soothingly.

  "There, there! Don't cry, my sweet! What has happened?"

  "'Tis that odious Mr. Bettison!" sobbed Diana "He--he had the audacityto ask me to m-marry him!"

  "You don't say so, my love! I thought I heard him arrive. So you senthim about his business?"

  "N-not before he had time to insult m-me!"

  "Insult you? Di!"

  "He--he dared to insinuate--oh no! he accused me outright--of beinginfatuated by Mr. Carr! Infatuated!"

  Over her head Miss Betty opened her eyes at her own reflection in theglass.

  "The brute! But, of course, 'tis true?"

  No answer.

  "Is it not?"

  The sobs came faster.

  "Of--of course 'tis true, but h-how dared he say so?"

  "Di, my love, you really are in love with that boy?"

  "I--I--I asked him to marry me--and he wouldn't!"

  "Good gracious heavens!" Miss Betty was genuinely horrified. "My dearDiana!"

  "N-not outright--b-but he understood--and--he loves me! And I'd do itagain to-morrow, if I could--immodest or no! So there!"

  "Yes, yes," soothed Miss Betty hastily. "Tell me all about it." Dianalifted her head.

  "That's all. And he loves me--he does--he does!"

  "Did he say so?"

  "N-no--but I could tell. And I love him"--sob--"and I'd sooner die thanlive without him, and he won't ask me b-because he has not got aspotless p-past, and he'd be a cur, and horrid things, and my husbandmust not be an--an--outcast, and-and--and I don't care!"

  Her bewildered aunt unravelled this with difficulty.

  "He'd be a cur if he asked you to marry him?" she asked, with knittedbrows.

  "Yes. Because he's a highwayman."

  "A highwayman! Then 'twas true what he said? Well, well! I should neverhave thought it! That nice boy!"

  Diana disengaged herself; in her eyes was a threatening gleam.

  "Don't dare say a word against him!"

  "No, no--of course not! I was only surprised. But I am thankfully gladhe did not ask you, for all that!"

  "Glad? H