Miss Jane did not even put out her hand, she felt too indignant with her cousin at what she considered his harsh and cruel conduct. He turned towards the door which she stepped forward and opened, accompanying him through the hall. He, not forgetting his usual courteous manner, turned and lifted his hat before descending the steps, at the bottom of which his groom stood holding his horse.

No further words were exchanged between the cousins, and Sir Ralph rode back to Texford satisfied at having exhibited his resentment to the only person on whom he could fix it, and, as he hoped, put an end to any further intercourse between his son and Maiden May.

CHAPTER FORTY.

SIR RALPH'S DECISION.

Harry had heard from Julia that his father had gone over to Downside, and was looking forward with no little anxiety to the result of his interview with May. He had not yet brought himself to tell Headland all his father had said, for, knowing his friend, he was sure that he would, in spite of the grief it would cause him, at once leave Texford, and he wished to allow him and Julia to enjoy that happiness which he foresaw must so soon be cruelly terminated.

Headland was not a man to exhibit his feelings in the presence of others, and the baronet, who watched him narrowly, observed only that though he appeared to treat Julia with that attention which the young lady of the house had a right to expect, there was nothing peculiarly marked in his manner.

Julia ought undoubtedly to have told Sir Ralph of the offer she had received, and she would have done so had there been that confidence between the father and daughter which should have existed. But Sir Ralph had failed to secure the confidence and affection of his children.

Julia, not wishing that her father should discover her secret, took care not to invite Headland to walk with her in the grounds when Sir Ralph was likely to meet them, and as he seldom went far from the house on foot there was little probability of his doing so.

As Mr Curtis told Sir Ralph that Harry must be kept quiet for a few days, he did not allude to his visit, and Harry was therefore left in doubt as to the result.

The next time the surgeon came, Harry asked whether he had been again at Downside.

"I tell you there is nothing seriously the matter with the young lady, though she does not recover as rapidly as I had expected; her nervous system seems slightly affected. However, there is no fear, and in a few days she will be round."

If the doctor knew more of the true state of the case, he did not think fit to communicate it to Harry.

Such was the state of things when the post brought two official letters from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, appointing Commander Headland to the _Thisbe_ sloop-of-war, and Lieutenant Castleton to the _Aurora_ frigate, with orders to join their respective ships at once.

It was the first day Harry had come down.

"I congratulate you, gentlemen," said Sir Ralph in a tone Harry did not like. "You will both soon see active service, for, depend upon it, Napoleon will not let us remain long at peace."

Poor Julia, turning pale, nearly betrayed herself.

"I am obliged to their lordships; I scarcely expected to get a ship so soon," replied Headland, who did not exhibit that enthusiastic pleasure which might have been expected on being appointed to his first command.

"I should have been more obliged to them if they had appointed me to the same ship," said Harry. "You, I daresay, can manage to do it," he added, turning to his father. "Possibly the lieutenants may not as yet have been selected."

"I have not much interest at the Admiralty, and what I have I must keep for your promotion," said Sir Ralph. "We shall lose you, Captain Headland, sooner than was expected, for I presume that you will have to start to-morrow at latest."

Headland could not help feeling that this was a strong hint to him to hasten his departure.

"I will lose no time, Sir Ralph, in joining my ship, though I shall leave Texford with regret."

He glanced for a moment on Julia, but for her sake directly withdrew his eyes, judging truly from his own feelings what hers were.

"I am glad to see that both ships are fitting at Portsmouth," observed Harry, "and if we cannot travel together, and I suppose the doctor won't let me go for a few days, I will join you there."

Harry talked away, trying to keep up his own spirits as well as those of his friend. He felt that a crisis was at hand, and that Headland must openly declare his love for Julia, whether or not Sir Ralph was likely to give his sanction to their engagement.

Headland saw matters in the same light. He wished, however, first to consult Julia as to whether he should tell her father of their engagement, or leave her to do so.

Fortunately, Sir Ralph was engaged in writing letters and other business for some time after breakfast, and Headland, finding Julia alone, invited her to go into the grounds where they could talk without fear of interruption.

"Your going seems so sudden that I can scarcely realise it," she exclaimed. "I fancied that weeks and months would pa.s.s before you were ordered away to sea, and now Sir Ralph says you must set off to-morrow.

Can it be necessary to go so soon?"

"It is so," said Headland, "but I go confiding in you, and hoping that the time may come when I shall return to claim you. Your father must be informed of our engagement, or he may justly accuse me of acting a dishonourable part. Either you or I must tell him as soon as possible.

I am perfectly ready to do so, unless you think you can influence him more than I can expect to do."

"Oh, do you speak to him," exclaimed Julia. "You can plead the perfect right you had to win my affections; your position in the navy, and your prospects of rising; the ample means you already possess; and the gallant deeds you have performed. He cannot possibly blame you. And tell him that my heart and hand are pledged to you, and that though I will not disobey him by marrying against his will, I will never marry any one else."

Headland undertook to act as Julia advised.

They might enjoy an hour now in each other's society before Sir Ralph was likely to be disengaged, and how rapidly those moments flew by; but both felt that the time was come for a frank statement of their case.

They returned to the house confident in each other's love, and supported with the hopes that whatever clouds might now arise they would in time be dissipated.

Sir Ralph was alone in his study. Captain Headland knocked at the door, and was requested to enter.

"I must apologise for intruding on you, Sir Ralph, but before I leave Texford there is a matter of consequence on which I wish to speak to you," he said.

The baronet motioned him to take a chair nearly opposite where he himself sat.

"Pray, Captain Headland, what is it?" he asked, in a calm tone.

"I earnestly wish to make your daughter my wife, and I have her permission to request that you will give your sanction to our marriage when I next return on sh.o.r.e."

"A very clear if not a very modest request," exclaimed the baronet, with a well-feigned look of surprise. "Do I understand that Miss Castleton has pledged her hand to you without my sanction?"

"My express object in now speaking to you is to obtain that sanction,"

answered Headland, with all the calmness he could command.

"I am not at all disposed to give it unless to a man her equal in birth and family, and before I can reply, I must beg that you will inform me to what family you belong, and what means you possess."

Headland briefly described his position.

"I have, however, every prospect of rising in the service, and of adding to the credit which, with honest pride, I may venture to say, I have already gained. I have your daughter's authority for telling you that she will marry no one else till I return to ask her hand."

The baronet listened to him calmly without speaking till he had finished.

"I will make no remark on your conduct, Captain Headland, whatever I may think of it," he said, at length, after nearly a minute's silence. "But you will understand that I do not allow my daughter to pledge herself as you tell me she has done. You will understand that though I do not wish to treat you with discourtesy, I do not expect that you will honour me with another visit when you return on sh.o.r.e. I regret having to say this while you are still my guest, but you have forced me to express myself clearly on the subject. And now I think you will agree with me that to prolong this interview will not lead to any satisfactory result.

You have clearly explained your position, and I have as clearly expressed my opinion. I will speak to Miss Castleton, and it may be a satisfaction to you if, as I expect she will, she states her readiness at my desire to set you free. I must beg, however, that what I have said may not induce you to leave Texford sooner than you had intended.

I may say that I have that confidence in you that you will not in the meantime try to induce my daughter to take any step of which I should disapprove."

The baronet rose as he spoke, and Headland, not considering an answer to the last remark necessary, did so likewise, and with a formal bow, which Sir Ralph returned, left the room.

His heart swelling with indignation and sorrow, he repaired to his own chamber. He felt indignant at the way Sir Ralph had treated him: his sorrow was for Julia, for he knew too well the sufferings she would be called on to endure on his account. He threw himself into a chair to consider what steps he should take; could he remain longer as the guest of Sir Ralph? and then he thought, "he is Julia's father, and for her sake I must bear what I would not from any other man."

Harry, suspecting what had taken place, soon followed Headland to his room.