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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 423
" I know what my words mean, and I stick to 'em, Baynes,"
growls the other ; " which is more than you can say of yours."
" I am dee'd if any man alive shall use this language to me,"
says the General, in the softest whisper, " without accounting to me
for it."
"Did you ever find me backward, Baynes, at that kind of
thing?" growls the Colonel, with a face like a lobster and eyes
starting from his head.
" Very good, sir. To-morrow, at your earliest convenience. I
shall be at Galignani's from eleven till one. With a friend, if
possible.—What is it, my love? A game at whist? Well, no,
thank you ; I think I won't play cards to-night."
It was Mrs. Baynes who entered the room when the two
gentlemen were quarrelling; and the bloodthirsty hypocrites instantly
smoothed their ruffled brows and smiled on her with
perfect courtesy.
"Whist—no ! I was thinking should we send out to meet
him ? He has never been in Paris."
" Never been in Paris ?" said the General, puzzled.
"He will be here to-night, you know. Madame has a room
ready for him."
" The very thing, the very thing !" cries General Baynes, with
great glee. And Mrs. Baynes, all unsuspicious of the quarrel
between the old friends, proceeds to inform Colonel Bunch that
Major MacWhirter was expected that evening. And then that tough
old Colonel Bunch knew the cause of Baynes's delight. A second
was provided for the General—the very thing Baynes wanted.
We have seen how Mrs. Baynes, after taking counsel with her
General, had privately sent for MacWhirter. Her plan was that
Charlotte's uncle should take her for a while to Tours, and make
her hear reason. Then Charly's foolish passion for Philip would
pass away. Then, if he dared to follow her so far, her aunt and
uncle, two dragons of virtue and circumspection, would watch and
guard her. Then, if Mrs. Hely was still of the same mind, she
and her son might easily take the post to Tours, where, Philip
being absent, young Walsingham might plead his passion. The
best part of the plan, perhaps, was the separation of our young
couple. Charlotte would recover. Mrs. Baynes was sure of that.
The little girl had made no outbreak until that sudden insurrection
at dinner which we have witnessed; and her mother, who
had domineered over the child all her life, thought she was still
in her power. She did not know that she had passed the bounds
of authority, and that with her behaviour to Philip her child's
allegiance had revolted.