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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 469
and the distribution of meum and tuum. We can't disguise from
ourselves the fact that Baynes permitted himself to be misled, and
had weaknesses not quite consistent with the highest virtue.
When he became aware that his carelessness in the matter of
Mrs. Firmin's trust money had placed him in her son's power, we
have seen how the old General, in order to avoid being called to
account, fled across the water with his family and all his little
fortune, and how terrified he was on landing on a foreign shore to
find himself face to face with this dreadful creditor. Philip's
renunciation of all claims against Baynes soothed and pleased the
old man wonderfully. But Philip might change his mind, an
adviser at Baynes's side repeatedly urged. To live abroad was
cheaper and safer than to live at home. Accordingly Baynes, his
wife, family, and money, all went into exile, and remained there.
What savings the old man had I don't accurately know. He
and his wife were very dark upon this subject with Philip : and
when the General died, his widow declared herself to be almost a
pauper! It was impossible that Baynes should have left much
money ; but that Charlotte's share should have amounted to—that
sum which may or may not presently be stated—was a little too
absurd ! You see Mr. and Mrs. Firmin are travelling abroad just
now. When I wrote to Firmin, to ask if I might mention the
amount of his wife's fortune, he gave me no answer ; nor do I like
to enter upon these matters of calculation without his explicit
permission. He is of a hot temper ; he might, on his return, grow
angry with the friend of his youth, and say, " Sir, how dare you to
talk about my private affairs ? and what has the public to do with
Mrs. Firmin's private fortune ?"
When, the last rites over, good-natured Uncle Mac proposed to
take Charlotte back to Tours, her mother made no objection. The
widow had tried to do the girl such an injury, that perhaps the
latter felt forgiveness was impossible. Little Char loved Philip
with all her heart and strength ; had been authorised and encouraged
to do so, as we have seen. To give him up now, because a richer
suitor presented himself, was an act of treason from which her
faithful heart revolted, and she never could pardon the instigator.
You see, in this simple story, I scarcely care even to have reticence
or secrets. I don't want you to understand for a moment that
Walsingham Hely was still crying his eyes out about Charlotte.
Goodness bless you ! It was two or three weeks ago—four or five
weeks ago, that he was in love with her J He had not seen the
Duchesse d'lvry then, about whom you may remember he had the
quarrel with Podichon, at the club in the Rue de Grammont. (He
and the Duchesse wrote poems to each other, each in the other's