"O" as the Bouncers themselves.
The only one of us who kept his senses was Mr. Godfrey.
He put an arm round each of his sister's waists, and, looking compassionately backwards and forwards between the Diamond and me, said,
"Carbon Betteredge! mere carbon, my good friend, after all!"
His object, I suppose, was to instruct me.
All he did, however, was to remind me of the dinner.
I hobbled off to my army of waiters downstairs.
As I went out, Mr. Godfrey said,
"Dear old Betteredge, I have the truest regard for him!"
He was embracing his sisters, and ogling Miss Rachel, while he honoured me with that testimony of affection. Something like a stock of love to draw on THERE!
Mr. Franklin was a perfect savage by comparison with him.
At the end of half an hour, I presented myself, as directed, in my lady's room.
What passed between my mistress and me, on this occasion, was, in the main, a repetition of what had passed between Mr. Franklin and me at the Shivering Sand--with this difference, that I took care to keep my own counsel about the jugglers, seeing that nothing had happened to justify me in alarming my lady on this head.
When I received my dismissal, I could see that she took the blackest view possible of the Colonel's motives, and that she was bent on getting the Moonstone out of her daughter's possession at the first opportunity.
On my way back to my own part of the house, I was encountered by Mr. Franklin.
He wanted to know if I had seen anything of his cousin Rachel.
I had seen nothing of her.
Could I tell him where his cousin Godfrey was?
I didn't know; but I began to suspect that cousin Godfrey might not be far away from cousin Rachel.
Mr. Franklin's suspicions apparently took the same turn.
He tugged hard at his beard, and went and shut himself up in the library with a bang of the door that had a world of meaning in it.
I was interrupted no more in the business of preparing for the birthday dinner till it was time for me to smarten myself up for receiving the company.
Just as I had got my white waistcoat on, Penelope presented herself at my toilet, on pretence of brushing what little hair I have got left, and improving the tie of my white cravat.
My girl was in high spirits, and I saw she had something to say to me.
She gave me a kiss on the top of my bald head, and whispered,
"News for you, father!
Miss Rachel has refused him."
"Who's 'HIM'?" I asked.
"The ladies' committee-man, father," says Penelope.
"A nasty sly fellow!
I hate him for trying to supplant Mr. Franklin!"
If I had had breath enough, I should certainly have protested against this indecent way of speaking of an eminent philanthropic character.
But my daughter happened to be improving the tie of my cravat at that moment, and the whole strength of her feelings found its way into her fingers.
I never was more nearly strangled in my life.
"I saw him take her away alone into the rose-garden," says Penelope. "And I waited behind the holly to see how they came back.
They had gone out arm-in-arm, both laughing.
They came back, walking separate, as grave as grave could be, and looking straight away from each other in a manner which there was no mistaking.
I never was more delighted, father, in my life!
There's one woman in the world who can resist Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite, at any rate; and, if I was a lady, I should be another!"
Here I should have protested again.
But my daughter had got the hair-brush by this time, and the whole strength of her feelings had passed into THAT.
If you are bald, you will understand how she sacrificed me.
If you are not, skip this bit, and thank God you have got something in the way of a defence between your hair-brush and your head.
"Just on the other side of the holly," Penelope went on, "Mr. Godfrey came to a standstill.
'You prefer,' says he, 'that I should stop here as if nothing had happened?'
Miss Rachel turned on him like lightning.
'You have accepted my mother's invitation,' she said; 'and you are here to meet her guests.
Unless you wish to make a scandal in the house, you will remain, of course!'
She went on a few steps, and then seemed to relent a little.
'Let us forget what has passed, Godfrey,' she said, 'and let us remain cousins still.'