The Compleat Bachelor

Oliver Onions

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The Compleat Bachelor by Oliver Onions

Chapter 15 SETTLING DAY

08-13 18:55

The Compleat Bachelor Chapter 1 SUGAR AND LEMON

"Perhaps, Rollo," said my sister (Caroline Butterfield, spinster), "you would like to go on to your club, and call for me in an hour or so. There will only be women, I expect."

"Carrie," I replied, "your consideration does you credit; but no company that you may enter is too bad for me. I insist on accompanying you. It is my first duty as a brother."

Carrie laughed.

"I believe you like it, Rol," she said. "Molly Chatterton says Loring says you never go to a club if you can have tea with a married woman."

"It is the one reward of a blameless reputation," I replied; "but that Loring Chatterton should say so is rank ingratitude, considering his own ante-nuptial record. Rank ingratitude."

We dismounted together at Millicent Dixon's door, and were admitted to the hall. Carrie gave my necktie an attentive little tug, slapped my cheek (Carrie is justly proud of her middle-aged brother, and likes to show him off to advantage), and preceded me into Millie Dixon's drawing-room. Some half-dozen ladies were engaged in the usual five-o'clock flirtation with tea and cake, and contributing to the feminine hum which didn't subside in the least as we entered.

"He would come, Millie," said Caroline, after a cross-over kiss on both cheeks, "but you can lean him up in a corner and give him some tea to keep him quiet."

This from my own flesh and blood!

Millie Dixon gave me a laughing nod over her shoulder, and busied herself preparing the cup that should have the effect Carrie suggested. I sat down, and composed myself to listen to the restful chatter that was supposed not to interest me. Mrs. Loring Chatterton, at my side, was rippling gently on the subject of a School of Art Needlework Exhibition, while Carrie and Mrs. Carmichael talked Marshall and Snelgrove to Cicely Vicars and Mrs. Julian Joyce. I have no disdain for ladies' babble-it is quite as entertaining as starting-price and stock-exchange gossip, and much prettier. But I couldn't get Chatterton's remark out of my mind.

"Cream or lemon, Mr. Butterfield?" called Miss Dixon from the other side of the room.

"Yes, if you please," I answered absently, while Miss Dixon looked a deprecating query as to when I should be sensible. I roused, and turned to Mrs. Loring Chatterton.

"Where is Loring to-day?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't know," she replied. "I told him I shouldn't want him this afternoon, so he said he would count the dreary hours till joy returned. I expect he went to count them at some club."

"Loring always was ardent," I remarked, looking meditatively into my cup. "I seem to remember that kind of thing from Loring before. Long before you knew him, Mrs. Chatterton."

"What do you mean, Mr. Butterfield?"

"Nothing, my dear Mrs. Chatterton," I replied. "Nothing out of the way. But you don't suppose that Loring had the good fortune to happen on the perfect gem without-what shall I say?-preliminary prospecting?"

Mrs. Chatterton and I are old friends. She laughed.

"Do you think you can make me inquisitive, Mr. Butterfield? I know all about that. Why, I made Loring tell me every--"

It was my turn to laugh.

"Then there is nothing more to say," I answered. "Loring is my friend-he has claims upon me. He has, doubtless, given himself quite away, and half his bachelor friends into the bargain. I think I see him doing it. Isn't that a pretty gown Carrie is wearing? I chose it for her."

"Loring told me a great deal," said Mrs. Chatterton musingly.

"The buttons are from her grandmother's wedding-gown."

"And he was so clumsy and boyish," she continued.

Words were superfluous. I smiled.

"Anyway," Mrs. Loring went on, "I don't think it fair. Men have half a dozen flirtations before they are married their wives know nothing about."

"And women, Mrs. Chatterton?" I asked.

"Some women, Mr. Butterfield, may not be scrupulous. But--"

The unfinished sentence was a résume of female virtue since the days of Penelope.

"What are you two so interested in?" cried Mrs. Carmichael from a remote sofa. I had just caught her eye.

Mrs. Loring placed her hand beseechingly on my sleeve, but I hardened my heart.

"We were recalling the time, Mrs. Kit," I replied, "before your several husbands were enticed from the liberty of bachelor life; we were commenting on the change in them."

"You should be able to appreciate the difference, Mr. Butterfield," returned Mrs. Carmichael. "You are just where they left you years and years ago."

"Yes, ma'am," I replied, "I have not been able to bury my memory in the wedding-service, nor forget my past in a honeymoon. I am still as unregenerate as, say, Kit Carmichael was before he met you."

"You are a great deal worse," returned Mrs. Kit.

"You refuse a very pretty compliment, Mrs. Carmichael," I replied.

"Yes, at Kit's expense. It was you who made Kit as bad as he was. He told me so."

The perfidy of these married friends! Rol Butterfield, you have no use for them when they sacrifice you on their nuptial altars. Their eyes lost their singleness with their hearts, and your reputation has gone for a kiss. Well, you have your revenge on their wives, if you care to use it.

The spark of righteous war was kindled within me. I leaned forward, and spoke my speech with icy distinctness.

"So I am responsible for Carmichael's past, am I, Mrs. Kit? Listen to me. There was not a more abandoned and desperately wicked trio in London than Kit Carmichael-your meek brother, Miss Dixon-and Loring--"

Mrs. Chatterton endeavoured to stop me with a hot teaspoon laid on my hand, but I still testified.

"And Loring Chatterton. Not content with steeping their own souls in infamy, they must needs go afield, and corrupt the spotless name of one-oh, Carrie, Carrie, what your poor brother has suffered! And now to be told in his old-his middle-age that he did it all!"

Mrs. Kit and Cicely Vicars had put their heads together, and were endeavouring to put aside the damning testimony in mock admiration of the dramatic skill with which it was uttered. Cicely Vicars had best be very careful. I was to be leaned up in a corner and given tea, was I?

"Doesn't Mr. Butterfield look well with the light behind him?" said Mrs. Vicars with a pretty gesture of her hand. Mrs. Vicars paints flowers, and asks her friends what they would really like for wedding presents.

"Mr. Butterfield may have the Light behind him, Mrs. Vicars," I replied, "but he has no regrets for a misspent youth. Charlie Vicars wasted his youth most shamefully. Mornings in the park, with a young lady in a pink frock-is that not so, Mrs. Loring?"

I turned to her suddenly.

"It was a green frock," said Mrs. Loring thoughtlessly; then turned quite pink. It was a pretty situation. Loring might have treasured that blush. I was avenged.

Millicent Dixon came to the rescue.

"Carrie, dear," she said, "you are the only one who has any influence over that irrepressible man. Do gag him for a few minutes;" and passed over a plate of gaufrettes, which Carrie brought to me.

I held the plate to Mrs. Loring Chatterton, who, a reminiscence of fun still in her eyes, accepted the peace-offering with a warning shake of her head.

"Mr. Butterfield," she said, "you never were anything but mischievous, and it's my opinion you never will be. Oh, I wish I could get you off my hands. There are plenty of nice girls. Look at Millie there," she whispered.

"Mrs. Loring," I replied, "once upon a time there was a fox, who was caught in a trap, and had his tail cut off. After that--"

"Ah well, I suppose you know your own mind. But, Mr. Butterfield"-she leaned over, and spoke quite low-"I believe you make out your young days-and Loring's-to have been much worse than they were. Do you not, now?"

Mrs. Loring had a little beauty-spot on her conscience which she thought was a stain.