away. But the absence of any steadfast figure--male or female--who could bring some direction to the household was beginning to take its toll.
For two years his cousin had been indulging no one but himself.
89
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Which was all very well--men had to sow their wild oats and so on, and Channing was only twenty-three. But here and now, there was a ball, and Channing was the host. Yet instead of helping out, he sought his own amusement, and in the process, carelessly slighted more than one young lady. Channing was careless, Gatley maintained, and not essentially unkind. Despite a selfish streak that reared its ugly head once in a while, his cousin was a decent enough person, when reminded of his duty.
The problem was, there was no one to do it. In so many ways, Gatley had assumed the role of the older brother. So the unpleasant task was his.
To this purpose he took Channing aside and advised him to pay more attention to young ladies who did not have partners.
"I fail to see why," drawled Channing.
"It is what a good host does," said Gatley.
"Young ladies who have no partners have no appeal for me,"
replied Channing. "Why should I indulge them when no one else wishes to? It will only give them a false sense of vanity."
"Because it is your dance, in your house. It is expected from a good host," said Gatley patiently.
"It is, as you say, my dance. If one cannot enjoy oneself at one's own dance, I can see no reason to have a dance at all. If you choose to take pity on every unappealing young lady in the neighbourhood, I will not prevent you. But do not expect me to follow suit.
I prefer to make merry."
"One thing does not necessarily exclude the other," replied Gatley. "Take Miss Darcy, for example. She is a very taking thing--very pretty, as a matter of fact, in a quiet sort of way--yet you have not danced with her once tonight."
"I have danced with her cousin, Miss Clarissa."
90
THE DARCY COUSINS
Channing could sometimes set his teeth on edge. He could even bring out stronger instincts, truth be told. But Gatley reminded himself that Channing would see reason eventually. It just required patience.
He set out on the unpleasant task of explaining why, exactly, Channing needed to be considerate to young ladies like Miss Darcy.
The time for supper came and went, and still Mr Channing had not stood up with her. Georgiana, with two empty spaces on her card for the first time that night, sought to occupy herself by moving towards the refreshment tables to obtain something to drink. Lemonade in hand, she weaved her way towards Robert and Caroline, who were engaged in conversation next to some potted palms.
"You are too refined in your sense of duty, Cousin," said a voice from behind the palms. She recognized it instantly as Mr Channing's. "I do not need to pretend politeness to anyone. Just because Miss Clarissa is related to her, it does not mean I need to give her my attention."
Mr Gatley, for it was he, said something she could not distinguish.
"Devil take it, Gatley!" responded Channing, "How you do love to preach! Miss Darcy has nothing to distinguish her. It is difficult to credit it, when she is a sister to Mr Darcy, who is perfectly agreeable--I have hunted with him and find him good company--but his sister! I have never met such an insipid bore. She's as dull as ditchwater. If even a fortune of thirty thousand is not enough to tempt me, you cannot think your prosing and moralising is likely to have any effect."
With that he walked off. As his footsteps receded, Georgiana, 91
MONICA FAIRVIEW
not wishing to be caught eavesdropping, moved away hastily. But by some ill fortune, Mr Gatley emerged from behind the palms at that very moment, moving in the opposite direction, and they collided. The lemonade splattered onto his coat.
"Oh, I am so sorry!" said Georgiana, staring at the stain in distress, struggling to control the impact of Mr Channing's words.
It would be ridiculous if she burst into
For two years his cousin had been indulging no one but himself.
89
MONICA FAIRVIEW
Which was all very well--men had to sow their wild oats and so on, and Channing was only twenty-three. But here and now, there was a ball, and Channing was the host. Yet instead of helping out, he sought his own amusement, and in the process, carelessly slighted more than one young lady. Channing was careless, Gatley maintained, and not essentially unkind. Despite a selfish streak that reared its ugly head once in a while, his cousin was a decent enough person, when reminded of his duty.
The problem was, there was no one to do it. In so many ways, Gatley had assumed the role of the older brother. So the unpleasant task was his.
To this purpose he took Channing aside and advised him to pay more attention to young ladies who did not have partners.
"I fail to see why," drawled Channing.
"It is what a good host does," said Gatley.
"Young ladies who have no partners have no appeal for me,"
replied Channing. "Why should I indulge them when no one else wishes to? It will only give them a false sense of vanity."
"Because it is your dance, in your house. It is expected from a good host," said Gatley patiently.
"It is, as you say, my dance. If one cannot enjoy oneself at one's own dance, I can see no reason to have a dance at all. If you choose to take pity on every unappealing young lady in the neighbourhood, I will not prevent you. But do not expect me to follow suit.
I prefer to make merry."
"One thing does not necessarily exclude the other," replied Gatley. "Take Miss Darcy, for example. She is a very taking thing--very pretty, as a matter of fact, in a quiet sort of way--yet you have not danced with her once tonight."
"I have danced with her cousin, Miss Clarissa."
90
THE DARCY COUSINS
Channing could sometimes set his teeth on edge. He could even bring out stronger instincts, truth be told. But Gatley reminded himself that Channing would see reason eventually. It just required patience.
He set out on the unpleasant task of explaining why, exactly, Channing needed to be considerate to young ladies like Miss Darcy.
The time for supper came and went, and still Mr Channing had not stood up with her. Georgiana, with two empty spaces on her card for the first time that night, sought to occupy herself by moving towards the refreshment tables to obtain something to drink. Lemonade in hand, she weaved her way towards Robert and Caroline, who were engaged in conversation next to some potted palms.
"You are too refined in your sense of duty, Cousin," said a voice from behind the palms. She recognized it instantly as Mr Channing's. "I do not need to pretend politeness to anyone. Just because Miss Clarissa is related to her, it does not mean I need to give her my attention."
Mr Gatley, for it was he, said something she could not distinguish.
"Devil take it, Gatley!" responded Channing, "How you do love to preach! Miss Darcy has nothing to distinguish her. It is difficult to credit it, when she is a sister to Mr Darcy, who is perfectly agreeable--I have hunted with him and find him good company--but his sister! I have never met such an insipid bore. She's as dull as ditchwater. If even a fortune of thirty thousand is not enough to tempt me, you cannot think your prosing and moralising is likely to have any effect."
With that he walked off. As his footsteps receded, Georgiana, 91
MONICA FAIRVIEW
not wishing to be caught eavesdropping, moved away hastily. But by some ill fortune, Mr Gatley emerged from behind the palms at that very moment, moving in the opposite direction, and they collided. The lemonade splattered onto his coat.
"Oh, I am so sorry!" said Georgiana, staring at the stain in distress, struggling to control the impact of Mr Channing's words.
It would be ridiculous if she burst into
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