The Midnight Queen [47]
said no, and no, and no, until I got tired of it.
Prudence, too, was as bad as he was, until between them I got
about distracted, and at last consented to marry him to get rid
of him."
"My poor, persecuted little darling! Oh," cried Sir Norman, with
a burst of enthusiasm, "how I should admire to have Count
L'Estrange here for about tea minutes, just now! I world spoil
his next wooing for him, or I am mistaken!"
"No, no!" said Leoline, looking rather alarmed; "you must not
fight, you know. I shouldn't at all like either of you to get
killed. Besides, he has not married me; and so there's no harm
done."
Sir Norman seemed rather struck by that view of the case, and
after a few moments reflection on it, came to the conclusion that
she knew best, and settled down peaceably again.
"Why do you suppose his name is not Count L'Estrange?" he asked.
"For many reasons. First - he is disguised; wears false
whiskers, moustache, and wig, and even the voice he uses appears
assumed. Then Prudence seems in the greatest awe of him, and she
is not one to be easily awed. I never knew her to be in the
slightest degree intimidated by any human being but himself and
that mysterious woman, La Masque.
"Ah! you know La Masque, then?"
"Not personally; but I have seen her as I did you, you remember,"
with an arch glance; "and, like you, being once seen, is not to
be forgotten."
Sir Norman promptly paid her for the compliment in Cupid's own
coin:
"Little flatterer! I can almost forgive Count L'Estrange for
wanting to marry you; for I presume he it only a man, and not
quite equal to impossibilities. How long is it since you knew
him first?"
"Not two months. My courtships," said Leoline, with a gay laugh,
"seem destined to be of the shortest. He saw me one evening in
the window, and immediately insisted on being admitted; and after
that, he continued coming until I had to promise, as I have told
you, to be Countess L'Estrange."
"He cannot be mach of a gentleman, or he would not attempt to
force a lady against her will. And so, when you were dressed for
your bridal, you found you had the plague?"
"Yes, Sir Norman; and horrible as that was I do assure you I
almost preferred it to marrying him."
"Leoline, tell me how long it is since you've known me?"
"Nearly three months," said Leoline, blushing again celestial
rosy red.
"And how long have you loved me?"
"Nonsense. What a question! I shall not tell you."
"You shall - you must - I insist upon it. Did you love me before
you met the count? Out with it."
"Well, then - yes!" cried Leoline desperately.
Sir Norman raised the hand he held, is rapture to his lips:
"My darling! But I will reserve my raptures, for it is growing
late, and I know you mast want to go to rest. I have a thousand
things to tell you, but they must wait for daylight; only I will
promise, before parting, that this is the last night you mast
spend here."
Leoline opened her bright eyes very wide.
"To-morrow morning," went on Sir Norman, impressively, and with
dignity, "you will be up and dressed by sunrise, and shortly
after that radiant period, I will make my appearance with two
horses - one of which I shall ride, and the other I shall lead:
the one I lead you shall mount, and we will ride to the nearest
church, and be married without any pomp or pageant; and then Sir
Norman and Lady Kingsley will immediately leave London, and in
Kingsley Castle, Devonshire, will enjoy the honeymoon and
blissful repose till the plague is over. Do you understand
that?"
"Perfectly," she answered, with a radiant face.
"And agree to it?"
"You know I do, Sir Norman; only - "
"Well, my pet, only what?"
"Sir Norman, I should like to see Prudence. I want Prudence.
How can I leave her behind?"
"My dear child, she made nothing
Prudence, too, was as bad as he was, until between them I got
about distracted, and at last consented to marry him to get rid
of him."
"My poor, persecuted little darling! Oh," cried Sir Norman, with
a burst of enthusiasm, "how I should admire to have Count
L'Estrange here for about tea minutes, just now! I world spoil
his next wooing for him, or I am mistaken!"
"No, no!" said Leoline, looking rather alarmed; "you must not
fight, you know. I shouldn't at all like either of you to get
killed. Besides, he has not married me; and so there's no harm
done."
Sir Norman seemed rather struck by that view of the case, and
after a few moments reflection on it, came to the conclusion that
she knew best, and settled down peaceably again.
"Why do you suppose his name is not Count L'Estrange?" he asked.
"For many reasons. First - he is disguised; wears false
whiskers, moustache, and wig, and even the voice he uses appears
assumed. Then Prudence seems in the greatest awe of him, and she
is not one to be easily awed. I never knew her to be in the
slightest degree intimidated by any human being but himself and
that mysterious woman, La Masque.
"Ah! you know La Masque, then?"
"Not personally; but I have seen her as I did you, you remember,"
with an arch glance; "and, like you, being once seen, is not to
be forgotten."
Sir Norman promptly paid her for the compliment in Cupid's own
coin:
"Little flatterer! I can almost forgive Count L'Estrange for
wanting to marry you; for I presume he it only a man, and not
quite equal to impossibilities. How long is it since you knew
him first?"
"Not two months. My courtships," said Leoline, with a gay laugh,
"seem destined to be of the shortest. He saw me one evening in
the window, and immediately insisted on being admitted; and after
that, he continued coming until I had to promise, as I have told
you, to be Countess L'Estrange."
"He cannot be mach of a gentleman, or he would not attempt to
force a lady against her will. And so, when you were dressed for
your bridal, you found you had the plague?"
"Yes, Sir Norman; and horrible as that was I do assure you I
almost preferred it to marrying him."
"Leoline, tell me how long it is since you've known me?"
"Nearly three months," said Leoline, blushing again celestial
rosy red.
"And how long have you loved me?"
"Nonsense. What a question! I shall not tell you."
"You shall - you must - I insist upon it. Did you love me before
you met the count? Out with it."
"Well, then - yes!" cried Leoline desperately.
Sir Norman raised the hand he held, is rapture to his lips:
"My darling! But I will reserve my raptures, for it is growing
late, and I know you mast want to go to rest. I have a thousand
things to tell you, but they must wait for daylight; only I will
promise, before parting, that this is the last night you mast
spend here."
Leoline opened her bright eyes very wide.
"To-morrow morning," went on Sir Norman, impressively, and with
dignity, "you will be up and dressed by sunrise, and shortly
after that radiant period, I will make my appearance with two
horses - one of which I shall ride, and the other I shall lead:
the one I lead you shall mount, and we will ride to the nearest
church, and be married without any pomp or pageant; and then Sir
Norman and Lady Kingsley will immediately leave London, and in
Kingsley Castle, Devonshire, will enjoy the honeymoon and
blissful repose till the plague is over. Do you understand
that?"
"Perfectly," she answered, with a radiant face.
"And agree to it?"
"You know I do, Sir Norman; only - "
"Well, my pet, only what?"
"Sir Norman, I should like to see Prudence. I want Prudence.
How can I leave her behind?"
"My dear child, she made nothing