not refrain from a word. "I am much obliged, my lord, by your kindness
and generosity," she said, as she gave him her hand. He merely bowed and
smiled, and muttered something as to his hoping that he might always
find it as easy to gratify her. He was a little man, on whose behalf it
certainly appeared that the Peerage must have told a falsehood; it
seemed so at least to those who judged of his years from his appearance.
The Peerage said that he was thirty-six, and that, no doubt, was in
truth his age, but any one would have declared him to be ten years
older. This look was produced chiefly by the effect of an elaborately
dressed jet black wig which he wore. What misfortune had made him bald
so early--if to be bald early in life be a misfortune--I cannot say; but
he had lost the hair from the crown of his head, and had preferred
wiggery to baldness. No doubt an effort was made to hide the wiggishness
of his wigs, but what effect in that direction was ever made
successfully? He was, moreover, weak, thin, and physically poor, and
had, no doubt, increased this weakness and poorness by hard living.
Though others thought him old, time had gone swiftly with him, and he
still thought himself a young man. He hunted, though he could not ride.
He shot, though he could not walk. And, unfortunately, he drank, though
he had no capacity for drinking! His friends at last had taught him to
believe that his only chance of saving himself lay in marriage, and
therefore he had engaged himself to Julia Brabazon, purchasing her at
the price of a brilliant settlement. If Lord Ongar should die before
her, Ongar Park was to be hers for life, with thousands a year to
maintain it. Courton Castle, the great family seat, would of course go
to the heir; but Ongar Park was supposed to be the most delightful small
country-seat anywhere within thirty miles of London. It lay among the
Surrey hills, and all the world had heard of the charms of Ongar Park.
If Julia were to survive her lord, Ongar Park was to be hers; and they
who saw them both together had but little doubt that she would come to