The Last of the Foresters Part 21

Mr. O'Brallaghan surveyed Verty's lythe and well-knit figure, clad in its rude forest costume, with patronizing favor. But when Roundjacket informed him, with hauteur, that "his friend, Mr. Verty," would give him an order for three suits:--one plain, one handsome, one very rich--the great O'Brallaghan became supple and polite; and evidently regarded Mr. Verty as some young lord, in disguise.

He requested the young man to walk into the inner room, where his artist would take his measure; and this Verty did at once.

Imagine his surprise at finding himself in the presence of--Mr. Jinks!

Mr. Jinks, no longer clad in elegant and martial costume, redolent equally of the ball-room and the battle-field--no longer moving majestically onward with wide-stretched legs, against which his warlike sword made dreadful music--no longer decorated with rosettes, and ruffles, and embroidery; but seated on the counter, in an old dressing-gown, with slipper'd feet and lackl.u.s.tre eyes, driving his rapid needle through the cloth with savage and intrepid spirit.

Verty did not recognize him immediately; and Mr. Jinks did not observe the new comers either.

An exclamation from the young man, however, attracted his attention, and he started up.

"Mr. O'Brallaghan!" cried the knight of the needle, if we may so far plagiarize upon Roundjacket's paraphrase--"Mr. O'Brallaghan! this is contrary to our contract, sir. It was understood, sir, that I should be private, sir,--and I am invaded here by a route of people, sir, in violation of that understanding, sir!"

The emphasis with which Mr. Jinks uttered the various "sirs," in this address, was terrible. O'Brallaghan was evidently daunted by them.

"You know I am a great artist in the cutting line, sir," said Mr.

Jinks, with dignity; "and that n.o.body can do your fine work but me, sir. You know I have the right to mature my conceptions in private, sir,--and that circ.u.mstances of another description render this privacy desirable, sir! And yet, sir, you intrude upon me, sir,--you intrude! How do you do, young man?--I recognize you," added Mr. Jinks, slightly calmed by his victory over O'Brallaghan, who only muttered his sentiments in original Gaelic, and bore the storm without further reply.

"I will, for once, break my rule," said Mr. Jinks, magnanimously, "and do for this gentleman, who is my friend, what I will do for no other.

Henceforth, sir, recollect that I have rights;" and Mr. Jinks frowned; then he added to Verty, "Young man, have the goodness to stand upon that bench."

O'Brallaghan and Roundjacket retreated to the outer room, where they were, soon after, joined by Verty, who was laughing.

"Well," muttered the young man, "I will not tell anybody that Mr. Jinks sews, if he don't want it to be known--especially Miss Sallianna. I reckon he is right--women don't like to see men do anything better than them, as Mr. Jinks says."

And Verty began to admire a plum-colored coat which was lying on the counter.

"I like this," he said.

O'Brallaghan grew eloquent on the plum-colored coat--a.s.serting that it was a portion of a suit made for one of his most elegant customers, but not sent for. He could, however, dispose of it to Mr. Verty, if he wished to have it--there was time to make another for the aforesaid elegant customer.

Verty tried the coat on, and O'Brallaghan declared, enthusiastically, that it fitted him "bewchously."

Mr. Roundjacket informed Verty that it would be better to get the suit, if it fitted, inasmuch as...o...b..allaghan would probably take double the time he promised to make his proper suit in--an observation which O'Brallaghan repelled with indignation; and so the consequence was, that a quarter of an hour afterwards Roundjacket and Verty issued forth--the appearance of the latter having undergone a remarkable change.

Certainly no one would have recognized Verty at the first glance. He was clad in a complete cavalier's suit--embroidered coat-ruffles and long flapped waistcoat--with knee-breeches, stockings of the same material, and glossy shoes with high red heels, and fluttering rosettes; a c.o.c.ked hat surmounted his curling hair, and altogether Verty resembled a courtier, and walked like a boy on stilts.

Roundjacket laughed in his sleeve at his companion's contortions, and on their way back stopped at the barber and surgeon's. This professional gentleman clipped Verty's profuse curls, gathered them together carefully behind, and tied them with a handsome bow of scarlet ribbon. Then he powdered the boy's fine glossy hair, and held a mirror before him.

"Oh! I'm a great deal better looking now," said Verty; "the fact is, Mr. Roundjacket, my hair was too long."

To this Mr. Roundjacket a.s.sented, and they returned, laughing, to the office.

Verty looked over his shoulder, and admired himself with all the innocence of a child or a savage. One thing only was disagreeable to him--the high heels which Mr. O'Brallaghan had supplied him with.

Accustomed to his moccasins, the heels were not to be endured; and Verty kicked both of them off against the stone steps with great composure. Having accomplished this feat, he re-entered.

"I'm easier now," he said.

"About what?"

"The heels."

Mr. Roundjacket looked down.

"I could'nt walk on 'em, and knocked 'em off," Verty said.

Mr. Roundjacket uttered a suppressed chuckle; then stopping suddenly, observed with dignity:--

"Young man, that was very wrong in you. Mr. Rushton has made you a present of that costume, and you should not injure it; he will be displeased, sir."

"I will be nothing of the sort," said a growling voice; and turning round, the clerk found himself opposite to Mr. Rushton, who was looking at Verty with a grim smile.

"Kick away just as you please, my young savage," said that gentleman, "and don't mind this stuff from Roundjacket, who don't know civilized from Indian character. Do just as you choose."

"May I?" said Verty.

"Am I to repeat everything?"

"Well, sir, I choose to have a holiday this morning."

"Hum!"

"You said I might do as I wanted to, and I want to go and take a ride."

"Well, go then--much of a lawyer you'll ever make."

Verty laughed, and turning towards Longears, called him. But Longears hesitated--looking with the most profound astonishment at his master.

"He don't know me!" said the young man, laughing; "I don't think he'll hunt if I wear these, sir."

But Mr. Rushton had retired, and Verty only heard a door slam.

He rose.

"I'm going to see Redbud, Mr. Roundjacket," he said, "and I think she'll like my dress--good-bye."

Roundjacket only replied by flouris.h.i.+ng his ruler.

Verty put on his c.o.c.ked hat, admired himself for an instant in the mirror over the fire-place, and went out humming his eternal Indian song. Five minutes afterwards he was on his way to see Redbud, followed dubiously by Longears, who evidently had not made up his mind on the subject of his master's ident.i.ty.

In order to explain the reception which Verty met with, it will be necessary to precede him.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HOW MISS LAVINIA DEVELOPED HER THEORIES UPON MATRIMONY.