Armine had been thinking of
offering himself as Allen's successor for a year with Sir Samuel; but
two days' experience as substitute convinced him that Allen was right
in declaring that my Lady would be the death of him. Lucas could
manage her, and kept her well-behaved and even polite, but Armine was
so young and so deferential that she treated him even worse than she
did her first victim! She had begun by insisting on a quarter's
notice or the forfeiture of the salary, as long as she thought ?25
was of vital importance to Allen, but as soon as she discovered that
the young lady was a great heiress, she became most unedifyingly
civil, called in great state in Collingwood Street, and went about
boasting of having patronised a sort of prince in disguise.
Meantime Dr. Ruthven's offer seemed left in abeyance. Colonel
Brownlow had all his son's scruples, and more than his indignation at
Lucas's folly in hesitating; and John was so sure that he ought not
to accept the proposal, that he would not stir in the matter, nor
mention it to Sydney. At last Lucas acted on his own responsibility,
and had an interview with Dr. Ruthven, in which he declined the offer
for himself, but made it known that his cousin was not only brother
to the beautiful Lady Fordham who had been met in Collingwood Street,
but was engaged to Lord Fordham's sister.
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