“No, no; besides, the castle is ruined,” answered Dryden. “It is about twenty miles west, nearly in Wales. Centuries ago, the marquessate had a connexion there, but that is all consigned to forgotten history.”
“Do not say that to Miss Tilney,” Philip said. “She shall discover it all and tell you that its history is not as forgotten as it seems.” He gave her a brief smile, and when she returned it, he seemed to recollect himself, averted his eyes, and took a long drink from his cup.
“I have not seen it in years,” Alice said. “The castle is in ruins, and the town near is so much reduced—”
“Rather like the castle,” interrupted her brother.
“—that I don’t know if there is a place to stay in the village.”
Lord Dryden shrugged. “I am sure there is an inn. If not, we can go there and back in one day. It is only twenty miles; three hours there and back, and we can return tomorrow evening, if you would all like to make a project of it?” he added with a look round the table.
Eleanor expressed an earnest desire to see Longtown Castle. Alice and Dryden seemed wild to see it, and Sir Charles said he was amenable to doing anything other than be idle.
“If I was in town,” he added, “I would be gone from the house all day. If I can do the same in the country, then all the better.”
The first scheme was to go tomorrow morning and return at night, but to this General Tilney, for the sake of the horses, would not consent; and when it came to be considered, Alice and Dryden agreed that a day would not leave much time, after deducting three hours each for going and returning. They were, consequently, told by General Tilney in no uncertain terms, to stay the night near to Longtown Castle and return the following day.
“I am sure that Lord Longtown would not expect you back till the next day’s dinner,” he said pointedly, to Eleanor’s embarrassment. He was even controlling the time he expected them to return. “By then his lady ought to be more like herself and ready for company.”
“But, sir,” Eleanor said, “how can I stay at an inn with my friends? Alice shall have her brother to arrangeherroom...” A disturbing thought crossed her mind. “Unless you planned to join us?” She dreaded an affirmative answer, as she suspected did all the young people.
“Not at all. I am content to remain here with my pamphlets and walk the orchard, and I shall not cause Lady Longtown any bother, you have my word, Dryden,” he said with a bow toward the young earl. “Your second cousin Brampton can look after you and arrange a room at an inn for you.”
Eleanor was near enough to Philip to see his start of surprise.
The general continued, “It would not do for a young lady to drive with a man to whom she is not related, although I have full confidence in the care you might find under Lord Dryden or Sir Charles,” he added with a courteous nod to each. “But you shall be very well with your cousin Brampton. Either of them could arrange for your room and your safety, I am sure, but Brampton will do as far as I am concerned. You shall have no need for me under Brampton’s care, and Sir Charles’s attention,” he added, with a smiling expression and emphatic look toward the baronet.
Philip fumbled in setting his cup in its saucer. “I am afraid, General Tilney,” he said haltingly, “that I intend to leave with Vaughan and cannot be of service to your daughter.” He turned to look at her. “I hope she can forgive me for not being able to... for not being able to oblige her.”
For not being able to stand by and watch me court the attentions of another man.
“Brampton, what does a few more days mean to you if you are only going home?” cried the general.
“Indeed, you have no profession, as I understand, just a hobbyhorse of arithmetic, no family awaiting you,” added Sir Charles. “Miss Tilney cannot in propriety stay at an inn without a male relative to look after her.”
“Brampton, what an ungentlemanly thing to do,” General Tilney added. “You cannot mean it, I am sure.” He said this forcefully, and Eleanor winced.
Philip ran a hand across the back of his neck and avoided looking at the general. Eleanor was accustomed to such controlling treatment, but she hated to see her father address anyone else in such a way.
“I am sorry I cannot oblige you,” Philip stammered.
The general gave him a severe look. Eleanor knew he was so accustomed to giving the law within his family that he expected the same deference from everyone.And he typically gets it.
“Nonsense, what is a few more days before going back to Gloucestershire? He is not going to Kent with you, Lord Vaughan, is he?” General Tilney added, leaning across the table to better look at the viscount.
“No, sir,” Vaughan said quickly. “Brampton may stay here as long as Lady Longtown wishes it.”
“There. It is an objectionable project if Eleanor does not have a related man to see to her comfort and safety if they stay the night. Brampton, you would not wish to inconvenience Eleanor. Certainly, you would not. You may take my carriage and horses, and so your own horses will be well rested for your return to your little house in Belleville Village the following day.”
General Tilney then rose as though he had given his marching orders to his troops and strode from the room. Everyone shifted in their seats and avoided looking at Philip, who sat still with his jaw clenched. It was a mark of familiarity, Eleanor supposed, that her father could be high-handed with someone who was not his child or his subordinate. Small comfort that was, however, to anyone being oppressed by the general.
While Philip stayed silent and irate, eventually Alice and Dryden talked of the project.
“We could perhaps stay in the village of Craswall,” Alice said. “It is a few miles northwest of the castle and might have something worth seeing.”
Dryden shook his head. “That shall take us too far out of the way to return home in a timely manner. The Hatterrall hill is only two miles away. None of our friends have seen the Black Mountains.”
Sir Charles rose, saying, “Whatever you decide shall suit me, so long as we are not idle. The country can be intolerably dull when there are no field sports. I am going to ride, if any—”
