5
Within a short walk of Godric lived a family with whom the Blacks were particularly intimate. Mr. Rosier had been formerly in trade in the town over from Godric, where he had made a tolerable fortune. The rise in stature had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, in quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Godric, denominated from that period Rosier Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody.
By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. Merlin’s had made him courteous. Lady Rosier was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Black. They had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young man, about twenty-seven, was Regulus’s intimate friend. That the young Mr. Rosiers and the Mr. Blacks should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly brought the former to Salazar to hear and to communicate.
“You began the evening well, Evan,” said Mrs. Black with civil self-command to Mr. Rosier. “Dancing with that girl was very kind of you.” Regulus looked over to where his brother was sitting and raised his eyebrows.
“Yes— Although, the focus of the evening was Mr. Lupin.” Rosier tried to remove the keep the poor girls honour. It was one thing for a lady to discuss the unattractiveness of a girl, it was entirely out of respectability for a young man to besmirch a girls reputation.
“Oh! Yes,, Sirius’ fast friend, I suppose, because they talked all night. To be sure that did seem as if he admired him—indeed I rather believe he did—I heard something about it—but I hardly know what—something about Mr. Crabbe.”
“Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Crabbe; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Crabbe’s asking him how he liked our Godric assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many intelligent men in the room, and which he thought the most amusing? and his answering immediately to the last question: ‘Oh! The eldest Mr. Black, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that point.’ ”
“Upon my word! Well, that is very decided indeed—that does seem as if—but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know, a passing friendship.”
“My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Regulus,” said Evan. “Mr. Potter is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he?—poor Reggie!—to be only just tolerable.”
“I beg you would not put it into Regulus’ head to be vexed by his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man, that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Druella told me last night that he sat close to her for half-an-hour without once closing his lips. I heard there are even some people questioning if he is not mad!”
“Are you quite sure?—is not there a mistake?” said Sirius. “I certainly saw her speaking to him.”
“Aye—because she asked him at last how he liked Godric, and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed quite giddy at being spoken to.”
“Miss McKinnen told me,” said Sirius, “that he always speaks too much, unless among his intimate acquaintances, it’s a nervous habit, not unlike yourself, Mother. With them he is remarkably agreeable.”
“I do not believe a word of it. If he had been so very agreeable, he would have made polite conversation with Druella. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is barren with sense, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Druella does not keep a carriage, and he offered to walk her all the way home, another excuse to ramble, I guess.”
“I do not mind his talking to Druella,” said Evan, “but I wish he had talked with Regulus.”
“Another time, Regulus,” said his mother, “I would not spoken with him, if I were you.”
“I believe, ma’am, I may safely promise you never to speak with him.”
“His arrogance,” said Evan, “does not offend me so much as arrogance often does, because he, no doubt, can afford it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself and become an eccentric. If I may so express it, he has a right to be however he should want to be.”
“That is very true,” replied Regulus, “and I could easily forgive his oddity, if he had not so rejected me.”
“If I were as rich as Mr. Potter,” cried a young Rosier, who came with his brother, “I should not care how proud I was. I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine a day.”
“Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought,” admonished Mrs. Black; “and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly.” The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she would, and the argument ended only with the visit.