On an east-windy Friday afternoon Valetta and Fergus were in a crowningstate of ecstasy. Rigdum Funnidos was in a hutch in the small gardenunder the cliff, Begum and two small gray kittens were in a basket underthe kitchen stairs, Aga was purring under everybody's feet, Cocky wasturning out the guard upon his perch--in short, Il Lido was made as likeSilverfold as circumstances would permit. Aunt Ada with Miss Vincent wassitting on the sofa in the drawing-room, with a newly-worked cosy,like a giant's fez, over the teapot, and Valetta's crewel cushion fullydisplayed. She was patiently enduring a rush in and out of the room ofboth children and Quiz once every minute, and had only requested thatit should not be more than once, and that the door should neither beslammed nor left open.
Macrae and the Silverfold carriage were actually gone to the station,and, oh! oh! oh! here it really was with papa on the box, and heapsof luggage, and here were Primrose and Gillian and mamma and Mrs.Halfpenny, all emerging one after another, and Primrose, looking--ohdear! more like a schoolroom than a nursery girl--such a great piece ofblack leg below the little crimson skirt; but the dear little face asplump as ever.
That was the first apparent fact after the disengaging from the generalembrace, when all had subsided into different seats, and Aunt Jane, whohad appeared from somewhere in her little round sealskin hat, had begunto pour out the tea. The first sentence that emerged from the melee ofgreetings and intelligence was--
'Fly met her mother at the station; how well she looks!'
'Then Victoria came down with you?'
'Yes; I am glad we went to her. I really do like her very much.'
Then Primrose and Valetta varied the scene by each laying a kitten intheir mother's lap; and Begum, jumping after her progeny, brushed LadyMerrifield's face with her bushy tail, interrupting the informationabout names.
'Come, children,' said Sir Jasper, 'that's enough; take away the cats.'It was kindly said, but it was plain that liberties with mamma would notcontinue before him.
'The Whites?' was Gillian's question, as she pressed up to Aunt Jane.
'Poor Mrs. White died the night before last,' was the return. 'I havejust come from Kally. She is in a stunned state now--actually too busyto think and feel, for the funeral must be to-morrow.'
Sir Jasper heard, and came to ask further questions.
'She saw Alexis,' went on Miss Mohun. 'They dressed him in his ownclothes, and she seemed greatly satisfied when he came to sit by her,and had forgotten all that went before. However, the end came verysuddenly at last, and all those poor children show their southern naturein tremendous outbursts of grief--all except Kalliope, who seems notto venture on giving way, will not talk, or be comforted, and is, as itwere, dried up for the present. The big brothers give way quite asmuch as the children, in gusts, that is to say. Poor Alexis reproacheshimself with having hastened it, and I am afraid his brother does notspare him. But Mr. White has bought his discharge.'
'You don't mean it.'
'Yes; whether it was the contrast between Alexis's air of refinementand his private soldier's turn-out, or the poor fellow's patience andsubmission, or the brother's horrid behaviour to him, Mr. White hastaken him up, and bought him out.'
'All because of Richard's brutal speech. That is good! Though I confessI should have let the lad have at least a year's discipline for his owngood, since he had put himself into it; but I can't be sorry. There issomething engaging about the boy.'
'And Mr. White is the right man to dispose of them.'
No more passed, for here were the children eager and important, doingthe honours of the new house, and intensely happy at the sense of home,which with them depended more on persons than on place.
One schoolroom again,' said Mysie. 'One again with Val and Prim and MissVincent. Oh, it is happiness!'
Even Mrs. Halfpenny was a delightful sight, perhaps the more so that herrightful dominion was over; the nursery was no more, and she was only topreside in the workroom, be generally useful, wait on my lady, and lookafter Primrose as far as was needful.
The bustle and excitement of settling in prevented much thought of theWhites, even from Gillian, during that evening and the next morning; andshe was ashamed of her own oblivion of her friend in the new current ofideas, when she found that her father meant to attend the funeral out ofrespect to his old fellow-soldier.
Rockquay had outgrown its churchyard, and had a cemetery half a mileoff, so that people had to go in carriages. Mr. White had made himselfresponsible for expenses, and thus things were not so utterly drearyas poverty might have made them. It was a dreary, gusty March day,with driving rushes of rain, which had played wildly with Gillian'swaterproof while she was getting such blossoms and evergreen leaves asher aunt's garden afforded, not out of love for the poor Queen ofthe White Ants herself, but thinking the attention might gratify thedaughters; and her elders moralised a little on the use and abuse ofwreaths, and how the manifestation of tender affection and respect hadin many cases been imitated in empty and expensive compliment.
'The world spoils everything with its coarse finger,' said LadyMerrifield.
'I hope the custom will not be exaggerated altogether out of fashion,'said Jane. 'It is a real comfort to poor little children at funeralsto have one to carry, and it is as Mrs. Gaskell's Margaret said ofmourning, something to prevent settling to doing nothing but crying;besides that afterwards there is a wholesome sweetness in thus keepingup the memory.'
Sir Jasper shared a carriage with Mr. White, and returned somewhat wetand very cold, and saying that it had been sadly bleak and wretched forthe poor young people, who stood trembling, so far as he could see; andhe was anxious to know how the poor girls were after it. It had seemedto him as if Kalliope could scarcely stand. He proved to be right.Kalliope had said nothing, not wept demonstratively, perhaps not at all;but when the carriage stopped at the door, she proved to be sunk back inher corner in a dead faint. She was very long in reviving, and no soonertried to move than she swooned again, and this time it lasted solong that the doctor was sent for. Miss Mohun arrived just as he hadpartially restored her, and they had a conversation.
'They must get that poor girl to bed as soon as it is possible toundress her,' he said. 'I have seen that she must break down sooner orlater, and I'm afraid she is in for a serious illness; but as yet thereis no knowing.'
Nursing was not among Jane's accomplishments, except of her sister Ada'schronic, though not severe ailments; but she fetched Mrs. Halfpenny asthe most effective person within reach, trusting to that good woman'sScotch height, strong arms, great decision, and the tenderness whichreal illness always elicited.
Nor was she wrong. Not only did Mrs. Halfpenny get the half-unconsciousgirl into bed, but she stayed till evening, and then came back to snatcha meal and say--
'My leddy, if you have no objection, I will sit up with that puirlassie the night. They are all men-folk or bairns there, except thelodger-lady, who is worn out with helping the mother, and they want someone with a head on her shoulders.'
Lady Merrifield consented with all her heart; but the Sunday morning'sreport was no better, when Mrs. Halfpenny came home to dress Primrose,and see her lady.
'That eldest brother, set him up, the idle loon, was off by the mailtrain that night, and naething wad serve him but to come in and bidgood-bye to his sister just as I had gotten her off into something morelike a sleep. It startled her up, and she went off her head again, poordearie, and began to talk about prison and disgrace, and what not, tillshe fainted again; and when she came to, I was fain to call the otherlad to pacify her, for I could see the trouble in her puir een, thoughshe could scarce win breath to speak.'
'Is Alexis there?'
'Surely he is, my leddy; he's no the lad to leave his sister in sic astrait. It was all I could do to gar him lie down when she dozed offagain, but there's sair stress setting in for all of them, puir things.I have sent the little laddie off to beg the doctor to look in as soonas he can, for I am much mistaken if there be not fever coming on
.'
'Indeed! And what can those poor children do?'
'That's what I'm thinking, my leddy. And since 'tis your pleasure thatthe nursery be done awa' wi', and I have not ta'en any fresh work, Ishould like weel to see the puir lassie through wi' it. Ye'll no mindthat Captain White and my puir Halfpenny listed the same time, andalways forgathered as became douce lads. The twa of them got theirstripes thegither, and when Halfpenny got his sunstroke in that wearymarch, 'twas White who gave him his last sup of water, and brought mehis bit Bible. So I'd be fain to tend his daughter in her sickness,if you could spare me, my leddy, and I'd aye rin home to dress MissiePrimrose and pit her to bed, and see to matters here.'
'There's no better nurse in the world, dear old Halfpenny,' said LadyMerrifield, with tears in her eyes. 'I do feel most thankful to you forproposing it. Never mind about Primrose, only you must have your mealsand a good rest here, and not knock yourself up.'
Mrs. Halfpenny smiled grimly at the notion of her being sooner knockedup than a steam-engine. Dr. Dagger entirely confirmed her opinion thatpoor Kalliope was likely to have a serious illness, low nervous fever,and failing action of the heart, no doubt from the severe strain thatshe had undergone, more or less, for many months, and latterly fearfullyenhanced by her mother's illness, and the shock and suspense aboutAlexis, all borne under the necessity of external composure andcalmness, so that even Mrs. Lee had never entirely understood how muchit cost her. The doctor did not apprehend extreme danger to one youngand healthy, but he thought much would depend on good nursing, and onabsolute protection from any sort of excitement, so that such care asMrs. Halfpenny's was invaluable, since she was well known to be a doveto a patient, but a dragon to all outsiders.
Every one around grieved at having done so little to lighten theseburthens, and having even increased them, her brother Alexis above all;but on the other hand, he was the only person who was of any use to her,or was suffered to approach her, since his touch and voice calmed therecurring distress, lest he were still in prison and danger.
Alexis went back dutifully on the Monday morning to his post at theworks. The young man was much changed by his fortnight's experiences, orrather he had been cured of a temporary fit of distraction, and returnedto his better self. How many discussions his friends held about himcannot be recorded, but after a conversation with Mr. Flight, with whomhe was really more unreserved than any other being except Kalliope, thiswas the understanding at which Miss Mohun and Lady Merrifield arrived asto his nature and character.
Refined, studious, and sensitive, thoroughly religious-minded, and of ahigh tone of thought, his aspirations had been blighted by his father'sdeath, his brother's selfishness, and his mother's favouritism. Ina brave spirit of self-abnegation, he had turned to the uncongenialemployment set before him for the sake of his family, and whichwas rendered specially trying by the dislike of his fellows to 'thegentleman cove,' and the jealousy of the Stebbings. Alike for hisreligious and his refined habits he had suffered patiently, as Mr.Flight had always known more or less, and now bore testimony. Thecurate, who had opened to him the first door of hope and comfort, hadin these weeks begun to see that the apparent fitfulness of his kindnesshad been unsettling.
Then came the brief dream of felicity excited by Gillian and thedarkness of its extinction, just as Frank Stebbing's failure andthe near approach of Mr. White had made the malice of his immediatesuperiors render his situation more intolerable than ever. There was theadded sting of self-reproach for his presumption towards Gillian, andthe neglect caused by his fit of low spirits. Such a sensitive being,in early youth, wearied and goaded on all sides, might probably havepersevered through the darkness till daylight came; but the catastrophe,the dismissal, and the perception that he could only defend himself atthe expense of his idol's little brother, all exaggerated by youthfulimagination, were too much for his balance of judgment, and he fledwithout giving himself time to realise how much worse he made it forthose he left behind him.
Of course he perceived it all now, and the more bitterly from hissister's wanderings, but the morbid exaggeration was gone. The actualtaste of a recruit's life had shown him that there were worse thingsthan employment at the quarries with his home awaiting him, and his cellhad been a place of thought and recovery of his senses. He had neverseriously expected conviction, and Sir Jasper's visit had given him aspring of hopeful resignation, in which thoughts stirred of doing hisduty, and winning his way after his father's example, and taking thetrials of his military life as the just cross of his wrong-doing inentering it.
His liberation and Mr. White's kindness had not altered this frame. Hewas too unhappy to feel his residence in the great house anything but arestraint; he could not help believing that he had hastened hismother's death, and could only bow his head meekly under his brother'sreproaches, alike for that and for his folly and imprudence and thedisgrace he had brought on the family.
'And now you'll, be currying favour and cutting out every one else,' hadbeen a sting which added fresh force to Alexis's desire to escape fromhis kinsman's house to sleep at home as soon as his brother had gone;and Richard had seen enough of Sir Jasper and of Mr. White to be anxiousto return to his office at Leeds as soon as possible, and to regulatehis affairs beyond their reach.
Alexis knew that he had avoided a duty in not working out his threemonths' term, and likewise that his earnings were necessary to thefamily all the more for his sister being laid aside. He knew that hehardly deserved to resume his post, and he merely asked permission so todo, and it was granted at once, but curtly and coldly.
Mr. Flight had asked if he had not found the going among the otherclerks very trying.
'I had other things to think of,' said Alexis sadly, then recallinghimself. 'Yes; Jones did sneer a little, but the others stopped that.They knew I was down, you see.'
'And you mean to go on?'
'If I may. That, and for my sister to get better, is all I can dare tohope. My madness and selfishness have shown me unworthy of all that Ionce dreamt of.'
In that resolution it was assuredly best to leave him, only giving himsuch encouragement and sympathy as might prevent that more dangerousreaction of giving up all better things; and Sir Jasper impressed onMr. Flight, the only friend who could have aided him in fulfilling hisformer aspirations, that Mr. White had in a manner purchased theyouth by buying his discharge, and that interference would not only beinexpedient, but unjust. The young clergyman chafed a little over notbeing allowed to atone for his neglect; but Sir Jasper was not a personto be easily gainsayed. Nor could there be any doubt that Mr. White wasa good man, though in general so much inclined to reserve his hand thathis actions were apt to take people by surprise at last, as they hadnever guessed his intentions, and he had a way of sucking people'sbrains without in the least letting them know what use he meant tomake of their information. The measures he was taking for the temporal,intellectual, and spiritual welfare of the people at the works wouldhardly have been known except for the murmurs of Mrs. Stebbing,although, without their knowing what he was about with them, Mr.Stebbing himself, Mr. Hablot, Miss Mohun, to say nothing of Alexis, theforemen and the men and their wives, had given him the groundwork of hisreforms. Meantime, he came daily to inquire for Kalliope, and lavishedon her all that could be an alleviation, greatly offending Mrs.Halfpenny by continually proffering the services of a hospital nurse.
'A silly tawpie that would be mair trouble than half a dozen sick,' asshe chose to declare.
She was a born autocrat, and ruled as absolutely in No. l as in hernursery, ordering off the three young ones to their schools, in spiteof Maura's remonstrances and appeals to Lady Merrifield, who agreed withnurse that the girl was much better away and occupied than where shecould be of very little use.
Indeed, Mrs. Halfpenny banished every one from the room except Mrs. Leeand Alexis, whom she would allow to take her place, while she stalkedto Il Lido for her meals, and the duties she would not drop. As to rest,she always, in times of sickness,
seemed to be made of cast iron, and ifshe ever slept at all, it was in a chair, while Alexis sat by his sisterin the evening.
The fever never ran very high, but constant vigilance was wanted fromthe extreme exhaustion and faintness. There was no violent delirium,but more of delusion and distress; nor was it easy to tell when shewas conscious or otherwise, for she hardly spoke, and as yet the doctorforbade any attempt to rouse her more than was absolutely needful. Theywere only to give nourishment, watch her, and be patient.
A few months ago Gillian would have fussed herself into a frantic stateof anxiety and self-reproach, but her parents, when her mother had onceheard as much outpouring as she thought expedient, would not permit whatSir Jasper called 'perpetual harping.'
'You have to do your duties all the same, and not worry your mother andall the family with your feelings,' he said. She thought it very unkind,and went away crying.
'Nobody could hinder her from thinking about Kalliope,' she said toherself, and think she did at her prayers, and when the bulletins camein, but the embargo on discussion prevented her from being so absolutelyengrossed, as in weaker hands she might have been, and there was a greatdeal going on to claim her attention. For one thing, the results of theCambridge Examination showed that while Emma Norton and a few others hadpassed triumphantly, she had failed, and conscience carried her backto last autumn's disinclination to do just what Aunt Jane especiallyrecommended.
She cried bitterly over the failure, for she had a feeling that successthere would redeem her somewhat in her parents' eyes; but here again sheexperienced the healing kindness of her father. He would not say thathe should not have been much pleased by her success, but he saidfailure that taught her to do her best without perverseness was really abenefit; and as arithmetic and mathematics had been her weakest points,he would work at them with her and Mysie for an hour every morning.
It was somewhat formidable, but the girls soon found that what theirfather demanded was application, and that inattention displeasedhim much more than stupidity. His smile, though rare, was one of thesweetest things in the world, and his approbation was delightful, andgave a stimulus to the entire day's doings. Mysie was more than ever indread of being handed over to the Rotherwoods, though her love for poorFly and pity for her solitude were so strong. She would have been muchrelieved if she had known what had passed; when the offer was seriouslymade, Lord Rotherwood insisted that his wife should do it.
'Then they will believe in it,' he said.
'I do not know why you should say that,' she returned, always dutifullyblinding herself to that which all their intimates knew perfectly well.However, perhaps from having a station and dignity of her own, togetherwith great simplicity, Lady Merrifield had from her first arrival goton so well with her hostess as not quite to enter into Jane's sarcasticdescriptions of her efforts at cordiality; and it was with real warmththat Lady Rotherwood begged for Mysie as a permanent companion andadopted sister to Phyllis, who was to be taken back to London afterEaster, and in the meantime spent every possible moment with hercousins.
Tears at the unkindness to lonely Fly came into Lady Merrifield's eyesas she said--
'I cannot do it, Victoria; I do not think I ought to give away my child,even if I could.'
'It is not only our feelings,' added Sir Jasper, 'but it is our duty tobring up our own child in her natural station; and though we know shewould learn nothing but good in your family, I cannot think it well thata girl should acquire habits, and be used to society ways and of lifebeyond those which she can expect to continue.'
They both cried out at this, Lord Rotherwood with a halting declarationof perfect equality, which his lady seconded, with a dexterous referenceto connections.
'We will not put it on rank then,' said Sir Jasper, 'but on wealth. Withyou, Maria must become accustomed to much that she could not continue,and had better not become natural to her. I know there are greatadvantages to manners and general cultivation in being with you, and weshall be most thankful to let her pay long visits, and be as much withPhyllis as is consistent with feeling her home with us, but I cannotthink it right to do more.'
'But with introductions,' pleaded Lady Rotherwood, 'she might marrywell. With her family and connections, she would be a match for anyone.'
'I hope so,' said Sir Jasper; 'but at the same time it would not be wellfor her to look on such a marriage as the means of continuing the habitsthat would have become second nature.'
'Poor Mysie,' exclaimed Lord Rotherwood, bursting out laughing at theidea, and at Lady Merrifield's look as she murmured, 'My Mysie!'
'You misunderstand me,' said the Marchioness composedly. 'I was as faras possible from proposing marriage as a speculation for her.'
'I know you were,' said Sir Jasper. 'I know you would deal by Maria asby your own daughter, and I am very grateful to you, Lady Rotherwood,but I can only come back to my old decision, that as Providence did notplace her in your rank of life, she had better not become so accustomedto it as to render her own distasteful to her.'
'Exactly what I expected,' said Lord Rotherwood.
'Yes,' returned his wife, with an effort of generosity; 'and I believeyou are right, Jasper, though I am sorry for my little solitary girl,and I never saw a friend so perfectly suitable for her as your Mysie.'
'They may be friends still,' said Lord Rotherwood, 'and we will begrateful to you whenever you can spare her to us.'
'Perhaps,' added Sir Jasper, 'all the more helpful friends for seeingdifferent phases of life.'
'And, said his wife, with one of her warm impulses, 'I do thank you,Victoria, for so loving my Mysie.'
'As if any one could help it, after last winter,' said that lady, and animpromptu kiss passed between the two mothers, much to the astonishmentof the Marquis, who had never seen his lady so moved towards any one.
The Merrifields were somewhat on the world, for Sir Jasper, on goingto Silverfold and corresponding with the trustees of the landlord, hadfound that the place could not be put in a state either of repair orsanitation, such as he approved, without more expense than either heor the trustees thought advisable, and he decided on giving it up, andremaining at Il Lido till he could find something more suitable.
The children, who had been there during the special homemaking age,bewailed the decision, and were likely always to look back on Silverfoldas a sort of Paradise; but the elder ones had been used to changes frominfancy, and had never settled down, and their mother said that placewas little to her as long as she had her Jasper by her side, and as tothe abstract idea of home as a locality, that would always be to herunder the tulip-tree and by the pond at the Old Court at Beechcroft,just as her abstract idea of church was in the old family pew, with thecarved oak panels, before the restoration, in which she had been themost eager of all.
Thus a fortnight passed, and then the fever was decidedly wearingoff, but returning at night. Kalliope still lay weak, languid, silent,fainting at any attempt to move her, not apparently able to think enoughto ask how time passed, or to be uneasy about anything, simply acceptingthe cares given to her, and lying still. One morning, however, Alexisarrived in great distress to speak to Sir Jasper, not that his sisterwas worse, as he explained, but Richard had been selling the house. Theyounger ones at home had never troubled themselves as to whose propertythe three houses in Ivinghoe Terrace were. Perhaps Kalliope knew, butshe could not be asked; but the fact was that Captain White had been solost sight of, that he had not known that this inheritance had fallen tohim under the will of his grandfather, who was imbecile at the time ofhis flight. On his deathbed, the Captain had left the little he owned tohis wife, and she had died intestate, as Richard had ascertained beforeleaving home, so that he, as eldest son, was heir to the ground. He hadwritten to Kalliope, a letter which Alexis had opened, informing herthat he had arranged to sell the houses to a Mr. Gudgeon, letting tohim their own till the completion of the legal business necessary,and therefore desiring his brothers and sisters to move out with theirlodger
s, if not by Lady Day itself, thus giving only a week's sparenotice, at latest by Old Lady Day.
'Is he not aware of your sister's state?'
'I do not imagine that he has read the letter that I wrote to him. Hewas very much displeased with me, and somewhat disposed to be angry atmy sister's fainting, and to think that we were all trying to work onhis feelings. He used to be rather fond of Maura, so I told her to writeto him, but he has taken no notice, and he can have no conception ofKalliope's condition, or he would not have addressed his letter to her.I came to ask if you would kindly write to him how impossible it is tomove her.'
'You had better get a certificate from Dr. Dagger. Either I or LadyMerrifield will meet him, and see to that. That will serve both to stayhim and the purchaser.'
'That is another misfortune. This Gudgeon is the chief officer, orwhatever they call it, of the Salvation Army. I knew they had beenlooking out for a place for a barracks, and could not get one becausealmost everything belongs to Lord Rotherwood or to Mr. White.'
Sir Jasper could only reply that he would see what could be done in thematter, and that, at any rate, Kalliope should not be disturbed.
Accordingly Lady Merrifield repaired to Ivinghoe Terrace for thedoctor's visit, and obtained from him the requisite certificate that thepatient could not be removed at present. He gave it, saying, however,to Lady Merrifield's surprise, that though he did not think it wouldbe possible to remove her in a week's time, yet after that he fullybelieved that she would have more chance of recovering favourably if shecould be taken out of the small room and the warm atmosphere beneath thecliffs--though of course all must depend on her state at the time.
Meantime there was a council of the gentlemen about outbidding theSalvation Army. Lord Rotherwood was spending already as much as he couldafford, in the days of agricultural depression, on the improvementsplanned with Mr. White. That individual was too good a man of businessto fall, as he said, into the trap, and make a present to that scampRichard of more than the worth of the houses, and only Mr. Flight wasready to go to any cost to keep off the Salvation Army; but the answerwas curt. Richard knew he had no chance with Mr. White, and did not careto keep terms with him.
'Mr. Richard White begs to acknowledge the obliging offer of the Rev.Augustine Flight, and regrets that arrangements have so far progressedwith Mr. Gudgeon that he cannot avail himself of it.'
Was this really regret or was the measure out of spite? Only thewidest charity could accept the former suggestion, and even Sir JasperMerrifield's brief and severe letter and Dr. Dagger's certificate didnot prevent a letter to Alexis, warning him not to make their sister'sillness a pretext for unreasonable delay.
What was to be done? Kalliope was still unfit to be consulted or eveninformed, and she had been hitherto so entirely the real head andmanager of the family that Alexis did not like to make any decisionwithout her; and even the acceptance of the St. Wulstan's choristershipfor Theodore had been put off for her to make it, look to his outfit,and all that only the woman of the family could do for them.
And here they were at a loss for a roof over their heads, and nowhereto bestow the battered old furniture, of which Richard magnanimouslyrenounced his sixth share; while she who had hitherto toiled, thought,managed, and contrived for all the other four, without care of theirown, still lay on her bed, sensible indeed and no longer feverish, butwith the perilous failure of heart, renewed by any kind of exertion orexcitement, a sudden movement, or a startling sound in the street; andMrs. Halfpenny, guarding her as ferociously as ever, and looking capableof murdering any one of her substitutes if they durst hint a word oftheir perplexities. Happily she asked no questions; she was content whenallowed to be kissed by the others, and to see they were well. Naturewas enforcing repose, and so far "her senses was all as in a dream boundup." Alexis remembered that it had been somewhat thus at Leeds, when,after nursing all the rest, she had succumbed to the epidemic; butthen the mother had been able to watch over her, and had been a moreeffective parent to the rest than she had since become.
The first practical proposal was Mrs. Lee's. They thought of reversingthe present position, and taking a small house where their present hostsmight become their lodgers. Moreover, Miss Mohun clenched the affairabout Theodore, and overcame Alexis's scruples, while Lady Merrifield,having once or twice looked in, and been smiled at and thanked byKalliope, undertook to prepare her for his farewell.
Alexis and Maura both declared that she would instantly jump up, andwant to begin looking over his socks; but she got no further than--
'Dear boy! It is the sort of thing I always wished for him. People arevery good! But his things--'
'Oh yes, dearie, ye need not fash yourself. I've mended them as I sat byyou, and packed them all. Lie still. They are all right.'
There was an atmosphere of the Royal Wardours about Mrs. Halfpenny,which was at once congenial and commanding; and Kalliope's mind at oncerelinquished the burthen of socks, shirts, and even the elbows ofthe outgrown jacket, nor did any of the family ever know how thedeficiencies had been supplied.
And when Theodore, well admonished, came softly and timidly for theparting kiss, his face quivering all over with the effort atself-control, she lay and smiled; but with a great crystal tear on eachdark eyelash, and her thin transparent fingers softly stroked hischeeks, as the low weak voice said--
'Be a good boy, dear--speak truth. Praise God well. Write; I'll writewhen I am better.'
It was the first time she had spoken of being better, and they toldTheodore to take comfort from it when all the other three walked him upto the station.
CHAPTER XXI. -- BEAUTY AND THE BEAST