One secret was soon out, even before the cruel parting of Fly and Mysie,which it greatly mitigated.
Clipston was to be repaired and put in order, to be rented by theMerrifields. It was really a fine old substantial squire's house, thoughneglected and consigned to farmers for four generations. It had greatcapabilities--a hall up to the roof, wainscoted rooms--at presenthappy hunting-grounds to boys and terriers--a choked fountain, numerouswindows, walled up in the days of the 'tax on light,' and neverreopened, and, moreover, a big stone barn, with a cross on the gable,and evident traces of having once been a chapel.
The place was actually in Rockstone Parish, and had a hamlet of six orseven houses, for which cottage services were held once a week, but therestoration of the chapel would provide a place for these, and it wouldbecome a province for Lady Merrifield's care, while Sir Jasper wasabsolutely entreated, both by Lord Rotherwood and the rector ofRockstone, to become the valuable layman of the parish, nor was he atall unwilling thus to bestow his enforced leisure.
It was a beautiful place. The valley of daffodils already visitednarrowed into a ravine, where the rivulet rushed down from moorlands,through a ravine charmingly wooded, and interspersed with rock. It wouldgive country delights to the children, and remove them from the gossipof the watering-place society, and yet not be too far off for thosereading-room opportunities beloved of gentlemen.
The young people were in ecstasies, only mourning that they could notlive there during the repairs, and that those experienced in the natureof workmen hesitated to promise that Clipston would be habitable by thesummer vacation. In the meantime, most of the movables from Silverfoldwere transported thither, and there was a great deal of walking anddriving to and fro, planning for the future, and revelling in the springoutburst of flowers.
Schoolroom work had begun again, and Lady Merrifield was hearingMysie read the Geruasalemme Liberata, while Miss Vincent superintendedPrimrose's copies, and Gillian's chalks were striving to portray a bustof Sophocles, when the distant sounds of the piano in the drawing-roomstopped, and Valetta came in with words always ominous--
'Aunt Jane wants to speak to you, mamma.'
Lady Merrifield gathered up her work and departed, while Valetta,addressing the public, said, 'Something's up.'
'Oh!' cried Primrose, 'Sofi hasn't run away again?'
'I hope Kalliope isn't worse,' said Mysie anxiously.
'I guess,' said Valetta, 'somebody said something the other day!'
'Something proving us the hotbeds of gossip,' muttered Gillian.
'You had better get your German exercise, Valetta,' said Miss Vincent.'Mysie, you have not finished your sums.'
And a sigh went round; but Valetta added one after-clap.
'Aunt Jane looked--I don't know how!'
Whereat Gillian nodded her head, and looked up at Miss Vincent, who wasas curious as the rest, but restrained the manifestation manfully.
Meantime Lady Merrifield found her sister standing at the window, and,without turning round, the words were uttered--
'Jasper was right, Lily.'
'You don't mean it?'
'Yes; he is after her!'--with a long breath.
'Mr. White!'
'Yes'--then sitting down. 'I did not think much of it before. Theyalways are after Ada more or less--and she likes it; but it never hascome to anything.'
'Why should it now?'
'It has! At least, it has gone further than ever anything did before,except Charlie Scott, that ridiculous boy at Beechcroft that William wasso angry with, and who married somebody else.'
'You don't say that he has proposed to her?'
'Yes, he has--the man! By a letter this morning, and I could see sheexpected it--not that that's any wonder!'
'But, my dear, she can't possibly be thinking of it.'
'Well, I should have said it was impossible; but I see she has not madeup her mind. Poor dear Ada! It is too bad to laugh; but she does likethe having a real offer at last, and a great Italian castle laid at herfeet.'
'But he isn't a gentleman! I don't mean only his birth--and I know he isa good man really--but Jasper said he could feel he was not a gentlemanby the way he fell on Richard White before his sister.'
'I know! I know! I wonder if it would be for her happiness?'
'Then she has not answered him?'
'No; or, rather, I left her going to write. She won't accept himcertainly now; but I believe she is telling him that she must have timeto consider and consult her family.'
'She must know pretty well what her family will say. Fancy William!Fancy Emily! Fancy Reginald!'
'Yes, oh yes! But Ada--I must say it--she does like to prolong thesituation.'
'It is not fair on the poor man.'
'Well, she will act as she chooses; but I think she really does wantto see what amount of opposition--No, not that, but of estrangement itwould cause.'
'Did you see the letter?'
'Yes; no doubt you will too. I told her I should come to you, and shedid not object. I think she was glad to be saved broaching the subject,for she is half ashamed.'
'I should have thought she would have been as deeply offended at thepresumption as poor Gillian was with the valentine.'
'Lily, my dear, forty-two is not all one with seventeen, especially whenthere's an estate with an Italian countship attached to it! ThoughI'm sure I'd rather marry Alexis than this man. _He_ is a gentleman ingrain!'
'Oh, Jenny, you are very severe!'
'I'm afraid it is bitterness, Lily; so I rushed down to have it all outwith you, and make up my mind what part to take.'
'It is very hard on you, my dear, after you have nursed and waited onher all these years.'
'It is the little titillation of vanity--exactly like the Ada ofsixteen, nay, of six, that worries me, and makes me naughty,' said Jane,dashing off a tear. 'Oh, Lily! how could I have borne it if you had notcome home!'
'But what do you mean about the part to take?'
'Well, you see, Lily, I really do not know what I ought to do. I want toclear my mind by talking to you.'
'I am afraid it would make a great difference to you in the matter ofmeans.'
'I don't mean about that; but I am not sure whether I ought to stand upfor her. You see the man is really good at heart, and religious, andhe is taking out this chaplain. The climate, mountains, and sea mightreally suit her health, and she could have all kinds of comforts andluxuries; and if she can get over his birth, and the want of fine edgeof his manners, I don't know that we have any right to set ourselvesagainst it.'
'I should have thought those objections would have weighed most of allwith her.'
'And I do believe that if the whole family are unanimous in scouting thevery idea, she will give it up. She _is_ proud of Mohun blood, andthe Rotherwood connection and all, and if there were a desperateopposition--well, she would be rather flattered, and give in; but I amnot sure that she would not always regret it, and pine after what shemight have had.'
'Rotherwood likes the man.'
'Like--but that's not liking him to marry his cousin.'
'Rotherwood will not be the person most shocked.'
'No. We shall have a terrible time, however it ends. Oh. I wish it wasall over!'
'Do you think she really cares for the man--loves him, in fact?'
'My dear Lily, if Ada ever was in love with anybody, it was with HarryMay, and that was all pure mistake. I never told anybody, but I believeit was that which upset her health. But they are both too old to concernthemselves about such trifles. He does not expect it!'
'I have seen good strong love in a woman over forty.'
'Yes; but this is quite another thing. A lady of the house wanted!That's the motive. I should not wonder if he came home as much to lookfor a lady-wife as to set the Stebbings to rights; or, if not, he isdriven to it by having the Whites on his hands.'
'I don't quite see that. I was going to ask you how it would affectthem.'
'Well, you see, tho
ugh she is perfectly willing and anxious to beginagain, poor dear Kally really can't. She did try to arrange a designthat had been running in her head for a long time, and she was so badafter it that Dr. Dagger said she must not attempt it. Then, though sheis discreet enough for anything, Mr. White is not really her uncle, andcould not take her about with him alone or even with Maura; so I gatherfrom some expressions in his letter that he would like to take her outwith them, spend the summer at Rocca Marina, and let her have a winter'sstudy at Florence. Then, I suppose she might come back and superintendon quite a different footing.
'So he wants Ada as a chaperon for Kalliope?'
'That is an element in the affair, and not a bad one, and I don't thinkAda will object. She won't be left entirely to his companionship.'
'My dear Jane! Then I'm sure she ought not to marry him!' cried LadyMerrifield indignantly. 'Here comes Jasper. May I tell him?'
'You will, whether you may or not.'
And what Sir Jasper said was--
'"Who married the maiden all forlorn--"'
At which both sisters, though rather angry, could not help laughing, andLady Merrifield explained that they had always said the events had goneon in a concatenation, like the house that Jack built, from Gillian'speep through the rails. However, he was of opinion that it was betternot to make a strenuous opposition.
'Adeline is quite old enough to judge for herself whether theincongruities will interfere with her happiness,' he said; 'and this isreally a worthy man who ought not to be contemned. Violent contradictionmight leave memories that would make it difficult to be on affectionateterms afterwards.'
'Yes,' said Jane; 'that is what I feel. Thank you, Jasper. Now I mustgo to my district. Happily those things run on all the same for thepresent.'
But when she was gone Sir Jasper told his wife that he thought it oughtto be seriously put before Adeline that Jane ought to be considered. Shehad devoted herself to the care of her sister for many years, and thedivision of their means would tell seriously upon her comfort.
'If it were a matter of affection, there would be nothing to say,' heobserved; 'but nobody pretends that it is so, and surely Jane deservesconsideration.
'I should think her a much more comfortable companion than Mr. White,'said Lady Merrifield. 'I can't believe it will come to anything.Whatever the riches or the castle at Rocca Marina may be, Ada would, ina worldly point of view, give up a position of some consideration here,and I think that will weigh with her.'
As soon as possible, Lady Merrifield went up to see her sister, andfound her writing letters in a great flutter of importance. It was quiteplain that the affair was not to be quashed at once, and that, whetherthe suit were granted or not, all the family were to be aware thatAdeline had had her choice. Warned by her husband, Lady Merrifieldguarded the form of her remonstrances.
'Oh yes, dear Lily, I know! It is a sacrifice in many points of view,but think what a field is open to me! There are all those Englishworkmen and their wives and families living out there, and Mr. Whitedoes so need a lady to influence them.'
'You have not done much work of that kind. Besides, I thought thischaplain was married.'
'Yes, but the moral support of a lady at the head must be needful,' saidAda. 'It is quite a work.'
'Perhaps so,' said her sister, who had scarcely been in the habit oflooking on Ada as a great moral influence. 'But have you thought whatthis will be to Jane?'
'Really, Lily, it is a good deal for Jane's sake. She will be so muchmore free without being bound to poor me!'--and Ada's head went on oneside. 'You know she would never have lived here but for me; and now shewill be able to do what she pleases.'
'Not pecuniarily.'
'Oh, it will be quite possible to see to all that! Besides, think ofthe advantage to her schemes. Oh yes, dear Jenny, it will be a wrench toher, of course, and she will miss me; but, when that is once got over,she will feel that I have acted for the best. Nor will it be such aseparation; he means always to spend the summer here, and the winter andspring at Florence or Rocca Marina.' It was grand to hear the Italiansyllables roll from Adeline's tongue. 'You know he could take the titleif he pleased.'
'I am sure I hope he will not do anything so ridiculous!'
'Oh no, of course not!' But it was plain that the secret consciousnessof being Countess of Rocca Marina was an offset against being plain Mrs.White, and Adeline continued: 'There is another thing--I do not quitesee how it can be managed about Kalliope otherwise, poor girl!'
It was quite true that the care of Kalliope would be greatly facilitatedby Mr. White's marriage; but what was absurd was to suppose that Adawould have made any sacrifice for her sake, or any one else's, and therewas something comical as well as provoking in this pose of devotion tothe public good.
'You are decided, then?'
'Oh no! I am only showing you what inducements there are to give up somuch as I should do here--if I make up my mind to it.'
'There's only one inducement, I should think, valid for a moment.'
'Yes'--bridling a little. 'But, Lily, you always had your romance. Wedon't all meet with a Jasper at the right moment, and--and'--the Maid ofAthens drooped her eyelids, and ingenuously curved her lips. 'I do thinkthe poor man has it very much at heart.'
'Then you ought not to keep him in suspense.'
'And you--you really are not against it, Lily?' (rather in adisappointed tone), as if she expected to have her own value enhanced.
'I think you ought to do whatever is most right and just by him, andeverybody else. If you really care for the man enough to overlook hisorigin, and his occasional betrayals of it, and think he will make youbetter and happier, take him at once; but don't pretend to call it asacrifice, or for anybody's sake but for your own; and, any way, don'ttrifle with him and his suspense.'
Lady Merrifield spoke with unwonted severity, for she was reallyprovoked.
'But, Lily, I must see what the others say--William and Emily. I toldhim that William was the head of our family.'
'If you mean to be guided by them, well and good; if not, I see no sensein asking them.'
After all, the family commotion fell short of what was expected byeither of the sisters. The eldest brother, Mr. Mohun, of BeechcroftCourt, wrote to the lady herself that she was quite old enough to knowwhat was for her own happiness, and he had no desire to interfere withher choice if she preferred wealth to station. To Lady Merrifield hisletter began: 'It is very well it is no worse, and as Jasper vouchesfor this being a worthy man, and of substantial means, there is novalid objection. I shall take care to overhaul the settlements, and, ifpossible, I must make up poor Jane's income.'
The sister, Lady Henry Grey, in her dowager seclusion at Brighton,contented herself with a general moan on the decadence of society,and the levelling up that made such an affair possible. She had beenmeditating a visit to Rockquay, to see her dear Lilias (who, by the bye,had run down to her at Brighton for a day out of the stay in London),but now she would defer it till this matter was over. It would be tootrying to have to accept this stonemason as one of the family.
As to Colonel Mohun, being one of the younger division of the family,there was no idea of consulting him, and he wrote a fairly civil littlenote to Adeline, hoping that she had decided for the best, and would behappy; while to the elder of the pair of sisters he said: 'So Ada hasfound her crooked stick at last. I always thought it inevitable. Keep upheart, old Jenny, and hold on till Her Majesty turns me off, and then wewill see what is to be done.'
Perhaps this cool acquiescence was less pleasing to Adeline Mohun than acontest that would have proved her value and importance, and her brotherWilliam's observation that she was old enough to know her own mind wasthe cruellest cut of all. On the other hand, there was no doubt ofher swain's devotion. If he had been influenced in his decision byconvenience or calculation, he was certainly by this time heartily inlove. Not only was Adeline a handsome, graceful woman, whose airs andaffectations seemed far more absurd to t
hose who had made merry overthem from childhood than to a stranger of an inferior grade; but therewas a great charm to a man, able to appreciate refinement, in his firstfamiliar intercourse with thorough ladies. Jane began to be touchedby the sight of his devotion, and convinced of his attachment, andsometimes wondered with Lady Merrifield whether Adeline would rise toher opportunities and responsibilities, or be satisfied to be a pettedidol.
One difficulty in this time of suspense was, that the sisters had noright to take into their confidence the young folks, who were quitesharp-eyed enough to know that something was going on, and, not beingput on honour, were not withheld from communicating their discoveriesto one another in no measured words, though fortunately they had senseenough, especially under the awe of their father, not to let them goany further than Mysie, who was entertaining because she was shocked attheir audacious jokes and speculations, all at first on the false scentof their elder aunt, who certainly was in a state of excitement anduncertainty enough to throw her off the even tenor of her way andexcite some suspicion. When she actually brought down a number of theContemporary Review instead of Friendly Work for the edification of herG.F.S., Gillian tried not to look too conscious when some of the girlsactually tittered in the rear; and she absolutely blushed when AuntJane deliberately stated that Ascension Day would fall on a Tuesday.So Gillian averred as she walked up the hill with Jasper and Mysie. Itseemed a climax to the diversion she and Jasper had extracted from it inprivate, both wearing Punch's spectacles for the nonce, and holdingsuch aberrations as proof positive. Mysie, on the other hand, was muchexercised.
'Do you think she is in love, then?'
'Oh yes! People always do those things in love. Besides, the Sofi hasn'tgot a single white hair in her, and you know what that always means!'
'I can't make it out! I can't think how Aunt Jane can be in love with agreat man like that. His voice isn't nice, you know--'
'Not even as sweet as Bully Bottom's,' suggested Gillian.
'You're a chit,' said Jasper, 'or you'd be superior to the notion oflove being indispensable.'
'When people are so _very_ old,' said Mysie in a meditative voice,'perhaps they can't; but Aunt Jane is very good--and I thought it wasonly horrid worldly people that married without love.'
'Trust your good woman for looking to the main chance,' said Jasper, whowas better read in Trollope and Mrs. Oliphant than his sisters.
''Tis not main chance,' said Gillian. 'Think of the lots of good shewould do! What a recreation room for the girls, and what schools shewould set up at Rocca Marina! Depend upon it, it's for that!'
'I suppose it is right if Aunt Jane does it,' said Mysie.
'Well done, Mysie! So, Aunt Jane is your Pope!'
'No; she's the King that can do no wrong,' said Gillian, laughing.
'Wrong--I didn't say wrong--but things aren't always real wrong thataren't somehow quite right, said Mysie, with the bewildered reasoning ofperceptions that outran her powers of expression.
'Mysie's speeches, for instance,' said Jasper.
'Oh, Japs, what did I say wrong?'
'Don't tease her, Japs. He didn't mean morally, but correctly.'
The three were on their way up the hill when they met Primrose, who hadaccompanied Mrs. Halfpenny to see Kalliope, and who was evidently in astate of such great discomposure that they all stood round to ask whatwas the matter; but she hung down her head and would not say.
'Hoots! toots! I tell her she need not make such a work about it,' saidMrs. Halfpenny. 'The honest man did but kiss her, and no harm for heruncle that is to be.'
'He's a nasty man! And he snatched me up! And he is all scrubby andtobacco-ey, and I won't have him for an uncle,' cried Primrose.
'I hope he is not going to proceed in that way,' said Gillian sotto voceto Mysie.
'People always do snatch up primroses,' said Jasper.
'Don't, Japs! I don't like marble men. I wish they would stay marble.'
'You don't approve of the transformation?'
'Oh, Japs, is it true? Mysie, you know the statue at Rotherwood, wherePig-my-lion made a stone figure and it turned into a woman.'
'Yes; but it was a woman and this is a man.'
Mysie began an exposition of classic fable to her little sister, whileMrs. Halfpenny explained that this came of Christian folk setting upheathen idols in their houses as 'twas a shame for decent folk tolook at, let alone puir bairnies; while Jasper and Gillian gasped inconvulsions of laughter, and bandied queries whether their aunt were thestatue 'Pig-my-lion' had animated, as nothing could be less statuesquethan she, whether the reverse had taken place, as Primrose observed,and she had been the Pygmalion to awaken the soul in the man of marble.Here, however, Mrs. Halfpenny became scandalised at such laughter in theopen street; and, perceiving some one in the distance, she carried offPrimrose, and enjoined the others to walk on doucely and wiselike.
Gillian was on her way to visit Kalliope and make an appointment forher mother to take her out for a drive; but as they passed the gate atBeechcroft out burst Valetta and Fergus, quite breathless.
'Oh, Gill, Gill! Mr. White is in the drawing-room, and he has broughtAunt Ada the most beautiful box you ever saw, with all the stoppers madeof gold!'
'And he says I may get all the specimens I like at Rocca Marina,'shouted Fergus.
'Ivory brushes, and such a ring--sparkling up to the ceiling!' addedValetta.
'But, Val, Ferg, whom did you say?' demanded the elders, coming withinthe shadow of the copper beeches.
'Aunt Ada,' said Valetta; 'there's a great A engraved on all those dear,lovely bottles, and--oh, they smell!'
'Aunt Ada! Oh, I thought--'
'What did you think, Gill?' said Aunt Jane, coming from the grass-platsuddenly on them.
'Oh, Aunt Jane, I am so glad!' cried Gillian. 'I thought'--and sheblushed furiously.
'They made asses of themselves,' said Jasper.
'They said it was you,' added Mysie. 'Miss Mellon told Miss Elbury,' sheadded in excuse.
'Me? No, I thank you! So you are glad, Gillian?'
'Oh yes, aunt! I couldn't have borne for you to do anything--queer'--andthere was a look in Gillian's face that went to Jane's heart, and underother circumstances would have produced a kiss, but she rallied to herline of defence.
'My dear, you must not call this queer. Mr. White is very much attachedto your aunt Ada, and I think he will make her very happy, and give hergreat opportunities of doing good.'
'That's just what Gillian said when she was afraid it was you,' saidMysie. 'I suppose that's it? And that makes it real right.'
'And the golden stoppers!' said Valetta innocently, but almost chokingJasper with laughter, which must be suppressed before his aunt.
'May one know it now?' asked Gillian, sensible of the perilous ground.
'Yes, my dears; you must have been on tenter-hooks all this time, for,of course, you saw there was a crisis, and you behaved much better thanI should have done at your age; but it was only a fait accompli thisvery day, and we couldn't tell you before.'
'When he brought down the golden stoppers,' Jasper could not helpsaying.
'No, no, you naughty boy! He would not have dared to bring it inbefore; he came before luncheon--all that came after. Oh, my dear, thatdressing-case is perfectly awful! I wouldn't have such a burthen on mymind--for--for all the orphans in London! I hope there are no bandittiat Rocca Marina.'
'Only accepted to-day! How did he get all his great A's engraved?' saidJasper practically.
'He could not have had many doubts,' said Gillian. 'Does Kalliope know?'
'I cannot tell; I think he has probably told her.'
'He must have met Primrose there,' said Jasper. 'Poor Prim!' And theoffence and the Pig-my-lion story were duly related, much to Aunt Jane'samusement.
'But,' she said, 'I think that the soul in the marble man is veryreal, and very warm; and, dear children, don't get into the habit ofcontemning him. Laugh, I suppose you must; I am afraid it
must lookridiculous at our age; but please don't despise. I am going down to yourmother.
'May I come with you! said Gillian. 'I don't think I can go to Kallytill I have digested this a little; and, if you are going to mamma, shewon't drive her out.'
Jane was much gratified by this volunteer, though Jasper did suggestthat Gill was afraid of Primrose's treatment. He went on with the otherthree to Clipston, while Gillian exclaimed--
'Oh, Aunt Jane, shall not you be very lonely?'
'Not nearly so much so as if you were not all here,' said her auntcheerfully. 'When you bemoaned your sisters last year we did not thinkthe same thing was coming on me.'
'Phyllis and Alethea! It was a very different thing,' said Gillian.'Besides, though I hated it so much, I had got used to being withoutthem.'
'And to tell you the truth, Gill, nothing in that way ever was so bad tome as your own mother going and marrying; and now, you see, I have gother back again--and more too.'
Aunt Jane's smile and softened eyes told that the young niece wasincluded in the 'more too'; and Gillian felt a thrill of pleasure andaffection in this proof that after all she was something to the aunt,towards whom her feelings had so entirely changed. She proceeded,however, to ask with considerable anxiety what would be done aboutthe Whites, Kalliope especially; and in return she was told about thepresent plan of Kalliope's being taken to Italy to recover first, andthen to pursue her studies at Florence, so as to return to her work morecapable, and in a higher position.
'Oh, how exquisite!' cried Gillian. 'But how about all the others?'
'The very thing I want to see about, and talk over with your mother. Iam sure she ought to go; and it will not even be wasting time, for shecannot earn anything.'
Talking over things with Lady Merrifield was, however, impeded,for, behold, there was a visitor in the drawing-room. Aunt and nieceexchanged glances of consternation as they detected a stranger's voicethrough the open window, and Gillian uttered a vituperative whisper.
'I do believe it is that dreadful Fangs;' then, hoping her aunt had notheard--'Captain Henderson, I mean. He threatened to come down after us,and now he will always be in and out; and we shall have no peace. He hasgot nothing on earth to do.'
Gillian's guess was right. The neat, trim, soldierly figure, with a longfair moustache and pleasant gray eyes, was introduced to Miss Mohunas 'Captain Henderson, one of my brother officers,' by Sir Jasper, whostood on the rug talking to him. Looks and signs among the ladies weretoken enough that the crisis had come; and Lady Merrifield soon securedfreedom of speech by proposing to drive her sister to Clipston, whileSir Jasper asked his visitor to walk with him.
'You will be in haste to sketch the place,' he said, 'before the workmenhave done their best to demolish its beauty.'
As for Gillian, she saw her aunt hesitating on account of a parochialengagement for that afternoon; and, as it was happily not beyondher powers, she offered herself as a substitute, and was thankfullyaccepted. She felt quite glad to do anything obliging towards her auntJane, and in a mood very unlike last year's grudging service; it wasonly reading to the 'mothers' meeting,' since among the good ladiesthere prevailed such a strange incapacity of reading aloud, that thispart of the business was left to so few that for one to fail, either inpresence or in voice, was very inconvenient. All were settled down totheir needlework, with their babies disposed of as best they might be.Mr. Hablot had finished his little lecture, and the one lady with avoice had nearly exhausted it, and there was a slight sensation atthe absence of the unfailing Miss Mohun, when Gillian came in with theapologies about going to drive with her mother.
'And,' as she described it afterwards 'didn't those wretched beings allgrin and titter, even the ladies, who ought to have had more manners,and that old Miss Mellon, who is a real growth of the hotbed of gossip,simpered and supposed we must look for such things now; and, though Ipretended not to hear, my cheeks would go and flame up as redas--that tasconia, just with longing to tell them Aunt Jane was not soridiculous; and so I took hold of For Half a Crown, and began to read itas if I could bite them all!'
She read herself into a state of pacification, but did not attempt tosee Kalliope that day, being rather shy of all that might be encounteredin that house, especially after working hours. The next day, however,Lady Merrifield's services were required to chaperon the coy betrothedin an inspection of Cliff House and furniture, which was to be renovatedaccording to her taste, and Gillian was to take that time for a visit toKalliope, whom she expected to find in the garden. The usual cornerwas, however, vacant; and Mr. White was heard making a growl of 'Foolishgirl! Doesn't know which way her bread is buttered.'
Maura, however, came running up, and said to Gillian, 'Please come thisway. She is here.'
'What has she hidden herself for?' demanded Mr. White. 'I thought shemight have been here to welcome this--Miss Adeline.'
'She is not very well to-day,' faltered Maura.
'Oh! ay, fretting. Well, I thought she had more sense.'
Gillian followed Maura, who was no sooner out of hearing than she began:'It is too bad of him to be so cross. Kally really is so upset! She didnot sleep all night, and I thought she would have fainted quite awaythis morning!'
'Oh dear! has he been worrying her?'
'She is very glad and happy, of course, about Miss Ada! and he won'tbelieve it, because he wants her to go out to Italy with them for allnext winter.'
'And won't she? Oh, what a pity!'
'She said she really could not because of us; she could not leave us,Petros and all, without a home. She thought it her duty to stay and lookafter us. And then he got cross, and said that she was presuming on thehope of living in idleness here, and making him keep us all, but shewould find herself mistaken, and went off very angry.'
'Oh, horrid! how could he?'
'I believe, if Kally could have walked so far, she would have gone downstraight to Mr. Lee's. She wanted to, but she was all in a tremble, andI persuaded her not, though she did send me down to ask Mrs. Lee whenshe can be ready. Then when Alexis came home, Mr. White told him that hedidn't in the least mean all that, and would not hear of her goingaway, though he was angry at her being so foolish, but he would give heranother chance of not throwing away such advantages. And Alexis says sheought not. He wants her to go, and declares that he and I can very wellmanage with Mrs. Lee, and look after Petros, and that she must not thinkof rushing off in a huff for a few words said in a passion. So, betweenthe two, she was quite upset and couldn't sleep, and, oh, if she were tobe ill again!'
By this time they were in sight of Kalliope lying back in abasket-chair, shaded by the fence of the kitchen-garden, and her wearyface and trembling hand showed how much this had shaken her in herweakness. She sent Maura away, and spoke out her troubles freely toGillian. 'I thought at first my duty was quite clear, and that I oughtnot to go away and enjoy myself and leave the others to get on withoutme. Alec would find it so dreary; and though Mr. and Mrs. Lee are verygood and kind, they are not quite companions to him. Then Maura has cometo think so much about people being ladies that I don't feel sure thatshe would attend to Mrs. Lee; and the same with Petros in the holidays.If I can't work at first, still I can make a home and look after them.'
'But it is only one winter, and Alexis thinks you ought; and, oh, whatit would be, and how you would get on!'
'That is what puzzles me. Alexis thinks Mr. White has a right to expectme to improve myself, and not go on for ever making white jessamineswith malachite leaves, and that he can look after Maura and Petros. Isee, too, that I ought to try to recover, or I might be a burthen onAlexis for ever, and hinder all his better hopes. Then, there's the notliking to accept a favour after Mr. White said such things, though Iought not to think about it since he made that apology; but it is ahorrid feeling that I ought not to affront him for the sake of theothers. Altogether I do feel so tossed. I can't get back the feeling Ihad when I was ill that I need not worry, for that God will decide.'
And there were tears in her eyes.
'Can't you ask some one's advice?' said Gillian.
'If I were sure they quite understood! My head is quite tired withthinking about it.'
Not many moments had passed before there were steps that made Kalliopestart painfully, and Maura appeared, piloting another visitor. It wasMiss Mohun, who had escaped from the survey of the rooms,--so far uneasyat what she had gathered from Mr. White, that she was the more anxiousto make the offer previously agreed to.
'My dear,' she said, 'I am afraid you look tired.'
'They have worried her and knocked her up,' said Gillian indignantly.
'I see! Kally, my dear, we are connections now, you know, and I haveheard of Mr. White's plan. It made me think whether you would find thematter easier if you let me have Maura while you are away to cheer mysolitude. Then I could see that she did her lessons, and, between allGillian's brothers, we could see that Petros was happy in the holidays.'
'Oh, Miss Mohun! how can I be grateful enough? There is an end of alldifficulties.'
And when the inspecting party came round, and Adeline bent to kiss thewhite, weary, but no longer distressed face, and kindly said, 'We shallsee a great deal of each other, I hope,' she replied, with an earnest'thank you,' and added to Mr. White, 'Miss Mohun has made it all easy tome, sir, and I am very grateful!'
'Ay, ay! You're a good girl at the bottom, and have some sense!'
CHAPTER XXIII. -- FANGS