CHAPTER XXV
BOMBSHELLS AND BROMIDE
About noon on the next day, Mrs. Tolbridge sat down at her desk tofinish the writing of the letter which had been so abruptly broken offthe day before. She had been very busy that afternoon and a part of thismorning, assisting Mrs. Drane and her daughter in their removal from ahot street in a little town to the broad freedom and fine air of aspacious country home.
And this change had given so much pleasure to all parties concerned thatit was natural that so good a woman as Mrs. Tolbridge should feel a glowof satisfaction in thinking of the part she had taken in it.
She was satisfied in more ways than one: it was agreeable to her toassist in giving pleasure to others, but besides this, she had a littlesatisfaction which was peculiarly her own; she was pleased that that verypretty and attractive Cicely would now work for the doctor, instead ofworking so much with him. Of course she was willing to give up the littleroom if it were needed, but it was a great deal pleasanter not to haveit needed.
"It is so seldom," she thought, as she lifted the lid of her desk, "thatthings can be arranged so as to please everybody."
At this moment she glanced through the open window and saw Miss Panney atthe front gate. Closing her desk, Mrs. Tolbridge pushed back her chair,her glow of satisfaction changing into a little chill.
"Is the doctor at home?" she inquired of the servant who was passing thedoor, and on receiving the negative reply, the chilly feeling increased.
Miss Panney was in a radiant humor. She seated herself in her favoriterocking-chair; she laid her fan on the table near her and her reticule byit, and she pushed back from her shoulders a little India shawl.
"I am treating myself," she said, "to a regular gala day; in the firstplace, I intend to stay here to luncheon. People who have a La Fleur mustexpect to see their friends at their table much oftener than if they hada Biddy in the kitchen. That is one of the penalties of good fortune. Ihave my cap in my bag, and as soon as I have cooled a little I will takeoff my bonnet and shawl. This afternoon I am going to see the Bannisters,and after that I intend to call on Mrs. Drane and her daughter. I put offthat until the last in order that Miss Drane may be at home. I ought tohave called on them before, considering that I did so much in gettingthem established in Thorbury,--I am sure Mrs. Brinkly would not havetaken them if I had not talked her into it,--but one thing and anotherhas prevented my going there. But I have seen Miss Drane; I came to townyesterday in the Witton carriage, and saw her in the street. She iscertainly a pretty little thing, and dresses with much taste. We allthought her face was very sweet and attractive. We had a good look ather, for she was waiting for our carriage to pass, in order to cross thestreet. I told Jim, the driver, to go slowly, for I like to have a goodlook at people before I know them. And by the way, Kitty, an idea comesinto my head," and as she said this, the old lady's eyes twinkled, and alittle smile stole over the lower part of her wrinkled face. "Perhaps youmay not like the doctor to have such an extremely pretty secretary.Perhaps you may have preferred her to have a stubby nose and a freckledface. How is that, Kitty?"
"Nonsense," said Mrs. Tolbridge. "It makes no manner of difference whatsort of a face a secretary has; her handwriting is much more important."
"Oh," said Miss Panney, "I am glad to hear that. And how does she geton?"
"Very well indeed," was the answer; "the doctor seems satisfied withher work."
"That is nice," said Miss Panney, "and how do they like it at Mrs.Brinkly's? I saw their rooms, which are neatly furnished, and Mrs.Brinkly keeps a very good table. I have taken many a meal at her house."
Had there been a column of mercury at Mrs. Tolbridge's back, it wouldhave gone down several degrees, as she prepared to answer Miss Panney'squestion. She did not exactly hesitate, but she was so slow in beginningto speak, that Miss Panney, who was untying her bonnet-strings, had timeto add, reflectively, "Yes, they are sure to find her a good landlady."
"The Dranes are not with Mrs. Brinkly now," said Mrs. Tolbridge. "Theyleft yesterday afternoon, although some of their things were not sentaway until this morning."
The old lady's hands dropped from her bonnet-strings to her lap.
"Left Mrs. Brinkly!" she exclaimed. "And where have they gone?"
"To Cobhurst, where they will board for a while, during the hot weather.They found it very close and uncomfortable in that part of the town, withthe mercury in the eighties."
Miss Panney sat up tall and straight. Her eyes grew bigger and blacker aswith her mental vision she glared upon the situation. Presently shespoke, and her voice sounded as if she were in a great empty cask, withher mouth at the bunghole.
"Who did this?" she asked.
Mrs. Tolbridge was glad to talk; it suited her much better at this timeto do the talking than for her companion to do it, and she proceededquite volubly.
"Oh, we all thought the change would be an excellent thing for them,especially for Mrs. Drane, who is not strong; and as they had seenCobhurst and were charmed with the place, and as the Haverleys were quitewilling to take them for a little while, it seemed an excellent thing allround. It was, however, our cook, La Fleur, who was the chief mover inthe matter. She was very much opposed to their staying with Mrs.Brinkly,--you see she had lived with them and has quite an affection forthem,--and actually went so far as to talk of taking a house in thecountry and boarding them herself. And you know, Miss Panney, how bad itwould be for the doctor to lose La Fleur."
"Did the doctor have anything to do with this?" asked Miss Panney.
Now Mrs. Tolbridge did hesitate a little.
"Yes," she said, "he spoke to the Haverleys about it; he thought it wouldbe an excellent thing for them."
Miss Panney rose, with her face as hard as granite. She drew her shawlabout her shoulders, and took up her fan and bag. Mrs. Tolbridge alsorose, much troubled.
"You must not imagine for a minute, Miss Panney," she said, "that thedoctor had the slightest idea that this removal would annoy you. In fact,he spoke about consulting you in regard to it, and had he seen you beforethe affair was settled, I am sure he would have done so. And you must notthink, either, that the doctor urged the Haverleys to take these ladies,simply because he wished to keep La Fleur. He values her most highly, buthe thought of others than himself. He spoke particularly of the admirableinfluence Mrs. Drane would have on Miriam."
The old lady turned her flashing eyes on Mrs. Tolbridge, and, slightlylowering her head, she almost screamed these words: "Blow to the top ofthe sky Mrs. Drane's influence on Miriam! That is not what I care for."
Then she turned and walked out of the parlor, followed by Mrs. Tolbridge.At the front door she stopped and turned her wrathful and inexorablecountenance upon the doctor's wife; then she deliberately shook herskirts, stamped her feet, and went out of the door.
When Dr. Tolbridge heard what had happened, he was sorely troubled. "Imust go to see her," he said. "I cannot allow her to remain in that stateof mind. I think I can explain the affair and make her look at it more aswe do, although, I must admit, now that I recall some things she recentlysaid to me, that she may have some grave objections to Cicely's residenceat Cobhurst. But I shall see her, and I think I can pacify her."
Mrs. Tolbridge was not so hopeful as her husband; he had not seen MissPanney at the front door. But she could not bring herself to regret theadvice she had given him when he proposed consulting Miss Panney inregard to the Dranes' removal.
"I shall never object to La Fleur," she said to herself. "I will bear allher impositions and queernesses for the sake of his health and pleasure,but I cannot give up my little room to Cicely Drane."
And that very hour she caused to be replaced in the said room the deskand other appurtenances which had been taken out when the room had beenarranged for the secretary.
These changes had hardly been made, when Dora Bannister called.
"Miss Panney was at our house to-day," said the girl, "and I cannotimagine what was the matter with her. I
never saw anybody in such astate of mind."
"What did she say?" asked Mrs. Tolbridge.
"She said very little, and that was one of the strangest things abouther. But she sat and stared and stared and stared at me, as if I weresome sort of curiosity on exhibition, and did not answer anything I saidto her. I was awfully nervous, though I knew from the few words she hadsaid that she was not angry with me; but she kept on staring and staringand staring, and then she suddenly leaned forward and put her arms aroundme and kissed me. Then she sat back in her chair again, slapped her twohands upon her knees, and said, speaking to herself, 'It shall be done. Iam a fool to have a doubt about it.' And then she went without anotherword. Now was not that simply amazing? Did she come here, and did she actin that way?"
"She was here," said Mrs. Tolbridge, "but she did not do anything sofunny as that."
"Well, I suppose I shall find out some day what she means," said Dora."And now, Mrs. Tolbridge, I did not come altogether to see you thisafternoon. I hope Miss Drane has not gone home yet, for I thought itwould be nice to meet her here. Mother and I are going to call on them,but I do not know when that will be; and I have heard so much about thedoctor's secretary that I am perishing to see her. They say she is verypretty and bright. I wanted mother to go there to-day, but we have had along drive this morning, and to-morrow she and I and Herbert are goingto call at Cobhurst; and you know mother will never consent to crowdthings. And so I thought I would come here this afternoon by myself. Itwon't be like a call, you know."
"Miss Drane is not here," said Mrs. Tolbridge; "but if you want to seeher, you can do it to-morrow, if you go to Cobhurst. She and her motherare now living there, boarding with the Haverleys."
"Living at Cobhurst!" exclaimed Dora; and as she uttered these words, thegirl turned pale.
"Heavens!" mentally ejaculated the doctor's wife. "I do nothing this daybut explode bombshells."
In a moment Dora recovered nearly all her color, and laughed.
"It is so funny," she said, "that all sorts of things happen in this townwithout our knowing it. Is she still going to be the doctor's secretary?"
"Yes, she can do her work out there as well as here."
Dora looked out of the window as if she saw something in the garden, andMrs. Tolbridge charitably took her out to show her some new dahlias.
Early the next morning, Dr. Tolbridge drove into the Witton yard. Nomatter who waited for him, he would not delay this visit. When he askedfor Miss Panney, he had a strong idea that the old lady would refuse tosee him. But in an astonishingly short space of time, she marched intothe parlor, every war-flag flying, and closed the door behind her.
Without shaking hands or offering the visitor any sort of salutation, sheseated herself in a chair in the middle of the room. "Now," said she,"don't lose any time in saying what you have got to say."
Not encouraged by this reception, the doctor could not instantly arrangewhat he had to say. But he shortly got his ideas into order, andproceeded to lay the case in its most favorable light before the oldlady, dwelling particularly on the reasons why she had not been consultedin the affair.
Miss Panney heard him to the end without a change in the rigidity of herface and attitude. "Very well, then," she said, when he had finished, "Isee exactly what you have done. You have thrown me aside for a cook."
"Not at all!" exclaimed the doctor. "I had no idea of throwing you aside.In fact, Miss Panney, I never thought of you in the matter at all."
"Exactly, exactly," said the old lady, with emphatic sharpness; "younever thought of me at all. That is the sum and substance of what youhave done. I gave you my confidence. I told you my intentions, my hopes,the plan which was to crown and finish the work of my life. I told you Iwould make the grandson of the only man I ever loved my heir, and I woulddo this, because I wished him to marry the daughter of the man who was mybest friend on earth. The marriage of these two and the union of theestate of Cobhurst with the wealth of the Bannisters was a project which,as I told you, had grown dear to my heart, and for which I was thinkingand dreaming and working. All this you knew, and without a word to me,and if you speak the truth, all for the sake of your wretched stomach,you clap into Cobhurst a girl who will be engaged to Ralph Haverley inless than a month."
The doctor moved impatiently in his chair.
"Nonsense, Miss Panney. Cicely Drane will not harm your plans. She is asensible, industrious girl, who attends to her own business, and--"
"Precisely," said Miss Panney; "and her own business will be to settlefor life at Cobhurst. She may not be courting young Haverley to-day,but she will begin to-morrow. She will do it, and what is more, shewould be a fool if she did not. It does not matter what sort of a girlshe is;" and now Miss Panney began to speak louder, and stood up; "itdoes not matter if she had five legs and two heads; you have no rightto thrust any intruder into a household which I had taken into mycharge, and for which I had my plans, all of which you knew. You are afalse friend, Dr. Tolbridge, and at your doorstep I have shaken thedust from my skirts and my feet." And with a quick step and a highhead, she marched out of the room.
The doctor took a little book out of his pocket, and on a blank leafwrote the following:--
Rx. Potass. Bromid. 3iij Tr. Dig. Natis. m. xxx Tr. Lavand. Comp. ad 3iijM.S. teaspoonful every three hours.H. D.
Having sent this to Miss Panney by a servant, he went his way. Drivingalong, his conscience stung him a little when he thought of the fable hiswife had told him; but the moral of the fable had made but littleimpression upon him, and as an antidote to the sting he applied hisconviction that matchmaking was a bad business, and that in love affairs,as well as in many diseases, the very best thing to do was to let naturetake its course.
When Miss Panney read the paper which had been sent to her, her eyesflashed, and then she laughed.
"The wretch!" she exclaimed; "it is just like him." And in the afternoonshe sent to her apothecary in Thorbury for the medicine prescribed. "Ifit cools me down," she said to herself, "I shall be able to work better."