CHAPTER XXI.
THE LADY FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.
Mrs. Steward was a great contrast to Mrs. Lewis. Mrs. Steward was atall, thin, rather refined-looking woman. Mrs. Lewis was fat and dumpy,decidedly untidy in appearance, with a melancholy air and a habit ofconstantly indulging in low weeping. Mrs. Steward looked as if she hadnever wept in her life; she sat upright as a dart, her movements werequick, her manners independent; she had a vivacious eye, a somewhatshort nose, thin lips, and a very decided manner.
Mrs. Steward and Mrs. Lewis had a long conversation in the untidy, uglylittle parlor, while they waited for Elma to return from school. Maggiehad been going in and out, glancing with some apprehension at the lady,and then whisking back to her kitchen to sigh profoundly and mourn forthe violets which were no longer in her possession.
"I should like something to eat," said Mrs. Steward to her sister. "Ithought I would come to you for lunch, Caroline. Have you got anythingin the house--a lamb chop or even cold lamb and salad will do quitenicely."
"My dear Charlotte," said Mrs. Lewis, laying her fat, tremulous handupon her sister's firm but thin arm, "do you think it likely that weoften have lamb chops or even cold lamb and salad for lunch? It is truethat since the Australian meat came in we can now and then indulge in avery small joint of lamb for Sundays, but certainly on no other day. Ah,Charlotte, you little know the poverty to which your poor sister issubjected."
"I know all about it," said Mrs. Stewart, shaking herself angrily, "andmy plain answer to you is this--as you sow you must reap. What else didyou expect when you married that fool of a man, James Lewis?"
Mrs. Lewis made a great endeavor to rise from the sofa, she made afurther effort to look dignified; but all she could really accomplishwas to burst into a fresh wail of low weeping and to murmur under herbreath, "Charlotte, you are cruel to me, you are cruel."
"I don't mean to be, my dear; but really, Caroline, you do annoy me.Have you no spunk at all in your composition? Are you still frettingyour heart out for that good-for-nothing man?"
"Well, you see, I love him," said the poor wife. "The parting from mydear husband was a terrible trial. I think of him at all hours both dayand night. I often have an uncontrollable desire to join him inAustralia."
"Pray yield to it," said Mrs. Steward in the calmest of voices, "andwhen you go, take that great lout of a Caroline with you. She is as likeyou in appearance as one pea is like another. I am ashamed of you. Now,let us turn to a more congenial topic. Little Elma, I am glad to say,is made of very different stuff."
"Oh, Elma is a good girl," said Mrs. Lewis. At that moment Maggie cameinto the room.
"Have you ordered your servant to prepare any lunch for me?" said Mrs.Steward.
"Well, really--" Mrs. Lewis looked imploringly and with a vacant eye atMaggie.
"There's the remains of the salt beef, mum," said that small worthy,dropping a bob of a courtesy as she spoke.
"I couldn't touch it," said Mrs. Steward with a shudder. "Have you got afresh egg in the house?"
"Oh, my dear, nothing of the kind--a fresh egg! Fresh eggs are worththeir weight in gold. We have a stale egg, if you don't mind that."
Mrs. Steward indulged in another shudder even more violent than thelast.
"My good girl," she said then, "pray get me a cup of tea and some thintoast, and be quick about it. See that the tea is really strong and thecream fresh."
"Cream!" murmured Mrs. Lewis; but Maggie had withdrawn.
"Well, now, that is comfortably settled," said Mrs. Steward, "and I cantell you what really brought me to town--I have come about Elma."
"Indeed, and what about her?"
"I mean to take her from you."
"To take Elma away from me, my own dear child?"
"Oh, now, come, Caroline, don't sicken me with your false sentiment. Itis a precious good thing for Elma that she has got an aunt ready andwilling to help her. I have just arranged to send her to a first-classGerman school. Her English, I should say, was fair, and she will betaken as pupil-teacher; she will thus have the advantage of learningGerman. I heard of this through a great friend of mine, Fraeulein VanBrunt. She is going to Germany herself next week, and will take Elma, ifyou can spare her."
"If I can spare her? But it will break my heart--such a sensible girlas she is," said poor Mrs. Lewis.
"Come, come, Carrie, no more nonsense; when I explain all the advantagesyou will see for yourself how all-important it is that Elma should go.The school is in the Harz Mountains, a splendid place; magnificent air,and all the rest. If Elma stays there for two years, I will then haveher home, and send her to Girton as I promised. I will further arrangethat she spends her holidays with me, as I think really--" here Mrs.Steward glanced round the shabby room--"I think that the less sheremains with her own family for the present the better."
"I see what you mean. I am beneath my own child."
"Beneath her. Well, it is a painful thing to say; but, as you put it sofrankly, I must reply in the affirmative," replied Mrs. Steward. "Ah,who is this now?"
The door was flung open, and Carrie, very red about the face, and withher parcel under her arm, entered the room. Her intention was to ask hermother to accompany her to the pawnshop. It had not been the first northe second nor the third time that the unfortunate lady had been obligedto pawn her things. Carrie thought that her parent could make a betterbargain than she could herself, and she hoped that she would have beenin time to transact this little business before the arrival of her aunt.She now gave a start of dismay, and, dropping the parcel, sank down onthe nearest chair. As she did so Kitty's watch and chain tumbled out ofthe front of her dress, where she had very insecurely fastened them. Thewatch was a lovely one, with an enameled back studded with pearls, andthe chain was made of eighteen-carat gold. Owing to a warning glancefrom Carrie, Mrs. Lewis refrained from saying a word; but Mrs. Stewardhad no idea of keeping her emotions to herself.
"You, I presume, are Carrie," she said, looking at her niece. "Comehere, Carrie, and speak to your aunt."
Carrie advanced as if she were treading on buttered eggs. She held outone dimpled hand gingerly.
"How do you do, my dear? Allow me to congratulate you on the acquisitionof that very lovely little watch and that splendid chain. Now, I amdevoured with curiosity to know who has given them to you. Surely notyour mother? Surely, Caroline, with all your faults, you have not----"
"Oh, dear me, no," said Mrs. Lewis.
Carrie indulged in a loud laugh.
"Bless us, aunt," she cried, "do you suppose mother can afford to giveme these? No, I--" She grew red and turned away.
Mrs. Lewis fidgeted on her seat, and appeared thoroughly uncomfortable.
"I do not wish to pry into your secrets, Caroline," said Mrs. Steward,favoring the untidy and vulgar-looking girl with a glance full ofreprehension. "You are at liberty to wear handsome watches and chainsmade of the best gold if your mother cares to see you with things sounsuitable to your class and appearance. Your doings in life are noaffair of mine. But now, as you happen to be my niece, will you have thekindness to go immediately into the kitchen and tell Maggie, or whateverthe name of your servant is, to hurry with that tea and toast."
Carrie was only too glad to dart from the room. She picked up herparcel, and resorted to the kitchen.
"Oh, Miss Carrie, I do wish you would help me," said Maggie, who wasflying distractedly about. "There's the kitchen fire all but out, andthe lady ordered toast as crisp as you please. I don't believe we can doit for her. Wouldn't she be content with thin bread and butter curled inrolls?"
"Oh, of course she would, and must," said Carrie. "She is in no end of atemper, and for my part I don't wish to humor her. Yes, of course,Maggie. I'll cut the bread and butter and make it into rolls, and yousee to the tea."
"Thank you, miss, I'm sure I'm much obliged, and perhaps, miss, youwouldn't mind taking it into the dining-room, for her eyes do fasten onto you that fierce that I get all of a tremble, and as li
kely as notI'll drop the tray."
Carrie laughed, and being at heart good-natured in her own way, helpedMaggie with some vigor to prepare the tea.
At last a meal, which could not be remarked for its abundance, wasforthcoming, and was brought into the dining-room.
"I ordered toast," said Mrs. Steward in an angry voice.
"I am sorry, Aunt Charlotte," said Carrie; "but the fire happened to beout in the kitchen. You see," she added, somewhat spitefully, "we areobliged to economize with coals, and we don't keep a fire up in themiddle of the day."
"Well, I am really so famished that I am content with anything," saidthe good lady. "Pour me out a cup of tea at once, my dear, and just putthe bread and butter where I can reach it."
Carrie did so, winking at her mother as she arranged the tray. The nextmoment Mrs. Lewis went out into the passage. Carrie followed her,closing the door behind their guest.
"Mother, I want you to come with me to the Sign of the Three Balls."
"What in the world for, Carrie?"
"I have got to pawn some things, some beautiful things, and I am to getten per cent, on the commission. I shall turn over a nice little bit ofmoney, and you can have your favorite supper. You will come, won't you,mother? And I'll give you half a crown into the bargain."
"Oh, dear, dear," said Mrs. Lewis, "I wish she had not come! She neverhelps me in any way. All she does is to scold me and make me moredepressed than I am already. And she blames me so for marrying your poorfather, Carrie; as if I could help that now. And what do you think sheis going to do? She says she is going to take Elma from us."
"And a good thing, too," said Carrie.
"Carrie, what an unnatural girl you are! Do you mean to say you would beglad to part from your sister?"
"I would, because I am fond of her, and she has got into the most awfulscrape at school. Don't you put any spoke in her wheel, mother, forgoodness' sake!"
At that moment the latchkey was heard in the lock, and Elma herselfappeared on the scene.
"Oh, good gracious! Elma," cried Carrie, darting up to her sister, andbeginning to whisper vigorously into her ear.
"What?" said Elma, with a start of dismay. "So soon?"
"Yes, yes; she's been here for nearly an hour. She is devouring rolledbread and butter and tea in the dining-room at present. She asked fortoast----"
"Yes," interrupted Mrs. Lewis, who now came up and began also towhisper; "yes, and fresh eggs, and cream, and lamb chops, and cold lamband salad. I never heard of anything so unreasonable. My poor head is inan awful whirl. But she has come about you, Elma. She wants to take youaway with her."
"She wants to take me away with her?" exclaimed Elma, starting, and herpale face flushing.
"And you had better go, Elma, and be quick about it," said Carrie,giving her a warning glance.
"I don't know what all this means," said Elma, her heart beatinguncomfortably fast; "but I had better go in and see Aunt Charlotte."
"Yes, my love, yes; and while you are talking to her I--What do yousay, Carrie--you and I might go out upon that little matter of business,might we not?"
"To be sure, mother; an excellent thought. If you stay here I'll runupstairs and fetch your bonnet, veil, and mantle in a twinkling. Go into Aunt Charlotte, Elma; do, for goodness sake, make yourself of use.More depends on it than you think. If she hears us whispering andmattering in the hall she'll be out upon us."
Elma instinctively put up her two hands to smooth back her hair, shestraightened her already perfectly neat little jacket, and, drawingherself up to her full _petite_ height, entered the little dining-room.
Elma was a perfect contrast to her untidy mother and her frowzy sister.However poorly dressed, she was always the pink of neatness. She wasfull of agitation now and nervous fear, but not a trace of theseemotions could be visible in her manner and appearance. She went up toher Aunt Charlotte, who for her part held out both her arms and, drawingthe girl down, printed a kiss upon her cheek.
"I am really glad to see you, Elma," exclaimed Mrs. Steward. "Sit nearme, my dear; it is a pity you were not in when I arrived. It was theleast you might have done for your aunt, Elma. You had my letter thismorning. Oh, my poor child, I have gone through a dreadful hour! Thesevulgar relations of yours grow worse and worse."
"My mother and sister?" murmured Elma.
"Yes; it is a terrible affliction for you. But, my dear, I am going torelieve you from the strain. I, your aunt, am coming to the rescue.There, Elma, pour me out another cup of tea, and I will tell youeverything."
Elma raised the teapot, she filled her aunt's cup with fresh tea, addeda little milk, and brought it to her side.
"Thank you, my dear. Now, Elma, you may consider yourself a made girl."
"Made?" echoed Elma, turning her white face to Mrs. Steward.
"Yes, made. What would you say to going abroad?"
Elma's eyes brightened.
"Do you mean on the Continent?"
"Yes, I do, my dear child. To no less a place than the Harz Mountains. Ihave heard of a most charming school, fifty times better than MiddletonSchool; and you are to go there, my dear Elma, at my expense. You willgo as pupil-teacher, and you thus acquire perfect German. Think whatthat will mean for you! I propose to leave you in Germany for two years,and at the end of that time you will return and go to Girton, I beingresponsible for all your expenses. My dear, your fortune is made. I havefurther arranged with your poor unfortunate mother that you spend theholidays with me, as it is not to be expected that you can associate anylonger with such a person, nor with that frowzy young woman who callsherself your sister."
Elma did not speak. This news which would have delighted her at anotherand less harassing moment, was now fraught with perplexity and alarm. Atthe same time she thought she saw in it a possible means of escape.Suppose Aunt Charlotte took her away at once, before Kitty had time totell what she knew, before Middleton School had time to ring with thenews of her dishonor. Oh, if so, she might indeed be saved!
"Am I to go immediately?" she asked, choking down a strangled sob in herthroat, "or am I to stay at Middleton School till the end of the term?"
"Well, dear, that is the awkward part, for of course you are workingvery hard for a prize, are you not?"
"I am working for a small scholarship," answered Elma. "If I succeed inmy examination I shall obtain a scholarship in English Literature worthten pounds a year for three years. That would be a very large sum to me,Aunt Charlotte."
"A large sum to you! I should think it would be a large sum to anybody,"said Mrs. Steward in a severe tone. "Ten pounds is quite a fortune forany young girl. Pray don't begin to speak of money in that disparagingsort of way, Elma; it ill suits your circumstances, my love. But now,dear, I am sorry to disappoint you--I have heard of an admirable escort;a certain Fraeulein Van Brunt is going to the Harz Mountains next Monday;it will therefore be necessary for me to take you back toBuckinghamshire to-night, Elma."
"Oh, Aunt Charlotte, I am glad!" burst from Elma's lips.
"Glad to leave your mother and sister?" said Mrs, Steward, lookingseverely at the young girl. "After all, they are the last people youought to associate with; but still natural ties, my dear Elma."
"Oh, I am sorry to leave them, I am sorry to go; I am both glad andsorry," gasped poor Elma. "I have been worried, and am glad to get outof everything."
"Worried! I suppose with that dreadful sister and your poor, muddledmother. Her unfortunate habit of weeping has reduced the little brainshe possessed to a state of pap. Of course I know she is not well off;but all she absolutely could offer me in this house was a stale egg, andnot even toast. Oh, I scorn to complain, but--I know this is not yourwish, Elma. Your ideas were always very different, my dear child."
Elma did not say anything; she was fidgeting with her hand, making aslight noise with the teaspoon which she was tapping against a saucer.The noise was irritating to Mrs. Steward's easily-affected nerves.
"That calm of manner which I trus
t you will acquire after you have hadthe advantages which I am giving you will soon show you how veryunpleasant those little tattoos and small noises are, Elma," remarkedthe good lady, taking the teaspoon severely out of her niece's hand."Yes, my dear, you are to come with me to-night; that is, of course--"
"What do you mean by 'of course,' Aunt Charlotte?"
"After I have seen your head-mistress, Miss Sherrard."
"Do you want to see Miss Sherrard?" asked Elma, a note of alarm in hervoice.
"Certainly; and I am going immediately to the school. You will not beadmitted into the admirable school in Germany without a testimonial fromyour present teacher; and I am going to Miss Sherrard in order tosecure one. It will, of course be merely a matter of form my asking forit, for your conduct has always been admirable--admirable in theextreme. Miss Sherrard has written to me about you from time to time,and always spoke of you with affection and admiration. She said yourabilities were good; your moral character without a flaw. I will juststep across to the school now, Elma; and, if you like, you can accompanyme."
Elma hesitated. She did not yet know what had taken place; but when shehad last seen Kitty there was a flash in her eyes the reverse ofassuring. She could only hope against hope that nothing had yet takenplace; that Kitty had still kept her miserable secret. If Miss Sherrardknew nothing she would of course give her an excellent character; andshe herself would leave Middleton School that afternoon and forever.Then indeed she might snap her fingers at Kitty and her distress. Shewould be saved just at the very moment when she thought her ruin mostimminent.