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diff --git a/old/2004-07-twsss10h.htm b/old/2004-07-twsss10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b98cd8c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2004-07-twsss10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8850 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Two Sides of the Shield</title> +</head> + +<body> +<pre> +Project Gutenberg's The Two Sides of the Shield, by Charlotte M. Yonge +#37 in our series by Charlotte M. Yonge + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Two Sides of the Shield + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + +Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6007] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 16, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TWO SIDES OF THE SHIELD *** + + + + +This Project Gutenberg Etext was prepared by Hanh Vu, capriccio_vn@yahoo.com. +A web page for Charlotte M Yonge will be found at www.menorot.com/cmyonge.htm. + + + +</pre> +<p> </p> + +<h1>THE TWO SIDES OF THE SHIELD<br> +BY<br> +CHARLOTTE M YONGE</h1> + +<h3>PREFACE</h3> + +<p>It is sometimes treated as an impertinence to revive the personages of one +story in another, even though it is after the example of Shakespeare, who +revived Falstaff, after his death, at the behest of Queen Elizabeth. This +precedent is, however, a true impertinence in calling on the very great to +justify the very small!</p> + +<p>Yet many a letter in youthful handwriting has begged for further information +on the fate of the beings that had become favourites of the school-room; and +this has induced me to believe that the following out of my own notions as to +the careers of former heroes and heroines might not be unwelcome; while I have +tried to make the story stand independently for new readers, unacquainted with +the tale in which Lady Merrifield and her brothers and sisters first appeared.</p> + +<p>'Scenes and Characters' was, however, published so long ago, that the young +readers of this generation certainly will only know it if it has had the good +fortune to have been preserved by their mothers. It was only my second book, and +in looking back at it so as to preserve consistency, I have been astonished at +its crudeness.</p> + +<p>It will explain a few illusions to state that it is the story of the +motherless family of Mohuns of Beechcroft, with a kindly deaf father at the +head, Mr. Mohun, whose pet name was the Baron of Beechcroft, owing to a romantic +notion of his daughters made fun of by his sons. The eldest sister, a stiff, +sensible, dry woman, had just married and gone to India, leaving her post to the +next in age, Emily, who was much too indolent for the charge. Lilies, the third +in age, with her head full of the kind of high romance and sentiment more +prevalent thirty or forty years ago than now, imagined that whereas the +household had formerly been ruled by duty, it now might be so by love. Of +course, confusion dire was the consequence, chiefly with the younger boys, the +scientific, cross-grained Maurice, and the high-spirited, turbulent Reginald, +all the mischief being fomented by Jane's pertness and curiosity, and only +mitigated by the honest simplicity and dutifulness of eight years old Phyllis. +The remedy was found at last in the marriage of the eldest son William with +Alethea Weston, already Lilias's favourite friend and model.</p> + +<p>That in a youthful composition there should be a cavalier ancestry, a family +much given to dying of consumption, and a young marquess cousin is, perhaps, +inevitable. Lord Rotherwood was Mr. Mohun's ward, and having a dull home of his +own, found his chief happiness as well as all the best influences of his life, +in the merry, highly-principled, though easy-going life at his uncle's, whom he +revered like a father, while his eager, somewhat shatter-brained nature often +made him a butt to his cousins. All this may account for the tone of camaraderie +with which the scattered members of the family meet again, especially around +Lilias, who had, with her cleverness and enthusiasm, always been the leading +member of the group.</p> + +<p>It should, perhaps, also be mentioned that Lord Rotherwood's greatest friend +was also Lilias's favourite brother, Claude, who had become a clergyman and died +early. Aunt Adeline had been the spoilt child and beauty of the family, the +youngest of all.</p> + +<p><b>C. M. YONGE.</b></p> +<p><b>March 8th, 1885.</b></p> + + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<p>CHAPTER I. WHAT WILL BECOME OF ME?<br> +CHAPTER II. THE MERRIFIELDS<br> +CHAPTER III. GOOD BYE<br> +CHAPTER IV. TURNED IN AMONG THEM<br> +CHAPTER V. THE FIRST WALK<br> +CHAPTER VI. PERSECUTION<br> +CHAPTER VII. G.F.S.<br> +CHAPTER VIII. MY PERSECUTED UNCLE<br> +CHAPTER IX. LETTERS<br> +CHAPTER X. THE EVENING STAR<br> +CHAPTER XI. SECRET EXPEDITIONS<br> +CHAPTER XII. A HUNT<br> +CHAPTER XIII. AN EGYPTIAN SPHINX<br> +CHAPTER XIV. A CYPHER AND A TY<br> +CHAPTER XV. THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL<br> +CHAPTER XVI. THE INCONSTANCY OF CONSTANCE<br> +CHAPTER XVII. THE STONE MELTING<br> +CHAPTER XVIII. MYSIE AND DOLORES<br> +CHAPTER XIX. A SADDER AND A WISER AUTHORESS<br> +CHAPTER XX. CONFESSIONS OF A COUNTRY MOUSE<br> +CHAPTER XXI. IN COURT AND OUT<br> +CHAPTER XXII. NAY</p> + +<h1>THE TWO SIDES OF THE SHIELD</h1> + +<h3>CHAPTER I<br> +WHAT WILL BECOME OF ME?</h3> + +<p>A London dining-room was lighted with gas, which showed a table of small +dimensions, with a vase of somewhat dirty and dilapidated grasses in the centre, +and at one end a soup tureen, from which a gentleman had helped himself and a +young girl of about thirteen, without much apparent consciousness of what he was +about, being absorbed in a pile of papers, pamphlets, and letters, while she on +her side kept a book pinned open by a gravy spoon. The elderly maid-servant, who +set the dishes before them, handed the vegetables and changed the plates, really +came as near to feeding the pair as was possible with people above three years +old.</p> + +<p>The one was a dark, thin man, with a good deal of white in his thick beard +and scanty hair, the absence of which made the breadth of his forehead the more +remarkable. The girl would have shown an equally remarkable brow, but that her +dark hair was cut square over it, so as to take off from its height, and give a +heavy over-hanging look to the upper part of the face, which below was tin and +sallow, well-featured, but with a want of glow and colour. The thick masses of +dark hair were plaited into a very long thick tail behind, hanging down over a +black evening frock, whose white trimmings were, like everything else about the +place, rather dingy. She was far less absorbed than her father, and raised a +quick, wistful brown eye whenever he made the least sound, or shuffled his +papers. Indeed, it seemed that she was reading in order to distract her anxiety +rather than for the sake of occupation.</p> +<p>It was not till after the last pieces of cheese had been offered and refused, +and the maid had retired, leaving some dull crackers and veteran biscuits, with +two decanters and a claret-jug, that he spoke.</p> +<p>'Dolores!'</p> +<p>'Yes, father.'</p> +<p>But he only cleared his throat, and looked at his letter again, while she +fixed her eager eyes upon him so earnestly that he let his fall again, and +looked once more over his letters before he spoke again.</p> +<p>'Dolores,' and the tone was dry, as if all feeling were driven from it.</p> +<p>'Yes, father.'</p> +<p>'You know that I have accepted this appointment?'</p> +<p>'Yes, father.'</p> +<p>'And that I shall be absent three years at the least?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'Then comes the question, how you are to be disposed of in the meantime?'</p> +<p>'Could not I go with you?' she said, under her breath.</p> +<p>'No, my dear.' And somehow the tone had more tenderness in it, though it was +so explicit. 'I shall have no fixed residence, no one with whom to leave you; +and the climate is not fit for you. Your Aunt Lilias has kindly offered to take +charge of you.'</p> +<p>'Oh, father!'</p> +<p>'Well?'</p> +<p>'If you would only let me stay here with Caroline and Fraulein. I like it so +much better.'</p> +<p>'That cannot be, Dolly. I have this morning promised to let the house as it +is to Mr. Smithson.'</p> +<p>'And Caroline?'</p> +<p>'If Caroline takes my advice, she will remain here as his housekeeper, and I +think she will. Well, what is it? You do not mean that you would prefer going to +your Aunts Jane and Ada?'</p> +<p>'Oh no, no; only if I might go to school.'</p> +<p>'This is nonsense, Dolores. It will be much better for you on all accounts to +be with your aunt at Silverfold. I have no fear that she and her girls will not +do their best to make you happy and good, and to give you what you have sadly +wanted, my poor child. I have always wished you could have seen more of her.'</p> +<p>There could be no doubt from the tone, in the mind of any one who knew Mr. +Maurine Mohun, that the decision was final; but perhaps Dolores would have asked +more if the door-bell had not rung at the moment and Mr. Smithson had not been +announced. Fate was closing in on her. She retired into her book, and remained +as long as she possibly could, for the sake of seeing her father and hearing his +voice; but after a time she was desired to call Caroline, and to go to bed +herself, for it was a good deal past nine o'clock.</p> +<p>She had been aware, she could hardly tell how, that her father had been +offered a government appointment connected with the Fiji Islands, and then that, +glad to escape from the dreariness which had settled down on the house since his +wife's death, about eighteen months previously, he had accepted it, and she had +speculated much on her probable fate; but had never before been officially +informed of his designs for himself or for her.</p> +<p>He was a barrister, who spent all his leisure time on scientific studies, and +his wife had been equally devoted to the same pursuits. Dolores had been her +constant companion; but after the mother's death, from an accident on a glacier, +a strange barrier of throwing himself into the ways of a girl past the charms of +infancy. It was as if they had lost their interpreter.</p> +<p>The German governess, chosen by Mrs. Mohun, was very German indeed, and +greatly occupied in her own studies. When she found that the armes-liebes +Madchen shrank from being wept over and caressed on the mournful return, she +decided that the English had no feeling, and acquiesced in the routine of +lessons and expeditions to classes. She was never unkind, but she did not try to +be a companion; and old Caroline was excellent in the attention she paid to the +comforts of her master and his daughter, but had no love of children, and would +not have encouraged familiarities, even if Dolores had not been too entirely a +drawing-room child to offer them.</p> +<p>The morning came, and everything went on as usual; Dolores poured out the +coffee, Mr. Mohun read his Times, Fraulein ate as usual, but afterwards he asked +for a few minutes' conversation with Fraulein. All that Dolores heard of the +result of it was 'So,' and then lessons went on until twelve o'clock, when it +was the custom that the girl should have an hour's recreation, which was, in any +tolerable weather, spent in the gardens of the far west Crescent, where she +lived. There she was nearly certain of meeting her one great friend, Maude +Sefton, who was always sent out for her airing at the same time.</p> +<p>They spied each other issuing from their doors, met, linked their arms, and +entered together. Maude was a tall, rosy girl, with a great yellow bush down her +back, half a year older than Dolores, and a great deal bigger.</p> +<p>'My dearest Doll!'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, it is come.'</p> +<p>'Then he is really going? I heard the pater and mater talking about it +yesterday, and they said it would be an excellent thing for him.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Maude! Then they did not say anything about what we hoped?'</p> +<p>'What, the mater's offering for you to come and live with us, darling? Oh no; +and I's afraid it is of no use to ask her, for she said of herself, that she +knew Mr. Mohun had sisters, and--'</p> +<p>'And what? Tell me, Maude. You must!'</p> +<p>'Well, then, you know you made me, and I think it is a shame. She said she +was glad she wasn't one of them, for you were such a peculiar child.'</p> +<p>'Dear me, Maude, you needn't mind telling me that! I'm sure I don't want to +be like everybody else.'</p> +<p>'And are you going to one of your aunts?'</p> +<p>'Yes, to Aunt Lilias. Oh, Maude, he would not hear a word against it, and I +know it will be so horrid! Aunts are always nasty!'</p> +<p>'Kate is very fond of her aunt,' said Maude, who did not happen to have any +personal experiences to oppose to this sweeping assertion.</p> +<p>'Oh, I don't mean proper aunts, but aunts that have orphans left to them.'</p> +<p>'But you are not an orphan, darling.'</p> +<p>'I dare say I shall be. 'Tis a horrible climate, and there are no end of +cannibals there, so that he would not take me out for anything,--and sharks, and +volcanoes, and hurricanes.'</p> +<p>'I don't think they eat people there now.'</p> +<p>'It's bad enough if they don't! And you know those aunts begin pretty well, +while they are in fear of the father, but then they get worse.'</p> +<p>'There was Ada Morton,' said Maude, in a tone of conviction, 'and Anna Ross.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, and another book, 'Rose Turquand.' It was a grown-up book, that I +read once--long ago,' said Dolores, who had in her mother's time been allowed a +pretty free range of 'book-box.'</p> +<p>"And there's 'Under the Shield,' but that was a boy."</p> +<p>'There are lots and lots,' said Dolores. 'They are ever so much worse than +the stepmothers! Not that there is any fear of that!' she added quickly.</p> +<p>'But isn't this Aunt Lilias nice? It's a pretty name. Which is she? You have +one aunt a Lady Something, haven't you?'</p> +<p>'Yes, it is this one, Lady Merrifield. Her husband is a general, Sir Jasper +Merrifield, and he is gone out to command in some place in India; but she cannot +stand the climate, and is living at home at a place called Silverfold, with a +whole lot of children. I think two are gone out with their father, but there are +a great many more.'</p> +<p>'Don't you know them at all?'</p> +<p>'No, and don't want to! I think my aunts were unkind to mother!'</p> +<p>'Oh!' exclaimed Maude.</p> +<p>'I am sure of it. They were horrid, stuck-up, fine ladies, and looked down on +her, though she was ever so much nicer, and cleverer, and more intellectual than +they; and she looked down on them.'</p> +<p>'Are you sure?' asked Maude, to whom it was as good as a story.</p> +<p>'Yes, indeed. She was civil, of course, because they were father's sisters, +but I know she couldn't bear them. If any of them came to London, there was a +calling, but all very stupid, and a dining at Lord Rotherwood's; but she never +would, except once, when I can hardly remember, go to stay at their slow places +in the country. I've heard father try to persuade her when they didn't think I +understood. You know we always went abroad, or to the sea or something, except +last year, when we were at Beechcroft. That wasn't so bad, for there were lots +of books, and Uncle Reginald was there, and he is jolly.'</p> +<p>'Can't you get Mr. Mohun to send you there?'</p> +<p>'No, I don't think they would have me, for every body there is grown up, and +father seems to have a wish for me to be with this Aunt Lilias, because she has +a schoolroom.'</p> +<p>'I wonder he should wish it, if she was unkind to Mrs. Mohun.'</p> +<p>'Well, she was out of the way most of the time. They have lived at Malta and +Gibraltar, and Belfast, and all sorts of places, so they will all have regular +garrison frivolous manner, and think of nothing but officers and balls. I know +she was a beauty, and wants to be one still.'</p> +<p>'Maude, whose father was a professor, looked quite appalled and said--</p> +<p>'You will be the one to infuse better things.' She felt quite proud of the +word.</p> +<p>'Perhaps,' returned Dolores; 'they always do that in time, but not till +they've been awfully bullied. All the cousins are jealous, and the aunt spites +them because they are nicer and prettier than her own.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Maude, 'but then there's always some tremendously nice +boy-cousin, or uncle, or something, that makes up for it all. Will Sir Jasper +Merrifield's eldest son be a Sir?'</p> +<p>'Oh no; he's not a baronet, but a G.C.B., Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, +that is. Besides, I don't care for love, and titles, and all that nonsense, +though father is first cousin to Lord Rotherwood.'</p> +<p>'And you never saw any of them?'</p> +<p>'Yes, Aunt Lilias was at the Charing Cross Hotel with Uncle Jasper and the +two eldest daughters, Alethea and Phyllis, and some more of them, just before +they sailed; and father took me there on Sunday to luncheon; but there were so +many people, and such a talk, and such a bustle, that I hardly knew which was +which. Aunt Jane and Aunt Ada were a talking that it made my head turn round; +but I saw how affected Aunt Lilias is, and I knew that whenever they looked at +me they said 'poor child,' and I always hate any one who does that! All I was +afraid of then was that father would let Aunt Jane and Aunt Ada come and live +with us; but this is ever so much worse.'</p> +<p>'You have such a lot of aunts and uncles!' said Maude, 'and I have not got +anything but one old uncle.'</p> +<p>'Uncles are all very well,' said Dolores, said Maude. 'There are the two Miss +Mohuns--'</p> +<p>'Oh, that's beginning at the wrong end. Aunt Ada is the youngest of them all, +and she thinks she is a young lady still, and wears little curls on her +forehead, and a tennis pinafore, and makes her waist just like a wasp. She and +Aunt Jane live together at Rockquay, because she has bad health--at least she +has whenever she likes; and Aunt Jane does all sorts of charities and worries, +and sets everybody to rights,' said Dolly, in a very grown-up voice, speaking +partly from her own observation, and partly repeating what she had caught from +her elders.</p> +<p>'Oh yes, I know her,' said Maude. 'She asked me questions about all I did, +and she did bother mamma so about a maid she recommended that we are never going +to take another from her.'</p> +<p>'Aunt Phyllis comes between them, I believe; but she has married a sailor +captain and gone to settle in New Zealand, and I have not seen her since I was a +very little girl. Then there's Aunt Emily, who is a very great swell indeed. Her +husband was a canon, Lord Henry Grey; but he is dead, and she lives at Brighton, +a regular fat, comfortable down-pillow of a woman, who isn't bad to lunch with, +only she sends one out to the Parade with her maid, as if one was a baby. Mother +used to laugh at her. And I think there was an older one who went to India and +died long ago.'</p> +<p>'I have seen your two uncles. There's Major Mohun. Oh! he is fun!'</p> +<p>'Yes, dear old Uncle Regie! I wish he was not in Ireland. He will be so sorry +to miss seeing father off, but he can't get leave. And there was a clergyman who +is dead, and father grieved for very much. I think he did something to make them +all nicer to mother, for it was just after that we went to stay at Beechcroft +with Uncle William. You know him, and how mother used to call him the very model +of a country squire; and I like his wife, Aunt Alethea. Only it is very pokey +and slow down there, and they are always after flannel petticoats and soup +kitchens, and all the old fads that are exploded. I should get awfully tired of +it before a year was out, only I should not be teased with strange children, and +there would be no one to be jealous of me.'</p> +<p>'Can't you get your father to change and send you there?'</p> +<p>'Not a chance. You see Aunt Lilias had offered, and they haven't, and I must +go on with my education. I hope, though I shall have no advantages, I shall +still be able to go up for the Cambridge examination, if Aunt Lilias has not +prejudices, as I dare say she has, since of course none of her own will be able +to try.'</p> +<p>'You'll come up to us for the examination, Dolly dear, and we shall do it +together, and that will be nice!'</p> +<p>'If they will let me; but I don't expect to be allowed to do anything that I +wish. Only perhaps father may be come home by that time.'</p> +<p>'Is it three years?'</p> +<p>'Yes. It is a terrible time, isn't it? However, when I'm seventeen perhaps he +will talk to me, and I can really keep house.'</p> +<p>'And then you'll come back here?'</p> +<p>'Do you know, Maudie--listen--I've another uncle, belonging to mother.</p> +<p>'Oh, Dolly! I thought she had no one!'</p> +<p>'He told me he was my Uncle Alfred once when he met me in the park with +Fraulein, and gave me a note for mother. He is called Mr. Flinders.'</p> +<p>'But I thought your mother was daughter to Professor Hay?'</p> +<p>'But this is a half-brother; my grandmother was married before. Uncle Alfrey +has an immense light beard, and I think he is very poor. He came once or twice +to see mother, and they always sent me out of the room; but I am sure she gave +him money--not father's housekeeping money, but what she got for herself by +writing. Once I heard father go out of the house, saying, 'Well, it's your own +to do as you please with.' And then mother went to her room, and I know she +cried. It was the only time that ever mother cried!' And as Maude listened, much +impressed--'Once when she had got eleven pounds, and we were going to have +bought father such a binocular for a secret as a birthday present, Mr. Flinders +came, and she gave him ten of it, and we could only buy just a few slides for +father. And she told me she was grieved, but she could not help it, and it would +be time for me to understand when I was older.'</p> +<p>'I don't think this Uncle Alfrey can be nice,' said Maude.</p> +<p>''Tis quite disgusting if he kisses me,' said Dolly; 'but you see he is poor, +and all the Mohuns are stuck up, except father, and they wanted mother to +despise him, and not help him. And you see, she stuck to him. I don't like him +much; but you see nobody ever was like her! Oh, Maude, if she wasn't dead!'</p> +<p>And poor Dolores cried as she had not done even at the time of the accident, +or in the terrible week that followed, or at the desolate home coming.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER II<br> +THE MERRIFIELDS.</h3> +<p>The cool twilight of a long sunny summer's day was freshening the pleasant +garden of a country house, and three people were walking slowly along a garden +path enjoying the contrast with the heat, glare, and noise of the day. The +central one was a tall, slender lady, with a light shawl hung round her +shoulders. On one side was a youth who had begun to overtop her, on the other a +girl of shorter and sturdier mould, who only reached up to her shoulder.</p> +<p>'So she is coming!' the girl said.</p> +<p>'Yes, Uncle Maurice has answered my letter very kindly.'</p> +<p>'I should think he would be very much obliged,' observed the boy.</p> +<p>'Please, mamma, do tell us all about it,' said the girl. 'You know I stopped +directly when you made me a sign not to go on asking questions before the little +ones. And you said you should have to make us your friends while papa and the +grown-ups are away.'</p> +<p>'Well, Gillian, I know you can be discreet when you are warned, and perhaps +it is best that you should know how things stand. Do you remember anything about +it, Hal?'</p> +<p>'Only a general perception that there were tempests in the higher regions, +but I think that was more from hearing Alley and Phyl talk than from my native +sagacity.'</p> +<p>'So I should suppose, since you were only six years old, at the utmost.'</p> +<p>'But Uncle Maurice always was under a cloud, wasn't he, especially at +Beechcroft, where I never saw him or his wife in the holidays except once, when +I believe she was not at all liked, and was thought to be very proud, and +stuck-up, and pretentious.'</p> +<p>'But was she just nobody? not a lady?' cried Gillian. 'Aunt Emily always +called her, '"Poor thing."'</p> +<p>'Perhaps she did the same by Aunt Emily,' returned Hal.</p> +<p>'And I am sure I have heard Aunt Ada say that she wasn't a lady; and Aunt +Jane that she had all sorts of discreditable connections.'</p> +<p>'Come now, Gill, if you chatter so, how is mamma to get a word in between?'</p> +<p>'I'm afraid we have all been hard on her, poor thing!'</p> +<p>'There now, mamma has done it, just like Aunt Emily!'</p> +<p>'Anybody would be poor who got killed in a glacier!'</p> +<p>'No, but one doesn't say poor when people are--nice.'</p> +<p>'When I said poor,' now put in Lady Merrifield, 'it was not so much that I +was thinking of her death as of her having come into a family where nobody +welcomed her, and I really do not suppose it was her fault.'</p> +<p>'Moreover, she seemed to do very well without a welcome,' added Hal.</p> +<p>'Who is interrupting now?' cried Gillian, 'but was she a lady?'</p> +<p>'I never saw her, you know,' said the mother; 'but from all I ever heard of +her, I should think she was, and cleverer and more highly educated than any of +us.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Hal, 'that was the kind of pretension that exasperated them all +at Beechcroft, especially Uncle William.'</p> +<p>'I wonder if Dolores will have it!' said Gillian. 'I suppose she will know +much more than we do.'</p> +<p>'Probably, being the only child of such parents, and with every advantage +London can give. Maurice was always much the cleverest of us all, and with a +very strong mechanical and scientific turn, so that I now think it might have +been better to have let him follow his bent. But when we were young there was a +good deal of mistrust of anything outside the beaten tracks of gentlemanlike +professions, and my dear old father did not like what he heard of the course of +study for those lines. Things were not as they are now. So Maurice went to +Cambridge, and was fifth wrangler of his year, and then had to go to the bar. It +somehow always gave him a thwarted, injured feeling of working against the +grain, and he cultivated all these scientific pursuits to the utmost, getting +more and more into opinions and society that distressed grandpapa and Uncle +William. So he fell in with Mr. Hay, a professor at a German university. I can +hear William's tone of utter contempt and disgust. I believe this poor man was +exceedingly learned, and had made some remarkable discoveries, but he was very +poor, and lived in lodgings at Bonn with his daughter in the small way people +are content to do in Germany. As to his opinions, we all took it for granted +that he was a freethinker; but I can't tell how that might be. Maurice lodged in +the same house one year when he went to learn German and attend lectures, and he +went back again every long vacation. At last came your dear grandfather's death. +Maurice hurried away from Beechcroft immediately after the funeral, and the next +thing that was heard of him was that he had married Miss Hay. It was no wonder +that your Uncle William was bitterly hurt and offended at the apparent +disrespect to our father, and would make no move towards Maurice.'</p> +<p>'It was when we were at the Cape, wasn't it?' asked Hal.</p> +<p>'Yes, the year Gillian was born. Well, your dear Uncle Claude went to see +Maurice in London, and found there was much excuse. Maurice had learnt that the +old professor was dying, and his daughter had nothing, and would have had to be +a governess, so that Maurice had married her in haste in order to be able to +help them.'</p> +<p>'Then it really was very kind and noble in him!' exclaimed Gillian.</p> +<p>'And I believe every one would have felt it so; but for his unfortunately +reserved way of concealing the extent of the acquaintance, and showing that he +would not be interfered with. Claude did his best to close the breach, but there +had been something to forgive on both sides, and perhaps SHE was prouder than +the Mohuns themselves. Oh! my dears, I hope you will never have a family quarrel +among you! It is so sad to look back upon a change after the happy years when we +were all together, and were laughing and making fun of one another!'</p> +<p>'But you were quite out of it, mamma.'</p> +<p>'So I was in a way, but I knew nothing of the justification till too late for +any advances from us to take much effect. I am four years older than Maurice, we +had never been a pair, and had never corresponded. And when I wrote to him and +to his wife, I only received stiff, formal answers. They were abroad when we +were in London on coming home, and they would not come to see us at Belfast, so +that I could never make acquaintance with her; but I believe she was an +excellent wife, suiting him admirably in every way, and I expect to find this +little daughter of theirs very well brought up, and much forwarder than honest +old Mysie.'</p> +<p>'Mysie is in perfect raptures at the notion of having a cousin here exactly +of her own age,' said Gillian. 'What she would wish is that the two should be so +much alike as to be taken for twins. I have been trying to remember Dolores on +that dreadful Sunday at the hotel, when Uncle Maurice came to see us, just when +papa was setting off for Bombay, but it all seems confusion. I can think of +nothing but a little black, shy figure. I remember Phyllis telling me that she +thought I ought to do something to entertain her, but I could not think of a +word to say to her.'</p> +<p>'For which perhaps she was thankful,' said her brother.</p> +<p>'I am not sure. You are all too apt, when you are shy, to console yourself +with fancying that you are doing as you would be done by. It might have worried +her then perhaps, but it would have made it easier for her to begin among us +now! I am very glad her father consents to my having her! I do hope we may make +her happy.'</p> +<p>'Happy!' said Gillian. 'Anybody must be happy with such a number to play +with, and with you to mother her, mamma.'</p> +<p>'I am afraid she will not feel me much like her own mother, poor child! But +it will not be for want of the will. When I look back now I feel sorry for +myself for the early loss of my mother, for though we were all merry enough as +children and young people, there always seems to have been a lack of something +fostering and repressing. There was a kind of desolateness in our life, though +we did not understand it at the time. I am thankful you have not known it, my +dears.' There was a strange rush of tears nearly choking her voice, and she +shook them away with a sort of laugh. 'That I should cry for that at this time +of day!'</p> +<p>Gillian raised her face for a kiss, and even Harry did the same. Their hearts +were very full, as the perception swept over them in one flash what their lives +would have been without mamma. It seemed like the solid earth giving way under +their feet!</p> +<p>'I am very sorry for poor Dolores,' said Gillian presently. 'It seems as if +we could never be kind enough to her.'</p> +<p>'Yes. Indeed I hope we may do something towards supplying her with a real +home, wandering sprites as we have been,' said Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'What a name it is! Dolores! It is as bad as Peter Grievous! How did she get +it?' grumbled Harry.</p> +<p>'That I cannot tell, but I think we must call her Dora or Dolly, as I fancy +your Aunt Jane told me she was called at home. I hope Wilfred will not get hold +of it and tease her about it. You must defend her from that.'</p> +<p>'If we can,' said Gillian; 'but Wilfred is rather an imp.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Harry. 'I found Primrose reduced to the verge of distraction +yesterday because 'Willie would call her Leg of Mutton.''</p> +<p>'I hope you boxed his ears!' cried Gillian.</p> +<p>'I did give it to him well,' said Hal, laughing.</p> +<p>'Thank you,' said his mother. 'A big brother is more effective in such cases +than any one else can be. Wilfred is the only one of you all who ever seemed to +take pleasure in causing pain--and I hardly know how to meet the propensity.'</p> +<p>'He is the only one who is not quite certain to be nice with Dolores,' said +Gillian.</p> +<p>'And I really don't quite see how to manage,' said the mother. 'If we show +him our anxiety to shield her, it is very likely to direct his attention that +way.'</p> +<p>'She must take her chance,' said Hal, 'and if she is any way rational, she +can soon put a stop to it.'</p> +<p>'But, oh dear! I wish he could go to school,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'So do I, my dear,' returned her mother; 'but you know the doctors say we +must not risk it for another year, and I can only hope that as he grows +stronger, he may become more manly. Meantime we must be patient with him, and +Hal can help more than any one else. There--what's that striking?'</p> +<p>'Three quarters.'</p> +<p>'Then we must make haste in, or we shall not have finished supper before +ten.'</p> +<p>Lilias Mohun had married a soldier, and after many wanderings through +military stations, the health and education of a large proportion of her family +had necessitated her remaining at home with them, while her husband held a +command in India, taking out with him the two grown-up daughters and the second +son, who was on his staff. She was established in a large house not far from a +country town, for the convenience of daily governess, tutor, and masters. She +herself had grown up on the old system which made education depend more on the +family than on the governess, and she preferred honestly the company and +training of her children to going into society in her husband's absence. +Therefore she arranged her habits with a view to being constantly with them, and +though exchanging calls, and occasionally accepting invitations in the +neighbourhood, it was an understood thing that she went out very little. The +chief exceptions were when her eldest son, Harry, was at home from Oxford. He +was devotedly fond of her, and all the more pleased and proud to take her about +with him because it had not always been possible that his holidays in his school +life should be spent at home, and thus the privilege was doubly prized.</p> +<p>The two sisters above and one brother below him were in India with their +father, and Gillian was not yet out of the schoolroom, though this did not cut +her off from being her mother's prime companion. Then followed a schoolboy at +Wellington, named Jasper, two more girls, a brace of boys, and the five-year-old +baby of the establishment--sufficient reasons to detain Lady Merrifield in +England after more than twenty years of travels as a soldier's wife, so that +scarcely three of her children had the same birthplace. She had been able to see +very little of her English relations, being much tied by the number of her +children while all were very young, and the expense of journeys; but she was now +within easy reach of her two unmarried sisters, and after the Cape, Gibraltar, +Malta, and Dublin, the homes of her eldest sister, and of her eldest brother did +not seem very far off.</p> +<p>Indeed Beechcroft, the home of her childhood, had always been the +headquarters of herself and her children on their rare visits to England. Her +elder boys had been sure of a welcome there in the holidays, and loved it +scarcely less than she did herself; and when looking for her present abode, the +whole family had stayed there for three months. Her brother Maurice, however, +she had scarcely seen, and she had been much pained at being included in his +persistent avoidance of the whole family, who felt that he resented their +displeasure at his marriage even more since his wife's death than he had done +during her lifetime, as if he felt doubly bound, for her sake, not to forgive +and forget. At least so said some of the family, while others hoped that his +distaste to all intercourse with them only arose from the apathy succeeding a +great blow.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER III<br> +GOOD-BYE</h3> + +<p>A passage was offered to Mr. Mohun in a Queen's ship, and this hurried the +preparations so much that to Dolores it appeared that there was nothing but +bustle and confusion, from the day of her conversation with Maude, until she +found herself in the railway carriage returning from Plymouth with her eldest +uncle. Her father had intended to take her himself to Silverfold; but detentions +at the office in London, and then a telegram from Plymouth, had disconcerted his +plans, and when he found that his eldest brother would come and meet him at the +last, he was glad to yield to his little daughter's earnest desire to be with +him as long as possible.</p> +<p>Shy and reserved as both were, and almost incapable of finding expression for +their feelings, they still clung closely together, though the only tears the +girl was seen to shed came in church on the last Sunday evening, blinding and +choking, and she could barely restrain her sobs. Her father would have taken her +out, but she resisted, and leant against him, while he put his arm round her. +After this, whenever it was possible, she crept up to him, and he held her +close.</p> +<p>There had been no further discussion on her home. Lady Merrifield had written +kindly to her, as well as to her father, but that was small consolation to one +so well instructed by story books in the hypocrisy of aunts until fathers were +at a distance. And her father was so manifestly gratified by the letter, that it +would be of no use to say a word to him now. Her fate was determined, and, as +she heroically told Maude in their last interview, she was determined to make +the best of it. She would endure the unjust aunt, and jealous, silly cousins, +and be so clever, and wise, and superior, that she would force them to admire +and respect her, and by-and-by follow her example, and be good and sensible, so +that when father came home, he would find them acknowledging that they owed +everything to her; she had saved two or three of their lives, nursed half of +them when the other half were helpless, fainting, and hysterical, and, in short, +been the Providence of the household. Then father would look at her, and say, +'My Mary again!' and he would take her home, and talk to her with the free +confidence he had shown her mother, and would be comforted.</p> +<p>This was the hope that had carried her through the last parting, when she +went on board with her uncle and saw her father's cabin, and looked with a dull +kind of entertainment at all the curious arrangements of the big ship. It seemed +more like sight-seeing than good-bye, when at last they were sent on shore, and +hurried up to the station just in time for the train.</p> +<p>Uncle William was a very unapproachable person. He did not profess to +understand little girls. He looked at Dolores rather anxiously, afraid, perhaps, +that she was crying, and put her into the carriage, then rushed out and brought +back a handful of newspapers, giving her the Graphic, and hiding himself in the +Times.</p> +<p>She felt too dull and stunned to read, or to look at the pictures, though she +held the paper in her hands, and she gazed out dreamily at the Ton's and rocks +and woody ravines of Dartmoor as they flew past her, the leaves and ferns all +golden brown with autumn colouring. She had had little sleep that night; her +little legs had all the morning been keeping up with the two men's hasty steps, +and though an excellent meal had been set before her in the ship, she had not +been able to swallow much, and she was a good deal worn out. So when at last +they reached Exeter, and finding there would be two hours to wait, her uncle +asked whether she would come down into the town with him and see the Cathedral, +she much preferred to stay where she was. He put her under the care of the woman +in the waiting-room, who gave her some tea, took off her hat, and made her lie +down on a couch, where she slept quite sound for more than an hour, until she +was roused by some ladies coming in with a crying baby.</p> +<p>It was, she thought, nearly time to go on, for the gas was being lighted. She +put on her hat, and went out to look for her uncle on the platform, so as to get +into a better light to see the face of her mother's little Swiss watch, which +her father had just made over to her. She had just made out that there was not +more than a quarter of an hour to spare, when she heard an exclamation.</p> +<p>'By Jove! if that ain't Mary's little girl!' and, looking up she saw Mr. +Flinders' huge, bushy, light-coloured beard. 'Is your father here?' he asked.</p> +<p>'No; he sailed this afternoon.'</p> +<p>'Always my luck! Ticket wasted! Sailed--really?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes. We did not come back till the ship was out of harbour.'</p> +<p>He muttered some exclamation, and asked--</p> +<p>'Whom are you with?'</p> +<p>'Uncle William. Mr. Mohun--my eldest uncle. He will be back directly.'</p> +<p>Mr. Flinders whistled a note of discontent.</p> +<p>'Going to rusticate with him, poor little mite?' he asked.</p> +<p>'No. I'm to live with my Aunt Lilias--Lady Merrifield.'</p> +<p>'Where?'</p> +<p>'At Silverfold Grange, near Silverfold.'</p> +<p>'Well, you'll get among the swells. They'll make you cut all your poor +mother's connections. So there's an end of it. She was a good creature--she +was!'</p> +<p>'I'll never forget any one that belongs to her,' said Dolores. 'Oh, there's +Uncle William!' as on the top of the stairs she spied the welcome sight of his +grey locks and burly figure. Before he had descended, her other uncle had +vanished, and she fancied she had heard something about, 'Mum about our meeting. +Ta ta!'</p> +<p>Uncle William's eyes being less sharp than hers, he was on his way to the +waiting-room before she joined him, and as he had not seen her encounter, she +would not tell him. They were settled in the carriage again, and she was +tolerably refreshed. Mr. Mohun fell asleep, and she, after reading by the +lamp-light as long as she could find anything to read, gazed at the odd +reflections in the windows till she, too, nodded and dozed, half waking at every +station.</p> +<p>At last, she was aware of a stop in earnest, voices, and being called. There +was her uncle saying, 'Well, Hal, here we are!' and she was lifted out and set +on the platform, with gas all round. Her uncle was saying, 'We didn't get away +in time for the express,' and a young man was answering, 'We'd better put Dolly +into the waggonette at once. Then I'll see to the luggage.'</p> +<p>Very like a parcel, so stiff were her legs, she was bundled into the dark +cavern of a closed waggonette, and, after a little lumbering, her uncle and the +young man got in after her, saying something about eleven o'clock.</p> +<p>She was more awake now, and knew that they were driving through lighted +streets, and then, after an interval, turned into darkness, upon gravel, and +stopped at last before a door full of light, with figures standing up dark in +it. She heard a 'Well, William!' 'Well Lily, here we are at last!' Then there +were arms embracing her, and a kiss on each cheek, as a soft voice said, 'My +poor little girl! They wanted to sit up for you, but it was too late, and I dare +say you had rather be quiet.'</p> +<p>She was led into a lamp-lit room, which dazzled her. It was spread with food, +but she was too much tired to eat, and her aunt saw how it was, and telling +Harry to take care of his uncle, she took the hand--though it did not close on +hers--and, climbing up what seemed to Dolores an endless number of stairs, she +said--</p> +<p>'You are up high, my dear; but I thought you would like a room to yourself.'</p> +<p>'Poked away in an attic,' was Dolores's dreamy thought; while her aunt added, +to a tall, thin woman, who came out with a lamp in her hand--</p> +<p>'She is so tired that she had better go to bed directly, Mrs. Halfpenny. You +will make her comfortable, and don't let her be disturbed in the morning till +she has had her sleep out.'</p> +<p>Dolly found herself undressed, without many words, till it came to--'Your +prayers, Miss Dora. I am sure you've need not to miss them.'</p> +<p>She did not like to be told, besides, poor child, prayers were not much more +than a form to her. She did not contest the point, but knelt down and muttered +something, then laid her weary head on the pillow, was tucked up by Mrs. +Halfpenny, and left in the dark. It was a dreary half sleep into which she fell. +The noise of the train seemed to be still in her ears, and at the same time she +was always being driven up--up--up endless stairs, by tall, cruel aunts; or they +were shutting her up to do all their children's work, and keeping away father's +letters from her. Then she awoke and told herself it was a dream, but she missed +the noises of the street, and the patch of light on the wall from the gas lamps, +and recollected that father was gone, and she was really in the power of one of +these cruel aunts; and she felt like screaming, only then she might have been +heard; and a great horrid clock went on making a noise like a church bell, and +striking so many odd quarters that there was no guessing when morning was +coming. And after all, why should she wish it to come? Oh, if she could but +sleep the three years while father was away!</p> +<p>At last, however, she fell into a really calm sleep, and when she awoke, the +room was full of light, but her watch had stopped; she had been too much tired +to remember to wind it; and she lay a little while hearing sounds that made it +clear that the world was astir, and she could see that preparations had been +made for her getting up.</p> +<p>'They shan't begin by scolding me for being late,' she thought, and she began +her toilette.</p> +<p>Just as she came to her hair, the old nurse knocked and asked whether she +wanted help.</p> +<p>'Thank you, I've been used to dress myself,' said Dolores, rather proudly.</p> +<p>'I'll help you now, missy, for prayers are over, and they are all gone to +breakfast, only my lady said you were not to be disturbed, and Miss Mysie will +be up presently again to bring you down.'</p> +<p>She spoke low, and in an accent that Dolores afterwards learnt was Scotch; +and she was a tall, thin, bony woman, with sandy hair, who looked as if she had +never been young. She brushed and plaited the dark hair in a manner that seemed +to the owner more wearisome and less tender than Caroline's fashion; and did not +talk more than to inquire into the fashion of wearing it, and to say that Miss +Mohun's boxes had been sent from London, demanding the keys that they might be +unpacked.</p> +<p>'I can do that myself,' said Dolores, who did not like any stranger to meddle +with her things.</p> +<p>'Ye could tak them oot, nae doubt, but I must sort them. It's my lady's +orders,' said Mrs. Halfpenny, with all the determination of the sergeant, her +husband, and Dolores, with a sense of despair, and a sort of expectation that +she should be deprived of all her treasures on one plea or another, gave up the +keys.</p> +<p>Mrs. Halfpenny then observed that the frock which had been worn for the last +two days on the railway, and evening and morning, needed a better brushing and +setting to rights than she had had time to give it. She had better take out +another. Which box were her frocks in?</p> +<p>Dolores expected her heartless relations to insist on her leaving off her +mourning, and she knew she ought to struggle and shed tears over it; but, to +tell the truth, she was a good deal tired of her hot and fusty black; and when +she had followed Mrs. Halfpenny into a passage where the boxes stood uncorded; +and the first dress that came to light was a pretty fresh-looking holland that +had been sent home just before the accident, she exclaimed--</p> +<p>'Oh, let me put that on.'</p> +<p>'Bless me, miss, it has blue braid, and you in mourning for your poor mamma!'</p> +<p>Dolores stood abashed, but a grey alpaca, which she had always much disliked, +came out next, and Mrs. Halfpenny decided that with her black ribbons that would +do, though it turned out to be rather shockingly short, and to show a great +display of black legs; but as the box containing the clothes in present wear had +not come to hand, this must stand for the present--and besides, a voice was +heard, saying, 'Is Dora ready?' and a young person darted up, put her arms round +her neck, and kissed her before she knew what she was about. 'Mamma said I +should come because I am just your age, thirteen and a half,' she said. 'I'm +Mysie, though my proper name is Maria Millicent.'</p> +<p>Dolores looked her over. She was a good deal taller than herself, and had +rich-looking shining brown hair, dark brown eyes full of merriment, and a bright +rosy colour, and she danced on her active feet as if she were full of perpetual +life. 'All happy and not caring,' thought Dolores.</p> +<p>'Now don't fash Miss Mohun with your tricks. She has stood like a lamb,' said +Mrs. Halfpenny reprovingly. 'There, we'll not keep her to find an apron.'</p> +<p>'I don't wear pinafores,' said Mysie, 'but I don't mind pretty aprons like +this. 'Why, my sisters had them for tennis, before they went out to India. Come +along, Dora,' grasping her hand.</p> +<p>'My name isn't Dora,' said the new-comer, as they went down the passage.</p> +<p>'No,' said Mysie, in a low voice; 'but mamma told Gill--that's Gillian, and +me, that we had better not tell anybody, because if the boys heard they might +tease you so about it; for Wilfred is a tease, and there's no stopping him when +mamma isn't there. So she said she would call you Dora, or Dolly, whichever you +liked, and you are not a bit like a Dolly.'</p> +<p>'They always called me Dolly,' said Dolores; 'and if I am not to have my +name, I like that best; but I had rather have my proper name.'</p> +<p>'Oh, very well,' said Mysie; 'it is more out of the way, only it is very +long.'</p> +<p>By this time they had descended a long narrow flight of uncarpeted stairs, +'the back ones,' as Mysie explained, and had reached a slippery oak hall with +high-backed chairs, and all the odds and ends of a family-garden hats, +waterproofs, galoshes, bats, rackets, umbrellas, etc., ranged round, and a great +white cockatoo upon a stand, who observed--'Mysie, Cockie wants his breakfast,' +as they went by towards the door, whence proceeded a hubbub of voices and a +clatter of knives and jingle of teaspoons and cups, a room that as Mysie threw +open the door seemed a blaze of sunshine, pouring in at the large window, and +reflected in the glass and silver. Yes, and in the bright eyes and glossy hair +of the party who sat round the breakfast-table, further brightened by the fire, +pleasant in the early autumn.</p> +<p>Eyes, as it seemed to Dolores, eyes without number were levelled on her, as +Mysie led her in, saying--</p> +<p>'Here's a place by mamma; she kept it for you, between her and Uncle +William.'</p> +<p>'No, don't all jump up at once and rush at her,' said Lady Merrifield. 'Give +her a little time. Here, my dear;' and she held out her hand and drew in the +stranger to her, kissing her kindly, and placing her in a chair close to +herself, as she presided over the teacups--not at the end, but at the middle of +the table--while all that could be desired to eat and drink found its way at +once to Dolores, who had arrived at being hungry now, and was glad to have the +employment for hands and eyes, instead of feeling herself gazed at. She was not +so much occupied, however, as not to perceive that Uncle William's voice had a +free, merry ring in it, such as she had never heard in his visits to her father, +and that there was a great deal of fun and laughter going on over the thin +sheets of an Indian letter, which Aunt Lily was reading aloud.</p> +<p>No one seemed to be attending to anything else, when Dolores ventured to cast +a glance around and endeavour to count heads as she sat between her uncle and +aunt. Two boys and a girl were opposite. Harry, who had come to meet them last +night, was at one end of the table, a tall girl, but still a schoolroom girl, +was at the other, and Mysie had been lost sights of on her own side of the +table; also there was a very tiny girl on a high chair on the other side of her +mamma. 'Seven,' thought Dolores with sinking heart. 'Eight oppressors!'</p> +<p>They were mostly brown-eyed, well-grown creatures. One boy, at the further +corner, had a cast in his eye, and was thin and wizen-looking, and when he saw +her eyes on him, he made up an ugly face, which he got rid of like a flash of +lightning before any one else could see it, but her heart sank all the more for +it. He must be Wilfred, the teaser.</p> +<p>Aunt Lilias was a tall, slender woman, dressed in some kind of soft grey, +with a little carnation colour at her throat, and a pretty lace cap on her still +rich, abundant, dark brown hair, where diligent search could only detect a very +few white threads. Her complexion was always of a soft, paly, brunette tint, and +though her cheeks showed signs that she was not young, her dark, soft, +long-lashed eyes and sweet-looking lips made her face full of life and +freshness; and the figure and long slender hands had the kind of grace that some +people call willowy, but which is perhaps more like the general air of a young +birch tree, or, as Hal had once said, 'Early pointed architecture reminded him +of his mother.'</p> +<p>The little one was getting restless, and two of the boys began filliping +crumbs at one another.</p> +<p>'Wilfred! Fergus!' said the mother quite low and gently; but they stopped +directly. 'We will say grace,' she said, lifting the little one down. 'Now, +Primrose.'</p> +<p>Every one stood up, to Dolores' surprise, a pair of little fat hands were put +together, a little clear voice said a few words of thanksgiving perfectly +pronounced.</p> +<p>'You may go, if you like,' she said. 'Hal, take care of Prim.'</p> +<p>Up jumped the two boys and a sprite of a girl, who took the hand of little +Primrose, a beautiful little maiden with rich chestnut wavy curls. They all +paused at the door, the boys making a salute, the girls a little curtsey. +Primrose's was as pretty a little 'bob' as ever was seen.</p> +<p>'I am glad you keep that custom up,' said Mr. Mohun.</p> +<p>'Jasper had been brought up to it, and wished it to be the habit among us; +and I find it a great protection against bouncing and rudeness.'</p> +<p>But Dolly's blood boiled at such stupid, antiquated, military nonsense. She +would never give in to it, if they made her live on bread and water!</p> +<p>The uncle and aunt, who perhaps had lengthened out their breakfast from +politeness to her, had finished when she had, and the pony-chaise came to the +door, in which Hal was to drive Uncle William to the station. Everybody flocked +to the door to bid him good-bye, and then Aunt Lilias stooped down to ask +Dolores if she were quite rested and felt quite well, Mysie standing anxiously +by as if she felt her a great charge.</p> +<p>'Quite well, quite rested, thank you,' the girl answered in her stiff, shy +way.</p> +<p>'There is half an hour to spare before Miss Vincent comes. The children +generally spend it in feeding the creatures. I am not going to give a holiday, +because I think people get more pleasantly acquainted over something, than over +nothing, to do, but you need not begin lessons to-day if you had rather settle +your thoughts and write your letters.'</p> +<p>'I had rather begin at once,' said Dolores, who thought she would now +establish her pre-eminence at the cost of any amount of jealousy.</p> +<p>'Very well, then, when you hear the gong--'</p> +<p>'Mamma,' said Mysie solemnly, after long waiting, 'she says she had rather +not be called out of her name.'</p> +<p>'I thought you had been called Dolly, my dear.'</p> +<p>'Yes, at home,' with a strong emphasis.</p> +<p>'Well, my dear, I dare say it may be better to keep to your proper name at +once. We won't take liberties with it, till you feel as if you could call this +home,' said Lady Merrifield, looking as if she would have kissed her niece on +the slightest encouragement, but no one ever looked less kissable than Dolores +Mohun at that moment. Was it not cruel and hypocritical to talk of this tiresome +multitude as ever making home?</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IV.<br> +TURNED IN AMONG THEM</h3> + +<p>'Do you like pets?' asked Mysie eagerly, as her mother left the two girls +together.</p> +<p>'I never had any,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Oh how dreadful! Why, old Cockie, and Aga and Begum, the two oldest pussies, +have been everywhere with us. And, besides, there's Basto, the big Pyrenean dog, +and,--oh, here comes little Quiz, mamma's little Maltese--Quiz, Quiz.'</p> +<p>Dolores started, she did not like either dogs or cats; and the little +spun-glass looking dog smelt about her.</p> +<p>'I must go and feed my guinea-pig,' said Mysie; 'won't you come? Here are +some over shoes and Poncho.'</p> +<p>Dolores was afraid Poncho was another beast, but it turned out to be a sort +of cape, and she discovered that all the cloaks and most of the sticks had names +of their own. She was afraid to be left standing on the steps alone lest any +amount of animals or boys should fall on her there, so she consented to +accompany Mysie, who shuffled along in a pair of overshoes vastly too big for +her, since she had put her cousin into the well-fitting ones. She chattered all +the way.</p> +<p>'We do like this place so. It is the nicest we have ever been in. All that is +wanting is that papa will buy it, and then we shall never go away again.'</p> +<p>It was a pleasant place, though not grand; a homely-looking, roomy, red-brick +house, covered with creepers--the Virginian one with its leaves just beginning +to be painted. There was a bright sunny garden full of flowers in front, and +then a paddock, with cows belonging to a farmer, Mysie said. It was her ambition +to have them of their own 'when papa came home,' when all good things were to +happen. Behind there were large stable-yards and offices, too large for Lady +Merrifield's one horse and one pony, and thus available for the children's +menagerie of rabbits, guinea-pigs, magpie, and the like. On the way Mysie was +only too happy to explain the family as she called it, when she had recovered +from her astonishment that Dolores, always living in England, could not 'count +up her cousins.' 'Why they always had been shown their photographs on a Sunday +evening after the Bible pictures, and even little Primrose knew all the +likeness, even of those she had never seen.'</p> +<p>The catalogue of names and ages followed.</p> +<p>Dolores heard it with a feeling of bewilderment, and a sense that one Maude +was worth all the eight put together with whom she was called on to be familiar. +She found herself standing in a court, rather grass-grown, where Gillian, with +little Primrose by her side, was flinging peas to a number of pigeons, grey, +white, and brown, who fluttered round her. Valetta and Fergus were on the +granary steps, throwing meal and sop mixed together to a host of cackling, +struggling fowls, who tried to leap over each other's backs. Wilfred seemed busy +at some hutches where some rabbits twitched their noses at cabbage leaves. Mysie +proceeded to minister to some black and rust-coloured guinea-pigs, which Dolores +thought very ugly, uninteresting, and odorous.</p> +<p>Then there were dogs jumping about everywhere, and cats and kittens parading +before people's feet, so that Dolores felt as if she had been turned into a den +of wild beasts, and resolved against ever again venturing into the court at +'feeding-time.' A big bell gathered all the children up together into a race to +the house. There was another scurry to change shoes and wash hands, and then +Mysie conducted her cousin into a large, cheerful, wainscoted room on the ground +floor, with deep windows, and numerous little, solid-looking deal tables. There +were Lady Merrifield and a young lady in spectacles, to whom Dolores was +presented as 'your new pupil,' and every one sat down at one of the little +tables, on which there were Bibles and Prayer-books.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield took the two youngest on each side of her. Dolores found a +table ready for her with the books. A passage in the New Testament was given out +and read verse by verse, to the end of the subject, which was the Parable of the +Tares, and then Lady Merrifield gave a short lesson on it, asking questions, and +causing references to be found, according to a book of notes, she had ready at +hand.</p> +<p>'Just like a charity school,' thought Dolores, when she was able to glance at +the time-table, and saw that two days in the week there was Old Testament, two +days New, one day Catechism, one day Prayer-book. Only half an hour was thus +appropriated, but to her mind it was an old-fashioned waste of time, and very +tiresome.</p> +<p>Then came a ring at the door-bell. 'Mr. Poulter,' she heard, and to her +amazement, she found that Gillian and Mysie, as well as their brothers, had +Latin lessons in the dining-room with the curate. The two girls and Fergus only +went to him every other day, Wilfred every day, as Gillian was learning Greek +and mathematics. What was Dolores to do?</p> +<p>'Have you done any Latin, my dear?' asked her aunt.</p> +<p>'Not yet. Father wished to be quite convinced that the professor was a good +scholar,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Very well. We will wait a little,' said Aunt Lilias, and Dolores indignantly +thought that she was amused.</p> +<p>Mysie was sent off to her music in the drawing-room, whither her mother +followed with Primrose's little lessons, leaving the schoolroom piano to +Valetta, and Fergus to write copies and to do sums, while Miss Vincent examined +the new-comer, which she did by giving her some questions to answer in writing, +and some French and German to translate and parse also in writing.</p> +<p>The music was inconvenient to a girl who had always prepared her work alone. +She could do the language work easily, but the questions teased her. They seemed +to her of no use, and quite out of her beat. No dates, none of the subject she +had specially got up. Why, if Miss Vincent did not know that people were not to +be expected to answer stupid questions about history quite out of their own +line, that was her fault.</p> +<p>She did what she knew, and then sat biting the top of her pen till her aunt +came back, and there was a change in occupations all round, resulting in her +having to read French aloud, which she knew she did well; but it was provoking +to find that Gillian read quite as well, and knew a word at which she had made a +shot, and a wrong one.</p> +<p>She heard the observation pass between her aunt and the governess, 'Languages +fair, but she seems to have very little general information.'</p> +<p>General information, indeed! Just as if she who had lived in London, gone to +lectures, and travelled on the Continent, must not know more than these children +cast up and down in a soldier's life; and as if her Fraulein, with all her +diplomas, must not be far superior to a mere little daily governess, and a +mother! It was all for the sake of depreciating her.</p> +<p>At twelve o'clock, to her further indignation, she found there was to be an +hour of reading aloud and of needlework-actual plain needlework. The three girls +were making under-garments for themselves; and on Dolores proving to have no +work of any sort, her aunt sent Gillian to the drawer, and produced a child's +pinafore, which she was desired to hem. Each, however, had a quarter of an +hour's reading aloud of history to do in turn, all from one big book, a history +of Rome, and there was a map hung up over the black board, where they were in +turn to point to the places mentioned. Before Gillian began reading, the date, +and something about the former lesson was required to be told by the children, +and it came quite readily, Valetta especially declaring that she did love +Pyrrhus, which the others seemed to think very bad taste.</p> +<p>Dolores knew nothing about ancient history, and thought it foolish to study +anything that did not tell in a Cambridge examination; but she supposed they +knew no better down there; and when it came to her turn to read, she mangled the +names so, that Val burst out laughing when she spoke of A-pious-Claudius. Lady +Merrifield hushed this at once, and the girl read in a bewildered manner, and as +one affronted. She saw he aunt looking at her piece of hemming, which, to say +the truth, would not have done credit to Primrose, and the recollection came +across her of all the oppressed orphans who had been made household drudges, so +that her reading did not become more intelligible. As the clock struck one, a +warning gong was heard; everybody jumped up, the work was folded away, and with +the obeisance at the door, Gillian and Val ran away.</p> +<p>Mysie stayed a little longer, it being her turn to tidy the room; and Lady +Merrifield said to Dolores--</p> +<p>'I must teach you how to hold your needle tomorrow, my dear.'</p> +<p>'I hate work,' responded Dolores.</p> +<p>'Val does not like it,' said her aunt; 'nor indeed did I at your age; but one +cannot be an independent woman without being able to take care of one's own +clothes, so I resolved that these children should learn better than I did. Do +you like a take a run with Mysie before dinner? Or there is the amusing shelf. +Books may be taken out after one o'clock, and they must be put back at eight, or +they are confiscated for the ensuing day,' she added, pointing to a paper below +where this sentence was written.</p> +<p>Dolores was still rather tired, and more inclined to make friends with the +books than with the cousins. There were fewer than she expected, and nothing +like so many absolute stories as she was used to reading with Maude Sefton.</p> +<p>'Those are such grown-up books,' she said to Mysie, who came to assist her +choice, and pointed to the upper shelves.</p> +<p>'Oh, but grown-up books are nicest!' returned Mysie; 'at least, when they +don't begin being stupid and marrying too soon. They must do it at last to get +out of the story, and it's nicer than dying, but they can have lots of nice +adventures first. But here are the 'Feats on the Fiords' and the 'Crofton Boys' +and 'Water Babies,' and all the volumes of 'Aunt Judy,' if you like the younger +sort. Or the dear, dear 'Thorn Fortress;' that's good for young and old.'</p> +<p>'Haven't you any books of your own?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes; this 'Thorn Fortress' is Val's, and 'A York and a Lancaster Rose' is +mine, but whenever any one gives us a book, if it is not a weeny little gem like +Gill's 'Christian Year,' or my 'Little Pillow,' or Val's 'Children in the Wood,' +we bring it to mother, and if it is nice, we keep it here, for every one to +read. If it is just rather silly, and stupid, we may read it once, and then she +keeps it; and if it is very silly indeed, she puts it out of the way.'</p> +<p>Mysie said it as if it had been killing an animal.</p> +<p>'Have you got many books?'</p> +<p>'Yes; but I don't mean to have them knocked about by all the boys, nor put +out of the way neither.'</p> +<p>'Mamma said we were to be all like sisters,' said Mysie, with rather a +craving for the new books; but Dolores tossed up her head and said--</p> +<p>'We can't be. It's nonsense to say so.'</p> +<p>To her surprise, Mysie turned round to Lady Merrifield, who was looking at +some exercises that Miss Vincent had laid before her.</p> +<p>'Mamma,' she said, 'is it fair that Dolores should read our books, if she +won't give you up hers to look over, and be like ours?'</p> +<p>'Mysie,' said Lady Merrifield, 'you can't expect Dolores to like all our home +plans till she is used to them. No, my dear, you need not be afraid; you shall +keep your books in your own room, and nobody shall meddle with them. I am sure +your cousins would not wish to be so unkind as to deprive you of the use of +theirs.'</p> +<p>By the time Dolores had made up her mind to take 'Tom Brown,' it was time for +the general flight to prepare for dinner, and she found her room made to look +very pleasant, and almost homelike, for her books and little knickknacks had +been put out, not quite as she preferred, but still so as to make the place seem +like her own. She was pleased enough to be quite gracious to Mysie and Val who +came to visit her, and to offer to let them read any of her books; when they +both thanked her and said--</p> +<p>'If mamma lets us.'</p> +<p>'Oh, then you won't have them,' said Dolores; 'I'm not going to let her have +my books to take away.'</p> +<p>'You don't think she would take them away, when she said she wouldn't?' said +Mysie, hotly.</p> +<p>'Why, what would she do if she didn't happen to approve of them?'</p> +<p>'Only tell us not to read them.'</p> +<p>'And wouldn't you?'</p> +<p>'Why, Dolores!' in such a tone as made her ashamed of her question; and she +said, 'Well, father never makes any fuss about what I read. He has other things +to think of.'</p> +<p>'How do you get books, then?'</p> +<p>'I buy them. And Maude Sefton, she's my great friend, has lots given to her, +but nobody bothers about reading them. They aren't grown-up books, you know.'</p> +<p>'How stupid,' said Val. 'You had better read the 'Talisman,' and then you'll +see how nice a grown-up book is.'</p> +<p>'The 'Talisman!' Why, Maude Sefton's brother had to get it up for his holiday +task, and he said it was all rot and bosh.'</p> +<p>'What a horridly stupid boy he must be,' returned Mysie. 'Why, I remember +when Jasper once had the 'Talisman' to do, and the big ones were so delighted. +Mamma read it out, and I was just old enough to listen. I remembered all about +Sir Kenneth and Roswal.'</p> +<p>'Tom Sefton's not stupid!' said Dolores, in wrath; 'but--but the book is +stupid and out of date! I heard father and the professor say it was gone by.'</p> +<p>Mysie and Valetta looked perfectly astounded, and Dolores pursued her +advantage.</p> +<p>'Of course it is all very well for you that have never lived in London, nor +had any advantages.'</p> +<p>'But we have advantages!' cried Val.</p> +<p>'You don't know what advantages are,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'There's the gong,' cried Mysie, and down they all plunged into the +dining-room, where the family were again collected, with Hal at one end and his +mother at the other.</p> +<p>Dolores was amazed when, at the first pause, after every one was help, +Valetta's voice arose.</p> +<p>'Mamma, what are advantages?'</p> +<p>'Don't you know, Val?'</p> +<p>'Dolores says we haven't any. And I said we have. And she says I don't know +what advantages are.'</p> +<p>Hal and Gillian were both laughing with all their might. Their mother kept +her countenance, and said--</p> +<p>'I suppose every one has advantages of some sort, and perhaps without knowing +them.'</p> +<p>'I'm sure I know,' cried Fergus.</p> +<p>'Well, what are they?' asked Harry.</p> +<p>'Having mamma!' cried the little boy.</p> +<p>'Hear, hear! That's right, Fergy man! Couldn't be better!' cried Harry, and +there was a general acclamation, which inspired gentle Mysie with the fear that +her motherless cousin might feel the contrast, and, though against rules, she +whispered--</p> +<p>'She will make you like one of us.'</p> +<p>'That wasn't what I meant,' returned Dolores, a little contemptuously.</p> +<p>'What did you mean?' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'Why, you've no classes, nor lectures, nor master, and only just a mere daily +governess.'</p> +<p>Dolores did not mean this to be heard beyond her neighbour, but Mysie +demanded--</p> +<p>'What, do you want to be doing lessons all day long?'</p> +<p>'No, but good governesses never are daily!'</p> +<p>'That's a pity,' said Gillian, turning round on her. 'Perhaps you don't know +that Miss Vincent has a First Class Cambridge Certificate in everything, and is +daily, because she likes to live with her mother.'</p> +<p>'I think,' added Lady Merrifield, with a smile, 'that Dolores has been in the +way of seeing more clever people, and getting superior teaching of some kind, +but we will do the best we can for her, and try not to let her miss many +advantages.'</p> +<p>Dolores felt a little abashed, and decidedly angry at being put in the wrong.</p> +<p>The elders kindly turned away the general attention from her. There was a +great deal of merry family fun going on, which was quite like a new language to +her. Fergus and Primrose wanted to go out in search of blackberries. Gillian +undertook to drive them in the cart, but as the donkey had once or twice refused +to cross a little stream of water that traversed the road, the brothers foretold +that she would ignominiously come back again.</p> +<p>'Gill and water are perilous!' observed Hal.</p> +<p>'Jack's not here,' said Gillian; 'besides, it is down, not up the hill, and +I'm sure I don't want to draw a pail of water.'</p> +<p>'No--Sancho will do that.'</p> +<p>'The gong will sound and sound, buzz and roar,' said Wilfred. 'No Gill! no +little ones! We shall send out and find them stuck fast in the lane, Sancho with +his feet spread out wide, Gill with three or four sticks lying broken on the +road round her, the kids reduced to eating blackberries like the children in the +wood.'</p> +<p>'Don't Fred,' said Gillian. 'You'll frighten them.'</p> +<p>'Little donkeys!' said Wilfred.</p> +<p>'If they were, we shouldn't want Sancho,' said Val.</p> +<p>It was not a very sublime bit of wit, but there was a great laugh at it all +round the table. Val and Fergus declared they would go too, till they heard that +Nurse Halfpenny said she would not let the little ones go out without her to +tear their clothes to pieces.</p> +<p>Every one unanimously declared that would be no fun at all, and turned to +mamma to beg her to forbid nurse to come out and spoil everything.</p> +<p>'That's just her view,' said mamma, laughing; 'she thinks you spoil +everything.'</p> +<p>'Oh, that's clothes! Spoiling fun is worse.'</p> +<p>'But were you really going with the old Halfpenny, Gill?' said Mysie, turning +to her.</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Gillian. 'You know I can manage her pretty well when it is only +the little ones and they wouldn't have any pleasure otherwise.'</p> +<p>'Oh come, Gill,' intreated Fergus, 'or nurse will make us sit in the +donkey-cart all the time while Lois picks the blackberries!'</p> +<p>'Mamma, do tell her not to come,' intreated Valetta, and more of them joined +in with her.</p> +<p>'No, my dears, I don't like to vex her when she thinks she is doing her +duty.'</p> +<p>'She wouldn't come if you did, mamma,' and there was a general outcry of +intreaty that mamma would come with them, and defend them from Mrs. Halfpenny, +as Fergus, who was rather a formal little fellow, expressed it, and mamma, after +a little consideration, consented to drive the pony-carriage in that direction, +and to announce to Nurse Halfpenny that she herself would take charge of the +children. Whereupon there was a whoop and a war-dance of jubilee, quite +overwhelming to Dolores, who could not but privately ask Mysie if Nurse +Halfpenny was so very cross.</p> +<p>'Awfully,' said Mysie, and Wilfred added--</p> +<p>'As savage as a bear with a sore head.'</p> +<p>'Like Mrs. Crabtree?' asked Dolores.</p> +<p>'Exactly. Jasper called her so when he wanted to lash her up, till at lash +she got hold of his 'Holiday House' and threw it into the sea, and it was in +Malta and we couldn't get another,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'And haven't you one?'</p> +<p>'Yes, Gill and I save for it; but mamma only let us have it on condition we +made a solemn promise never to tease nurse about it.'</p> +<p>'And does she go at you with that dreadful thing--what's it name--the tawse?'</p> +<p>'Ah! you'll soon know,' said Wilfred.</p> +<p>'No, no; nonsense, Fred,' said Mysie, as Dolores' face worked with +consternation. 'She never hits us, not if we are ever so tiresome. Papa and +mamma would not let her.'</p> +<p>'But why do they let her be so dreadful? Maude's nurse used to be horrid and +slap her, and when her mother found it out the woman was sent away directly.'</p> +<p>Nurse Halfpenny isn't that sort,' said Mysie. 'Her husband was papa's +colour-sergeant, and he got a sun-stroke and died, and then she came when +Gillian was just born, and so weak and tiny that she would never have lived if +nurse hadn't watched her day and night, and so Gillian's her favourite, except +the youngest, and she is ever so good, you know. I've heard the ladies, when we +were with the dear old 111th, telling mamma how they envied her her trustworthy +treasure.'</p> +<p>'I'm sure they might have had her at half-price,' said Wilfred. 'She's be +dear at a farthing!'</p> +<p>At that moment Mrs. Halfpenny's voice was heard demanding if it were really +her ladyship's pleasure to go out, fatiguing herself to the very death with all +the children rampaging about her and tearing themselves to pieces, if not +poisoning themselves with all sorts of nasty berries.</p> +<p>'Indeed I'll take care of them and bring them back safe to you,' responded +her ladyship, very much in the tone of one of her own children making promises. +'Put them on their brown hollands and they can't come to much harm.'</p> +<p>'Well, if it's your wish, ma'am, my leddy; what must be, must, but I know how +it will be--you'll come back tired out, fit to drop, and Miss Val and Miss +Primrose won't have a rag fit to be seen on them. But if it's your will, what +must be must, for you're no better than a bairn yourself, general's lady though +you be, and G.C.B.'</p> +<p>'No, nurse, you'll be G.C.B.--Grand Commander of the Bath--when we come +home,' called out Hall, who was leaning on the banister at the bottom, and there +was a general laugh, during which Dolly tardily climbed the stairs, so tardily +that her aunt, meeting her, asked whether she was still tired, and if she would +rather have the afternoon to arrange her room.</p> +<p>She said 'yes,' but not 'thank you,' and went on, relieved that Mysie did not +offer to stay and help her, and yet rather offended at being left alone, while +all the others went their own way. She heard them pattering and clattering, +shouting and calling up and down the passages, and then came a great silence, +while they could be seen going down the drive, some on foot, some in the +pony-chaise or donkey-cart.</p> +<p>Her things had all been unpacked and put in order, and her room had a very +cheerful window. It was prettily furnished with fresh pink and white dimity, and +choice-looking earthenware, but to London eyes like those of Dolores it seemed +very old-fashioned and what she called 'poked up.' The paper was ugly, the +chimney-piece was a narrow, painting thing, of the same dull, stone-colour as +the door and the window-frame. And then the clear air, the perfect stillness, +the absence of anything moving in the view from the window gave the city-bred +child a sense of dreadful loneliness and dreariness as she sat on the side of +her bed, with one foot under her, gazing dolefully round her, and in he head +composing her own memoirs.</p> +<p>'Fully occupied with their own plans and amusements, the lonely orphan was +left in solitude. Her aunt knew not how her heart ached after the home she had +left, but the machine of the family went its own way and trod her under its +wheels.'</p> +<p>This was such a fine sentence that it was almost a comfort, and she thought +of writing it to Maude Sefton, but as she got up to fetch her writing-case from +the schoolroom, she saw that her books were standing just in the way she did not +like, and with all the volumes mixed up together. So she tumbled them all out of +the shelves on the floor, and at that moment Mrs. Halfpenny looked into the +room.</p> +<p>'Well, to be sure!' she exclaimed, 'when me and Lois have been working at +them books all the morning.'</p> +<p>'They were all nohow--as I don't like them,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Oh, very well, please yourself then, miss, if that's all the thanks you have +in your pocket, you may put them up your own way, for all I care. Only my lady +will have the young ladies' rooms kept neat and orderly, or they lose marks for +it.'</p> +<p>'I don't want any help,' said Dolores, crossly, and Mrs. Halfpenny shut the +door with a bang. 'The menials are insulting me,' said Dolores to herself, and a +tear came to her eye, while all the time there was a certain mournful +satisfaction in being so entirely the heroine of a book.</p> +<p>She went to work upon her books, at first hotly and sharply, and very +carefully putting the tallest in the centre so as to form a gradual ascent with +the tops and not for the world letting a second volume stand before its elder +brother, but she soon got tired, took to peeping at one or two parting gifts +which she had not yet been able to read, and at last got quite absorbed in the +sorrows of a certain Clare, whose golden hair was cut short by her wicked aunt, +because it outshone her cousin's sandy locks. There was reason to think that a +tress of this same golden hair would lead to her recognition by some grandfather +of unknown magnificence, as exactly like that of his long-lost Claribel, and +this might result in her assuming splendours that would annihilate the aunt. +Things seemed tending to a fracture of the ice under the cruellest cousin of +all, and her rescue by Clare, when they would be carried senseless into the +great house, and the recognition of Clare and the discomfiture of her foes would +take place. How could Dolores shut the book at such a critical moment!</p> +<p>So there she was sitting in the midst of her scattered books, when the +galloping and scampering began again, and Mysie knocked at the door to tell her +there were pears, apples, biscuits, and milk in the dining-room, and that after +consuming them, lessons had to be learnt for the next day, and then would follow +amusements, evening toilette, seven o'clock tea, and either games or reading +aloud till bedtime. As to the books, Mysie stood aghast.</p> +<p>'I thought nurse and Lois had done them all for you.'</p> +<p>'They did them all wrong, so I took them down.'</p> +<p>Oh, dear! We must put them in, or there'll be a report.'</p> +<p>'A report!'</p> +<p>'Yes, Nurse Halfpenny reports us whenever she doesn't find our rooms tidy, +and then we get a bad mark. Perhaps mamma wouldn't give you one this first day, +but it is best to make sure. Shall I help you, or you won't have time to eat any +pears?'</p> +<p>Dolores was thankful for help, and the books were scrambled in anyhow on the +shelves; for Mysie's good nature was endangering her share of the afternoon's +gouter, though perhaps it consoled her that her curiosity was gratified by a +hasty glance at the backs of her cousin's story-books.</p> +<p>By the time the two girls got down to the dining-table, every one had left +the room, and there only remained one doubtful pear, and three baked apples, +besides the loaf and the jug of milk. Mysie explained that not being a regular +meal, no one was obliged to come punctually to it, or to come at all, but these +who came tardily might fare the worse. As to the blackberries, for which Dolores +inquired, the girls were going to make jam of them themselves the next day; but +Mysie added, with an effort, she would fetch some, as her cousin had had none in +the gathering.</p> +<p>'Oh no, thank you; I hate blackberries,' said Dolores, helping herself to an +apple.</p> +<p>'Do you?' said Mysie, blankly. 'We don't. They are such fun. You can't think +how delicious the great overhanging clusters are in the lane. Some was up so +high that Hal had to stand up in the cart to reach them, and to take Fergus up +on his shoulder. We never had such a blackberrying as with mamma and Hal to help +us. And only think, a great carriage came by, with some very grand people in it; +we think it was the Dean; and they looked down the lane and stared, so surprised +to see what great mind to call out, 'Fee, faw, fum.' You know nothing makes such +a good giant as Fergus standing on Hal's shoulders, and a curtain over them to +hide Hal's face. Oh dear, I wish I hadn't told you! You would have been a new +person to show it to.'</p> +<p>Dolores made very little answer, finished her apple, and followed to the +schoolroom, where an irregular verb, some geography, and some dates awaited her.</p> +<p>Then followed another rush of the populace for the evening meal of the live +stock, but in this Dolores was too wary to share. She made her way up to her +retreat again, and tried to lose the sense of her trouble and loneliness in a +book. Then came the warning bell, and a prodigious scuffling, racing and +chasing, accompanied by yells as of terror and roars as of victory, all cut +short by the growls of Mrs. Halfpenny. Everything then subsided. The world was +dressing; Dolores dressed too, feeling hurt and forlorn at no one's coming to +help her, and yet worried when Mysie arrived with orders from Mrs. Halfpenny to +come to her to have her sash tied.</p> +<p>'I think a servant ought to come to me. Caroline always does,' said the only +daughter with dignity.</p> +<p>'She can't, for she is putting Primrose to bed. Oh, it's so delicious to see +Prim in her bath,' said Mysie, with a little skip. 'Make haste, or we shall miss +her, the darling.'</p> +<p>Dolores did not feel pressed to behold the spectacle, and not being in the +habit of dressing without assistance, she was tardy, and Mysie fidgeted about +and nearly distracted her. Thus, when she reached the nursery, Primrose was +already in her little white bed-gown, and was being incited by Valetta to caper +about on her cot, like a little acrobat, as her sisters said, while Mrs. +Halfpenny declared that 'they were making the child that rampageous, she should +not get her to sleep till midnight.'</p> +<p>They would have been turned out much sooner, and Primrose hushed into +silence, if nurse's soul had not been horrified by the state of Dolores' hair +and the general set of her garments.</p> +<p>'My certie!' she exclaimed--a dreadful exclamation in the eyes of the family, +who knew it implied that in all her experience Mrs. Halfpenny had never known +the like! And taking Dolores by the hand, she led the wrathful and indignant +girl back into her bedroom, untied and tied, unbuttoned and buttoned, brushed +and combed in spite of the second bell ringing, the general scamper, and the +sudden apparition of Mysie and Val, whom she bade run away and tell her +leddyship that 'Miss Mohoone should come as soon as she was sorted, but she +ought to come up early to have her hair looked to, for 'twas shame to see how +thae fine London servants sorted a motherless bairn.'</p> +<p>Dolores felt herself insulted; she turned red all over, with feelings the old +Scotchwoman could not understand. She expected to hear the message roared out to +the whole assembly round the tea-table, but Mysie had discretion enough to +withhold her sister from making it public.</p> +<p>The tea itself, though partaken of by Lady Merrifield, seemed an indignity to +the young lady accustomed to late dinners. After it, the whole family played at +'dumb crambo.' Dolores was invited to join, and instructed to 'do the thing you +think it is;' but she was entirely unused to social games, and thought it only +ridiculous and stupid when the word being a rhyme to ite, Fergus gave rather too +real a blow to Wilfred, and Gillian answered, ''Tis not smite;' Wilfred held out +a hand, and was told, ''Tis not right;' Val flourished in the air as if holding +a string, and was informed that 'kite' was wrong; when Hal ran away as if +pursued by Fergus by way of flight; and Mysie performed antics which she was +finally obliged to explain were those of a sprite. Dolores could not recollect +anything, and only felt annoyed at being made to feel stupid by such nonsense, +when Mysie tried to make her a present of a suggestion by pointing to the back +of a letter. Neither write nor white would come into her head, though little +Fergus signalized himself, just before he was swept off to bed, by seizing a pen +and making strokes!</p> +<p>After his departure, Lady Merrifield read aloud 'The Old oak Staircase,' +which had been kept to begin when Dolores came, Hal taking the book in turn with +his mother. And so ended Dolores' first day of banishment.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER V.<br> +THE FIRST WALK</h3> + +<p>'What a lot of letters for you, mamma!' cried Mysie.</p> +<p>'Papa!' exclaimed Fergus and Primrose.</p> +<p>'No, it is not the right day, my dears. But here is a letter from Aunt Ada.'</p> +<p>'Oh!' in a different tone.</p> +<p>'She writes for Aunt Jane. They will come down here next Monday because Aunt +Jane is wanted to address the girls at the G.F.S. festival on Tuesday.'</p> +<p>'Aunt Jane seems to have taken to public speaking,' said Harry. 'It would be +rather a lark to hear her.'</p> +<p>'You may have a chance,' said Lady Merrifield, 'for here is a note from Mrs. +Blackburn to ask if I will be so very kind as to let them have the festival +here. They had reckoned upon Tillington Park, where they have always had it +before, but they hear that all the little Tillingtons have the measles, and they +don't think it safe to venture there.'</p> +<p>'It will be great fun!' said Gillian. 'We will have all sorts of games, only +I'm afraid they will be much stupider than the Irish girls.'</p> +<p>'And ever so much stupider than the dear 111th children,' sighed Mysie.</p> +<p>'Aren't they all great big girls?' asked Valetta, disconsolately.</p> +<p>'I believe twelve years old is the limit,' said her mother. 'Twelve-year-old +girls have plenty of play in them, Vals, haven't they, Mysie? Let me see--two +hundred and thirty of them.'</p> +<p>'For you to feast?' asked Harry.</p> +<p>'Oh, no--that cost comes out of their own funds, Mrs. Blackburn takes care to +tell me, and Miss Hacket will find some one in Siverfold who will provide tables +and forms and crockery. I must go down and talk to Miss Hacket as soon as +lessons are over. Or perhaps it would save time and trouble if I wrote and asked +her to come up to luncheon and see the capabilities of the place. Why, what's +the matter?' pausing at the blank looks.</p> +<p>'The jam, mamma--the blackberry jam!' cried Valetta.</p> +<p>'Well?'</p> +<p>'We can't do it without Gill, and she will have to be after that Miss +Constance,' explained Val.</p> +<p>'Oh! never mind. She won't stay all the afternoon,' said Gillian, cheerfully. +'Luncheon people don't.'</p> +<p>'Yes, but then there will be lessons to be learnt.'</p> +<p>'Look here, Val,' said Gillian, 'if you and Mysie will learn your lessons for +tomorrow while I'm bound to Miss Con., I'll do mine some time in the evening, +and be free for the jam when she is gone.'</p> +<p>'The dear delicious jam!' cried Val, springing about upon her chair; and Lady +Merrifield further said--</p> +<p>'I wonder whether Mysie and Dolores would like to take the note down. They +could bring back a message by word of mouth.'</p> +<p>'Oh, thank you, mamma!' cried Mysie.</p> +<p>'Then I will write the note as soon as we have done breakfast. Don't dawdle, +Fergus boy.'</p> +<p>'Mayn't I go?' demanded Wilfred.</p> +<p>'No, my dear. It is your morning with Mr. Poulter. And you must take care not +to come back later than eleven, Mysie dear; I cannot have him kept waiting. +Dolores, do you like to go?'</p> +<p>'Yes, please,' said Dolores, partly because it was at any rate gain to escape +from that charity-school lesson in the morning, and partly because Valetta was +looking at her in the ardent hope that she would refuse the privilege of the +walk, and it therefore became valuable; but there was so little alacrity in her +voice that her aunt asked her whether she were quite rested and really liked the +walk, which would be only half a mile to the outskirts of the town.</p> +<p>Dolores hated personal inquiries beyond everything, and replied that she was +quite well, and didn't mind.</p> +<p>So soon as she and Mysie had finished, they were sent off to get ready, while +Aunt Lilias wrote her note in pencil at the corner of the table, which she never +left, while Fergus and Primrose were finishing their meal; but she had to +silence a storm at the 'didn't mind'--Gillian even venturing to ask how she +could send one to whom it was evidently no pleasure to go. 'I think she likes it +more than she shows,' said the mother, 'and she wants air, and will settle to +her lessons the better for it. What's that, Val?'</p> +<p>'It was my turn, mamma,' said Valetta, in an injured voice.</p> +<p>'It will be your turn next, Val,' said her mother, cheerfully. 'Dolores comes +between you and Mysie, so she must take her place accordingly. And today we +grant her the privilege of the new-comer.'</p> +<p>Dolores would have esteemed the privilege more, if, while she was going +upstairs to put on her hat, the recollection had not occurred to her of one of +the victim's of an aunt's cruelty who was always made to run on errands while +her favoured cousins were at their studies. Was this the beginning? Somehow, +though her better sense knew this was a foolish fancy, she had a secret pleasure +in pitying herself, and posing to herself as a persecuted heroine. And then she +was greatly fretted to find the housemaid in her room, looking as if no one else +had any business there. What was worse, she could not find her jacket. She +pulled out all her drawers with fierce, noisy jerks, and then turned round on +the maid, sharply demanding--</p> +<p>'Who has taken my jacket?'</p> +<p>'I'm sure I don't know, Miss Dollars. You'd best ask Mrs. Halfpenny.'</p> +<p>'If--' but at that moment Mysie ran in, holding the jacket in her hand. 'I +saw it in the nursery,' she said, triumphantly. 'Nurse had taken it to mend! +Come along. Where's your hat?'</p> +<p>But there was pursuit; Mrs. Halfpenny was at the door. 'Young ladies, you are +not going out of the policy in that fashion.'</p> +<p>'Mamma sent us. Mamma wants us to take a note in a hurry. Only to Miss +Hacket,' pleaded Mysie, as Mrs. Halfpenny laid violent hands on her brown +Holland jacket, observing--</p> +<p>'My leddy never bade ye run off mair like a wild worricow than a general +officer's daughter, Miss Mysie. What's that? Only Miss Hacket, do you say? You +should respect yourself and them you come of mair than to show yourself to a +blind beetle in an unbecoming way. 'Tis well that there's one in the house that +knows what is befitting. Miss Dollars, you stand still; I must sort your necktie +before you go. 'Tis all of a wisp. Miss Mysie, you tell your mamma that I should +be fain to know her pleasure about Miss Dollars' frocks. She've scarce got +one--coloured or mourning--that don't want altering.'</p> +<p>Mrs. Halfpenny always caused Dolores such extreme astonishment and awe that +she obeyed her instantly, but to be turned about and tidied by an authoritative +hand was extremely disagreeable to the independent young lady. Caroline had +never treated her thus, being more willing to permit untidiness than to endure +her temper. She only durst, after the pair were released, remonstrate with Mysie +on being termed Miss Dollars.</p> +<p>'They can't make out your name,' said Mysie. 'I tried to teach Lois, but +nurse said she had no notion of new-fangled nonsense names.'</p> +<p>'I'm sure Valetta and Primrose are worse.'</p> +<p>'Ah! but Val was born at Malta, and mamma had always loved the Grand Master +La Valetta so much, and had written verses about him when she was only sixteen. +And Primrose was named after the first primrose mamma had seen for twelve +years--the first one Val and I had ever seen.'</p> +<p>'They called me Miss Mohun at home.'</p> +<p>'Yes, but we can't here, because of Aunt Jane.'</p> +<p>All this was chattered forth on the stairs before the two girls reached the +dining-room, where Mysie committed the feeding of her pets to Val, and received +the note, with fresh injunctions to come home by eleven, and bring word whether +Miss Hacket and Miss Constance would both come to luncheon.</p> +<p>'Oh dear!' sighed Gillian, and there was a general groan round the table.</p> +<p>'It can't be helped, my dear.'</p> +<p>'Oh no, I know it can't,' said Gillian, resignedly.</p> +<p>'You see,' said Mysie. 'Yes, come along, Basto dear. You see Gill has to +be--down, Basto, I say!--a young lady when-- Never mind him, Dolores, he won't +hurt. When Miss Constance Hacket and--leave her alone, Basto, I say!--and she is +such a goose. Not you, Dolores, but Miss Constance.'</p> +<p>'Oh that dog! I wish you would not take him.'</p> +<p>'Not take dear old Basto! Why 'tis such a treat for him to get a walk in the +morning--the delight of his jolly old black heart. Isn't he a dear old fellow? +and he never hurt anybody in his life! It's only setting off! He will quiet down +in a minute; but I couldn't disappoint him. Could I, my old man?'</p> +<p>Never having lived with animals nor entered into their feelings, Dolores +could not understand how a dog's pleasure could be preferred to her comfort, and +felt a good deal hurt, though Basto's antics subsided as soon as they were past +the inner gate shutting in the garden from the paddock, which was let out to a +farmer. Mysie, however, ran on as usual with her stream of information--</p> +<p>'The Miss Hacket were sister or daughters or something to some old man who +used to be clergyman here, and they are all married up but these two, and +they've got the dearest little house you ever saw. They had a nephew in the +111th, and so they came and called on us at once. Miss Hacket is a regular old +dear, but we none of us can bear Miss Constance, except that mamma says we ought +to be sorry for her because she leads such a confined life. Miss Hacket and Aunt +Jane always do go on so about the G.F.S. They both are branch secretaries, you +know.'</p> +<p>'I know! Aunt Jane did bother Mrs. Sefton so that she says she will never +have another of those G.F.S. girls. She says it is a society for interference.'</p> +<p>'Mamma likes it,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'Oh! but she is only just come.'</p> +<p>'Yes; but she always looked after the school children at Beechcroft before +she married, and she and Alethea and Phyllis had the soldiers' children up on +Sunday. Alethea taught the little drummer boys, and they were so funny. I wonder +who teaches them now! Gill always goes down to help Miss Hacket with her G.F.S. +classes. She has one on Sunday afternoon, and one on Tuesday for sewing, and she +is the only young lady in the place who can do plain needlework properly.'</p> +<p>'Sewing-machines can work. What the use of fussing about it!'</p> +<p>'They can't mend,' said Mysie. 'Besides, do you know, in the American war, +all the sewing-machines in the Southern States got out of order, and as all the +machinery people were in the north, the poor ladies didn't know what to do, and +couldn't work without them.'</p> +<p>'Sewing-machines are a recent invention,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Oh! you didn't think I meant the great old War of Independence. No, I meant +the war about the slaves--secession they called it.'</p> +<p>'That is not in the history of England,' said Dolores, as if Mysie had no +business to look beyond.</p> +<p>'Why! of course not, when it happened in America. Papa told us about it. He +read it in some paper, I think. Don't you like learning things in that way?'</p> +<p>'No. I don't approve of irregular unsystematic knowledge.'</p> +<p>Dolores has heard her mother say something of this kind, and it came into her +head most opportunely as a defence of her father--for she would not for the +world have confessed that he did not talk to her as Sir Jasper Merrifield seemed +to have done to his children. In fact she rather despised the General for so +doing.</p> +<p>'Oh! but it is such fun picking up things out of lesson time!' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'That is the Edge--,' Dolores was not sure of the word Edgeworthian, so she +went on to 'system. Professor Sefton says he does not approve of harassing +children with cramming them with irregular information at all sorts of times. +Let play be play and lessons be lessons, he says, not mixed up together, and so +Rex and Maude never learnt anything--not a letter--till they were seven years +old.'</p> +<p>'How stupid!' cried Mysie.</p> +<p>'Maude's not stupid!' cried Dolores, 'nor the professor either! She's my +great friend.'</p> +<p>'I didn't say she was stupid,' said Mysie, apologetically, 'only that it must +be very stupid not to be able to read till one was seven. Could you?'</p> +<p>'Oh, yes. I can't remember when I couldn't read. But Maude used to play with +a little girl who could read and talk French at five years old, and she died of +water upon her brain.'</p> +<p>'Dear me! Primrose can read quite well,' said Mysie, somewhat alarmed; 'but +then,' she went on in a reassured voice, 'so could all of us except Jasper and +Gillian, and they felt the heat so much at Gibraltar that they were quite stupid +while they were there.'</p> +<p>This discussion brought the two girls across the paddock out into a road with +a broad, neat footpath, where numerous little children were being exercised with +nurses and perambulators. At first it was bordered by fields on either side, but +villas soon began to spring up, and presently the girls reached what looked like +a long, low 'cottage residence,' but was really two, with a verandah along the +front, and a garden divided in the middle by a paling covered with canary +nasturtium shrubs. The verandah on one side was hung with a rich purple pall of +the dark clematis, on the other by a Gloire de Dijon rose. There were bright +flower beds, and the dormer windows over the verandah looked like smiling eyes +under their deep brows of creeper-trimmed verge-board. What London-bred Dolores +saw was a sight that shocked her--a lady standing unbonnetted just beyond the +verandah, talking to a girl whose black hat and jacket looked what Mysie called +'very G.F.S.-y.'</p> +<p>The lady did not turn out to be young or beautiful. She was near middle age, +and looked as if she were far too busy to be ever plump; she had a very +considerable amount of nose and rather thin, dark hair, done in a fashion which, +like that of her navy blue linen dress, looked perfectly antiquated to Dolores. +As she saw the two girls at the gate she came down the path eagerly to welcome +them.</p> +<p>'Ah! my dear Mysie! so kind of your dear mother! I thought I should hear from +her.' And as she kissed Mysie, she added, 'And this is the new cousin. My dear, +I am glad to see you here.'</p> +<p>Dolores thought her own dignified manner had kept off a kiss, not knowing +that Miss Hacket was far too ladylike to be over-familiar, and that there was no +need to put on such a forbidding look.</p> +<p>Mysie gave her message and note, but Miss Hacket could not give the verbal +answer at once till she had consulted her sister. She was not sure whether +Constance had not made an engagement to play lawn-tennis, so they must come in.</p> +<p>There sounded 'coo-roo-oo coo-roo-oo' in the verandah, and Mysie cried--</p> +<p>'Oh, the dear doves!'</p> +<p>Miss Hacket said she had been just feeding them when the G.F.S. girl arrived, +and as Mysie came to a halt in delight at the aspect of a young one that had +just crept out into public life, the sister was called to the window. She was a +great deal younger and more of the present day in style than her sister, and had +pensive-looking grey eyes, with a somewhat bored languid manner as she shook +hands with the early visitors.</p> +<p>The sisters had a little consultation over the note, during which Dolores +studied them, and Mysie studied the doves, longing to see the curious process of +feeding the young ones.</p> +<p>When Miss Hacket turned back to her with the acceptance of the invitation, +she thought she might wait just to help Miss Hacket to put in the corn and the +sop. Meantime Miss Constance talked to Dolores.</p> +<p>'Did you arrive yesterday?'</p> +<p>'No, the day before.'</p> +<p>'Ah! it must be a great change to you.'</p> +<p>'Indeed it is.'</p> +<p>'This must be the dullest place in England, I think,' said Miss Constance. +'No variety, no advantages of any kind! And have not you lived in London?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'That is my ambition! I once spent six weeks in London, and it was an +absolute revelation--the opening of another world. And I understand that Mr. +Maurice Mohun is such a clever man, and that you saw a great deal of his +friends.'</p> +<p>'I used,' said Dolores, thinking of those days of her mother when she was the +pet and plaything of the guests, incited to say clever and pert things, which +then were passed round and embellished till she neither knew them nor +comprehended them.</p> +<p>'That is what I pine for!' exclaimed Miss Constance. 'Nobody here has any +ideas. You can't conceive how borne and prejudiced every one her who is used to +something better! Don't you love art needlework?'</p> +<p>'Maude Sefton has been working Goosey Goosey Gander on a toilet-cover.'</p> +<p>'Oh! how sweet! We never get any new patterns here! Do come in and see, I +don't know which to take; I brought three beginnings home to choose from, and I +am quite undecided.'</p> +<p>'Mrs. Sefton draws her own patterns,' said Dolores. 'Something she gets ideas +from Lorenzo Dellman--he's an artist, you know, and a regular aesthete! He made +her do a dado all sunflowers last year, but they are a little gone out now, and +are very staring besides, and I think she will have some nymphs dancing among +almond-trees in blue vases instead, as soon as she has designed it.'</p> +<p>'Isn't that lovely! Oh! what would I not give for such opportunities? Do let +me have your opinion.'</p> +<p>So Dolores went in with her, and looked at three patterns, one of tall +daisies; another of odd-looking doves, one on each side of a red Etruscan vase, +where the water must have been as much out of their reach as that in the pitcher +was beyond the crow's; and a third, of Little Bo Peep. Having given her opinion +in favour of Bo Peep, she was taken upstairs to inspect the young lady's store +of crewels, and choose the colours.</p> +<p>Dolores neither knew nor cared anything about fancy work, but to be treated +as an authority was quite soothing, and she fully believed that the mere +glimpses she had had of Mrs. Sefton's work and the shop windows, enabled her to +give great enlightenment to this poor country mouse; so she gladly went to the +bedroom, with a muslin-worked toilet-cover, embroidered curtains, plates +fastened against the wall, and table all over knick-knacks, which Miss Constance +called her little den, where she could study beauty after her own bent, while +her sister Mary was wholly engrossed with the useful, and could endure nothing +but the prose of the last century.</p> +<p>Meantime Mysie had forgotten how time flew in her belief that in one minute +more the young doves would want to be fed, and then in amusement at seeing them +pursue their parents with low squeaks and flutterings, watching, too, the airs +and graces, bowing, cooing, and laughing of the old ones. When at last she was +startled by hearing eleven struck, there had to be a great hunt for Dolores in +the drawing-room and garden, and when at last Miss Hacket's calls for her sister +brought the tow downstairs more than ten minutes had passed! Mysie was too much +dismayed, and in too great a hurry to do anything but cry, 'Come along, +Dolores,' and set off at such a gallop as to scandalize the Londoner, even when +Mysie recollected that it was too public a place for running, and slackened her +pace. Dolores was soon gasping, and with a stitch in her side. Mysie would have +exclaimed, 'What were you doing with Miss Constance?' but breathlessness happily +prevented it. The way across the paddock seemed endless, and Mysie was chafed at +having to hold back for her companion, who panted in distress, leant against a +tree, declared she could not go on, she did not care, and then when, Mysie set +off running, was seized with fright at being left alone in this vast unknown +space, cried after her and made a rush, soon ending in sobbing breath.</p> +<p>At last they were at the door, and Wilfred just coming out of the dining-room +greeted them with, 'A quarter to twelve. Won't you catch it? Oh my!'</p> +<p>'Are they come?' said Lady Merrifield, looking out of the schoolroom. 'My +dear children! Did Miss Hacket keep you?'</p> +<p>'No, mamma,' gasped Mysie. 'At least it was my fault for watching the doves.'</p> +<p>'Ah! Mysie, I must not send you on a message next time. Mr. Poulter has been +waiting these twenty minutes, and I am afraid you are not fit to take a lesson +now. Dolores looks quite done up! I shall send you both to lie down on your beds +and learn your poetry for an hour. And you must write an apology to Mr. Poulter +this afternoon. No, don't go in now. Go up at once, Gillian shall bring your +books. Does Miss Hacket come?'</p> +<p>'Yes, mamma,' said Mysie humbly, looking at Dolores all the time. She was too +generous to say that part of the delay had been caused by looking for her +cousin, and having to adapt her pace to the slower one, but she decidedly +expected the avowal from Dolores, and thought it mean not to make it. 'And, oh, +the jam!' she mourned as she went upstairs. While, on the other hand, Dolores +considered what she called 'being sent to bed' an unmerited and unjust sentence +given without a hearing; when their tardiness had been all Mysie's fault, not +hers. She had no notion that her aunt only sent them to lie down, because they +looked heated, tired, and spent, and was really letting them off their morning's +lessons. It was a pity that she felt too forlorn and sullen even to complain +when Gillian brought up Macaulay's 'Armada' for her to learn the first twelve +lines, or she might have come to an understanding, but all that was elicited +from her was a glum 'No,' when asked if she knew it already. Gillian told her +not to keep her dusty boots on the bed, and she vouchsafed no answer, for she +did not consider Gillian her mistress, though, after she was left to herself, +she found them so tight and hot that she took them off. Then she looked over the +verses rather contemptuously--she who always learnt German poetry; and she had a +great mind to assert her independence by getting off the bed, and writing a +letter to Maude Sefton, describing the narrow stupidity of the whole family, and +how her aunt, without hearing her, had send her to be for Mysie's fault. However +she felt so shaky and tired that she thought she had better rest a little first, +and somehow she fell fast asleep, and was only awakened by the gong. She jumped +up in haste, recollecting that the delightful sympathizing Miss Constance was +coming to luncheon, and set her hair and dress to rights eagerly, observing, +however, to herself, that her horrid aunt was quite capable of imprisoning her +all the time for not having learnt that stupid poetry.</p> +<p>She hesitated a little where to go when she reached the hall, but the +schoolroom door was open, and she heard a mournful voice concluding with a +gasp--</p> +<p>'Our glorious semper eadem, the banner of our pride.'</p> +<p>And Miss Vincent saying, 'Now, my dear, go and wash your face, and try not to +be such a dismal spectacle.'</p> +<p>And then Mysie came out, with heavy eyes and a mottled face, showing that she +had been crying all the time she had been learning, over her own fault +certainly, but likewise over mamma's displeasure and Dolly's shabbiness.</p> +<p>'Well, Dora,' said Miss Vincent, 'have you come to repeat your poetry?'</p> +<p>'No,' said Dolores. 'I went to sleep instead.'</p> +<p>'Oh! I'm glad of that. I wish poor Mysie had done the same. I believe it was +what Lady Merrifield intended, you both looked so knocked up.'</p> +<p>Dolores cleared up a little at this, especially as Miss Vincent was no +relation, and she thought it a good time to make her protest against mere +English.</p> +<p>'Oh!' she said. 'I supposed that was the reason she gave me such a stupid, +childish, sing-song nursery rhyme to learn. I can say lots of Schiller and some +Goethe.'</p> +<p>'I advise you not to let any one hear you call Lord Macaulay's poem a nursery +rhyme, or it might never be forgotten,' said Miss Vincent gaily. Then seeing the +cloud return to Dolores's face, she added, 'You have been brought forward in +German, I see. We must try to bring your knowledge of English literature up to +be even with it.'</p> +<p>Dolores liked this better than anything she had yet heard, chiefly because +she had learnt from her books that governesses were not uniformly so cruel as +aunts. And besides, she felt that she had been spared a public humiliation.</p> +<p>By this time the guests were ringing at the door, and Miss Vincent, with her +had on, only waiting till their entrance was made to depart. Dolores asked +whether to go into the drawing-room, and was told that Lady Merrifield preferred +that the children should only appear in the dining-room on the sound of the +gong, which was not long in being heard.</p> +<p>The Merrifields were trained not to chatter when there was company at table, +besides Mysie and Val were in low spirits about the chance of the blackberry +cookery. Miss Hacket sat on one side of Lady Merrifield, and talked about what +associates had answered her letters, and what villages would send contingents of +girls, and it sounded very dull to the young people. Miss Constance was next to +Hal. She looked amiable and sympathetic at Dolores on the opposite side of the +table, but discussed lawn-tennis tournaments with her neighbour, which was quite +as little interesting to the general public as was the G.F.S. However, as soon +as Primrose had said grace, Lady Merrifield proposed to take Miss Hacket down to +the stable-yard; and the whole train followed excepting the two girls, who +trusted Hal to see whether their pets would suffer inconvenience. However it +soon was made evident to Gillian that she was not wanted, and that Dolores and +Constance had no notion of wandering about the paved courts and bare +coach-houses, among the dogs and cats, guinea-pigs, and fowls. Indeed, +Constance, who was at least seven years older than Gillian, and a full-blown +young lady, dismissed her by saying 'that she was going to see Miss Mohun's +books.'</p> +<p>'Oh, certainly,' said Gillian, in a voice as though she were rather +surprised, though much relieved.</p> +<p>So off the friends went together--for of course they were to be friends. The +Miss Mohun had been uttered in a tone that clearly meant to be asked to drop it, +so they were to be Dolores and Constance henceforth, if not Dolly and Cons. +Dolores was such a lovely name that Constance could not mangle it, and was sure +there was some reason for it. The girl had, in fact, been named after a Spanish +lady, whom her mother had known and admired in early girlhood, and to whom she +had made a promise of naming her first daughter after her. No doubt Dolores did +not know that Mrs. Mohun had regretted the childish promise which she had felt +bound to keep in spite of her husband's dislike to the name, which he declared +would be a misfortune to the child.</p> +<p>Dolores was really proud of its peculiarity, and delighted to have any one to +sympathize with her, in that and a great deal besides, which she communicated to +her new friend in the window-seat of her room. When the two ladies went home, +Constance told her sister that 'dear little Dolores was a remarkable character, +sadly misunderstood among those common-place people, the Merrifields, and +unjustly used, too, and she should do her best for her!'</p> +<p>Meantime Gillian, finding herself not wanted, had repaired to the schoolroom.</p> +<p>'Oh, it is of no use,' sighed Mysie, disconsolately. 'I've ever so much +morning's work to make up, too. And I never shall! I've muzzled my head!'</p> +<p>By which remarkable expression Mysie signified that fatigue, crying, and +dinner had made her brains dull and heavy; but Gillian was a sensible elder +sister.</p> +<p>'Don't try your sum yet, then,' she said. 'Practise your scales for half an +hour, while I do my algebra, and then we'll go over your German verbs together. +I'll tell Miss Vincent, and she wont' mind, and I think mamma will be pleased if +you try.'</p> +<p>Gillian was too much used to noises not to be able to work an equation, and +prepare her Virgil, to the sound of scales, and Mysie was a good deal restored +by them and by hope.</p> +<p>So when at length Constance had been summoned by her sister, who tore herself +away from the arrangements, being bound to five-o'clock tea elsewhere, Mysie was +discovered with a face still rather woe-begone, but hopeful and persevering, and +though there still was a 'bill of parcels' where 11 and 3/4 lbs. of mutton at 13 +and 1/2d. per lb. refused to come right, Lady Merrifield kissed her, said she +had been a diligent child, and sent her off prancing in bliss to the old +'still-room' stove, where they were allowed a fire, basins, spoons, and +strainers, and where the sugar lay in a snowy heap, and the blackberries in a +sanguine pile.</p> +<p>'There's partiality!' thought Dolores, and scowled, as she stood at the front +door still gazing after Constance.</p> +<p>'Won't you come, Dolly?' said Mysie. 'Or haven't you learnt your lessons?'</p> +<p>'No,' said Dolly, making one answer serve for both questions.</p> +<p>'Oh! then you can't. Shall I ask mamma to let you off?'</p> +<p>'No, I don't care. I don't like messes! And what's the use if you haven't a +cookery class?'</p> +<p>'It's such fun,' said Val.</p> +<p>'And our sisters did go to a cookery class at Dublin and taught Gill,' added +Mysie.</p> +<p>'But if you haven't done your lessons, you can't go,' said Valetta decidedly.</p> +<p>Off they went, and Lady Merrifield presently crossed the hall, and saw +Dolores' attitude.</p> +<p>'My dear, are you waiting to say those verses?' she said kindly.</p> +<p>'I hadn't time to learn them, I went to sleep,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'A very good thing too, my dear. Suppose we go over them together.'</p> +<p>Aunt Lilias took the unwilling hand, led Dolores into the schoolroom, and for +half an hour she went over the verses with her, explaining what was new to the +girl, and vividly describing the agitation of Plymouth, and the flocks of people +thronging in. 'I must show her that I will be minded, but I will make it +pleasant to her, poor child,' she thought.</p> +<p>And it could not have been otherwise than pleasant to her, but that she was +reflecting all this time that she was being punished while Mysie was enjoying +herself. Therefore she put the lid on her intellect, and was inconceivably +stupid.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VI.<br> +PERSECUTION</h3> + +<p>On Monday afternoon Dolores was sitting at the end of the long garden walk, +upon a green garden-bench, with a crocodile's head and tail roughly carved. The +shouts of the others were audible in the distance beyond the belt of trees. Aunt +Lily had driven into the town to meet her sisters, taking Fergus with her, +whereas Dolores had never been out in the carriage. There was partiality! +Though, to be sure, Fergus was to have a tooth out! Harry and Gillian were +playing with the rest, and she had been invited to join, but she had made answer +that she hated romping, and on being assured that no romping was necessary, she +replied that she only wanted to read in peace. She had refused the "Thorn +Fortress,' which she was told would explain the game, and had hunted out +"Clare, or No Home,' to compare her lot with that of the homeless one.</p> +<p>Certainly, she had not yet been sent to bed with a box on the ear because a +countess had shown symptoms of noticing her more than her ugly, over-dressed +cousin. But then Aunt Lily would not allow her to walk down alone to the +Casement Villas to see dear Constance, and would let that farmer keep all those +dreadful cows in the paddock, so that even going escorted was a terror to her.</p> +<p>Nor had her handsome mourning been taken from her and old clothes of her +cousin substituted for it. No, but she had been cruelly pulled about between +Mrs. Halfpenny and the Silverton dressmaker with a mouthful of pins; and Aunt +Lily had insisted on her dress being trimmed with velvet, instead of the +jingling jet she preferred.</p> +<p>Did they intercept her letters? She had had one from her father, sent from +Falmouth, but only one from Maude Sefton in ten days! Moreover, she had one from +Constance in her apron pocket, arrived that very afternoon, asking her to come +down with Gillian on the Sundays, that the friends might enjoy themselves +together while the classes were going on; but she made sure that all were so +jealous of her friendship with Constance that no consent would be given.</p> +<p>She did not hear or notice the whisperings in the laurels behind her--</p> +<p>'Do you see that sulky old Croat, smoking his pipe under the tree?'</p> +<p>'No, he is a Black Brunswicker.'</p> +<p>'Nonsense, Willie; the Black Brunswickers weren't till Bonaparte's time.'</p> +<p>'I don't care, he is anything black and nasty; here goes!'</p> +<p>'Oh stop; don't shoot. I believe he is only a vivandiere. Besides, it's +treacherous--'</p> +<p>'I tell you he is laying a train to blow up the tower. There!'</p> +<p>An arrow struck the bench beside Dolores, who, more angry than she had ever +been in her life, snatched it up, unheeding that it had no point to speak of, +rushed headlong in pursuit, while, with a tremendous shout, Valetta and Wilfred +flew before her to a waste overgrown place at the end of the kitchen garden.</p> +<p>'We've shot a Croat!'</p> +<p>'No, a Black Brunswicker.'</p> +<p>'Oh ah! They are coming--the enemy! Into the fortress! Bar the wolf's +passage!'</p> +<p>And as Dolores struggled through the bushes, she saw the whole family dashing +into an outhouse, and the door slammed. She pushed against it, but an unearthly +compound of howls, yells, shouts and bangs replied.</p> +<p>'Gillian! Harry, I say,' she cried in great anger; 'come out, I want to speak +to you.'</p> +<p>But her voice was lost in the war-whoops within, and the louder she knocked, +the louder grew the din, till she walked off, swelling with grief and +indignation. Mysie, after all her professions of friendship, to use her in this +way! And Harry and Gillian, who should have kept the others within bounds!</p> +<p>Slowly she crossed the lawn, just as Lady Merrifield, the other two aunts, +and Fergus, all came out from the glass door of the drawing-room. Aunt Jane, a +trim little dark-eyed woman, looking at two and forty much the same as she might +have done at five and twenty; and Aunt Adeline, pretty and delicately fair, with +somewhat of the same grace as Lady Merrifield, but more languor, and an air as +if everything about her were for effect. Though not specially fond of theses +aunts, Dolores was glad to have them as witnesses of her ill-usage.</p> +<p>'There stands Dolly, like a statue of Diana, dart in hand,' exclaimed Aunt +Adeline.</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Dolores; 'I wish to know, Aunt Lilias, if Wilfred and Valetta are +to call me names, and shoot arrows at me?'</p> +<p>'What do you mean, my dear?'</p> +<p>'They came at me while I was sitting quietly reading--there--and shot at me, +and called me such horrid names I can't repeat them, and ran away. Then the +others, Gillian and Harry and all, would not listen to me, but shut themselves +up in an out-house and shouted at me.'</p> +<p>'I think there must be some mistake, Dolores,' said her aunt. 'Where are +they?'</p> +<p>'Out beyond there,' said Dolores, pointing in the direction in which Fergus +was running.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield set off with her, and the other two ladies followed more +slowly.</p> +<p>'I thought it would not do,' said Aunt Jane.</p> +<p>'Lily's children are so rough,' added Aunt Adeline.</p> +<p>'I am not so sure that the fault is theirs,' was the reply. 'She is a +priggish little puss, who wants shaking up.'</p> +<p>'Ah! here come the hordes,' sighed Adeline, shrinking a little, as the entire +population, summoned by Fergus, came pouring forth to meet the advancing mother.</p> +<p>'How is this, Wilfred? Have you been shooting arrows at your cousin?'</p> +<p>'Mama!' cried Valetta, indignantly, 'he did not shoot at her; he only +pretended, and shot the old crocodile-bench. He never meant any more. It was +only play.'</p> +<p>'Have you not been forbidden to shoot in the direction of any person?'</p> +<p>'Nor I didn't!' said Wilfred. 'I only shot the crocodile. I never tried to +hit her. She is quite big enough to miss.'</p> +<p>'And she did look such a nice Croat, mamma,' added Valetta. 'We were scouts +out of the Thorn Fortress, Willie and I, and it was such a jolly dodge to steal +upon one of the enemy.'</p> +<p>'You should have warned her.'</p> +<p>Then it would not have been a surprise,' said Val, seriously.</p> +<p>'Was she not at play with you?'</p> +<p>'No, mamma,' said Mysie. 'We asked her, and she would not. I say,' pausing in +consternation, 'Dolores, was it you that came and called at the door of the +Wolf's passage?'</p> +<p>'Of course. I wanted to show Gillian how Wilfred behaved to me.'</p> +<p>I thought it was Fergus come home to be the enemy.'</p> +<p>'Didn't you know her voice?' asked the mother</p> +<p>'We were all making such a noise ourselves in the dark,' said Gillian, 'that +there was no hearing any one; and Primrose was rather frightened, so that Hal +was attending to her. Indeed, Dolores, I am very sorry. If we had guessed that +it was you, we would have opened the door at once, and then you would have known +that it was all fun and play, and not have troubled mamma about it.'</p> +<p>'Wilfred and Valetta knew,' said Dolores, rather sullenly.</p> +<p>'Oh! but it was such fun,' said Val.</p> +<p>'It was fun that became unkindness on your part,' said her mother. 'You ought +not to have kept it up without warning to her. And what do I hear about names? I +hope that was also misunderstanding of the game. What did you call her?'</p> +<p>'Only a Croat,' said Valetta, indignantly, 'and a Black Brunswicker.'</p> +<p>'Was that it, Dolores?'</p> +<p>'Perhaps,' she muttered, disconcerted by a laugh from her Aunt Jane.</p> +<p>'I do not know what you took them for,' said Lady Merrifield, 'but you see +some part of this trouble arose from a mistake on you part. Now, Wilfred and +Valetta, remember that is not right to force a person into play against her +will. And as to the shooting near, but not at her, you both know perfectly well +that it is forbidden. So give me your bow, Wilfred. I shall keep it for a week, +that you may remember obedience.'</p> +<p>Wilfred looked sullen, but obeyed. Dolores could not call her aunt unjust, +but as she look round, she met glances that made her think it prudent to shelter +herself among the elders. Aunt Jane asked what the game was.</p> +<p>'The Thorn Fortress,' said Gillian. 'It comes out of that delightful S.P.C.K. +book so called, where, in the 'Thirty Years' War,' all the people of a village +took refuge from the soldiers in a field in the middle of a forest guarded by a +tremendous hedge of thorns. Val had it for a birthday present, and the children +have been acting it ever since.'</p> +<p>'It has quite put out the Desert Island passion, which used to be a regular +stage in these children's lives. Every voyage we have taken, somebody has come +to ask whether there was any hope of being wrecked on one.'</p> +<p>'Fergus even asked when we crossed from Dublin,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'He was put up to that, to keep up the tradition,' observed Harry.</p> +<p>On reaching the house, the elders proceeded to five o'clock tea in the +drawing-room, the juniors to gouter in the dining-room. As Dolores entered, she +beheld a row of all her five younger cousins drawn up looking at her as if se +had committed high treason, and she was instantly addressed--</p> +<p>'Tell-take tit!' began Valetta.</p> +<p>'Sneak!' cried Wilfred.</p> +<p>'I will call her Croat!' added Fergus.</p> +<p>'Worse than Croat! Bashi Bazouk!' exclaimed Valetta.</p> +<p>'Worse than Crow!' chimed in Primrose.</p> +<p>'Oh, Dolores! How could you?' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'To get poor Willie punished!' said Val.</p> +<p>Dolores stood her ground. 'It was time to speak when it came to shooting +arrows at me.'</p> +<p>'Hush! hush! Willie,' cried Mysie. 'I told you so. Now Dolores, listen. +Nobody ever tells of anybody when it is only being tiresome and they don't mean +it, or there never would be any peace at all. That's honour! Do you see? One may +go to Gill sometimes.'</p> +<p>'One's a sneak if one does,' put in Wilfred; but Mysie, unheeding went on--</p> +<p>'And Gill can help without a fuss or going to mamma.'</p> +<p>'Mamma always knows,' said Val.</p> +<p>'Mamma knows all about everything,' said Mysie. 'I think it's nature; ad if +she does not always take notice at the time, she will have it out sooner or +later.' Then resuming the thread of her discourse: 'So you see, Dolly, we have +made up our minds that we will forgive you this time, because you are an only +child and don't know what's what, and that's some excuse. Only you mustn't go on +telling tales whenever an evident happens.'</p> +<p>Dolores thought it was she who ought to forgive, but the force against her +was overpowering, though still she hesitated. 'But if I promise not to tell,' +she said, 'how do I know what may be done to me?'</p> +<p>'You might trust us,' cried Mysie, with flashing eyes.</p> +<p>'And I can tell you,' added Wilfred, 'that if you do tell, it will be ever so +much the worse for you--girl that you are.'</p> +<p>'War to the knife! Cried Valetta, and everybody except Mysie joined in the +outcry. 'War to the knife with traitors in the camp.'</p> +<p>Mysie managed to produce a pause, and again acted orator. 'You see, Dolores, +if you did tell, it would not be possible for mamma or Gill to be always looking +after you, and I couldn't do you much good--and if all these three are set +against you, and are horrid to you, and I couldn't do you much good--horrid to +you, you'll have no peace in your life; and, after all, we only ask of you to +give and take in a good-natured sort of way, and not to be always making a fuss +about everything you don't like. It is the only way, I assure you.'</p> +<p>Dolores saw the fates were against her, and said--</p> +<p>'Very well.'</p> +<p>'You promise?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'Then we forgive you, and here's the box of chocolate things Aunt Ada +brought. We'll have a cigar all round and be friends. Smoke the pipe of peace.'</p> +<p>Dolores afterwards thought how grand it would have been to have replied, +'Dolores Mohun will never be intimidated;' but the fact was that her spirit did +quail at the thought of the tortures which the two boys might inflict on her if +Mysie abandoned her to their mercy, and she was relieved, as well as surprised +to find that her offence was condoned, and she was treated as if nothing had +happened.</p> +<p>Meantime Aunt Jane was asking in the drawing-room, 'How do you get on?'</p> +<p>'Fairly well,' was Lady Merrifield's answer. 'We shall work together in +time.'</p> +<p>'What does Gill say?' asked the aunt, rather mischievously.</p> +<p>'Well,' said the young lady, 'I don't think we get on at all, not even poor +Mysie, who works steadily on at her, gets snubbed a dozen times a day, and never +seems to feel it.'</p> +<p>I hoped her father would have sent her to school,' said Aunt Adeline. 'I knew +she would be troublesome. She has all her mother's pride.'</p> +<p>'The proudest people are those who have least to be proud of,' said Aunt +Jane.</p> +<p>'School would have hardened the crust and kept up the alienation,' said Lady +Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Perhaps not. It might teach her to value the holidays, and learn that blood +is thicker than water,' said Miss Jane.</p> +<p>'It is always in reserve,' added Miss Adeline.</p> +<p>'Yes, Maurice told her to send her if I grew tired of her, as he said,' +replied Lady Merrifield, 'but of course I should not think of that unless for +very strong reasons.'</p> +<p>'Oh, mamma!' and Gillian remained with her mouth open.</p> +<p>'Well?' said Aunt Jane.</p> +<p>'I meant to have told you mamma, but Mr. Leadbitter came in about the G.F.S. +and stopped me, and I have never seen you to speak to since. Yesterday you know, +I stayed from evensong to look after the little ones, and you said Dolores might +do as she pleased, so she stayed at home. The children were looking at the book +of Bible Pictures, and it came out that Dolly knew nothing at all about Joshua +and the walls of Jericho, nor Gideon and the lamps in the pitchers, nor anything +else. Then, when I was surprised, she said that it was not the present system to +perplex children with the myths of ancient Jewish history.'</p> +<p>Gillian was speaking rapidly, in the growing consciousness that her mother +had rather have had this communication reserved for her private ear--and her +answer was, 'Poor child!'</p> +<p>'Just what I should expect!' said Aunt Jane.</p> +<p>'Probably it was jargon half understood, and repeated in defence of her +ignorance,' said Lady Merrifield. 'She is an odd mixture of defiant loyalty and +self-defence.'</p> +<p>'What shall you do about this kind of talk?' asked her sister.</p> +<p>'One must hear it sooner or later,' said Harry.</p> +<p>'That is true,' returned his mother, 'but I suppose Fergus and Primrose did +not hear or understand.'</p> +<p>'Oh no, mamma. I know they did not, for they were squabbling because Primrose +wanted to turn over before Fergus had done with Gideon.'</p> +<p>'Then I don't think there is any harm done. If it comes before Mysie or Val I +will talk to them, and I mean to take this poor child alone for a little while +each day in the week and try to get at her.'</p> +<p>'There's another thing,' said Gillian. 'Is she to go down with me always to +Casement Cottages on Sunday afternoons when I take the class?'</p> +<p>'To teach or to learn?' ironically exclaimed Aunt Jane.</p> +<p>'Neither,' said Gillian. 'To chatter to Constance Hacket. They both spoke to +me about it yesterday before I went home, and I believe Constance has written a +note to her to ask her today! Fancy, that goose told me my sweet cousin was a +dear, and that we didn't appreciate her. Even Miss Hacket gave me quite a +lecture on kindness and consideration to an orphan stranger.'</p> +<p>'Not uncalled for, perhaps,' said Aunt Jane. 'I hope you received it in an +edifying manner.'</p> +<p>'Now, Aunt Jane! Well, I believe I said we were as kind as she would let us +be, especially Mysie.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield here made the move to conduct her sisters to their rooms; +Miss Mohun detained her when they had reached hers, and had left Adeline to rest +on her sofa. The two, though very unlike, had still the habits of absolute +confidential intimacy belonging to sisters next in age.</p> +<p>'Lily,' said Miss Mohun, 'Gillian spoke of a note. Did Maurice give you any +directions about this child's correspondence?'</p> +<p>'You know I did not see him. I was so much disappointed. I would give +anything to have talked her over with him.'</p> +<p>'I am not sure that you would have gained much. I doubt whether he knows much +about her, poor fellow. But the letters?'</p> +<p>'He wrote that she had been a good deal with Professor Sefton's family, and +he thought they might like to keep up their intercourse.'</p> +<p>'Nothing about Flinders? He ought to have warned you.'</p> +<p>'No. Who is he?'</p> +<p>'A half-brother--no, a step-brother to poor Mary. He was the son by a former +marriage of her father's first wife, and has been always a thorn in their sides. +He is a low, dissipated kind of creature; writes theatrical criticisms for +third-rate papers, or something of that kind, when he is at his best. I believe +Mary was really fond of him, and helped him more than Maurice could well bear, +and since her death the man has perfectly pestered him with appeals to her +memory. I really believe one reason he welcomed this post was to get out of his +reach.'</p> +<p>'You always know everything Jenny. Now how did you know this?'</p> +<p>'I called once in the midst of an interview between him and Mary. And +afterwards I came on poor Maurice when he was really very much provoked, and had +it all out; ad since her death--well, I saw him get a begging letter from the +man, and he spoke of it again. I wish I had advised him to warn you against the +wretch.'</p> +<p>'I don't suppose he knows where the child is. He is no relation to her, you +say?'</p> +<p>'None at all, happily. But on that occasion, when I was an uncomfortable +third, Maurice was very angry that she should have been allowed to call him +Uncle Alfred; and Mary screwed up her little mouth, and evidently rather liked +the aggravation to Mohun pride.'</p> +<p>'Poor Maurice, so he had a skeleton! Well, I don't see how it can hurt us. +The man probably knows nothing about us, and even if he could trace the girl, he +must know that she can do nothing for him.'</p> +<p>'You had better keep an eye on her letters. He is quite capable of asking for +the poor child's half sovereigns. I wish Maurice had given you authority.'</p> +<p>'Perhaps he spoke to her about it. At any rate, what he said of the Seftons +is quite sufficient to imply that there is no sanction to any other +correspondence.'</p> +<p>'That is true. Really, Lily, I believe you are the most likely person to do +some good with her, though I don't think you know what you are in for. But +Gillian does!'</p> +<p>'I believe it is very good for the children to have to exercise a little +forbearance. In spite of all our knocking about the world, our family +exclusiveness is pretty much what ours was in the old Beechcroft days--'</p> +<p>'When Rotherwood and Robert Mohun were out only outsiders and the Westons +came on us like new revelations!'</p> +<p>'It is curious to look back on,' said Lady Merrifield. 'It seems to me that +the system, or no system, on which we were brought up was rather passing away +even then.'</p> +<p>'Specks we growed,' said Jane. 'What do you call the system?'</p> +<p>'Just that people thought it their own business to bring up their children +themselves, and let the actual technical teaching depend upon opportunities, +whereas now they get them taught, but let the bringing up take it chance.'</p> +<p>'People lived with their children then--yes, I see what you mean, Lily. Poor +Eleanor, intending with all her might to be a mother to us, brought us up, as +you call it, with all her powers; but public opinion would never have suffered +us to get merely the odd sort of teaching that she could give us. It was +regular, or course; but oh! do you remember the old atlas, with Germany divided +into circles, and everything as it was before the Congress of Vienna?'</p> +<p>'You liked geography; I hated it.'</p> +<p>'Yes, I was young enough to come in for the elder boys' old school atlases, +which had some sense in them. It seems to me that we had more the spirit of +working for ourselves according to our individual tastes than people have now. +We learnt, they are taught.'</p> +<p>'Well! and what did we learn?'</p> +<p>'As much as we could carry,' said Aunt Jane, laughing. 'Assimilate, if you +like it better; and I doubt if people will turn out to have done more now. What +becomes of all the German that is crammed down girl's throats, whether they have +a turn for languages or not? Do they ever read a German book? Now you learnt it +for love of Fouque and Max Piccolomini, and you have kept it up ever since.'</p> +<p>'Yes, by cramming it down my children's throats. But what I complain of, +Jane, in the young folk that come across me is not over-knowledge, but want of +knowledge--want of general culture. This Dolores, for instance, can do what she +has been taught better than Mysie, some tings better than Gillian, but she has +absolutely no interest in general knowledge, not even in the glaciers which she +has seen; she does not know whether Homer wrote in Greek or Latin, considers +"Marmion' a lesson, cannot tell a planet from a star, and neither knows nor +cares anything about the two Napoleons. Now we seem to have breathed in such +things. Why! I remember being made into Astyanax for a very unwilling Andromache +(poor Eleanor) for caress, and being told to shudder at the bright copper +coal-scuttle, before Harry went to school.'</p> +<p>'Of course poor Maurice could not cultivate his child. Yet, after all, we +grew up without a mother; but then the dear old Baron lived among us, and knew +what we were doing, instead of shutting us up in a schoolroom with some one, +with only knowledge, not culture. Those very late dinners have quite upset all +the intelligent intercourse between fathers and children not come out.'</p> +<p>'Yes, Jasper and I have felt that difficulty. But after all, Jenny, when I +look back, I cannot say I think ours was a model bringing up. What a strange +year that was after Eleanor's marriage!'</p> +<p>'Ah! you felt responsible and were too young for it, but to me it was a very +jolly time, though I suppose I was an ingredient in your troubles. Yes, we +brought ourselves up; but I maintain that it was better alternative than being +drilled so hard as never to think of anything but arrant idling out of +lesson-time.'</p> +<p>'Lessons should be lessons, and play, play, is one of the professor's maxims +to which that poor child has treated us.'</p> +<p>'Ah! on that system, where would have been all your grand heraldic pedigrees? +I've got them still.'</p> +<p>'Oh! Jenny, you good old Brownie, have you? How I should like to look at them +again and show them the Gillian and Mysie. Do you remember the little scalloped +line we drew round all the true knights?'</p> +<p>'Ay! and where would have been all your romancing about Sir Maurice de Mohun, +the pride of his name? For my part, I much prefer a cavalier dead two hundred +years ago as the object of a girl's enthusiasm--if enthusiasm she must have--to +the existing lieutenant, or even curate.'</p> +<p>'Certainly; I should be sorry to have been bred up to history with individual +interest and romance squeezed out of it. You see when Jasper came home from the +Crimea he exactly continued mine.'</p> +<p>'You have fulfilled your ideal better than falls to the lot of most people, +even to the item of knighthood.'</p> +<p>'Ah! you should have heard us grumble over the expense of it. And, after all, +I dare say Sir Maurice found his knight's fee quite as inconvenient! Oh!' with a +start, 'there's the first bell, and here have I been dawdling here instead of +minding my business! But it is so nice to have you! I day, Jenny, we will have +one of our good old games at threadpaper verses and all the rest tonight. I want +you to show the children how we used to play at them.'</p> +<p>And the party played at paper games for nearly two hours that evening, to the +extreme delight of Gillian, Mysie, and Harry, to say nothing of their mother and +aunts, who played with all their might, even Aunt Adeline lighting up into +droll, quiet humour. Only Dolores was first bewildered, then believed herself +affronted, and soon gave up altogether, wondering that grown-up people could be +so foolish.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VII.<br> +G.F.S.</h3> + +<p>The first thought of Dolores was that she should see Constance Hacket, when +she heard 'Hurrah for a holiday!' resounding over the house.</p> +<p>As she came out of her room Mysie met her. 'Hurrah! Aunt Jane has got us a +holiday that we may help get ready for the G.F.S.! Mamma has sent down notes to +Miss Vincent and Mr. Pollock. Oh! jolly, jolly!'</p> +<p>And, obvious of past offences, Mysie caught her cousin's arms, and whirled +her round and round in an exulting dance, extremely unpleasant to so quiet a +personage. 'Don't!' she cried. 'You hurt! You make me dizzy!'</p> +<p>'My certie, Miss Mysie!' exclaimed Mrs. Halfpenny at the same time, 'ye're +daft! Gae doon canny, and keep your apron on, for if I see a stain on that clean +dress--'</p> +<p>Mysie hopped downstairs without waiting to hear the terrible consequences.'</p> +<p>Aunt Adeline did not come down to breakfast, but Aunt Jane appeared, fresh +and glowing, just in time for prayers, having been with Gillian and Harry to +survey the scene of operations, and to judge of the day, which threatened +showers, the grass being dank and sparkling with something more than September +dews.</p> +<p>'The tables must be in the coach-house,' said Lady Merrifield. 'Happily, our +equipages are not on a large scale, and we must not get the poor girls' best +things drenched.'</p> +<p>'No; and it is rather disheartening to have to address double ranks of +umbrellas,' said Aunt Jane. 'Is the post come?'</p> +<p>'It is always infamously late here,' said Harry. 'We complained, as the +appointed hour is eight, but we were told 'all the other ladies were satisfied.' +I do believe they think no one not in business has a right to wish for letters +before nine.'</p> +<p>'Here it comes, though,' said Gillian; and in due time the locked letter-bag +was delivered to Lady Merrifield, and Primrose waited eagerly to act as postman.</p> +<p>It was not the day for the Indian mail, but Aunt Jane expected some last +directions, and Lady Merrifield the final intelligence as to the numbers of each +contingent of girls. Dolores was on the qui vive for a letter from Maude Sefton, +and devoured her aunt and the bag with her eyes. She was quite sure that among +the bundle of post-cards that were taken out there was a letter. Also she saw +her aunt give a little start, and put it aside, and when she demanded. 'Is there +no letter for me?' Lady Merrifield's answer was,' None, my dear, from Miss +Sefton.'</p> +<p>Hot indignation glowed in Dolores's cheeks and eyes, more especially as she +perceived a look pass between the two aunts. She sat swelling while talk about +the chances of rain was passing round her, the forecasts in the paper, the cats +washing their faces, the swallows flying low, the upshot being that it might be +fine, but that emergencies were to be prepared for. All the time that Lady +Merrifield was giving orders to children and servants for the preparations, +Dolores kept her station, and the instant there was a vacant moment, she said +fiercely--</p> +<p>'Aunt Lilias, I know there is a letter for me. Let me have it.'</p> +<p>'Your father told me you might have letter from Miss Sefton, and there is +none from her,' said Lady Merrifield, with a somewhat perplexed air.</p> +<p>'I may have letters from whom I choose.'</p> +<p>'My dear, that is not the custom in general with girls of your age, and I +know your father would not wish it. Tell me, is there any one you have reason to +expect to hear from?'</p> +<p>Dolores had an instinct that all the Mohuns were set against the person she +was thinking of, but she had an answer ready, true, but which would serve her +purpose.</p> +<p>'There was a person, Herr Muhlwausser, that father ordered some scientific +plates from--of microscopic zoophytes. He said he did not know whether anything +would come of it, but, in case it should, he gave my address, and left me a +cheque to pay him with. I have it in my desk upstairs.'</p> +<p>'Very well, my dear,' said Lady Merrifield, 'you shall have the letter when +it comes.'</p> +<p>'The men are come, my lady, to put up the tables. Miss Mohun says will you +come down?' came the information at that moment, sweeping away Aunt Lilias and +everybody else into the whirl of preparation; while Dolores remained, feeling +absolutely certain that a letter was being withheld from her, and she stood on +the garden steps burning with hot indignation, when Mysie, armed with the key of +the linen-press, flashed past her breathlessly, exclaiming--</p> +<p>'Aren't you coming down, Dolly? 'Tis such fun! I'm come for some +table-cloths.'</p> +<p>This didn't stir Dolores, but presently Mysie returned again, followed by +Mrs. Halfpenny, grumbling that 'A' the bonnie napery that she had packed and +carried sae mony miles by sea and land should be waured on a wheen silly +feckless taupies that 'tis the leddies' wull to cocker up till not a lass of 'em +will do a stroke of wark, nor gie a ceevil answer to her elders.'</p> +<p>Mysie, with a bundle of damask cloths under her arm, paused to repeat, 'Are +you not coming Dolly? Your dear Miss Constance is there looking for you?'</p> +<p>This did move Dolores, and she followed to the coach-house, where everybody +was buzzing about like bees, the tables and forms being arranged, and upon them +dishes with piles of fruit and cakes, contributions from other associates. All +the vases, great and small, were brought out, and raids were made on the flower +garden to fill them. Little scarlet flags, with the name of each parish in +white, were placed to direct the parties of guests to their places, and Harry, +Macrae, and the little groom were adorning the beams with festoons. The men from +the coffee-tavern supplied the essentials, but the ladies undertook the +decoration, and Aunt Adeline, in a basket-chair, with her feet on a box, +directed the ornamentation with great taste and ability. Constance Hacket had +been told off to make up a little bouquet to lay beside each plate, and Dolores +volunteered to help her.</p> +<p>'Well, dearest, will you come to me on Sunday?'</p> +<p>'I don't know. I have not been able to ask Aunt Lilias yet, and Gillian was +very cross about it.'</p> +<p>'What did she say?'</p> +<p>'She said she did not think Aunt Lilias approved of visiting and gossiping on +Sunday.'</p> +<p>'Oh! now. What does Gillian do herself?' said Constance in a hurt voice. 'She +does come and teach, certainly, but she stays ever so long talking after the +class is over. Why should we gossip more than she does?'</p> +<p>'Yes; but people's own children can do no wrong.'</p> +<p>There Constance became inattentive. Mr. Poulter had come up, and wanted to be +useful, so she jumped up with a handful of nosegays to instruct him in laying +them by each plate, leaving Dolores to herself, which she found dull. The other +two, however, came back again, and the work continued, but the talk was entirely +between the gentleman and lady, chiefly about music for the choral society, and +the voices of the singers, about which Dolores neither knew nor cared.</p> +<p>By one o'clock the long tables were a pretty sight, covered with piles of +fruit and cakes, vases of flowers and little flags, establishments of teacups at +intervals, and a bouquet and pretty card at every one of the plates.</p> +<p>Then came early dinner at the house, and such rest as could be had after it, +till the pony-chaise, waggonette, and Mrs. Blackburne's carriage came to the +door to convey to church all whom they could carry, the rest walking.</p> +<p>The church was a sea of neat round hats, mostly black, with a considerable +proportion of feathers, tufts, and flowers. On their dark dresses were pinned +rosettes of different-coloured ribbon, to show to which parish they belonged. +There was a bright, short service, in which the clear, high voices of the +multitudinous maidens quite overcame those of the choir boys, and then an +address, respecting which Constance pronounced that 'Canon Fremont was always so +sweet,' and Dolores assented, without in the least knowing what it had been +about.</p> +<p>Constance, who had driven down, was to have kept guard, in the walk from +church, over the white-rosed Silverton detachment; but another shower was +impending, and Miss Hacket, declaring that Conny must not get wet, rushed up and +packed her into the waggonette, where Dolores was climbing after, when at a +touch from Gillian, Lady Merrifield looked round.</p> +<p>'Dolores,' she said, 'you forget that Miss Hacket walked to church.'</p> +<p>Dolores turned on the step, her face looking as black as thunder, and Miss +Hacket protested that she was not tired, and could not leave her girls.</p> +<p>'Never mind the girls, I will look after them; I meant to walk. Don't stand +on the step. Come down,' she added sharply, but not in time, for the horses gave +a jerk, and, with a scream from Constance, down tumbled Dolores, or would have +tumbled, but that she was caught between her aunt and Miss Hacket, who with one +voice admonished her never to do that again, for there was nothing more +dangerous. Indeed, there was more anger in Lady Merrifield's tone than her niece +had yet heard, and as there was no making out that there was the least injury to +the girl, she was forced to walk home, in spite of all Miss Hacket's +protestations and refusals, which had nearly ended in her exposing herself to +the same peril as Dolores, only that Lady Merrifield fairly pushed her in and +shut the door on her. Nothing would have compensated to Dolores but that her +Constance should have jumped out to accompany her and bewail her aunt's cruelty, +but devotion did not reach to such an extent. Her aunt, however, said in a tone +that might be either apology or reproof--</p> +<p>'My dear, I could not let poor Miss Hacket walk after all she has done and +with all she has to do today.'</p> +<p>Dolores vouchsafed no answer, but Aunt Jane said--</p> +<p>'All which applies doubly to you, Lily.'</p> +<p>'Not a bit; I am not run about like all of you,' she answered, brightly. +'Besides, it is such fun! I feel like Whit Monday at Beechcroft! Don't you +remember the pink and blue glazed calico banners crowned with summer snowballs? +And the big drum? What a nice-looking set of girls! How pleasant to see rosy, +English faces tidily got up! They were rosy enough in Ireland, but a great deal +too picturesque. Now these are a sort of flower of maidenhood--'</p> +<p>'You are getting quite poetical, Lily.'</p> +<p>'It's the effect of walking in procession--there's something quite +exhilarating in it; ay, and of having a bit of old Beechcroft about me. Do tell +me who that lady is; I ought to know her, I'm sure! Oh, Miss Smith, good +morning. How many girls have you brought? Oh! the crimson rosettes, are they? +York and Lancaster?--indeed. I'm glad we have some shelter for them; I'm afraid +there is another shower. Have you no umbrella, my dear? Come under mine.'</p> +<p>It was a fierce scud of hail, hitting rather than wetting, but Dolores had +the satisfaction of declaring the edges of her dress to be damp and going off to +change it, though Aunt Jane pinched the kilting and said the damp was +imperceptible, and Wilfred muttered, 'Made of sugar, only not so sweet.'</p> +<p>In fact, she hoped that Constance, who had told of her hatred to these great +functions and willingness to do anything to avoid them, would avail herself of +the excuse; but though the young lady must have seen her go, she never attempted +to follow; and Dolores, feeling her own room dull, came down again to find the +drawing-room empty, and on the next gleam of sunshine, she decided on going to +seek her friend.</p> +<p>What a hum and buzz pervaded the stable-yard! There was a coach-house with +all its great doors open, and the rows of girls awakening from their first shy +and hungry silence into laughter and talking. There were big urns and fountains +steaming, active hands filling cups, all the cousins, all their congeners, and +four or five clergymen acting as waiters, Aunt Adeline pouring out tea a the +upper table for any associate who had time to swallow it, and Constance Hacket +talking away to a sandy-haired curate, without so much as seeing her friend! +Only Wilfred, at sight of his cousin again, getting up a violent mock cough, +declaring that he thought she had gone to bed with congealed lungs or else Brown +Titus, as the old women called it. His mother, however, heard the cough--which, +indeed, was too remarkable a sound not to attract any one--and with a short, +sharp word to him to take care, she put Dolores down under Aunt Ada's wing, and +provided her with a lovely peach and a delicious Bath bun. Constance just looked +up and nodded, saying, 'You dear little thing, I couldn't think what was become +of you,' and then went on with her sandy curate, about--what was it?--Dolores +know not, only that it seemed very interesting, and she was left out of it.</p> +<p>Down came the rain, a hopeless downpour, and there was a consultation among +the elders, some laughing, some doubtful looks, and at last Harry, with Macrae +and one of the curates, disappeared. Then grace was sung, and speeches +followed--one by the rector, Mr. Leadbitter, fatherly and prosy;--a paper read +by the Branch Secretary, about affairs in general; and a very amusing speech by +Miss Mohun, full of anecdotes of example and warning. 'You know,' she said, 'all +the school story-books end--when the grown up books marry their people--with the +good girl going out to service under her young lady, and there she lives happy +ever after! But some of us know better! We don't know how far the marrying ones +always do live very happy ever after--'</p> +<p>'For shame, Jenny!' muttered Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'But,' went on Miss Mohun, 'even you that have been lucky enough to get under +your own young ladies know that life here is all new beginnings at the bottom, +just as when you were very proud of yourselves for getting out of the infant +school, you found it was only being at the bottom of the upper one; and I can +tell the twelve-year-olds--I see some of them--that it is often a finer thing to +be at the head of the school than the last in the house. Ay, you've got to work +up there again, and it is a long business and a steady business, but it is to be +done. I knew a girl, thirty-five years ago, that my sister-in-law took from +school, and she was not a genius either, and I am quite sure she could not do +rule-of-three, nor tell what is the capital of Dahomey, as I dare say every one +here can do, but I'll tell you what she did, and that was, her best, and there +she has been ever since; and the last time I saw her was sitting up in her +housekeeper's room, in her silk gown, with her master's grandchildren hanging +about her, respected and loved by us all. And I knew another, a much clever girl +at school, with prettier ways to begin with, but--I'm sorry to say, her finger +were too clever, and it was not very happy ever after, though she did right +herself.' And then Aunt Jane went on to the difficulties of having to deal with +such quantities of pots and pans, and knives and forks, and cloths and brushes, +each with a use of its very own, just as if she had been a scullery-maid +herself; telling how sense and memory must be brought to bear on these things +just as much as in analyzing a sentence, and how even those would not do without +the higher motive of faithfulness to Him whose servants we all are. Her finish +was a picture of the roving servant girl, always saying, 'I don't like it,' and +always seeking novelty, illustrated by her experience of a little maid who left +one place because she could not sleep alone, and another because the little girl +slept with her, a third because it was so lonesome, and a fourth because it was +so noisy, and quitted her fifth within a half year because she could not eat +twice cooked meat.</p> +<p>Aunt Jane varied her voice in the most comical way, and the girls, as well as +all her audience, laughed heartily.</p> +<p>'Bravo, Jenny!' said a voice close to her, and a gentleman with a rather bald +head, a fluffy, light beard touched with white, dancing eyes, and a slim, +youthful figure, was seen standing in the group.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield and her sisters cried with one glad voice, 'Oh! Rotherwood!' +holding out their hands.</p> +<p>'Yes. I found I'd a few hours between the trains, so I ran down to look you +up. I met Harry at the house, and he told me I should find Jane qualifying for +the female parliament.'</p> +<p>'It's such a pity you should fall on all this turmoil,' said Aunt Ada.</p> +<p>'Pity! I wouldn't have missed Jenny's wisdom for the world. What is it, Lily? +Temperance, or have you set up a Salvation Army?</p> +<p>'G.F.S., of course, you Rotherwood of old! And now you are come, you shall +save me from what has been my bugbear for the last week. You shall give the +premiums.'</p> +<p>'Come, it's no use making faces and pretending you know nothing about it,' +added Miss Mohun. 'I know very well that Florence is deep in it!'</p> +<p>'Ay, they'll have you over to repeat that splendid harangue about pots and +pans!' said he, bowing at Lady Merrifield's introductions of him to the +bystanders, and obediently accepting the sheaf of envelopes, while Mr. +Leadbitter made it known that the premiums would be given by the Marquess of +Rotherwood. Certainly it was a much more lively business than if Lady Merrifield +had performed it, for he had something droll to observe to each girl. One he +pretended to envy, telling her he had worked hard for may a year, and never got +such a card as that for it--far less five shillings. Another he was sure kept +her pans bright, and always knew which was which; a very little one was asked if +she had gone from her cradle, and so on, always sending them away with a broad +smile, and professing great respect for the three seven-year-card maidens who +came up last. Then in a concluding speech he demanded--where were the premiums +for the mistresses, who, he was quite sure, deserved them quite as much or more +than the maids!</p> +<p>While everybody was still laughing, Lady Merrifield asked Mr. Leadbitter to +explain that as it was still raining hard, she must ask all to adjourn to the +great loft over the stable, where they could enjoy themselves. Each associate +was to gather her own flock and bring them in order. Lady Merrifield said she +would lead the way, Lord Rotherwood coming with her, picking up little Primrose +in his arms to carry her upstairs to the loft.</p> +<p>Every one was moving. Dolores was among a crowd of strangers. She heard them +saying how delightful Lord Rotherwood was, and charming and handsome and +graceful Lady Merrifield, with her beautiful eyes. It worried Dolores, who +thought it rather foolish to be pretty, except in the case of persecuted orphan, +and, moreover, admiration of her aunt always seemed to her disparagement of her +mother. And where was Constance?</p> +<p>She followed the stream, and, climbing some stairs, came out into a large, +long, empty hay-loft, over what had once been hunting stables--the children's +wet-day play-place. The deputation dispatched to the house had managed to get up +there the schoolroom piano, and one of the curates sat down to it, and began +playing dance music, while Miss Mohun, Miss Hacket, and the other ladies began +arranging couples for a country dance--all girls, of course, except that Lord +Rotherwood danced with the tiny premium girl, and Harry with Primrose. Wilfred +and Fergus could not be incited to make the attempt; Mysie offered herself to +Dolores, but in vain. 'I hate dancing,' was all the answer she got, and she went +off to persuade Lois, the nursery girl. Constance Hacket arranged herself on a +chair, and looked out from between two curates; there was no getting at her.</p> +<p>Then there came a pause; Lord Rotherwood spoke to Gillian, and must have +asked her to point Dolores out, for presently he made his way to the little dark +figure in the window, and, kindly laying his hand on her shoulder, asked whether +she had heard from her father yet.</p> +<p>'No, I suppose you can't,' he added. 'It is a great break-up for you; but you +are a lucky girl to be taken in here! It reminds me of what Beechcroft used to +be to me when I was a stray fish, though not quite so lonely as you are. Make +the most of it, for there aren't many in these days like Aunt Lily there!'</p> +<p>'He little knows,' thought Dolores, as a waltz began to be played.</p> +<p>'They want an example,' he said. 'Come along. You know how, I'm sure--a +Londoner like you!'</p> +<p>Pairs were whirling about the floor in full career in a short time, to the +astonishment of other maidens who had never seen dancing in their lives. +Dolores, afraid to refuse, and certainly flattered, really was wonderfully +exhilarated and brightened by her career wither good-natured cousin.</p> +<p>'I do believe Cousin Rotherwood has shaken her out of the dumps,' observed +Gillian to Aunt Jane, who returned--</p> +<p>'He can do it if any one can.'</p> +<p>The funny thing was the effect upon Constance, who, in the next pause, shook +off her curates, advanced to Dolores, who was recovering her breath under the +window, called her a dear thing whom she had not been able to get to all this +time, sat rather forward with an arm round her waist for the next half-hour, +and, when Sir Roger de Coverley was getting up, proposed that they should be +partners, but not till she had seen Lord Rotherwood pair himself off with Mysie.</p> +<p>'I must,' said he to Lady Merrifield, 'it's so like dancing with honest +Phyl.'</p> +<p>'The greatest compliment you could have, Mysie,' said her mother, looking +very much pleased.</p> +<p>The last yellow patches of evening sunshine on the sloping roof faded; +watches were looked at, the music turned to the National Anthem, everybody stood +up, or stood still, and sung it. Then at the close, Mr. Leadbitter stood by the +piano and said--</p> +<p>'One word more, my young friends. Some of you may have been surprised at this +evening's amusement, but we want you to understand that there is no harm in +dancing itself, provided that the place, the manner, and the companions are fit. +I hope that you will all prove the truth of my words, by not taking this +pleasant evening as an excuse for running into places of temptation. Now, good +night, with many thanks to Lady Merrifield for the happy day she has given us.'</p> +<p>A voice added, 'Three cheers for Lady Merrifield!' and the G.F.S. showed +itself by no means backward in the matter of cheering. There was a hunting up of +ulsters and umbrellas; one associate after another got her flock together, and +clattered downstairs, either to get into vans, to walk to the station, or to +disperse to their homes in the town.</p> +<p>Meantime Lord Rotherwood had time to explain that he was on his way to fetch +his wife home from some German baths, where she had gone to recruit after the +season; and, as he meant to cross at night, had come to spend a few hours with +his cousin. There was still an hour to spare, during which Lady Merrifield +insisted that he must have more solid food than G.F.S. provided.</p> +<p>'Lily,' said Miss Mohun, as the elders walked to the house together, 'it +strikes me that Rotherwood could satisfy your mind about that letter. He would +know the handwriting. You remember a certain brother--very much in law--of +Maurice's?'</p> +<p>'I have reason to do so,' said Lord Rotherwood. 'You don't mean that he has +been troubling Lily?'</p> +<p>'No; but from the nature of the animal it is much to be apprehended that he +will,' said Miss Mohun, 'if he knows that the child is here.'</p> +<p>'In fact,' said Lady Merrifield, 'Jane has made me suppress, till +examination, a letter to her, in case it should be from him. It is a horrid +thing to do. What do you think, Rotherwood?'</p> +<p>'There should be no correspondence. Did not Maurice warn you? Then he ought. +Look here, Lily. His wife--under strong compulsion from the fellow, I should +think--begged me to find some employment for him. I got him a secretaryship to +our Board of--what d'ye call it? I'll do Maurice the justice to say that he was +considerably cool about it; but the end of it was that there was an +unaccountable deficit, and my lady said it served me right. I was a fool, as I +always am, and gave way to the poor woman about not bringing it home to him. And +she insisted on making it up to me by degrees--out of her literary work, I +fancy--for I don't think Maurice knew the extent of the peculation. Ever since +I've been getting begging letters from the fellow at intervals. If he had the +impertinence to molest you, Lily, simply refer him to me.'</p> +<p>'And if he writes to the child?'</p> +<p>'Return him the letter. Say she can have no such thing without her father's +consent.'</p> +<p>'Is this a case in point?' said Lady Merrifield, producing the letter.</p> +<p>'No,' said he, holding it up in the waning light. 'I know the fellow's fist +too well! This is a gentleman's hand.'</p> +<p>'What a relief!' said Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Nay, don't be in a hurry,' said Miss Mohun. 'Don't give it to her unopened. +Your only safety is in maintaining your right to see all the child's letters, +except what her father specified.'</p> +<p>'Don't you wish it was you, Brownie?' asked her cousin.</p> +<p>'I hate it!' said Lady Merrifield; 'but I suppose I ought! However, there's +no harm in this, that's a comfort; it is simply that the gentleman that the +house is let to has found this note to her somewhere about, and thinks she would +wish to have it. I think it is her mother's hand. How nice of him!'</p> +<p>'Now, Lily, don't go and be too apologetic,' said Jane. 'Assert your right, +or you'll have it all over again.'</p> +<p>'Without Jenny to do prudence,' said Lord Rotherwood, while Lady Merrifield, +hardly hearing either of them, hurried on in search of her niece, but they would +have been satisfied if they could have heard her.</p> +<p>'My dear, here's your letter. I am so sorry to have been too much hindered to +look at it before. You must not mind, Dolly. I know it is very disagreeable; but +every one who has the care of precious articles like young ladies is bound to +look after them.'</p> +<p>Dolores took the letter with a kind of acknowledgement, but no more, for its +detention offended her, and she was aggrieved at the prospect of future +inspection, as another cruel stroke inflicted upon her.</p> +<p>Aunt Adeline was found in the drawing-room, where she had entertained such +ladies as were afraid of the damp, or who did not approve of the dancing, and +would not look on at it. Thence all went off to a merry meal, where the elders +plunged into old stories, and went on capping each others' recollections and +making fun, to the extreme delight of the young folk, who had often been +entertained with tales of Beechcroft. Aunt Ada declared that she had not laughed +so much for ten years, and Aunt Jane declared that it was too bad to lower their +dignity and be so absurd before all these young things.</p> +<p>'It's having four of the old set together!' said Lord Rotherwood; 'a chance +one doesn't get every day. I wonder how soon Maurice and Phyllis will meet.'</p> +<p>'It depends on whether the Zenobia touches at Auckland before going to the +Fijis,' said Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'There is at least a sort of neighbourhood between them,' said Miss Mohun, +'though it may be about as close as between us and Sicily.'</p> +<p>'She is looking out for Maurice,' said Aunt Ada. 'She wrote, only it was too +late, to propose his bringing Dolores to be at least nearer to him.'</p> +<p>'Just like Phyllis!' ejaculated the marquess. 'You have one of your flock +with something of her countenance, Lily.'</p> +<p>'I am so glad you see it, Rotherwood. It is what I am always trying to +believe in, and I hope the likeness is a little within as well as without--but +we poor creatures who have been tumbled about the world get sophisticated, and +can't attain to the sweet, blundering freshness of "Honest Simplicity."'</p> +<p>'It is a plant that must be spontaneous--can't be grown to order.'</p> +<p>'His lordship's carriage at the door,' announced Macrae.</p> +<p>'Ah, well! Trains must be caught, I suppose. I'm glad you're settled here, +Lilias. I feel as if a sort of reflex of old Beechcroft were attainable now.'</p> +<p>'I hope it won't be a G.F.S. day next time you come!'</p> +<p>'Oh, it was very jolly. I shall bring my child next time, if I can get her +out of the clutches of the governesses for a day, but it is a hard matter. They +look daggers at me if I put my head into the schoolroom.'</p> +<p>'You always were a dangerous element there, you know.'</p> +<p>'Poor dear Eleanor! What did I not make her go through! But she never went +the length of one of my lady's governesses, who declared that she had as much +call to interfere in my stable, as I had with her schoolroom.'</p> +<p>'What mischief were you doing there?'</p> +<p>'Well, if you must know, I was enlivening a very dry and Cromwellian +abridgement with some of Lily's old cavalier anecdotes, so Lily was at the +bottom of it, you see.'</p> +<p>'But did she fall on you then and there?'</p> +<p>'No, no. I trust my beard is too grey for that. But she looked at me with +impressive dignity such as neither poor little Fly nor I could stand, and +afterwards betook herself to Victoria, who, I am happy to say, sent her to the +right about.'</p> +<p>'As I am about to do,' said Lady Merrifield; 'for if you don't miss your +train, it will be by cruelty to animals. No, you've not got time to shake hands +with all that rabble. Be off with you.'</p> +<p>'Ah! I shall tell Victoria that if she sees me tomorrow it's all owing to +your unpitying punctuality,' said he, shaking himself into his overcoat.</p> +<p>'Dear old fellow!' said Lady Merrifield, as she turned from the front door, +while he drove off. 'He is like a gust of old Beechcroft air! But I should think +Victoria had a handful.'</p> +<p>'She knew what she was doing,' said Aunt Ada. 'I always thought she married +him for the sake of breaking him in.'</p> +<p>'And very well she has done it, too,' returned Aunt Jane. 'Only now and then +he gets a holiday, and then the real creature breaks out again. But it is much +better so. He would not have been of half so much good otherwise.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield looked from one to the other, but said no more, for all the +young folks were round her; but every one was so much tired, children, servants, +and all, that prayers were read early, and all went to their rooms. Yet, tired +as she was, Lady Merrifield sat on in her sister Jane's room, in her +dressing-gown, talking according to another revival of olden time.</p> +<p>'What did Ada mean about Rotherwood? Isn't he happy?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, very happy; and it is much the best thing that could have happened. +It is only another of the proofs that life is very long, especially for men.'</p> +<p>'Come, now, tell me all about it. You don't know how often I feel as if I had +been buried and dug up again.'</p> +<p>'There are things one can't write about. Poor fellow! he never really wanted +to marry anybody but Phyllis.'</p> +<p>'No! you don't mean it! I never knew it.'</p> +<p>'No, for you were in the utmost parts of the earth; and he was very good, so +that I don't believe honest Phyl herself, or any one without eyes, guessed it; +but he had it all out with our father, who begged him, almost on that allegiance +he had always shown, to abstain from beginning about it. You see, not only are +they first cousins, but our mother and his father both were consumptive, and +there was dear Claude even then regularly breaking down every winter, and Ada +needing to be looked after like a hothouse plan. I'm sure, when I think of the +last generation of Devereuxes, I wonder so many of us have been tough enough to +weather the dangerous age; and there had been an alarm or two about Rotherwood +himself. Well, he was very good, half from obedience, half from being convinced +that it would be a selfish thing, and especially from being wholly convinced +that Phyl's feelings were not stirred. That was the way I came to know about it, +for papa took me out for a drive in the old gig to ask what I thought about her +heart, and I could truly and honestly say she had never found it, cared for +Rotherwood just as she did for Reggie, and was not the sort to think whether a +man was attentive to her. Besides, she was eighteen, and he thirty-one, and she +thought him venerable. I believe, if he had asked her then, she might have taken +him (because Cousin Rotherwood wished it), but she would have had to fall in +love in the second place instead of the first. Well, he was very good, poor old +fellow, except that by way of taking himself off, and diverting his mind, he +went dear-stalking with such unnecessary vehemence that a Scotch mist was very +nearly the death of him, and he discovered that he had as many lungs as other +people. If you could only have seen our dear old father then, how distressed and +how guilty he felt, and how he used to watch Phyllis, and examine Alethea and me +as to whether she seemed more than reasonably concerned for Rotherwood had come +and hit the right nail on the head he might have carried her off.'</p> +<p>'But he didn't.'</p> +<p>'No; for, you see, he was ill enough to convince himself, as well as other +people, that he was a consumptive Devereux after all.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes! I remember the shock with which I heard like a doom that he was +going the way of the others; and hen he and the dear Claude came out in his +yacht to us at Gibraltar, and were so bright! We had a wonderful little journey +into Spain together, and how Jasper enjoyed it! Little did I think I was never +to see Claude here again. But it was true, was it not, that all Rotherwood's +care gave the dear fellow much more comfort--perhaps kept him longer?'</p> +<p>'I am sure it was so. Rotherwood soon got over his own attachment--the +missing an English winter was all he needed; but he would hear of nothing but +devoting himself to Claude. Papa and Claude were both uneasy at his going off +from all his cares and duties, but I believe--and Claude knew it--that he +actually could not settle down quietly while Phyllis remained unmarried, and +that having Claude to nurse and carry about from climate was the comfort of his +life. Or, I believe, dear Claude would have been glad to have been left in peace +to do what he could. Well, then Phyllis and Ada went to stay in the Close with +Emily, and Ada wrote conscious letters and came home bridling and blushing about +Captain May, so that we were quite prepared for his turning up at Beechcroft, +but not at all for what I saw before he had been ten minutes in the house, that +it was Phyllis that he meant, and had meant all along! Dear Harry! it almost +made up for its not being Rotherwood. Well, poor Ada! It hadn't gone too deep, +happily, and I opened her eyes in time to hinder any demonstration that could +have left pain and shame--at least, I think so; but poor Ada has had too many +little fits for one to have told much more than another. I believe Phyl did tell +Harry that he meant Ada, but she let herself be convinced to the contrary; and +the only objection I have to it is his having taken that appointment at +Auckland, and carried her out of reach of any of us. However, it was better for +Rotherwood, and when she was gone, and his occupation over with our dear Claude, +his mother was always at him to let her see him married before she died. And so +he let her have her way. No, don't look concerned. Lady Rotherwood is an +excellent, good woman, just the wife for him, and he knows it, and does as she +tells him most faithfully and gratefully. They are pattern-folk from top to toe, +and so is the boy. But the girl! He would have his way, and named her +Phyllis--Fly he calls her. She is a little skittish elf--Rotherwood himself all +over; and doesn't he worship her! and doesn't he think it a holiday to carry her +off to play pranks with! and isn't he happy to get amongst a good lot of us, and +be his old self again!'</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII<br> +MY PERSECUTED UNCLE</h3> + +<p>Dolores was allowed to go to Casement Cottage on Sunday. It was always rather +an awful thing to her to get through the paddock when the farmer's cattle turned +out there. She did not mind it so much in the broad road and in the midst of a +large party, with Hal among them, and no dogs; but alone with only one +companion, and in the easy path which was the shortest way to the cottage, she +winced and trembled at the little black, shaggy Scotch oxen, with white horns +and faces that looked to her very wild and fierce.</p> +<p>'Oh, Gillian, those creatures! Can't we go the other way?'</p> +<p>'No; it is a great deal further round, and there's no time. They won't hurt. +The farmer engaged not to turn out anything vicious here.'</p> +<p>'But how can he be sure?'</p> +<p>'Well, don't come if you don't like it,' said Gillian, impatiently. 'It is +your own concern. I must go.'</p> +<p>Dolores did not like the notion of Constance being told that she would not +come because she was afraid of the oxen. She thought it very unkind of Gillian, +but she came, and kept carefully on the side furthest from the formidable +animals. And Gillian really was forbearing. She did make allowances for the +London-bred girl's fears; and the only thing she did was, that when one of the +animals lifted up its head and looked, and Dolores made a spring as if to run +away, she caught the girl's arm, crying, 'Don't! That's the very way to make him +run after you.'</p> +<p>They got safe out of the paddock at last, and rang at the door. They were +both kissed, Dolores with especial affectionateness, because the good ladies +pitied her so much; and then while Miss Hacket and Gillian went off to their +class, Constance took Dolores up into her own room, and began to tell her how +disappointed she was not to have seen more of her at the Festival.</p> +<p>'But those curates would not let me alone. I was obliged to attend to them.'</p> +<p>And then she was very eager to know all about Lord Rotherwood, which rather +amazed Dolores, who had been in the habit of hearing her father mention him as +'that mad fellow Rotherwood,' while her mother always spoke with contempt of +people who ran after lords and ladies, and had been heard to say that Lord +Rotherwood himself was well enough, but his wife was a mere fine lady.</p> +<p>But Dolores had a matter on which she was very anxious.</p> +<p>'Connie, do they always read one's letters first? I mean the old people, like +Aunt Lily.'</p> +<p>'What! has she been reading your letters?'</p> +<p>'She says she always shall, except father's and Maude Sefton's, because papa +spoke to her about that. She took a letter of mine the other day, and never let +me have it till the evening, and I am sure Aunt Jane put her up to it.'</p> +<p>'You poor darling!' exclaimed Constance. 'Was it anything you cared about?'</p> +<p>'Oh no--not that--but there might be. And I want to know whether she has the +right.'</p> +<p>'I should not have thought Lady Merrifield would have been so like an old +schoolmistress. Miss Dormer always did, the old cat! where I went to school,' +said Constance. 'We did hate it so! She looked over every one's letters, except +parents', so that we never could have anything nice, except by a chance or so.'</p> +<p>'It is tyranny,' said Dolores, solemnly. 'I do not see why one should submit +to it.'</p> +<p>'We had dodges,' continued Constance, warming with the history of her +school-days, and far too eager to talk to think of the harm she might be doing +to the younger girl. 'Sometimes, when a lot of us went to a shop with one of the +governesses, one would slip out and post a letter. Fraulein was so +short-sighted, she never guessed. We used to call her the jolly old Kafer. But +Mademoiselle was very sharp. She once caught Alice Bell, so that she had to make +an excuse and say she had dropped something. You see, she really had--the letter +into the slit.'</p> +<p>'But that was an equivocation.'</p> +<p>'Oh, you darling scrupulous, long-worded child! You aren't like the girls at +Miss Dormer's, only she drove us to it, you know. You'll be horribly shocked, +but I'll tell you what Louie Preston did. There was a young man in the town whom +she had met at a picnic in the holidays--a clerk, he was, at the bank--and he +used to put notes to her under the cushions at church; but one unlucky Sunday, +Louie had a cold and didn't go, and she told Mabel Blisset to bring it, and +Mabel didn't understand the right place, and went poking about, so that Miss +Dormer found it out, and there was such a row!'</p> +<p>'Wasn't that rather vulgar?' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Well, he was only a clerk, but he was a duck of a man, with regular auburn +hair, you know. And he sang! We used to go to the Choral Society concerts, and +he sang ballads so beautifully, and always looked at Louie!'</p> +<p>'I should not care for anything of that sort,' said Dolores. 'I think it is +bad form.'</p> +<p>'So it is,' said Constance, seriously, 'only one can't help recollecting the +fun of the thing, and what one was driven to in those days. Is there any one you +are anxious to correspond with?'</p> +<p>'Not in particular, only I can't bear to have Aunt Lilias meddling with my +letters; and there's a poor uncle of mine that I know would not like her, or any +of the Mohuns, to see his letters.</p> +<p>'Indeed! Your poor mamma's brother?' cried Constance, full of curiosity.</p> +<p>'Mind, it is in confidence. You must never tell any one.'</p> +<p>'Never. Oh, you may trust me!' cried Constance.</p> +<p>'Her half-brother,' said Dolores; and the girl proceeded to tell Constance +what she had told Maude Sefton about Mr. Flinders, and how her mother had been +used to assist him out of her own earnings, and how he had met her at Exeter +station, and was so disappointed to have missed her father. Constance listened +most eagerly, greatly delighted to have a secret confided to her, and promising +to keep it with all her might.</p> +<p>'And now,' said Dolores, 'what shall I do? If poor Uncle Alfred writes to me, +Aunt Lilias will have the letter and read it, and the Mohuns are all so stuck +up; they will despise him, and very likely she will never let me have the +letter.'</p> +<p>'Yes, but, dear, couldn't you write here, with my things, and tell him how it +is, and tell him to write under cover to me?'</p> +<p>'Dear Connie! How good you are! Yes, that would be quite delightful!'</p> +<p>All the confidences and all the caresses had, however, taken quite as long as +the G.F.S. class, and before Constance had cleared a space on the table for +Dolores's letter, there was a summons to say that Gillian was ready to go home.</p> +<p>'So early!' said Constance. 'I thought you would have had tea and stayed to +evening service.'</p> +<p>'I should like it so much,' cried Dolores, remembering that it would spare +her the black oxen in the cross-path, as well as giving her the time with her +friend.</p> +<p>So they went down with the invitation, but Gillian replied that mamma always +liked to have all together for the Catechism, and that she could not venture to +leave Dolores without special permission.</p> +<p>'Quite right, my dear,' said Miss Hacket. 'Connie would be very sorry to do +anything against Lady Merrifield's rules. We shall see you again in a day or +two.'</p> +<p>And this is the way in which Constance kept her friend's secret. When Miss +Hacket had done her further work with a G.F.S. young woman who needed private +instruction to prepare her for baptism, the two sisters sat down to a leisurely +tea before starting for evensong; in the first place, Constance detailed all she +had discovered as to the connection with Lord Rotherwood, in which subject, it +must be confessed, good Miss Hacket took a lively interest, having never so +closely encountered a live marquess, 'and so affable,' she contended; upon which +Constance declared that they were all stuck-up, and were very unkind and hard to +poor darling Dolores.</p> +<p>'I don't know. I cannot fancy dear Lady Merrifield being unkind to any one, +especially a dear girl as good as an orphan,' said Miss Hacket, who, if not the +cleverest of women, was one of the best and most warm-hearted. 'And, indeed, +Connie, I don't think dear Gillian and Mysie feel at all unkindly to their +cousin.'</p> +<p>'Ah! that's just like you, Mary. You never see more than the outside, but +then I am in dear Dolly's confidence.'</p> +<p>'What do you mean, Connie?' said Miss Hacket, eagerly.</p> +<p>Constance had come home from school with the reputation of being much more +accomplished than her elder sister, who had grown up while her father was a +curate of very straitened means, and thus, though her junior, she was thought +wonderfully superior in discernment and everything else.</p> +<p>'Well,' said Constance, 'what do you think of Lady Merrifield sending her to +bed for staying late here that morning?'</p> +<p>'That was strict, certainly; but you know she sent Mysie too. It was all my +own thoughtlessness for detaining them,' said the good elder sister. 'I was so +grieved!'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Constance, 'it sounds all very well to say Mysie was treated in +the same way, but in the afternoon Mysie was allowed to go and make messes with +blackberry jam, while poor Dolly was kept shut up in the schoolroom!'</p> +<p>Constance did not like Lady Merrifield, who had unconsciously snubbed some of +her affectations, and nipped in the bud a flirtation with Harry, besides calling +off some of the curates to be helpful. But Miss Hacket admired her neighbour as +much as her sister would permit, and made answer--</p> +<p>'It is so hard to judge, my dear, without knowing all. Perhaps Mysie had +finished her lessons.'</p> +<p>'Ah! I know you always are for Lady Merrifield! But what do you say, then, to +her prying into all that poor child's correspondence?'</p> +<p>'My dear, I think most people do think it advisable to have some check on +young girl's letters. Perhaps Dolores's father desired it.'</p> +<p>'He never put on any restrictions,' said Constance. 'I am sure he never +would. Men don't. It is always women, with their nasty, prying, tyrannous +instincts.'</p> +<p>'I am sure,' returned Mary, 'one would not think a child like Dolores Mohun +could have anything to conceal.'</p> +<p>'But she has!' cried Constance.</p> +<p>'No, my dear! Impossible!' exclaimed Miss Hacket, looking very much shocked. +'Why, she can't be fourteen!'</p> +<p>'Oh! it is nothing of that sort. Don't think about that, Mary.'</p> +<p>'No, no, I know, Connie dear; you would never listen to any young girl's +confidence of that kind--so improper and so vulgar,' said Miss Hacket, and +Constance did not think it necessary to reveal her knowledge of the post-office +under the cushions at church, and other little affairs of that sort.</p> +<p>'It is her uncle,' said Constance. 'Her mother, it seems, though quite a +lady, was the daughter of a professor, a very learned man, very distinguished, +and all that, but not a high family enough to please the Mohuns, and they never +were friendly with her, or treated her as an equal.'</p> +<p>'That couldn't have been Lady Merrifield,' persevered Miss Hacket. 'She +lamented to me herself that she had been out of England for so many years that +she had scarcely seen Mrs. Maurice Mohun.'</p> +<p>'Well, there were the Miss Mohuns and all the rest!' said Constance. 'Why, +Dolores has only once been at the family place. And her mother had a brother, an +author and a journalist, a very clever man, and the Mohuns have always regularly +persecuted him. He has been very unfortunate, and Mrs. Maurice Mohun has done +her utmost to help him, writing in periodicals and giving the proceeds to him. +Wasn't that sweet? And now Dolores feels quite cut off from him; and she is so +fond of him, poor darling for her mother's sake.'</p> +<p>Tender-hearted as Miss Hacket was, she had seen enough of life to have some +inkling of what being very unfortunate might sometimes mean.</p> +<p>'I should think,' she said, 'that Lady Merrifield would never withhold from +the child any letter it was proper she should have, especially from a relation.'</p> +<p>'Yes, but I tell you she did keep back a letter on the festival day till she +had looked at it. Poor Dolores saw it come, and she saw a glance pass between +her and Miss Mohun, and she is quite sure, she says, her Aunt Jane had been +poisoning her mind about this poor persecuted uncle, and that she shall never be +allowed to hear from him.'</p> +<p>'I don't suppose there can be much for him to say to her,' said Miss Hacket. +Then, after a little reflection, 'Connie, my dear, I really think you had better +not interfere. There may be reasons that this poor child knows nothing about for +keeping her aloof from this uncle.'</p> +<p>'Oh! but her mother helped him.'</p> +<p>'She was his sister. That was quite another thing. Indeed, Connie,' said Miss +Hacket, more earnestly, 'I am quite sure that you will use your influence--and +you have a great deal of influence, you know--most kindly by persuading this +dear child to be happy with the Merrifields and submit to their arrangements.'</p> +<p>'You are infatuated with Lady Merrifield,' muttered Constance. 'Ah! how +little you know!'</p> +<p>Here the first warning note of the bell ended the discussion, and Constance +did not think it necessary to tell her sister of the offer she had made to +Dolores. In her eyes, Mary, who was the eldest of the family, had always been of +the dull, grown-up, authoritative faction of the elders, while she herself was +still one of the sweet junior party, full of antagonism to them, and ready to +elude them in any way. Besides, she had promised her darling Dolores; and the +thing was quite romantic; nor could any one call it blame-worthy, since it was +nothing like a lover--not even a young man, but only a persecuted uncle in +distress.</p> +<p>So she awaited anxiously the next Sunday when Dolores's letter was to be +written in her room. To tell the truth, Dolores could quite as easily have +written in her own, and brought down the letter in her pocket, if she had been +eager about the matter; but she was not, except under the influence of making a +grievance. She had never written to Uncle Alfred in her life, nor he to her; and +his visits to her mother had always led to something uncomfortable. Nor would +she have thought about the subject at all if it had not been for the sore sense +that she was cut off from him, as she fancied, because he belonged to her +mother.</p> +<p>Nothing particular had happened that week. There had been no very striking +offences one way or the other; she was working better with her lessons and +understanding more of Miss Vincent's methods. She perceived that they were +thorough, and respected them accordingly, and she had had the great satisfaction +of getting more good marks for French and German than Mysie. She had become +interested in 'The Old Oak Staircase,' and began to look forward to Aunt Lily's +readings as the best part of the day. But she had not drawn in the least nearer +to any of the family. She absolutely disliked, almost hated, the quarter of an +hour which Aunt Lily devoted to her religious teaching every morning, though +nobody was present, not even Primrose. She nearly refused to learn, and said as +badly as possible the very small portions she was bidden to learn by heart, and +she closed her mind up against taking in the sense of the very short readings +and her aunt's comments on them. It seemed to her to be treating her like a +Sunday-school child, and insulting her mother, who had never troubled her in +this manner. Her aunt said no word of reproach, except to insist on attention +and accuracy of repetition; but there came to be an unusual gravity and +gentleness about her in these lessons, as if she were keeping a guard over +herself, and often a greatly disappointed look, which exasperated Dolores much +more than a scolding.</p> +<p>Mysie had left off courting her cousin, finding that it only brought her +rebuffs, and went her own way as before, pleased and honoured when Gillian would +consort with her, but generally paring with her younger sister.</p> +<p>Dolores, though hitherto ungracious, missed her attentions, and decided that +they were 'all falseness.' Wilfred absolutely did tease and annoy her whenever +he could, Fergus imitated him, and Valetta enjoyed and abetted him. These three +had all been against her ever since the affair of the arrow; but Wilfred had not +many opportunities of tormenting her, for in the house there was a perpetual +quiet supervision and influence. Mrs. Halfpenny was sure to detect traps in the +passage, or bounces at the door. Miss Vincent looked daggers if other people's +lesson books were interfered with. Mamma had eyes all round, and nobody dared to +tease or play tricks in her presence. Hal, Gillian, and even Mysie always +thwarted such amiable acts as putting a dead wasp into a shoe, or snapping a +book in the reader's face; while, as to venturing into the general family active +games, Dolores would have felt it like rushing into a corobboree of savages!</p> +<p>There was one wet afternoon when they could not even get as far as to the +loft over the stables; at least the little ones could not have done so, and it +was decided that it would be very cruel to them for all the others to run off, +and leave them to Mrs. Halfpenny; so the plan was given up.</p> +<p>Partly because Lady Merrifield thought it very amiable in Mysie and Valetta +to make the sacrifice, and partly to disperse the thundercloud she saw gathering +on Wilfred's brow, she not only consented to a magnificent and extraordinary +game at wolves and bears all over the house, but even devoted herself to keeping +Mrs. Halfpenny quiet by shutting herself into the nursery to look over all the +wardrobes, and decide what was to 'go down' in the family, and what was to be +given away, and what must be absolutely renewed. It was an operation that Mrs. +Halfpenny enjoyed so much, that it warranted her to be deaf to shrieks and +trampling, and almost to forget the chances of gathers and kilting being torn +out, and trap-doors appearing in skirts and pinafores.</p> +<p>All that time Dolores sat hunched up in her own room, reading 'Clare, or No +Home,' and realizing the persecutions suffered by that afflicted child, who had +just been nearly drowned in rescuing her wickedest cousin, and was being carried +into her noble grandfather's house, there to be recognized by her golden hair +being exactly the colour it was when she was a baby.</p> +<p>There were horrible growlings at times outside her door, and she bolted it by +way of precaution. Once there was a bounce against it, but Gillian's voice might +be heard in the distance calling off the wolves.</p> +<p>Then came a lull. The wolves and bears had rushed up and down stairs till +they were quite exhausted and out of breath, especially as Primrose had always +been a cub, and gone in the arms of Hal or Gillian; Fergus at last had rolled +down three steps, and been caught by Wilfred, who, in his character of bear, +hugged and mauled him till his screams grew violent. Harry had come to the +rescue, and it was decided that there had been enough of this, and that there +should be a grand exhibition of tableaux from the history of England in the +dining-room, which of course mamma was to guess, with the assistance of any one +who was not required to act.</p> +<p>Mama, ever obliging, hastily condemned two or three sunburnt hats and ancient +pairs of shoes, to be added to the bundle for Miss Hacket's distribution, and +let herself be hauled off to act audience.</p> +<p>'But where's Dolly?' she asked, as she looked at the assemblage on the +stairs.</p> +<p>'Bolted into her room, like a donkey,' said Wilfred, the last clause under +his breath.</p> +<p>'Indeed, mamma, we did ask her, and gave her the choice between wolves and +bears,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'Unfortunately she is bear without choosing,' said Gill.</p> +<p>'A sucking of her paws in a hollow tree,' chimed in Hal.</p> +<p>'Hush! hush!' said Lady Merrifield, looking pained; 'perhaps the choice +seemed very terrible to a poor only child like that. We, who had the luck to be +one of many, don't know what wild cats you may all seem to her.'</p> +<p>'She never will play at anything,' said Val.</p> +<p>'She doesn't know how to,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'And won't be taught,' added Wilfred.</p> +<p>'But that's very dreadful,' exclaimed Lady Merrifield. 'Fancy a poor child of +thirteen not knowing how to play. I shall go and dig her out!'</p> +<p>So there came a gentle tap at the closed door, to which Dolores answered--</p> +<p>'Can't you let me alone? Go away,' thinking it a treacherous ruse of the +enemy to effect an entrance; but when her aunt said--</p> +<p>'Is there anything the matter, my dear? Won't you let me in?' she was obliged +to open it.</p> +<p>'No, there's nothing the matter,' she allowed. 'Only I wanted them to let me +alone.'</p> +<p>'They have not been rude to you, I hope.'</p> +<p>Dolores was too much afraid of Wilfred to mention the bouncing, so she +allowed that no one had been rude to her, but she hated romping, which she +managed to say in the tone of a rebuke to her aunt for suffering it.</p> +<p>However, Aunt Lily only smiled and said--</p> +<p>'Ah! you have not been used to wholesome exercise in large families. I dare +say it seems formidable; but, my dear, you are looking quite pale. I can't allow +you to stay stuffed up there, poking over a book all the afternoon. It is very +bad for you. We are going to have some historical tableaux. They are to have one +set, and I thought perhaps you and I would get up some for them to guess in +turn.'</p> +<p>Dolores was not in a mood to be pleased, but she did not quite dare to say +she did not choose to make herself ridiculous, and she knew there was authority +in the tone, so she followed and endured.</p> +<p>So they beheld Alfred watching the cakes before the bright grate in the +dining-room, and having his ears beautifully boxed. Also Knut and the waves, +which were graphically represented by letting the wind in under the drugget, and +pulling it up gradually over his feet, but these, Mysie explained, were only for +the little ones. Rollo and his substitute doing homage to Charles the Simple, +were much more effective; as Gillian in that old military cloak of her father's, +which had seen as much service in the play-room as in the field, stood and +scowled at Wilfred in the crown and mamma's ermine mantle, being overthrown by +Harry at his full height.</p> +<p>The excitement was immense when it was announced that mamma had a tableau to +represent with the help of Dolores, who was really warming a little to the +interest of the thing, and did not at all dislike being dressed up with one of +the boy's caps with three ostrich feathers, to accompany her aunt in hood and +cloak, and be challenged by Hal, who had, together with the bow and papa's old +regimental sword, been borrowed to personate the robber of Hexham. Everybody +screamed with ecstasy except Fergus, who thought it very hard that he should not +have been Prince Edward instead of a stupid girl.</p> +<p>So, to content all parties, mama undertook to bring in as many as possible, +and a series from the life of Elizabeth Woodville was accordingly arranged.</p> +<p>She stood under the oak, represented by the hall chandelier, with Fergus and +Primrose as her infant sons, and fascinated King Edward on the rocking-horse, +which was much too vivant, for it reared as perpendicularly as it could, and +then nearly descended on its nose, to mark the rider's feelings.</p> +<p>Then, with her hair let down, which was stipulated for, though, as she +observed, nothing would make it the right colour, she sat desolate on the +hearth, surrounded by as many daughters as could be spared from being +spectators, as her youngest son was born off from her maternal arms by a being +as like a cardinal as a Galway cloak, disposed tippet fashion, could make him.</p> +<p>She could not be spared to put up her hair again before she had to forget her +maternal feelings and be mere audience, while her two sons were smothered by +Mysie and Dolores, converted into murderers one and two by slouched hats. +Fergus, a little afraid of being actually suffocated, began to struggle, setting +off Wilfred, and the adventure was having a conclusion, which would have +accounted for the authentic existence of Perkin Warbeck, when--oh horror! there +was a peal at the door-bell, and before there was a moment for the general +scurry, Herbert the button-boy popped out of the pantry passage and admitted Mr. +Leadbitter, to whom, as a late sixth standard boy, he had a special allegiance, +and, having spied him coming, hurried to let him in out of the rain instantly.</p> +<p>At least, such was the charitable interpretation. Harry strongly suspected +that the imp had been a concealed spectator all the time, and had particularly +relished the mischief of the discomfiture, which, after all, was much greater on +the part of the Vicar than any one else, as he was a rather stiff, old-fashioned +gentleman. Lady Merrifield only laughed, said she had been beguiled into wet day +sports with the children, begged him to excuse her for a moment or two, and +tripped away, followed by Gillian to help her, quickly reappearing in her lace +cap as the graceful matron, even before Mr. Leadbitter had quite done blushing +and quoting to Harry 'desipere in loco,' as he was assisted off with his +dripping, shiny waterproof.</p> +<p>After all no harm would have been done if--Harry and Gillian being both off +guard--Valetta had not exclaimed most unreasonably in her disappointment--</p> +<p>'I knew the fun would be spoilt the instant Dolores came in for it.'</p> +<p>'Yes, Mr. Murderer, you squashed my little finger and all but smothered me,' +cried Fergus, throwing himself on Dolores and dropping her down.</p> +<p>'Don't! don't! you know you mustn't,' screamed valiant Mysie, flying to the +rescue.</p> +<p>'Murderers! Murderers must be done for,' shouted Wilfred, falling upon Mysie.</p> +<p>'You shan't hurt my Mysie,' bellowed Valetta, hurling herself upon Wilfred.</p> +<p>And there they were all in a heap, when Gillian, summoned by the shrieks, +came down from helping her mother, pulled Valetta off Wilfred, Wilfred off +Mysie, Mysie off Fergus, and Fergus off Dolores, who was discovered at the +bottom with an angry, frightened face, and all her hair standing on end.</p> +<p>'Are you hurt, Dolores? I am very sorry,' said Gillian. 'It was very naughty. +Go up to the nursery, Fergus and Val, and be made fit to be seen.'</p> +<p>They obeyed, crestfallen. Dolores felt herself all over. It would have been +gratifying to have had some injury to complain of, but she had fallen on the +prince's cushions, and there really was none. So she only said, 'No, I'm not +hurt, though it is a wonder;' and off she walked to bolt herself into her own +room again, there to brood on Valetta's speech.</p> +<p>It worked up into a very telling and pathetic history for Constance's +sympathizing ears on Sunday, especially as it turned out to be one of the things +not reported to mamma.</p> +<p>And on that day, Dolores, being reminded of it by her friend, sent a letter +to Mr. Flinders to the office of the paper for which he worked in London, to +tell him that if he wished to write to her as he had promised he must address +under cover to Miss Constance Hacket, Casement Cottage, as otherwise Aunt Lilias +would certainly read all his letters.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IX.<br> +LETTERS</h3> + +<p>Constance Hacket was very much excited about the address to Dolores's letter +to her uncle. She had not noticed it at the moment that it was written, but she +did when she posted it; and the next time she could get her young friend alone, +she eagerly demanded what Mr. Flinders had to do with the Many Tongues, and why +her niece wrote to him at the office.</p> +<p>'He writes the criticisms,' said Dolores, magnificently; for though she +despised pluming herself on any connection with a marquess, she did greatly +esteem that with the world of letters. 'You know we are all literary.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, I know! But what kind of criticisms do you mean? I suppose it is a +very clever paper?'</p> +<p>'Of course it it,' said Dolores, 'but I don't think I ever saw it. Father +never takes in society papers. I believe he does criticisms on plays and novels. +I know he always has tickets for all the theatres and exhibitions.</p> +<p>She did not say how she did know it, for a pang smote her as she remembered +dimly a scene, when her father had forbidden her mother to avail herself of +escort thus obtained. Nor was she sure that the word all was accurately the +fact; but it was delightful to impress Constance, who cried, 'How perfectly +delicious! I suppose he can get any article into his paper!'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, of course,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Did your dear mother write in it?'</p> +<p>'No; it was not her line. She used to write metaphysical and scientific +articles in the first-class reviews and magazines, and the Many Tongues is what +they call a society paper, you know.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, I know. There are charming things about the Upper Ten Thousand. They +tell all that is going on, but I hardly ever can see one. Mary won't take in +anything about Church Bells, and we get the Guardian when it is a week old, and +my brother James has done with it.'</p> +<p>'Dear me! How dreadful!' said Dolores, who had been used to see all manner of +papers come in as regularly as hot rolls. 'Why, you never can know anything! We +didn't take in society papers, because father does not care for gossip or +grandees. He has other pursuits. I can show you some of dear mother's articles. +There's one called "Unconscious Volition," and another on the 'Progress of +Species.' I'll bring them down next time I come.'</p> +<p>'Have you read them?'</p> +<p>'No; they are too difficult. Mother was so very clever, you know.'</p> +<p>'She must have been,' said Constance, with a sigh; 'but how did she get them +published?'</p> +<p>'Sent them to the editor, of course,' said Dolores. 'They all knew her, and +were glad to get anything that she wrote.'</p> +<p>'Ah! that is what it is to have an introduction,' sighed Constance.</p> +<p>'What! have you written anything?' cried Dolores.</p> +<p>'Only a few little trifles,' said Constance, modestly. 'It is a great secret, +you know, a dead secret.'</p> +<p>'Oh! I'll keep it. I told you my secret, you know, so you might tell me +yours.'</p> +<p>And so to Dolores were confided sundry verses and tales on which Constance +had been wont to spend a good deal of her time in that pretty sitting-room. She +had actually sent her manuscripts to magazines, but she had heard no more of +one, and the other had been returned declined with thanks--all for want of an +introduction. Dolores was delighted to promise that as soon as she heard from +Uncle Alfred, she would get him to patronize them, and the reading occupied +several Sunday afternoons. Dolores suggested, however, that a goody-goody story +about a choir-boy lost in the snow would never do for the Many Tongues, and a +far more exciting one was taken up, called 'The Waif of the Moorland,' being the +story of a maiden, whom a wicked step-mother was suspected of murdering, but who +walked from time to time like the 'Woman in White.' There was only too much time +for the romance; for weeks passed and there was no answer from Mr. Flinders. It +was possible that he might have broken off his connection with the paper, only +then the letter would probably have been returned; and the other alternative was +less agreeable, that it was not worth his while to write to his niece. While as +to Maude Sefton, nothing was heard of her. Were her letters intercepted? And so +the winter side of autumn set in. Hal was gone to Oxford, and there had been +time for letters to come from Mr. Mohun, posted from Auckland, New Zealand, +where he had made a halt with his sister, Mrs. Harry May, otherwise Aunt +Phyllis. Dolores was very much pleased to receive her letter, and to have it all +to herself; but, after all, she was somewhat disappointed in it, for there was +really nothing in it that might not have been proclaimed round the +breakfast-table, like the public letters from that quarter of the family who +were at Rawul Pindee. It told of deep-sea soundings and investigations into the +creatures at the bottom of the sea, of Portuguese men-of-war, and albatrosses; +and there were some orders to scientific-instrument makers for her to send to +them--a very improving letter, but a good deal like a book of travels. Only at +the end did the writer say, 'I hope my little daughter is happy among her +cousins, and takes care to give her aunt no trouble, and to profit by her kind +care. Your three cousins here, Mary, Lily, and Maggie, are exceedingly nice +girls, and much interested about you; indeed, they wish I had brought you with +me.'</p> +<p>Dolores read her letter over and over and over, for the pleasure of having +something all to herself, and never communicated a word about the miscroscopic +monsters her father had described, but she drew her head back and reflected, 'He +little knows,' when he spoke of her being happy among her cousins.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield likewise received a letter, about which she did not say much +to her children, but Miss Mohun, who had had a much longer one, came over for +the day to read this to her sister. In point of fact, she had paired in +childhood with her brother Maurice. She had been his correspondent in school and +college days, and being a person never easily rebuffed, she had kept up more +intercourse with him and his wife than any others of the family had done, and he +had preserved the habit of writing to her much more freely and unreservedly than +to any one else. So the day after the New Zealand letters came, just as the +historical reading and needlework were in full force, the schoolroom door was +opened, and a brisk little figure stood there in sealskin coat and hat.</p> +<p>Up jumped mamma. 'Oh! Jenny! Brownie indeed! How did you come? You didn't +walk from the station?'</p> +<p>'Yes, why not? Otherwise I should have been too soon, and have disturbed the +lessons,' said Aunt Jane, in the intervals of the greeting kisses. 'All well +with the Indian folks?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes; they've come back from the emerald valleys of Cashmere, and Alethea +has actually sent me a primrose--just like an English one--that they found +growing there. They did enjoy it so. Have you heard from Maurice?'</p> +<p>'Yes, I thought you would like to hear about Phyllis, so, having enjoyed it +with Ada, I brought it over for further enjoyment with you.'</p> +<p>'That's a dear old Brownie! We've a good hour before dinner. Shall we read it +to the general public, or shall we adjourn to the drawing-room?'</p> +<p>"Oh! I assure you it is very instructive. Quite as much so as Miss +Sewell's 'Rome.'"</p> +<p>And Aunt Jane, whom Gillian had aided in disrobing herself of her outdoor +garments, was installed by the fire, and unfolded a whole volume of thin, mauve +sheets in Mr. Mohun's tiny Greek-looking handwriting.</p> +<p>It was a sort of journal of his voyage. There were all the same accounts of +the minute creatures that are incipient chalk, and their exquisite cells, made, +some of coral, some of silex spicule from sponges; the some descriptions of +phosphorescent animals, meduse, and the like, that Dolores had thought her own +special treasure and privilege, only a great deal fuller, and with the +scientific terms untranslated--indeed, Aunt Jane had now and then to stop and +explain, since she had always kept up with the course of modern discovery. There +was also much more about his shipmates, with one or two of whom Mr. Mohun had +evidently made great friends. He told his sister a great deal about them, and +his conversations with them, whereas he had only told Dolores abut one little +midshipman getting into a scrape. Perhaps nothing else was to be expected, but +it made her feel the contrast between being treated with real confidence and as +a mere child, and it seemed to put her father further away from her than ever.</p> +<p>Then came the conclusion, written on shore--</p> +<p>'Harry May came on board to take me home with him. He is a fine, genial +fellow and his welcome did one's heart good. I never did him justice before; but +I see his good sense and superiority called into play out here. Depend upon it, +there's nothing like going to the other end of the world to teach the value of +home ties.'</p> +<p>'Well done, Maurice,' exclaimed Lady Merrifield; but she glanced at Dolores +and checked herself.</p> +<p>Miss Mohun went on, 'Phyllis met me at the door of a pleasant, +English-looking house, with all her tribe about her. She has the true 'honest +Phyl' face still, carrying me back over some thirty or forty years of life, and +as you would imagine, she is a capital mother, with all her flock well in hand, +and making themselves thoroughly useful in the scarcity of servants; though the +other matters do not seem neglected. The eldest can talk like a well informed +girl, and shows reasonable interest in things in general; but Phyllis wants to +put finishing touches to their education, and her husband talks of throwing up +his appointment before long, as he is anxious to go home while his father lives. +I wish I had gone to Stoneborough before coming out here, now that I see what a +gratification it would have been if I could have brought a fresh report of old +Dr. May. (Somehow, I think there has been a numbness or obtuseness about me all +these last two years which hindered me from perceiving or doing much that I now +regret, since either the change or the wholesome atmosphere of this house has +wakened me as it were. Among these ungracious omissions is what I now am much +concerned to think of, that I never went to see Lilias when I committed my child +to her charge; nor talked over her disposition. Not that I really understand it +as I ought to have done when the poor child was left to me. I take shame to +myself when Phyllis questions me about her), but as I watch these children with +their parents I am quite convinced that the being taken under Lily's motherly +wing is by far the best thing that could have befallen Dolores, and that my +absence is for her real benefit as well as mine.'</p> +<p>The part between brackets was omitted by Miss Mohun in the public reading, +but the last sentence she did read, thinking it good for both parties to hear +it. However, Dolores both disliked the conclusion to which her father had come, +and still more that her aunt and cousins should hear it, though, after all, it +was only Gillian and Mysie who remained to listen by the time the end of the +letter was reached. The long words had frightened away Valetta as soon as her +appointed task of work was finished.</p> +<p>Aunt Lily did not see the omitted sentence till the two sisters were alone +together later in the afternoon. It filled her eyes with tears. 'Poor Maurice,' +she said; 'he wrote something of the same kind to me.'</p> +<p>'I expect we shall see him wonderfully shaken up and brightened when he comes +home. The numbness he talks of was half of it Mary's dislike to us all, only I +never would let her keep me aloof from him.'</p> +<p>'I almost wish he had taken Dolores out to Phyllis. I am not in the least +fulfilling his ideal towards her.'</p> +<p>'Nor would Phyllis, unless the voyage had had as much effect on her as it +seems to have had upon Maurice. So you don't get on any better?'</p> +<p>'Not a bit. It is a case of parallel lines. We don't often have +collisions--unless Wilfred gets an opportunity of provoking her.'</p> +<p>'Why don't you send that boy to school?'</p> +<p>'I shall after Christmas. He is quite well now, and to have him at home is +bad both for himself and the others. He needs licking into shape as only boys +can do to one another, and he is not a model for Fergus, especially since Harry +has been away.'</p> +<p>'What does he do?'</p> +<p>'Nothing very brilliant, nor of the kind one half forgives for the drollery +of it. Putting mustard into the custard was the worst, I think; inciting the +dogs to bring the cattle down on the girls when they cross the paddock; shutting +up their books when the places are found--those are the sort of things; putting +that very life-like wild cat chauffe-pied with glaring eyes in Dolly's bed. I +believe he does such things to all, but his sisters would let him torture them +rather than complain, whereas Dolores does her best to bring them under my +notice without actually laying an information, which she is evidently afraid to +do. It is very unlucky that her coming should have been just when we had such an +element about--for it really gives her some just cause of complaint.'</p> +<p>'But you say he is impartial?'</p> +<p>'Teasing is unfortunately his delight. He will even frighten Primrose, but I +am afraid there is active dislike making Dolores his favourite victim; and then +Val and Fergus, who don't tease actively on their own account, have come to +enjoy her discomfiture.'</p> +<p>"And you go on the principle of 'tolerer beaucoup?'"</p> +<p>'I do; hoping that it is not laziness and weakness that makes me abstain from +nagging about what is not brought before my eyes by the children or the +police--I mean Gill, Halfpenny, and Miss Vincent. Then I scold, or I punish, and +that I think maintains the principle, without danger to truth or forbearance. At +least, I hope it does. I am pretty sure that if I punished Wilfred for every +teasing trick I know, or guess at, he would--in his present mood--only become +deceitful, and esprit de corps might make Val and Fergus the same, though I +don't think Mysie's truth could be shaken any more than honest Phyl's.'</p> +<p>'Besides, mutual discipline is not a thing to upset. Lily, I revere you! I +never thought you were going to turn out such a sensible mother.'</p> +<p>'Well, you see, the difficulty is, that what may work for one's own children +may not work for other people's. And I confess I don't understand her persistent +repulse of Mysie.'</p> +<p>'Nor of you, the nasty little cat!' said Aunt Jane, with a little fierce +shake of the head.</p> +<p>'I do understand that a little. I am too unlike Mary for her to stand being +mothered by me.'</p> +<p>'There must be some other influence at work for this perverseness to keep on +so long. Tell me, did she take up with that very goosey girl, that Miss Hacket?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes; she goes there every Sunday afternoon. It is the only thing the poor +child seem much to care about, and I don't think there can be any harm in it.'</p> +<p>'Humph! the folly of girl is unfathomable! Oh! you may say what you like--you +who have thrown yourself into your daughters and kept them one with you. You +little know in your innocence the product of an ill-managed boarding-school!'</p> +<p>'Nay,' said Lady Merrifield, a little hotly, 'I do know that Miss Hacket is +one of the most excellent people in the world, a little tiresome and borne, +perhaps, but thoroughly good, and every inch a lady.'</p> +<p>'Granted, but that's not the other one--Constance is her name? My dear, I saw +her goings on at the G.F.S. affair--If she had only been a member, wouldn't I +have been at her.'</p> +<p>'My dear Jenny, you always had more eyes to your share than other people.'</p> +<p>'And you think that being an old maid has not lessened their sharpness, eh! +Lily? Well, I can't help it, but my notion is that the sweet Constance--whatever +her sister may be--is the boarding-school miss a little further developed into +sentiment and flirtation.'</p> +<p>'Nay, but that would be so utterly uncongenial to a grave, reserved, +intellectual girl, brought up as Dolores has been.'</p> +<p>'Don't trust to that! Dolores is an interesting orphan, and the notice of a +grown-up young lady is so flattering that it carries off a great deal of folly.'</p> +<p>'Well, Jenny, I must think about it. I hope I have done no harm by allowing +the friendship--the only indulgence she has seemed to wish for; and I am afraid +checking it would only alienate he still more! Poor Maurice, when he is trusting +and hoping in vain!'</p> +<p>'Three year is a long time, Lily; and you have no had three months of her +yet--'</p> +<p>The door opened at that moment for the afternoon tea, which was earlier than +usual, to follow of Miss Mohun's reaching the station in time for her train. +Lady Merrifield was to drive her, and it was the turn of Dolores to go out, so +that she shared the refection instead of waiting for gouter. In the midst the +Miss Hackets were announced, and there were exclamations of great joy at the +sight of Miss Mohun; as she and Miss Hacket flew upon each other, and to the +very last moment, discussed the all-engrossing subject of G.F.S. politics.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, while Miss Mohun was hurrying on her sealskin in her sister's +room, she found an opportunity of saying, 'Take care, Lily, I saw a note pass +between those two.'</p> +<p>'My dear Jenny, how could you? You were going on the whole time about cards +and premiums and associates. Oh! yes, I know a peacock or a lynx is nothing to +you, but how was it possible? Why, I was making talk to Constance all along, and +trying to make Dolly speak of her father's letter.'</p> +<p>'I might retort by talking of moles and bats! Did you never hear of the +London clergyman whose silver cream-jug, full of cream too, was abstracted by +the penitent Sunday school boy whom he was exhorting over his breakfast-table?'</p> +<p>'I don't believe London curates have silver jugs or cream either!'</p> +<p>'A relic of past wealth, like St. Gregory's one silver dish, and perhaps it +was milk. Well, to descend to particulars. It was done with a meaning glance, as +Dolores was helping her on with her cloud, and was instantly disposed of in the +pocket.'</p> +<p>'I wonder what I ought to do about it,' sighed Lady Merrifield, 'If I had +seen it myself I should have no doubts. Oh! if Jasper were but here! And yet it +is hardly a thing to worry him about. It is most likely to be quite innocent.'</p> +<p>'Well, then you can speak of the appearance of secrecy as bad manners. You +will have her all to yourself as you go home.'</p> +<p>But when the aunts came downstairs, Dolores was not there. On being called, +she sent a voice down, over the balusters, that she was not going.</p> +<p>Aunt Jane shrugged her shoulders. There was barely time to reach the train, +so that it was impossible to do anything at the moment; but in the Merrifield +family bad manners and disrespect were never passed over, Sir Jasper having made +his wife very particular in that respect; and as soon as she came home in the +twilight, she looked into the school-room, but Dolores was not there, and then +into the drawing-room, where she was found learning her lessons by firelight.</p> +<p>'My dear, why did you not go with your Aunt Jane and me?'</p> +<p>'I did not want to go. It was so cold,' said Dolores in a glum tone.</p> +<p>'Would it not have been kinder to have found that out sooner? If I had not +met the others in the paddock, and picked up Valetta, the chance would have been +missed, and you knew she wanted to go.'</p> +<p>Dolores knew it well enough. The reason she was in this room was that all the +returning party had fallen upon her; Wilfred had called her a dog in the manger, +and Gillian herself had not gainsayed him--but the general indignation had only +made her feel, 'what a fuss about the darling.'</p> +<p>'Another time, too,' added Lady Merrifield, 'remember that it would be proper +to come down and speak to me instead of shouting over the balusters in that +unmannerly way; without so much as taking leave of your Aunt Jane. If she had +not been almost late for her train, I should have insisted.'</p> +<p>'You might, and I should not have come if you had dragged me,' thought, but +did not say, Dolores. She only stood looking dogged, and not attempting the 'I +beg your pardon,' for which her aunt was waiting.</p> +<p>'I think,' said Lady Merrifield, gently, 'that when you consider it a little, +you will see that it would be well to be more considerate and gracious. And one +thing more, my dear, I can have no passing of private notes between you and +Constance Hacket. You see a good deal of each other openly, and such doings are +very silly and missish, and have an underhand appearance such as I am sure your +father would not like.'</p> +<p>Dolores burst out with, 'I didn't,' and as Primrose at this instant ran in to +help mamma take off her things, she turned on her heel and went away, leaving +Lady Merrifield trusting to a word never hitherto in that house proved to be +false, rather than to those glances of Aunt Jane, which had been always held in +the Mohun family to be a little too discerning and ubiquitous to be always +relied on; and it was a satisfactory recollection that at the farewell moment +when Miss Jane professed to have observed the transaction, she had been heard +saying, 'Yes, it will never do to be too slack in inquiring into antecedents, or +the whole character of the society will be given up,' and with her black eyes +fixed full upon Miss Hacket's face.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER X.<br> +THE EVENING STAR</h3> + +<p>'Oh, Connie dear, I had such a fright! Do you know you must never venture to +give me anything when any one is there--especially Aunt Jane. I am sure it was +her. she is always spying about?'</p> +<p>'Well, but dearest Dolly, I couldn't tell that she would be there, and when I +got your letter I could not keep it back, you know, so I made Mary come up and +call on Lady Merrifield for the chance of being able to give it to you--and I +thought it was so lucky Miss Mohun was there, for she and Mary were quite +swallowed up in their dear G.F.S.'</p> +<p>'You don't know Aunt Jane! And the worst of it is she always makes Aunt +Lilias twice as cross! I did get into such a row only because I didn't want to +go driving with the two old aunts in the dark and cold, and be scolded all the +way there and back.'</p> +<p>'When you had a letter to read too!'</p> +<p>'And then Aunt Lily said all manner of cross things about giving notes +between us. I was so glad I could say I didn't, for you know I didn't give it to +you, and it wasn't between us.'</p> +<p>'You cunning child!' laughed Constance, rather amused at the sophistry.</p> +<p>'Besides,' argued Dolores, 'what right has she to interfere between my uncle +and my friends and me?</p> +<p>'You dear! Yes, it is all jealousy!'</p> +<p>'I have heard--or I have read,' said Dolores, 'that when people ask questions +they have no right to put, it is quite fair to give them a denial, or at least +to go as near the wind as one can.'</p> +<p>'To be sure,' assented Constance, 'or one would not get on at all! But you +have no told me a word about your letters.'</p> +<p>'Father's letter? Oh, he tells me a great deal about his voyage, and all the +funny creatures they get up with the dredge. I think he will be sure to write a +book about them, and make great discoveries. And now he is staying with Aunt +Phyllis in New Zealand, and he is thinking, poor father, how well off I must be +with Aunt Lilias. He little knows!'</p> +<p>'Oh, but you could write to him, dearest!'</p> +<p>'He wouldn't get the letter for so long. Besides, I don't think I could say +anything he would care about. Gentlemen don't, you know.'</p> +<p>'No! gentlemen can't enter into our feelings, or know what it is to be rubbed +against and never appreciated. But your uncle! Was the letter from him?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes! And where do you think he is? At Darminster--editing a paper there. +It is called the Darminster Politician. He said he sent a copy here.'</p> +<p>"Oh yes, I know; Mary and I could not think where it came from. It had a +piece of a story in it, and some poetry. I wonder if he would put in my 'Evening +Star.'"</p> +<p>'You may read his letter if you like; you see he says he would run over to +see me if it were not for the dragons.'</p> +<p>'I wish he could come and meet you here. It would be so romantic, but you see +Mary is half a dragon herself, and would be afraid of Lady Merrifield'--then, +reading the letter,--'How droll! How clever! What a delightful man he must be! +How very strange that all your family should be so prejudiced against him! I'll +tell you what, Dolores, I will write and subscribe for the Darminster Politician +my own self--I must see the rest of that story--and then Mary can't make any +objection; I can't stand never seeing anything but Church Bells, and then you +can read it too, darling.'</p> +<p>'Oh, thank you, Connie. Then I shall have got him one subscriber, as he asks +me to do. I am afraid I shan't get any more, for I thought Aunt Lily was in a +good humour yesterday, and I put one of the little advertisement papers he sent +out on the table, and she found it, and only said something about wondering who +had sent the advertisement of that paper that Mr. Leadbitter didn't approve of. +She is so dreadfully fussy and particular. She won't let even Gillian read +anything she hasn't looked over, and she doesn't like anything that isn't goody +goody.'</p> +<p>'My poor darling! But couldn't you write and get your uncle to look at some +of my poor little verses that have never seen the light?'</p> +<p>'I dare say I could,' said Dolores, pleased to be able to patronize. 'Oh, but +you must not write on both sides of the paper, I know, for father and mother +were always writing for the press.'</p> +<p>'Oh, I'll copy them out fresh! Here's the 'Evening Star.' It was suggested by +the sound of the guns firing at the autumn manoevres; here's the 'Bereaved +Mother's Address to her Infant:'</p> + +<p>'Sweet little bud of stainless white,<br> +Thou'lt blossom in the garden of light.'</p> + +<p>'Mary thought that so sweet she asked Miss Mohun to send it to Friendly +Leaves, but she wouldn't--Miss Mohun I mean; she said she didn't think they +would accept it, and that the lines didn't scan. Now I'm sure its only Latin and +Greek that scan! English rhymes, and doesn't scan! That's the difference!'</p> +<p>'To be sure!' said Dolores, 'but Aunt Jane always does look out for what +nobody else cares about. Still I wouldn't send the baby-verses to Uncle Alfred, +for they do sound a little bit goody, and the 'Evening Star' would be better.'</p> +<p>The verses were turned over and discussed until the summons came to tea, +poured out by kind old Miss Hacket, who had delighted in providing her young +guests with buttered toast and tea cakes.</p> +<p>Dolores went home quite exhilarated and unusually amiable.</p> +<p>Her letter to her father was finished the next day. It contained the +following information.</p> +<p>'Uncle Alfred is at Darminster. He is sub-editor to the Politician, the +Liberal county paper. I do not suppose Aunt Lilias will let me see him, for she +does not like anything that dear mother did. There is a childish obsolete tone +of mind here; I suppose it is because they have never lived in London, and the +children are all so young of their age, and so rude, Wilfred most especially. +Even Gillian, who is sixteen, likes quite childish games, and Mysie, who is my +age, is a mere child in tastes, and no companion. I do wish I could have gone +with you.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield wrote by the same mail, 'Your Dolores is quite well, and +shows herself both clever and well taught. Miss Vincent thinks highly of her +abilities, and gets on with her better than any one else, except the daughter of +our late Vicar, for whom she has set up a strong girlish friendship. She plainly +has very deep affections, which are not readily transferred to new claimants, +but I feel sure that we shall get on in time.'</p> +<p>Miss Mohun wrote, 'Lily and I enjoyed your letter together. Dolly looks all +the better for country life, though I am afraid she has not learnt to relish it, +nor to assimilate with the Merrifield children as I expected. I don't think Lily +has quite fathomed her as yet, but 'cela viendra' with patience, only mayhap not +without a previous explosion. I fancy it takes a long time for an only child to +settle in among a large family. It was a great pity you could not see Lily +yourself. To my dismay I encountered Flinders in the street at Darminster last +week. I believe he is on the staff of a paper there, happily Dolly does not know +it, nor do I think he knows where she is.'</p> +<p>In another three weeks, Constance was in the utmost elation, for 'On hearing +the cannonade of the Autumn Manoeuvres' was in print, and Miss Hacket was so +much delighted that justice should be done to her sister's abilities, that she +forgot Mr. Leadbitter's disapproval, and ordered half a dozen copies of the +Politician for the present, and one for the future.</p> +<p>Dolores, walking home in the twilight, could not help showing Gillian, in +confidence, the precious slip, though it was almost too dark to read the small +type.</p> +<p>'Newspaper poetry, I thought that always was trumpery,' said Gillian, making +a youthfully sweeping assertion.</p> +<p>'Many great poets have begun with a periodical press,' said Dolores, picking +up a sentence which she had somewhere read.</p> +<p>'I thought you hated English poetry, Dolly! You always grumble at having to +learn it.'</p> +<p>'Oh, that is lessons.'</p> +<p>"'Il Penseroso,' for instance."</p> +<p>'This is a very different thing.'</p> +<p>'That it certainly is,' said Gillian, beginning to read--</p> + +<p>'How lovely mounts the evening star<br> +Climbing the sunset skies afar.'</p> + +<p>'What a wonderful evening! Why, the evening star was going up backward!'</p> +<p>'You only want to make nonsense of it.'</p> +<p>'It is not I that make nonsense!' said Gillian, 'why, don't you see, Dolly, +which way the sun and everything moves?'</p> +<p>'This is the evening star,' said Dolores, sulkily. 'It was just rising.'</p> +<p>'I do believe you think it rises in the west.'</p> +<p>'You always see it there. You showed it to me only last Sunday.'</p> +<p>'Do you think it had just risen?'</p> +<p>'Of course the stars rise when the sun sets.'</p> +<p>Gillian could hardly move for laughing. 'My dear Dolores, you to be daughter +to a scientific man! Don't you know that the stars are in the sky, going on all +the time, only we can't see them till the sunlight is gone?'</p> +<p>But Dolores was too much offended to attend, and only grunted. She wanted to +get the cutting away from Gillian, but there was no doing so.</p> + +<p>'The mist is rising o'er the mead,<br> +With silver hiding grass and reed;<br> +'Tis silent all, on hill and heath,<br> +The evening winds, they hardly breathe;<br> +What sudden breaks the silent charm,<br> +The echo wakes with wild alarm.<br> +With rapid, loud, and furious rattle,<br> +Sure 'tis the voice of deadly battle,<br> +Bidding the rustic swain to fly<br> +Before his country's enemy.'</p> + +<p>'Did anybody ever hear of a sham fight in the evening?' cried the soldier's +daughter indignantly. 'There, I can't see any more of it.'</p> +<p>'Give it to me, then.'</p> +<p>'You are welcome! Where did it come from? Let me look. C.H. Oh, did Constance +Hacket write it? Nobody else could be so delicious, or so far superior to +Milton.'</p> +<p>'You knew it all the time, and that was the reason you made game of it.'</p> +<p>'No, indeed it was not, Dolores. I did not guess. You should have told me at +first.'</p> +<p>'You would have gone on about it all the same.'</p> +<p>'No, indeed, I hope not. I did not mean to vex you; but how was I to know it +was so near your heart?'</p> +<p>'I ought to have known better than to have shown it to you! You are always +laughing at her and me all over the house--and now--'</p> +<p>'Come, Dolly. I never meant to hurt your feelings. I will promise not to tell +the others about it.'</p> +<p>No answer. There was something hard and swelling in Dolores's throat.</p> +<p>'Won't that do?' said Gillian. 'You know I can't say that I admire it, but +I'm sorry I hurt you, and I'll take care the others don't tease you about it.'</p> +<p>Dolores made hardly any answer, but it was a sort of pacification, and +Gillian said not a word to the younger ones. Still she thought it no breach of +her promise, when they were all gone to bed, and she the sole survivor, to tell +her mother how inadvertently she had affronted Dolores by cutting up the verses, +before she knew whose they were.</p> +<p>'I am sorry,' said Lady Merrifield. 'Anything that tends to keep Dolores +aloof from us is a pity.'</p> +<p>'But, mama, I had no notion whose they were.'</p> +<p>'You saw that she was pleased with them.'</p> +<p>'Yes, but that was the more ridiculous. Fancy the evening star climbing +up--up--you know in the sunset!'</p> +<p>'Portentous, certainly! Yet still I wish you could have found it in your +heart to take advantage of any feeler towards sympathy.'</p> +<p>'How could I pretend to admire such stuff?'</p> +<p>'You need not pretend; but there are two ways of taking hold of a thing +without being untrue. If you had been a little wiser and more forbearing you +need not have given Dolores such a shock as would drive her in upon herself. +Depend upon it, the older you grow, the more dangerous you will find it to begin +by hitting the blots.'</p> +<p>Gillian looked on in some curiosity when the next day good Miss Hacket, +enchanted with her dear Connie's success, trotted up to display the lines to +Lady Merrifield, who on her side felt bound to set an example alike of +tenderness and sincerity, and was glad to be able to observe, 'The lines run +very smoothly. This must be a great pleasure to her.'</p> +<p>'Indeed it is! Connie is so clever. I always say I can't think where she got +it from; but we always tried to give her very advantage, and she was quite a +favourite pupil at Miss Dormer's. Is not it a sweet idea, the stillness of the +evening broken by the sounds of battle, and then it proving to be only our brave +defenders?'</p> +<p>'Yes,' was the answer. 'I have often thought of that, and of what it might be +to hear those volleys of musketry in earnest. It has made me very thankful.'</p> +<p>So Miss Hacket went away gratified, and Gillian owned that it would have been +useless to wound the good lady's feelings by criticism, though her mother made +her understand that if her opinion had been asked, or Connie herself had shown +the verses, it would have been desirable to point out the faults, in a kindly +spirit. The wonder was, how they could have found their way into the paper, and +they were followed by more with the like signature.</p> +<p>Indeed, the great sensational tale, 'The Waif of the Moorland,' was being +copied out of the books where it had been first written. Dolores had sounded Mr. +Flinders on the subject, and he had replied that he could ensure its +consideration by a publisher, but that her fair friend must be aware that an +untried author must be prepared for some risk.</p> +<p>Constance could hardly abstain from communicating her hopes to her sister; +but Mr. Leadbitter--to whom the poetry was duly shown--had given such a +character of the Darminster Politician that Miss Hacket besought Constance to +have no more to do with it. Besides, she was so entirely a lady, and so +conscientious, that all her tender blindness would not have prevented her from +being shocked at encouraging, or profiting by, a surreptitious correspondence.</p> +<p>Constance declared that Mr. Leadbitter's objection to the paper was merely +political, and her sister was too willing that she should be gratified to +protest any further. The copying had to be done in secret, since it was +impossible to confess the hopes founded on Mr. Flinders, and it therefore lasted +several weeks, each fresh portion being communicated to Dolores on Sunday +afternoons. There were at first a few scruples on Constance's part whether this +were exactly a Sunday occupation; but Dolores pronounced that 'the Sabbatarian +system was gone out,' and after Constance had introduced the ghostly double of +her vanished waif walking in a surpliced procession, she persuaded herself that +there was a sufficient aroma of religion about the story to bring it within the +pale of Sunday books.</p> +<p>The days were shortening so that Lady Merrifield had doubts as to the fitness +of letting the girls return in the dark, but Gillian would have been grieved to +relinquish her class, and the matter was adjusted by the two remaining till +evensong, when there was sure to be sufficient escort for them to come home +with.</p> +<p>Therewith arrived the holidays and Jasper, whose age came between those of +Gillian and Mysie. Dolores had looked forward to his coming, for, by all the +laws of fiction, he was bound to be the champion of the orphan niece, and +finally to develop into her lover and hero. In 'No Home,' when Clare's aunt +locked her up and fed her on bread and water for playing the piano better than +her spiteful cousin Augusta, Eric, the boy of the family, had solaced her with +cold pie and ice-creams drawn up in a basket by a cord from the window. He had +likewise forced from his cruel mother the locket which proved Clare's identity +with the mourning countess's golden-haired grandchild and heiress, and he had +finally been rewarded with her hand, becoming in some mysterious manner Lord +Eric.</p> +<p>Jasper, however, or Japs, as his family preferred to call him, proved to be a +big, shy boy, not at all delighted with the introduction of a stranger among his +sisters, neither golden-haired nor all-accomplished, only making him feel his +home invaded, and looking at him with her great eyes.</p> +<p>'Is that girl here for good?' he asked, when he found himself with Harry and +Gillian.</p> +<p>'Yes, of course,' said the cousin, 'while her father is away, and that is for +three years.'</p> +<p>Jasper whistled.</p> +<p>'Aunt Ada said,' added Gillian, 'that if she got too tiresome, mamma had +Uncle Maurice's leave to send her to school.'</p> +<p>'That would be no good to me,' said Jasper, 'for she would still be here in +the holidays.'</p> +<p>'Has she been getting worse?' asked Harry.</p> +<p>'No, I don't know that she has,' said Gillian, 'except that she runs after +that Constance more than ever. But, I say, Jasper, mamma says she is +particularly anxious that there should be no teasing of her; and you can hinder +Wilfred better than anybody can. She wants her to be really at home, and one--'</p> +<p>But though Jasper was very fond both of mother and sister, he would not stand +a second-hand lecture, and broke in with an inquiry about chances of +rabbit-shooting.</p> +<p>Among his juniors he heard more opinions and more undisguised, when the whole +party had rushed out together to the stable-yard to inspect the rabbits and +other live-stock.</p> +<p>'And Dolly says you are a fright,' sighed Mysie, condoling with a very +awkward-looking puppy which she was nursing.</p> +<p>'She! she thinks everything a fright!' said Valetta.</p> +<p>'Except Constance,' added Wilfred.</p> +<p>'Who is ugliest of all!' politely chimed in Fergus.</p> +<p>'Oh, Japs, she is such a nasty girl--Dolly, I mean!' cried Valetta.</p> +<p>"You know you ought not to say 'nasty,'" exclaimed Mysie.</p> +<p>'Well, but she is!' insisted Val. 'She squashed a dear little lady-bird, and +said it would sting!'</p> +<p>'She really thought it would,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>At which the young barbarians shouted aloud with contempt, and Valetta added. +'She is afraid of everything--cows and dogs and frogs.'</p> +<p>'I got a whole match-box full of grasshoppers to shut up in her desk and make +her squall,' said Wilfred, 'only the girls went and turned them out.'</p> +<p>'It was so cruel to the poor grasshoppers,' said Mysie. 'One had his horn +broken, and dragged his leg.'</p> +<p>'What does she do?' asked Jasper.</p> +<p>'She's always cross,' said Fergus.</p> +<p>'And she won't play,' added Valetta. 'And never will lend us anything of +hers.'</p> +<p>'And she's a regular sneak,' said Wilfred. 'She wants to tell of +everything--only we stopped that and she doesn't dare now.'</p> +<p>'You see,' said Mysie, gravely, 'she has always lived alone and in London, +and that makes her horribly stupid about everything sensible. We thought we +should soon teach her to be nice; and mamma says we shall if we are patient.'</p> +<p>'We'll teach her, won't we, Japs!' said Wilfred, aside, in an ominous voice.</p> +<p>'She is only thirteen,' added Valetta, 'and she pretends to be grown up, and +only to care for a grown-up young lady--that Constance Hacket.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' added Mysie, 'only think--they write poetry!'</p> +<p>'What rot it must be!' said Jasper. 'There's a man in my house that writes +poetry, and don't they chaff him! And this must be ever so much worse.'</p> +<p>'Oh, that it is,' said Valetta. 'I heard Mr. Poulter and Miss Vincent +laughing about it like anything.'</p> +<p>'But they get it put into print,' said Mysie, still impressed. 'Miss Hacket +brought it up to give to mamma, and there's ever so much of it shut up in the +drawing-room blotting-book with the malachite knobs. I can't think why they +laugh--I think it is very pretty. Old Miss Hacket read me the one about "My Lost +Dove."'</p> +<p>'Mysie always will stick up for Dolores,' said Valetta in a grumbling voice.</p> +<p>'I always meant her to be my friend,' said Mysie, disconsolately.</p> +<p>'Well, I'm glad she's not,' said Jasper. 'What a sell it would have been for +me to find you chummy with a stupid, poetry-writing, good-for-nothing girl like +that, instead of my jolly old Mice!'</p> +<p>And at that minute all Dolly's slights were fully compensated for!</p> +<p>There was a lurking purpose in the boys' minds that if Dolores would not join +in fun, yet still fun should be extracted from her. Jasper had brought home a +box of Japanese fireworks, and Wilfred, who was superintending his unpacking, +proposed to light the serpent and place it in Dolores's path as she was going up +to bed; but Jasper was old enough to reply that he would have no concern with +anything so low and snobbish as such a trick. In fact, there was in Jasper's +mind a decided line between bullying and teasing, which did not exist as yet in +Wilfred's conscience. And, altogether, Dolores was in a state of mind that made +her stiff letters to her father betray low spirits and discontent.</p> +<p>On Sunday, while waiting for the early dinner, Jasper and Mysie happened to +be together in the drawing-room, and Mysie took the opportunity of showing her +brother the different cuttings of poetry. The lines were smooth, and some had a +certain swing in them such as Mysie, with an unformed taste, a love for Miss +Hacket, and amazement that the words of a familiar acquaintance of her own +should appear in print, genuinely admired. But the eyes of a youth exercised in +'chaffing' the productions of one of his fellow 'men' were infinitely more +critical. Besides, what could be more shocking to the General's son than the +confusion between the evening gun and the sham fight? And Mysie had been reduced +to confusion for not detecting the faults, and then pardoned in consideration of +being only a girl, by the time the gong summoned them to the Sunday roast beef.</p> +<p>The dinner over, the female part of the family, scampered headlong upstairs, +while Harry repaired with his mother to her room to talk over a letter from his +father respecting his plans on leaving Oxford. The other boys hung about the +hall, until Gillian and Dolores came down equipped for walking. 'Hollo, Gill! +All right! Where's Mysie? We'll be off! Mysie! Mice! Mouse! Val!'</p> +<p>'You must wait for them, Japs,' said Gillian. 'They are having their dresses +changed; and, don't you remember, I always go to Miss Hacket's.'</p> +<p>'Botheration! What for?'</p> +<p>'You know very well.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes. To help her to write touching verses about the sweet dead dove, with +voice and plumage soft as love, eh? Only, Gill, I'm afraid your memory is +failing, if you don't know the evening gun from rifle practice.'</p> +<p>'Nonsense! that's no concern of mine,' said Gillian, opening the front door, +very anxious to get Dolores away from hearing anything worse.</p> +<p>'Oh, that's your modesty. Only such a conjunction could have produced such a +scene that the evening star came up backwards to look at it!'</p> +<p>'For shame, Jasper! How in the world did you get hold of that?'</p> +<p>'Too sweet a thing not to meet with universal fame,' said Jasper, to whom it +was exquisite fun to assume that Gillian devoted her Sunday afternoons to the +concoction of such poetry with Constance Hacket, and thus to revenge himself for +his disgust and jealousy at having his favourite companion and slave engrossed. +Wilfred hopped about like an imp in ecstasy, grinning in the face of Dolores, +whom Gillian longed to free from her tormentors. The shout was welcome, as Mysie +and Valetta came tearing down the drive after them.</p> +<p>'Japs! Japs! Oh, we couldn't come before because nurse would make us take off +our Sunday serges. Come and let out the dogs. Mamma says we may see if there are +any nice fir cones in the plantation to gild for the Christmas-tree.'</p> +<p>'And you won't come?' said Jasper. 'The Muses must meet. What a poem you will +produce!</p> + +<p>'Hear I a cannon or a rifle,<br> +That is an unessential trifle!'</p> + +<p>'What nonsense boys do talk!' said Gillian, turning her back on them with +regret; for much as she loved her class, she better loved a walk with Jasper, +and here was Dolores on her hands in a state of exasperation, believing her to +have broken her promise, and muttering,</p> +<p>'You set him on.'</p> +<p>'No, indeed I never did! You know I promised.'</p> +<p>'There are plenty of ways of getting out of a promise.'</p> +<p>'Speak for yourself, Dolores.'</p> +<p>There were ten minutes of offended silence, and then Gillian said, 'This is +nonsense! You may believe me, I was sorry I laughed at the first verses you +showed me, and mamma said I ought not. We never spoke of it, but Miss Hacket has +been giving mamma all the poems, and Jasper must have got at them. Don't you +see?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, you say so,' said Dolores, sulkily.</p> +<p>'You don't believe me!'</p> +<p>'You promised that your brothers should never hear of it.'</p> +<p>'I promised for myself. I couldn't promise for what was put into a newspaper +and trumpeted all over the place,' said Gillian, really angry now.</p> +<p>Dolores could not deny this, but she was hurt by the word trumpeted; and +besides, her own slippery behaviour was weakening her trust in other people's +sincerity, and she only gave a kind of grunt; but Gillian, recovering herself a +little, and remembering her mother's words, proceeded to argue. 'Besides, it was +me whom Jasper meant to tease, not you.'</p> +<p>'I don't care which it was. He is as bad as the rest of them!'</p> +<p>Gillian attempted no more conciliation, and they arrived in silence at the +Casement Cottages, where Constance was awaiting her friend in the greatest +excitement; for she had despatched 'The Waif of the Moorland' to Mr. Flinders in +the course of the week, and had received a letter from him in return, saying +that a personal interview with the gifted authoress would be desirable.</p> +<p>'And I do long to see him; don't you, darling?</p> +<p>'It is very hard that he should be kept away from me,' said Dolores, trying +to stir up some tender feelings.</p> +<p>'That it is, my poor sweet! I thought whether he could come to me for a +merely literary consultation without Mary's knowing anything further about it, +and then we could contrive for you to come down and meet him; but there are so +many horrid prejudices that I suppose it would not be safe.'</p> +<p>'I don't see how I could come down here without the others. Aunt Lily won't +let me come alone, and though it is holiday time, that is no good, for those +horrid boys are always about, and I see that Jasper is going to be worse even +than Wilfred.</p> +<p>Various ways and means were discussed, but no excuse seemed available for +either Constance's going to Darminster, or for Mr. Flinders coming to Silverton, +without exciting suspicion.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XI.<br> +SECRET EXPEDITION</h3> + +<p>'The Christmas-tree! Oh, mamma, do let it be the Christmas-tree. It is quite +well. We've been to look at it.'</p> +<p>'Christmas-trees have got so stale, Val,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'Rot!' put in Jasper.</p> +<p>'Oh, please, please, mamma,' implored Valetta, 'please let it be the dear old +Christmas-tree! You said I should choose because it will be my birthday.'</p> +<p>'There is no need to whine, Val; you shall have your tree.'</p> +<p>'I'm so glad!' cried Mysie. 'The dear old tree is best of all. I could never +get tired of it if I lived to be a hundred years old.'</p> +<p>'Such are institutions,' said their mother. 'I never heard of a +Christmas-tree till I was twice your age.'</p> +<p>'Oh, mamma! How dreadful! What did you do?'</p> +<p>'I suppose it is all very well for you kids,' said Jasper, loftily, putting +his hands in his pockets.</p> +<p>'Perhaps something may be found interesting eve: to the high and mighty +elders,' observed Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Oh! What, mamma?'</p> +<p>Mamma, of course, only looked mysterious.</p> +<p>'And,' added Val, 'mayn't we all go on a secret expedition and buy things +for it?'</p> +<p>'We've all been saving up,' added Mysie; 'and everybody knows every single +thing in all the shop at Silverton.'</p> +<p>'Besides,' added Gillian, 'the sconces will none of them hold, and almost all +the golden globes got smashed in coming from Dublin, and one of the birds has +its head off, and another has lost its spun-glass tail, and another its legs.'</p> +<p>'A bird of Paradise,' said Lady Merrifield, laughing; 'but wasn't there a +tree at Malta decked with no apparatus at all?'</p> +<p>'Yes, but Alley and Phyl can do anything!'</p> +<p>'I think we must ask Aunt Jane---'</p> +<p>There was a howl. 'Oh, please, mamma, don't let Aunt Jane get all the things! +We do so want to choose.'</p> +<p>'You impatient monsters! You haven't heard me out, and you don't deserve it.'</p> +<p>'Oh, mamma, I beg your pardon!' 'Oh, mamma, please!' 'Oh, mamma, pray!' cried +the most impatient howlers, dancing round her.</p> +<p>'What I was about to observe, before the interruption by the honourable +members, was, that we might perhaps ask Aunt Jane and Aunt Ada to receive at +luncheon a party of caterers for this same tree.'</p> +<p>'Oh! oh! oh!' 'How delicious!' 'Hooray!' 'That's what I call jolly fun!'</p> +<p>'And, mamma,' added Gillian, 'perhaps we might let Miss Hacket join. I know +she wants to get up something for a G.F.S. class; but mamma was attending to +Primrose, and the brothers burst in.</p> +<p>'There goes Gill, spoiling it all!' exclaimed Wilfred.</p> +<p>'That's always the way,' said Jasper. 'Girls must puzzle everything up with +some philanthropic Great Fuss Society dodge.'</p> +<p>'I am sure, Jasper,' said Gillian, 'I don't see why it should spoil anything +to make other people happy. I thought we were told to make feasts not only for +our own friends--'</p> +<p>'Gill's getting just like old Miss Hacket,' said Wilfred.</p> +<p>'Or sweet Constance,' put in Jasper. 'She'll be writing poems next.'</p> +<p>'Hush! hush! boys,' said Lady Merrifield. 'I do not mean to interfere with +your pleasure, 'but I had rather our discussions were not entirely selfish. +Suppose, Gillian, we walked down to Casement Cottages, and consulted Miss +Hacket.'</p> +<p>This was done, in the company of all the little girls, for Miss Hacket's +cats, doves, and gingerbread were highly popular; moreover, Dolores was glad of +a chance sight of Constance.</p> +<p>'My dear,' said Lady Merrifield, as Gillian walked beside her, 'you must be +satisfied with giving Miss Hacket the reversion of our tree, and you and Mysie +can go and help her. It will not do to make these kind of works a nuisance to +your brothers.'</p> +<p>'I did not think Jasper would have been so selfish as to object,' said +Gillian, almost tearfully.</p> +<p>'Remember that boys have a very short time at home, and cannot be expected to +care for these things like those who work in them,' said Lady Merrifield. 'It +will not make them do so, to bore them, and take away their sense of home and +liberty. At the same time, they must not expect to have everything sacrificed to +them, and so I shall make Jasper understand.'</p> +<p>'You won't scold him, mamma?'</p> +<p>'Can't you, any of you, trust me, Gill?'</p> +<p>'Oh! mamma! Only I didn't want him to think. I wouldn't do everything he +liked, except that I don't want him to be unkind about those poor girls.'</p> +<p>Miss Hacket was perfectly enraptured at the offer of the reversion of the +Christmas-tree and its trapping. Valetta's birthday was on the 28th of December +and the tree was to be lighted on the ensuing evening for G.F.S. Moreover, the +party would go to Rockstone as soon as an appointment could be made with Miss +Mohun, to make selections at a great German fancy shop, recently opened there, +and in full glory; and the Hacket sisters were invited to join the party, +starting at a quarter to eight, and returning at a few minutes after seven, the +element of darkness at each end only adding to the charm in the eyes of the +children, and Valetta, with a little leap, repeated that it would be a real +secret expedition.</p> +<p>'Very secret indeed,' said her mother, 'considering how many it is known +to--'</p> +<p>'Yes, but it is, mamma, for everybody has a secret from everybody.'</p> +<p>The words made Constance and Dolores look round with a start from their +colloquy under the shade of the window-curtains, but no one was thinking of +them. Just as the plans were settled, Constance came forward, saying, 'Lady +Merrifield, may I have dear Dolores to spend the day with me? We neithe of us +wish to join your kind party to Rockstone, and we should so enjoy being +together.'</p> +<p>'I had much rather stay,' added Dolores.</p> +<p>'Very well,' said Lady Merrifield, reflecting that her sisters would be +grateful for the diminution of the party, and that it would be easier to keep +the peace without Dolores.</p> +<p>The defection was hailed with joy by her cousins, though they were struck +dumb at her extraordinary taste in not liking shopping.</p> +<p>Jasper did look rather small when his mother assured him in private he might +have trusted her to see that he was not to be incommoded with Gillian's girls, +and he only observed, in excuse for his murmurs, that it made a man mad to see +his sisters always off after some charity fad or other.</p> +<p>"'Always' being a few hours once a week," she said.</p> +<p>'Just when one wants her.'</p> +<p>'Look here, my boy,' she said, 'you don't want your sisters to be selfish, +useless, fine ladies--never doing any one any good. If they take up good works, +they can't drop them entirely to wait on you. Gillian does give up a great deal, +and it would be kinder to forbear a little, and not treat all she does as an +injury to yourself.'</p> +<p>'I only meant to get a rise out of her.'</p> +<p>'You are quite welcome to do that, provided it is done in good nature. Gill +is quite sound stuff enough to be laughed at! But, I say, my Japs, I should +prefer your letting Dolores alone; she has not learned to be laughed at yet, and +has not come even to the stage for being taught to bear it.'</p> +<p>'She looks fit to turn the cream sour,' observed Jasper. 'I say, mamma, you +don't want me to go on this shopping business, do you?'</p> +<p>'Not by any means, sir.'</p> +<p>Happily, the chance of a day's rabbit shooting presented itself at a warren +some miles off, and Harry undertook the care of Wilfred, who gave his word of +honour to obey implicitly and take no liberties with the guns. Fergus would +gladly have gone with them, but he was still young enough to be sensible of the +attractions of toy-shops. Only Primrose had to be left to the nursery, and there +was no need to waste pity on her, for on such an occasion Mrs. Halfpenny would +relax her mood, and lay herself out to be agreeable, when she had exhausted her +forebodings about her leddyship making herself ill for a week gaun rampaging +about with all the bairns, as if she was no better than one herself.</p> +<p>'I shall let Miss Mohun do most of the rampaging, nurse; but, if it is fine, +will you take Miss Primrose into the town and let her choose her own cards. I +have given her a florin, and if you make the most of that for her, she will be +as happy as going with us.'</p> +<p>'That I will, my leddy. Bairns is easy content when ye ken how to sort 'em.'</p> +<p>'And, nurse, I believe there will be a box from Sir Jasper at the station. It +may come home in the waggonette that takes us. Will you and Macrae get it safe +into the store-room, for I don't want the children to see it too soon?'</p> +<p>There was nothing but satisfaction in the house on the morning of the +expedition. The untimely candle-light breakfast was only a fresh element of +delight, and so was the paling gas at the station, the round, red sun peeping +out through a yellow break between grey sky and greyer woods; the meeting Miss +Hacket in her fur cloak, the taking of the tickets, the coughing of the train, +the tumbling into one of the many empty carriages, the triumphant start,--all +seemed as fresh and delicious as if the young people had never taken a journey +before in all their lives. The fog in the valleys, the sleepy villages, the +half-roused stations, all gave rise to exclamations, and nothing was regretted +but that the windows would get clouded over.</p> +<p>Even the waiting at the junction had its charms, for it was enlivened by a +supplementary breakfast on rolls and milk! and at a few minutes past eleven the +train was drawing up at Rockstone, and Aunt Jane, sealskins and all, was +beckoning from the platform, hurrying after the carriage as it swept past, and +holding out a hand to jump the party from the door.</p> +<p>There she was, ready to take them to the most charming and cheapest shops, +where the coins burning in those five pockets would go the furthest. Go in a +cab? No, I thank you, it is far more delightful to walk. So mamma and Miss +Hacket were stowed away in the despised vehicle, to make the purchases that +nobody cared about, or which were to be unseen and unknown till the great day; +while Aunt Jane undertook to guide the young people through the town, for her +house was at the other end of it securing the Christmas-cards on the way, if +nothin' else. For, though all the cards and gifts to mamma, and a good many +besides, were of domestic manufacture, some had to be purchased, and she knew, +this wonderful woman, where to get cards of former seasons at reduced prices to +suit their youthful finances.</p> +<p>Considerable patience was requisite before all the choices were made, and the +balance cast between cards and presents, and Miss Mohun got her quartette past +all the shop windows, to the seaside villa, shut in by tamarisks, which Aunt +Adeline believed to be the only place that suited her health. Mamma and Miss +Hacket had already arrived, and filled the little vestibule with parcels and +boxes.</p> +<p>Then the early dinner! The aunts had anticipated their Christmas turkey for +that goodly company to help them eat it, but afterwards there was only time for +a mince pie all round; for more than half the work remained to be done by all +except mamma, who would stay and rest with Aunt Ada, having finished all that +could not be deputed.</p> +<p>However, first she had a conference in private with Aunt Jane, who undertook +therein to come to Silverton for Valetta's birthday, and add astonishment and +mystery sufficient to satisfy such of the public as were weary of +Christmas-trees. She added, however, 'You will think I am always at you. Lily, +but did you know that Flinders is living at Darminster?'</p> +<p>'No; but it is five and twenty miles off, and he has never troubled us.'</p> +<p>'Don't be too secure. He is in connection with that low paper--the +Politician--which methinks, is the place where those remarkable poems of Miss +Constance's have appeared.'</p> +<p>'Is it not the way of poetry of that calibre to see the light in county +papers?'</p> +<p>'This seems to me of a lower calibre than is likely to get in without private +interest.'</p> +<p>'But to my certain knowledge the child has neither written to, nor heard of +the man all this time,'</p> +<p>'You don't know what goes on with her bosom friend.'</p> +<p>'I am certain Miss Hacket would connive at nothing underhand. Besides, I have +never seen any thing sly or deceitful in poor Dolores. She will not make friends +with us, that is all, and that may be our fault.'</p> +<p>'I only say, look out, you unsuspicious dame!'</p> +<p>'Now, Jenny, satisfy my curiosity as to how you know all this. I am sure I +never showed you those effusions. We have had trouble enough about them, for the +children cut them up in a way Dolores has never forgiven.'</p> +<p>'Oh! Miss Hacket sent them to me, to ask if 'Mollsey to her Babe' and 'The +Canary' might not be passed on to Friendly Leaves. And as to Flinders, when I +went to the G.F.S. Conference at Darminster I met the man full in the street, +and, of course, I inquired afterwards how he came there. So there's nothing +preternatural about it.'</p> +<p>'It is well you did not live two hundred years ago, or you would certainly +have been burnt for a witch.'</p> +<p>'See what a witch I shall make on the 28th! But I hear those unfortunate +children dancing and prancing with impatience on the stairs. I must go, before +they have driven Ada distracted.'</p> +<p>What would the two aunts have said, could they have seen Dolores and +Constance, at that moment partaking of the most elaborate meal the Darminster +refreshment-room could supply, at a little round marble table, in company with +Mr. Flinders! They had not been obliged to start nearly so early as the other +party, as the journey was much shorter, and with no change of line, so they had +quietly walked to the station by ten o'clock, arrived at Darminster at half-past +eleven, and have been met by the personage whom Dolores recognized as Uncle +Alfred. Constance was a little disappointed not to see something more +distinguished, and less flashy in style, but he was so polite and complimentary, +and made such touching allusions to his misfortunes and his dear sister, that +she soon began to think him exceedingly interesting, and pitied him greatly when +he said he could not take them to his lodgings--they were not fit for his niece +or her friend, who had done him a kindness for which he could never be +sufficiently grateful, in affording him a glimpse of his dear sister's child. It +made Dolores wince, for she never could bear the mention of her mother, it was +like touching a wound, and the old sensation of discomfort and dislike to her +uncle's company began to grow over her again, now that she was not struggling +against Mohun opposition to her meeting him. He lionized them about the town, +but it was a foggy, drizzly day, one of those when the fringe of sea-coast often +enjoys finer weather than inland places; the streets were very sloppy, and +Dolores and Constance did not do much beyond purchasing a few cards and some +presents at a fancy shop, as they had agreed to do, to serve as an excuse for +their expedition in case it could not be kept a secret, and most of the visit +was made in the waiting-room at the station, or walking up and down the +platform. As to the grand point, Mr. Flinders told Constance that her tale was +talented and striking, full of great excellence; she might hope for success +equal to Ouida's--but that he had found it quite impossible to induce a +publisher to accept a work by an unknown author, unless she advanced something. +He could guarantee the return, but she must entrust him with thirty pounds. Poor +Constance! it was a fatal blow; she had not thirty pounds in the world; she +doubted if she could raise the sum, even by her sister's help. Then Mr. Flinders +sighed, and thought that if he represented the circumstances, the firm might be +content with twenty--nay, even fifteen. Constance cheered up a little. She did +think she could make up fifteen, after the 21st, when certain moneys became due, +which she shared with her sister. She would be left very bare all the +spring--but what was that to the return she was promised? Only Mr. Flinders +impressed on her the necessity of secrecy--even from her sister--since, he said, +if he were once known to have obtained such terms for a young authoress, he +should be besieged for ever!</p> +<p>'But, Uncle Alfred,' said Dolores, 'surely my father and mother, and all the +other people I have known, did not pay to get their things published.'</p> +<p>'My dear niece, you speak as one who has been with persons of high and +established fame--the literary aristocracy, in fact. The doors once opened, Miss +Hacket will, like them, make her own terms; but such doors, like many others, +are only to be opened by a silver key.'</p> +<p>There were other particulars which he talked over with the authoress in a +promenade on the platform while Dolores was left in the waiting-room; but +afterwards he indulged his niece with a tete-a-tete, asking her father's +address, and mourning over the length of time it would take to obtain an answer +from Fiji. Mr. Mohun had promised to help him, solemnly and kindly promised, for +the sake of her whom they had both loved so much, and here he was, cut off and +quite in extremity. Unfortunate as usual, through his determined enemies, a +company in which he had shares had collapsed, he was penniless till his salary +from the Politician became due in March. Meanwhile, he should be expelled from +his lodging and brought to ruin if he could not raise a few pounds--even one.</p> +<p>Dolores had nearly two pounds in her purse. Her father had left her amply +provided, and she had not much opportunity of spending. She knew he had seen the +gold when she was shopping, and when she had paid for the refreshments, which of +course she had found she had to do. With some hesitation she said, 'If thirty +shillings would be of any good to you--'</p> +<p>'My dear, generous child, your dear mother's own daughter! It will be the +saving of me temporarily! But among all your wealthy relatives, surely, +considering your father's promise, you could obtain some advance until he can be +communicated with!'</p> +<p>'If he is still in New Zealand, we could telegraph, and hear directly. He did +not know how long he should be there, for the ship had something to be done to +it.'</p> +<p>This did not suit Mr. Flinders. Such telegrams were very expensive, and it +was too uncertain whether Mr. Mohun would be at Auckland. Surely, Lady +Merrifield, whose husband was shaking the pagoda tree, would make an advance if +she knew the circumstances.</p> +<p>'I don't think she would,' said Dolores, 'I don't think they are very rich. +There is only one horse and one little pony, and my cousins have such very tiny +allowances.'</p> +<p>'Haughty and poor! Stuck up and skimping. Yes, I understand. But I am not +asking from her, only an advance, on your father's promise, which he would be +certain to repay. Yes, quite certain! It is only a matter of time. It would save +me at the present moment from utter ruin and destruction that would have broken +your dear mother's heart. Oh! Mary, what I lost in you.' Then, as perhaps he saw +reflection on Dolores's face, he added, 'She is gone, the only person who took +an interest in me, so it matters the less, and when you hear again of your +unhappy uncle you will know what drove him--'</p> +<p>'If it was only an advance--I have a cheque,' began Dolores. 'If seven pounds +would do you any good--'</p> +<p>'It would be salvation!' he exclaimed.</p> +<p>'Father left it with me,' pursued Dolores, considering, 'in case Professor +Muhlwasser went on with his great book of coloured plates of microscopic marine +zoophytes, and sent it in. I was to keep this and pay with it--'</p> +<p>'Oh! Muhlwasser! you need not trouble about him. I saw his death in the paper +a month ago.'</p> +<p>'Then I really think I might send you the cheque, and write to my father why +I did so.'</p> +<p>'Ah! Dolly, I knew that your mother's daughter could never desert me.'</p> +<p>More followed of the same kind, tending to make Dolores feel that she was +doing a heroically generous thing, and stifling the lurking sense in her mind +that she had no right to dispose of her father's money without his consent. The +December day began to close in, the gas was lighted, Constance was seen +disconsolately peeping out at the waiting-room door to see whether the private +conference were over. They joined her again, and Mr. Flinders discoursed about +the envy and jealousy of critics, and success being only attained by getting +into a certain clique, till she began to look rather frightened; but reassured +by the voluble list of names and papers to which he assured her of +recommendations. Then he began to be complimentary, and she, to put on the silly +tituppy kind of face and tone wherewith she had talked to the curates at the +festival. Dolores began to find this very dull, and to feel neglected, perhaps +also cross, and doubts came across her whether she might not get into a dreadful +scrape about the money, which she certainly had no right to dispose of. She at +last broke in with, 'Uncle Alfred, are you quite sure Professor Muhlwasser is +dead?'</p> +<p>'Bless your heart, child, he's as dead as Harry the Eighth,' said Mr. +Flinders in haste;' died at Berlin, of fatty degeneration of the heart! Well, as +I was saying, Miss Constance--'</p> +<p>'But, uncle, I was thinking--'</p> +<p>'Hush!' as a couple of ladies and a whole train of nurses and children +invaded the waiting-room, 'it won't do to talk of such little matters in public +places, you know. Would you not like a cup of tea, Miss Constance. Will you +allow me to be your cavalier?'</p> +<p>People were beginning to arrive in expectation of the coming train, and talk +was not possible in the throng; at least, Mr. Flinders did not make it so. At +last the train swept up, and he was hurrying to find places for the ladies, when +there was a moment's glimpse of a handsome moustached face at a smoking-carriage +window. Dolores started, and had almost exclaimed, 'Uncle Reginald;' but before +the words were out of her mouth, Mr. Flinders had drawn her on swiftly, among +all the numbers of people getting out and getting in, hurled her into a distant +carriage, handed Constance in after her, and muttering something about +forgetting an appointment, he vanished, without any of the arrangements about +foot-warmers that he had promised.</p> +<p>'Uncle Reginald!' again exclaimed Dolores, 'I am sure it was he!'</p> +<p>'Oh dear! What an escape!' answered Constance, breathless with surprise, and +settling herself with disgust and difficulty next to a fat old farmer, as three +or four more people entered and jammed them close together.</p> +<p>'Who is he?' she presently whispered.</p> +<p>'Colonel Mohun. His regiment is at Galway. I know he talked of getting over +this winter if he possibly could; but Aunt Lily went away before the post was +come in.'</p> +<p>'We shall have to take great care when we get out.'</p> +<p>Here the train started, and conversation in undertones became impossible, +more especially as two of the farmers in the carriage were coming back from the +Smithfield Cattle Show, and were discussing the prize oxen with all their might. +It was very stuffy and close. Constance looked ineffably fastidious and +uncomfortable, and Dolores gazed at the clouded window, and dull little lamp +overhead, put in to enliven the deepening twilight. This avoiding of Uncle +Reginald brought more before her mind a sense of wrong-doing than anything that +had gone before. She was fond of this uncle, who always made her father's house +his headquarters when in London, and used to play with her when she was a small +child, and always to take her to the Zoological Gardens, till she declared she +was too old to care for such a childish show, and then he and her father both +laughed at her so much that she would never have forgiven anybody else; and she +found he enjoyed it for his own sake far more than she did. However, he always +did take her out for walks and sights that were sure to be amusing with him. +Father, too, was quite bright and alive when he was in the house, and thus +Dolores had nothing but pleasant associations connected with this uncle, and had +heard of the chances of his coming like a ray of light, though without much +hope, since the state of Ireland had prevented him from being able even to run +over to take leave of her father. And now he was come, she must hide from him +like a guilty thing! There was no spirit of opposition against him in her mind, +and thus she could feel that she was doing something sad and strange. Moreover, +she began to feel that her promise about the cheque had been a rash one, and the +echo of her father's voice came back on her, saying, 'Surely, Mary, you know +better than to believe a word out of Flinders's mouth.'</p> +<p>But then she thought of her mother's rare tears glistening in her eyes, and +the answer, 'Poor Alfred! I cannot give him up. Everything has been against +him.'</p> +<p>It was quite dark before Silverton was reached, at half-past five, with three +quarters of an hour to spare before the other travellers were expected. Most of +their fellow passengers had got out at previous stations, so that Constance was +able to open the door and jump out so perilously before the train had quite +stopped, that a porter caught her with a sharp word of reproof. She grasped +Dolores's hand and scudded across the platform, giving the return tickets almost +before the collector was ready. A cautious guard even exclaimed, 'What's those +two young women up to?' but was answered at once, 'They're all right! That's +nought but one of the old parson's daughters, as have been out with a return to +Darminster.'</p> +<p>'A sweetheartin'?' demanded one of the bystanders, and there was a laugh.</p> +<p>Constance heard the tones and vulgar laugh, though not the words, and she was +in such a panic as she hurried down the steps that she did not stop to look out +for a cab. The place was small, and they were not very plentiful at any time, +and she was mortally afraid, though she hardly knew why, of being over-taken and +questioned by Colonel Mohun, who might know his niece, though he would not know +her; but Dolores was tired, and had a headache, and did not at all like the walk +in the dirt, and fog, and dark, after turning from the gas lit station.</p> +<p>'We were to have a cab, Constance.'</p> +<p>'We can't,' was the answer, still hurrying on. 'He would come out upon us.'</p> +<p>'He is much more likely to overtake us this way!' said Dolores, thinking of +her uncle's long strides.</p> +<p>'Well, we can't turn back now!' said Constance, getting almost into a run, +which lasted till they were past the paddock gate. Dolores, panting to keep up +with her, had half a mind to turn up there and go straight home; but there might +be any number of oxen in the way, and almost worse, she might meet Jasper and +Wilfred, or if Uncle Reginald overtook her, what would he think?</p> +<p>The pair slackened their pace a little when they had satisfied themselves +that the break in the dark hedge beside them was the gate. They heard wheels, +and presently saw the lamps of a cab, bearing down, halt at the gate they had +left behind, and turn in.</p> +<p>'We should have been off first,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'If we could have got a cab in time?'</p> +<p>'One can always get cabs.'</p> +<p>'Oh! no, not at all for certain.'</p> +<p>'This is a nasty, stupid, out-of-the-way place,' said Dolores, wanting to say +something cross.</p> +<p>'It isn't a vulgar place, full of traffic,' returned Constance, equally +cross.</p> +<p>'Well, I never meant to walk home in this way! I'm sure my feet are wet. I +wish I had waited and gone with Uncle Regie.'</p> +<p>'Now, Dolly, what do you mean? You would not have it all betrayed?'</p> +<p>'I've a great mind to tell Uncle Regie all about it.'</p> +<p>'Now, Dolly! When you said so much about the Mohun pride and scorn of your +poor, dear uncle.'</p> +<p>'Uncle Regie is not proud. And he would know what to do.'</p> +<p>'But,' cried Constance, in a fright, 'you would never tell him! You promised +that it should be a secret, and I should be in such a dreadful scrape with Lady +Merrifield and Mary.'</p> +<p>'Well! it was your doing, and you had all the pleasure of it, flourishing +about the platform with him.'</p> +<p>'How can you be so disagreeable, Dolores, when you know it was all on +business. Though I do think he is the most interesting man I ever did see.'</p> +<p>'Just because he flattered you.'</p> +<p>However, there is no need to tell how many cross and quarrelsome things the +two tired friends said to each other. They were sitting on opposite sides of the +fire, one very gloomy, and the other very pettish, when the waggonette stopped +at the gate, to put out Miss Hacket and take up Dolores. Hands pulled her up the +step, and a hubbub of merry voices received her in the dark.</p> +<p>'Good girl, not to keep us waiting.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Dolly, Dolly, Macrae says Uncle Regie's come!'</p> +<p>'Oh, Dolly, it has been such fun!'</p> +<p>'Take care of my parcel!'</p> +<p>'Ah, ha! you don't know what is in there.'</p> +<p>'Here's something under my feet!'</p> +<p>'Oh! take care! 'Tisn't my--'</p> +<p>'Hush, hush, Val--'</p> +<p>And so it went on till on the steps was seen in full light among the boys, +Uncle Reginald, ready to lift every one out with a kiss.'</p> +<p>'Ha! Dolly, is that you?' he said, as they came into the hall. 'I saw such a +likeness of you at one station that I was as near as possible jumping out to +speak to her. She had on just that fur tippet!'</p> +<p>'That comes of living in Ireland, Regie,' said Aunt Lily. 'Once in a shop at +Belfast, a lady darted up to me with "And it's I that am glad to see you, +me dear. And how's me sweet little god-daughter? Oh! and it isn't yourself. And +aren't you Mrs. Phelim O'Shaugnessy?'" And under cover of this, Dolores +retreated to her own room. She took off her things, and then looked at the +cheque.</p> +<p>Professor Muhlwasser was a clever German, always at work on science, +counting, in the most minute and accurate manner, such details as the rays in a +sea anemone's tentacles, or the eggs in a shrimp's roe. He was engaged on a huge +book, in numbers, of which Mr. Maurice Mohun had promised to take two +copies--but whereas extravagances upon peculiar hobbies were apt not to be +tolerated in the family, and it was really uncertain whether the work would ever +be completed, Mr. Mohun had preferred leaving a cheque for the payment in his +little daughter's hand, rather than entrust it to one of the brothers, who would +have howled and growled at such a waste of good money on such a subject. Thus he +had told Dolores to back the draft, get it changed, and send the amount by a +postal order to Germany, if the books and account should come, which he thought +very doubtful.</p> +<p>And now the professor was dead, Dolores looked at the cheque, and supposed +she could do as she pleased with it. Mother helped Uncle Alfred. Yes, but mother +earned all she sent him herself! Perhaps he would not ask again. How much more +he had talked to Constance than to herself. Dolly wished she had not seen him to +get into this difficulty. She was tired, cold, and damp. Oh! if she had never +gone, and not been half caught by Uncle Regie!</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XII.<br> +A HUNT</h3> + +<p>Dolores was glad to recollect, when she awoke, that Uncle Reginald was in the +house. It was as if she had a friend of her own there who might enter into all +the ill-usage she suffered, and whom she could even consult about Uncle Alfred, +so far as she could do so without disclosing all the underhand correspondence. +She called doing so betraying Constance, but, in truth, she shrank more from +shocking him with what he might think very wrong--since, after all, he belonged +to that hard-hearted generation of grown-up people who had no feeling nor +understanding of one's troubles.</p> +<p>As she went downstairs she was aware of an increasing hubbub, and frequently +looking over the balusters, perceived the top of Primrose's wavy head above the +close-cropped one of Uncle Regie, as, with her mounted on his shoulder, he +careered round the hall, with a pack of others vociferating behind him;</p> +<p>There was a lull, for Lady Merrifield came out of her room just as Dolores +had paused; Primrose was put down, the morning salutations took place, and +Dolores had her full share of them. She was even allowed to sit next her uncle +at breakfast; but her rasher of bacon had not been half eaten, before she had +perceived that, as to possessing him as she used to do at home, he was just as +much everybody else's Uncle Regie as hers, for during the time of their being +stationed at Belfast, he had been so often with them, that he was quite +established as the prince of playfellows.</p> +<p>'Uncle Regie, will you have a crack at the rabbits tomorrow? Brown said we +might have a day, and we have been keeping it for you.'</p> +<p>'Uncle Regie, the hounds meet at the Bugle this morning, won't you come and +see them throw off?'</p> +<p>'Oh, let me come too!' 'And me!' 'And me!'</p> +<p>'My dear children,' exclaimed their mother, 'I can't have the whole tribe of +little ones and girls going galloping after your uncle. You will only hinder +him.'</p> +<p>'No, no, Lily! the more Merrifields, the merrier the field. I'll drill them +well. How far off is this Bugle?'</p> +<p>'Not two miles over Furzy Common.'</p> +<p>'Oh! not so far, Hal!'</p> +<p>'That's nothing. Who is coming?'</p> +<p>A general outbreak of 'Me's' ensued, but mamma laid an embargo on Primrose, +who must stay at home and 'help her,' while Gillian looked wistful and doubtful, +knowing that more efficient help than the little one's might be desirable.</p> +<p>'You had better go, my dear,' said her mother, 'if you are not tired. I don't +like to send Mysie and Val without some one to turn back with them if your uncle +and the boys want to go further.'</p> +<p>But whereas it was not nearly time to start, Uncle Reginald was dragged down +to inspect all the live stock in the stable-yard, at their feeding-time, and +went off with Val and Primrose clinging to his hands, and the general rabble +surrounding him.</p> +<p>Nothing could have been more alien to Dolores's taste than going out to a +meet on foot through mud and mire--she who hated the being driven out to take a +constitutional walk on the gravel road or the paved path! But she had some hope +that while all the others ran off madly, as was their wont, she might secure a +little rational conversation with Uncle Reginald. So she came down in hat and +ulster, and was rewarded with 'That's right, Doll; I'm glad to see they have +taught you to take country walks.'</p> +<p>'It is all compliment to you, Uncle Regie,' said Gillian. 'She hates them +generally.'</p> +<p>'Are we all ready? Where are Japs and Will?'</p> +<p>'Gone to shut up the dogs; and Hal is not coming.'</p> +<p>'Beneath his dignity, eh?'</p> +<p>'I think he has some reading to do,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'Now mind, Reginald,' said Aunt Lily, coming on the scene, 'you are not to +let those imps drag you farther than you like. It is a very different thing, +remember, children, from going out with the hounds like a gentleman.'</p> +<p>'Yes, mamma,' returned Fergus. 'If you would only let me have the pony!'</p> +<p>'And send home the girls as soon as you find them in the way,' she added.</p> +<p>'All right,' answered he, and off plunged the party; but Dolores soon found +that she was not to be allowed much of Uncle Reginald's exclusive society. He +did begin talking to her about her father's voyage, last letters, and intended +departure from Auckland, but Valetta kept fast hold of his other hand, and the +others were all round, every moment pointing out something--to them +noticeable--and telling the story of some exploit, delighted when their uncle +capped it with some boyish tales of Beechcroft, or with some droll, Irish story.</p> +<p>With such talk, the strong, healthy young folk little heeded the surface mud +or the lanes. Even Dolores when she heard her father's name in the +reminiscences,' was interested for a time, and was always hoping that the others +would fly off and leave her to her uncle; but she was much less used to country +mud and stout boots than the others, and she had been very much tired by her +expedition on the previous day, so that she had begun to find the way very long +before they came out on an open green, with a few cottages standing a good way +back in their gardens, and as their centre, one of the great old coaching inns +of past days, now chiefly farmhouse, though a sign, bearing a golden bugle-horn +upon a blue ground, stood aloft in front of it, over the heads of the speckled +mass of tan, black, and white, pervaded with curved tails, over which the +scarlet-coated whips kept guard, while shining horses, bearing red coats and +black coats, boys, and a few ladies, were moving about, and carriages drew up +from time to time.</p> +<p>There was a long standing about, and Colonel Mohun, being a stranger there +himself, kept his flock on the outskirts, only Jasper plunging in, at sight of a +mounted schoolfellow, while Gillian and Mysie told the names of the few they +recognized. At last there was a move, and Jasper came back to point out the wood +they were going to draw, close at hand. Should they not all go on and see it?</p> +<p>'Oh! let us! do come, Uncle Regie,' cried Mysie and Val.</p> +<p>'Look here, Gill,' said the uncle, 'this child doesn't look fit to go any +farther.'</p> +<p>'I'm very tired, and so cold,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Gillian, 'we ought to go home now.'</p> +<p>Not me! not me;' cried the other two girls; 'Uncle Regie will take care of +us.'</p> +<p>'I think you must come,' said Gillian, 'mamma said you had better come home +when I do.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Wilfred, 'we don't want a pack of girls to go and get tired.'</p> +<p>'We shall go into all sorts of places not fit for you,' said Jasper; 'you +wouldn't come back with a whole petticoat among you.'</p> +<p>'And Val would be left stodged in a ditch for a month of Sundays,' added +Wilfred.</p> +<p>'I am afraid we had better part company, Gill,' said the colonel. 'I would +take you on a little further, but this poor little Londoner won't have a leg to +stand upon by the time she gets home.'</p> +<p>'More shame for her to come out to spoil our fun,' muttered Valetta, too low +for her uncle to hear.</p> +<p>'Mamma will think we have gone quite far enough, thank you, uncle,' said the +sage Gillian, 'and I think Fergus had better come too.'</p> +<p>'That he had,' said Jasper. 'Fancy him over Peat Hill.'</p> +<p>'He'll be left behind to be picked up as we come back,' said Wilfred.</p> +<p>'No, no, no! I can keep up better than you can, Wil! Take me, Uncle Regie.' +The little boy was so near a howl that good-natured Colonel Mohun's heart was +touched, and he consented to let him come on, though Jasper argued, 'You'll have +to carry him, uncle.'</p> +<p>'No, I'll make you, master! Tell your mother not to wait luncheon for us, +Gillian; we'll pick up something somewhere.'</p> +<p>'Hurrah!' cried Wilfred and Fergus, to whom this was an immense additional +pleasure.</p> +<p>The girls turned away into the lane, Valetta indulging in an outrageous +grumble. 'Why should Dolores have come out to spoil everything?'</p> +<p>Dolores did not speak.</p> +<p>'Just our one chance,' sighed Mysie, 'and perhaps we should have seen the +fox.'</p> +<p>'We may do that yet,' said Gillian; 'he may come this way.'</p> +<p>'I don't care if he does,' said Valetta. 'I wanted to see them draw the +copse. I believe Dolores did it on purpose to spoil our pleasure.'</p> +<p>'Don't be so cross, Val,' said Mysie. 'She can't help being tired.'</p> +<p>'Why did she come, then, when nobody wanted her?'</p> +<p>'For shame, Val,' said Gillian, 'you know mamma would be very angry to hear +you say anything so unkind.'</p> +<p>'It's quite true, though,' muttered Valetta.</p> +<p>'Never mind, Dolly, dear,' said Mysie, shocked. 'Val doesn't really mean it, +you know.'</p> +<p>'Yes, she does,' said Dolores, shaking her comforter off; 'you all do! I wish +I had never come here.'</p> +<p>Mysie tried in her own persevering way to argue again that Val was only put +out, and disappointed at having to turn back, to which Valetta, in spite of +Gillian's endeavour to silence her, added, 'So stupid of her to come out! What +did she do it for?'</p> +<p>Dolores, who hardly ever cried, was tired into crying now. 'You grudge me +everything; you wouldn't let me speak one single word to Uncle Regie, and kept +bothering about! I'll never do anything with you again! I won't.'</p> +<p>'Did you want to speak to Uncle Regie?' asked Mysie.</p> +<p>'To be sure I did! He is my uncle, that I knew ever so long before you did, +and you never let him speak to me.'</p> +<p>'Mrs. Halfpenny always put us on the high chair, with our faces to the wall +when we were jealous,' remarked Valetta.</p> +<p>'But did you want to say anything to him in particular?' said Mysie, +revolving means of contriving a private interview.</p> +<p>'That's no business of yours! I wish you would let me alone!' broke out +Dolores, in a fretful fright lest any one should guess that she had anything on +her mind.</p> +<p>'To make up stories of us, of course,' growled Valetta, but Gillian here +interposed, declaring with authority that if she heard another word before they +reached the paddock gate, she should certainly tell mother how disgracefully +they had been behaving. When Gillian said such things she kept her word. +Besides, by way of precaution, she marched down the muddy middle of the road, +with Dolores limping along the footpath on one side, and Val as far off as +possible on the border of the ditch, on the other; the more inoffensive Mysie +keeping by her side. They were all weary, and Dolores was very footsore also, by +the time they reached home, at the very moment that the two Misses Hacket +appeared coming up the drive. Lady Merrifield, having the day before invited the +elder, as the purchases needed to be looked over, and preparations set in hand, +and she did not then know that her brother was coming.</p> +<p>Dolores scarcely knew whether she was glad to see Constance. She had many +doubts and qualms about that cheque. And if she had spent any quiet time alone +with her uncle, she might have laid enough of her trouble before him to get some +advice or help; but to ask for an interview, especially when 'everybody' thought +it was to make complaints, was too uncomfortable and alarming; and she was +inclined to escape from thought of the whole subject altogether by taking action +quickly.</p> +<p>Gillian gave her uncle's message about not waiting; the dirty boots were +taken off in the hall, and Constance followed her friend up to her room to take +off her things.</p> +<p>Dolores sat on the side of her bed, too much tired at first to be willing to +move, Constance's pity elicited tears, and that they had all been so very unkind +to her; they were angry at her getting tired, and they were jealous of her even +speaking to Uncle Regie. Again this alarmed Constance, 'You weren't going to +tell him about Mr. Flinders--you know you promised.'</p> +<p>'He knows about him already, and he would tell me what to do.'</p> +<p>'Oh! but that would never do, darling Dolly. You told me all the family were +hard and unjust, and he would tell Lady Merrifield, and we should never be +allowed to see each other again. And only think of my poor little secret! I +didn't think you would have turned from your poor relation in misfortune for the +sake of this grand Colonel.'</p> +<p>The end of it was, that just as the gong was sounding, Dolores handed over to +Constance an envelope directed to Mr. Flinders, and containing Mr. Maurice +Mohun's cheque. It was off her mind now, she thought, as she shuffled down to +dinner, lookup so pale and uneasy that her aunt made her have a glass of wine +and some gravy soup to begin with, and, when dinner was over, turned all the +parcels off the school-room sofa, and made her lie upon it during the grand +unpacking, which was almost as charming as the purchasing, perhaps more so, +since there was no comparison with costlier articles.</p> +<p>There was not very much time. This was Friday and Christmas Day was on +Monday, so there were only two more clear week-days before the birthday and Miss +Hacket would be church-decorating on the morrow; but Lady Merrifield would not +send her daughters to help, as there were plenty of hands without them, and they +were too young to trust in a mixed set, who were not always sure to be reverent.</p> +<p>Dinner had rested and refreshed them; they rejoiced in the absence of the +man-kind, and Primrose was sent out for her walk while the numerous boxes and +packages were opened, and displayed sconces and tapers, gilt balls and glass +birds, oranges and bon-bons, disguised in every imaginable fashion. There was a +double set of the tapers, and two relays of devices in sweets, for the benefit +of the party of the second night, a list of whom Miss Hacket had brought, that +heads might be counted, and any deficiency supplied in time through Aunt Jane. +For Lady Merrifield had commissioned Gillian to lay in--unknown to the good +lady--a stock of such treasures as are valuable indeed to the little maid: shell +pin-cushions, Cinderella slippers holding thimbles, cases of hair-pins, queer +housewives, and the like things, wonderfully pretty for the price, and which +filled the kind heart of Miss Hacket with rapture and gratitude at such +brilliant additions to her own home-made contrivances in the way of cuffs, +comforters, and illuminated workbags, all beautifully neat; I though it was hard +to persuade her of what Lady Merrifield averred, that such things ought to be +far more precious than brilliant, shop-bought, ready-made ware, 'with no +love-seed in it.'</p> +<p>'It is very hard,' she said; 'how fancy shops try to spoil all one used to be +able to do for one's friends. The purses, and the penwipers, and the +needle-cases that were one's choicest presents in my youth, are all turned out +now smart and tight and fashioned, but without a scrap of the honest old labour +and love that went into them.'</p> +<p>'But papa and mamma do care still,' cried Gillian; 'papa never will have any +purse but the long ones mamma nets for him.'</p> +<p>'And mamma always will have the old brown and blue carriage-bag that Aunt +Phyllis worked,' chimed in Mysie, 'though Claude did say he would throw it into +the sea when we crossed from Dublin for it looked like an old housekeeper's.'</p> +<p>'Claude was in a superfine condition then--in awe of an old Sandhurst +comrade. He would be gild enough to see the old brown bag now, poor fellow,' +said Lady Merrifield, tenderly.</p> +<p>So it went on, with merry chat and a good deal of real preparation, till the +early darkness came on, and a great noise in the haul announced the return of +'the boys,' among whom Lady Merrifield still classed her colonel brother. They +were muddy up to the eyes, but they had seen a great deal more than was easy to +understand in their incoherent accounts. Wilfed had rolled into a wet ditch, and +been picked out by his uncle and hung up to dry at a little village inn, +where--this seemed to have been the supreme glory--they had made a meal on +pigs'-liver and bread-and-cheese before plodding home again--losing their way +under Wilfred's confident pilotage--finding themselves five miles from +home--getting a cast in a cart for the two little boys just as Fergus was almost +ready to cry--Colonel Mohun and Jasper walking alongside of the carter for two +miles, and conversing in a friendly manner, though the man said he knew the +soldier by his step, and thought it was a pool-trade. Finally, he directed them +by a short cut, which proved to be through a lane of clay and pools of such an +adhesive nature that Fergus had to be pulled out step by step by main force by +his uncle, who deposited him on some stones at the other end, and then came back +to assist the struggles of Wilfred, who was slowly proceeding with Jasper's +help.</p> +<p>'And that's the way we make you spend your Christmas holiday, Regie,' said +Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Never mind. Lily; mud was a congenial element to us both in old times, you +know, so no wonder your brood take to it like ducks or hippopotamuses. I say, we +ought to have come in by the rear. Couldn't that imp of a buttons of yours come +and scrape us before we go upstairs?'</p> +<p>'You are certainly grown older, Regie. You never would have thought of that +once.'</p> +<p>'No more would you, Lily--so do yourself justice.'</p> +<p>However, when five o'clock tea was spread in the drawing-room, and the Hacket +ladies came in, Constance beheld such a splendid vision of a fine, fair, though +sunburnt face, long, light moustaches, and tall figure, that she instantly +assumed her most affected graces, and did not wonder the less that the Mohuns +were all so very high.</p> +<p>Dolores's strong desire for a private interview with her uncle died away when +Constance carried off the cheque. She knew he would tell her she had no right to +give it, and she did not want to be told so, nor to have any special inquiries +made. She was not sorry that an invitation from a neighbour kept him and Hal out +shooting all Saturday, and, on the other hand, she so far shrank from +Constance's talk about Mr. Flinders as not to be vexed that it was too wet on +Sunday afternoon for any going down to Casement Cottages.</p> +<p>It was on that wet afternoon, however, that Uncle Reginald, crossing the hall +for once without his tail of followers, saw her slowly dragging downstairs with +a book in her hand.</p> +<p>'Well, Miss Doll,' he said; 'you don't look very jolly! What's the matter?'</p> +<p>'Nothing, Uncle Regie.'</p> +<p>'I don't believe in nothing. Here,' sitting down on the stairs, with an arm +round her, 'tell me all about it, Dolly, we are old chums, you know. Have you +got into a row?'</p> +<p>'Oh no!'</p> +<p>'Is there anything I can put straight?'</p> +<p>'No, thank you, Uncle Regie.'</p> +<p>'There's something amiss!' said the good-natured, puzzled uncle. 'What is it? +I should have thought you would have got on with these young folks like--like a +house on fire.'</p> +<p>'That's all you know about it,' thought Dolly. What she said was, 'One never +does.'</p> +<p>'I don't understand that generalization,' answered her uncle; then, as she +did not answer, he added, 'I am sure your Aunt Lily is very anxious to make you +happy. Have you anything to complain of?'</p> +<p>'No,' said Dolores, 'I don't complain of anything.'</p> +<p>She was thinking of Valetta's notion that she wanted to 'make up stories of +them,' and therefore she said it in a manner which conveyed that she had a good +deal to complain of, if she would, though really she would have been a good deal +puzzled to produce a grievance that a man like Uncle Reginald would understand, +though she had plenty for sympathy like Constance's.</p> +<p>However, it was not to be expected that a private conference should last long +in that house, and Mysie appeared at that moment, looking for her cousin, to say +that 'Mamma was ready for her.' Dolores went off with more alacrity than usual, +and Uncle Reginald beckoned up his other niece, and observed: 'I say, Mysie, +what's the matter with Dolly?'</p> +<p>'She is always like that, uncle,' answered Mysie.</p> +<p>'Don't you hit it off with her, then?'</p> +<p>'I can't, uncle,' said Mysie, looking up, with a sudden wink now and then to +stop her tears. 'I thought we should have been such friends; but she won't let +me. I didn't mean to be stupid and disagreeable, like the girls in 'Ashenden +Schoolroom,' but she doesn't care for anybody but Miss Constance and Maude +Sefton.'</p> +<p>'I hope you are all very kind to her,' said Uncle Reginald, rather wistfully.</p> +<p>'We try,' said Mysie, who was not going to betray Wilfred and Valetta, and +could honestly say so of herself and Gillian.</p> +<p>And there again came an interruption, in the shape of Gillian. 'Mysie, mamma +says we may finish up our sacred illuminated cards, for it will be Sunday work.'</p> +<p>'Oh, jolly!' cried Mysie, jumping up. 'And will you give me one rub of your +real good carmine Gilly-flower, dear.'</p> +<p>'And of my ultramarine, too,' responded Gillian, wherewith the two sisters +disappeared, radiant with goodwill and gratitude; while poor Uncle Reginald, who +had intended to devote this wet Sunday afternoon to writing to his brother that +Dolores was perfectly happy and thriving in Lily's care, and like a sister to +his other favourite, Mysie, remained disappointed and perplexed, wondering +whether the poor little maiden were homesick, or whether no children could be +depended on for kindness when out of sight, and deciding that he should defer +his letter till he had seen a little more, and talked to his sister Jane, who +could see through a milestone any day.</p> +<p>It was understood that mamma preferred home-made cards to bought ones, so +there was always a great manufacture of them in the weeks previous to Christmas, +the comparative failures being exchanged among the younger members.</p> +<p>The presents were always reserved for Valetta's birthday and the tree, and +this rendered the circulation of the cards doubly interesting. In the immediate +family alone, there were thirteen times thirteen, besides those coming from, and +going to outsiders, so that it was as well that a good many should be of +domestic manufacture, either with pencil and brush, or of tiny leaves carefully +dried and gummed. And mamma had kept an album, with names and dates, into which +all these home efforts were inserted, and nothing else! This year's series began +with a little chestnut curl of Primrose's hair, fastened down on a card by +Gillian, and rose to a beautiful drawing of a blue Indian Lotus lily, with a +gorgeous dragon-fly on it, sent by Alethea. The Indian party had sent a card for +every one--the girls, beautiful drawings of birds, insects, and scenery; the +brother, a bundle of rice-paper figured with costumes, and papa, some clever +pen-and-ink outlines of odd figures, which his daughters beguiled from him in +his leisure moments!</p> +<p>As to the home circle, it is enough to say that their performances were +highly satisfactory to the makers, and were rewarded by mamma's kisses, and the +text or verse she had secretly illuminated for each. She had no time to do more, +and the series were infinitely prized and laid up as treasures. There were +plenty of ornamental cards from without to be admired: the Brighton and +Beechcroft aunts; the Stokesley cousins, and whole multitudes of friends pouring +them in as usual; so that the entire review seemed to occupy all those free +moments of the Christmas Day, when the young folks were neither at church, nor +at meals, nor singing carols themselves, nor hearing the choir sing in the hall, +nor looking over photograph books and hearing old family stories. This last +occupation was received in the family as the regular evening pleasure, ending in +all singing, 'When shepherds watch their flocks by night.'</p> +<p>Dolores had a card from her aunt and each of her cousins, besides one of the +parcel Uncle Reginald had brought. She did not think enough of the very bad +drawing and smeared painting of the ambitious attempts she received, to feel at +all disconcerted at having no reciprocity to offer. The only cards she had sent +were to Constance Hacket, to Fraulein, and to Maude Sefton--the last with a sore +sense of the long interval since she had heard.</p> +<p>However, there was a card from Maude, but it was a very poor one, looking +very much like a last year's possession, and the letter was not much better, +being chiefly an apology for having been too busy to write. Maude was going to +lectures with Nona Styles--Nona was such a darling girl--and breaking off +because she was wanted to rehearse Cinderella with this same darling Nona.</p> +<p>It made Dolores's heart go down farther, though there was a beautiful and +unexpected card from Mrs. Sefton, one from her former servant, Caroline, also +from Fraulein, and three or four from old friends of her mother, who had +remembered the solitary girl. In truth, she had more beautiful ones than anybody +else, but she kept these in their envelopes, and showed herself so much averse +to free fingering and admiration of them that Lady Merrifield had to call off +Valetta, remind her that her cousin had a right to her own cards, and hear in +return that Dolores was so cross.</p> +<p>'Dolly,' said Uncle Reginald, in a low voice, since he was permitted to look +over the cards with her, 'I think I have found out part of your troubles.'</p> +<p>She looked at him in alarm.</p> +<p>He put his finger on a card bearing the words, 'Goodwill to men.'</p> +<p>'Umph,' said she. 'I don't want everything of mine messed and spoilt.'</p> +<p>And as his eye fell on Fergus's cards, he felt there was reason in what she +said.</p> +<p>Aunt Lily had taken her for a quarter of an hour that morning, trying to +infuse the real thought underlying the joy that makes it Christmas, not only +yule-tide. But it all fell flat--it was all lessons to her--imposed on her on a +day that she had not been used to see made what she called 'goody.' Last year +her father had shut himself up after church, and she had spent the evening in +noisy mirth with the Seftons.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.<br> +AN EGYPTIAN SPHYNX</h3> + +<p>Aunt Adeline was afraid of winter journeys as well as of the tumultuous +festivities of Silverton; so at twelve o'clock. Colonel Mohun drove the +pony-carriage to meet the little trim Brownie who stepped out of the station, +the porter carrying behind her a huge thing, long, and swathed in brown paper. +'It is quite light; it won't hurt,' she said, 'It must go with us. Put your legs +across it, Regie. That's right.'</p> +<p>'Then what becomes of yours?'</p> +<p>'Mine can go anywhere,' said Miss Mohun, crumpling herself up in some +mysterious manner under the fur rug, while they drove off, her luggage sticking +far off on either side of the splashboard.</p> +<p>'What, in the name of wonder, are you smuggling in there?'</p> +<p>'If you must know, it is the body of a mummy over whose dissection you will +have to assist.'</p> +<p>'Ah! Rotherwood is coming.'</p> +<p>'Rotherwood!'</p> +<p>'And his little girl. Just like him. Lily gets a note this morning from +London, telling her to telegraph if she can't have them by the 5.20 train. I've +just been ordering a fly. It seems that Lady Rotherwood, going to meet Ivinghoe +at the station, coming from school, found he had measles coming out! So they +packed off his sister to Beechcroft without having seen him, and thence +Rotherwood took her to London.'</p> +<p>'And is having a fine frolic with her, no doubt; but he might as well have +given Lily more notice, considering that a marquess or two makes more difference +to her household than it does to his.'</p> +<p>'Oh! she is glad enough, only in some trepidation as to how Mrs. Halfpenny +may receive the unspecified maid that the child may bring.'</p> +<p>'How jolly we shall be! I wish Ada had come.'</p> +<p>'I tried to drag her out, but it gets harder and harder to shake her up. You +must come back with me and see her.'</p> +<p>'I say, Jane, have you seen Maurice's child lately?'</p> +<p>'Not very. She wouldn't come with the others last week.'</p> +<p>'What do you think about her? I thought leaving her with Lily would have been +the making of her. Indeed, I told Maurice there could not be a better brought up +set anywhere than the Merrifields, and that Lily would mother her like one of +her own; and now I find her moping about, looking regularly down in the mouth. I +got hold of her one day and tried to find out what was the matter, but she only +said she would not complain. Can they bully her?'</p> +<p>'I'll tell you what, Maurice, Lily is a great deal too kind to her. She has a +kind of temper that won't let them make friends with her.'</p> +<p>'Come now! She was a nice jolly little girl at home. She and I have had no +end of larks together, and it is hard to blame her for fretting after her home, +poor child--Aye! I know you never liked her, or she might have done better with +you and Ada than turned in among a lot of imps.'</p> +<p>'I'm thankful it was otherwise!'</p> +<p>'Now do, Jane, set your mind to it. Don't be prejudiced, but make those sharp +eyes of some use. I really feel bound to give Maurice an account of Dolly, and +tell him what is best for her.'</p> +<p>'I believe,' said Jane, 'that there is some counter-influence at work, and I +am trying to find it out; but, after all, I believe patience is the only thing, +and that Lily will conquer her if nobody meddles.'</p> +<p>''Tis not Lily I am afraid of, but her children.'</p> +<p>'Nonsense, Regie; one would think you had never been turned loose into school +to be licked into shape.'</p> +<p>'She is a girl, not a cub like me.'</p> +<p>'A worse cub, for she has not your temper, sir, and, moreover, you had had +the wholesome discipline of a large family. Besides, nobody teases but Wilfred. +Gillian and Mysie behave like angels to the tiresome puss.'</p> +<p>'Well, I'm bound to believe you, Jenny, but I don't like the looks of it.'</p> +<p>Aunt Jane's mysterious parcel was greeted rapturously, and conveyed into the +dining-room, which had a semi-circular end, filled with glass, and capable of +being shut off with heavy curtains when the season made snugness desirable. This +bay had been set apart from the first for her operations, the tree, whose second +season it was, having been taken up and already erected in the centre of the +room, not much the worse for last year's excursion, for, if rather stunted, that +was all the better. No one was excluded from the decoration thereof, since that +was the best part of the sport to those too old for the mystery--and yet young +enough to fasten sconces where their candles would infallibly set fire to the +twigs above them. The only defaulters were Jasper, who had preferred going down +to the meadows with his gun; and Dolores, who had retired to the drawing-room +with a book, on having a paper star removed from immediate risk of +conflagration. 'They were determined not to let her help,' she said.</p> +<p>So she only emerged when the workers halted for a merry, hurried meal in the +schoolroom, where Jasper appeared, very late, very cross at having had to make +himself fit to be seen, and, likewise, at having brought home no spoil, the +snipes having been so malicious as to escape him. Having sallied forth before +the post came in, it was only now that it broke on him that visitors were +expected, and he did not like it at all.</p> +<p>'I thought we had got rid of a11 the enemy!' he growled, at his end of the +table.</p> +<p>'That's what he calls Constance.' thought Dolores.</p> +<p>'Polite,' observed Gillian.</p> +<p>'This will be worse still, being lord and ladies grumbled on Jasper, 'I hate +swells.'</p> +<p>'Oh! but these aren't like horrid, common, fine lords and ladies,' cried +Mysie; 'why, you know all mamma's old stories about the fun they had with cousin +Rotherwood.</p> +<p>'What's the good of that! That's a hundred years ago. He'll just make mamma +and Uncle Regie of no good at all! And then there's a girl too--' (in a tone of +inconceivable disgust) 'I don't want strange girls--an awful stuck-up swell of a +Londoner, not able to do anything! I wish I had gone to spend Christmas with +Bruce! I would if I had known it was to be like this.'</p> +<p>The speech brought Mysie to the verge of tears. Aunt Jane's sharp ears heard +it, and she looked at the head of the table, expecting to hear a rebuke; but +Lady Merrifield turned a deaf ear on that side. Only after the meal, she called +her son, 'Jasper,' she said, 'I want to send a note to Redford, if you like to +ride over with it. You need not come home till eight o'clock, if it is +moonlight, it the boys are disengaged, and if you do really wish to keep out of +the way.'</p> +<p>Jasper's eyes fell under hers.</p> +<p>'Mamma, I don't want that.'</p> +<p>'Only you said more than you meant, Japs. If it relieves your mind, it hurts +other people. But I do want the note taken, so go and come back in time for the +sports; which I don't think you will find much damaged.'</p> +<p>Meantime, Aunt Jane had ensconced herself behind the curtains; where she +admitted no one but Miss Vincent and Uncle Reginald, and in process of time, +mamma and Macrae. The others were still fully employed in garnishing the tree, +though it was only to bear lights, ornaments and sweets. All solid articles had +been for some time past committed to a huge box, or ottoman, the veteran +companion of the family travels, which stood in the centre of the bay. Into its +capacious interior everybody had been dropping parcels of various sizes and +shapes, with addresses in all sorts of hands, which were to find their +destination on this great evening. This was part of the mystery that kept Mysie +and Valetta in one continual dance and caper. It was all they could do not to +peep between the curtains when the privileged mortals went in and out, bearing +all sorts of mysterious loads well covered up from all eyes. Wilfred did make +one attempt, but something extraordinary snapped at his nose, with a sharp +crack, and drove him back with a start.</p> +<p>A lamp had been taken thither, and there really was nothing more to do to the +tree, the scraps of packing had been picked up, and the hands, tingling from +fir-needle pricks, had been washed, though not without protest from Valetta that +it wasn't worth while, and from Wilfred that it was all along of these horrid +swells--!</p> +<p>The sound of wheels summoned Lady Merrifield and her brother from the place +of mystery, and they were in the hall when a fresh gust of keen air came in from +the door, an ulstered figure hurried in, and something small and furred was put +into the lady's embrace.</p> +<p>'Here's my Fly, Lily--! Look, Fly, here they all are--all the cousins. Off +with the hat. Let us see your funny little face.'</p> +<p>It was a funny little smiling face, set in short, light, wavy hair, not +exactly pretty, but with a bright, quaint, confiding look, as if used to be +shown off by her father, and ready to make friends on the spot. 'And how is your +boy?' as the round of greetings was completed, and the wraps thrown off.</p> +<p>'Going on capitally, better than he deserves, the young scamp, for +suppressing all symptoms for fear he should be hindered from coming home. His +mother was in a proper fright, she showed him to the doctor on the way, who told +her to put him to bed at once, and send his sister out of the house. She never +set eyes on him, or I would not have brought her here.'</p> +<p>'I am exceedingly glad you have,' said Lady Merrifield, bending for another +kiss.</p> +<p>'And Lily, I've done another awful thing. Victoria kept old nurse to help +with Ivinghoe, and we brought the Swiss bonne, Louise, away with us, but the +poor thing found her sister very ill in London, and I hadn't the heart to bring +her away, so Phyllis said she would do for herself, if your maid, or some of +them, would have an eye to her.'</p> +<p>'There! I'm doubly glad, Rotherwood! If I had any fears it was not of you, or +Phyllis; but that like Vich Ian Vhor, she should have her tail on. And, oh! +Rotherwood, do you know what you are in for?'</p> +<p>'High jinks of some sort, I've no doubt. We picked up a couple of boxes at +Gunter's and Miller's with a view thereto. Who is master of the revels?'</p> +<p>'Jane. She's too deep in preparations to come forth at present. Gillian, will +you take Phyllis to the nursery, and take care of her. We are to have a very +high tea at half-past six; but, Rotherwood, I promise that another day you shall +have a respectable dinner in this house.'</p> +<p>'Return to the prose of life, eh, Lily? Well, Fly, what do you think of it?'</p> +<p>'Oh, daddy, aren't you glad we came?' she cried, dancing off, in Gillian's +wake, arm-in-arm with Mysie and Valetta, while he called after her, 'Find the +boxes, and make them over to the right quarter.'</p> +<p>This was enough to make the whole bevy of children rush away, and only the +three elders remained. Lord Rotherwood said, 'This is short notice. Lily; but I +did not know Reginald was here, and I thought you might want help. Don't be +frightened, only a queer thing has happened. I went to W.'s bank yesterday. I +thought they looked at me as if something was up, and by-and-by one of the +partners came and took me into his private room. There he showed me a cheque, +and asked my opinion whether the writing was Maurice's. And I should say it +decidedly was, but it was actually for seventy pounds, payable to order of Miss +Dolores M. Mohun.'</p> +<p>'Seventy!'</p> +<p>'Yes, and dated the 19th of August.'</p> +<p>'Just before Maurice went.'</p> +<p>There was a sudden silence, for the door opened; but it was to admit Miss +Mohun, who began, 'Oh! Rotherwood, you are too munificent. Why, what's the +matter?' Lady Merrifield hastily explained, as far as she yet understood, what +had brought him.</p> +<p>'How did they get the cheque?' she asked.</p> +<p>'Sent up from the country bank where it had been cashed--Darminster.'</p> +<p>'Ah!' came from both the aunts.</p> +<p>Lord Rotherwood went on. 'They asked me who Miss Dolores Mohun was, and I +could do no otherwise than tell them, and likewise where to find her, but I +explained that she is a mere child; and I told them I would come down here, so I +hope you will have as little annoyance as possible.'</p> +<p>'It is very good of you, Rotherwood, but I can't understand it at all. Was +her name on the back?'</p> +<p>'Certainly; I told them I thought the whole thing must be a well got up +forgery, and a confidential clerk was to go down today to Darminster to try to +find out who gave it in there.'</p> +<p>'Darminster! Flinders!' ejaculated Miss Mohun.</p> +<p>'Regie,' exclaimed Lady Merrifield; 'what did you say about having seen some +one like Dolores at Darminster station?'</p> +<p>'I was nearly jumping out after her. I should have said it was herself, if it +had not been impossible. Why she was with you at Rockstone, and it was a +pouring, dripping day,' said the colonel.</p> +<p>'No, she was not. She begged to spend the day with Constance Hacket, and we +picked her up as we came home. Poor child, what has she been doing? I have not +looked after her properly.'</p> +<p>'But need she have had anything to do with it?' said Colonel Mohun.</p> +<p>'How should a cheque of Maurice's come into her possession?'</p> +<p>'She did tell me,' said Lady Merrifield,' that her father had left one with +her to pay for some German scientific book that might be sent for him.'</p> +<p>'I see, then!' cried Miss Mohun. 'That wretch Flinders must have got into +communication with her, and induced her to fill up her father's cheque for him.'</p> +<p>'But why should it be Flinders?' said Lord Rotherwood.</p> +<p>'Jane found out that he is living at Darminster, and has been trying to put +me on my guard,' returned Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'It is all that fellow Flinders, depend upon it,' said Colonel Mohun. 'He is +quite capable of it, and you'll find poor Dolly has nothing to do with it. Quite +preposterous. And look here, Lily, let the poor child alone to enjoy herself +tonight. Most likely Rotherwood's clerk, or detective, or whatever he may be, +will have ferreted out the rights of the matter at Darminster. I sincerely hope +he will, and have Flinders in custody, and then you would have upset her and +accused her all for nothing.'</p> +<p>'I am glad you think so, Regie,' said Lady Merrifield. 'I am thankful enough +to wait, and hope it will be explained without spoiling the children's evening.'</p> +<p>'All right,' said the visitor; 'I only hope I have not spoilt yours.'</p> +<p>'Oh! one learns to throw things off. I shall believe it is all Flinders, and +none of it the child's,' said Lady Merrifield, carefully avoiding a glance that +could show her any gesture of dissent on the part of her sister, and only +looking up for her brother's nod of approval. 'Besides, how foolish it would be +to worry myself when I have two such protectors! It was very good in you, +Rotherwood, I only hope we shall take good care of your Fly, and that her mother +will be satisfied about her.'</p> +<p>'She knew the little woman and I should have a lark together,' said he. 'The +governess was safe out of reach, holiday-making, so I could have her all to +myself. Victoria suggested her brother's, and we must go there before we have +done, but business and the pantomime by good luck took us to London first. So +when I wrote to you from the bank, I also let her know that I was obliged to +take the little woman down here first. I couldn't take her to High Court till +Louise is available again.'</p> +<p>'So much the better, I'm sure.'</p> +<p>'And what I was going to say is, that Rotherwood has been startlingly +munificent and splendid,' said Aunt Jane. 'We shall have a set of new +surprises.'</p> +<p>'I don't in the least know what I brought. I only told each of them to put up +such a box as they sent out for Christmas concerns. Do precisely what you please +with them.'</p> +<p>'Come and see, Lily, for I think there will be enough to reserve a fresh lot +of things for Miss Hacket's affair. By-the-by, Regie, did you say it rained at +Darminster?'</p> +<p>'Poured all the way down.'</p> +<p>'Well, we had it quite fine.'</p> +<p>'Was it fine here?'</p> +<p>'Yes, certainly,' said Lady Merrifield,' or Primrose would not have gone out. +Take care of Rotherwood, Regie. You know his room.'</p> +<p>And the two sisters crossed the hall, where the 'very high tea' was being +laid; hearing from the regions above sounds of exquisite glee and merriment, as +perfect and almost as inexpressive of anything else as the singing of birds, so +that they themselves could not help answering with a laugh, before they vanished +into the chamber of mystery.</p> +<p>Indeed, Phyllis's conversation was like a fairy tale. Her brother's illness, +which was not enough to damp any one's spirits, had prevented or hindered a +grand children's party as the Butterfly's Ball, where she was to have been the +Butterfly, and Lord Ivinghoe the Grasshopper, and all the children were to +appear as one of the characters in Roscoe's pretty poem. Never was anything more +delightful to the imagination of the little cousins, and they could not marvel +enough at her seeming so little uneasy about anything so charming, and quite +ready and eager to throw herself headlong into all their present enjoyments, +making wonderful surmises as to the mystery in preparation.</p> +<p>Dolores heard the laughing, and it did not suit with her vaguely uneasy and +injured frame of mind; feeling dreadfully lonely too, as she came downstairs, +dressed for the evening, but not knowing where to go, for the dining-room was +engrossed, the schoolroom was dark and the fire out, the drawing-room occupied +by the two gentlemen. She crouched down in one of the big arm-chairs on either +side of the hearth in the hall, and began to read by the firelight. Presently +Jasper came in from his ride, and began taking off his greatcoat, leggings, and +boots, whistling as he did so, then, perceiving the tempting object of a black +leg sticking out of the chair, he stole up across the soft carpet, and caught +hold of the ankle. He received a vigorous kick in return (which perhaps he +expected) but what he did not expect was the black figure that rose up in +outraged dignity and indignation. 'For shame! I won't be insulted!'</p> +<p>'Whew! I thought 'twas Val! I beg your pardon.'</p> +<p>'I shall ask my aunt if I am to be insulted.'</p> +<p>'Well, if you choose to take it in that way--A man can't do more than beg +pardon! I'm sure I would never have presumed to touch you if I had known it was +your Dolorousness.'</p> +<p>And he turned to walk away, just as the babbling ripple of laughter began to +flow downstairs, and a whole mass of little girls intertwined together was +descending. 'I always hop,' said a voice new to him, 'except on the great +staircase, and mother doesn't like it there. But this is such a jolly stair. +Can't you hop?'</p> +<p>Hopping in a threefold embrace on a slippery stair was hardly a safe pastime, +and before Jasper had time to utter more than' Holloa there! take care!' there +descended suddenly on him an avalanche of little girls, 'knocking him off his +feet, so that all promiscuously rolled down two or three steps together. Fergus +and Primrose, who had somehow been holding on behind,' remained upright, but +nevertheless screaming. The shrieks of the fallen were, however, laughter. There +was a soft rug below, and by the time the gentlemen had rushed out of the +dining-room, and the ladies from the curtained recess, giggling below and legs +above were chiefly apparent.</p> +<p>'Any one hurt?' was of course Lady Merrifield's cry.</p> +<p>'Oh no, mamma. Only we are so mixed up we can't get up,' called out Mysie.</p> +<p>'Is this arm you or me?' exclaimed Phyllis, following up the joke.</p> +<p>'Come, sort yourselves, ladies and gentlemen,' said Lord Rotherwood. 'What's +this, a Fly's wing?'</p> +<p>'No, it's mine,' cried Val, as his hand pulled her out, and the others +extricated themselves, still laughing, go that they could hardly stand, and Fly +declaring, 'Oh, daddy, daddy, it is such fun! I am so glad we came,' and taking +a gratuitous leap into the air.</p> +<p>'Every one to her taste,' said Lady Merrifield, 'I congratulate those to whom +a compound tumble-down-stairs is felicity.'</p> +<p>'She has found her congenial element, you see,' said her father, as the +elders proceeded upstairs to their toilette.' 'Tis laughing-gas with her to be +with other children, and the most laughingest of all are naturally yours, old +Lily.'</p> +<p>Meanwhile Jasper, risen on his stocking soles, looked all over at the little +figure, dressed old picture fashion, in the simplest white frock with blue sash, +and short-cut hair tied back with blue.</p> +<p>'Well, you are a jolly little girl,' he said, 'and a cool customer, too! What +do you mean by knocking a fellow over the first time you see him?'</p> +<p>'And what do you mean by coming like a great--huge--big elephant in our way +to stop up the stairs?' demanded Fly, in return.</p> +<p>'Do you mean to insinivate that 'twas I that made you fall?' said Jasper--'I, +that was quietly walking up the stairs, when down there came on me a shower--not +cats and dogs, but worserer, far worserer! Why, I'm kilt! my nose is flat as a +pancake, I shan't recover my beauty all the evening for the great swells that +are coming.'</p> +<p>'Jasper, Japs,' called his mother's warning voice, 'you must come up and +dress, for tea is going in.'</p> +<p>He obeyed, rushing two steps at a time; but meeting, at the bottom of the +attic flight, his sister Gillian, he demanded, 'Gill, what awfully jolly little +girl have they got down there?'</p> +<p>'Why, Fly, of course, Lady Phyllis Devereux--'</p> +<p>'No, no, nothing swell, a comical little soul, with no nonsense about her, in +a white thing.'</p> +<p>'Well, that's Phyllis. There's no one else there.'</p> +<p>'I say. Gill, 'tis like sunshine and clouds. She and the other, I mean. Why, +I gave a little pull to a foot I saw in the armchair, thinking it belonged to +Val, and out breaks my Lady of the Rueful Countenance, vowing she'll complain +that I've insulted her; and as to the other, the whole lot of them tumbled over +me together on the stairs, and she did nothing but laugh and chaff.'</p> +<p>'I hope she is not a romp,' said the staid Gillian, sagely, as she went +downstairs.</p> +<p>But on that score she was soon satisfied. Phyllis Devereux was a thorough +little lady, wild and merry as she was, and enchanted to be in the rare +fairyland of child companionship. And that indeed she had, Mysie and Valetta, +between whose ages she stood, hung to her inseparably, and Jasper was quite +transformed from his grim superciliousness into her devoted knight. At tea-time +there was a competition for the seats next to her, determined by Valetta's +taking one side, in right of the birthday, and Jasper the other, because he +secured it, and Mysie gave way to him because he was Japs, and she always did. +While Dolores laid up a store of moralizings on the adulation paid to the little +lady of title, and at the same time speculated what concatenation of +circumstances could ever make her Lady Dolores Mohun. On the whole, it would be +more likely that her father should gain a peerage by putting down a Fijian +rebellion than that it should be discovered that his mother, Lady Emily, had +been the true heiress of the marquessate, and even so, an uncomfortable number +of people must be disposed of before it could come to him. She had one +consolation, however, for Uncle Reginald, always kind to her, was particularly +affectionate this evening, as if he would not have that little foolish Fly set +up before her.</p> +<p>The tea and the tree both went off joyously. There is no need to describe the +spectacle to folks who can count their Christmas-trees by the years of their +life and the memorable part of this one was that much of the fruit that had been +left hanging on it was now metamorphosed into something much more +gorgeous--oranges had become eggs full of sugar-plums, gutta-percha monkeys +grinned on the branches, golden flowers had sprung to life on the ends of the +twigs, a lovely jewel-like lantern crowned the whole, and as to sweets, +everybody-servants and all--had some delightful devices containing them, whether +drum, bird, or bird's nest.</p> +<p>Before the distribution was over, it was observed that Aunt Jane and Uncle +Reginald, also Harry, had vanished from the scene. There was a pause, during +which such tapers as began to burn perilously low, were extinguished, an +operation as delightful apparently as the fixing them. Presently a horn was +heard, and a start or shudder of mysterious ecstasy pervaded the audience, as a +tall figure came through the curtains, and announced:</p> +<p>'Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to inform you that a fresh discovery +has been made in the secret chambers of the Pyramid of Chops, otherwise known as +Te-Gun-Ter-ra. A mummy has been disinterred, which is about to be opened by the +celebrated Egyptologist, Herr Professor Freudigfeldius, who has likewise +discovered the means of making such a conjuration of the Sphynx that she will +not only summon each of the present company by name, but will require of each of +them to reply to a question. The penalty of a refusal is well known!'</p> +<p>Therewith the curtains were drawn back, and a scene was presented which made +some of the spectators start. Behind was the semblance of a wall marked with the +joints of large stones, and lighted (apparently) with two brass lamps. On the +floor lay extended an enormous mummy, with the regulation canvas case, and huge +flaps of ears, between which appeared a small, painted face, and below lay a +long, gaily coloured scroll in hieroglyphics. Exalted stiffly in a seat placed +on a seeming block of stone, was a figure, with elbows, as it were glued to its +sides, and hands crossed, altogether stone-coloured and monumental, and with the +true Sphynx head, surrounded with beetles, lizards, and other mystic creatures +(very chocolate-coloured). And beside her stood the Herr Professor, in a red +fez, long dark gown, and spectacles, a flowing beard concealing the rest of his +face. How delightful to see such an Egyptologist! Even though one perfectly knew +the family beard and fez; also that the gown was papa's old dressing-gown, +captured for the theatrical wardrobe. And how grand to hear him speak, even +though his broken English continually became more vernacular.</p> +<p>'Liebes Herrschaft,' he began, 'I would, nobles, gentry, and ladies say. You +here see the embalmed rests of the celebrated monarch Nic-nac-ci-no. Lately up +have I them graben, and likewise his tutelar Sphynx have found, and have even to +give signs of animation compelled.'</p> +<p>Touching the effigy with his wand, she emitted certain growls and hisses, +which made Primrose hide her face in alarm at anything so uncanny, and Lord +Rotherwood observe--</p> +<p>'Nearly related to the cat-goddess Pasht; I thought so.'</p> +<p>'There was something of the lion or cat in the Sphynx,' said Gillian, +gravely, while the three little girls clasped each other's hands with delightful +thrills of awe and expectation.</p> +<p>'Observe,' continued the Professor, 'the outer case with the features of the +deceased is painted. I should conclude that King Nic-nac, etcetera, had been of +a peculiarly jolly--I mean frolich--nature, judging by the grin on his face. We +proceed--'</p> +<p>As he laid his hand on the wrapper, the Sphynx gave utterance to sounds so +like the bad language of a cat that some looked round for one. The Professor +waved at her, and she subsided. He turned back the covering, and demanded, 'Will +the amiable Fraulein there. Mademoiselle Valetta, come and see what treasures +she can discover in the secrets of the tomb?'</p> +<p>Val, who in right of her birthday, had expected the first call, jumped up, +but the Sphynx made awful noises as she advanced, and the Professor explained +that she would have to answer the Sphynx's question first.</p> +<p>'But I don't know Egyptian,' she observed.</p> +<p>'Never mind, it will sound like English.'</p> +<p>It did so, for it was, 'How many months old art thou, maiden?'</p> +<p>Val's arithmetic was slightly scared. She clasped her hand nervously, and was +indebted to the Professor for the sotto voce hint, 'twelve nines,' before she +uttered 'a hundred and eight.'</p> +<p>The Sphynx relapsed into stoniness, and the Herr Professor guided the hands, +which trembled a little, to the interior of the mummy, whence they drew out a +basket, labelled (wonderful to relate) 'Val,' and containing--oh! such +treasures, a blue egg full of needlework implements, a new book, an Indian ivory +case, a skipping-rope, a shuttlecock, and other delights past description. The +exhibition of them was only beginning when the Professor called for Primrose, +who was too much frightened to come alone, and therefore was permitted to be +brought by Mrs. Halfpenny. The Sphynx was particularly amiable on this occasion, +and only asked 'When Primroses came?' and as the little one, in her shy fright +did not reply, nurse did so, with, 'Come, missie, can't you find a word to tell +that mamma's Primrose came in spring.' This was allowed to pass, and Mrs. +Halfpenny bore off her child, clutching a doll's cradle, stuffed with pretty +things, and for herself a bundle wrapped up in a shawl from Sir Jasper himself.</p> +<p>After Primrose was gone to bed, the Sphynx became much more ill-tempered and +demonstrative, snarling considerably at the approach of some of the party, some +of whom replied with convulsive laughter, some, such as Jasper, with +demonstrations of 'poking up the Sphynx.' She had a question for everybody--Fly +was asked, 'Which was best, a tree or a Butterfly's ball?' and answered, with +truthful politeness, that where Mysie and Val were was best of all. She carried +off a collection that had hastily been made of Indian curiosities, photographs +of her two friends, and a book; and her father, after being asked, 'What was the +best of insects?' and replying, 'On the whole, I think it is my house-fly, even +when she isn't a butterfly,' received a letter-weight of brass, fashioned like +an enormous fly, which Lady Merrifield had snatched up from the table for the +purpose. The maids giggled at the well-known conundrums proposed to them, and +Dolores had a very easy question --' What was the weather this day week?'</p> +<p>'A horrid wet day,' she promptly answered, and found herself endowed with a +parcel containing some of the best presents of all, bangles from the Indian box, +a beautiful pair of stork-like scissors, a writing-case, etc.</p> +<p>'The Sphynx's invention is running low,' observed Jasper to Gillian, when the +creature put the same question about last week's weather to Herbert, the +page-boy, as a prelude to his discovering the treasures of the mummy, as a knife +and an umbrella. His view of the weather was that it was 'A fine day ma'am! yes, +a fine day.'</p> +<p>Macrae came last, and the Sphynx asked him which of the two contrary views +was right.</p> +<p>'It was fine, ma'am, that I know. For I walked down with nurse, and little +Miss Primrose into Silverton, to help to carry her in case she was tired, and we +never had occasion to put up an umbrella.'</p> +<p>Wherewith Macrae received his combination of gifts and retired; the mummy +being completely rifled, and the construction of the body, a frame of light, +open wicker-work, revealed. Aunt Jane had had it made at the basketmaker's, +while as to the head and covering, her own ingenious fingers had painted and +fashioned them. Everybody had to look at everybody's presents, a lengthened +operation, and then there was a splendid game at blindman's-buff in the hall, in +which all the elders joined, except mamma, who had to go and sit in the nursery +with the restless and excited Primrose while Mrs. Halfpenny and Lots went down +to the servants' festivity.</p> +<p>When she came down again, it was to quiet the tempest of merriment, and send +off the younger folks in succession to bed, till only the four elders and Hal +remained on the scene, waiting till there was reason to think the household +would be ready for prayers.</p> +<p>'It was Dolores that you saw at Darminster, Reginald,' said Miss Mohun, +quietly.</p> +<p>'You Sphynx woman, how do you know?'</p> +<p>'You said it was raining at Darminster.'</p> +<p>'Yes, that it was, everywhere beyond the tunnel through the Darfield hills.'</p> +<p>'Exactly, I know they make a line in the rainfall. Well, here it was dry, but +Dolores called it a wet day.'</p> +<p>'Now I call that too bad, Jane, to lay a trap for the poor child in the +game,' cried Colonel Mohun, just as if they had still been boy and girl +together.</p> +<p>'It was to satisfy my own mind,' she said, colouring a little. 'I didn't want +any one to act on it. Indeed, I think there will be no occasion.'</p> +<p>'Besides,' he added, 'it is nothing to go upon! No doubt, if it wasn't +raining, it was the next thing to it here, and bow was she to recollect at this +distance of time? I won't have her caught out in that way!'</p> +<p>'I am glad she has a champion, Regie,' said Lady Merrifield. 'Here come the +servants.'</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.<br> +A CYPHER AND A TY.</h3> + +<p>Dolores was coming down to breakfast the next morning when Colonel Mohun's +door opened. He exclaimed, 'My little Dolly, good morning!' stooped down and +kissed her.</p> +<p>Then, standing still a moment, and holding her hand, he said--</p> +<p>'Dolly, it was not you I saw at Darminster station?'</p> +<p>It was a terrible shock. Some one, no doubt, was trying to set him against +her. And should she betray Constance and her uncle? At any rate, almost before +she knew what she was saying, 'No, Uncle Regie,' was out of her mouth, and her +conscience was being answered with 'How do I know it was me that he saw? these +fur capes are very common.'</p> +<p>'I thought not,' he answered, kindly. 'Look here, Dolly, I want one word with +you. Did your father ever leave anything in charge with you for Mr. Flinders? +Did he ever speak to you about him?'</p> +<p>'Never,' Dolores truly answered.</p> +<p>'Because, my dear, though it's a hard thing to say, and your poor mother felt +bound to him, he is a slippery fellow--a scamp, in fact, and if ever he writes +to you here, you had better send the letter straight off to me, and I'll see +what's to be done. He never has, I suppose?'</p> +<p>'No,' said Dolores, answering the word here, and foolishly feeling the +involvement too great, and Constance too much concerned in it for her to confess +to her uncle what had really happened. Indeed, the first falsehood held her to +the second; and there was no more time, for Lord Rotherwood was coming out of +his room further down the passage. And after the greetings, as she went +downstairs before the two gentlemen, she was sure she heard Uncle Regie say, +'She's all right.' What could it mean? Was a storm averted? or was it brewing? +Could that spiteful Aunt Jane and her questions about the weather be at the +bottom of it?</p> +<p>The fun that was going on at breakfast seemed a mere roar of folly to her, +and she had an instinct of nothing but getting away to Constance. She soon found +that there would be opportunity enough, for the tree was to be taken down in a +barrow, and all the youthful world was to carry down the decorations in baskets, +and help to put them on. She dashed off among the first to put on her things, +and then was disappointed to find that first all the pets were to be fed and +shown off to Fly, who appreciated them far more than she had done--knew how to +lay hold of a rabbit, nursed the guinea-pigs and puppies in turn, and was +rapturous in her acceptance of two young guinea-pigs and one puppy.</p> +<p>'I can keep them up in daddy's dressing-room while we are at High Court, and +it will be such fun,' she said.</p> +<p>'Will he let you?' asked Gillian, in some doubt.</p> +<p>'Oh! daddy will always let me, and so will Griffin--his man, you know, only +we left him in London because daddy said he would be in your butler's way, but I +can't think why. Griffin would have helped about the tree and learnt to make a +mummy when we have our party. Louise would not let me have them in the nursery, +I know, but daddy and Griffin would, and I could go and feed them in the morning +before breakfast. Griffin would get me bran! That is, if we do go to High Court; +I wish we were to stay on here. There's nobody to play with at High Court, and +grandpapa always keeps daddy talking politics, so that I can hardly ever get +him! Mysie, whatever do you do with your father away in India?'</p> +<p>'Yes, it is horrid. But then, there's mamma,' said Mysie, whispering, +however, as she saw Dolores near, and feared to hurt her feelings.</p> +<p>'Ah!' said Fly, with a tender little shake of her head; ''tis worse for her +to have no mother at all! Is that why she looks so sad?'</p> +<p>'Cross' is the word,' said Wilfred. 'I can't think what she is come bothering +down here for!'</p> +<p>'Oh! for shame, Wilfred!' said Fly. 'You should be sorry for her.' And she +went up to Dolores, and by way of doing the kindest thing in the world, said--</p> +<p>'Here's my new puppy. Is not he a dear? I'll let you hold him,' and she +attempted to deposit the fat, curly, satiny creature in Dolores's arms, which +instantly hung down stiff, as she answered, half in fright, 'I hate dogs!' The +puppy fell down with a flop, and began to squeak, while the girls, crying, 'Oh! +Dolly, how could you!' and 'Poor little pup!' all crowded round in pity and +indignation, and Wilfred observed, 'I told you so!'</p> +<p>'You'll get no change but that out of the Lady of the Rueful Countenance,' +said Jasper.</p> +<p>Mysie had for once nothing to say in Dolores's defence, being equally hurt +for Fly's sake and the puppy's. Dolores found herself virtually sent to +Coventry, as she accompanied the party across the paddock, only just near enough +to benefit by their protection from the herd of half-grown calves which were +there disporting themselves; and, as if to make the contrast still more +provoking, Fly, who had a natural affinity for all animals, insisted on trying +to attract them, calling, 'Sukkey! sukkey!' and hold out bunches of grass, in +vain, for they only galloped away, and she could only explain how tame those at +home were, and how she went out farming with daddy whenever he had time, and +mother and Fraulein would let her out.</p> +<p>The tree meantime came trundling down, a wonderful spectacle, with all its +gilt balls and fir-cones nodding and dangling wildly, and its other +embellishments turning upside down. There were greetings of delight at Casement +Cottage, and Miss Hacket had kissed everybody all round before Gillian had time +to present the new-comer, and then the good lady was shocked at her own +presumption, and exclaimed--</p> +<p>'I beg your ladyship's pardon! Dear me! I had no notion who it was!'</p> +<p>'Then please kiss me again now you do know!' said Fly, holding up her funny +little face to that very lovable kind one, and they were all soon absorbed in +the difficulty of getting the tree in at the front door, and setting it up in +the room that had been prepared for it.</p> +<p>Dolores had hoped to confide her alarms to Constance's sympathetic ear, but +her friend, who had written and dreamt of many a magnificently titled scion of +the peerage, but had never before seen one in her own house, had not a minute to +spare for her, being far too much engrossed in observing the habits of the +animal. These certainly were peculiar, since she insisted on a waltz round the +room with the tabby cat, and ascended a step-ladder, merrily spurning Jasper's +protection, to insert the circle of tapers on the crowning chandelier. There was +nothing left for Dolores to do but to sit by in the window-seat, philosophizing +on the remarkable effects of a handle to one's name, and feeling cruelly +neglected.</p> +<p>Suddenly she saw a fly coming up to the gate. There was a general peeping and +wondering. Then Uncle Reginald and a stranger got out and came up to the door. +There was a ring--everybody paused and wondered for a moment; then the maid +tapped at the door and said, 'Would Miss Mohun come and speak to Colonel Mohun a +minute in the drawing-room?'</p> +<p>There was a hush of dread throughout the room. 'Ah!' sighed Miss Hacket, +looking at Gillian, and all the elders thought without saying that some terrible +news of her father had to be told to the poor child. They let her go, frightened +at the summons, but that idea not occurring to her.</p> +<p>'There!' said Uncle Regie, 'she can set it straight. Don't be frightened, my +dear; only tell this gentleman whether that is your writing.'</p> +<p>The stranger held a strip so that she could only just see 'Dolores M. Mohun,' +and she unhesitatingly answered 'Yes'--very much surprised.</p> +<p>'You are sure?' said her uncle, in a tone of disappointment that made her +falter, as she added, 'I think so.' At the same time the stranger turned the +paper round, and she knew it for the cheque that had so long resided in her +desk, but with dilated eyes, she exclaimed, 'But--but--that was for seven +pounds!'</p> +<p>'That,' said the stranger, 'then, Miss Mohun, you know this draft?'</p> +<p>'Only it was for seven,' repeated Dolores.</p> +<p>'You mean, I conclude, that it was drawn for seven pounds, and that it was +still for seven when it left your handy?'</p> +<p>'Yes,' muttered Dolores, who was beginning to get very much frightened, at +she knew not what, and to feel on her guard at all points.</p> +<p>'There's nothing to be afraid of, my dear,' said Uncle Reginald, tenderly; +'nobody suspects you of anything. Only tell us. Did your father give you this +paper?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'And when did you cash it?' asked the clerk.</p> +<p>Dolores hung her head. 'I didn't,' she said.</p> +<p>'But how did it get out of your possession?' said her uncle. 'You are sure +this is your own writing at the back. It could surely not have been stolen from +her?' he added to the stranger.</p> +<p>'That could hardly be,' said that person. 'Miss Mohun, you had better speak +out. To whom did you give this cheque?'</p> +<p>There was a whirl of terror all round about Dolores, a horror of bringing +herself first, then Uncle Alfred, Constance, and everybody else into trouble. +She took refuge in uttering not a word.</p> +<p>'Dolores,' said her uncle, and his tone was now much more grave and less +tender, thus increasing her terror; 'this silence is of no use. Did you give +this cheque to Mr. Flinders?'</p> +<p>In the silence, the ticks of the clock on the mantel-piece seemed like a +hammer beating on her ears. Dolores thought of the morning's flat denial of all +intercourse with Flinders! Then the word give occurred to her as a loophole, and +her mind did not embrace all the consequences of the denial, she only saw one +thing at a time, 'I didn't give it,' she answered, almost inaudibly.</p> +<p>'You did not give it?' repeated her uncle, getting angry and speaking loud. +'Then how did it get into his hands? Is there no truth in you?' he added, after +a pause, which only terrified her more and more. 'Whom did you give it to?'</p> +<p>'Constance!' The word came out she hardly knew how, as something which at +least was true. Colonel Mohun knocked at the door of the room she had come from. +It was instantly opened, and Miss Hacket began, 'The poor dear! Can I get +anything for her, I am sure it is a terrible shock!' and as he stood, +astonished, Gillian added, 'Oh! I see it isn't that. We were afraid it was +something about Uncle Maurice.'</p> +<p>'No, my dear, no such thing. Only would Miss Constance Hacket be kind enough +to come here a minute?'</p> +<p>'Oh! My apron! My fingers! Excuse me for being such a figure!' Constance ran +on, as Colonel Mohun made her come across to the room opposite, where she looked +about her in amazement. Was the stranger a publisher about to make her an offer +for the 'Waif of the Moorland.' But Dolores's down-cast attitude and set, sullen +face forbade the idea.</p> +<p>'Miss Constance Hacket,' said the colonel, 'here is an uncomfortable matter +in which we want your assistance. Will you kindly answer a question or two from +Mr. Ellis, the manager of the .... Bank?'</p> +<p>Then the manager politely asked her if she had seen the cheque before.</p> +<p>'Yes--why--what's wrong about it? Oh! It is for seventy! Why, Dolores, I +thought it was only for seven?'</p> +<p>'It was for seven when you parted with it, then, Miss Hacket,' said the +manager; 'let me ask whether you changed it yourself?'</p> +<p>'No,' she said, 'I sent it to--' and there she came to a dead pause, in +alarm.</p> +<p>'Did you send it to Mr. Alfred Flinders?' said Mr. Ellis.</p> +<p>'Yes--oh!' another little scream, 'He can't have done it. He can't be such a +villain! Your own uncle, Dolores.'</p> +<p>'He is no uncle of Dolores Mohun!' said the colonel. 'He is only the son of +her mother's step-mother by her first marriage.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Dolores, then you deceived me!' exclaimed Constance; 'you told me he was +your own uncle, or I would never--and oh! my fifteen pounds. Where is he?'</p> +<p>'That, madam,' said Mr. Ellis, gravely, 'I hope the police may discover. He +has quitted Darminster after having cashed this cheque for seventy pounds. We +have already telegraphed to the police to be on the look out for him, but I much +fear that it will be too late.'</p> +<p>'Oh! my fifteen pounds! What shall I do? Oh, Dolores, how could you? I shall +never trust any one again!'</p> +<p>Perhaps Uncle Reginald felt the same, but he only darted a look upon his +niece, which she felt in every nerve, though to his eyes she only stood hard and +stolid. The manager, who found Constance's torrent of words as hard to deal with +as Dolores's silence, asked for pen and ink, and begged to take down Miss +Hacket's statement to lay before a magistrate in case of Flinders's +apprehension. It was not very easy to keep her to the point, especially as her +chief interest was in her own fifteen pounds, of which Mr. Ellis only would say +that she could prosecute the man for obtaining money on false pretences, and +this she trusted meant getting it back again. As to the cheque in question, she +told how Dolores had entrusted it to her to send to her supposed uncle, Mr. +Flinders, to whom it had been promised the day they went to Darminster, and she +was quite ready to depose that when it left her hands, it was only for seven +pounds.</p> +<p>This was all that the bank manager wanted. He thanked her, told Colonel Mohun +they should hear from him, and went off in a hurry, both to communicate with the +police, and to leave the young ladies to be dealt with by their friends, who, he +might well suppose, would rather that he removed himself.</p> +<p>'Put on your hat, Dolores,' said Colonel Mohun, gravely; 'you had better come +home with me! Miss Hacket, excuse me, but I am afraid I must ask whether you +have been assisting in a correspondence between my niece and this Flinders?'</p> +<p>'Oh! Colonel Mohun, you will believe me, I was quite deceived. Dolores +represented that he was her uncle, to whom she was much attached, and that Lady +Merrifield separated her from him out of mere family prejudice.'</p> +<p>'I am afraid you have paid dearly for your sympathy,' said the colonel. 'It +certainly led you far when you assisted your friend to deceive the aunt who +trusted you with her.'</p> +<p>The movement that was taking place seemed like licence to that roomful, +burning with curiosity to break out. Mysie was running after Dolores to ask if +she could do anything for her, but Colonel Mohun called her back with 'Not now, +Mysie.' Miss Hacket came forward with agitated hopes that nothing was amiss, +and, at sight of her, Constance collapsed quite. 'Oh, Mary,' she cried out, 'I +have been so deceived! Oh! that man!' and she sunk upon a chair in a violent fit +of crying, which alarmed Miss Hacket so dreadfully that she looked imploringly +up to Colonel Mohun. He had meant to have left Miss Constance to explain, but he +saw it was necessary to relieve the poor elder sister's mind from worse fears by +saying, 'I am afraid it is my niece who deceived her, by leading her into +forwarding letters and money to a person who calls himself a relation. He seems +to have been guilty of a forgery, which may have unpleasant consequences. +Children, I think you had better follow us home.'</p> +<p>Dolores had come down by this time, and Colonel Mohun walked home, at some +paces from her, very much as if he had been guarding a criminal under arrest. +Poor Uncle Reginald! He had put such absolute trust in the two answers she had +made him in the morning; and had been so sure of her good faith, that when the +manager brought word that the cheque had been traced to Flinders, who had +absconded, he still held that it was a barefaced forgery, entirely due to +Flinders himself, and that Dolores could show that she had no knowledge of it, +and he had gone down in the fly expecting to come home triumphant, and confute +his sister Jane, who persisted in being mournfully sagacious. And he was +indignant in proportion to the confidence he had misplaced; grieved, too, for +his brother's sake, and absolutely ashamed.</p> +<p>Once he asked, when they were within the paddock, out of the way of meeting +any one, 'Have you nothing to say to me, Dolores?'</p> +<p>It was not said in a manner to draw out an answer, and she made none at all.</p> +<p>Again he spoke, as they came near the house:</p> +<p>'You had better go up to your room at once. I do not know how to think of the +blow this will be to your father.'</p> +<p>It was so entirely what Dolores was thinking of, that it seemed to her +barbarous to tell her of it In fact she was stunned, scarcely understanding what +had happened, and too proud and miserable to ask for an explanation, for had not +every one turned against her, even Uncle Reginald and Constance--and what had +happened to that cheque?</p> +<p>She did not see Uncle Reginald turn into the drawing-room, and letting +himself drop despairingly into an armchair, say, 'Well, Jane, you were right, +more's the pity!'</p> +<p>'She really gave him the cheque!'</p> +<p>'Yes, but at least it was only for seven. The rascal himself must have +altered it into seventy. She and the other girl both agree as to that. There's +been a clandestine correspondence going on with that scamp ever since she has +been here, under cover to that precious friend of hers--that Hacket girl.'</p> +<p>'Ah! you warned me, Jenny,' said Lady Merrifield 'But I'm quite sure Miss +Hacket knew nothing of it'</p> +<p>'I don't suppose she did. She seemed struck all of a heap. Any way they've +quarrelled now; the other one has turned King's evidence--has lost some money +too, and says Dolores deceived her. She's deceived every one all round, that's +the fact. Why she told me two flat lies this very morning--lies--there's no +other name for it. What will you do with her, Lily?'</p> +<p>'I don't know,' said Lady Merrifield, utterly shocked, and recollecting, but +not mentioning, the falsehood told to her about the note. Lord Rotherwood said, +'Poor child,' and Colonel Mohun groaned, 'Poor Maurice.'</p> +<p>'Then she did go to Darminster?' said Miss Mohun.</p> +<p>'Yes; that came out from this Miss Constance, who seems to have been properly +taken in about some publishing trash. Serve her right! But it seems Dolores +beguiled her with stories about her dear uncle in distress. We left her nearly +in hysterics, and I told the children to come away.'</p> +<p>'What does Dolores say?' asked Jane.</p> +<p>'Nothing! I could not get a word out of her after the first surprise at the +alteration of the cheque. Not a word nor a tear. She is as hard--as hard as a +bit of stone.'</p> +<p>'Really,' said Lady Merrifield, 'I can't help thinking there's a good deal of +excuse for her.'</p> +<p>'What? That poor Maurice's wife was half a heathen, and afterwards the girl +was left to chance?' said Colonel Mohun. 'I see no other. And you, Lily, are the +last person I should expect to excuse untruth.'</p> +<p>'I did not mean to do that, Regie; but you all say that poor Mary was fond of +this man and helped him.'</p> +<p>'That she did!' said Lord Rotherwood, 'and very much against the grain it +went with Maurice.'</p> +<p>'Then don't you see that this poor child, who probably never had the matter +explained to her, may have felt it a great hardship to be cut off from the man +her mother taught her to care for; and that may have led her into concealments?'</p> +<p>'Well!' said Colonel Mohun, 'at that rate, at least one may be thankful never +to have married.'</p> +<p>'One--or two, Regie?' said Jane, as they all laughed at his sally. 'I think I +had better go up and see whether I can get anything out of the child. Do you +mean to have her down to dinner, Lily,' she added, glancing at the clock.</p> +<p>'Oh yes, certainly. I don't want to put her to disgrace before all the +children and servants--that is, if she is not crying herself out of condition to +appear, poor child.'</p> +<p>'Not she,' said Uncle Reginald.</p> +<p>On opening the door, the children were all discovered in the hall, in anxious +curiosity, not venturing in uncalled, but very much puzzled.</p> +<p>Gillian came forward and said, 'Mamma, may we know what is the matter?'</p> +<p>'I hardly understand it myself yet, my dear, only that Dolores and Constance +Hacket have let themselves be taken in by a sort of relation of Dolores's +mother, and Uncle Maurice has lost a good deal of money through it. It would not +have happened if there had been fair and upright dealing towards me; but we do +not know the rights of it, and you had better take no notice of it to her.'</p> +<p>'I thought,' said Valetta, sagaciously, 'no good could come of running after +that stupid Miss Constance.'</p> +<p>'Who can't pull a cracker, and screams at a daddy long-legs,' added Fergus.</p> +<p>'But, mamma, what shall we do?' said Gillian. 'I came away because Uncle +Regie told us, and Constance was crying so terribly; but what is poor Miss +Hacket to do? There is the tree only half dressed, and all the girls coming +to-night, unless she puts them off.'</p> +<p>'Yes, you had better go down alone as soon as dinner is over, and see what +she would like,' said Lady Merrifield. 'We must not leave her in the lurch, as +if we cast her off, though I am afraid Constance has been very foolish in this +matter. Oh, Gillian, I wish we could have made Dolores happier amongst us, and +then this would not have happened.'</p> +<p>'She would never let us, mamma,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>But Mysie, coming up close to her mother as they all went up the broad +staircase to prepare for the midday meal, confessed in a grave little voice, +'Mamma, I think I have sometimes been cross to Dolly-more lately, because it has +been so very tiresome.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield drew the little girl into her own room, stooped down, and +kissed her, saying, 'My dear child, these things need a great deal of patience. +You will have to be doubly kind and forbearing now, for she must be very +unhappy, and perhaps not like to show it. You might say a little prayer for her, +that God will help us to be kind to her, and soften her heart.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, mamma; and, please, will you set it down for me?'</p> +<p>'Yes, my dear, and for myself too. You shall have it before bed-time.'</p> +<p>Aunt Jane had followed Dolores to her own room the girl, who was sitting on +her bed, dazed, regretted that she had not bolted her door, as her aunt entered +with the words, 'Oh, Dolores, I am very sorry I could not have thought you would +so have abused the confidence that was placed in you.'</p> +<p>To this Dolores did not answer. To her mind she was the person ill-used by +the prohibition of correspondence, but she could not say so. Every one was +falling on her; but Aunt Jane's questions could not well help being answered.</p> +<p>'What will your father think of if?'</p> +<p>'He never forbade me to write to Uncle Alfred' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'Because he never thought of your doing such a thing. Did he give you this +cheque?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'For yourself?'</p> +<p>'N-n-o. But it was the same.'</p> +<p>'What do you mean by that?'</p> +<p>'It was to pay a man--a man that's dead.'</p> +<p>'That may be; but what right did that give you to spend the money otherwise? +Who was the man?'</p> +<p>'Professor Muhlwasser, for some books of plates.'</p> +<p>'How do you know he is dead! Who told you so? Eh! Was it Flinders? Ah! you +see what comes of trusting to an unprincipled man like that. If you had only +been open and straightforward with Aunt Lily, or with any of us, you would have +been saved from this tissue of falsehood; forfeiting your Uncle Reginald's good +opinion, and enabling Flinders to do your father this great injury.' She paused, +and, as Dolores made no answer, she went on again--'Indeed, there is no saying +what you have not brought on yourself by your deceit and disobedience. If +Flinders is apprehended, you will have to appear against him in court, and +publicly avow that you gave away what your father trusted to you.'</p> +<p>Dolores gave a little moan and start, and her aunt, perceiving that she had +touched an apparently vulnerable spot, proceeded--'The only thing left for you +to do is to tell the whole story frankly and honestly. I don't say so only for +the sake of showing Aunt Lily that you are sorry for having abused her +confidence. I wish I could think that you are; but, unless we know all, we +cannot shield you from any further consequences, and that of course we should +wish to do, for your father's sake.'</p> +<p>Dolores did not feel drawn to confession, but she knew that when Aunt Jane +once set herself to ask questions, there was no use in trying to conceal +anything. So she made answers, chiefly 'Yes' or No,' and her aunt, by severe and +diligent pumping, had extracted bit by bit what it was most essential should be +known, before the gong summoned them. Dolores would rather have been a solitary +prisoner, able to chafe against oppression, than have been obliged to come down +and confront everybody; but she crept into the place left for her between Mysie +and Wilfred. She had very little appetite, and never found out how Mysie was +fulfilling her resolution of kindness by baulking Wilfred of sundry attempts to +tease; by substituting her own kissing-crust for Dolly's more unpoetical piece +of bread; and offering to exchange her delicious strawberry-jam tartlet for the +black-currant one at which her cousin was looking with reluctant eyes.</p> +<p>Mysie and Valetta were grievously exercised about their chances of returning +to the G.F.S. Tree. Indeed Gillian went the length of telling them that Fly was +behaving far better in her disappointment as to the Butterfly's Ball than they +were as to this 'old second-hand tree.' Fly laughed and observed, 'Dear me, +things one would like are always being stopped. If one was to mind every time, +how horrid it would be! And there's always something to make up!'</p> +<p>Then it occurred to Gillian, though not to her younger sisters, that Lady +Phyllis Devereux lived in general a much less indulged, and more frequently +disappointed, life than did herself and her sisters.</p> +<p>However, there was great delight at that dinner-table. Jasper had ridden to +get the letters of the second post, and Lord Rotherwood had his hands and his +head full of them when he came in to luncheon--there being what Lady Merrifield +called a respectable dinner in view. In the first place. Lord Ivinghoe was +getting on very well, and was up, sitting by the fire, playing patience. Nobody +was catching the measles, and quarantine would be over on the 9th of January. +Secondly, 'Fly, shall you be very broken-hearted if I tell you.'</p> +<p>'Oh, daddy, you wouldn't look like that if it was anything very bad! Lion +isn't dead?'</p> +<p>'No; but I grieve to say your unnatural grand-parents don't want you! +Grandmamma is nervous about having you without mamma. What did we do last time +we were there, Fly?'</p> +<p>'Don't you remember, daddy? they said there was nothing for me to ride to the +meet, and you and Griffin put the side-saddle on Crazy Kate, and we went out +with the hounds, and I've got the brush up in my room!'</p> +<p>'I don't wonder grandmamma is nervous,' observed Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Will you be nervous, Lily,' said Lord Rotherwood, 'if this same flyaway +mortal is left on your hands till the 9th?'</p> +<p>Dinner, manners, silence before company, and all, could not repress a general +scream of ecstacy, which called forth the reply. 'I should think you and her +mother were the people to be nervous.</p> +<p>'Oh! my lady has been duly instructed in Merrifield perfections, and esteems +you a model mother.'</p> +<p>The children's nods and smiles said 'Hear, hear!'</p> +<p>'Well, you've got it all in her own letter,' continued Lord Rotherwood. 'You +see, they've got a caucus at High Court, and a dinner, and I must go up there on +Monday; but if you'll keep this dangerous Fly--'</p> +<p>'I can answer for the pleasure it will give,'</p> +<p>'Well then, I'll come back for her by the 9th, and you've Victoria's letter, +haven't you?'</p> +<p>'Yes, it is very kind of her.'</p> +<p>'Then I shall expect you to be ready to start with me for the Butterfly's +Ball. Eh, young ladies, what will you come out as?'</p> +<p>'Oh daddy, daddy, is it? Has mamma asked them? Oh! it is more delicious than +anything ever was. Mysie, Mysie, what will you be?'</p> +<p>'The sly little dormouse crept out of his hole,' quoted Mysie, in a very low, +happy voice.</p> +<p>'And I will be a jolly old frog,' shouted Fergus, finding the ordinance of +silence broken and making the most of it, on the presumption that the whole +family were invited. However, the tone, rather than the uncomprehended words of +his mother's answer, 'Nobody asked you, sir,' she said, reduced him to silence, +and it became understood, through Fly's inquiries, that the invitation included +Lady Merrifield must make her acceptance doubtful. And besides, the question +which three were to go was the unspoken drawback to full bliss, and yet the +delight was exceedingly great in the prospect, great enough to make the contrast +of gloom in poor Dolores's spirit all the darker, as she sat, left out of +everything, and she could not now say, with absolute injustice, though she still +clung to the belief that there was more misfortune than fault in her disgrace.</p> +<p>She crept away, shivering with unhappiness, to the schoolroom, while the +others frisked off discussing the wonderful Butterfly's Ball. Lady Merrifield +looked in on her, and she hardened herself to endure either another probing or +fresh reproaches, but all she heard was, 'My dear, I cannot talk over this sad +affair now, as I have to go out. But, if you can, I think you had better write +to your father about it, and let him understand exactly how it happened. Or, if +you had rather write than speak in explaining it to me, you can do so, and we +can consider tomorrow what is to be done about it.'</p> +<p>Then she went out with her brother and cousin to drive to some Industrial +schools which Lord Rotherwood wanted to see.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XV.<br> +THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL.</h3> + +<p>Miss Mohun went to the Casement Cottages with Gillian to see what the elder +Miss Hacket might wish and whether they could be of use to her; the young people +being left to exercise themselves within call in case the Tree was to be +continued.</p> +<p>This proved to be an act of great kindness, for poor Mary Hacket was +suffering all the distress of an upright and honourable woman at her sister's +abuse of confidence; and had felt as if Colonel Mohun's summons to his nieces +was the close of all intimacy with such an unworthy household. Moreover, the +evenings entertainment could not be given up and Gillian was despatched to +summon the eager assistants, while Aunt Jane repeated her assurances that Lady +Merrifield perfectly understood Miss Hacket's ignorance of the doings in +Constance's room — listening patiently even when the tender-hearted woman +began to excuse her sister for having accepted Dolores's lamentations at being +cut off from her so. called uncle. 'Dear Connie is so romantic, and so easily +touched,' she said, 'though, of course, it was very wrong of her to suppose that +Lady Merrifield could do anything harsh or unkind. She is in great grief now, +poor darling, she feels so bitterly that her friend led her into it by deceiving +her about the relationship and character.'</p> +<p>This, Aunt Jane did not think the worst part of the affair, and she said that +the girl had been brought up to call the man Uncle Alfred, and very possibly did +not understand that he was only so by courtesy, nor that he was so utterly +untrustworthy.</p> +<p>'I thought so,' said Mary Hacket. 'I told Connie that such a child could not +possibly have been a willing party to his fraud--for fraud, I fear, it was--Miss +Mohun. Do you think there is any hope of her recovering the sum she advanced.'</p> +<p>'I am afraid there is not, even if the wretched man is apprehended.'</p> +<p>'Ah! if she had only told me what she wanted it for!'</p> +<p>'I hope it was all her own.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Miss Mohun, no doubt you know that two sisters living together must +accommodate one another a little, and Connie's dress expenses, at her age, are +necessarily more than mine. But here come the dear children, and we ought to +dismiss all painful subjects, though I declare I am so nervous I hardly know +what I am about.'</p> +<p>However, by Miss Mohun's help, the good lady rose to the occasion, and when +once busy, the trouble was thrown off, so that no guests would have detected how +unhappy she had been in the forenoon. Constance soon came down, and confided to +Gillian a parcel directed to Miss D. Mohun, containing all the notes written to +her, and all the books lent to her, by the false friend whom she had cast off, +after which she threw herself into the interests of the present.</p> +<p>The London ornaments, and the residue of the gifts and bonbons, made the +Christmas-tree a most memorable one to the G.F.S. mind.</p> +<p>As to Fly, she fraternized to a great extent with a very small maid, in a +very long, brown dress, and very thick boots, who did not taste a single bonbon, +and being asked whether she understood that they were good to eat, replied that +she was keeping them for 'our Bertie and Minnie;' and, on encouragement, +launched into such a description of her charges--the blacksmith's small +children--that Lady Phyllis went back, not without regrets that she could not be +a little nurse who had done with school at twelve years old, and spent her days +at the back of a perambulator.</p> +<p>'Oh, daddy,' she said, 'I do wish you had come down; it was such lovely +fun--the best tree I ever saw. Why wouldn't you come?'</p> +<p>'If thirty odd years should pass over that little head of yours, my Lady Fly, +and you should then meet with Mysie and Val, maybe you will then learn the +reason why.'</p> +<p>'We will recollect that in thirty years' time.'</p> +<p>'When our children go to a Christmas-tree.'</p> +<p>'And we sit over the fire instead.'</p> +<p>'Oh! but should we ever not care for a dear, delightful Christmas-tree?'</p> +<p>'If we had each other instead.'</p> +<p>'Then we would all go still together!'</p> +<p>'And tell our little boys and girls all about this one, and the Butterfly's +Ball!'</p> +<p>'Perhaps our husbands would want us, and not let us go.'</p> +<p>'Oh! I don't want a husband. He'd be in the way. We'd send him off to India +or somewhere, like Aunt Lily's.'</p> +<p>'Don't, Fly; it is not at all nice to have papa away.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, it would be ten hundred times better if he were at home.'</p> +<p>Such were the mingled sentiments of the triad, as they went upstairs to bed, +linked together in their curious fashion.</p> +<p>Some time later, a bedroom discussion of affairs was held by Lady Merrifield +and Miss Mohun, who had not had a moment alone together all day, to converse +upon the two versions of the disaster which the latter had extracted from +Dolores and Constance, and which fairly agreed, though Constance had been by far +the most voluble, and somewhat ungenerously violent against her former friend, +at least so Lady Merrifield remarked.</p> +<p>'You should take into account the authoress's disappointed vanity.'</p> +<p>'Yes, poor thing! How he must have nattered her!'</p> +<p>'Besides, there is the loss of the money, which, I fear, falls as seriously +on good Miss Hacket as on the goose herself.'</p> +<p>'Does it, indeed? That must not be. How much is it?'</p> +<p>'Fifteen pounds; and that foolish Constance fancies that poor Dolores +assisted in duping her. I really had to defend the girl; though I am just as +angry myself when I watch her adamantine sullenness.'</p> +<p>'I am the person to be angry with for having allowed the intimacy, in spite +of your warnings, Jenny.'</p> +<p>'You were too innocent to know what girls are made of. Oh yes, you are very +welcome to have six of your own, but you might have six dozen without knowing +what a girl brought up at a second-rate boarding-school is capable of, or what +it is to have had no development of conscience. What shall you do? send her to +school?'</p> +<p>'After that recommendation of yours?'</p> +<p>'I didn't propose a second-rate boarding-school, ma'am. There's a High School +starting after the holidays at Rockstone. Let me have her, and send her there.'</p> +<p>'Ada would not like it.'</p> +<p>'Never mind Ada, I'll settle her. I would keep Dolly well up to her lessons, +and prevent these friendships.'</p> +<p>'I suppose you would manage her better than I have been able to do,' said +Lady Merrifield, reluctantly. 'Yet I should like to try again; I don't want to +let her go. Is it the old story of duty and love, Jane? Have I failed again +through negligence and ignorance, and deceived myself by calling weakness and +blindness love?'</p> +<p>'You don't fail with your own, Lily. Rotherwood runs about admiring them, and +saying he never saw a better union of freedom and obedience. It was really a +treat to see Gillian's ways tonight; she had so much consideration, and managed +her sisters so well.'</p> +<p>'Ah, but there's their father! I do so dread spoiling them for him before he +comes home; but then he is a present influence with us all the time.'</p> +<p>'They would all clap their hands if I carried Dolly off.'</p> +<p>'Yes, and that is one reason I don't want to give her up; it seems so sad to +send Maurice's child away leaving such an impression. One thing I am. thankful +for, that it will be all over before grandmamma and Bessie Merrifield come.'</p> +<p>At that moment there was a knock at the door, and a small figure appeared in +a scarlet robe, bare feet, and dishevelled hair.</p> +<p>'Mysie, dear child! What's the matter? who is ill?'</p> +<p>'Oh, please come, mamma, Dolly is choking and crying in such a dreadful way, +and I can't stop her.'</p> +<p>'I give up, Lily. This is mother-work,' said Miss Mohun.</p> +<p>Hurrying upstairs, Lady Merrifield found very distressing sounds issuing from +Dolores's room; sobs, not loud, but almost strangled into a perfect agony of +choking down by the resolute instinct, for it was scarcely will.</p> +<p>'My dear, my dear, don't stop it!' she exclaimed, lifting up the girl in her +arms. 'Let it out; cry freely; never mind. She will be better soon, Mysie dear. +Only get me a glass of water, and find a fresh handkerchief. There, there, +that's right!' as Dolores let herself lean on the kind breast, and conscious +that the utmost effects of the disturbance had come, allowed her long-drawn sobs +to come freely, and moaned as they shook her whole frame, though without +screaming. Her aunt propped her up on her own bosom, parted back her hair, +kissed her, and saying she was getting better, sent Mysie back to her bed. The +first words that were gasped out between the rending sobs were, 'Oh! is +my--he--to be tried?'</p> +<p>'Most likely not, my dear. He has had full time to get away, and I hope it is +so.'</p> +<p>'But wasn't he there? Haven't they got him? Weren't they asking me about him, +and saying I must be tried for stealing father's cheque?'</p> +<p>'You were dreaming, my poor child. They have not taken him, and I am quite +sure you will not be tried anyway.'</p> +<p>'They said--Aunt Jane and Uncle Reginald and all, and 'that dreadful man that +came--'</p> +<p>'Perhaps they said you might have to be examined, but only if he is +apprehended, and I fully expect that he is out of reach, so that you need not +frighten yourself about that, my dear.'</p> +<p>'Oh, don't go!' cried Dolores, as her aunt stirred.</p> +<p>'No, I'm not going. I was only reaching some water for you. Let me sponge +your face.'</p> +<p>To this Dolores submitted gratefully, and then sighed, as if under heavy +oppression, 'And did he really do it?'</p> +<p>'I am afraid he must have done so.'</p> +<p>'I never thought it. Mother always helped him.'</p> +<p>'Yes, my dear, that made it very hard for you to know what was right to do, +and this is a most terrible shock for you,' said her aunt, feeling unable to +utter another reproach just then to one who had been so loaded with blame, and +she was touched the more when Dolores moaned, 'Mother would have cared so much.'</p> +<p>She answered with a kiss, was glad to find her hand still held, and forgot +that it was past eleven o'clock.</p> +<p>'Please, will it quite ruin father?' asked Dolores, who had not out-grown +childish confusion about large sums of money.</p> +<p>'Not exactly, my dear. It was more than he had in the bank, and Uncle Regie +thinks the bankers will undertake part of the loss if he will let them. It is +more inconvenient than ruinous.'</p> +<p>'Ah!' There was a faintness and oppression in the sound which made Lady +Merrifield think the girl ought not to be left, and before long, sickness came +on. Nurse Halfpenny had to be called up, and it was one o'clock before there was +a quiet, comfortable sleep, which satisfied the aunt and nurse that it was safe +to repair to their own beds again.</p> +<p>The dreary, undefined self-reproach and vague alarms, intensified by the +sullen, reserved temper, and culminating in such a shock, alienating the only +persons she cared for, and filling her with terror for the future, could not but +have a physical effect, and Dolores was found on the morrow with a bad +head-ache, and altogether in a state to be kept in bed, with a fire in her room.</p> +<p>Gillian and Mysie were much impressed by the intelligence of their cousin's +illness when they came to their mother's room on the way to breakfast, and Mysie +turned to her sister, saying, 'There Gill, you see she did care, though she +didn't cry like us. Being ill is more than crying.'</p> +<p>'Well,' said Gillian, 'it is a good deal more than such things as you and +Val cry for, Mysie.'</p> +<p>'It was a trial such as you don't understand, my dears,' said Lady +Merrifield. 'I don't, of course, excuse much that she did, but she had been used +to see her mother make every exertion to help the man.'</p> +<p>'That does make a difference,' said Gillian, 'but she shouldn't have taken +her father's money. And wasn't it dreadful of Constance to smuggle her letters? +I'm quite glad Constance gets part of the punishment.'</p> +<p>'Certainly, that might be just, Gillian, but unfortunately the loss falls +infinitely more heavily upon Miss Hacket, who cannot afford the loss at all.'</p> +<p>'Oh dear!' cried Mysie.</p> +<p>'I'm very sorry,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'And, my dear girls, in all honour and honesty, we must make it up to her.'</p> +<p>'Can't we save it out of our allowance?' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'Sixpence a month from you, a shilling perhaps from Gill, how long would that +take? No, my dear girls, I am going to put you to a heavy trial.'</p> +<p>'Oh, mamma, don't!' cried Gillian, seeing what she was driving at. 'Don't +give up the Butterfly's Ball.'</p> +<p>'Oh, don't!' implored Mysie, tears starting in her eyes. 'We never saw a +costume ball, and Fly wishes it so.'</p> +<p>'And I thought you had promised,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'Cousin Rotherwood assumes that I did; but I did not really accept. I told +him I could not tell, for you know your Grandmamma Merrifield talked of coming +here, and I cannot put her off. And now I see that it must be given up.'</p> +<p>'It need only be calico!' sighed Gillian, sticking pins in and out of the +pincushion.</p> +<p>'Fancy dresses even in calico are very expensive. Besides, I could not go to +a place like Rotherwood without at least two new dresses, and it is not right to put papa to more +expense.'</p> +<p>'Oh, mamma! couldn't you? You always do look nicer than any one,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'My dear, I am afraid nothing I have at present would be suitable for a +General's wife at Lady Rotherwood's party, and we must think of what would be +fitting both towards our hostess and papa. Don't you see?'</p> +<p>'Ah! your velvet dress!' sighed Gillian.</p> +<p>'My poor old faithful state apparel,' smiled Lady Merrifield. 'Poor Gill, you +did not think again to have to mourn for it, but I don't know that even that +could have been sufficiently revivified, though it was my cheval de bataille for +so many years.</p> +<p>For Lady Merrifield's black velvet of many years' usefulness, had been put on +for her p.p.c. party at Belfast, when Gillian, in abetting Jasper in roasting +chestnuts over a paraffin-lamp, had set herself and the tablecloth on fire, and +had been extinguished with such damages as singed hair, a scar on Jasper's +hands, and the destruction of her mother's 'front breadth.' There had been such +relief and thankfulness at its being no worse that the 'state apparel' had not +been much mourned, especially as the remains made a charming pelisse for +Primrose; and in the retirement of Silverton, it had not been missed till the +present occasion.</p> +<p>'Do gowns cost so very much?' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'Indeed they do, my poor Mouse. The lamented cost more than twenty pounds. I +had been thinking whether I could afford the requisite garments--not quite so +costly--and thought I might get them for about sixteen, with contrivance; but +you see I feel it my fault that I let Dolores go and lead Constance to get +cheated, and I cannot take the money out of what papa gives for household +expenses and your education, so it must come out of my own personal allowance. +Don't you see?'</p> +<p>'Ye--es,' said Gillian, apparently intent on getting a big, black-headed pin +repeatedly into the same hole, while Mysie was trying with all her might not to +cry.</p> +<p>'You are thinking it is very hard that you should suffer for Dolly's faults. +Perhaps it is, but such things may often happen to you, my dears. Christians +bear them well for love's sake, you know.'</p> +<p>'And it is a little my fault,' said Gillian, thoughtfully; 'for it was I that +let the chestnut fall into the lamp.'</p> +<p>'I--I don't think I should have minded so much,' said Mysie, almost crying, +'if we had done it our own selves--and Fly too--for some very poor woman in the +snow.'</p> +<p>'I know that very well, Mysie, and this is a much harder trial, as you don't +get the honour and glory of it; and, besides, you will have to take care to say +not a word of this reason to Fly or Valetta, or any one else.'</p> +<p>'Val will be awfully disappointed,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'Poor Val! But I should not have taken her anyway, so that matters the less. +I should have taken Jasper, for that would have been more convenient than so +many girls. In fact, I did not mean anybody to have heard of it till I had made +up my mind, so that there would have been no disappointment; but that naughty +Cousin Rotherwood could not keep it to himself; and so, my poor maidens, you +have to bear it with a good grace, and to be treated as my confidential +friends.'</p> +<p>Mysie smiled and kissed her mother--Gillian cleared somewhat, but observing, +'I only wish it wasn't clothes;' tried to dismiss the subject as the gong began +to sound, but Mysie caught her mother's dress, and said, 'Mayn't I tell Fly, for +a great secret?'</p> +<p>'No, my dear, certainly not. Fly is a dear little girl, but we don't know how +she can keep secrets, and it would never do to let the Rotherwoods know; papa +and Uncle William would be exceedingly annoyed. And only think of Miss Hacket's +feelings if it came round. It will be hard enough to get her to take it now.'</p> +<p>'Perhaps she won't,' flashed into the minds of both girls; but Mysie said +entreatingly, 'One moment more, mamma, please! What can I say to Fly that will +be the truth?'</p> +<p>'Say that I find we cannot go, and that I had never promised,' said Lady +Merrifield. 'I trust you, my dears.'</p> +<p>And as she opened the door to hurry down to prayers, the two sisters felt the +words very precious and inspiriting. Mysie lingered on the step and bravely +asked Gillian whether her eyes looked like crying--</p> +<p>'No, only a little twinkly,' answered the elder sister; 'they will be all +right after prayers if you don't rub them.'</p> +<p>'No, I won't, said Mysie; "I'll try to mean 'Thy will be done.' For I +suppose it is His will, though it is mamma's."</p> +<p>'I'm glad you thought of that, Mysie,' said Gillian; 'you see it is mamma's +goodness.' And Gillian added to herself, "dear little Mysie too. If it had +not been for her, I believe I should have 'grizzled' all prayer-time, and now I +hope I shall attend instead."</p> +<p>When everybody rose up from their knees, Lady Merrifield was glad to see two +fairly cheerful faces. She tried to lessen the responsibility of the confidants, +and to get the matter settled by telling Lord Rotherwood at once and publicly +that she had thought his kind invitation over, and that she found she must not +accept it. Perhaps she warily took the moment after she had seen the postman +coming up the drive, for he had only time to say, 'Now, that's too bad, Lily, +you don't mean it,' and she to answer, 'Yes, in sad earnest, I do,' before the +letters came in, and the attention of the elders was taken off by the +distribution.</p> +<p>But Valetta whispered to Gillian, 'Not going; oh why?'</p> +<p>'No; never mind, you wouldn't have gone, anyway--hush--' said Gillian, +beginning, it may be, a little sharply, but then becoming dismayed as Valetta, +perhaps a little unhinged by the late pleasures, burst forth into such a fit of +crying as made everybody look up, and her mother tell her to go away if she +could not behave better. Gillian, understanding a sign of the head as +permission, led her away, hearing Lord Rotherwood observe,--</p> +<p>'There, you cruel party!' before again becoming absorbed in his letter.</p> +<p>'Oh dear!' sighed Fly, turning to Mysie as they rose from table, 'I am so +sorry! It would have been so nice; and I thought we were safe, as mamma had +written herself!'</p> +<p>'Ah! but my mamma hadn't accepted,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>Phyllis seemed to take this as final, and sighed, but Mysie presently +exclaimed, 'I say! can't we all play at Butterfly's Ball in the hall after +lessons?'</p> +<p>'Lessons?' said Fly; 'but it's holiday-time?'</p> +<p>'Mamma always makes us do a sort of little lesson, even in the holidays, as +she says we get naughty. But I suppose you need not; and perhaps she will not +make us now you are here.'</p> +<p>Colonel Mohun and Lord Rotherwood were going to Darminster to see what was +the state of the investigation about Mr. Flinders. They set out directly after +breakfast, and after the feeding of the pets, where Valetta joined them, much +consoled by the prospect of the extemporary Butterfly's Ball at home, Lady +Phyllis, with her usual ready adaptability, repaired with the others to the +schoolroom, where the Psalms and Lessons were read, and a small amount of French +reading in turn from 'En Quarantaine' followed, with accompaniment of needlework +or drawing, after which the children were free.</p> +<p>Aunt Jane was going home to her Sunday school and the Rockstone festivities. +She came down for her final talk with her sister just in time to perceive the +folding up of three five-pound notes.</p> +<p>'Lily,' she said, with instant perception, 'I could beat myself for what I +told you yesterday.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield laughed. 'The girls are very good about it!' she said. 'Now +you have found it out, see whether that note will make Miss Hacket swallow it.'</p> +<p>'Can't be better! But oh. Lily, it is disgusting! Could not I rig up +something fanciful for the children?'</p> +<p>'That's not so much the point. 'The General's lady,' as Mrs. Halfpenny would +say, is bound not to look like 'ane scrub,' as she would be unwelcome to +Victoria, and what would be William's feelings? I could hardly have accomplished +it even with this, and the catastrophe settles the matter.'</p> +<p>'You could not get into my black satin?'</p> +<p>'No, I thank you, my dear little Brownie,' said Lady Merrifield, elongating +herself like a girl measuring heights.</p> +<p>'Ada has a larger assortment, as well as a taller person,' continued Miss +Jane, 'but then they are rather 'henspeckle,' and they have all made their first +appearance at Rotherwood.'</p> +<p>'No, no, thank you, my dear, Jasper would not like the notion--even if there +was not more of me than of Ada. I have no doubt it is much better for us.'</p> +<p>'Should you have liked it, Lily?'</p> +<p>'For once in a way. For Rotherwood's sake, dear old fellow. Yes, I should.'</p> +<p>'Ah, well! You are a bit of a grande dame yourself. Ada enjoys it, too, or I +don't think I ever should go there.'</p> +<p>'Surely Victoria behaves well to you?'</p> +<p>'Far be it from me to say she is not exemplary in her perfect civility to all +her husband's relations. Ada thinks her charming; but oh. Lily, you've never +found out what it is to be a little person in a great person's house, and to +feel one's self scrupulously made one of the family, because her husband is so +much attached to all of them. There's nothing spontaneous about it! I dare say +you would get on better, though You are not a country-town old maid; you would +have an air of the world and of distinction even if you went in your old grey +poplin.'</p> +<p>'Well, I thought better of my lady.'</p> +<p>'You ought not! She makes great efforts, I am sure, and is a pattern of +graciousness and cordiality--only that's just what riles one, when one knows one +is just as well born, and all the rest of it. And then I'm provided with the +clever men, and the philanthropical folk to talk to. I know it's a great +compliment, and they are very nice, but I'd ten times rather take my chance +among them. However, now I've made the grapes sour for you, what do you think +about Dolores? Will you send her to us?'</p> +<p>'Not immediately, at any rate, dear Jane. It is very kind in you to wish to +take her off our hands, but I do want to try her a little longer. I thought she +seemed to be softening last night.'</p> +<p>'She was as hard as ever when I went in to wish her good-bye.'</p> +<p>'I thought she had too much headache for conversation when I went in last; I +think this is a regular upset from unhappiness and reserve.'</p> +<p>'Alias temper and deceitfulness.'</p> +<p>'Something of both. You know the body often suffers when things are not +thrown out in a wholesome explosion at once, but go simmering on; and I mean to +let this poor child alone till she is well.'</p> +<p>'Ah! here comes the pony-carriage. Well, Lily, send her to me if you repent.'</p> +<p>The sisters came out to find the Butterfly's Ball in full action. Fly had +become a Butterfly by the help of a battered pair of fairy wings, stretched on +wire, which were part of the theatrical stock. 'The shy little Dormouse' was +creeping about on all fours under a fur jacket, with a dilapidated boa for a +long tail, but her 'blind brother the Mole' had escaped from her, and had been +transformed into the Frog, by means of a spotted handkerchief over his back, and +tremendous leap-frog jumps. Primrose, in another pair of fairy wings, was +personating the Dragon-fly and all his relations, 'green, orange, and blue.' +Valetta, in perfect content with the present, with a queer pair of ears, and a +tail made of an old brush, sat up and nibbled as Squirrel. The Grasshopper was +performing antics which made him not easily distinguishable from the Frog, and +the Spider was actually descending by a rope from the balusters, while his +mother, standing somewhat aghast, breathed a hope that 'poor Harlequin's' fall +was not part of the programme. But she did not interfere, having trust in the +gymnastics that were studied at school by Jasper, who had been beguiled into the +game by Fly's fascinations.</p> +<p>'A far more realistic performance than the Rotherwood Butterfly's Ball is +likely to be,' said Aunt Jane, aside, as the various guests came up for her +departing kiss. 'And much more entertaining, if they could only think so. +Where's Gillian?'</p> +<p>Gillian appeared on the stairs in her own person at the moment. She said Mrs. +Halfpenny had called her, and told her that 'Miss Dollars' was crying, and that +she did not think the child ought to be left alone long to fret herself, but +Saturday morning needments called away nurse herself, so she had ordered in Miss +Gillian as her substitute. Gillian was reading to her, and had only come away to +make her farewells to Aunt Jane.</p> +<p>'That is right, my dear,' said her mother; 'I will come and sit with her +after luncheon.'</p> +<p>For the whole youthful family were to turn out to superintend the +replantation of the much-enduring fir, which, it was hoped, might survive for +many another Christmas.</p> +<p>However, Lady Merrifield could not keep her promise, for a whole party of +visitors arrived just after the children's dinner was over.</p> +<p>'And it's old Mrs. Norgood,' sighed Gillian, looking over the balusters, 'and +she always slays for ages!'</p> +<p>'One of you young ladies must bide with Miss Dollars,' said Nurse Halfpenny, +decidedly, 'or we shall have her fretting herself ill again.'</p> +<p>'Oh, nursie, can't you?' entreated Gillian.</p> +<p>'Me, Miss Gillian! How can I, when Miss Primrose is going out with the whole +clamjamfrie, and all the laddies, into the wet plantations? Na--one of ye maun +keep the lassie company. Ye've had your turn, Miss Gillian, so it should be Miss +Mysie. It winna hurt ye, bairn, ye that hae been rampaging ower the house all +the morning.'</p> +<p>Mysie knew it was her turn, but she also knew that nurse always favoured +Gillian and snubbed her. She had a devouring longing to be with her dear Fly, +and a certain sense that she was the preferred one. Must another pleasure be +sacrificed to that very naughty Dolores, whose misdemeanours had deprived them +of the visit to Rotherwood. She looked so dismal that Gillian said +good-naturedly, 'Really, Mysie, I don't think mamma would mind Dolores's being +left a little while; I must go down to see about the Tree, because mamma gave me +a message to old Webb, but I'll come back directly. Or perhaps Dolly is going to +sleep, and does not want any one. Go and see.'</p> +<p>Mysie on this crept quietly into the room, full of hope of escape, but +Dolores was anything but asleep. 'Oh, are you come, Mysie? Now you'll go on with +the story. I tried, but my eyes ache at the back of them, and I can't.'</p> +<p>Mysie's fate was sealed. She sat down by the fire and took up the book, 'A +Story for the Schoolroom,' one of the new ones given from the Tree. It was the +middle of the story, and she did not care about it at first, especially when she +heard Fly's voice, and all the others laughing and chattering on the stairs.</p> +<p>'Didn't they care for her absence?' and her voice grew thick, and her eyes +dim; but Dolores must not think her cross and unwilling, and she made a great +effort, became interested in the girls there described, and wondered whether +staying with Fly would have turned her head, after the example of the heroine of +the book.</p> +<p>Dolores did not seem to want to talk. In fact, she was clinging to the +reading, because she could not bear to speak or think of the state of affairs, +and the story seemed, as it were, to drown her misery. She knew that her aunt +and cousins were far less severe with her than she expected, but that could only +be because she was ill. Had not Uncle Reginald turned against her, and +Constance? It would all come upon her as soon as she came out of her room, and +she was rather sorry to believe that she should be up and. about to-morrow +morning.</p> +<p>Mysie read on till the short, winter day showed the first symptoms of closing +in. Then Lady Merrifield came up. 'You here, little nurse?' she said. 'Run out +now and meet the others. I'll stay with Dolly.' Mysie knew by the kiss that her +mother was pleased with her; but Dolores dreaded the talk with her aunt, and +made herself sleepy.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVI<br> +THE INCONSTANCY OF CONSTANCE.</h3> + +<p>The two gentlemen who had gone to Darminster brought home tidings that the +police who had been put on the track of Flinders had telegraphed that it was +thought that a person answering to his description had embarked at Liverpool in +an American-bound steamer.</p> +<p>This idea, though very uncertain, was a relief, at least to all except the +boys, who thought it a great shame that such a rascal should escape, and wanted +to know whether the Americans could not be made to give him up. They did not at +all understand their elders being glad, for the sake of Maurice Mohun and his +dead wife, that the man should not be publicly convicted, and above all that +Dolores should not have to bear testimony against him in court, and describe her +own very doubtful proceedings. Besides, there would have been other things to +try him for, since he had cheated the publishing house which employed him of all +he had been able to get into his hands. There was reason to believe that he had +heavy debts, especially gambling ones, and that he had become desperate since he +no longer had his step-sister to fall back upon.</p> +<p>Looking into his room, among other papers, a half-burnt manuscript was found +upon his grate among some exhausted cinders, as if he had been trying to use the +unfortunate 'Waif of the Moorland' to eke out his last fire. Moreover, the +proprietor of the Politician told Colonel Mohun of having remonstrated with him +on the exceeding weakness and poorness of the 'Constantia' poetry, 'which,' as +that indignant personage added, 'was evidently done merely as a lure to the +unfortunate young lady.'</p> +<p>The fifteen pounds had been accepted in an honourable and ladylike manner by +the elder sister--but without any overpowering expression of gratitude. No doubt +it was a bitter pill to her, forced down by necessity, and without guessing that +it cost the donors anything.</p> +<p>Dolores's mind was set at rest as to Flinders's evasion before night, and on +the Sunday morning even Nurse Halfpenny could find out nothing the matter with +her, so that she was obliged to make her appearance as usual. Uncle Reginald did +not kiss her, he only gave a cold nod, and said 'Good morning.' Otherwise all +went on as usual, and it was pleasant to find that Fly was as entirely used as +they were to learning Collect and hymn, and copying out texts illustrating +Catechism, and that she was expected to have them ready to repeat them to her +mother some time in the afternoon. There was something, too, that Mysie could +not have described, but which she liked, in the manner in which, on this +morning, Dolores accepted small acts of good nature, such as finding a book for +her, getting a new pen and helping her to the whereabouts of a Scriptural +reference. It seemed for the first time as if she liked to receive a kindness, +and her 'thank you' really had a sound of thanks, instead of being much more +like 'I wish you would not.' Mysie felt really encouraged to be kind, and when, +on setting forth to church, everybody was crowding round trying to walk with +Fly, and Dolores was going along lonely and deserted, Mysie resigned her chance +of one side of the favourite Phyllis, and dropped back to give her company to +the solitary one. To her surprise and gratification, Dolores took hold of her +hand, and listened quite willingly to her chatter about the schemes for the +fortnight that Fly was to be left with them. Presently Constance was seen going +markedly by the other gate of the churchyard, quite out of her usual way, and +not even looking towards them.</p> +<p>It was the last day of the old year, and, in the midst of the Christmas joy, +there were allusions to it in the services and hymns. Something in the tune of +'Days and moments quickly flying,' touched some chord in Dolores's spirit, and +set her off crying. She would have done anything to stop it, but there was no +helping it, great round splashes came down, and the more she was afraid of being +noticed, the worse the choking grew. At last, the very worst person--she +thought--to take notice. Uncle Reginald, did so, and, under cover of a general +rising, said sternly, 'Stop that, or go out.'</p> +<p>Stop that! Much did the colonel know about a girl's tears, or how she would +have given anything to check them. But here was Aunt Lily edging down to her, +taking her by the hand, leading her out, she did not know how, stopping all who +would have come after them with help--then pausing a little in the open, frosty +air.</p> +<p>'Oh, Aunt Lily! I am very sorry!'</p> +<p>'Never mind that, my dear. Do you feel poorly?'</p> +<p>'Oh no; I'm quite well--only--'</p> +<p>'Only overcome--I don't wonder--my dear--can you walk quietly home with me?'</p> +<p>'Yes, please.'</p> +<p>Nothing was said till they had passed the 'idle corner,' where men and +half-grown lads smoked their pipes in anything but Sunday trim; and stared at +the lady making her exit, till they were through the short street with shop +windows closed, and a strong atmosphere of cooking, and had come into the quiet +lane leading to the paddock. Then Lady Merrifield laid her hand on the girl's +shoulder very gently, and said, 'It was too much for you, my dear, you are not +quite strong yet.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes; I'm well. Only I am so very--very miserable,' and the gust of sobs +and tears rushed on her again.</p> +<p>'Dear child, I should like to be able to help you!'</p> +<p>'You can't! I've done it! And--and they'll all be against me always--Uncle +Regie and all!'</p> +<p>'Uncle Regie was very much hurt, but I'm sure he will forgive you when he +sees how sorry you are. You know we all hope this is going to be a fresh start. +I am sure you were deceived.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Dolores. 'I never could have thought he--Uncle Alfred--was such a +dreadful man'</p> +<p>'I expect that since he lost your mother's influence and help he may have +sunk lower than when you had seen him before. Did your father give you any +directions about him?'</p> +<p>'No. Father hated to hear of him' and never spoke about him if he could help +it; and we thought it was all Mohun high notions because he wasn't quite a +gentleman.'</p> +<p>'I see. Indeed, my dear, though you have done very wrong, I have already felt +that there was great excuse for you in trying to keep up intercourse with a +person who belonged to your mother. I wish you had told me, but I suppose you +were afraid.'</p> +<p>'Yes' said Dolores. 'And I thought you were sure to be cross and harsh,' she +muttered. And then suddenly looking up, 'Oh, Aunt Lily! everybody is angry but +you--you and Mysie! Please go on being kind! I believe you've been good to me +always.'</p> +<p>'My dear, I've tried,' said Lady Merrifield, with fears in her brown eyes and +a choke in her voice caressing the hand that had been put into hers. 'I have +wished very much to make you happy with us; but the ways of a large family must +be a trial to a new-comer.'</p> +<p>Dolores raised her face for a kiss, and said, 'I see it now. But I did not +like everything always, and I thought aunts were sure to be unkind.'</p> +<p>'That was very hard. And why?'</p> +<p>She was heard to mutter something about aunts in books always being cross.</p> +<p>'Ah! my dear! I suppose there are some unkind aunts, but I am sure there are +a great many more who wish with all their hearts to make happy homes for their +nieces. I hope now we may do so. I have more hope than ever I had, and so I +shall write to your father.'</p> +<p>'And please--please,' cried Dolores, 'don't let Uncle Regie write him a very +dreadful letter! I know he will.'</p> +<p>'I think you can prevent that best yourself, by telling Uncle Regie how sorry +you are. He was specially grieved because he thinks you told him two direct +falsehoods.'</p> +<p>'Oh! I didn't think they were that,' said Dolores, 'for it was true that +father did not leave anything with me for Uncle Alfred. And I did not know +whether it was me whom he saw at Darminster. I did tell you one once, Aunt Lily, +when you asked if I gave Constance a note. At least, she gave it to me, and not +I to her. Indeed, I don't tell falsehoods, Aunt Lily--I mean I never did at +home, but Constance said everybody said those sort of things at school, and that +one was driven to it when one was---'</p> +<p>'Was what, my dear?'</p> +<p>'Tyrannized over,' Dolores got out.</p> +<p>'Ah! Dolly, I am afraid Constance was no real friend. It was a great mistake +to think her like Miss Hacket.'</p> +<p>'And now she has sent back all my notes, and won't look at me or speak to +me,' and Dolores's tears began afresh.</p> +<p>'It is very ungenerous of her, but very likely she will be very sorry to have +done so when her first anger is over, and she understands that you were quite as +much deceived as she was.'</p> +<p>'But I shall never care for her again. It is not like Mysie, who never +stopped being kind all the time--nor Gillian either. I shall cut her next time!'</p> +<p>'You should remember that she has something to forgive. I don't want you to +be intimate with her but I think it would be better if, instead of quarrelling +openly, you wrote a note to say that you were deceived and that you are very +sorry for what you brought on her.'</p> +<p>'I should not have gone on with it but for her and Her stupid poems!'</p> +<p>'Can you bear to tell me how it all was, my dear? I do not half understand +it.'</p> +<p>And on the way home, and in Lady Merrifield's own room Dolores found it a +relief to pour forth an explanation of the whole affair, beginning with that +meeting with Mr. Flinders at Exeter, of which no one had heard, and going on to +her indignation at the inspection of her letters; and how Constance had +undertaken to conduct her correspondence, 'and that made it seem as if she must +write to some one,'--so she wrote to Uncle Alfred. And then Constance, becoming +excited at the prospect of a literary connection, all the rest followed. It was +a great relief to have told it all, and Lady Merrifield was glad to see that the +sense of deceit was what weighed most heavily upon her niece, and seemed to have +depressed her all along. Indeed, the aunt came to the conclusion that though +Dolores alone might still have been sullen, morose and disagreeable, perhaps +very reserved, she never would have kept up the systematic deceit but for +Constance. The errors, regarded as sin, weighed on Lady Merrifield's mind, but +she judged it wiser not to press that thought on an unprepared spirit, trusting +that just as Dolores had wakened to the sense of the human love that surrounded +her, hitherto disbelieved and disregarded, so she might yet awake to the feeling +of the Divine love and her offence against it.</p> +<p>The afternoon was tolerably free, for the gentlemen, including the elder +boys, walked to evensong at a neighbouring church noted for its musical +services, and Lady Merrifield, as she said, 'lashed herself up' to go with +Gillian, carry back the remnant of the unhappy 'Waif,' and 'have it out' with +Constance, who would, she feared, never otherwise understand the measure of her +own delinquency, and from whom, perhaps, evidence might be extracted which would +palliate the poor child's offence in the eyes of Colonel Mohun. Both the Hacket +sisters looked terribly frightened when she appeared, and the elder one made an +excuse for getting her outside the door to beseech her to be careful, dear +Constance was so nervous and so dreadfully upset by all she had undergone. Lady +Merrifield was not the least nervous of the two, and she felt additionally +displeased with Constance for not having said one word of commiseration when her +sister had inquired for Dolores. On returning to the drawing-room, Lady +Merrifield found the young lady standing by the window, playing with the blind, +and looking as if she wanted to make her escape.</p> +<p>'I do not know whether you will be sorry or glad to see this,' said Lady +Merrifield, producing a half-burnt roll of paper. 'It was found in Mr. +Flinders's grate, and my brother thought you would be glad that it should not +get into strange hands.'</p> +<p>'Oh, it was cruel! it was base! What a wicked man he is!' cried Constance, +with hot tears, as she beheld the mutilated condition of her poor 'Waif.'</p> +<p>'Yes, it was a most unfortunate thing that you. should have run into +intercourse with such an utterly untrustworthy person.'</p> +<p>'I was grossly deceived, Lady Merrifield!' said Constance, clasping her hands +somewhat theatrically.</p> +<p>'I shall never believe in any one again!'</p> +<p>'Not without better grounds, I hope,' was the answer. 'Your poor little +friend is terribly broken down by all this.'</p> +<p>'Don't call her my friend. Lady Merrifield. She has used me shamefully! What +business had she to tell me he was her uncle when he was no such thing?'</p> +<p>'She had been always used to call him so.'</p> +<p>'Don't tell me, Lady Merrifield,' said Constance, who, after her first +fright, was working herself into a passion. 'You don't know what a little viper +you have been warming, nor what things she has been continually saying of you. +She told me--'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield held up her hand with authority.</p> +<p>'Stay, Constance. Do you think it is generous in you to tell me this?'</p> +<p>'I am sure you ought to know.'</p> +<p>'Then why did you encourage her?'</p> +<p>'I pitied her--I believed her--I never thought she would have led me into +this!'</p> +<p>'How did she lead you?'</p> +<p>'Always talking about her precious, persecuted uncle. I believe she was in +league with him all the time!'</p> +<p>'That is nonsense,' said Lady Merrifield, 'as you must see if you reflect a +little. Dolores was too young to have been told this man's real character; she +only knew that her mother, who had spent her childhood with him, treated him as +a brother, and did all she could for him. Dolores did very wrongly and foolishly +in keeping up a connection with him unknown to me; but I cannot help feeling +there was great excuse for her, and she was quite as much deceived as you were.'</p> +<p>'Oh, of course, you stand by your own niece, Lady Merrifield. If you knew +what horrid things she said about your pride and unkindness, as she called it, +you would not think she deserved it.'</p> +<p>'Nay, that is exactly what does most excuse her in my eyes. Her fancying such +things of me was what did prevent her from confiding in me.'</p> +<p>Constance had believed herself romantic, but the Christian chivalry of Lady +Merrifield's nature was something quite beyond her. She muttered something about +Dolores not deserving, which made her visitor really angry, and say, 'We had +better not talk of deserts. Dolores is a mere child--a mother-less child, who +had been a good deal left to herself for many months. I let her come to you +because she seemed shy and unhappy with us, and I did not like to deny her the +one pleasure she seemed to care for. I knew what an excellent person and +thorough lady your sister is, and I thought I could perfectly trust her with +you. I little thought you would have encouraged her in concealment, and--I must +say--deceit, and thus made me fail in the trust her father reposed in me.'</p> +<p>'I would never have done it,' Constance sobbed, 'but for what she said about +you. Lady Merrifield!'</p> +<p>'Well, and even if I am such a hard, severe person, does that make it +honourable or right to help the child I trusted to you to carry on this +underhand correspondence?'</p> +<p>Constance hung her head. Her sister had said the same to her, but she still +felt herself the most injured party, and thought it very hard that she should be +so severely blamed for what the girls at her school treated so lightly. She +said, 'I am very sorry. Lady Merrifield,' but it was not exactly the tone of +repentance, and it ended with: 'If it had not been for her, I should never have +done it.'</p> +<p>'I suppose not, for there would have been no temptation. I was in hopes that +you would have shown some kindlier and more generous feeling towards the younger +girl, who could not have gone so far wrong without your assistance, and who +feels your treatment of her very bitterly. But to find you incapable of +understanding what you have done, makes me all the more glad that the +friendship--if friendship it can be called--is broken off between you. Good-bye. +I think when you are older and wiser, you will be very sorry to recollect the +doings of the last few months.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield walked away, and found on her return that Dolores had +succeeded in writing to her father, and was so utterly tired out by the feelings +it had cost her that she was only fit to lie on the sofa and sleep.</p> +<p>Gillian was, of course, not seen till she came home from evening service.</p> +<p>'Oh, mamma,' she said, 'what did you do to Constance?'</p> +<p>'Why?'</p> +<p>'Well, I heard you shut the front door. And presently after there came such a +noise through the wall that all the girls pricked up their ears, and Miss Hacket +jumped up in a fright. If it had been Val, one would have called it a naughty +child roaring.'</p> +<p>'What! did I send her into hysterics?'</p> +<p>'I suppose, as she is grown up, it must have the fine name, but it wasn't a +bit like poor Dolly's choking. I am sure she did it to make her sister come! +Well, of course, Miss Hacket went away, and I did the best I could, but what +could one do with all these screeches and bellowings breaking out?'</p> +<p>'For shame. Gill!'</p> +<p>'I can't help it, mamma. If you had only seen their faces when the uproar +came in a fresh gust! How they whispered, and some looked awe-struck. I thought +I had better get rid of them, and come home myself; but Miss Hacket met me, and +implored me to stay, and I was weak-minded enough to do so. I wish I hadn't, for +it was only to be provoked past bearing. That horrid girl has poisoned even Miss +Hacket's mind, and she thinks you have been hard on her darling. You did not +know how nervous and timid dear Connie is!'</p> +<p>'Well, Gill, I confess she made me very angry, and I told her what I thought +of her.'</p> +<p>'And that she didn't choose to hear!'</p> +<p>'Did you see her again?'</p> +<p>'No, I am thankful to say, I did not. But Miss Hacket would go on all +tea-time, explaining and explaining for me to tell you how dear Connie is so +affectionate and so easily led, and how Dolores came over her with persuasions, +and deceived her. I declare I never liked Dolly so well before. At any rate, she +doesn't make professions, and not a bit more fuss than she can help. And there +was Miss Hacket getting brandy cherries and strong coffee, and I don't know what +all, because dear Connie was so overcome, and dear Lady Merrifield was quite +under a mistake, and so deceived by Dolores. I told Miss Hacket you were never +under a mistake nor deceived.'</p> +<p>'You didn't, Gillian!'</p> +<p>'Yes, I did, and the stupid woman only wanted to kiss me (but I wouldn't let +her) and said I was very right to stand up for my dear mamma. As if that had +anything to do with it! What are you laughing at, mamma? Why, Uncle Regie is +laughing, and Cousin Rotherwood! What is it?'</p> +<p>'At the two partisans who never stand up for their own families,' said Uncle +Regie.</p> +<p>'But it's true!' cried Gillian.</p> +<p>'What! that I am never mistaken nor deceived?' said Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Except when you took Miss Constance for a sensible woman, eh?' said her +brother.</p> +<p>'That I never did! But I did take her for a moderately honourable one.'</p> +<p>'Well, that was a mistake,' owned Gillian. 'And Miss Hacket is as bad! +There's no gratitude---'</p> +<p>'Hush!' broke in her mother; and Gillian stopped abashed, while Lady +Merrifield continued, 'I won't have Miss Hacket abused. She is only blinded by +sisterly affection.'</p> +<p>'I don't think I can go there again,' said Gillian, 'after what she said +about you.'</p> +<p>'Nonsense!' said her mother. 'Don't be as bad as Constance in trying to make +me angry by telling me all poor Dolly's grumblings.'</p> +<p>'Follow your mother's example, Gillian,' said Lord Rotherwood, 'and, if +possible, never hear, certainly never attend to, what any one says of you behind +your back.'</p> +<p>'Is said to have said of you, you should add, Rotherwood,' put in the +colonel. 'It is a decree worse than eavesdropping.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Regie!' exclaimed his sister.</p> +<p>'Well, not perhaps for your own honour and conscience, but the keyhole is a +more trustworthy medium than the reporter.'</p> +<p>'That's a strong way of stating it, but, at any rate, the keyhole has no +temper nor imagination, or prejudice of its own,' said Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'No, and as far as it goes, it enables you to judge of the frame in which the +words, even if correctly reported, were spoken,' added Colonel Mohun.</p> +<p>'The moral of which is,' said Lord Rotherwood, drolly, 'that Gillian is not +to take notice of anyone's observations upon her unless she has heard them +through the keyhole.'</p> +<p>'And so one would never hear them at all.'</p> +<p>'Q. E. D.,' said Lord Rotherwood. 'And now, Lily, do you. ever sing the two +evening-hymns. Ken and Keble, now, as the family used to do on Sundays at the +Old Court, long ere the days of 'Hymns Ancient and Modern'?</p> +<p>'Don't we?' said Lady Merrifield. 'Only all our best voices will be singing +it at Rawul Pindee!'</p> +<p>And, as she struck a note on the piano, all the younger people still up, +Mysie, Phyllis, Wilfred and Valetta, gathered round from the outer room to join +in their evening Sunday delight. Fly put her hand into her father's and +whispered, 'You told me about it, daddy.' He began to sing, but his voice +thickened as he missed the tones once associated with it. And Lady Merrifield, +too, nearly broke down as with all her heart she sang, hopefully,</p> +<p>"Now Lord, the gracious work begin."</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.<br> +THE STONE MELTING.</h3> + +<p>It was with a strange feeling that Dolores woke on the New Year's morning, +that something was very sad and strange, and yet that there was a sense of +relief. For one thing, that terrible confession to her father was written, and +was no longer a weight hanging over her. And though his answer was still to +come, that was months away. There was Uncle Regie greatly displeased with her; +there was Constance treating her as a traitor; there was the mischief done, and +yet something hard and heavy was gone? Something sweet and precious had come in +on her! Surely it was, that now she knew and felt that she could trust in Aunt +Lilias--yes, and in Mysie. She got up, quite looking forward to meeting those +gentle, brown eyes of her aunt's, that she seemed never before to have looked +into, and to feeling the sweet, motherly kiss which had so mud, more meaning in +it now, as almost to make up for Uncle Reginald's estrangement.</p> +<p>She even anticipated gladly those ten minutes alone with her aunt, which she +used to dislike so much, hoping that the holiday-time would not hinder them. +Really wishing to please her aunt, she had learnt her portion perfectly, and +Lady Merrifield showed that she appreciated the effort, though still it was more +a lesson than a reality.</p> +<p>'My dear!' she said, 'I am afraid this is another blow for you--it came this +morning.'</p> +<p>It was the account from Professor Muhlwasser's German publisher, amounting to +a few shillings more than six pounds. And an announcement that the books were on +the way.</p> +<p>'Oh,' cried Dolores, 'I thought he was dead! He told me so! Uncle Alfred, I +mean! And it was only to get the money! How could he be so wicked?'</p> +<p>'I am afraid that was all he cared for.'</p> +<p>'And what shall I do. Aunt Lily? Will you pay it, please, and take all my +allowance till it is made up?'</p> +<p>'I think it will be more comfortable for you if I do something of that sort, +though I don't think you should go entirely without money. You have a pound a +quarter. I was going to give you yours at once.'</p> +<p>'Oh, take it--pray--'</p> +<p>'Suppose I give you five shillings, instead of twenty. I do not think it well +to leave you with nothing for a year and a half, and this is nearly what Mysie +has.'</p> +<p>'A shilling a month--very well. I wish I could pay it all at once!'</p> +<p>'No doubt you do, my dear, but this will keep you in mind for a long time +what a dangerous thing you did in giving away money you had no right to dispose +of.'</p> +<p>'Yes,' said Dolores. 'Mother earned money for him. I know she never took +father's without asking him; but I couldn't earn, and couldn't ask.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield kissed her, for very joy, to hear no sullenness in her tone; +and then all went to church together on the New Year's day that was to be the +beginning of better things. Lord Rotherwood had just time to go before meeting +the train which was to take him to High Court, leaving his Fly too much used to +his absences to be distressed about them, and, in fact, somewhat crazy about a +notion which Gillian had started that morning, of getting up a little play to +surprise him when he came back for Twelfth Day, as he promised to do.</p> +<p>Mamma declared that if it was in French, and the words were learnt every +morning before half-past eleven, it should supersede all other lessons; but such +was the hatred of the whole boy faction to French, that they declared they had +rather do rational sensible lessons twice over than learn such rot, and this +carried the day. The drama proposed was that one in an old number of 'Aunt +Judy,' where the village mayor is persuaded by the drummer to fine the girls for +wearing lace caps. The French original existed in the house, and Fly started the +idea that the male performers should speak English and the female French; but +this was laughed down.</p> +<p>In the midst Uncle Reginald came to the door and called, 'Lilias, can you +speak to me a minute?'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield went out into the hall to him.</p> +<p>'Here's a policeman come over, Lily. They have got the fellow!'</p> +<p>'Flinders?'</p> +<p>'Yes; arrested him on board a steamer at Bristol.'</p> +<p>'Oh, I wish they had let it alone!'</p> +<p>'So do I. They are bringing him back. The Darminster City bench sits to-day, +and they want that unlucky child over there to make her deposition for his +committal.'</p> +<p>'Can't they commit him without her?'</p> +<p>'Not for the forgery. The bank people are bent on prosecuting for that, and +we can't stop them. I suppose she can be depended on?'</p> +<p>'Reginald, don't! I told you the deceit was an unnatural growth from +Constance's pseudo sentiment.'</p> +<p>'Well, get her ready to come with me,' said the colonel, with a gesture of +doubt; 'we must catch the 12.50. The superintendent brought a fly.'</p> +<p>'You will frighten her out of her senses. I can't let her go alone with you +in this mood.'</p> +<p>'As you please, if you choose to knock yourself up. I'll tell the +superintendent, and walk on to the station. You've not a moment to lose, so +don't let her stand dawdling and crying.'</p> +<p>It was a hard task for Lady Merrifield. She called Dolores, whom Mysie was +inviting to be one of the village maidens, and bade her put on her things +quickly. She ordered cold meat and wine into the dining-room, called Gillian +into her room, and explained while dressing, and bade her keep the others away. +Then, meeting Dolores on the stairs took her into the dining-room and made her +swallow some cold beef, and drink some sherry, before telling her that the +magistrates at Darminster wanted to ask her some questions. Dolores looked pale +and frightened, and exclaimed,</p> +<p>'Oh, but he has got away!'</p> +<p>'My dear, I am grieved to say that he has not.'</p> +<p>Dolores understood, and submitted more quietly and resignedly than her aunt +had feared. She was a barrister's daughter, and once or twice her father had +taken her and her mother part of the way on circuit with him, and she had been +in court, so that she had known from the first that if her uncle were arrested +there was no choice but that she must speak out. So she only trembled very much +and said--</p> +<p>'Aunt Lily, are you going with me?'</p> +<p>'Indeed I am, my poor child. Uncle Regie is gone on.'</p> +<p>No more was spoken then, but Dolores put her cold hand into her aunt's muff.</p> +<p>Gillian kept all the flock prisoned in the schoolroom. Wilfred, Val, and +Fergus rushed to the window, and were greatly disappointed not to see a +policeman on the box, 'taking Dolores to be tried'flindersgus declared, and +Wilfred insisted, just because Gillian and Mysie contradicted it with all their +might. He continued to repeat it with variations and exaggerations, until Jasper +heard him, and declared that he should have a thorough good licking if he said +so again, administering a cuff by way of earnest. Wilfred howled, and was +ordered not to be such an ape, and Fly looked on in wonder at the domestic +discipline.</p> +<p>The superintendent had, in fact, walked on with Uncle Reginald, and Dolores +saw nothing of him, but was put into an empty first-class carriage, into which +her aunt followed her, but her uncle, observing, 'You know how to manage her, +Lily,' betook himself to a smoking-carriage, and left them to themselves.</p> +<p>Dolores was never a very talking girl, and the habit of silence had grown +upon her. She leant against her aunt and she put her arm round her, and did not +attempt to say anything till she asked,</p> +<p>'Will he be there?'</p> +<p>'I don't know, I am afraid he will. It is very sad for you, my poor Dolly; +but we must recollect that, after all, it may be much better for him to be +stopped now than to go on and get worse and worse in some strange country.'</p> +<p>Dolores did not ask what she was to do, she knew enough already about trials +to understand that she was only to answer questions, and she presently said,</p> +<p>'This can't be his trial. There are no assizes now.'</p> +<p>'No, this is only for the committal. It will very soon be over, if you will +only answer quietly and steadily. If you do so, I think Uncle Regie will be +pleased, and tell your father! I am sure I shall!'</p> +<p>Dolores pressed up closer and laid her cheek against the soft sealskin. In +the midst of her trouble there was a strange wonder in her. Could this be really +the aunt whom she had thought so cruel, unjust, and tyrannical, and from whom +she had so carefully hidden her feelings? Nobody got into the carriage, and just +before reaching Darminster, Lady Merrifield made a great effort over her own +shyness and said,</p> +<p>'Now, Dolly, we will pray a little prayer that you may be a faithful witness, +and that God may turn it, all to good for your poor uncle.'</p> +<p>Dolores was very much surprised, and did not know whether she liked it or +not, but she saw her aunt's closed eyes and uplifted hands, and she tried to +follow the example.</p> +<p>The train stopped, and her uncle came to the door, looking inquiringly at +her.</p> +<p>'She will be good and brave,' said her aunt; and quickly passing across the +platform, Dolores found herself beside her aunt, with her uncle opposite in +another fly.</p> +<p>Things had been arranged for them considerately, and after they came to the +Guildhall, where the city magistrates were sitting, Colonel Mohun went at once +into court; the others were taken to a little room, and waited there a few +minutes before Colonel Mohun came to call for his niece. It was a long room, +with a rail at one end, and Dolores knew, with a strange thrill which made her +shudder, that Mr. Flinders was there, but she could not bear to look at him, and +only squeezed hard at the hand of her aunt, who asked, in a somewhat shaky +voice, if she might come with her niece.</p> +<p>'Certainly, certainly. Lady Merrifield,' said one of the magistrates, and +chairs were set both for her and Colonel Mohun.</p> +<p>'You are Miss Mohun, I think--may I ask your Christian name in full?' And +then she had to spell it, and likewise tell her exact age, after which she was +put on oath--as she knew enough of trials to expect.</p> +<p>'Are you residing with Lady Merrifield?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'But your father is living?'</p> +<p>'Yes, but he is in the Fiji Islands.'</p> +<p>'Will you favour us with his exact name?'</p> +<p>'Maurice Devereux Mohun.'</p> +<p>'When did he leave England?'</p> +<p>'The fifth of last September.'</p> +<p>'Did he leave any money with you?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'In what form?'</p> +<p>'A cheque on W----'s Bank.</p> +<p>'To bearer or order?'</p> +<p>'To order.'</p> +<p>'What was the date?'</p> +<p>'I think it was the 31st of August, but I am not sure.'</p> +<p>'For how much?'</p> +<p>'For seven pounds.'</p> +<p>'When did you part with it?'</p> +<p>'On the Friday before Christmas Day.'</p> +<p>'Did you do anything to it first?'</p> +<p>'I wrote my name on the back.'</p> +<p>'What did you do with it.'</p> +<p>'I sent it to--' her voice became a little hoarse, but she brought out the +words--'to Mr. Flinders.'</p> +<p>'Is this the same?'</p> +<p>'Yes--only some one has put 'ty' to the 'seven' in writing, and 0 to the +figure 7.'</p> +<p>'Can you swear to the rest as your father's writing and your own?'</p> +<p>The evidence of the banker's clerk as to the cashing of the cheque had been +already taken, and the magistrate said, 'Thank you. Miss Mohun, I think the case +is complete, and we need not trouble you any more.'</p> +<p>But the prisoner's voice made Dolores start and shudder again, as he said,</p> +<p>'I beg your pardon, sir, but you have not asked the young lady'--there was a +sort of sneer in his voice--'how she sent this draft.'</p> +<p>'Did not you send it direct by the post?' demanded the magistrate.</p> +<p>'No; I gave it to--' Again she paused, and the words 'Gave it to--?' were +authoritatively repeated, so that she had no choice.</p> +<p>'I gave it to Miss Constance Hacket to send.'</p> +<p>'You will observe, sir,' said Flinders, in a somewhat insolent tone, 'that +the evidence which the witness has been so ready to adduce is incomplete. There +is another link between her hands and mine.'</p> +<p>'You may reserve that point for your defence on your trial,' rejoined the +magistrate. 'There is quite sufficient evidence for your committal.'</p> +<p>There was already a movement to let Dolores be taken away by her uncle and +aunt, so as to spare her from any reproach or impertinence that Flinders might +launch at her. She was like some one moving in a dream, glad that her aunt +should hold her hand as if she were a little child, saying, as they came out +into the street, 'Very clearly and steadily done, Dolly! Wasn't it, Uncle +Regie?'</p> +<p>'Yes,' he said, absently. 'We must look out, or we shan't catch the 4.50 +train.'</p> +<p>He almost threw them into a cab, and made the driver go his quickest, so +that, after all, they had full ten minutes to spare. It made Dolores sick at +heart to go near the waiting and refreshment-rooms where she and Constance had +spent all that time with Flinders; but she could not bear to say so before her +uncle, and he was bent on getting some food for Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'Not soup, Regie; there might not be time to swallow it. A glass of milk for +us each, please; we can drink that at once, and anything solid that we can take +with us. I am sure your mouth must be dry, my dear.'</p> +<p>Very dry it was, and Dolores gladly swallowed the milk, and found, when +seated in the train, that she was really hungry enough to eat her full share of +the sandwiches and buns which the colonel had brought in with him; and then she +sat resting against her aunt, closed her eyes, and half dozed in the rattle of +the train, not moving in the pause at the stations, but quite conscious that +Colonel Mohun said, 'Not a spark of feeling for anybody, not even for that man! +As hard as a stone!'</p> +<p>'For shame, Regie!' said her aunt. 'How angry you would have been if she had +made a scene.'</p> +<p>'I should have liked her better.'</p> +<p>'No, you wouldn't, when you come to understand. There's stuff in her, and +depth too.'</p> +<p>'Aye, she's deep enough.'</p> +<p>'Poor child!' said Lady Merrifield, tenderly. And then the train went on, and +the noise drowned the voices, so that Dolores only partly heard, 'You will see +how she will rise,' and the answer, 'You may be right; I hope so. But I can't +get over deliberate deceit.'</p> +<p>He settled himself in his corner, and Lady Merrifield durst not move nor +raise her voice lest she should break what seemed such deep slumber, but which +really was half torpor, half a dull dismay, holding fast eyes, lips, and limbs, +and which really became sleep, so that Dolores did not hear the next bit of +conversation during the ensuing halt.</p> +<p>'I say, Lily, I did not like the fellow's last question. He means to give +trouble about it.'</p> +<p>'I was sorry the other name was brought in, but it must have come sooner or +later.'</p> +<p>'That's true; but if she can't swear to the figures on the draft, ten to one +that the fellow will get off.'</p> +<p>'You don't doubt--'</p> +<p>'No, no; but there's the chance for the defence, and he was sharp enough to +see it.'</p> +<p>'There is nothing to be said or done about it, of course.'</p> +<p>'Of course not. There's nothing for it but to let it alone.'</p> +<p>They went on again, and when the train reached Silverton, Dolly was dreaming +that her father had come, and that he said Uncle Alfred should be hanged unless +she found the money for Professor Muhlwasser. She even looked about for him, and +said, 'Where's father?' when she was wakened to get out.</p> +<p>Gillian came up to her mother's room to hear what had happened, and to give +an account of the day, which had gone off prosperously by Harry's help. He had +kept excellent order at dinner, and 'there's something about Fly which makes +even Wilfred be mannerly before her.' And then they had gone out and had made +Fly free of the Thorn Fortress.</p> +<p>'My dear, that must have been terribly damp and cold at this time of year.'</p> +<p>'I thought of that, mamma, and so we didn't sit down, and made it a guerrilla +war; only Fergus couldn't understand the difference between guerrillas and +gorillas, and would thump upon himself and roar when they were in ambush.'</p> +<p>'Rather awkward for the ambush!'</p> +<p>'Yes, Wilfred said he was a traitor, and tied him to a tree, and then Fly +found him crying, and would have let him out; but she couldn't get the knots +undone; and what do you think? She made Wilfred cut the string himself with his +own knife! I never knew such a girl for making every one do as she pleases. +Then, when it got dark, we came in, and had a sort of a kind of a rehearsal, +only that nobody knew any of the parts, or what each was to be.'</p> +<p>'A sort of a kind, indeed, it must have been!'</p> +<p>'But we think the play will be lovely! You can't think how nice Fly was. You +know we settled for her to be Annette, the dear, funny, naughty girl, but as +soon as she saw that Val wanted the part, she said she didn't care, and gave it +up directly, and I don't think we ought to let her, and Hal thinks so too; and +all the boys are very angry, and say Val will make a horrid mess of it. Then +Mysie wanted to give up the good girl to Fly, and only be one of the chorus, but +Fly says she had rather be one of the chorus ones herself than that. So we +settled that you should fix the parts, and we would abide by your choice.'</p> +<p>'I hope there was no quarrelling.'</p> +<p>'N--no; only a little falling upon Val by the boys, and Fly put a stop to +that. Oh, mamma, if it were only possible to turn Dolly into Fly! I can't help +saying it, we seemed to get on so much better just because we hadn't poor Dolly +to make a deadweight, and tempt the boys to be tiresome: while Fly made +everything go off well. I can't describe it, she didn't in the least mean to +keep order or interfere, but somehow squabbles seem to die away before her, and +nobody wants to be troublesome.'</p> +<p>'Dear little thing! It is a very sweet disposition. But, Gill, I do believe +that we shall see poor Dolly take a turn now!'</p> +<p>'Well! having quarrelled with that Constance is in her favour!'</p> +<p>'Try and think kindly of her trouble. Gill, and then it will be easier to be +kind to her.'</p> +<p>Gillian sighed. Falsehood and determined opposition to her mother were the +greatest possible crimes in her eyes; and at her age it was not easy to separate +the sin from the sinner.</p> +<p>New Year's night was always held to be one of especial merriment, but Lady +Merrifield was so much tired out by her expedition that she hardly felt equal to +presiding over any sports, and proposed that instead the young folk should +dance. Gillian and Hal took turns to play for them, and Uncle Reginald and Fly +were in equal request as partners. It was Mysie who came to draw Dolores out of +her corner, and begged her to be her partner--'If you wouldn't very much rather +not,' she said, in a pleading, wistful, voice.</p> +<p>Dolores would 'very much rather not;' but she saw that Mysie would be left +out altogether if she did not consent, as Hal was playing and Uncle Regie was +dancing with Primrose. She thought of resolutions to turn over a new leaf, and +not to refuse everything so she said, 'Yes, this once,' and it was wonderful how +much freshened she felt by the gay motion, and perhaps by Mysie's merry, +good-natured eyes and caressing hand. After that she had another turn with +Gillian and one with Hal, and even one with Fergus because, as he politely +informed her, no one else would have him for a quadrille. But, just as this was +in progress, and she could not help laughing at his ridiculous mistakes and +contempt of rules she met Uncle Reginald's eye fixed on her in wonder 'He thinks +I don't care,' thought she to herself. All her pleasure was gone, and she moved +so dejectedly that her aunt, watching from the sofa, called her and told her she +was over-tired, and sent her to bed.</p> +<p>Dolores was tired, but not in the way which made it harder instead of easier +to sleep, or, rather, she slept just enough to relax her full consciousness and +hold over herself, and bring on her a misery of terror and loneliness, and +feeling of being forsaken by the whole world. And when she woke fully enough to +understand the reality, it was no better; she felt, then, the position she had +put herself into, and almost saw in the dark, Flinders's malicious vindictive +glance Constance's anger, Uncle Regie's cold, severe look and, worse than all, +her father reading her letter'</p> +<p>She fell again into an agony of sobbing, not without a little hope that Aunt +Lily would be again brought to her side. At last the door was softly pushed open +in the dark, but it was not Aunt Lily, it was Mysie's little bare feet that +patted up to the bed, her arms that embraced, her cheek that was squeezed +against the tearful one--'Oh, Dolly, Dolly! please don't cry so sadly!'</p> +<p>'Oh! it is so dreadful, Mysie!'</p> +<p>'Are you ill--like the other night?'</p> +<p>'No--but--Mysie--I can't bear it!'</p> +<p>'I don't want to call mamma,' said Mysie, thoughtfully, 'for she is so much +tired, and Uncle Regie and Gill said she would be quite knocked up, and got her +to come up to bed when we went. Dolly, would it be better if I got into your bed +and cuddled you up?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes! oh yes! please do, there's a dear good Mysie.'</p> +<p>There was not much room, but that mattered the less, and the hugging of the +warm arms seemed to heal the terrible sense of being unloved and forsaken, the +presence to drive away the visions of angry faces that had haunted her; but +there was the longing for fellow-feeling on her, and she said, 'That's nice! Oh, +Mysie! you can't think what it is like! Uncle Regie said I didn't care, and he +could never forgive deliberate deceit--and I was so fond of Uncle Regie!'</p> +<p>'Oh! but he will, if you never tell a story again,' said Mysie--and, as she +felt a gesture implying despair--'Yes, they do; I told a story once.'</p> +<p>'You, Mysie! I thought you never did?'</p> +<p>'Yes, once, when we were crossing to Ireland and nurse wouldn't let Wilfred +tie our handkerchiefs together and fish over the side, and he was very angry, +and threw her parasol into the sea when she wasn't looking; and I knew she would +be so cross, that when she asked me if I knew what was become of it, I said +'No,' and thought I didn't, really. But then it came over me, again and again, +that I had told a story, and, oh! I was so miserable whenever I thought of +it--at church, and saying my prayers, you know; and mamma was poorly, and +couldn't come to us at night for ever so long, but at last I could bear it no +longer, I heard her say, 'Mysie is always truthful,' and then I did get it out, +and told her. And, oh! she and papa were so kind, and they did quite and +entirely forgive me!'</p> +<p>'Yes, you told of your own accord; and they were your own--not Uncle Regie. +Ah! Mysie, everybody hates me. I saw them all looking at me.'</p> +<p>'No, no! Don't say such things. Dolly. None of us do anything so shocking.'</p> +<p>'Yes, Jasper does, and Wilfred and Val!'</p> +<p>'No! no! no! they don't hate; only they are tiresome sometimes; but if you +wouldn't be cross they would be nice directly--at least Japs and Val. And +'tisn't hating with Willie, only he thinks teasing is fun.'</p> +<p>'And you and Gillian. You can only just bear me.</p> +<p>'No! no! no!' with a great hug, 'that's not true.'</p> +<p>'You like Fly ever so much better!'</p> +<p>'She is so dear, and so funny,' said Mysie, the truthful, 'but somehow, Dolly +dear, do you know, I think if you and I got to love one another like real +friends, it would be nicer still than even Fly--because you are here like one of +us, you know; and besides, it would be more, because you are harder to get at. +Will you be my own friend. Dolly?'</p> +<p>'Oh, Mysie, I must!' and there was a fresh kissing and hugging.</p> +<p>'And there's mamma,' added Mysie.</p> +<p>'Yes, I know Aunt Lily does now; but, oh! if you had seen Uncle Alfred's +face, and heard Uncle Regie,' and Dolly began to sob again as they returned on +her. 'I see them whenever I shut my eyes!'</p> +<p>'Darling,' whispered Mysie, 'when I feel bad at night, I always kneel up in +bed and say my prayers again!'</p> +<p>'Do you ever feel bad?'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, when I'm frightened, or if I've been naughty, and haven't told +mamma. Shall we do it, Dolly?'</p> +<p>'I don't know what that has to do with it, but we'll try.'</p> +<p>'Mamma told me something to say out of.'</p> +<p>The two little girls rose up, with clasped hands in their bed, and Mysie +whispered very low, but so that her companion heard, and said with her a few +childish words of confession, pleading and entreating for strength, and then the +Lord's Prayer, and the sweet old verse:--</p> + +<p>'I lay my body down to sleep,<br> +I give my soul to Christ to keep,<br> +Wake I at morn, as wake I never,<br> +I give my soul to Christ for ever.'</p> + +<p>'Ah! but I am afraid of that. I don't like it,' said Dolores, as they lay +down again.</p> +<p>'It won't make one never wake,' returned Mysie; 'and I do like to give my +soul to Christ. It seems so to rest one, and make one not afraid.'</p> +<p>'I don't know,' said Dolores; 'and why did you say the Lord's Prayer? That +hasn't anything to do with it!'</p> +<p>'Oh, Dolly, when He is our Father near, though our own dear fathers are far +away, and there's deliver us from evil--all that hurts us, you know-and forgive +us. It's all there.'</p> +<p>'I never thought that,' said Dolores. 'I think you have some different +prayers from mine. Old nurse taught me long ago. I wish you would always say +yours with me. You make them nicer.'</p> +<p>Mysie answered with a hug, and a murmured 'If I can,' and offered to say the +121st Psalm, her other step to comfort, and, as she said it, she resolved in her +mind whether she could grant Dolores's request; for she was not sure whether she +should be allowed to leave her room before saying her own, and she I knew enough +of Dolores by this time to be aware that to say she would ask mamma's leave +would put an end to all. 'I know,' was her final decision; 'I'll say my own +first, and then come to Dolly's room.'</p> +<p>But by that time Dolores was asleep, even if Mysie had not been too sleepy to +speak.</p> +<p>She meant to have rushed to the room she shared with Valetta before it was +time to get up, but Lots found the black head and the brown together on +Dolores's pillow, wrapped in slumber; and though Mysie flew home as soon as she +was well awake, Mrs. Halfpenny descended on her while she was yet in her bath, +and inflicted a sharp scolding for the malpractice of getting into her cousin's +bed.</p> +<p>'But Dolly was so miserable, nurse, and mamma was too tired to call.'</p> +<p>'Then you should have called me, Miss Mysie, and I'd have sorted her well! +You kenned well 'tis a thing not to be done and at your age; ye should have +minded your duties better.'</p> +<p>And nurse even intercepted Mysie on her way to Dolores's room, and declared +she would have no messing and gossiping in one another's rooms. Miss Mysie was +getting spoilt among strangers.</p> +<p>Mysie went down with a strong sense of having been disobedient, as well as of +grief for Dolores's disappointment. Happily mamma was late that morning, and +nobody was in her room but Primrose. Poor Mysie had soon, with tears in her +eyes, confessed her transgression. Her mother's tears, to her great surprise, +were on her cheek together with a kiss. 'Dear child, I am not displeased. +Indeed, I am not; I will tell nurse. It must not be a habit, but this was an +exception, and I am only thankful you could comfort her.</p> +<p>'And, mamma, may I go now to her. She said I could help her to say her +prayers, and I think she only has little baby ones that her nurse taught her and +she doesn't see into the Lord's Prayer.'</p> +<p>'My dear, my dear, if you can help her to pray you will do the thing most +sure to be a blessing to her of all.'</p> +<p>And when Mysie was gone, Lady Merrifield knelt down afresh in thankfulness.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.<br> +MYSIE AND DOLORES.</h3> + +<p>Things were going on more quietly at Silverton. That is to say, there were no +outward agitations, for the house was anything but quiet. Lady Merrifield had no +great love for children's parties, where, as she said, they sat up too late, to +eat and drink what was not good for them, and to get presents that they did not +care about; and though at Dublin it had been necessary on her husband's account +to give and take such civilities, she had kept out of the exchange at Silverton. +But, on the other hand, there were festivals, and she promoted a full amount of +special treats at home among themselves, or with only an outsider or two, and +she endured any amount of noise, provided it was not quarrelsome, +over-boisterous, or at unfit times.</p> +<p>There was the school tea, and magic-lantern, when Mr. Pollock acted as +exhibitor, and Harry as spokesman, and worked them up gradually from grave and +beautiful scenes like the cedars of Lebanon, the Parthenon and Colosseum, with +full explanations, through dissolving views of cottage and bridge by day and +night, summer and winter, of life-boat rescue, and the siege of Sevastopol, with +shells flying, on to Jack and the Beanstalk and the New Tale of a Tub, the +sea-serpent, and the nose-grinding! Lady Phyllis's ecstacy was surpassing, more +especially as she found her beloved little maid-of-all-work, and was introduced +to all that small person's younger brothers and sisters.</p> +<p>Here they met Miss Hacket, who was in charge of a class. She comported +herself just as usual, and Gillian's dignity and displeasure gave way before her +homely cordiality. Constance had not come, as indeed nothing but childhood, +sympathy with responsibility for childhood, could make the darkness, stuffiness, +and noise of the exhibition tolerable. Even Lady Merrifield trusted her flock to +its two elders, and enjoyed a tete-a-tete evening with her brother, who profited +by it to advise her strongly to send Dolores to their sister Jane before harm +was done to her own children.</p> +<p>'I would not see that little Mysie of yours spoilt for all the world,' said +he.</p> +<p>'Nor I; but I don't think it likely to happen.'</p> +<p>'Do you know that they are always after each other, chattering in their +bedrooms at night. I hear them through the floor.'</p> +<p>'Only one night--Mysie told me all about it--I believe Mysie will do more for +that poor child than any of us.'</p> +<p>Uncle Regie shrugged his shoulders a little.</p> +<p>'Yes, I know I was wrong before, when I wouldn't take Jane's warning; but +that was not about one of my own, and, besides, poor Dolores is very much +altered.'</p> +<p>'I'll tell you what, Lily, when any one, I don't care who, man, or woman, or +child, once is given up to that sort of humbug and deceit, carrying it on a that +girl, Dolores, had done, I would never trust again an inch beyond what I could +see. It eats into the very marrow of the bones--everything is acting +afterwards.'</p> +<p>'That would be saying no repentance was possible--that Jacob never could +become Israel.'</p> +<p>'I only say I have never seen it.'</p> +<p>'Then I hope you will, nay, that you do. I believe your displeasure is the +climax of all Dolly's troubles.'</p> +<p>But Colonel Reginald Mohun could not forgive the having been so entirely +deceived where he had so fully trusted; and there was no shaking his opinion +that Dolores was essentially deceitful and devoid of feeling and that the few +demonstrations of emotion that were brought before him were only put on to +excite the compassion of her weakly, good-natured aunt, so he only answered, +'You always were a soft one Lily.'</p> +<p>To which she only answered, 'We shall see knowing that in his present state +of mind he would only set down the hopeful tokens that she perceived either to +hypocrisy on the girl's side, or weakness on hers.</p> +<p>Dolores had indeed gone with the others rather because she could not bear +remaining to see her uncle's altered looks than because she expected much +pleasure. And she had the satisfaction of sitting by Mysie, and holding her +hand, which had become a very great comfort in her forlorn state--so great that +she forebore to hurt her cousin's feelings by discoursing of the dissolving +views she had seen at a London party. Also she exacted a promise that this +station should always be hers.</p> +<p>Mysie, on her side, was in some of the difficulties of a popular character, +for Fly felt herself deserted, and attacked her on the first opportunity.</p> +<p>'What does make you always go after Dolly instead of me, Mysie? Do you like +her so much better?'</p> +<p>'Oh no! but you have them all, and she has nobody.'</p> +<p>'Well, but she has been so horridly naughty, hasn't she?'</p> +<p>'I don't think she meant it.'</p> +<p>'One never does. At least, I'm sure I don't--and mamma always says it is +nonsense to say that.'</p> +<p>'I'm not sure whether it is always,' said Mysie, thoughtfully, 'for sometimes +one does worse than one knows. Once I made a mouse-trap of a beautiful large +sheet of bluey paper, and it turned out to be an order come down to papa. Mamma +and Alethea gummed it up as well as ever they could again, but all the officers +had to know what had happened to it.'</p> +<p>'And were you punished?'</p> +<p>'I was not allowed to go into papa's room without one of the elder ones till +after my next birthday, but that wasn't so bad as papa's being so vexed, and +everybody knowing it; and Major Denny would talk about mice and mouse-traps +every time he saw me till I quite hated my name.'</p> +<p>'And I'm sure you didn't mean to cut up an important paper.'</p> +<p>'No; but I did do a little wrong, for we had no leave to take anything not +quite in the waste basket, and this had been blown off the table, and was on the +floor outside. They didn't punish me so much I think because of that. Papa said +it was partly his own fault for not securing it when he was called off. You see +little wrongs that one knows turn out great wrongs that one would never think +of, and that is so very dreadful, and makes me so very sorry for Dolores.'</p> +<p>'I didn't think you would like a cross, naughty girl like that more than your +own Fly.'</p> +<p>'No, no! Fly, don't say that. I don't really like her half so well, you know, +only if you would help me to be kind to her.'</p> +<p>'I am sure my mother wouldn't wish me to have anything to do with her. I +don't think she would have let me come here if she had known what sort of girl +she is.'</p> +<p>'But your papa knew when he left you--'</p> +<p>'Oh, papa! yes; but he can never see anything amiss in a Mohun; I heard her +say so. And he wants me to be friends with you; dear, darling friends like him +and your Uncle Claude, Mysie, so you must be, and not be always after that +Dolores.'</p> +<p>'I want to be friends with both. One can have two friends.'</p> +<p>'No! no! no! not two best friends. And you are my best friend, Mysie, ever so +much better than Alberta Fitzhugh, if only you'll come always to me this little +time when I'm here, and sit by me instead of that Dolly.'</p> +<p>'I do love you very much, Fly.'</p> +<p>'And you'll sit by me at the penny reading to-night?'</p> +<p>'I promised Dolly. But she may sit on the other side.'</p> +<p>'No,' said Phyllis, with jealous perverseness. 'I don't care if that Dolly is +to be on the other side, you'll talk to nobody but her! Now, Mysie, I had been +writing to ask daddy to let you come home with me, you yourself, to the +Butterfly's Ball, but if you won't sit by me, you may stay with your dear +Dolores.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Fly! When you know I promised, and there is the other side.'</p> +<p>But Fly had been courted enough by all the cousinhood to have become exacting +and displeased at having any rival to the honour of her hand--so she pouted and +said, 'I don't care about it, if you have her. I shall sit between Val and +Jasper.'</p> +<p>One must be thirteen, with a dash of the sentiment of a budding friendship, +to enter into all that "sitting by" involves; and in Mysie's case, here was +her compassionate promise standing not only between her and the avowed +preference of one so charming as Fly, but possibly depriving her of the chances +of the wonders of the Butterfly's Ball. No wonder that disconsolate tears came +into her eyes as she uttered another pleading, 'Oh, Fly, how can you?'</p> +<p>'You must choose,' said the offended young lady; 'you can't have us both.'</p> +<p>To which argument she stuck, being offended as well as scandalized at being +set aside for such a culprit as Dolores, whose misdemeanours and discourtesy +were equally shocking to her imagination.</p> +<p>Mysie could confide her troubles to no one, for she was aware that caring +about sitting together was treated by the elders as egregious folly; but a +promise was a promise with her, and she held staunchly to her purpose, though +between Dolores and Miss Vincent she lost all those delightful asides which +enhanced the charms of the amusing parts of the penny reading and beguiled the +duller ones--of which there were many, since it was more concert than penny +reading, people being rather shy of committing themselves to reading--Hal, Mr. +Pollock and the schoolmaster being the only volunteers in that line.</p> +<p>Gillian had, sorely against the grain, to play a duet with Constance Hacket. +The two young ladies had met one another with freezing civility in the +classroom, and to those who understood matters, the stiffness of their necks and +shoulders, as they sat at the piano, spoke unutterable things. But there had +never been any real liking between Constance and the younger Merrifields, and +the mother did not trouble herself much about this, knowing that the vexation of +the elder sister, about whom she did care, would pass off with friendly +intercourse.</p> +<p>Fly's displeasure did not last long, for Mysie bad more attractions for her +than any one else, and she was a good-humoured creature. There was a joyous +Twelfth-Night, with home-made cake and home-characters, prepared by mamma and +Gillian, and followed up by games, in which Dolores had a share, promoted by her +aunt, who was very anxious to keep her from feeling set apart from every one; +but this was difficult to manage, as she was so generally disliked, that even +Gillian was only good-natured to her in accordance with her mother's desire that +she should not be treated as 'out of the pale of humanity.' Mysie alone sought +her out and brought her forward with any real earnestness, and good little Mysie +had a somewhat difficult part to play between kindness to her and Fly's +occasional little jealous tiffs and decided disapproval. Mysie never thought, +however, about the situation or its difficulties, she simply followed the +moment's call of kindness to Dolores, and, when it was possible, followed her +own inclinations, and enjoyed Fly's lively society.</p> +<p>And Dolores was certainly softening and improving. A word to Mrs. Halfpenny +had secured the two girls being permitted to say their prayers together in +Dolores's room unmolested; and what was a reality to a contemporary became less +and less to Dolores a mere lesson imposed by the authority of an elder. That +link between religious instruction and daily life, which is all important, yet +so difficult to find, was being gradually put into Dolores's hands by her little +cousin-friend. Lady Merrifield hoped and guessed it might be thus, from the +questions that Mysie asked her at times, and from the quickened attention +Dolores showed to her religious lessons, and her less dull and indifferent air +at church.</p> +<p>It could not be said that she was different with the others. She was +depressed, and wanted spirits for enjoyment, nor would active romping diversions +ever be pleasant to her. She had not the nature for them, and was not young +enough to learn to like them. It could not but seem foolish to her to race about +as a Croat or a savage, and she only beheld with wonder Gillian's genuine +delight in games not merely entered into for the sake of the little ones. But +there was a strong devotion growing up in her to her aunt and to Mysie, and what +they asked of her she did--even when on a wet day her aunt condemned her to +learn battledore and shuttle-cock of Gillian, who was equally to be pitied for +the awkwardness of her pupil and the banter of her brothers, while Dolly picked +up her shuttlecock and tossed it off with grim determination, as if doing +penance for this dismal half hour. She managed better in the games where ready +sharpness of intellect or memory was wanted, and she liked these, and would have +liked them still better if Uncle Reginald had not always looked astonished if +she laughed.</p> +<p>She did her part, too, in the little play, being one of the chorus of the +maidens who 'make a vow to make a row.' Lady Merrifield had, according to the +general request, saved disputes by casting the parts, Gillian being the sage old +woman who brought the damsels to reason. Fly, the prime mover of the tumult, and +Mysie, her confidante, while Val and Dolly made up the mob. A little +manipulation of skirts, tennis-aprons, ribbons, and caps made very nice peasant +costumes. Hal was the self-important Bailli, and Jasper the drummer, the part of +gens-d'armes being all that Wilfred and Fergus could be trusted with.</p> +<p>Lord Rotherwood came back, and his little daughter's ecstacy was goodly to +see, as she danced about her daddy, almost bursting with the secret of what he +was to see after dinner, and showing herself so brilliantly well and happy that +he congratulated himself upon her mother's satisfaction.</p> +<p>While the elders were at dinner, Gillian, with Miss Vincent's help, finished +off the arrangements. There were no outsiders, except the Vicar and Mr. Pollock +who had been asked to dinner, for Lady Merrifield said she never liked to make +her children an exhibition.</p> +<p>'You are an old-fashioned Lily,' said her cousin, 'and happily not concerned +with popularity. It is a fine thing to be able to consult one's children's +absolute best.'</p> +<p>The performance went off beautifully--at least so thought both actors and +spectators. The dignity of the Bailli and the meddling of the drummer were alike +delightful; Fly was charmingly arch and mutinous; Mysie very straightforward; +and the least successful personation was that of Gillian, who had a fit of +stage-fright, forgot sentences, and whirred her spinning-wheel nervously, all +the worse for being scolded by her brothers behind the scenes, and assured that +she was making a mull of the whole affair. And she had been so spirited at the +rehearsals, but she was at a self-conscious age, and could not forget the four +spectators. Very little was required of Dolores, but that little she did simply +and well, and Lord Rotherwood, after watching her all the evening, observed to +Lady Merrifield, 'I should say your difficulties were diminishing, are they not? +The thunder-cloud seems to be a little lightened.'</p> +<p>'I am so glad you think so, Rotherwood. I feel sure that all this distress +has drawn her nearer to us, only Regie won't believe it.'</p> +<p>'Regie is prejudiced.'</p> +<p>'Is he? I thought him specially fond of Maurice's child, and that this was +revulsion of feeling; but what I am afraid of is, that he will never believe in +her or like her again, whatever she may be, and she is really fond of him.'</p> +<p>'Yes, Reginald is not over disposed to believe in any woman's truth--outside +his own family and sisters. Poor fellow! I can't say he was well used.'</p> +<p>'What? I suppose be has bad his romance like other people--his little +episode, as my husband calls it.'</p> +<p>'Yes; and I am afraid we were accountable for it. You remember we were at +Harthope Castle for the first two years after I was married, while Rotherwood +was brought up to the requirements of the Victorian age.</p> +<p>The ---th was quartered at Harfield, within easy distance, and a splendid +looking fellow like Regie was invaluable to Victoria, whenever she wanted +anything to go off well. Well, in those days I had a ward, my mother's great +niece, Maude Conway. A pretty winsome creature it was, and an heiress in a +moderate sort of way, and poor old Redge, after all his little affairs, and he +had had his share of them, was evidently in for it at last. Victoria thought, as +well as myself, it was the best thing for them both. He was the sound-hearted, +good fellow to keep her matters straight, and she had enough for comfort without +overweighting the balance. So they were engaged but unluckily they had to wait +till she was of age, about eight months off, and they were both ridiculously +shy, and would not have the thing known, though Victoria said it was unwise. I +don't think even Jane suspected it.'</p> +<p>'No; I don't think she could have done so.'</p> +<p>'Well, there was the season, and Victoria was not in condition for going out, +and Maude was all for staying quietly with her; but old Lady Conway came +about--a regular schemer--a woman I never could abide. She had married off her +own daughters, and wanted her niece to practise on, that was the fact. Victoria +says she always knew that she, Maude I mean, was very impressionable and +impulsive, and so she wanted to have her out of harm's way; but one could not +prevent her aunt from getting hold of her and taking her out. Then people told +us of her goings on with that scamp Clanmacklosky and that sister of his. +Victoria talked to her by the yard, but she denied it, and we thought it all +gossip. Regie came up for a couple of nights, and she was as sweet on him as +ever, and sent him away thinking it all right; but the end of it was, she fought +off going down to Rotherwood with us, but went to Brighton with Lady Conway, and +the next thing we heard was that she wrote to throw Reginald over, and she +married Clanmacklosky a month after she was twenty-one! I don't think I ever saw +Victoria so cut up, for we had really liked the girl and thought well of her. To +this hour I believe it was all that woman's doing, and that poor Maude has +supped sorrow. She has lost all her good looks.'</p> +<p>'And Regie has never got over it?'</p> +<p>'Not so as to believe in a woman again.'</p> +<p>'He used to be rather a joke for susceptibility, and was still a regular boy +when we went out to Gibraltar. I thought him much graver.'</p> +<p>'Exactly; since that affair his soul has gone into his regiment. It's a wife +to him, and luckily he got his promotion in time, so as not to be shelved.'</p> +<p>'I suppose it was really an escape.'</p> +<p>'I don't know--she would have done very well in his hands. She is the sort of +woman to be as you make her, and even now is a world too good for Clan. Victoria +can never be quite cordial with her, but I can't see the poor harassed thing +without thinking what a sweet creature she once was, and wishing I'd had the +sense to look after her better. But what I came here for, Lily, was to say you +must let me have that Mysie of yours, since you won't come yourself to this +concern of ours. I'm afraid you won't think much good has come of us, but we +couldn't do the Country Mouse much harm in a fortnight; and you know it is the +wish of my heart that my lonely Fly should grow up on such terms with your flock +as Florence and I did with you all.'</p> +<p>He pleaded quite piteously, and he was backed up by a letter from his wife, +very grateful for her little Phyllis's happy visit, reiterating the invitation +to Lady Merrifield, and begging that if she still could not come herself, she +would at least send Jasper and Mysie for the Butterfly's Ball. Mysie's fancy +dress would be ready for her, only waiting for the final touches after it was +tried on. Lady Florence Devereux, too, was near at hand, and wrote to promise to +look after Mysie.</p> +<p>There was no refusing after this. Lady Florence was not far from being like a +sister to her cousins. She had tended her mother's old age, and had subsequently +settled down into the lady of all work of Rotherwood parish. Lady Merrifield had +much confidence in her, and indeed all she saw of Fly gave her a great respect +for Lady Rotherwood's management of her child. Harry was going to his uncle's at +Beechcroft for some shooting, and would bring Mysie home when Jasper went back +to school.</p> +<p>So Gillian was called to her mother's room to be told first of the +arrangement, which certainly in some aspects was rather hard on her.</p> +<p>'I could not help it, my dear,' said Lady Merrifield, 'without absolutely +asking for an invitation for you.'</p> +<p>'No, mamma; and it is Mysie who is Fly's friend, being the same age and all. +It is quite right, and I understand it.'</p> +<p>'My dear, I am so glad I can do such a thing as this. If there were small +jealousies among you, I could not venture on letting you be set aside, for I +know the disappointment was quite as great to you as to Mysie, when we gave it +up.'</p> +<p>'But she was better about it than I,' said Gillian; 'mamma, your trusting me +in that way is better than a dozen balls. Besides, I know I should hate being +there without you; I'm a great old thing, as Jasper says, neither fish nor fowl, +you know, not come out, and not a little girl in the schoolroom, and it would be +very horrid going to a grand place like that on one's own account.'</p> +<p>'That's right, Gillyflower. 'Tis very wholesome to discover the sourness of +the grapes. And as I think grandmamma is really coming, I shall want you at +home, and to look after Dolores.'</p> +<p>'That's the worst of it, mamma; I shall never get on with her as Mysie does.'</p> +<p>'We must do our best, for I do think really the poor child is improving.'</p> +<p>'Lessons will begin again! That's one comfort,' said Gillian, rather +quaintly, thinking of the length of time that Dolores would thus be off her +hands.</p> +<p>'And now call Mysie. I must speak to her.'</p> +<p>As for Mysie, she was in a state of rapture. She knew her bliss before her +mother had communicated it, for Lord Rotherwood could not refrain from telling +his daughter that consent was gained, and Fly darted headlong to embrace Mysie, +dance round her and rejoice. The boys declared that Mysie at once sprang into +the air like a chamois, and that her head touched the ceiling, but this is +believed to be a figment of Jasper's.</p> +<p>It was only on the summons to her mother's room that Mysie discovered that +Gillian was not going with her. It dimmed the lustre of her delight for a little +while, 'Oh, Gill, aren't you very sorry? You ought to have had the first turn.'</p> +<p>'Never mind, Mysie, you are Fly's friend,'--and the two sisters' looks at one +another at that moment were a real pleasure to their mother.</p> +<p>Mysie was of a less shy nature than Gillian, as well as at a less awkward +age, so that the visiting without her mother was less formidable, and she rushed +about wild with delight; but Dolores was very disconsolate.</p> +<p>'Every one I care for goes away and changes,' she said in her melancholy +little sentiment.</p> +<p>'But it's only for a fortnight, Dolly, I don't think I could change so fast.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, you will, among all those swells. You like Fly ever so much better +than me.'</p> +<p>Mysie looked grieved and puzzled, but then exclaimed, in the tone of a +discovery, 'There are different sorts of likings, Dolly, don't you see. I do +love Fly very much, but you know you are like a sort of almost twin sister to +me. I like her best, but I care about you most!'</p> +<p>With which curious distinction Dolores had to put up.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.<br> +A SADDER AND A WISER AUTHORESS.</h3> + +<p>Colonel Mohun took Wilfred to his school, which began its term earlier than +did Jasper's, and Silver-ton was wonderfully quiet. The elder Mrs. Merrifield +was not to come for nearly a week, so that it would have been possible for her +daughter-in-law to go to the Rotherwood festivities without interfering with her +visit, but this no one except Gillian and Mysie knew, and they kept the secret +well.</p> +<p>The departure of the boys was a great relief to Dolores. Her aunt did not +rank her with Valetta and Fergus, but let her consort with herself and Gillian, +and this suited her much better. Even Gillian allowed that she was ever so much +nicer when there was no one to tease her. It was true that Jasper certainly, and +perhaps Wilfred, would not have molested her if she had not offended the latter, +and offered herself as fair game; but Gillian, who had to forestall and prevent +their pranks, could not feel their absence quite the privation her sisterly +spirit usually did!</p> +<p>Valetta and Fergus were harmless without them, but they were forlorn, being +so much used to having their sports led by their two seniors that they hardly +knew what to do without them, and the entreaty, or rather the whine, 'I want +something to do,' was heard unusually often. This led to Gillian's being often +called off to attend to them during the course of wet days that ensued, and thus +Dolores was a good deal alone with her aunt, who was superintending her knitting +a pair of silk stockings to send out to her father, it was hoped in time for his +next birthday.</p> +<p>At the first proposal, Dolores looked dull and unwilling, and at last she +squeezed out, 'I don't think father will ever want me to do anything for him +again.'</p> +<p>'My poor child, do you think a father does not forgive and love all the more +one who is in deep sorrow for a fault?'</p> +<p>'I don't think my letter seemed sorry! I was not half so sorry then as I am +now,' then at a kind word from her aunt her eyes overflowed, and she said, 'No, +I wasn't; I didn't know how good you were, or how bad I was!'</p> +<p>And when Aunt Lily kissed her, she put her arms round the kind neck that bent +down to her, and laid her head against it, as if it was quite a rest to feel +that love. Her aunt encouraged her to write again to her father, and to try to +express something of her grief and entreaty for forgiveness, and she was +somewhat cheered after this; as though something of the load on her mind was +removed. One day she brought down all the books in her room and said, 'Please, +Aunt Lily, look at them, and let them be with the rest in the schoolroom, I want +to be just like the others.'</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield was much pleased with this surrender. Some of the books were +really well worth having and reading, indeed, the best of them she knew, but +there were eight or ten which she suspected of being what Mysie called silly +stories, and she kept them back to look over. She had been trying in this quiet +interval to get Dolly to read something besides mere childish stories for +recreation; and when she saw how well worn the story books were, and how +untouched the 'easy history,' and the books about animals and foreign countries +were, she saw why so clever a girl as Dolores seemed so stupid about everything +she had not learnt as a lesson, and entirely ignorant of English poetry.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield read to her and Gillian in the evenings, and how they did +enjoy it, and bemoaned the coming of grandmamma, to spoil their snugness and +occupy 'mamma.' For Dolores began so to call Lady Merrifield. She had never so +termed her own mother, and it seemed to her that with the words 'Aunt Lily' she +put away all sorts of foolish, sinister feelings.</p> +<p>'Mrs. Merrifield was a wonderful old lady, brisk of mind and body, though of +great age. She had been spending Christmas with her eldest son, the Admiral, at +Stokesley, and was going to take on her way the daughter-in-law, of whom she +knew but little in comparison; and with her she brought the granddaughter, +Elizabeth Merrifield, who--since her own daughter had died--generally lived with +her in London, to take care of her.</p> +<p>'It will be all company and horrid, and nobody will be allowed to make a +noise!' sighed Valetta to Fergus, as the waggonette, well shut up, drove to the +door.</p> +<p>'There's cousin Bessie,' said Fergus.</p> +<p>'Oh, cousin Bessie is thirty-four, and that is as bad as being as old as +grandmamma!'</p> +<p>And they hung back while the old lady was helped out, and brought across the +hall into the warm drawing-room before her fur cloak was taken off. There was a +quiet little person with her, and Val whispered, 'She'll be just like Aunt +Jane.'</p> +<p>But the eyes that Bessie turned on her cousins were not at an like Aunt +Jane's little searching black ones. They were of a dark shade of grey, and had a +wonderful softness and sweetness in them. Gillian knew her a little already, but +very little, for there had always been the elder sisters at their former short +meetings. Mamma lamented that there should be so few grandchildren at home to be +shown, though, as she said, 'the full number might have been too noisy.'</p> +<p>Grandmamma shook her head. 'I like the house full,' she said, 'I'm all right, +but it is a pity to see the nest emptied, like Stokesley, now. Nobody left at +home but Susan and little Sally! Make the most of them while you have them about +you!'</p> +<p>The old lady was quite delighted to find Primrose so nearly a baby, and to +have one grandchild still quite as small or smaller than some of her great +grandchildren whom she had never seen. Her great pleasure, however, soon proved +to be in talking about her son Jasper, and hearing all his wife could tell her +about his life in India; and as Lady Merrifield liked no other subject so well, +they were very happy together, and quite absorbed.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Bessie made herself a companion to Gillian and Dolores, and though +so much older, seemed to consider herself as a girl like them. Then, living for +the most part in town, she could talk about London matters to Dolly, and this +was a great treat, while yet she had country tastes enough to suit Gillian, and +was not in the least afraid of a long walk to the fir plantations to pick up +Weymouth pine cones, and the still more precious pinaster ones.</p> +<p>For the first time Gillian began to see Dolores as Uncle Reginald used to +know her, free from that heavy mist of sullen dislike to everything and +everybody. It seemed to bring them together, but, in spite of Bessie's charms, +they both continually missed Mysie, out of doors and in, in schoolroom and +drawing-room, and, above all, in Dolly's bedroom. She seemed to be, as Gillian +told Bessie, 'a sort of family cement, holding the two ends, big and little, +together;' and Bessie responded that her elder sister Susan was one of that +sort.</p> +<p>The evenings now were quite unlike the usual ones. Dinner was late, and the +two girls came down to it. Afterwards the young ones sat round the fire in the +hall, where Bessie, who was a wonderful story-teller, kept Fergus and Valetta +quiet and delighted, either with invented tales or histories of the feats of her +own brothers and sisters, who were so much older than their Silverton first +cousins as to be like an elder generation.</p> +<p>When the two young ones were gone to bed, the others came into the +drawing-room, where mamma and grandmamma were to be found, either going over +papa's letters, or else Mrs. Merrifield talking about her Stokesley +grandchildren, the same whose pranks Bessie had just been telling, so that it +was not easy to believe in Sam, a captain in the navy. Harry and John farming in +Canada, David working as a clergy-man in the Black Country, George in. a +government office, Anne a clergyman's wife, and mother to the great +grandchildren who were always being compared to Primrose, Susan keeping her +father's house, and Sarah, though as old as Alethea, still treated as the +youngest--the child of the family.</p> +<p>The bits of conversation came to the girls as they sat over their work, and +Bessie would join in, and tell interesting things, till she saw that grandmamma +was ready for her nap, and then one or other gave a little music, during which +Dolly's bed-time generally came.</p> +<p>'You can't think how grateful I am to you for helping to brighten up that +poor child in a wholesome way!' said Lady Merrifield to Bessie, under cover of +Gillian's performance.</p> +<p>'One can't help being very sorry for her,' said Elizabeth, who knew what was +hanging over Dolly.</p> +<p>'Yes, it is a terrible punishment, especially as she has a certain affection +for her step-uncle, or whatever he should be called, for her mother's sake. It +really was a perplexed situation.'</p> +<p>'But why did she not consult you?'</p> +<p>'Do you know, I think I have found out. She held aloof from us all, and +treated us--especially me--as if we were her natural enemies, and I never could +guess what was the reason till the other day; she voluntarily gave me up all her +books to be looked over and put into the common stock, which you saw in the +schoolroom.'</p> +<p>'You look over all the children's books?'</p> +<p>'Yes. While we were wandering, they did not get enough to make it a very +arduous task, and now I find that they want weeding. If children read nothing +but a multitude of stories rather beneath their capacity, they are likely never +to exert themselves to anything beyond novel reading.'</p> +<p>'That is quite true, I believe.'</p> +<p>'Well, among this literature of Dolly's I found no less than four stories +based on the cruelty and injustice suffered by orphans from their aunts. The +wicked step-mothers are gone out, and the barbarous aunts are come in. It is the +stock subject. I really think it is cruel, considering that there are many +children who have to be adopted into uncles' families, to add to their distress +and terror, by raising this prejudice. Just look at this one'--taking up Dolly's +favourite, 'Clare; or No Home'--'it is not at all badly written, which makes it +all the worse.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Aunt Lilias,' cried Bessie, whose colour had been rising all this time. +'How shall I tell you? I wrote it!'</p> +<p>'You! I never guessed you did anything in that line.'</p> +<p>'We don't talk about it. My father knows, and so does grandmamma, in a way; +but I never bring it before her if I can help it, for she does not half like the +notion. But, indeed, they aren't all as bad as that! I know now there is a great +deal of silly imitation in it; but I never thought of doing harm in this way. It +is a punishment for thoughtlessness,' cried poor Bessie, reddening desperately, +and with tears in her eyes.</p> +<p>'My dear, I am so sorry I said it! If I bad not one of these aunts, I should +think it a very effective story.'</p> +<p>'I'm afraid that's so much the worse! Let me tell you about it, Aunt Lilias. +At home, they always laughed at me for my turn for dismalities.'</p> +<p>'I believe one always has such a turn when one is young.'</p> +<p>'Well, when I went to live with grandmamma, it was very different from the +houseful at home, I had so much time on my hands, and I took to dreaming and +writing because I could not help it, and all my stories were fearfully doleful. +I did not think of publishing them for ever so long, but at last when David +terribly wanted some money for his mission church, I thought I would try, and +this Clare was about the best. They took it, and gave me five pounds for it, and +I was so pleased and never thought of its doing harm, and now I don't know how +much more mischief it may have done!'</p> +<p>'You only thought of piling up the agony! But don't be unhappy about it. You +don't know how many aunts it may have warned.'</p> +<p>'I'm afraid aunts are not so impressionable as nieces. And, indeed, among +ourselves story-books seemed quite outside from life, we never thought of +getting any ideas from them any more than from Bluebeard.'</p> +<p>'So it has been with some of mine, while, on the other hand, Dolores seemed +to Mysie an interesting story-book heroine--which indeed she is, rather too much +so. But you have not stood still with Clare.'</p> +<p>'No, I hope I have grown rather more sensible. David set me to do stories for +his lads, and, as he is dreadfully critical, it was very improving.'</p> +<p>'Did you write "Kate's Jewel"? That is delightful. Aunt Jane gave it to +Val this Christmas, and all of us have enjoyed it! We shall be quite proud of +it--that is--may I tell the children?'</p> +<p>'Oh, aunt, you are very good to try to make me forget that miserable Clare. I +wonder whether it will do any good to tell Dolores all about it. Only I can't +get at all the other girls I may have hurt.'</p> +<p>'Nay, Bessie, I think it most likely that Dolores would have been an +uncomfortable damsel, even if Clare had remained in your brain. There were other +causes, at any rate, here are three more persecuted nieces in her library. +Besides, as you observed, everybody does not go to story-books for views of +human nature, and happily, also, homeless children are commoner in books than +out of them, so I don't think the damage can be very extensive.'</p> +<p>'One such case is quite enough! Indeed, it is a great lesson to think whether +what one writes can give any wrong notion.'</p> +<p>'I believe one always does begin with imitation.'</p> +<p>'Yes, it is extraordinary how little originality there is in the world. In +the literature of my time, everybody had small hands and high foreheads, the +girls wanted to do great things, and did, or did not do, little ones, and the +boys all took first classes, and the fashion was to have violet eyes, so dark +you could not tell their colour, and golden hair.'</p> +<p>'Whereas now the hair is apt to be bronze, whatever that may be like.'</p> +<p>'And all the dresses, and all the complexions, and all the lace, and all the +roses, are creamy. Bessie, I hope you don't deal in creaminess!'</p> +<p>'I'm afraid skim milk is more like me, and that you would say I had taken to +the goody line. I never thought of the responsibility then, only when I wrote +for David's classes.'</p> +<p>'It is a responsibility, I suppose, in the way in which every word one speaks +and every letter one writes is so. And now--here is Gillian finishing her piece. +How far is it a secret, my dear.'</p> +<p>'It need not be so here, Aunt Lilias. Only my people are rather +old-fashioned, you know, and are inclined to think it rather shocking of me, so +it ought not to go beyond the family, and especially don't 'let her,' indicating +her grandmother, 'hear about it. She knows I do such things--it would not be +honest not to tell her--but it goes against the grain, and she has never heard +one word of it all.'</p> +<p>It appeared that Bessie daily read the psalms and lessons to grandmamma, +followed up by a sermon. Then, with her wonderful eyes, Mrs. Merrifield read the +newspaper from end to end, which lasted her till luncheon, then came a drive in +the brougham, followed by a rest in her own room, dinner, and then Bessie read +her to sleep with a book of travels or biography, of the old book-club class of +her youth. Her principles were against novels, and the tale she viewed as only +fit for children.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield could not help thinking what a dull life it must be for +Bessie, a woman full of natural gifts and of great powers of enjoyment, +accustomed to a country home and a large family, and she said something of the +kind. 'I did not like it at first,' said Bessie, 'but I have plenty of +occupations now, besides all these companions that I've made for myself, or that +came to me, for I think they come of themselves.'</p> +<p>'But what time have you to yourself?'</p> +<p>'Grandmamma does not want me till half-past ten in the morning, except for a +little visit. And she does not mind my writing letters while she is reading the +paper, provided I am ready to answer anything remarkable. I am quite the family +newsmonger! Then there's always from four to half-past six when I can go out if +I like. There's a dear old governess of ours living not far off, and we have +nice little expeditions together. And you know it is nice to be at the family +headquarters in London, and have every one dropping in.'</p> +<p>'Oh dear! how good you are to like going on like that,' said Gillian, who had +come up while this was passing; 'I should eat my heart out; you must be made up +of contentment.'</p> +<p>Elizabeth held up her hand in warning lest her grandmother should be wakened, +but she laughed and said, 'My brothers would tell you I used to be Pipy Bet. But +that dear old governess. Miss Fosbrook, was the making of me, and taught me how +to be jolly like Mark Tapley among the rattlesnakes,' she finished, looking +drolly up to Gillian.</p> +<p>'And, Gill, you don't know what Bessie has made her companions instead of the +rattlesnakes,' said Lady Merrifield. 'What do you think of "Kate's Jewel?"'</p> +<p>Gillian's astonishment and rapture actually woke grandmamma; not that she +made much noise, but there was a disturbing force about her excitement; and the +subject had to be abandoned.</p> +<p>As the great secret might be shared with Dolores, though not with the younger +ones, whose discretion could not be depended upon, Gillian could enter upon it +the more freely, though she was rather disappointed that an author was not such +an extraordinary sight to Dolly as to herself. But it was charming to both that +Bessie let them look at the proofs of the story she was publishing in a +magazine; and allowed them as well as mamma, to read the manuscript of the tale, +romance, or novel, whichever it was to be called, on which she wished for her +aunt's opinion.</p> +<p>Bessie took care, when complying with the girls' entreaty, that she would +tell them all she had written; to observe that, she thought 'Clare' a very +foolish book indeed, and that she wished heartily she had never written it. +Gillian asked why she had done it?</p> +<p>'Oh,' said Dolores, 'things aren't interesting unless something horrid +happens, or some one is frightened, or very miserable.'</p> +<p>'I like things best just and exactly as they really are--or were,' said +Gillian.</p> +<p>'The question between sensation and character,' said Bessie to her aunt. 'I +suppose that, on the whole, it is the few who are palpably affected by the mass +of fiction in the world; but that it is needful to take good care that those few +gather at least no harm from one's work--to be faithful in it, in fact, like +other things.'</p> +<p>And there was no doubt that Bessie had been faithful in her work ever since +she had realized her vocation. Her lending library books, written with a +purpose, were excellent, and were already so much valued by Miss Hacket, that +Gillian thought how once she should have felt it a privation not to be allowed +to tell her whence they came; but to her surprise on the Sunday, instead of the +constraint with which of late she had been treated at tea-time, the eager +inquiry was made whether this was really the authoress, Miss Merrifield?</p> +<p>Secrets are not kept as well as people think. The Hackets' married sister was +a neighbour of Bessie's married sister, and through these ladies it had just +come round, not only who was the author of 'Charlie's Whistle,' etc., but that +she wrote in the ---- Magazine, and was in the neighbourhood.</p> +<p>All offences seemed to be forgotten in the burning desire for an introduction +to this marvel of success. Constance had made the most of her opportunities in +gazing at church; but if she called, would she be introduced?</p> +<p>'Of course,' said Gillian, 'if my cousin is in the room.' She spoke rather +coldly and gravely, and Miss Hacket exclaimed--</p> +<p>'I know we have been a little remiss, my dear, I hope Lady Merrifield was not +offended.'</p> +<p>'Mamma is never offended,' said Gillian--'but, I do think, and so would she +and all of us, that if Constance comes, she ought to treat Dolores Mohun--as--as +usual.'</p> +<p>The two sisters were silent, perhaps from sheer amazement at this outbreak of +Gillian's, who had never seemed particularly fond of her cousin. Gillian was +quite as much surprised at herself, but something seemed to drive her on, with +flaming cheeks. 'Dolores is half broken-hearted about it all. She did not +thoroughly know how wrong it was; and it does make her miserable that the one +who went along with her in it should turn against her, and cut her and all.'</p> +<p>'Connie never meant to keep it up, I'm sure,' said Miss Hacket; 'but she was +very much hurt.'</p> +<p>'So was Dolly,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'Is she so fond of me?' said Constance, in a softened tone.</p> +<p>'She was,' replied Gillian.</p> +<p>'I'm sure,' said Miss Hacket, 'our only wish is to forget and forgive as +Christians. Lady Merrifield has behaved most handsomely, and it is our most +earnest wish that this unfortunate transaction should be forgotten.'</p> +<p>'And I'm sure I'm willing to overlook it all,' said Constance. 'One must have +scrapes, you know; but friendship will triumph over all.'</p> +<p>Gillian did not exactly wish to unravel this fine sentiment, and was glad +that the little G.F.S. maid came in with the tea.</p> +<p>Lady Merrifield was a good deal diverted with Gillian's report, and invited +the two sisters to luncheon on the plea of their slight acquaintance with +Anne--otherwise Mrs. Daventry--with a hint in the note not to compliment Mrs. +Merrifield on Elizabeth's production.</p> +<p>Then Dolores had to be prepared to receive any advance from Constance. She +looked disgusted at first, and then, when she heard that Gillian had spoken her +mind, said, 'I can't think why you should care.'</p> +<p>'Of course I care, to have Constance behaving so ill to one of us.'</p> +<p>'Do you think me one of you, Gillian?'</p> +<p>'Who, what else are you?'</p> +<p>And Dolores held up her face for a kiss, a heartier one than had ever passed +between the cousins. There was no kiss between the quondam friends, but they +shook hands with perfect civility, and no stranger would have guessed their +former or their present terms from their manner. In fact, Constance was +perfectly absorbed in the contemplation of the successful authoress, the object +of her envy and veneration, and only wanted to forget all the unpleasantness +connected with the dark head on the opposite side of the table.</p> +<p>'Oh Miss Merrifield,' she asked, in an interval afterwards, when hats were +being put on, 'bow do you make them take your things?'</p> +<p>'I don't know,' said Bessie, smiling. 'I take all the pains I can, and try to +make them useful.'</p> +<p>'Useful, but that's so dull--and the critics always laugh at things with a +purpose.'</p> +<p>'But I don't think that is a reason for not trying to do good, even in this +very small and uncertain way. Indeed,' she added, earnestly. 'I have no right to +speak, for I have made great mistakes; but I wanted to tell you that the one +thing I did get published, which was not written conscientiously--as I may +say--but only to work out a silly, sentimental fancy, has brought me pain and +punishment by the harm I know I did.'</p> +<p>This was a very new idea to Constance, and she actually carried it away with +her. The visit had restored the usual terms of intercourse with the Hackets, +though there was no resumption of intimacy such as there had been, between +Constance and Dolores. It had, however, done much to make the latter feel that +the others considered themselves one with them, and there was something that +drew them together in the universal missing of Mysie, and eagerness for her +letters.</p> +<p>These were, however, rather disappointing. Mysie had not a genius for +correspondence, and dealt in very bare facts. There was an enclosure which made +Lady Merrifield somewhat anxious:</p> + +<p>'My Dear Mamma,</p> +<p>'This is for you all by yourself. I have been in sad mischief, for I broke +the conservatory and a palm-tree with my umbrella; and I did still worse, for I +broke my promise and told all about what you told me never to. I will tell you +all when I come home, and I hope you will forgive me. I wish I was at home. It +is very horrid when they say one is good and one knows one is not; but I am very +happy, and Lord Rotherwood is nicer than ever, and so is Fly.</p> +<p>'I am your affectionate and penitent and dutiful little daughter,</p> +<p>'MARIA MILLICENT MERRIFIELD.'</p> + +<p>With all mamma's intuitive knowledge of her little daughter's mind and forms +of expression, she was puzzled by this note and the various fractures it +described. She obeyed its injunctions of secrecy, even with regard to Gillian +and Bessie, though she could not help wishing that the latter could have seen +and judged of her Mysie.</p> +<p>Grandmamma was somewhat disappointed to have missed her eldest grandson, but +she was obliged to leave Silverton two days before his return with his little +sister. She had certainly escaped the full tumult of the entire household, but +Bessie observed that she suspected that it might have been preferred to the +general quiescence.</p> +<p>In spite of all the regrets that Bessie's more coeval cousins, Alethea and +Phyllis were not at home, she and her aunt each felt that a new friendship had +been made, and that they understood each other, and Bessie had uttered her +resolution henceforth always to think of the impression for good or evil +produced on the readers, as well as of the effectiveness of her story. 'Little +did I suppose that 'Clare' would add to any one's difficulties,' she said, +'still less to yours, Aunt Lilias.'</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XX.<br> +CONFESSIONS OF A COUNTRY MOUSE.</h3> + +<p>Here were the travellers at home again, and Mysie clinging to her mother, +with, 'Oh, Mamma!' and a look of perfect rest. They arrived at the same time as +Dolores had come, so late that Mysie was tired out, and only half awake. She was +consigned to Mrs. Halfpenny after her first kiss, but as she passed along the +corridor, a door was thrown back, and a white figure sprang upon her. 'Oh, +Mysie! Mysie!' and in spite of the nurse's chidings, held her fast in an embrace +of delight. Dolores had been lying awake watching for her, and implored +permission at least to look on while she was going to bed!</p> +<p>Harry meanwhile related his experiences to his mother and Gillian over the +supper-table. The Butterfly's Ball had been a great success. He had never seen +anything prettier in his life. Plants and lights had been judiciously disposed +so as to make the hall a continuation of the conservatory, almost a fairy land, +and the children in their costumes had been more like fairies than flesh and +blood, pinafore and bread-and-butter beings. There was a most perfect tableau at +the opening of the scenery constructed with moss and plants, so as to form a +bower, where the Butterfly and Grasshopper, with their immediate attendants, +welcomed their company, and afterwards formed the first quadrille, Lady Phyllis, +with Mysie and two other little girls staying in the house, being the +butterflies, and Lord Ivinghoe and three more boys of the same ages, the +grasshoppers, in pages' dresses of suitable colours.</p> +<p>'I never thought,' said Harry, 'that our little brown mouse would come out so +pretty or so swell.'</p> +<p>'She wanted to be the dormouse,' said Gillian.</p> +<p>'That was impracticable. They were all heath butterflies of different sorts, +wings very correctly coloured and dresses to correspond. Phyllis the ringlet +with the blue lining, Mysie, the blue one, little Lady Alberta, the orange-tip, +and the other child the burnet moth.'</p> +<p>'How did Mysie dance?'</p> +<p>'Very fairly, if she had not looked so awfully serious. The dancing-mistress, +French, of course, had trained them, it was more ballet than quadrille, and they +looked uncommonly pretty. Uncle William granted that, though he grumbled at the +whole concern as nonsense, and wondered you should send your nice little girl +into it to have her head turned.'</p> +<p>'Do you think she was happy?'</p> +<p>'Oh, yes, of course. She always is, but she was in prodigious spirits when we +started to come home. Lady Rotherwood said I was to tell you that no child could +be more truthful and conscientious. Still somehow she did not look like the +swells. Except that once, when she was got up regardless of expense for the +ball, she always had the country mouse look about her. She hadn't--'</p> +<p>'The 'Jenny Say Caw,' as Macrae calls it?' said his mother. 'Well, I can +endure that! You need not look so disgusted, Gill. You didn't hear of her +getting into any scrape, did you?'</p> +<p>'No,' said Hal. 'Stay, I believe she did break some glass or other, and +blurted out her confession in full assembly, but I was over at Beechcroft, and I +am happy to say I didn't see her.'</p> +<p>Mysie's tap came early to her mother's door the next morning, and it was in +the midst of her toilette that Lady Merrifield was called on to hear the +confession that had been weighing on the little girl's mind.</p> +<p>'I was too sleepy to tell you last night, mamma, but I did want to do so.'</p> +<p>'Well, then, my dear, begin at the beginning, for I could not understand your +letter.'</p> +<p>'The beginning was, mamma, that we had just come in from our walk, and we +went out into the schoolroom balcony, because we could see round the corner who +was coming up the drive. And we began playing at camps, with umbrellas up as +tents. Ivinghoe, and Alberta, and I. Ivy was general, and I was the sentry, with +my umbrella shut up, and over my shoulder. I was the only one who knew how to +present arms. I heard something coming, and called out, 'Who goes there?' and +Alberta jumped up in such a hurry that the points other tent--her umbrella, I +mean--scratched my face, and before I could recover arms, over went my umbrella, +perpendicular, straight smash through the glass of the conservatory, and we +heard it.'</p> +<p>'And what did you do? Of course you told!'</p> +<p>"Oh yes! I jumped up and said, 'I'll go and tell Lady Rotherwood.' I +knew I must before I got into a fright, and Ivinghoe said I couldn't then, and +he would speak to his mother and make it easy for me, and Ply says he really +meant it; but I thought then that's the way the bad ones always get the others +into concealments and lies. So I wouldn't listen a moment, and I ran down, with +him after me, saying, 'Hear reason, Mysie.' And I ran full butt up against +some-body--Lord Ormersfield it was, I found--but I didn't know then. I only said +something about begging pardon, and dashed on, and opened the door. I saw a +whole lot of fine people all at five-o'clock tea, but I couldn't stop to get +more frightened, and I went up straight to Lady Rotherwood and said, 'Please, I +did it.' Mamma do you think I ought not?"</p> +<p>'There are such things as fit places and times, my dear. What did she say?'</p> +<p>"At first she just said, 'My dear, I cannot attend to you now, run +away;' but then in the midst, a thought seemed to strike her, and she said, +rather frightened, 'Is any one hurt?' and I said, Oh no; only my umbrella has +gone right through the roof of the conservatory, and I thought I ought to come +and tell her directly. 'That was the noise,' said some of the people, and +everybody got up and went to look. And there were Fly and Ivy, who had got in +some other way, and the umbrella was sticking right upright in the top of one of +those palm-trees with leaves like screens, and somebody said it was a new +development of fruit. Lady Rotherwood asked them what they were doing there, and +Ivy said they had come to see what harm was done. Dear Fly ran up to her and +said, 'We were all at play together, mother; it was not one more than another;' +but Lady Rotherwood only said, 'That's enough, Phyllis, I will come to you +by-and-by in the schoolroom,' and she would have sent us away if Cousin +Rotherwood himself had not come in just then, and asked what was the matter. I +heard some of the answers; they were very odd, mamma. One was, 'A storm of +umbrellas and of untimely confessions;' and another was, 'Truth in +undress.'"</p> +<p>'Oh, my dear? I hope you were fit to be seen?'</p> +<p>'I forgot about that, mamma, I had taken off my ulster, and had my little +scarlet flannel underbody, so as to make a better soldier.'</p> +<p>'Oh!' groaned Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>"And then that dear, good Fly gave a jump and flew at him, and said, +'Oh, daddy, daddy, it's Mysie, and she has been telling the truth like--like +Frank, or Sir Thomas More, or George Washington, or anybody.' She really did say +so, mamma.'</p> +<p>'I can quite believe it of her, Mysie! And how did Cousin Rotherwood +respond?'</p> +<p>'He sat down upon one of the seats, and took Fly on one knee and me on the +other, though we were big for it--just like papa, you know--and made us tell him +all about it. Lady Rotherwood got the others out of the way somehow--I don't +know how, for my back was that way, and I think Ivinghoe went after them, but +there was some use in talking to Cousin Rotherwood; he has got some sense, and +knows what one means, as if he was at the dear, nice playing age, and Ivinghoe +was his stupid old father in a book.'</p> +<p>'Exactly,' said Lady Merrifield, delighted, and longing to laugh.</p> +<p>'But that was the worst of it,' said Mysie, sadly; 'he was so nice that I +said all sorts of things I didn't mean or ought to have said. I told him I would +pay for the glass if he would only wait till we had helped Dolores pay for those +books that the cheque was for, because the man came alive again, after her +wicked uncle said he was dead, and so somehow it all came out; how you made up +to Miss Constance and couldn't come to the Butterfly's Ball for want of new +dresses.'</p> +<p>'Oh, Mysie, you should not have said that! I thought you were to be trusted!'</p> +<p>'Yes, mamma, I know,' said Mysie, meekly. 'I recollected as soon as I had +said it; and told him, and he kissed me and promised he would never tell anyone, +and made Fly promise that she never would. But I have been so miserable about it +ever since, mamma; I tried to write it in a letter, but I am afraid you didn't +half understand.'</p> +<p>'I only saw that something was on your mind, my dear. Now that is all over, I +do not so much mind Cousin Rotherwood's knowing, he has always been so like a +brother; but I do hope both he and Fly will keep their word. I am more sorry for +my little girl's telling than about his knowing.'</p> +<p>'And Ivinghoe said my running in that way on all the company was worse than +breaking the glass or the palm-tree. Was it, mamma?'</p> +<p>'Well, you know, Mysie, there is a time for all things, and very likely it +vexed Lady Rotherwood more to be invaded by such a little wild colt.'</p> +<p>'But not Cousin Rotherwood himself, mamma,' said Mysie, 'for he said I was +quite right, and an honourable little fellow, just like old times. And so I told +Ivy. And he said in such a way, 'Every one knew what his father was.' So I told +him his father was ten thousand times nicer than ever he would be if be lived a +hundred years, and I could not bear him if he talked in that wicked, +disrespectful way, and Fly kissed me for it, mamma, and said her daddy was worth +a hundred of such a prig as he was.'</p> +<p>'My dear, I am afraid neither you nor Fly showed your good manners.'</p> +<p>'It was only Ivinghoe, mamma, and I'm sure I don't care what he thinks, if he +could talk of his father in that way. Isn't it what you call +metallical--no--ironical?'</p> +<p>'Indeed, Mysie, I don't wonder it made you very angry, and I can't be sorry +you showed your indignation.'</p> +<p>'But please, mamma, what ought I to have done about the glass?'</p> +<p>'I don't quite know; I think a very wise little girl might have gone to +Cousin Florence's room and consulted her. It would have been better than making +an explosion before so many people. Florence was kind to you, I hope.'</p> +<p>'Oh yes, mamma, it was almost like being at home in her room; and she has +such a dear little house at the end of the park.'</p> +<p>A good deal more oozed out from Mysie to different auditors at different +times. By her account everything was delightful, and yet mamma concluded that +all had not absolutely fulfilled the paradisiacal expectation with which her +country mouse had viewed Rotherwood from afar. Lady Rotherwood was very kind, +and so was the governess, and Cousin Florence especially. Cousin Florence's +house felt just like a bit of home. It really was the dearest little house--and +fluffy cat and kittens, and the sweetest love birds. It was perfectly delicious +when they drank tea there, but unluckily she was not allowed to go thither +without the governess or Louise, as it was all across the park, and a bit of +village.</p> +<p>And Fly? Oh, Fly was always dear and good and funny; but there was Alberta to +be attended to, and other little girls sometimes, and it was not like having her +here at home; nor was there any making a row in the galleries, nor playing at +anything really jolly, though the great pillars in the hall seemed made for +tying cords to make a spider's web. It was always company, except when Cousin +Rotherwood called them into his den for a little fun. But he had gentlemen to +entertain most of the time, and the only day that he could have taken them to +see the farm and the pheasants, Lady Rotherwood said that Phyllis was a little +hoarse and must not get a cold before the ball.</p> +<p>And as to the Butterfly's Ball itself? Imagination had depicted a splendid +realization of the verses, and it was flat to find it merely a children's fancy +ball, no acting at all, only dancing, and most of the children not attempting +any characteristic dress, only with some insect attached to head or shoulder; +nothing approaching to the fun of the rehearsal at Silverton, as indeed Fly had +predicted. The only attempt at representation had cost Mysie more trouble than +pleasure, for the training to dance together had been a difficult and wearisome +business. Two of the grass-hoppers had been greatly displeased about it, and +called it a beastly shame, words much shocking gentle Mysie from aristocratic +lips. One of them had been as sulky, angry, and impracticable as possible, just +like a log, and the other had consoled himself with all manner of tricks, +especially upon the teacher and on Ivinghoe. He would skip like a real +grasshopper, he made faces that set all laughing, he tripped Ivinghoe up, he +uttered saucy speeches that Mysie considered too shocking to repeat, but which +convulsed every one with laughter, Fly most especially, and her governess had +punished her for it. 'She would not punish me,' said Mysie, 'though I know I was +just as bad, and I think that was a shame!' At last the practising had to be +carried on without the boys, and yet, when it came to the point, both the +recusants behaved as well and danced as suitably as if they had submitted to the +training like their sisters! And oh! the dressing, that was worse.</p> +<p>'I did not think I was so stupid,' said Mysie, 'but I heard Louise tell +mademoiselle that I was trop bourgeoise, and mademoiselle answered that I was +plutot petite paysanne, and would never have l'air de distinction.</p> +<p>'Abominable impertinence!' cried Gillian.</p> +<p>"They thought I did not understand,' said Mysie, 'and I knew it was fair +to tell them, so I said, 'Mais non, car je suis la petite souris de +compagne.'"</p> +<p>'Well done, Mysie!' cried her sister.</p> +<p>'They did jump, and Louise began apologizing in a perfect gabble, and +mademoiselle said I had de l'esprit, but I am sure I did not mean it.'</p> +<p>'But how could they?' exclaimed Gillian. 'I'm sure Mysie looks like a lady, a +gentleman's child--I mean as much as Fly or any one else.'</p> +<p>'I trust you all look like gentlewomen, and are such in refinement and +manners, but there is an air, which comes partly of birth, partly of breeding, +and that none of you, except, perhaps, Alethea, can boast of, and about which +papa and I don't care one rush.'</p> +<p>'Has Fly got it, mamma?' said Valetta. 'She seemed like one of ourselves.'</p> +<p>'Oh, yes,' put in Dolores. 'It was what made me think her stuck up. I should +have known her for a swell anywhere.'</p> +<p>'I'm sure Fly has no airs!' exclaimed Val, hotly, and Gillian was ready to +second her; but Lady Merrifield explained. 'The absence of airs is one +ingredient, Val, both in being ladylike, and in the distinction in which the +maid justly perceived our Mouse to be deficient. Come, you foolish girls, don't +look concerned. Nobody but the maid would have ever let Mysie perceive the +difference.'</p> +<p>Mysie coloured and answered, 'I don't know; I saw the Fitzhughs look at me at +first as if they did not think I belonged, and Ivinghoe was always so awfully +polite that I thought he was laughing at me.'</p> +<p>'Ivinghoe must be horrid,' broke out Valetta.</p> +<p>'The Fitzhughs said they would knock it out of him at Eton,' returned Mysie. +'They got very nice after the first day, and said Fly and I were twice as jolly +fellows as he was.'</p> +<p>It further appeared that Mysie had had plenty of partners at the ball, and on +all occasions her full share of notice, the country neighbours welcoming her as +her mother's daughter, but most of them saying she was far more like her Aunt +Phyllis than her own mother. The dancing and excitement so late at night had, +however, tired her overmuch, she had cramp all the remainder of the night, could +eat no breakfast the next day, and was quite miserable.</p> +<p>'I should like to have cried for you, mamma' she said, 'but they were all +quite used to it, and not a bit tired. However, Cousin Florence came in, and she +was so kind. She took me to the little west room, and made me lie on the sofa, +and read to me till I went to sleep, and I was all right after dinner and had a +ride on Fly's old pony, Dormouse. She has the loveliest new one, all bay, with a +black mane and tail, called Fairy, but Alberta had that. Oh it was so nice.'</p> +<p>Altogether Lady Merrifield was satisfied that her little girl had not been +spoilt for home by her taste of dissipation, though she did not hear the further +confidence to Dolores in the twilight by the schoolroom fire.</p> +<p>'Do you know, Dolly, though Fly is such a darling, and they all wanted to be +kind as well as they knew how, I came to understand how horrid you must have +felt when you came among the whole lot of us.'</p> +<p>'But you knew Fly already?'</p> +<p>'That made it better, but I don't like it. To feel one does not belong, and +to be afraid to open a door for fear it should be somebody's room, and not quite +to know who every one is. Oh, dear! it is enough to make anybody cross and +stupid. Oh, I am so glad to be back again.'</p> +<p>'I'm sure I am glad you are,' and there was a little kissing match. 'You'll +always come to my room, won't you? Do you know, when Constance came to luncheon, +I only shook hands, I wouldn't try to kiss her. Was that unforgiving?'</p> +<p>'I am sure I couldn't,' said Mysie; 'did she try?'</p> +<p>'I don't think so; I don't think I ever could kiss her; for I never should +have said what was not true without her, and that is what makes Uncle Reginald +so angry still. He would not kiss me even when he went away. Oh, Mysie! that's +worse than anything,' and Dolores's face contracted with tears very near at +hand. 'I did always so love Uncle Regie, and he won't forgive me, and father +will be just the same.'</p> +<p>'Poor dear, dear Dolly,' said Mysie, hugging her.</p> +<p>'But you know fathers always forgive, and we will try and make a little +prayer about it, like the Prodigal Son's, you know.'</p> +<p>'I don't blow properly,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'I think I can say him,' said Mysie, and the little girls sat with enfolded +arms, while Mysie reverently went through the parable.</p> +<p>'But he had been very wicked indeed,' objected Dolores, 'what one calls +dissipated. Isn't that making too much of such things as girls like us can do.'</p> +<p>'I don't know,' said Mysie, knitting her young brows; 'you see if we are as +bad as ever we can be while we are at home, it is really and truly as bad in us +ourselves as in shocking people that run away, because it shows we might have +done anything if we had not been taken care of. And the poor son felt as if he +could not be pardoned, which is just what you do feel.'</p> +<p>'Aunt Lily forgives me,' said Dolores, wistfully.</p> +<p>'And your father will, I'm sure,' said Mysie, 'though he is yet a great way +off. And as to Uncle Regie, I do wish something would happen that you could tell +the truth about. If you had only broken the palm-tree instead of me, and I +didn't do right even about that! But if any mischief does happen, or accident, I +promise you, Dolly, you shall have the telling of it, if you have had ever so +little to do with it, and then mamma will write to Uncle Regie that you have +proved yourself truthful.'</p> +<p>Dolores did not seem much consoled by this curious promise, and Mysie's +childishness suddenly gave way to something deeper. 'I suppose,' she said, 'if +one is true, people find it out and trust one.'</p> +<p>'People can't see into one,' said Dolly.</p> +<p>'Mamma says there is a bright side and a dark side from which to look at +everybody and everything,' said Mysie.</p> +<p>'I know that,' said Dolores; 'I looked at the dark side of you all when I +came here.'</p> +<p>'Some day,' said Mysie, 'your bright side will come round to Uncle Regie, as +it has to us, you dear, dear old Dolly.'</p> +<p>'But do you know, Mysie,' whispered Dolores, in her embrace, 'there's +something more dreadful that I'm very much afraid of. Do you know there hasn't +been a letter from father since he was staying with Aunt Phyllis--not to me, nor +Aunt Jane, nor anybody!'</p> +<p>'Well, he couldn't write when he was at sea, I mean there wasn't any post.'</p> +<p>'It would not take so long as this to get to Fiji; and besides. Uncle Regie +telegraphed to ask about that dreadful cheque, and there hasn't been any answer +at all.'</p> +<p>'Perhaps he is gone about sailing somewhere in the Pacific Ocean; I heard +Uncle William saying so to Cousin Rotherwood.' He said, 'Maurice is not a fellow +to resist a cruise.'</p> +<p>'Then they are thinking about it. They are anxious.'</p> +<p>'Not very,' said Mysie, 'for they think he is sure to be gone on a cruise. +They said something about his going down like a carpenter into the deep sea.'</p> +<p>'Making deep-sea soundings, like Dr. Carpenter! A carpenter, indeed!' said +Dolores, laughing for a moment. 'Oh! if it is that, I don't mind.'</p> +<p>The weight was lifted, but by-and-by, when the two girls said their prayers +together, poor Dolores broke forth again, ' Oh, Mysie, Mysie, your papa has +all--all of you, besides mamma, to pray that he may be kept safe, and my father +has only me, only horrid me, to pray for him, and even I have never cared to do +it really till just lately! Oh, poor, poor father! And suppose he should be +drowned, and never, never have forgiven me!'</p> +<p>It was a trouble and misery that recurred night after night, though +apparently it weighed much less during the day--and nobody but Mysie knew how +much Dolores was suffering from it. Lady Merrifield was increasingly anxious as +time went on, and still no mail brought letters from Mr. Mohun, but confidence +based on his erratic habits, and the uncertainty of communication began to fail. +And as she grieved more for the possible loss, she became more and more tender +to her niece, and strange to say, in spite of the terror that gnawed so achingly +every night, and of the ordeal that the Lent Assizes would bring, Dolores was +happier and more peaceful than ever before at Silverton, and developed more of +her bright side.</p> +<p>'I really think,' wrote Lady Merrifield to Miss Mohun, 'that she is growing +more simple and child-like, poor little maid. She is apparently free from all +our apprehensions about dear Maurice, and I would not inspire her with them for +the world. Neither does she seem to dread the trial, as I do for her, nor to +guess what cross-examination may be. Constance Hacket has been subpoenaed, and +her sister expatiates on her nervousness. It is one comfort that Reginald must +be there as a witness, so that it is not in the power of Irish disturbances to +keep him from us! May we only be at ease about Maurice by that time!'</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XXI.<br> +IN COURT AND OUT.</h3> + +<p>How Dolores's heart beat when Colonel Mohun drove up to the door! She durst +not run out to greet him among her cousins; but stood by her aunt, feeling hot +and cold and trembling, in the doubt whether he would kiss her.</p> +<p>Yes, she did feel his kiss, and Mysie looked at her in congratulation. But +what did it mean? Was it only that it came as a matter of course, and he forgot +to withhold it, or was it that he had given up hopes of her father, and was +sorry for her? She could not make up her mind, for he came so late in the +evening that she scarcely saw him before bed-time, and he did not take any +special notice of her the next morning. He had done his best to save her from +being long detained at Darminster, by ascertaining as nearly as possible when +Flinders's case would come on, and securing a room at the nearest inn, where she +might await a summons into court. Lady Merrifield was going with them, but would +not take either of her daughters, thinking that every home eye would be an +additional distress, and that it was better that no one should see or remember +Dolores as a witness.</p> +<p>Miss Mohun met the party at the station, going off, however, with her brother +into court, after having established Lady Merrifield and her niece in an inn +parlour, where they kept as quiet as they could, by the help of knitting, and +reading aloud. Lady Merrifield found that Dolores had been into court before, +and knew enough about it to need no explanation or preparation, and being much +afraid of causing agitation, she thought it best only to try to interest her in +such tales as 'Neale's Triumphs of the Cross,' instead of letting her dwell on +what she most dreaded, the sight of the prisoner, and the punishment her words +might bring upon him.</p> +<p>The morning ended, and Uncle Reginald brought word that his case would come +on immediately after luncheon. This he shared with his sister and niece, saying +that Jane had gone to a pastrycook's with--with Rotherwood--thinking this best +for Dolly. He seemed to be in strangely excited spirits, and was quite his old +self to Dolores, tempting her to eat, and showing himself so entirely the kind +uncle that she would have been quite cheered up if she had not been afraid that +it was all out of pity, and that he knew something dreadful.</p> +<p>Lord Rotherwood met them at the hotel entrance, and took his cousin on his +arm; Dolores following with her uncle, was sure that she gave a great start at +something that he said; but she had to turn in a</p> +<p>different direction to wait under the charge of her uncle, who treated her as +if she were far more childish and inexperienced in the ways of courts than she +really was, and instructed her in much that she knew perfectly well; but it was +too comfortable to have him kind to her for her to take the least offence, and +she only said 'Yes' and 'Thank you' at the proper places.</p> +<p>The sheriff, meantime, had given Lord Rotherwood and Lady Merrifield seats +near the judge, where Miss Mohun was already installed. Alfred Flinders was +already at the bar, and for the first time Lady Merrifield saw his somewhat +handsome but shifty-looking face and red beard, as the counsel for the +prosecution was giving a detailed account of his embarrassed finances, and of +his having obtained from the inexperienced kindness of a young lady, a mere +child in age, who called him uncle, though without blood relationship, a draft +of her father's for seven pounds, which, when presented at the bank, had become +one for seventy.</p> +<p>As before, the presenting and cashing of the seventy pounds was sworn to by +the banker's clerk, and then Dolores Mary Mohun was called.</p> +<p>There she stood, looking smaller than usual in her black, close-fitting dress +and hat, in a place meant for grown people, her dark face pale and set, keeping +her eyes as much as she could from the prisoner. When the counsel spoke she gave +a little start, for she knew him, as one who had often spent an evening with her +parents, in the cheerful times while her mother lived. There was something in +the familiar glance of his eyes that encouraged her, though he looked so much +altered by his wig and gown, and it seemed strange that he should question her, +as a stranger, on her exact name and age, her father's absence, the connection +with the prisoner, and present residence. Then came:</p> +<p>'Did your father leave any money with you?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'What was the amount?'</p> +<p>'Five pounds for myself; seven besides.'</p> +<p>'In what form was the seven pounds?'</p> +<p>'A cheque from W.'s bank.'</p> +<p>'Did you part with it?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>'To whom?'</p> +<p>'I sent it to him.'</p> +<p>'To whom if you please?'</p> +<p>'To Mr. Alfred Flinders.' And her voice trembled.</p> +<p>'Can you tell me when you sent it away?'</p> +<p>'It was on the 22nd of December.'</p> +<p>'Is this the cheque?'</p> +<p>'It has been altered.'</p> +<p>'Explain in what manner?'</p> +<p>'There has 'ty' been put at the end of the written 'seven,' and a cipher +after the figure 7 making it 70.'</p> +<p>'You are sure that it was not so when it went out of your possession?'</p> +<p>'Perfectly sure.'</p> +<p>Mr. Calderwood seemed to have done with her, and said, 'Thank you;' but then +there stood up a barrister, whom she suspected of being a man her mother had +disliked, and she knew that the worst was coming when he said, in a specially +polite voice too, 'Allow me to ask whether the cheque in question had been +intended by Mr. Mohun for the prisoner?'</p> +<p>'No.'</p> +<p>'Or was it given to you as pocket-money?'</p> +<p>'No, it was to pay a bill.'</p> +<p>'Then did you divert it from that purpose?'</p> +<p>'I thought the man was dead.'</p> +<p>'What man?'</p> +<p>'Professor Muhlwasser.'</p> +<p>'The creditor?'</p> +<p>'Yes.'</p> +<p>Mr. Calderwood objected to these questions as irrelevant; but the prisoner's +counsel declared them to be essential, and the judge let him go on to extract +from Dolores that the payment was intended for an expensive illustrated work on +natural history, which was to be published in Germany. Her father had promised +to take two copies of it if it were completed; but being doubtful whether this +would ever be the case, he had preferred leaving a draft with her to letting the +account be discharged by his brother, and he had reckoned that seven pounds +would cover the expense.</p> +<p>'You say you supposed the author was dead. What reason had you for thinking +so?'</p> +<p>'He told me; Mr. Flinders did.'</p> +<p>'Had Mr. Mohun sanctioned your applying this sum to any other purpose than +that specified?'</p> +<p>'No, he had not. I did wrong,' said Dolores, firmly.</p> +<p>He wrinkled up his forehead, so that the point of his wig went upwards, and +proceeded to inquire whether she had herself given the cheque to the prisoner.</p> +<p>'I sent it.'</p> +<p>'Did you post it?'</p> +<p>'Not myself. I gave it to Miss Constance Hacket to send it for me.'</p> +<p>'Can you swear to the sum for which it was drawn when you parted with it?'</p> +<p>'Yes. I looked at it to see whether it was pounds or guineas.'</p> +<p>'Did you give it loose or in an envelope?'</p> +<p>'In an envelope.'</p> +<p>'Was any other person aware of your doing so?'</p> +<p>'Nobody.'</p> +<p>'What led you to make this advance to the prisoner?'</p> +<p>'Because he told me that he was in great distress.'</p> +<p>'He told you. By letter or in person?'</p> +<p>'In person.'</p> +<p>'When did he tell you so?'</p> +<p>'On the 22nd of December.'</p> +<p>'And where?'</p> +<p>'At Darminster.'</p> +<p>'Let me ask whether this interview at Darminster took place with the +knowledge of the lady with whom you reside?'</p> +<p>'No, it did not,' said Dolores, colouring deeply.</p> +<p>'Was it a chance meeting?'</p> +<p>'No--by appointment.'</p> +<p>'How was the appointment made?'</p> +<p>'We wrote to say we would come that day.'</p> +<p>'We--who was the other party?'</p> +<p>'Miss Constance Hacket.'</p> +<p>'You were then in correspondence with the prisoner. Was it with the sanction +of Lady Merrifield?'</p> +<p>'No.'</p> +<p>'A secret correspondence, then, romantically carried on--by what means?'</p> +<p>'Constance Hacket sent the letters and received them for me.'</p> +<p>'What was the motive for this arrangement?'</p> +<p>'I knew my aunt would prevent my having anything to do with him.'</p> +<p>'And you--excuse me--what interest had you in doing so?'</p> +<p>'My mother had been like his sister, and always helped him.'</p> +<p>All these answers were made with a grave, resolute straightforwardness, +generally with something of Dolores's peculiar stony look, and only twice was +there any involuntary token of feeling, when she blushed at confessing the +concealment from her aunt, and at the last question, when her voice trembled as +she spoke of her mother. She kept her eyes on her interrogators all the time, +never once glancing towards the prisoner, though all the time she had a +sensation as if his reproachful looks were piercing her through.</p> +<p>She was dismissed, and Constance Hacket was brought in, looking about in +every direction, carrying a handkerchief and scent bottle, and not attempting to +conceal her flutter of agitation.</p> +<p>Mr. Calderwood had nothing to ask her but about her having received the +cheque from Miss Mohun and forwarded it to Flinders, though she could not answer +for the date without a public computation back from Christmas Day, and forward +from St. Thomas's. As to the amount--</p> +<p>'Oh, yes, certainly, seven pounds.'</p> +<p>Moreover she had posted it herself.</p> +<p>Then came the cross-examination,</p> +<p>'Had she seen the draft before posting it?'</p> +<p>'Well--she really did not remember exactly.'</p> +<p>'How did she know the amount then?'</p> +<p>'Well, I think--yes--I think Dolores told me so.'</p> +<p>'You think,' he said, in a sort of sneer. 'On your oath. Do you know?'</p> +<p>'Yes, yes, yes. She assured me! I know something was said about seven.'</p> +<p>'Then you cannot swear to the contents of the envelope you forwarded?'</p> +<p>'I don't know. It was all such a confusion and hurry.'</p> +<p>'Why so?'</p> +<p>'Oh! because it was a secret.'</p> +<p>The counsel of course availed himself of this handle to elicit that the +witness had conducted a secret correspondence between the prisoner and her young +friend without the knowledge of the child's natural protectors. 'A perfect +romance,' he said, 'I believe the prisoner is unmarried.'</p> +<p>Perhaps this insinuation would have been checked, but before any one had time +to interfere, Constance, blushing crimson, exclaimed, 'Oh! Oh! I assure you it +was not that. It was because she said he was her uncle and that they ill-used +him.'</p> +<p>This brought upon her the searching question whether the last witness had +stated the prisoner to be really her uncle, and Constance replied, rather hotly, +that she had always understood that he was.</p> +<p>'In fact, she gave you to understand that the prisoner was actually related +to her by blood. Did you say that she also told you that he was persecuted or +ill-used by her other relations?'</p> +<p>'I thought so. Yes, I am sure she said so.'</p> +<p>'And it was wholly and solely on these grounds that you assisted in this +clandestine correspondence?'</p> +<p>'Why--yes--partly,' faltered Constance, thinking of her literary efforts, 'so +it began.'</p> +<p>There was a manifest inclination to laugh in the audience, who naturally +thought her hesitation implied something very different; and the judge, thinking +that there was no need to push her further, when Mr. Calderwood represented that +all this did not bear on the matter, and was no evidence, silenced Mr. Yokes, +and the witness was dismissed.</p> +<p>The next point was that Colonel Reginald Mohun was called upon to attest that +the handwriting was his brother's. He answered for the main body of the draft, +and the signature, but the additions, in which the forgery lay, were so slight +that it was impossible to swear that they did not come from the hand of Maurice +Mohun.</p> +<p>'Had application been made to Mr. Mohun on the subject?'</p> +<p>'Yes, Colonel Mohun had immediately telegraphed to him at the address in the +Fiji Islands.'</p> +<p>'Has any answer been received?'</p> +<p>'No!' but Colonel Mohun had a curious expression in his eyes, and Mr. +Calderwood electrified the court by begging to call upon Mr. Maurice Mohun.</p> +<p>There he was in the witness-box, looking sunburnt but vigorous. He replied +immediately to the question that the cheque was his own, and that it had been +left under his daughter's charge, also that it had been for seven pounds, and +the 'ty' and the cypher had never been written by him. The prisoner winced for a +moment, and then looked at him defiantly.</p> +<p>The connection with Alfred Flinders was inquired into and explained, and +being asked as to the term 'Uncle,' he replied, 'My daughter was allowed to get +into the habit of so terming him.'</p> +<p>The sisters saw his look of pain, and Jane remembered his strong objection to +the title, and his wife's indignant defence of it.</p> +<p>Dolores stood trembling outside in the waiting-room, by her Uncle Reginald, +from whom she heard that her father had come that morning from London with Lord +Rotherwood, but that it had been thought better not to agitate her by letting +her know of it before she gave her evidence.</p> +<p>'Has he had my letter?' she asked.</p> +<p>'No; he knew nothing till he saw Rotherwood last night.'</p> +<p>All the misery of writing the confession came back upon poor Dolores, and she +turned quite white and sick, but her uncle said kindly, 'Never mind, my dear, he +was very much pleased with your manner of giving evidence. Such a contrast to +your friend's. Faugh!'</p> +<p>In a few more seconds Mr. Mohun had come out. He took the cold, trembling +hands in his own, pressed them close, met the anxious eyes with his own, full of +moisture, and said, 'My poor little girl,' in a tone that somehow lightened +Dolly's heart of its worst dread.</p> +<p>'Will you go back into court?' asked the colonel.</p> +<p>'You don't wish it, Dolly?' said her father.</p> +<p>'Oh no! please not.'</p> +<p>'Then,' said the colonel, 'take your father back to the room at the hotel, +and we will come to you. I suppose this will not last much longer.'</p> +<p>'Probably not half an hour. I don't want to see that fellow either convicted +or acquitted.'</p> +<p>Then Dolores found herself steered out of the passages and from among the +people waiting or gazing, into the clearer space in the street, her father +holding her hand as if she had been a little child. Neither of them spoke till +they had reached the sitting-room, and there, the first thing he did when the +door was shut, was to sit down, take her between his knees, put an arm round +her, and kiss her, saying again, 'My poor child!'</p> +<p>'You never got my letter!' she said, leaning against him, feeling the peace +and rest his embrace gave.</p> +<p>'No; but I have heard all. I should have warned you, Dolly; but I never +imagined that he could get at you there; and I was unwilling to accuse one for +whom your mother had a certain affection.'</p> +<p>'That was why I helped him,' whispered Dolores.</p> +<p>'I knew it,' he said kindly. 'But how did he find you out, and how had he the +impertinence to write to you at your Aunt Lily's--'</p> +<p>'I wrote to him first,' she said, hanging down her head.</p> +<p>'How was that? You surely had not been in the habit of doing so whilst I was +at home.'</p> +<p>'No; but he came and spoke to me at Exeter, the day you went away. Uncle +William was not there, he had gone into the town. And he--Mr. Flinders, said he +was going down to see you, and was very much disappointed to hear that you were +gone.'</p> +<p>'Did he ask you to write to him?'</p> +<p>'I don't think he did. Father, it seems too silly now, but I was very angry +because Aunt Lilias said she must see all my letters except yours and Maude +Sefton's, and I told Constance Hacket. She said she would send anything for me, +and I could not think of any one I wanted to write to, so I wrote to--to him.'</p> +<p>'Ah! I saw you did not get on with your aunt,' was the answer, 'that was +partly what brought me home.' And either not hearing or not heeding her +exclamation, 'Oh, but now I do,' he went on to explain that on his arrival at +Fiji he had found that circumstances had altered there, and that the person with +whom he was to have been associated had died, so that the whole scheme had been +broken up. A still better appointment had, however, been offered to him in New +Zealand, on the resignation of the present holder after a half-year's notice, +and he had at once written to accept it. A proposal had been made to him to +spend the intermediate time in a scientific cruise among the Polynesian Islands; +but the letters he had found awaiting him at Vanua Levu had convinced him that +the arrangements he had made in England had been a mistake, and he had therefore +hurried home via San Francisco, as fast as any letter could have gone, to wind +up his English affairs, and fetch his daughter to the permanent home in +Auckland, which her Aunt Phyllis would prepare for her.</p> +<p>Her countenance betrayed a sudden dismay, which made him recollect that she +was a strangely undemonstrative girl; but before she had recovered the shock so +as to utter more than a long 'Oh!' they were interrupted by the cup of tea that +had been ordered for Dolores, and in a minute more, steps were heard, and the +two aunts were in the room. 'Seven years,' were Jane's first words, and 'My dear +Maurice,' Lady Merrifield's, 'Oh! I wish I could have spared you this,' and then +among greetings came again, 'Seven years,' from the brother and cousin who had +seen the traveller before.</p> +<p>'I'm glad you were not there, Maurice,' said Lady Merrifield. 'It was +dreadful.'</p> +<p>'I never saw a more insolent fellow!' said Lord Rotherwood.</p> +<p>'That Yokes, you mean,' said Miss Mohun. 'I declare I think he is worse than +Flinders!'</p> +<p>'That's like you women, Jenny,' returned the colonel; 'you can't understand +that a man's business is to get off his client!'</p> +<p>'When he gave him up as an honest man altogether!' cried Lady Merrifield.</p> +<p>'And cast such imputations!' exclaimed Aunt Jane. 'I saw what the wretch was +driving at all the time of the cross-examination; and if I'd been the judge, +would not I have stopped him?'</p> +<p>'There you go. Lily and Jenny!' said the colonel, 'and Rotherwood just as +bad! Why, Maurice would have had to take just the same line if he had been for +the defence.'</p> +<p>'He would not have done it in such a blackguard fashion though,' said Lord +Rotherwood.</p> +<p>'I saw what his defence would be,' said Mr. Mohun, briefly.</p> +<p>'There!' said Colonel Mohun, with a boyish pleasure in confuting his sisters; +but they were not subdued.</p> +<p>'Now Maurice,' cried Jane, 'when that man was known to be utterly +dishonourable and good for nothing, was it fair--was it not contrary to all +common sense--to try to cast the imputation between those two poor girls? So the +judge and jury felt it, I am happy to say! but I call it abominable to have +thrown out the mere suggestion--'</p> +<p>'Nay now, Jane,' said the colonel, 'if the man was to be defended at all, how +else was it to be done?'</p> +<p>'I wouldn't have had him defended at all! but, unfortunately, that's his +right as an Englishman.'</p> +<p>'That's another thing! But as the cheque did not alter itself, one of the +three must have done it, and nothing was left but to show that there had been an +amount of shuffling, and--in short, nonsense--that might cast enough doubt on +their evidence to make it insufficient for a conviction.'</p> +<p>'Reginald! I can't think how you can stand up for such a wretch, a vulgar +wretch,' cried Miss Mohun. 'You put it delicately, as a gentleman who had the +misfortune to be counsel in such a case might do, but he was infinitely worse +than that, though that was bad enough.'</p> +<p>'It was Yokes,' put in Mr. Mohun; 'but what did he say?' looking anxiously at +his daughter.</p> +<p>'It was not so bad about her,' said her uncle, 'he only made her out a +foolish child, easily played upon by everybody, and possibly ignorant and +frightened, or led away by her regard for her supposed relation. It was the +other poor girl--</p> +<p>'The amiable susceptibilities of romantic young ladies!' broke out Lady +Merrifield. 'Oh, the creature!' To think of that poor foolish Constance sitting +by to hear it represented that the expedition to Darminster, and all the rest of +it, was because she was actually touched by that fellow. I really felt ready to +take her part.'</p> +<p>'She had certainly brought it on herself,' said Aunt Jane; 'but it was +atrocious of him and if the other counsel had only known it, he stopped the +cross examination just at the wrong time, or it would have come out that it was +literary vanity that was the lure. No doubt he would have made a laughing-stock +of that, but it would not have been as bad as the other.'</p> +<p>'Poor thing,' said Lady Merrifield; 'it was a trying retribution for +schoolgirl folly and want of conscientiousness. I should think she was a sadder +and a wiser woman.'</p> +<p>'He must have overdone it,' said Mr. Mohun, 'he is a vulgar fellow, and +always does so; but, as Reginald says, the only available defence was to enhance +the folly and sentiment of the girls; but of course the judge charged the other +way--</p> +<p>'Entirely,' said Lord Rotherwood, 'he brought Dolly rather well out of it, +saying that as he understood it, a young girl who had seen a needy connection +assisted from her home might think herself justified in corresponding with him, +and even in diverting to his use money left in her charge, when it was probable +that it would not be required for the original object. He did not say it was +right, but it was an error of judgment by no means implying swindling--in fact. +He disposed of Miss Hacket in the same way--foolish, sentimental, unscrupulous, +but not to that degree. Girls might be silly enough in all conscience, but not +so as to commit forgery or perjury. That was the gist of it, and happily the +jury were of the same opinion.'</p> +<p>'Happily? Well, I suppose so,' said Mr. Mohun, with a certain sorrowfulness +of tone, into which his little daughter entered.</p> +<p>'I say, Rotherwood,' exclaimed the colonel, as the town clock's two strokes +for the half-hour echoed loudly, 'if you mean to catch the 4.50, you must fly.'</p> +<p>'Fly!' he coolly repeated. 'Tell Mysie, Lily, that Fly has never ceased +talking of her. That child has been saving her money to fit out one of +Florence's orphan's. She--'</p> +<p>'Rotherwood,' broke in Mr. Mohun, 'your wife charged me to see that you were +in time for that dinner. A ministerial one.'</p> +<p>'Don't encourage him, Lily,' chimed in the colonel. 'I'll call a cab. See him +safe off, Maurice.'</p> +<p>And off he was hunted amid the laughter of the ladies; the manner of all to +one another was so exactly what it had been in the old times.</p> +<p>'I could hardly help telling him to take care, or Victoria would never let +him out again,' said Miss Mohun. 'Poor old fellow, it would have been a fine +chance for him with four of us together.'</p> +<p>'You can come back with us, Jenny!'</p> +<p>'I brought my bag in case of accidents.'</p> +<p>'And we'll telegraph to Adeline to join us tomorrow,' said Mr. Mohun, who +seemed to have been seized with a hunger for the sight of his kindred.</p> +<p>'Telegraph! My dear Maurice, Ada's nerves would be torn to smithereens by a +telegram without me to open it for her. I've a card here to post to her; but I +expect that I must go down tomorrow and fetch her, which will be the best way, +for I have a meeting.'</p> +<p>'Jenny, I declare you are a caution even to Miss Hacket,' said Colonel +Reginald, re-entering.</p> +<p>'Well, Ada always was the family pet. Besides, I told you I had a G.F.S. +meeting. Did you get a cab for us; Lily has had quite walking enough.'</p> +<p>The ladies went in a cab, while the gentlemen walked. There was not much time +to spare, and in the compartment into which the first comers threw themselves, +they found both the Hacket sisters installed, and the gentlemen coming up in +haste, nodded and got into a smoking-carriage, on seeing how theirs was +occupied.</p> +<p>'Oh, we could have made room,' said Constance, to whom a gentleman was a +gentleman under whatever circumstances.</p> +<p>'Dear Miss Dolores's papa! Is it indeed?' said Miss Hacket.</p> +<p>'So wonderfully interesting,' chimed in Constance. And they both made a dart +at Dolores to kiss her in congratulation, much against her will.</p> +<p>The train clattered on, and Lady Merrifield hoped it would hush all other +voices, but neither of the Hackets could refrain from discussing the trial, and +heaping such unmitigated censure on the counsel for the prisoner, that Miss +Mohun felt herself constrained to fly in the face of all she had said at the +hotel, and to maintain the right of even such an Englishman to be defended, and +of his advocate to prevent his conviction if possible. On which the regular +sentiment against becoming lawyers was produced, and the subject might have been +dropped if Constance had not broken out again, as if she could not leave it. 'So +atrocious, so abominably insolent, asking if he was unmarried.'</p> +<p>'Evidently flattered!' muttered Aunt Jane, between her teeth, and unheard; +but the speed slackened, and Constance's voice went on,</p> +<p>'I really thought I should have died of it on the spot. The bare idea of +thinking I could endure such a being.'</p> +<p>'Well,' said Dolores, just as the clatter ceased at a little station. 'You +know you did walk up and down with him ever so long, and I am sure you liked him +very much.'</p> +<p>An indignant 'You don't understand' was absolutely cut off by an imperative +grasp and hush from Miss Hacket the elder; Aunt Jane was suffocating with +laughter, Lady Merrifield, between that and a certain shame for womanhood, which +made her begin to talk at random about anything or everything else.</p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XXII.<br> +NAY.</h3> + +<p>'What a mull they have made of it!' were Mr. Maurice Mohun's first words when +he found the compartment free for a tete-a-tete with his brother.</p> +<p>'All's well that ends well,' was the brief reply.</p> +<p>'Well, indeed! Mary would not have thought so.' To which the colonel had +nothing to say.</p> +<p>'It serves me out,' his brother went on presently. 'I ought to have done +something for that wretched fellow before I went, or, at any rate, have put +Dolly on her guard; but I always shirked the very thought of him.'</p> +<p>'Nothing would have kept him out of harm's way.'</p> +<p>'It might have kept the child; but she must have been thicker with him than I +ever knew. However I shall have her with me for the future, and in better +hands.'</p> +<p>'You really mean to take her out?'</p> +<p>'That's what brought me home. She isn't happy; that is plain from her +letters; and Jane does not know what to make of her, nor Lilias either.'</p> +<p>'When were your last letters dated?'</p> +<p>'The last week in September.'</p> +<p>'Early days,' muttered the colonel.</p> +<p>'I thought it an experiment, you know; but you said so much about Lily's +girls being patterns, that I thought Jasper Merrifield might have made her more +rational and less flighty, and all that sort of thing; but of course it was a +very different tone from what the child was used to, and you couldn't tell what +the young barbarians were out of sight.'</p> +<p>'So I began to think last winter; but I fancy you will find that she and Lily +understand one another a good deal better than they did at first.'</p> +<p>'I thought she did not receive my intelligence as a deliverance. I am glad if +she can carry away an affectionate remembrance, but I want to have her under my +own eye.'</p> +<p>'I suppose that's all right,' was the half reluctant reply.</p> +<p>'There's Phyllis. She is full of good sense, with no nonsense about her or +May, and her girls are downright charming.'</p> +<p>'Very likely; but I say, Maurice, you must not underrate Lilias. She has gone +through a good deal with Dolores, and I believe she has been the making of her. +You've had to leave the poor child a good deal to herself and Fraulein, and, as +you see by this affair, she had some ways that made it hard for Lily to deal +with her at first.'</p> +<p>Her father plainly did not like this. 'There was no harm in the poor child, +but as I should have foreseen, there's always an atmosphere of sentiment and +ritual and flummery about Lilias, totally different from what she was used to.'</p> +<p>Colonel Mohun had nearly said, 'So much the better,' but turned it into, 'I +think you will change your opinion.'</p> +<p>Brothers and sisters, and cousins, whatever they may be to the external +world, always remain relatively to each other pretty much as they knew one +another when a single home held them all. The familiar Christian names seemed to +revive the old ways, and it was amusing to see the somewhat grave and silent +colonel treated by his elder brother as the dashing, heedless boy, needing to be +looked after, while his sister Jane remained the ready helper and counsellor, +and Lady Merrifield was still in his eyes the unpractical, fanciful Lily with an +unfortunately suggestive rhyme to her name.</p> +<p>Perhaps it maintained him in this opinion, that when he had answered all +questions about Captain and Mrs. Harry May, and had dilated on their pretty +house in the suburbs of Auckland, his sisters expected him to tell of the work +of the Church among the Maoris and Fijians. He laughed at them for thinking +colonists troubled their heads about natives.</p> +<p>'I know Phyllis does. One of Harry May's brothers went out as a missionary.'</p> +<p>'Disenchanted and came home again when his wife came into a fortune.'</p> +<p>'Not a bit of it,' said Aunt Jane. 'I know him and all about him. He stayed +till his health broke, and now he is one of the most useful men in the country. +He is coming to speak for the S.P.G. at Rockquay, Lily; and you must come and +meet him and his charming wife. They will tell you a very different story about +Harry's doings.'</p> +<p>'Well,' allowed Mr. Mohun, 'there are apparitions of brown niggers done up as +smart as twopence prancing about the house. Perfectly uninteresting, you know, +the savage sophisticated out of his picturesqueness. I made a point of asking no +questions, not knowing what I might be let in for.'</p> +<p>'Then you heard nothing of Mr. Ward, the Melanesian missionary, whom Phyllis +keeps a room for when he comes to New Zealand to recruit.'</p> +<p>'The man who was convicted of murder on circumstantial evidence! Oh yes. I +heard of him. I believe the labour-traffic agents heartily wish him at Portland +still, he makes the natives so much too sharp.'</p> +<p>'Aye,' said the colonel, 'as long as Britons aren't slaves they have no +objection to anything but the name for other people.'</p> +<p>'Wait till you get out there, Regie, and see what they all say about those +lazy fellows--except, of course, ladies and parsons, and a few whom they've +bitten, like May.'</p> +<p>'The few are on the Christian side, of course,' said Lady Merrifield, with +irony in her tone.</p> +<p>Indeed, she was not at all sure that half this colonial prejudice was not +assumed in order to tease her, just as in former times her brother would make +game of her enthusiasms about school children; for he was altogether returned to +his old self, his sister Jane, who had seen the most of him, testifying that the +original Maurice had revived, as never in the course of his married life.</p> +<p>Dolores tried to forget or disbelieve the words she had heard about his +having come to fetch her away, and said no word about them until they had been +unmistakably repeated. Then she felt a sort of despair at the idea of being +separated from her aunt and Mysie, for indeed they had penetrated to affections +deeper than had ever been consciously stirred in her before. Yet she was old +enough to shrink from allowing to her father that she preferred staying with +them to going with him, and it was to her Aunt Jane that she had recourse. That +lady, after returning from her expedition to bring her sister Adeline to +Silverton, was surprised by a timid knock at the door, and Dolores's entrance.</p> +<p>'Oh, if you please, Aunt Jane, may I come in? I do so want to speak to you +alone. Don't you think it is a sad pity that I should go away from the Cambridge +examination? Could not you tell my father so?'</p> +<p>'You want to stay for the Cambridge examination,' said Aunt Jane, a little +amused at the manner of touching on the subject, though sorry for the girl.</p> +<p>'I have been taking great pains under Miss Vincent, and it does seem a pity +to miss it.'</p> +<p>'I don't think it will make much difference to you.'</p> +<p>'Oh, but I do want to be thoroughly well educated. I meant to go through them +all, like Gillian and Mysie, and I am sure father must wish it too. I know he +meant it when he went out last year.'</p> +<p>'Yes, he did,' said Miss Mohun. 'It was very unlucky that he did not get any +of our later letters.'</p> +<p>'I have tried to tell him that it is all different now, but he does not seem +to care,' said Dolores.</p> +<p>'He has quite made up his mind,' said her aunt.</p> +<p>'Has he quite?' said Dolores. 'I thought perhaps if you talked to him about +the examination and the confirmation too--'</p> +<p>'But, Dolly, you are not going to a heathen country. Your confirmation will +be as much attended to in New Zealand as here.'</p> +<p>'Oh, but I should be confirmed with Mysie, and Aunt Lily would read with me, +and help me!'</p> +<p>'Yes, I see.'</p> +<p>'Do please tell him. Aunt Jane. He heeds what you say more than any one. Do +tell him that the only hope of my being good is if I stay with Aunt Lily just +these few years!'</p> +<p>'Ah, Dolly, that is what you really mean and care about--not the Cambridge +business.'</p> +<p>'Of course it is. Please tell him, Aunt Jane--somehow I can't--that I was bad +and foolish when I wrote all the letters he had; but now I know better, +and--and--I don't want to vex him, but I shall be ever so much better a daughter +to him if he will leave me with Aunt Lily, to learn some of her goodness'--and +there were tears in her eyes, for these months had softened her greatly.</p> +<p>'My poor Dolly!' said Aunt Jane, much more tenderly than she generally spoke. +'I am very sorry for you. I do think Aunt Lily has been the making of you, and +that it is very hard that you should have to be uprooted from her, just as you +had learnt to value her, I will tell your father so; but honestly, I do not +think it is likely to make him change his mind.'</p> +<p>Miss Mohun sought her brother out the next day, and told him that they had +all been waiting in patience when thinking that his daughter's residence at +Silverton was an unsuccessful experiment. The explosion she had predicted had +come, and Dolores had been a different creature ever since, owing to Lady +Merrifield's management of her in the crisis; and she added that the girl was +most unwilling to leave her aunt, and that she herself thought it would be much +better to leave her for a few years to the advantages of her present training, +where her affections had been gained. Mr. Mohun could not see it in the same +light. The intimacy with Constance Hacket was in his eyes a folly, consequent on +his sister's passion for Sunday schools and charities; and Jane, being infected +with the like ardour, he disregarded her explanations. The underhand +correspondence could not have been carried on without great blindness and +carelessness, or, at least, injudiciousness, on Lady Merrifield's part, and +there was no denying that she had trusted to a sense of honour that was +nonexistent. Nor did he appreciate Jane's argument that the conquest of the +heart and will had thus been far more thoroughly gained than it would have been +by constant thwarting and watching. It was hard to forgive such an exposure as +had taken place, or to believe that it had not been brought about by +unjustifiable errors, more especially as Lady Merrifield was the first to accuse +herself of them. Moreover, he had become sensible of a strong natural yearning +for the presence of his only child, and he had been so much struck with his +sister Phyllis's family that he sincerely believed himself consulting the girl's +best interests. He was by no means an irreligious or ungodly man, but he had +always thought his sister Lilias more or less of an enthusiast, and he did not +wish to see Dolores the same. Perhaps, indeed, the poor child's manifest +clinging to her aunt and cousins made him all the more resolute to remove her +before her affection should be entirely weaned from himself.</p> +<p>He made his headquarters at Silverton, and during the next two months +modified his opinions so far as to confess to his sister Jane that Lilias was a +much more sensible woman than he had believed her, and had her children well in +hand. He even allowed that Dolores was improved, and owed much to her kindness; +and when the first sting of the exposure was over, he could see that the +treatment had been far from injudicious as regarded the girl's own character. He +was even glad that warm love and friendship had grown up towards her aunt and +cousins; but all this left his purpose unchanged; although, after the first, +nothing was said about it, Dolores tried to forget it, and hoped that the sight +of her going on well and peaceably would convince him of the inexpediency of +disturbing her. She could not even mention it to Mysie, lest the dread should +become a reality by being uttered. So no more passed on the subject till it +became necessary to take her outfit in hand, and he also wished to take her to +Beechcroft, that the old family home which he regarded with fresh tenderness +might be impressed on her memory.</p> +<p>Then, though she never durst directly oppose the fate which he destined for +her, she surprised him by a violent burst of tears and sobbing, and an entreaty +that he would not take her away from Aunt Lily and Mysie a moment sooner than +could be helped.</p> +<p>She clung to everything, even to the guinea-pigs, and she was the first in +the Easter holidays to beg for the 'Thorn Fortress.' Indeed, Mysie was a little +shocked at her grief, as disloyal and unfilial. 'One ought not to mind going +anywhere with one's father,' she said; 'we all thought it a great honour for +Phyllis and Alethea.'</p> +<p>'They are grown up!' said Dolores, 'and Aunt Lily does get into one so! Oh, +don't say there's Aunt Phyllis. I hate the very name of her.'</p> +<p>'She must be nice,' said Mysie, 'Whenever the 'grown-ups' are pleased with me +they say I am getting like her, as if it was the best thing one could be.'</p> +<p>'But I don't want Mysie old and grown up, I want my Mysie now, as you +are!--And you'll forget and leave off writing, like Maude Sefton.'</p> +<p>'Never!' cried Mysie. 'Eight across the world you will always be my own twin +cousin.'</p> +<p>The wishes of the girl were so far fulfilled that Lady Merrifield took her to +London to provide her outfit, and Mysie accompanied them. A room and its +dressing-room received the three at old Mrs. Merrifield's, and the two cousins +thought their close quarters ineffably precious.</p> +<p>Mysie was introduced to Maude Sefton, who seemed entirely unconscious of her +treachery to friendship. 'One had so little time, and couldn't always be +writing,' she said, when Dolores reproached her; 'exercises were enough to tire +out one's hand!'</p> +<p>They also drank tea with Lady Phyllis Devereux and her governess. Fly could +not pour forth questions and reminiscences fast enough about all the beloved +animals at Silverton, not forgetting the little G.F.S. nursemaid, for whom she +had actually made an apron in her plain-work lessons. Moreover, she deemed +Dolores's fate most enviable, to be going off with her father to strange +countries, away from lessons, and masters, and towns. It would be almost as good +as Leila on the island.</p> +<p>As to the Beechcroft visit, Mr. and Mrs. Mohun collected all the brothers and +sisters in England there for a week, and still Mysie and Dolores were allowed to +be together, squeezed into a corner of Lady Merrifield's room. It was high +summer, bright and glowing, and so dry, and even the invalidish sisters, Lady +Henry Gray and Miss Adeline Mohun could not object to the sitting out on the +lawn, among the dragon-flies, as in days of yore.</p> +<p>Much of old thought and feeling was then and there taken up again, and it was +on one of the last evenings of the visit that Mr. Mohun, walking up and down the +alley with Lady Merrifield, said--</p> +<p>'Well, Lily, I think my determination to take Dolly away was hasty. I cannot +leave her now, but if I had understood all that I see at present, I should have +been both content and grateful to have her among your children. I am afraid I +have been ungracious.'</p> +<p>'I never thought so, Maurice. It is quite right that she should be with you, +and Phyllis will do every-thing for her much better than I.'</p> +<p>'Poor child! I believe she is very sorry to go,' said Mr. Mohun; 'but, at any +rate, she will remember Silverton as, I hope, a lasting influence on her life.'</p> +<p>Dolores truly believed that so it would be, and that her aunt's guidance +would be always looked back upon as the turning-point of her life.</p> +<p>'It is my own fault,' she said, as on the last night she clung tearfully to +Lady Merrifield; 'if I had behaved better I might have gone on just like one of +your own.'</p> +<p>'You will still be in my heart like one of my own, dear child,' said Lady +Merrifield. 'We know the way in which we all can hold together as one; keep to +that, and the distance apart will matter the less.'</p> +<p>And as they watched Dolores and her father driven away to the station the +next morning, Jane Mohun laid her hand on her sister's arm and said, 'You +thought you had made a great failure. Lily, but is not the other side of a +failure often a success?'</p> +<p>By-and-by came letters from Dolores. She seemed after the first to have +enjoyed her journey, for, as she wrote to Lady Merrifield, in a letter, very +private, and all to her own self, 'Father was so very good and kind to me, I +don't know how to tell you. It was as if a little bit of mother had got into +him, and now I am here I think I shall like the Mays. Indeed, I am trying to +remember your advice, and not beginning by hating everybody and thinking who +they are not. Aunt Phyllis is very nice indeed, and sometimes her eyes and mouth +get like Mysie's, and her voice is just exactly yours. Only she is plump and +roundabout, not a dear, tall, graceful figure like my White Lily Aunt. Please +don't call it nonsense, for indeed I mean it, and Aunt Phyllis does like your +photograph so much. I have the whole group hung up in my room, and you over it, +and I wish you all good morning every day, for I never, never, as long as I +live, shall love anybody like you and Mysie.'</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<pre> + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Two Sides of the Shield, by Charlotte M. 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