It was not until Owen had nearly reached Collingwood Terrace that the
thought struck him, "What if Mr. Bragg should withdraw his countenance
from him, and dismiss him from his employment, when he learned that he
was betrothed to May?"
The idea of Mr. Bragg in the light of a rival disconcerted and confused
all his previous conceptions of his employer. At the first blush it had
appeared ludicrous--incredible; but, on reflection, there was, he found,
nothing so extravagant in it. Mr. Bragg had a right to seek a wife to
please himself; he was but little past middle life, after all; and as to
the disparity in years between him and May, that was certainly not
unprecedented. He had taken his rejection well, and manfully--even with
a touch of chivalry; but he might not, any the more, be disposed to
continue his favour towards Owen when he should discover the state of
the case. He might even suspect that there had been some kind of plot to
deceive him! That was a very uncomfortable thought, and sent the blood
tingling through Owen's veins.
There was clearly but one thing to be done--to tell Mr. Bragg the truth
at all hazards. As he walked along the pavement within a few hundred
yards of Mrs. Bransby's door, he reflected that the revelation would
come better and more gracefully from May than from himself, he was not
supposed to be aware of what had passed between May and Mr. Bragg--it
was best that he should still seem to ignore it. He had a sympathetic
sense that Mr. Bragg's wounded feelings might endure May's delicate
handling, while they would shrink resentfully from any masculine touch.
Owen regretted now more than ever that he had not seen May again before
leaving her aunt's house; they had had no time to consult together, or
to form any plan of action for the future. Their interview seemed, in
Owen's recollection, to have passed like a swift gleam of light in a sky
over which the clouds are flying. (It had, in sober fact, lasted above
half an hour before Mrs. Dormer-Smith's appearance on the scene.) And
now he was forbidden the house! Forbidden to see her! And yet he told
himself over and over again that he could not have acted otherwise than
he had acted at the time. Well, it was too absurd to suppose that she
could be treated as a prisoner. They must meet soon, and meanwhile there
was a penny post in the land, and her letters, at least, would not be
tampered with. He would write to her the moment he got home; she would
receive his letter the next morning, and by that same afternoon she
could put Mr. Bragg in possession of the fact of her engagement.
And after she had done so----
The "afterwards" seemed hazy, certainly. But at least there was no doubt
as to the plain duty of both of them not to keep their engagement any
longer secret from Mr. Bragg. It was a comfort to see clearly the right
course as regarded the steps immediately before them. For the rest--they
had youth and hope, and they loved each other!
Owen let himself into the house with his latch-key, and went straight to
his own room to write to May. When the note was finished, he took it out
and posted it, and then proceeded to the sitting-room.
The table was spread for tea; all the tea equipage bright and glistening
as cleanliness could make it. A cheerful fire burned in the grate. Bobby
and Billy, seated side by side on a couple of low stools in one corner,
were occupied with a big book full of coloured pictures. Ethel was
sewing. Martin stood leaning against the mantelpiece close to his
mother's armchair. And in a chair at the opposite corner of the hearth
sat Mr. Bragg, with Enid on his knee!
When Owen entered, Mr. Bragg said, "Well, Mr. Rivers, you see I've found
my way to Mrs. Bransby's. I ought to have come and paid her my respects
before now. But _you_ know I've had my hands pretty full since I came
back to England."
Something in his tone and his look seemed to convey a hint to be silent
as to their conversation of that morning; and accordingly Owen made no
allusion to it.
"It is so pleasant to see an Oldchester face, is it not?" said Mrs.
Bransby.
"_Some_ Oldchester faces," returned Owen, laughing. Then he said, "Well,
Enid, have you not a word to say to me? Won't you come and give me a
kiss?"
Miss Enid, who was a born coquette, and who was, moreover, greatly
interested in Mr. Bragg's massive watch-chain and seal, replied with
imperious brevity, "No; don't want to."
Mr. Bragg looked down gravely on the small creature, and then up at
Owen, as he said--half shyly, and yet with a certain tinge of
complacency, "Why, she _would_ come and set on my knee, almost the first
minute she saw me."
"Perhaps you had better get down, baby," said Mrs. Bransby. "I am afraid
she may be troublesome."
"Troublesome? Lord, no! Why, I don't feel she's there, no more than a
fly. Let her bide," said Mr. Bragg.
"Ah, _I_ know what she is:--she's fickle," observed Owen, drawing up his
chair.
"_Not_ pickle!" declared Miss Enid, with great majesty.
"Yes, you are! False, fleeting, perjured Enid!" said Owen.
He was delighted to perceive that the little home and its inmates had
evidently made a favourable impression on Mr. Bragg. Observing that
gentleman in the new light of May's revelation, he saw something in his
face which he had not seen there before:--a regretful, far-away look,
whenever he was not speaking, or being spoken to. It was wonderfully
strange, certainly, to think of him as May's wooer! And yet not absurd,
as it had appeared at first. In Mr. Bragg's presence, the absurdity,
somehow, vanished. The simplicity and reality of the man gave him
dignity. Owen even began to feel something like a vague and respectful
compassion for Mr. Bragg; and every now and then the peculiarity of
their mutual position would come over him with a fresh sense of
surprise.
"We have been having a little conversation, Mrs. Bransby and me, about
her boy here," said Mr. Bragg, glancing across at Martin, who coloured,
and smiled with repressed eagerness. Mr. Bragg continued to observe him
thoughtfully. "He tells me he wants to help his mother; and he's not
afraid or ashamed of work, it seems."
"Ashamed!" broke out Martin. "No, I hope I ain't such a cad as that!"
"Martin!" cried his mother anxiously. She was nervous lest he should
give offence.
But Mr. Bragg answered with a little nod, which certainly did not
express disapprobation, "Well, the boy's about right. To be ashamed of
the wrong things, does belong to--what you might call a cad. I expect,"
pursued Mr. Bragg musingly, "that if we could always apply our shame in
the right place, we should all of us do better than we do."
"I suppose I dare not offer you any tea at this hour?" said Mrs. Bransby
gently. "You have not dined, of course."
"Well, no; not under the _name_ of dinner, I haven't! But I ate a hearty
luncheon; and I believe that's about as much dinner as I want; to do me
any good, you know. I'll have a cup of tea, please."
Mrs. Bransby certainly felt no misapplied shame as to the humbleness and
poverty of her surroundings; and was far too truly a gentlewoman to
think of apologizing for them. Ethel, who was growing to be quite a
notable little housewife, quietly fetched another cup and saucer from
the kitchen; and that was all the difference which Mr. Bragg's presence
made in the ordinary arrangements.
Enid insisted on having her high chair placed close to Mr. Bragg at
table; and, but for her sister's watchful interposition, she would have
demonstrated her sudden affection for him by transferring sundry morsels
of bread-and-butter which she had been tightly squeezing in her small
fingers from her plate to his, with the patronizing remark, "Oo have
dat. I can't eat any more."
While the meal was still in progress there came a knock at the street
door. It was a very peculiar knock; consisting of two or three sharp
raps, followed by one solemn rap, and then--after an appreciable
interval--by several more hurried little raps, as if the hand at the
knocker had forgotten all about its previous performances, and were
beginning afresh.
"Who can this be?" said Mrs. Bransby, looking up in surprise. Visitors
at any time were rare with her now; and at that hour, unprecedented.
"Old Bucher come back to say he can't live without us," suggested
Martin.
Whereupon Bobby and Billy, with consternation in their faces, exclaimed
simultaneously, "Oh, I _say_!" And Enid, perceiving the general
attention to be diverted from her, took that opportunity to polish the
bowl of her spoon, by rubbing it softly against Mr. Bragg's coat sleeve.
The family were not kept long in suspense. As soon as the door was
opened, a well-known voice was heard saying volubly, "Ah! at tea, are
they? Well, never mind! Take in my card, if you please, and----Dear me!
I haven't got one! But if you will kindly say, an old friend from
Oldchester begs leave to wait on Mrs. Bransby."
"Why, it's Simmy!" cried the children, starting up, and rushing to the
door. "Here's a lark!" exclaimed Bobby. While Billy, tugging at the
visitor's skirt, roared out hospitably, "Come along! Mother's in there.
Come in! Mother, here's Simmy!"
Mrs. Sebastian Bach Simpson it was. She appeared on the
threshold--rubicund visage, glittering spectacles, filmy curls, and
girlish giggle, all as usual; and began to apologize for what she called
her "unauthorized yet perhaps not wholly inexcusable intrusion," with
her old amiability and incoherency. She had come prepared to keep up a
cheerful mien, having decided, in her own mind, not to distress the
feelings of the family by any lachrymose allusions. But when Mrs.
Bransby rose up to welcome her, and not only took her by the hand, but
kissed her on the cheek, and led her towards the place of honour in
the armchair, this proceeding so overcame the kind-hearted creature
that she abruptly turned her back on them all, pulled out her
pocket-handkerchief, and burst into tears.
"I really must apol--apologize," she sobbed, still presenting the broad
back of a very smart shawl to the company--an attitude which made her
elaborate politeness extremely comical; for she addressed her speech
point-blank to the wall-paper, with abundance of bows and gestures. "I
am ashamed, indeed. Pray excuse me! The suddenness of the emo--emotion,
and the sight of the dear children, coupled with--I believe--a slight
touch of the prevalent influenza, but nothing in the least infectious,
dear Mrs. Bransby! But pray do not allow me to disturb the harmony of
this fest--festive meeting with 'most admired disorder,' as our immortal
bard puts it! Although what there is to admire in disorder, and who
admired it, must probably remain for ever ambiguous."
By the end of this speech--the utterance of which had been interrupted
by several interludes of pocket-handkerchief--Mrs. Simpson was
sufficiently composed to turn round, and take the chair offered to her.
The children were grinning undisguisedly. "Simmy" was associated in
their minds with many pleasant and many comical recollections. Mrs.
Bransby was smiling too. But perhaps it was only the warning spectacle
of Mrs. Simpson's emotion which enabled her to choke down her own
inclination to cry.
"This is a most pleasant surprise," she said. "When did you arrive in
London?"
"Why, the fact is----" began Amelia. But suddenly interrupting herself,
she jumped up from her seat, and made Mr. Bragg a sweeping curtsey.
"Pardon me," she exclaimed, "if, in the first moment, I was oblivious of
your presence! Although not personally acquainted, Oldchester people
claim the privilege of recognizing Mr. Bragg as one of our native
products. An unforeseen honour, indeed! And--do my eyes deceive me, or
have I the pleasure of greeting Mr. Owen Rivers? What an extraordinary
coincidence! I had _heard_ you were residing here in the character of a
boarder," she added, as emphatically as though that were an obvious
reason for being surprised to see him there. "Really, I seem to be
transported back into our ancient city; and should scarcely start to
hear the cathedral chimes, or the steam-whistle from the brewery, or any
of the dear familiar sounds--although the steam whistle, I must admit,
is trying, and, in certain forms of nervous disorder, I believe,
excruciating."
It was not easy, at any time, to obtain a clear and collected answer to
a question from Mrs. Simpson. But in her present state of excitement the
difficulty was immensely increased. Her language--partly in honour of
Mr. Bragg--was so flowery, and she kept darting up every discursive
cross-alley which opened out of the main line of talk in so bewildering
a fashion, as to become at moments unintelligible. And it was a long
time before any of the party elicited from her how it was that she came
to be in London. At length, however, it appeared that "Bassy" was
entrusted with a commission to buy a pianoforte; and having found a
substitute to take his organ and attend to his pupils for a week, he and
his wife had suddenly resolved to take a holiday in London together.
"I had, of course, intended to seek you out, dear Mrs. Bransby," she
said; "ever mindful, as I must be, of the many kind favours I have
received from you and"--here she gulped dangerously; but recovered
herself and went on--"from all the family. But we came away in such a
hurry at the last, a cheap excursion train being, in fact, our immediate
motive."
"Locomotive," put in Martin jocosely.
"Quite so," said Amelia, with the utmost suavity. "A very proper
correction." Then, seeing his mischievous face dimpling with laughter,
she exclaimed, "Oh, of course!--_locomotive_. Very good, Martin! Ah, I
am as absent as ever, you see!" Here she playfully shook her head until
sundry metallic bobs upon her bonnet fell off, and had to be hunted for
and picked up. "Well, so it was. I was hurried away by Bassy's
impetuosity--although, in justice to him, I must state that the time
bills were peremptory, and there was no margin for delay or
deliberation--almost without a carpet bag! I had no opportunity,
therefore, of inquiring of any mutual friend in Oldchester for your
address."
"There are scarcely any who know it, or care to know it," said Mrs.
Bransby, in a low voice.
"Oh, pardon me, dear Mrs. Bransby! No, no; that must not be said, for
the honour of Oldchester! Your memory is affectionately cherished by all
the more refined and sympathetic souls among us. Only last week Mr.
Crump, the butcher, was respectfully inquiring for news of you. You
remember Crump! A worthy man, whose spirit--notwithstanding the dictum
of the Swan of Avon--is by no means 'subdued to what it works in,'
beyond a transient greasiness, which lies merely on the surface."
"Yes; I remember him very well. But who, then, was it who directed you
to this house?" asked Mrs. Bransby, hoping that her guest was not aware
why Martin had suddenly retired behind the window curtains in a paroxysm
of laughter.
"Ah! That, again, is one of the most extraordinary circumstances! Who do
you think it was?"
"I cannot tell at all."
"Guess!"
"Miss Piper, perhaps," suggested Ethel.
"Not _exactly_ Miss Piper," said Mrs. Simpson, with strong emphasis on
the qualifying adverb, as though her informant's identity were only
barely distinguishable from that of Miss Piper. "But you burn, Ethel!
You are very near. However, I will not keep you longer in suspense. It
was Miss Clara Bertram."
"Oh! I might have thought of her, for she is a neighbour of ours," said
Mrs. Bransby.
"Is she?" asked Owen.
"Yes; she lives in a house with a rather good garden, not far from here.
The situation is a little inconvenient for her profession, I fancy. But
she has invalid relatives, to whom the garden is a great boon. We met
accidentally in the street one day, and she recognized me at once. I was
surprised that she did so."
"Nay, _I_ should rather have been surprised had she forgotten you," said
Mrs. Simpson, "'For the heart,'" dear Mrs. Bransby, "'that once truly
loves, _never_ forgets, but as fondly loves on to the----' Not, of
course, that there was anything beyond the very slightest acquaintance
between you and Miss Bertram in Oldchester. Bassy is, in fact, at her
house now, with a few musical professors, whom she kindly invited us to
meet--the artistic element which is so akin to Bassy's soul--combined
with the seductions of the Indian weed, of which Miss Bertram's papa is
quite a devotee--so that, you see, finding you were so near, I slipped
away to see you; and I have promised to return before it is time to go
back to the boarding-house where we are staying."
At this point Mr. Bragg got up to take his leave.
"I shall look in again before long, Mrs. Bransby, if you'll allow me,"
he said; "and we'll have a little more talk about my young friend there.
Good night to you, ma'am," turning to shake hands with Mrs. Simpson.
This brought that lady "to her legs" in more senses than one. She
favoured Mr. Bragg with a long and enthusiastic address, embracing an
extraordinary variety of topics, from the proud pre-eminence of British
commerce, to the force of friendship as portrayed in the classical
example of Damon and Pythias.
"I will not ask, in the beautiful words of the Caledonian ditty, 'Should
auld acquaintance be forgot, and days o' lang syne?' for I am certain
that you are entirely incapable of doing anything of the sort, as is
proved by your presence beneath this refined roof-tree," said Mrs.
Simpson. "But I _must_ bear my humble testimony to the eminent virtues
of our exquisite friend--if I may be allowed the privilege of calling
her so. I have seen her basking in prosperity, and unspoiled by the
smiles of fortune, and now in the cold shade of comparatively untoward
circumstances, she beams with the same congenial lustre. In short,"
cried Amelia, suddenly abandoning what Bobby and Billy called her
"dictionary" style for a homelier language which came straight from her
heart, "a better wife and mother, a gentler mistress, a kinder friend
there never was, or could be, in this world."
Owen offered to accompany Mr. Bragg in order to show him the way to the
nearest cabstand, and they left the house together.
"She's a sing'lar character," observed Mr. Bragg, after they had walked
a few steps.
"You mean Mrs. Simpson?"
"Ah, yes; Mrs. Simpson. There's too much clack about her; and her talk's
puzzling from being--what you might call of a zigzag sort of a nature;
and she's cast in a queer kind of a mould altogether. But I think she
rings true, and that's the main thing, in mortals or metals."
"I'm quite sure her praise of Mrs. Bransby is true, at any rate," said
Owen warmly.
"H'm!" grunted Mr. Bragg, and walked on in silence. When they came
within view of a cabstand, he turned round, and said he would not
trouble Owen to come any further with him. And just as the latter was
about to say "Good-night," Mr. Bragg observed meditatively, "She has
that little place beautifully neat, and as clean as a new pin. Seems to
be bringing up those children in the right way, too. Poor soul! it's a
heavy charge for a delicate lady like her. I think I shall be able to do
something for that eldest boy. But p'r'aps you'd better not say anything
at present--eh? It's cruel to raise up false hopes; and some folks build
such a wonderful high scaffolding of expectations on a word or two; and
if there's not bricks enough to do anything adequate to the
scaffolding--why, then that's awkward. Good night, Mr. Rivers."
Owen well knew that hopes had already been aroused by the mere presence
of the rich man in that poor little home. But he knew, also, that there
was no danger of Mrs. Bransby's hopes turning into claims; and that she
would be humbly grateful for very small help. He felt almost elated on
her behalf as he returned to Collingwood Terrace. "I only hope," he said
to himself, "that Mr. Bragg won't visit any of my sins on Mrs. Bransby's
head, when he finds them out! But no; to do the old boy justice, I
believe he is above that."
Meanwhile, Amelia Simpson had been imparting a budget of Oldchester
news. After many discursive sallies she came to the topic of Lucius
Cheffington's recent death. He had died since the Simpsons' departure
from Oldchester, but his case had been known to be hopeless for several
days previous. The old lord was said to be dreadfully cut up; more so,
even, than on the death of his eldest son. But Lucius had always been
understood to be his father's favourite.
"And they do say," continued Mrs. Simpson, "that to a certain fair young
friend of ours the blow will be very severe."
"A young friend of ours! Do you mean May Cheffington?"
"Ah, no! Our dear Miranda knew scarcely anything of her noble relatives
at Combe Park. And even the _most_ affectionate disposition--and I'm
sure our dear Miranda is imbued with every proper feeling--can scarcely
cling with personal devotion to an almost total stranger, although
united by the ties of kindred! No; I was speaking of Miss Hadlow."
"Constance!"
"Yes, although I have never been on terms to address her by her
baptismal appellation, that, I confess, is the young lady I _do_ mean."
Then Mrs. Simpson went on to tell her astonished listener how that
Constance Hadlow had been visiting some county magnates in the near
neighbourhood of Combe Park during the latter part of Lucius's illness;
how she had been admitted to see and talk with the invalid, when other
persons had been excluded with scant courtesy; how she had rapidly come
to be on a footing of intimacy at the great house, which astonished the
neighbourhood; and how at length that fact was explained by the current
report that if Lucius had recovered--which at one time appeared not
unlikely--he would have married her, with his father's full approbation.
"I did not venture to allude to the subject before Mr. Rivers--how brown
he has become! Quite the southern hue of romance!--because, you know, he
was said at one time to be desperately in love with his cousin; and I
feared to hurt his feelings."
"Oh, I don't think it would hurt his feelings," said Mrs. Bransby; "I
really do not believe he cares at all for his cousin, in that way."
"I'm sure he doesn't!" cried Ethel, who took a thoroughly feminine
interest in the subject.
"Ethel! I scarcely think you know anything at all about the matter. And
I am sure it is not for a little girl like you to give an opinion."
"No, mother. Only--Martin and I know who we should _like_ him to marry.
Don't we, Martin?"
Martin was rather shamefaced at being thus brought publicly into the
discussion, and rebuffed his sister with a lofty air.
"Oh, don't talk bosh and silliness," he rejoined. "Girls are always
bothering about a fellow's getting married. Leave him alone. He's very
well as he is."
"He is certainly most affable, and thoroughly the gentleman," observed
Mrs. Simpson, with her universal, beaming benevolence.
"Oh, he is good!" cried the widow, clasping her hands. "So delicately
considerate! Such a true, loyal friend!"
In her own mind she was convinced that Mr. Bragg's visit was entirely
due to Owen's influence. And her heart was overflowing with gratitude.
A new idea darted into Mrs. Simpson's imagination, always ready to
accept a romantic view of things. How charming it would be if young Mr.
Rivers were to marry the beautiful widow! They would make a delightful
couple. Considerations of ways and means entered no more into Mrs.
Simpson's calculations than they would have entered into little Enid's.
The building of her castles in the air was entirely independent of
money.
But there was, at bottom, a more common sensible reason which made the
idea that Owen might marry Mrs. Bransby, agreeable to Amelia Simpson. In
spite of the sympathy of Mr. Crump, the butcher, and other congenial
spirits, it could not be denied that some rumours of a very unpleasant
sort had recently been circulated in Oldchester to the discredit of Mrs.
Bransby. When it became known that young Rivers, on his return from
Spain, was to live in her house, the rumours began to take a more
definite shape. No one could trace them to their source--perhaps no one
tried very seriously to do so.
People asked each other if they had not always thought there was
something a little odd--not quite becoming and _nice_--in the way that
young Rivers used to be running in and out of Martin Bransby's house, at
all times and seasons. Even during poor Mr. Bransby's lifetime, strange
things had been said--at least, it now appeared so; for very few of the
gossips professed to have heard any whispers of scandal _themselves_,
while Martin lived. There was a strange story of young Rivers being
caught kissing Mrs. Bransby's hand in the garden. There might be no harm
in kissing a lady's hand. But, under the circumstances, there was
something, almost revolting, was there not? And, then, why was Mrs.
Bransby in such a hurry to run away from Oldchester?--away from all her
friends and all her husband's friends? Surely she would have done better
to remain there! At all events Mr. Theodore Bransby had been much
annoyed by her doing so; and had replied to old friends, who spoke to
him on the subject, that he could not control his step-mother's actions;
could only advise her for the best; and should endeavour to assist her
and her children, _if she would allow him to do so_. Of course people
understood when he said that, that Mrs. Bransby was acting contrary to
his judgment. And now, Mr. Rivers was actually going to reside in her
house! It positively was not decent! No wonder Theodore looked
distressed, and avoided the subject. It must be altogether a very
painful affair for him.
This kind of scandal, with its inevitable _crescendo_, had been very
differently received by Sebastian Simpson and his wife. He could not be
said to encourage it; but neither did he repudiate it indignantly. But
Amelia was true and devoted to Mrs. Bransby, and incurred some
unpopularity by her enthusiastic praises of that absent lady. But there
were also people who said what a good creature Mrs. Simpson was, and
that--although she was a goose, and had probably been quite taken
in--they liked to see her stand up for those who had been kind to her.
Under these circumstances, it was a great triumph for Amelia to find Mr.
Bragg--the respectable, the influential, the _rich_ Mr. Bragg--visiting
Mrs. Bransby on a friendly footing, and treating her with marked
kindness and respect. Simple though she might be, Amelia was not at all
too simple to understand that the millionaire's approbation would carry
weight with it. But now the idea of a marriage between Owen and the
widow seemed still more delightful than the mere clearing of Mrs.
Bransby's character from all aspersions. People had said that, as for
_him_, the young man was probably suffering under a temporary
infatuation. And that, even supposing the best, and taking the most
charitable view of this--_flirtation_, it was out of the question that
he should think of marrying a woman of Mrs. Bransby's age, and with five
children to support!
Why should it be out of the question? Amelia said to herself. The few
years' difference in their ages was of no consequence at all. And as to
the family--Mr. Bragg would probably take Owen into partnership. He was
evidently devotedly fond of them both! She had privately arranged the
details of the wedding in her own mind before Owen returned from
conducting Mr. Bragg to his cab.
When he did so, Mrs. Simpson declared it was time for her to go, and got
up from her chair. But between that and her actual departure a great
many words had still to intervene. She reverted to the death in the
Castlecombe family; made a brief excursion to the report of Captain
Cheffington's second marriage, "truly deplorable! But still, or dear
Miranda is happily launched among the _elite_ of the _beau_ _monde_, so,
perhaps, it is not so bad after all!" And then suddenly added--
"By the way, dear Mrs. Bransby, it _was_ reported that your step-son,
Mr. Theodore, intended to withdraw his candidature at the next election.
But I am told on the _best_ authority--Mr. Lowe, the political
agent--that that is a mistake. So I hope we may see him among the
legislators. Quite the figure for it, I'm sure. However, of course, you
must know all that news far better than I. I hope to _see_ our dear
Miranda before leaving town."
Owen observed, with indignation, that the mention of Theodore appeared
to have suggested May to her mind. Nor did the circumstance escape Mrs.
Bransby.
"Do you say you shall see May Cheffington?" she asked.
"Yes; I purpose calling. Although well aware of Mrs. Dormer-Smith's high
social position, still I think our dear Miranda's warm heart will
welcome one who has so recently seen her beloved grandmamma. Ah, we do
not easily relinquish the fond memories of childhood. Thank you, my dear
Ethel. _Is_ that my pocket-handkerchief? Really! I wonder how it came
there!" (Ethel had picked it up from under the tea-table.) "I believe
that even in the princely halls--I _think_ I left my umbrella in the
passage. Eh? Oh, Bobby has found it--in the princely halls of
Castlecombe her memory will revert to Friar's Row. In the words of the
poet, 'though strangers may roam, those hills and those valleys I once
called my home'--although, of course, Oldchester is _not_ mountainous.
And as to roaming, I presume that hills and valleys are always more or
less liable to be roamed over by strangers, whether one calls them one's
home or not."
By this time Mrs. Simpson had got herself out of the room into the
narrow outer passage; and, seeing Owen put on his great coat again, in
order to escort her, she stopped to protest against his taking that
trouble.
"Oh, pray! _Too_ kind! It is but a stone's throw from here, and I am not
at all afraid. Sure of the way? Well, no; not _quite_ sure. I took two
wrong turnings in coming. But I can easily inquire for Marlborough
House. Eh? Oh, Blenheim Lodge is it? To be sure! Marlborough House is
the august residence----However, _historically_ speaking I was not so
far wrong, was I? Well, if you insist, Mr. Rivers, I will accept your
polite attention with gratitude. Good-bye, once more, dear children. If
I possibly can come again before leaving London, dear Mrs. Bransby----"
At this point Owen perceived that decisive measures were necessary, if
the good lady's farewells were not to last until midnight. He took Mrs.
Simpson's arm, signed to Phoebe to open the door, and led his fair
charge outside it, almost before she knew what was happening.
"Excuse me for hurrying you," he said; "but the night is cold; Mrs.
Bransby is not very strong; and I thought it imprudent--for both of
you--to stand talking in that draughty passage."
"Oh, _quite_ right. Thank you a thousand times. She is deserving,
indeed, of every delicate care and attention."
A slighter circumstance would have sufficed to confirm Mrs. Simpson's
romantic fancies. She said to herself that Mr. Rivers's devotion was
chivalrous indeed. And she forthwith proceeded to sound Mrs. Bransby's
praises, in an unbroken stream of eloquence, all the way to Blenheim
Lodge. Owen had intended to ask her one or two questions--about Mrs.
Dobbs, and as to when she thought of calling at Mrs. Dormer-Smith's
house. He had even held a half-formed intention of entrusting her with a
message for May. But it was hopeless to arrest her flow of
speech--unless by making his request in a more serious fashion than he
thought it prudent to do. Amelia's goodwill might be relied on. But she
was absolutely devoid of discretion. And, at all events, if he said
nothing, there would be no ground for her to build a blunder on.
He little knew!