I feel more and more certain that something is wrong in Charles Street.
The invitation is declined, not by Hatty herself, but in a note from
Mrs Crossland: "Miss Hester Courtenay has so sad a catarrh that it will
not be safe for her to venture out for some days to come." [Note 1.]
"Why, Cary, that is a disappointment for you," said my Uncle Charles,
kindly. "I think, Madam, as Hester cannot come, Mrs Crossland might
have offered a counter-invitation to Caroline."
"It would have been well-bred," said Grandmamma. "Mrs Crossland is not
very well connected. She was the daughter or niece of an archdeacon, I
believe; rather raised by her marriage. I am sorry you are
disappointed, child."
This was a good deal for Grandmamma to say, and I thanked her.
Well, one thing had failed me; I must try another. At the next evening
assembly I watched my chance, and caught Charlotte in a corner. I asked
how Hatty was.
"Hatty?" said Charlotte, looking surprised. "She is well enough, for
aught I know."
"I thought she had a bad catarrh?" said I.
"Didn't know she had one. She is going to my Lady Milworth's assembly
with Mrs Crossland."
I felt more sure of ill-play than ever, but to Charlotte I said no more.
The next person whom I pinned to the wall was Amelia. With her I felt
more need of caution in one sense, for I did not know how far she might
be in the plot, whatever it was. That no living mortal with any shadow
of brains would have trusted Charlotte with a secret, I felt as sure as
I did that my ribbons were white, and not red.
"Emily," I said, "why did not Hatty come with you to-night?"
"I did not ask," was Amelia's languid answer. I do think she gets more
and more limp and unstarched as time goes on.
"Is she better?"
"What is the matter with her?" Amelia's eyes betrayed no artifice.
"A catarrh, I understand."
"Oh, you heard that from Miss Newton. The Newtons asked her for an
assembly, and Mrs Crossland did not want to give up my Lady Milworth,
so she sent word Hatty had a catarrh, I believe. It is all nonsense."
"And it is not telling falsehoods?" said I.
"My dear, I have nothing to do with it," said Amelia, fanning herself.
"Mrs Crossland may carry her own shortcomings."