MME. DELAMOTTE'S LITTLE BILL.
"How could she have the courage?" mused Annette, when Lottie had
finished her recital, and she repeated her thoughts aloud.
"Averil is never wanting in courage, but the worst of it is, her mind
is stronger than her body, and that tells on her. Of course, when she
spoke in that quiet, decided tone, there could be no possible appeal.
Maud threw down her cards and walked to the piano with the air of
an offended queen. 'I believe music was forbidden in some Puritan
households, Captain Beverley,' she said, in a sarcastic voice. 'I am
thankful to inform you that it is not yet placed on the list of tabooed
amusements.' Captain Beverley made some answer in a low voice, and then
they both laughed. Averil tried her best to put them all at their ease.
She praised Maud's singing, she talked to them cheerfully; but both
gentlemen took their leave as soon as possible. Rodney went with them.
I heard Averil beg him as a favor to her to stay at home, but he was
sulky, and refused to listen. He said, 'The other fellows would only
think him a muff, and he was not going to stand any more preaching.'
They went away to their club. I can see how uncomfortable Averil is.
She thinks that she has done more harm than good. I left her talking to
aunt and Maud. Maud was in one of her tempers, and there was a regular
scene. Hush! I hear her voice now; they are coming up to bed. Not a
word more; they must not find out I am here."
Annette lay perfectly still, and Lottie crept to the door. Maud's room
was just across the passage, and both the girls hoped to hear her close
her door; but to their dismay, she stood outside, talking in an angry
voice to her mother.
"It is too bad; she gets worse every day!" they heard her say, in a
tone of passionate insistence.
"I can not help it," returned Mrs. Willmot, fretfully. "You ought to
know Averil by this time. You go too far, Maud; I am always telling you
so. You think of nothing but your own pleasure. It was foolish to put
this affront on Averil. You might know that with her high spirit she
would resent it."
"Nonsense, mamma. You are afraid of her, and Georgie is afraid of
her too. How can you let yourself be ruled by a slip of a girl? Of
course, I know it is her home. Does not everything belong to her?
If we were not so miserably poor, we need not live in this Egyptian
bondage--afraid to invite a friend or to say our soul is our own. I
wonder what Captain Beverley thinks of his evening's amusement? It will
be a fine joke between him and Mr. Forbes. I declare, I don't envy
Rodney. 'My father and I have always had a great dislike to any game
that is played for money.' Did ever any one hear such cant in a modern
drawing-room? I am glad I made her uncomfortable about Rodney. The poor
boy is not playing those penny points now at the club. Ah, she turned
quite white, I assure you."
"You talk as though you had not your brother's interest at heart,"
returned Mrs. Willmot, in the same fretful voice. "I wish Captain
Beverley would not take him to his club; he is far too young. Averil is
right there. Maud, what was he saying to you in the garden just after
dinner?"
But here the voices dropped, and a moment afterward the door of Maud's
room closed, and with a whispered good-night Lottie made her escape.
But there was no rest for Averil. Long after Annette had fallen into a
refreshing sleep a weary little figure paced up and down the deserted
drawing-room. She had sent Roberts to bed when that faithful old
domestic came to extinguish the lights.
"I will wait up for Mr. Rodney," she had said. "I do not expect he will
be very late." But for once she was wrong. Rodney was very late indeed.
The church clock had chimed two before she heard his bell. Averil's
thoughts were not pleasant; the sting of Maud's words was still abiding
with her.
"Is she right? Have I driven him away to worse things?" she asked
herself. "Ought I to have allowed the game to go on, and then have
spoken afterward? Would that not have been been temporizing with wrong
things? 'One can always go down the little crooked lane,' as dear
father used to say. He was so fond of the 'Pilgrim's Progress!' I could
only remember how he hated this sort of amusement, and to see it played
in this house, when in his life-time they never dared propose such a
thing! I know his friends thought him strait-laced--even Mr. Harland;
but what does that matter? If one has principle, there must be no
compromise. Still, if she be right, and Rodney--" Here a look of pain
crossed Averil's face, and she clasped her hands involuntarily. "Oh,
my darling, how can I save you when your own mother and sister will
not help me? Maud is infatuated. That man will never ask her to marry
him; he will look far higher for his wife. A Miss Seymour will not be
good enough for Oliver Beverley. I have told my step-mother so again
and again; but Maud's influence is greater than mine. Oh, how much
happier will be my little Lottie's fate! I know from what Frank says
that Ned Chesterton is in earnest; and what could be better--a good son
and brother, and rising in his profession? Perhaps he will not speak
yet; but they are both young enough to wait. Lottie looks very happy
to-night--God bless her!" And here a low, heavy sigh rose to Averil's
lips.
She started as the sound of the bell reached her, and hurried out to
unbolt the door. Rodney did not at once see her; he thought it was
Roberts. He came in whistling--his face was flushed and excited.
"Sorry to keep you up so late, old fellow," he said, in his
good-humored way. "Why, Averil!"--and then his face clouded--"there was
no need for this attention," he muttered, as he put down his hat.
Averil followed him.
"Don't be vexed, Rodney. I could not go to bed until you came in. You
have given me enough to bear already. Why were you so unkind as to
refuse to stay at home, when I asked you as a favor?"
Rodney's reply was very unsatisfactory. He boasted of his small gains
in a tone that deeply grieved Averil. Seeing his face flushed with
drink and with the excitement of play, she turned away. Could she save
him? Was he not already a long way down that little crooked path upon
which another brisk lad, whose name was Ignorance, and who came out of
the country of Conceit, had already walked?
There were bitter tears shed in Averil's room that night as she prayed
long and earnestly for one whom she called her brother.
Was Rodney conscious of this as he lay tossing feverishly? How many
such prayers are offered up night after night for many a beloved and
erring one! What says the apostle? that "he which converteth the sinner
from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide
a multitude of sins."
Unwin had reason to grieve over her mistress's worn looks the next
morning, but she asked no questions and made no comments. Unwin was too
wise a woman to waste regrets over what could not be helped. Roberts
had told her enough, and she could form her own conclusions. The
household were quite aware that another indignity had been on their
idolized mistress, "and by them as are not fit to tie her shoes,"
observed the kitchen-maid, contemptuously; for Maud's imperious manners
and lack of courtesy made her no favorite with the servants.
Averil did not waste words either. She took no further notice of
yesterday's occurrence. When she met her step-mother and the girls at
luncheon, she accosted them pleasantly and in her usual manner; it was
Maud who hardly deigned to answer, who averted her head with studied
coldness every time Averil addressed her. Some hours of brooding and a
naturally haughty temper had only fanned Maud's discontent to a fiercer
flame. It was easy to see that she regarded herself in the light of an
injured person.
Lottie, who had been to the Stores to execute some commissions for her
aunt, did not make her appearance until luncheon was nearly over, and
then she and Rodney came in together. Rodney still looked a little
sulky; he gave Averil a curt nod as he took his place, and snubbed
Georgina when she inquired after his headache. "There is no need to
publish it on the house-tops," he said, irritably. "It is only women
who are fond of talking about their little ailments. I suppose there is
some ice in the house, Ave? This water is quite lukewarm."
"I'll ring and ask Roberts," observed Lottie. "Maud, Madame Delamotte
is waiting to speak to you. She says there has been no answer, and when
Hall told her that you were at luncheon, she only said she would wait,
as her business was very important."
Georgina darted a frightened, imploring glance at her sister, but Maud
only grew very red.
"It is very impertinent," she muttered, angrily, "but these sort of
people have no consideration. I shall tell Madame Delamotte that I
shall withdraw my custom if she pesters me in this way. Lottie, will
you tell her, please--But no, perhaps I had better go myself;" and
Maud swept out of the room in her usual haughty fashion.
Rodney laughed and shrugged his shoulders, but Averil seemed uneasy and
preoccupied.
Mrs. Willmot had taken no notice of this little interruption; her slow,
lymphatic temperament seldom troubled itself over passing things.
Madame Delamotte was the girls' dress-maker. She supposed Maud had been
extravagant enough to order a new dress for Lady Beverley's "small and
early." "I really must lecture her about extravagance;" and here she
adjusted her eyeglass, and looked at some fashion-plates with a serene
absorption that was truly enviable.
Averil's uneasiness seemed to increase, and at last she made an excuse
to leave the table. As she passed through the hall quickly, she came
upon Maud; she was in close conversation with a thin, careworn-looking
woman dressed in the height of fashion. Averil knew Mme. Delamotte
slightly; she had been to her shop on more than one occasion. As she
bade her a civil "good-morning," the French woman accosted her in a
nervous, agitated manner.
"Miss Willmot, may I implore your assistance with this young lady? I
can not persuade her to hear me. The bill is large, and she says I
shall have still to wait for my money; and, alas! business is 'bad.'"
"Averil, I must beg you not to interfere," returned Maud, angrily.
"Madame Delamotte is grossly impertinent. I have every intention of
settling her bill, but just now it is not convenient, and--" here Maud
hesitated.
"Madame Delamotte, will you come into my room a moment?" observed
Averil, quietly. "Maud, you had better come, too. There is no need
to take the whole household into confidence; and the hall is far too
public a place for this sort of conversation."
But Maud refused. "I have said all I have to say," she returned,
contemptuously. "If Madame Delamotte chooses to dun me in this fashion,
I shall have no further dealings with her. If you mix yourself up in my
affairs, you must take the consequences: the bill will be settled all
in good time."
Averil made no answer; she only signed to the dressmaker to follow her,
and as soon as they were alone Mme. Delamotte produced her account. She
was visibly discomposed, and began to apologize.
"Miss Seymour is too hard with me," she said, almost tearfully. "I have
never dunned any one. The young ladies are good customers; I have great
pleasure in working for them; but it is necessary to see one's money.
This account has been running for a year and a half, and now Miss
Seymour says it is exorbitant. Everything is down; I have used the best
of materials--nothing else would satisfy her. What would become of me
if all my customers treated me in this way?"
Averil glanced down the bill, then she folded it up. "You are perfectly
right, Madame Delamotte; your complaint is a just one. Will you leave
the account with me? I can promise you that it shall be settled before
to-morrow evening. I think you know me sufficiently to rely on my word."
"Every one knows Miss Willmot," returned the French woman, politely.
"You have removed a great weight from my mind trusting you with the
fact that I am greatly in need of the money."
"Then in that case I will write you a check in advance, if you will
give me a receipt;" and as Mme. Delamotte seemed overjoyed at this
concession, Averil sat down to her writing-table; but as she wrote out
the check a look of disquiet crossed her face. "How can any one act so
dishonorably?" she thought; but she little knew the seducing and evil
effects of pampered vanity. She checked Mme. Delamotte's profuse thanks
very gently but decidedly, and when she had dismissed her she sat on
for a long time with her head on her hand, revolving the whole matter.
"I have robbed my poor, just to pay for all these fine dresses," she
said, bitterly, "and yet it had to be done. Now I must go and speak
to Mrs. Willmot. Oh! what a sickening world all this is. I feel like
Sisyphus, forever rolling my stony burden uphill. Oh, Mother Midge, if
I could only leave it all and take refuge with you!"
Mrs. Willmot was dozing in the morning-room; her book lay on her lap;
but it had long ago slipped through her fingers. She regarded Averil
drowsily as she sat down opposite to her, and settling her cap-strings
with a yawn, asked what had become of the girls.
"I do not know, Mrs. Willmot. I am sorry to disturb you, but it is
necessary for us to have a serious talk. Madame Delamotte has been here
to beg Maud to settle her bill. Are you aware?" regarding her sternly,
"that neither she nor Georgina has attempted to pay their dress-maker
for the last year and a half?"
Mrs. Willmot's placid face lost a little of its color; she looked
alarmed, and held out her hand for the account, which Averil still held.
"There is no occasion to look at it," she said, coldly. "I can tell you
the exact amount;" and as she named the sum, Mrs. Willmot uttered a
faint exclamation and threw herself back in her chair.
"I don't believe it!" she said, vehemently, and her weak, handsome face
was quite pale. "There is vile imposition. Madame Delamotte ought to be
ashamed of herself; my girls do not owe half that sum. I will ask Maud.
No; Maud is so hot and impetuous she never will let me speak. Georgina
will be better."
"There is no need to send for her either. I have a good memory, and
have verified most of the items. The bill is large, but then it has
been running on for eighteen months. I only want to know how you
propose to settle it."