ANNETTE DECLINES TO PLAY TENNIS.
Averil was rather quiet and subdued the next day or two, but as usual
she battled bravely with her depression, and tried not to damp the
enjoyment of her two young companions.
The new work-room was finished, and looked very comfortable; and
Fairy Order, as Lottie still called her, was quite in her element.
There was plenty of time now for the music lessons and practicing.
Lottie was learning to chatter in French, and Annette found her a most
intelligent pupil. The girls sat together, walked together, or drove
out with Averil; no one interfered with them. When Lottie had letters
to write, or her aunt or cousins wanted her, Annette went in search of
Averil, or sat in the garden with her book. Maud and Georgina made no
attempt to admit her into their companionship; they still treated her
with coldness, as though they regarded her as an interloper. In the
evenings when Averil read to herself, she and Lottie escaped into the
garden, or whispered together over their work. Georgina once asked them
contemptuously what they could find to talk about; she sneered slightly
as she spoke. When friends were not present there were often lapses of
silence. Rodney would complain of the dullness, and go out in search of
amusement.
"I wish we could go out too," Georgina would say. "I think no family of
old maids could be more deadly dull. Mamma goes to sleep, and Averil
reads, and Maud writes letters."
"I wish you would be quiet and let me finish my notes," Maud would
say, pettishly--she seemed always irritable now; and then Georgina
would subside into moody silence. If any one came in there was an
instantaneous change; for example, if Captain Beverley dropped in for a
moment to fetch Rodney, Maud's eyes would brighten, her prettiest songs
would be sung; Mrs. Willmot would be broad awake and smiling; only
Averil's grave little face did not relax, her greeting never became
warmer.
The day at Grey-Mount was a great success. As Averil looked at the
girls' bright faces as they took their places in the train the cloud
seemed to lift off her own spirits; it was delightful to think that
for twenty-four hours her worries would be in the background. Kind
greetings, approving smiles, hearty sympathy, were all awaiting her;
no dissatisfied looks, no struggling wills would mar her enjoyment.
Averil's brow grew calm and clear as a little child's as the prospect
widened, and when they reached Chislehurst she was talking as merrily
as her companions.
"There is Louie!" exclaimed Lottie, as the train slackened speed, and
a tall, pleasant-looking girl gave her an answering nod and smile. She
had a strong resemblance to her brother Frank, and, like him, had no
claims to beauty; but her frank, open countenance, attracted Annette.
"She is a Harland, so of course she is nice," she said to herself, with
illogical reasoning.
Miss Harland did not seem to require any introduction; she shook hands
cordially with Annette. "Mamma was too busy to come, Averil," she said,
leading the way to the station door, where an open barouche and a pair
of handsome bays were awaiting them. "What have you been doing with
yourself lately, you naughty little person? Lottie, she looks more
shadowy and unsubstantial than ever! Father will be horrified when he
sees her."
"Don't be so absurd, Louie. I am perfectly well," laughed Averil,
who certainly looked very small and slender beside this fine-grown,
vigorous young woman. But Miss Harland chose to argue the point; and as
Lottie took her part, there was a lively discussion that lasted until
they reached Grey-Mount.
Grey-Mount was a substantial gray-stone house standing in its own
grounds. As they drove up to the door, a bevy of young people came out
to greet them. Louie introduced them all in a quick, off-hand fashion
to their new guest as, "Nettie and Fan--and the twins, Fred and Winnie.
And this is my little mamma," she continued, in an affectionate,
patronizing tone, as a quiet, lady-like little woman appeared in the
background. Annette thought her still very pretty; she liked her soft
voice and ways. It was evident that her children doted on her, for a
word from mamma seemed to have a restraining influence on the twins, a
pair of noisy, high-spirited children.
Annette found herself at home at once; there was no stiffness, no
reserve, at Grey-Mount. Nettie and Fan had pounced on Lottie as their
rightful prey, and had carried her off at once. Mrs. Harland had
followed with Averil, and Annette felt a hand pressed through her arm.
"You and I will have to entertain each other until luncheon," observed
Louie, in a comfortable voice. "When mamma and Averil begin to talk
they never leave off. Oh, of course it is Bob and Owen--they generally
begin about the boys. Frank will be home presently, and then we shall
have tennis. Frank is my own, own brother, you know. Not but what Owen
and Fred are brothers too, but Frank is my special--"
"Oh, yes, I understand about that. Lottie has told me he is monsieur's
son, and this lady you call mamma is your step-mother. I have not
talked to her much, but her looks please me. She is altogether
different from Mrs. Willmot."
"My dear Miss Ramsay, there are step-mothers and step-mothers. Frank
and I think mamma perfect; she has not a selfish thought. As to Mrs.
Willmot and the Misses Seymour, I had better hold my tongue on that
subject. Averil is a darling; we are all so fond of her; but she is
just wearing herself out--"
"Do you think my cousin looks so ill?" returned Annette, in such quick
alarm that Miss Harland regretted her speech. She was a warm-hearted,
impulsive girl, and sometimes said more than was prudent. She was
anxious now to explain away her words, for the sad wistfulness that had
come into Annette's dark eyes touched her.
"She has always been delicate," she returned, hastily. "At one time
her health was a great anxiety to us all; but during the last year or
two she has been stronger. Miss Ramsay, are you fond of flowers? Shall
we go and see the green-houses? Yes, Winnie, you may come too"--as the
pretty little girl ran up to them.
Before luncheon was quite over Frank Harland made his appearance. He
was accompanied by a tall, good-looking man, whom they all called Ned,
and who was afterward introduced to Annette by Lottie in the shyest of
voices as "Mr. Chesterton."
If Annette had not been such a recluse, and so totally unacquainted
with the ways of young people--the curé and his snuff-box being her
sole masculine acquaintance in the Rue St. Joseph--she might have read
certain facts from Lottie's shy eagerness and pleased, downcast looks.
She might even have adduced the same conclusion from the young lawyer's
evident absorption and almost exclusive monopoly of the girl.
In tennis he was her partner, and afterward they walked about the
garden together. Every one took it as a matter of course. No one
interfered with their _tête-à-tête_--not even Averil, whose eyes often
rested on her protégée with fond wistfulness. "Lottie is very happy,"
Annette heard her whisper once to Mrs. Harland.
Annette was very pleased to see Mr. Frank again; but she could not be
induced to take her first lesson in tennis, though he employed all his
eloquence to coax her to become his partner.
"You are bent on snubbing me," he said at last, in mock despair.
"You were much more amiable when I met you last, Miss Ramsay, and we
exchanged confidences over our vanilla ices."
"That is too bad," she returned, trying not to laugh. "What is it you
mean by 'snub?' I do not understand all your English words. It is you
who are unkind, Mr. Harland; for you want to make me ridiculous in the
eyes of your sister and friends. Ah, yes; it would amuse them to see
how often I should miss the ball! They would just clap their hands with
the fun. No; I will sit here in the shade and watch you, and that will
be my first lesson in tennis; and if you will come to Redfern House,
you can teach me there, and Lottie can play with us."
"To be sure! that is a good idea," he said, eagerly; and then, as
they called to him, he lifted his cap and ran down the grass slope to
the tennis court. Annette kept her promise, and watched the game with
intelligent interest. Every now and then Frank came to her to explain
things. He was pleased with the girl's naïveté and frankness, and he
always left her a little reluctantly when Louie waved her racket, or
Ned shouted to him that they were waiting.
He was just making his way to her for the fifth time when he saw her
suddenly rise from her seat with a quick exclamation of pleasure at the
sight of a gray-haired man who was crossing the lawn in a leisurely,
middle-aged fashion.
"Monsieur, it is you at last," she said, holding out her hand. "Oh, how
glad I am to see you again!"
Mr. Harland smiled as he cordially responded to her greeting; but the
next moment he held her out at arm's-length and critically surveyed her.
"Do you know," he said, in a pleased voice, "that if you had not spoken
to me I think I should hardly have recognized my young friend of the
Rue St. Joseph? What has she done with herself, Averil?"--in quite a
puzzled tone.
Mr. Harland could not understand it at all. He remembered the girl
as she stood that morning in her shabby gown, with the little lace
kerchief knotted round her throat, and her small, pale face and grave
eyes. The young creature that stood before him was as slim and graceful
as a fawn. She was no longer pale. Her eyes were clear and sparkling,
her black dress was enlivened by a dainty breast-knot of dark crimson
roses. Could these few weeks have effected this transformation? "No, I
should not have known you," he said, dropping her hand; but he looked
very kindly at her.
Frank had been much amused at this little scene; but by and by his mood
changed. He was even guilty of the unfilial wish that his father had
been detained longer at Lincoln's Inn.
Frank found he could no longer secure Miss Ramsay's attention. She
evinced a preference for monsieur's society, and could not be induced
to leave his side, even to see the hot-houses under Frank's guidance.
Frank turned rather sulky at last, to his father's amusement. Mr.
Harland's eyes twinkled mischievously as he watched his discomfiture.
"Miss Ramsay," he said, "you are very good to stop with an old fellow
like me, but I must not monopolize you. Mr. Frank seems a little put
out with us both."
"He is only pretending," she said, in a voice that reached the young
man. "I think it is his way of making fun--it is so long since I have
seen you, monsieur. And I like better to sit and talk to you of Dinan,
and those days when you were kind to me. As for Mr. Frank, I shall see
him often--often." Mr. Harland glanced at her in extreme surprise; he
noticed that Frank turned his head to listen. "He is coming to teach me
tennis," went on Annette, in a composed, matter-of-fact tone. "I would
not play to-day, because I knew I should only make myself ridiculous;
but I understand the game now; and Lottie and I will practice; when Mr.
Frank comes he will be surprised at my progress."
"Father, shall I bring you and Miss Ramsay some tea out there?" asked
Frank suddenly at this moment. Now, what had become of the young
man's brief moodiness? Frank was humming an air as he brought out the
teacups: he had a little joke for Annette when she thanked him for his
trouble; but he shook his head when she would have made room for him.
"Don't disturb yourself," he said, quickly; "I know you and
monsieur"--with a little stress on the word--"are as happy as possible.
I am going to talk to Averil about the tennis, and see which day I may
come."
"Very well," she returned, tranquilly; and she resumed her
conversation. She was telling her friend about her life at Redfern
House, about the new work-room, and her cousin's kindness. As she
talked on in her bright, rapid way, Mr. Harland told himself that she
was not far from being pretty; she was not so thin, and her complexion
had improved, and the _spirituelle_ expression of the dark eyes was
very attractive.
Meanwhile, Averil was listening to Frank's plans with rather a puzzled
look. Frank had announced his intention of coming down to Redfern House
as often as possible to practice tennis with the girls.
"You have a good lawn," he went on, in an off-hand manner, "and I
daresay Seymour will join us. Thursday is my best day, if it will suit
you, Averil."
"Any day will suit me," she returned, with the soft friendliness that
she always showed him. "But, Frank, I want to speak to you. You must
not misunderstand Annette. Perhaps you may think her frankness a little
strange, but she means nothing by it; she has lived so completely out
of the world that she hardly knows its ways. I believe that she has
never spoken to a young man in her life; and she treats you as she
would Louie. You will not mind if I say this to you; but Annette is so
sweet and good I could not bear her to be misunderstood."
"I shall not misunderstand her. How could any one mistake such
child-like frankness?" returned the young man, gravely; but he flushed
a little, as though Averil's words touched him.
"Please come, then, as often as you can," she returned, cheerfully.
"You know how welcome you will be."
Frank did not make any more attempts to speak to Annette that evening;
but he showed her little attentions, and watched her a good deal; it
pleased him to see how friendly she was with them all. As she bid him
good-bye at the station the next morning--for he and Mr. Chesterton had
accompanied them--she said to him:
"I have had such a happy time. Every one is so nice and kind. Monsieur,
and your step-mother, and sister, and--"
"I hope you are going to include me," he returned, mischievously; but
Annette took the question in good part.
"And you too; oh, yes! I think it is very good of you, Mr. Harland, to
teach me tennis. Is it not so, my cousin?"
But Averil was apparently deaf, for she made no response.
"Annette," she said, gently, when she found herself alone with her
cousin that evening, "I want to give you a little hint, because you
have been such a recluse, and do not know the ways of society. Young
girls of your age do not generally invite young men. Now, when you
asked Frank to play tennis--"
But Annette interrupted her in quick alarm. "Have I done wrong? I am so
sorry. It is your house, and I ought to have left it to you."
"Well, another time; but, of course, in this case it does not matter;
the Harlands are like my own brothers and sisters. Frank comes as often
as he likes."
"But I am sorry, all the same," returned Annette, gravely, and a
distressed color came to her face. "It seems I have been bold. My
cousin, will you explain? I do not know the rules, and I would not
willingly offend. Mr. Harland was so kind; he proposed to teach me,
and I thought there could be no harm."
"My dear," replied Averil, kissing her hot cheek remorsefully, "there
is nothing wrong. If Frank came every day he would be welcome; it is
only a hint for your future use."
But Annette was sensitive; her innate sense of propriety had taken
alarm; she had been forward, or her cousin would not have given her
this reproof.
"You shall not have to find fault with me again," she said, humbly.
"I will remember the difference between old men and young men for the
future, my cousin."