Mrs Brandon made no movement as the card was handed to Ella; but a look
of firmness seemed imperceptibly to sweep across her pleasant matronly
face, and one skilled in physiognomy would have said that she was
waiting anxiously to see how the young girl would act, under what
threatened to be very trying circumstances. Then, glancing at Ella, she
saw her standing, pale as ashes, with the card in her hand.
"Where have you shown the gentleman, Edward?" said Mrs Brandon.
"Breakfast-room, ma'am," said the hard footman.
"Very good; you need not wait," said Mrs Brandon; and the next moment
they were alone, when, with pleading eyes, Ella held out the card.
"Indeed, indeed, ma'am, I could not help this," she whispered. "I hoped
that my retreat would not have been known."
"My dear child," said Mrs Brandon kindly, "I do not blame you;" and she
also rose and passed her arm round Ella's waist. "But you would like to
see him?"
"No, no, _no_!" cried Ella hastily. "I must not--I would rather not--it
cannot be! I hoped to have been left here in peace, and free from
persecution. I cannot see him; I must never see him again."
"You wish, then, that Mr Charles Vining should be told that you decline
to see him, and you beg he will not call again?" said Mrs Brandon
softly, as she drew the fair girl nearer to her.
"I would not willingly hurt him," said Ella hoarsely; "but I have told
you all, and what else can I do? It can never be!"
"My child," said Mrs Brandon tenderly, "I don't know how it is, but you
seem to have even in this short time made yourself occupy the place of a
daughter. You are quite right, and this gay gallant must be checked and
kept in his place. We cannot have hawks here to flutter our dovecot. I
will go and see him--that is, if it is indeed your honest wish and
desire that he should see you no more."
"Yes, yes, it is indeed!" said Ella, with a sob that tore its way from
her breast. "I can never see him more."
Mrs Brandon made a movement to leave the room, but Ella clung to her.
"Do you repent of what you have said?" Mrs Brandon quietly asked.
"No, no!" said Ella half hysterically: "but--it is very kind of you to
see him--but--but you will speak gently to him--you will not be harsh or
cruel; for he is good and noble, and true-hearted and manly, and I
believe he feels all this deeply."
Mrs Brandon smiled incredulously, but there was pity in her words as
she bent over Ella, and tried to calm her.
"Is it really then like that, my poor, weak, gentle little dove?" she
whispered. "Has he then made so firm a footing in this poor soft
yielding heart? But you are quite right; you must not see him, and the
soreness will soon wear off. You do not know the ways of the world, and
of these gay, insidious, smooth-tongued gallants, born with the idea
that every pretty face beneath them in station, forsooth, is to minister
to their pleasure. I see--I see; and I don't blame you for believing
all he said."
"But I think you mistake his character," said Ella pleadingly.
"Perhaps so," said Mrs Brandon, smiling; "but will you leave your
welfare in my hands, Ella?"
It was the first time Mrs Brandon had called her by her Christian name,
and the young girl looked up with, a sad sweet smile.
"I am very young, very helpless, and quite alone in the world," she said
softly; "and I have met here with kindness such as I have not before
known since _they_ died. I was so happy, so hopeful, so trustful that
happier days were coming; and, indeed. I wish to be grateful."
Mrs Brandon kissed her again, and made a movement once more to leave;
but Ella made a clutch at her hand.
"Shall I stay?" said Mrs Brandon softly. "Will you see him yourself?"
Ella was silent for a moment, for there was a great, a wild struggle in
her breast; but she conquered, and drawing herself up, she stood, pale
and cast-down of eye, with one hand resting on a chair-back.
"Do I understand you, Miss Bedford?" said Mrs Brandon.
"Yes, yes," said Ella, in a calm sad voice. "I must never see him
again."
Mrs Brandon moved towards the door, and laid her hand upon the lock,
making it rattle loudly as she turned to gaze at Ella; but the latter
never moved; and as the door closed, Mrs Brandon's last glance showed
her Ella pale and motionless as a statue.
"Now for this lordly gallant!" muttered Mrs Brandon, as she stood for a
moment in the gaunt hall; "now for this sportive disturber of young
hearts! If I had my will," she exclaimed, her handsome matronly
features flushing up, "I'd have them all banished--I would!"
Then, with a firm step, and her head drawn back, she crossed the hall,
threw open the door, and entered the room where Charley Vining was
impatiently walking up and down.
Volume 2, Chapter VIII.