SUNLIGHT AND HAPPINESS
Sleep, they say, brings counsel. Most certainly it brought counsel to
Trix, and really such simple counsel she marvelled that she had not
thought of it before.
After all, the question as to whether she should or should not disclose
Antony Gray's identity to Pia, and thereby run the risk either of untruth
or of breaking a promise, was purely a question of conscience. Now, in a
question of conscience, if you cannot decide for yourself, it is always
safe to consult a priest. She would therefore walk over to Byestry after
breakfast--after she had told Pia her own particular and wonderful
news--and consult Father Dormer. It would be quite easy to explain
matters to him without mentioning names.
Trix began formulating her query in her mind as she dressed. By the time
this process was completed, however, she had come to the conclusion that
she was not altogether sure whether it would be so easy. She found
herself getting wound up into rather extraordinary knots. Well, anyhow
she would explain somehow, and no doubt words would come when she was
actually confronted with him. Besides, it was never the smallest use
arranging conversations beforehand, like a French conversation book,
because people never gave the right answers to your questions, and never
put the questions to which you had the answers ready.
Trix crossed slowly to the window. There had been a frost in the night,
and the lower part of the window-pane was covered with magic fern fronds,
while lawn and shrubs were clothed with a light white veil.
Suddenly the sun came up behind the distant hills, a glowing ball of
fire, sending forth his ruddy beams till they struck clean through the
window, turning the fern fronds to ruby jewels, and making of the frost
veil without a web of diamonds.
"That," breathed Trix softly, "is what happened to us yesterday."
And she knelt down quite suddenly by the window.
* * * * *
The breakfast hour at the Manor House was, ordinarily speaking, most
punctually at nine o'clock, but owing, doubtless, to some slight hitch in
the lower regions, the gong that morning did not sound till a quarter
past the hour. This delay gave Miss Tibbutt time to put in an appearance
not more than two minutes late, and saved any necessary explanation
regarding her early walk to Byestry. As it was really on Pia's account
that she had gone to Mass, she wished to avoid mentioning that she had
been. Of course Pia could not possibly have guessed the real motive, but
Miss Tibbutt had a feeling, which reason told her to be quite foolish,
that in some odd way she might guess. And she did not want her to guess.
"What is the plan of campaign to-day?" asked the Duchessa, as they
assembled in the morning room after breakfast.
Trix examined an ornament on the mantelpiece with rather studied care.
"I was thinking of walking over to Byestry, this morning," she remarked.
"All right," agreed the Duchessa, "and after lunch we will have the car.
It is cold, but too good a day to be wasted."
Trix had a moment's anxiety.
"We shan't be late for tea?" she queried.
"I don't think so," responded Pia. "The days are too short now. But
why?"
Trix put down the ornament she was examining.
"Doctor Hilary is coming to tea," she announced carelessly, though she
knew perfectly well that the colour was rising in her cheeks.
Pia looked at her.
"Trix!" she said.
"Yes, darling," nodded Trix, "just that."
"Oh, my Trix!" cried Pia delighted, putting her arms round her.
Miss Tibbutt looked a trifle bewildered.
"What is it?" she demanded
Pia laughed.
"These two," she said, "Trix and Doctor Hilary. I told you, you remember,
and said there _were_ trains, though I never dreamed they would be
utilized quite so literally. Of course it _was_ yesterday?"
"Yes," nodded Trix again. And then with a huge sigh, "Oh, Pia, I am so
happy."
Pia turned her round towards Miss Tibbutt.
"Tibby, look at her face, and then she tells us she is happy, as though
it were necessary to advertise the fact to our slow intelligences."
Trix laughed, though the tears were in her eyes. Laughter and tears are
amazingly close together at times.
"And is it quite necessary to walk to Byestry this morning?" teased Pia.
"He will probably be on his rounds, you know."
Again Trix laughed, this time without the tears.
"I am not proposing to sit in his pocket," she remarked. "He did not
happen to suggest that I should, and it certainly never occurred to me to
suggest it."