AT AYLMER'S COURT.
Aylmer's Court was in the full perfection of its autumn beauty when Sir
John Wallis, accompanied by Kitty Sharston and her father, drove up the
winding avenue as Mrs. Aylmer's guests. A private omnibus from Aylmer's
Court was sent to the railway station to meet them, and their luggage
was now piled up high on the roof.
Sir John Wallis did not look a day older than when we last saw him in
all the glories of his own house, surrounded by the girls whom he had
made happy.
Kitty was seated beside her father and opposite to her old friend. She
looked sweet and bright, with that gentle, high-bred, intelligent
expression which she always wore. Kitty's heart was no longer empty or
sad. Her beloved father had come back to live with her, she hoped, as
long as life lasted. Her old friend, Sir John Wallis, had only recently
declared her his heiress; and, although Kitty would never leave her
father for anything that mere money could offer, she was glad to feel
that he was no longer anxious about her future.
As to Kitty, herself, however rich she might be, she would always be
simple-hearted and think of wealth in the right spirit; for what it
could do to promote the happiness of others, and not merely as a means
of increasing her own splendour or silly pleasures.
"You have two fathers, you know, Kitty," said Sir John, as they drove up
the avenue. "You are bound to be a very circumspect young lady, as you
are under such strict surveillance."
"You need not suppose for a single moment that I am the least afraid of
either of you," was her answer, and she gave her head a little toss
which was not in the least saucy, but was very pretty to see.
Colonel Sharston smiled and turned to his friend.
"How is it that we have accepted this invitation?" he said. "I do not
know Mrs. Aylmer. What sort of woman is she?"
"Oh, a very estimable person. I have known her for many years. I felt
that we could not do less than give her a few days of our company, and
Aylmer's Court is a beautiful place."
So it truly was--the park undulating away to the edge of the landscape,
and acres and acres of forest-land being visible in every direction.
There was a lake a little way to the left of the house, on which a small
pleasure-boat was now being rowed. In that boat sat a girl dressed in
dark blue, with a sailor hat on her head. Kitty bent forward; then she
glanced at Sir John Wallis and suddenly squeezed his hand.
"Do you know who is rowing on the lake?" she said.
"Who, my dear? Why, Kitty, you have turned quite white."
"I met her before, but, do you know, I had absolutely forgotten it. She
is Mrs. Aylmer's companion, and I believe her right hand."
"But who is she, dear? What is the matter? You look quite ill."
"Don't you remember Bertha Keys?"
"Miss Keys; why, that was the girl who behaved so badly at the time when
I offered my scholarship, was it not?"
"The very same girl," said Kitty.
"And what do you want me to do regarding her, Kitty?"
"I do not know. I don't want to do her any injury. Don't be surprised
when you meet her, that is all, and--"
"Kitty, your heart is a great deal too tender. You ought not to belong
to this evil world at all," said Sir John, while her father looked at
Kitty and asked for an explanation.
"Another time, father. All Sir John has to do is to treat Miss Keys as
if he had never met her before."
"Well, I daresay I can manage more than that for your sake, Kitty; and
now, here we are at the house."
Mrs. Aylmer and her adopted son, Maurice Trevor, were standing on the
steps to meet their guests. The moment she saw Trevor, Kitty smiled and
took an eager step forward to meet him. He held out his hand.
"This is a real pleasure," she said. "I had forgotten all about your
being here. Do you remember Dawlish?"
"Of course I do," he answered. "I do not easily forget pleasant
occasions."
Mrs. Aylmer now turned to Kitty, took her hand in hers, and, turning her
gently round, looked into her face. It was a good face, eyes of the
sweetest grey, delicate colouring, an intelligent forehead, lips true
and pure and honest. Mrs. Aylmer scarcely knew why she sighed, and why
a wish rose up in her heart that she had never felt before: that
Maurice, the boy she truly loved, should really like and marry this
girl. Just for the moment she forgot all about Kitty's future
circumstances; she welcomed her for herself.
"Would you like to go for a walk before dinner?" said Trevor. "Miss Keys
is rowing on the lake; we will go to meet her."
"I should be delighted. May I go, father?" said Kitty.
"Certainly, my love."
"Then will you two gentlemen come into the house?" said Mrs. Aylmer. She
nodded to Trevor, who walked off immediately with Kitty. As soon as they
got out of ear-shot, Kitty faced her companion.
"I never knew that I should meet you here. I am so glad. I heard from
Florence a few days ago; she said you were so good and kind to her when
you were in London. I must thank you now in her name."
"I should like to be kind to her, but in reality I was able to do only
very little for her," said Trevor. "Does she write often to you? How is
she getting on?"
"She seems to me to be getting on in the most wonderful way. She has
quite a considerable amount of literary work to do. Two of her stories
have already been accepted, and she is asked to do a third, and I have
no doubt that other work also will fall in her way. She will now be able
to support herself comfortably. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to
me."
Trevor smiled.
"She is wonderfully clever and interesting," he said. "I am glad she is
your friend. She has talked to me about you and----"
Just at that moment Bertha Keys, having moored her little boat came to
meet them.
She came straight up to Kitty and spoke in a defiant voice, and as if
she were talking to a perfect stranger.
"How do you do?" she said. "I suppose I must introduce myself. My name
is Miss Keys. I am Mrs. Aylmer's companion. I shall be pleased to do
everything I can to promote your comfort while at Aylmer's Court. Have
you been here long?"
"Only a few moments," answered Kitty, taking her cue, "and Mr. Trevor
has most kindly offered to show me round the place. I am so tired of
sitting still that it is delightful to move about again."
"Then I won't keep you. Dinner is at half-past seven, and the
dressing-gong sounds at seven. Mrs. Aylmer's maid will help you to
dress, Miss Sharston--that is, unless you have brought your own."
"Oh, I don't keep a maid," said Kitty merrily; "I hate maids, and in any
case I am not rich enough to afford one."
Miss Keys raised her brows in a somewhat supercilious way.