Mildred had been a week at The Deanery, and if her enjoyment during that
time had not been entirely unalloyed, the fault lay without question
with Lady Sarah, for all the members of the family vied with each other
as to who could show the young guest the most kindness. Even the Dean
himself fell a victim to the "Norse Princess", much to his wife's
amusement, for he was, as a rule, the most unnoticing of men. Mildred
had written to her mother that Bertha's father was "exactly like a
Dean." She had never met such a dignitary before, it is true, but she
had an impression that he ought to look wise and studious, and Dean
Faucit fulfilled these requirements to the uttermost.
He had a thin face, with grave eyes set in a net-work of lines; his
shoulders were bowed with poring over the study-desk; and he was,
moreover, so absent-minded that he made two separate attempts before he
succeeded in grasping Mildred's hand on the occasion of their first
introduction. She had been several days in the house before he had the
vaguest idea of her appearance, but one morning it chanced that he
raised his eyes from the breakfast-table to complain of the sunlight
which was pouring in at the window; and right opposite sat Mildred, her
eyes dancing with happiness, a soft pink flush on her cheeks, and her
hair shining like threads of gold. The Dean started, and drew his brows
together, staring at her in curious, short-sighted fashion. He was so
accustomed to the dim light of the Cathedral, and to the pale faces of
his wife and children, that Mildred, with her bright colouring, seemed
the embodiment of the sunshine itself. He fumbled for his glasses,
scrutinised her furtively from time to time as the meal progressed, and
when it was over, lingered behind to speak of her to his wife.
"That friend of Bertha's seems to he--er--a nice little girl, dear!
There is something in her face which affects me very pleasantly. I--
er--I hope you are doing all you can to give her a pleasant time. Do
you--er--think she would like to look at my book plates?"
Mrs Faucit laughed, and slipped her hand inside his arm.
"No, my dear old man!" she said. "I don't think she would like it all.
I think she would be profoundly bored. Leave her to the girls. They
are as happy as the day is long, wandering about together."
"Ah, well, you know best! but I should like the child to enjoy herself.
It has struck me once or twice that Sarah Monckton--eh?--not quite so
sympathetic to the young folks as she might be, I'm afraid. There was
something at dinner the other night--I didn't hear it all, but I had an
impression--an impression--. It distressed me very much. I--er--hope
she doesn't interfere with the girls' enjoyment."
"Oh, no! Don't worry yourself, dear. They are quite happy," protested
Mrs Faucit soothingly; but when her husband had returned to his study
she sighed a little, as though she were not altogether so easy in her
mind as she had led him to believe.
The scene at the dinner-table to which the Dean had referred was
uncomfortably fresh in her own memory. It had arisen through Mildred's
horrified surprise at the sight of Lady Sarah in evening dress, and the
unconscious manner in which she showed her disapproval. Mrs Faucit
made up her mind that she would take an early opportunity of suggesting
to her young visitor that she had better not stare at the old lady in so
marked a manner, but she was too late, for before the meal was over Lady
Sarah suddenly laid her knife and fork on her plate, and transfixed
Mildred with an awful frown.
"Well, Miss Moore, what is it all about? Pray let me hear what is
wrong, so that I may put it right at once. If I am to have my dinner,
this sort of thing cannot go on any longer."
The girl's start of amazement was painful to behold. The sharp voice
struck her like a blow, and she was absolutely ignorant as to her
offence.
"I--I don't understand! What have I done?"
"Only kept your eyes fixed upon me from the moment you sat down until
now. It is most ill-bred to stare in that undisguised manner. Pray, is
there anything extraordinary in my appearance that you find it so
impossible to look at anyone else?"
The blood rushed into Mildred's cheeks, but she made no reply.
"Is there anything extraordinary in my appearance, I ask you?" repeated
Lady Sarah shrilly.
It was impossible to avoid answering a second time, but while the
listeners were trembling at the thought of what might happen next,
Mildred raised her head, and answered, with suddenly-regained composure:
"I did not know I was staring. I hope you will forgive me--I am very
sorry if I have been rude."
She spoke with a certain grave dignity, which sat well upon her, and
Lady Sarah could not do otherwise than accept an apology so gracefully
offered. Nevertheless the marked way in which the girl had avoided
answering her question was, if possible, more galling than the original
offence, and the glances which she sent across the table were the
reverse of friendly.
From this time forth it seemed impossible for Mildred to do anything
right in Lady Sarah's eyes. Bertha and Lois were allowed to go on their
way undisturbed, while the sharp tongue, which had been wont to vent its
spleen upon them half a dozen times a day, found occupation in
criticising their friend.
She was rough, clumsy, awkward, Lady Sarah declared. She came into a
room like a whirlwind; she ran up and downstairs more like a schoolboy
than a young lady. As to her hair--that cloudy, golden hair which the
others so much admired,--there was no end to the lectures poor Mildred
received on this subject. It was disgracefully untidy--such a head of
hair as no lady could possibly reconcile herself to possessing. In vain
Mildred protested that the so-called untidiness was natural, and that no
amount of brushing or damping could reduce those rebellious waves to
order. Lady Sarah arched her eyebrows, and wished she might only have a
chance of trying. She would guarantee to make it smooth enough.
Mildred bit her lip and flushed indignantly. It was on the tip of her
tongue to say that she would be happy to grant the opportunity, run
upstairs for her brushes, and force the old lady to prove the fallacy of
her statements; but she restrained herself, and felt more than repaid
for the effort when Mrs Faucit followed her out of the room a few
moments later, and said:
"I was so glad to see you keep your temper just now, dear. It was
trying for you, for of course we all know that what you said was
perfectly true. You couldn't possibly make your hair smooth, and it
would be a pity if you could--it is far prettier as it is, but I don't
want you to think too hardly of poor Lady Sarah. You must remember that
she is old and ailing, and has had a lonely life in spite of all her
riches. It is difficult to be amiable when one is old and frail, but it
is very easy when you are young and happy. Isn't it, Mildred?"
"I don't know," said Mildred slowly. "It isn't for me, because I am so
quick-tempered. You don't know how dreadful I feel when anyone vexes me
like that. My blood all goes fizz! It seems as if I couldn't help
answering back."
"Well, that makes it all the better when you do control yourself!" Mrs
Faucit answered, laughing a little in her gentle, amused fashion; and
Mildred ran upstairs, feeling delightfully virtuous.
At that moment she was prepared to declare that no amount of aggravation
on the part of Lady Sarah should ever induce her to answer hastily in
return.