Part 25 (1/2)

”Ay, Mother,” said Blanche absently.

”Metrusteth 'tis not so narrow as that thou wearest. It becometh thee not. And the guarding of that gown is ill done--who set it on?”

Blanche did not remember--and, just then, she did not care.

”Whoso it were, she hath need be ashamed thereof. Come hither, child.”

Blanche obeyed, and while her mother gave a pull here, and smoothed down a fold there, she stood patiently enough in show, but most unquietly in heart.

”Nought would amend it, save to pick it off and set it on again,” said Lady Enville, resigning her endeavours. ”Now, Blanche, if thou art to abide at the parsonage, where I cannot have an eye upon thee, I pray thee remember thyself, who thou art, and take no fantasies in thine head touching Arthur Tremayne.”

Arthur Tremayne! What did Blanche care for Arthur Tremayne?

”I am sore afeard, Blanche, lest thou shouldst forget thee. It will not matter for Clare. If he be a parson's son, yet is he a Tremayne of Tremayne,--quite good enough for Clare, if no better hap should chance unto her. But thou art of better degree by thy father's side, and we look to have thee well matched, according thereto. Thy father will not hear of Don John, because he is a Papist, and a Spaniard to boot: elsewise I had seen no reason to gainsay thee, poor child! But of course he must have his way. Only have a care, Blanche, and take not up with none too mean for thy degree,--specially now, while thou art out of our wards.h.i.+p.”

There was no answer from Blanche.

”Mistress Tremayne will have a care of thee, maybe,” pursued her mother, unfurling her fan--merely as a plaything, for the weather did not by any means require it. ”Yet 'tis but nature she should work to have Arthur well matched, and she wot, of course, that thou shouldst be a rare catch for him. So do thou have a care, Blanche.”

And Lady Enville, leaning back among her cus.h.i.+ons, furled and unfurled her handsome fan, alike unconscious and uncaring that she had been guilty of the greatest injustice to poor Thekla Tremayne.

There was a rap at the door, and enter Rachel, looking as if she had imbibed an additional pound of starch since leaving the room.

”Sister, would you have Blanche's tartaryn gown withal, or no?”

”The crimson? Let me see,” said Lady Enville reflectively. ”Ay, Rachel,--she may as well have it. I would not have thee wear it but for Sundays and holy days, Blanche. For common days, _there_, thy blue kersey is full good enough.”

Without any answer, and deliberately ignoring the presence of Blanche, Rachel stalked away.

It was a weary interval until Sir Thomas, returned. Now and then Clare flitted in and out, to ask her mother's wishes concerning different things: Jennet came in with fresh wood for the fire; Lady Enville continued to give cautions and charges, as they occurred to her, now regarding conduct and now costume: but a miserable time Blanche found it. She felt herself, and she fancied every one else considered her, in dire disgrace. Yet beneath all the mortification, the humiliation, and the grief over which she was brooding, there was a conviction in the depth of Blanche's heart, resist it as she might, that the father who was crossing her will was a wiser and truer friend to her than the mother who would have granted it.

Sir Thomas came at last. He wore a very tired look, and seemed as if he had grown several years older in that day.

”Well, all is at a point, Orige,” he said. ”Master Tremayne hath right kindly given consent to receive both the maids into his house, for so long a time as we may desire it; but Mistress Tremayne would have Barbara come withal, if it may stand with thy conveniency. She hath but one serving-maid, as thou wist; and it should be more comfortable to the childre to have her, beside the saving of some pain [trouble, labour]

unto Mistress Tremayne.”

”They can have her well enough, trow,” answered Lady Enville. ”I seldom make use of her. Jennet doth all my matters.”

”But how for Meg and Lucrece?”

Barbara's position in the household was what we should term the young ladies' maid; but maids in those days were on very familiar and confidential terms with their ladies.

”Oh, they will serve them some other way,” said Lady Enville carelessly.

The convenience of other people was of very slight account in her Ladys.h.i.+p's eyes, so long as there was no interference with her own.

”Cannot Kate or Doll serve?” asked Sir Thomas--referring to the two chambermaids.

”Of course they can, if they must,” returned their nominal mistress.