Part 34 (2/2)
”That was like,” she said quietly. But neither of her hearers knew how much meaning lay beneath the words.
”And what think you touching Lucrece?” asked Mrs Tremayne the next day, when Philippa was again at the parsonage.
”I ne'er had a fancy for snakes, Thekla.”
”Then you count her deceitful? That is it which I have feared.”
”Have a care,” said Philippa. ”But what is to fear? A care of what?”
”Nay, what feareth any from a snake? That he should sting, I take it.
He may do it while you be looking. But he is far more like to do it when you be not.”
The evening before the two sisters were to return to Enville Court, Mrs Tremayne and Clare were sitting alone in the parlour. Clare had manoeuvred to this end, for she wanted to ask her friend a question; and she knew there was a particular period of the evening when Mr Tremayne and Arthur were generally out, and Lysken was occupied elsewhere. Mrs Rose and Blanche remained to be disposed of; but the former relieved Clare's mind by trotting away with a little basket of creature comforts to see a sick woman in the village; and it was easy to ask Blanche to leave her private packing until that period. But now that Clare had got Mrs Tremayne to herself, she was rather shy in beginning her inquiries.
She framed her first question in a dozen different ways, rejected all for various reasons, and finally--feeling that her opportunity was sliding away--came out with that one which she had most frequently cast aside.
”Mistress Tremayne, account you it alway sinful to harbour discontent?”
”I could much better answer thee, dear maid, if I knew the fountain whence thy question springeth.”
This was just the point which Clare was most shy of revealing. But she really wanted Mrs Tremayne's opinion; and with an effort she conquered her shyness.
”Well,--suppose it had pleased G.o.d to cast my lot some whither, that the daily work I had to do was mighty dislikeful to me; and some other maiden that I knew, had that to do withal which I would have loved dearly:--were it ill for me to wish that my business had been like hers?”
”Whom enviest thou, my child?” asked Mrs Tremayne very gently.
Clare blushed, and laughed.
”Well, I had not meant to say the same; but in very deed I do envy Lysken.”
”And wherefore, dear heart?”
”Because her work is so much higher and better than mine.”
Mrs Tremayne did not answer for a moment. Then she said,--”Tell me, Clare,--suppose thy father's serving-men and maids should begin to dispute amongst themselves,--if Sim were to say, 'I will no longer serve in the hall, because 'tis n.o.bler work to ride my master's horses:' or Kate were to say, 'I will no longer sweep the chambers, sith 'tis higher matter to dress my master's meat:' and Nell,--'I will no longer dress the meat, sith it were a greater thing to wait upon my mistress in her chamber,'--tell me, should the work of the house be done better, or worser?”
”Worser, no doubt.”
”Well, dear heart, and if so, why should G.o.d's servants grudge to do the differing works of their Master? If thou art of them, thy Master, hath set thee thy work. He saw what thou wert fit to do, and what was fit to be done of thee; and the like of Lysken. He hath set thee where thou art; and such work as thou hast to do there is His work for thee. Alway remembering,--if thou art His servant.”
Clare did not quite like that recurring conjunction. It sounded as if Mrs Tremayne doubted the fact.
”You think me not so?” she asked in a low voice.
”I hope thou art, dear Clare. But thou shouldst know,” was the searching answer.
There was silence after that, till Clare said, with a sigh, ”Then you reckon I ought not to wish for different work?”
”I think not, my maid, that wis.h.i.+ng and discontent be alway one and the same. I may carry a burden right willingly and cheerfully, and yet feel it press hard, and be glad to lay it down. Surely there is no ill that thou shouldest say to thy Father, 'If it be Thy will, Father, I would fain have this or that.' Only be content with His ordering, if He should answer, 'Child, thou hast asked an evil thing.'”
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