Part 45 (1/2)
”Mother was ill a long time,” said Rotha, uncertain how to render obedience to this command.
”Yes, I know. When did you come to New York?”
”It is--two years now.”
”Two years!” Mrs. Busby started up in her chair a little, and a faint colour rose in her cheeks; then it faded and her lips took a hard set.
”Ill all that time?”
”No. She was not ill for the first year.”
”Say, 'No _ma'am_,' my dear. That is the proper way. Do you know what induced her to move to New York, Rotha?”
”Yes, ma'am,” said Rotha colouring.
”May I know?”
”Didn't you know we were very poor?” said Rotha in a lower voice.
”How was _that_ the reason?”
”We couldn't--I mean--she couldn't, get work at Medwayville.”
”Get work!” Mrs. Busby was silent. Perhaps that was an unfruitful, and would prove an unrefres.h.i.+ng, field of inquiry. She would leave it unexplored for the present. She paused a little.
”So since then you have been living in New York?”
”Yes.”
A longer pause followed. Mrs. Busby looked at the fire and raised one eyebrow.
”Under whose care have you been living, my dear, since you lost your mother's?”
Rotha hesitated. Great soreness of heart combined now with another feeling to make her words difficult. She did not at all want to answer.
Nevertheless the girl's temper was to be frank, and she saw no way of evasion here.
”I have had n.o.body but Mr. Digby,” she said.
”Mr. Digby! Mr. Southwode, you mean? That is his name, my dear; don't speak of him as 'Mr. Digby.'”
Rotha's mouth opened, and closed. She was forming herself with all her might on Mr. Digby's model; and besides that, she was trying to obey his injunctions about pleasant behaviour.
”Where have you lived all this time?” a little shorter than the former questions had been put.
”Since we came to New York?”
”No, no; since you have been under this gentleman's care? Where have you been?”
”In a pleasant place near the river. I do not know the name of the street.”
”Who took care of you there, Rotha?”