Part 120 (1/2)
”As well without the veil as with it.”
”I see!” said Mrs. Mowbray. ”I shall have to succ.u.mb; and Rotha will have her own way. But I did want to see her in a veil. We have had a great deal of trouble over that dress, Rotha and I!”
To Rotha's relief however, Mr. Southwode did not ask why or how, but let the conversation drift on to other subjects.
As they were returning through the long course of rooms and pa.s.sages to the library, Mrs. Mowbray as before leading the way; in one of the lower rooms, dimly lighted, Rotha's steps lingered. She came close to her companion's side and spoke in a lowered tone, timidly.
”Digby--will _you_ ask aunt Serena to come to Southwode?”
”No, my darling,” said he, drawing her up to him;--”I will not.”
”Then--I?”
”You, and no other. And without my name coming in at all.”
”It will not hold for half as much.”
”It must. You are the mistress of the house. And besides,--it may be very well that you, who have been injured, should shew your forgiveness; but I am under no such necessity.”
”You, who have not been injured, do _not_ forgive her?” said Rotha, laughing a little.
”Yes, I forgive her; but I do not propose to reward her.”
”You like me to do it?”
”I like you to do it.”
They stood still a moment.
”Digby,” said Rotha again, with a breath of anxiety, ”_do_ you care how I am dressed Monday?”
”Do I?--Yes.”
He had both arms round her now, and was looking down into her changing face.
”You do not think it need be costly, do you? Mrs. Mowbray has a notion that it ought to be rich.”
”Will you let me choose it?”
Rotha hesitated, looked down and looked up.
”It is all yours--” she said, somewhat vaguely, but he understood her.
”Only, remember that I am a poor girl, and it _ought_ not to be costly.”
”Mrs. Digby Southwode will not be a poor girl,” he said, with caresses which shewed Rotha how sweet the words were to him.
”But you know our principle,” said Rotha. ”I had a mind to wear just my travelling dress; but Mrs. Mowbray said you would not like that, and I must be in white.”
”I think I would like you to be in white,” he said.
_________