Part 4 (2/2)
CHAPTER II
THE HOUSE IN THE WOODS
However good at pretending Felice might wish you to be she would never like you to pretend you were the crumpled little person that Major Trenton and Certain Legal Matters picked up from the narcissi border.
It wasn't only her sprained ankle that frightened her, though that hurt dreadfully of course, but it was all of the persons running with lanterns, the housemaids from the kitchen and Zeb and Marthy from the stable, and from over the top of the wall had vaulted an enormously tall young man who had insisted on das.h.i.+ng off for a doctor. Just having so many persons about all at once terrified her.
But when the ankle was bandaged and the doctor had left her lying comfortably on her own bed with Marthy beside her, Grandfather came and sent Marthy away. It was nearly midnight, the world outside was still save for the hoa.r.s.e sounds of the s.h.i.+pping craft outside in the bay.
”You may as well know,” said the Major sternly, ”that I happened to look out of the window, just before you fell--this young man who was kissing you has been chivalrous enough to insist that it was quite all his fault, that you did not know he was going to kiss you--but of course I am not so stupid as to believe that you did not expect something of the sort when you climbed up to the top of the wall.
Knowing the women of your race as I do I might have suspected something of the sort--” he folded his arms, and looked so stern in the dim light of her bedside lamp that Felicia s.h.i.+vered, ”et I hardly thought you would have the opportunity, carefully guarded as you have been. I have told the young man that he must make no further attempt to see you. And the doctor a.s.sures me you will be able to continue the journey that we have planned.”
And when he was gone and Marthy had come back to put out the light Felicia asked just one thing.
”Did Maman have to stay in bed because she fell off a bench?”
Marthy's gruff voice cleared itself in her throat, she wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or cry at the absurd question.
”Not for that,” she answered briefly, ”don't let that fret ye, my precious lamb, that foot of yours will be good as new in the matter of a week maybe.”
”Even if it wasn't evaire,” Felicia persisted, ”I'd be proud, proud, proud I climbed the wall--I shall tell Maman so--”
There was a long silence in the room. The lamp was out now; Marthy was at the door ready to go. Felice could only feel her approaching the bed. Her rough kindly voice blurred out of the darkness.
”Precious lamb, were you thinking to see your mother?”
In spite of her aching ankle the girl sat up in the bed. She laughed softly.
”Silly old Marthy! Don't you know? That's what we're going to the House in the Woods for--to see how Maman has made her garden lovely--I was so proud, proud, proud when I knew Grandy was going to take me-- I've waited so long since Maman went away--”
”G.o.d forgive him!” moaned Marthy, so softly that the girl did not hear her, but aloud she said compa.s.sionately, ”Don't be settin' your heart too much--on seeing her--” and shut the door softly without saying goodnight.
But when the kindly soul came to help her down the stately stairway in the morning the tears were coursing freely over her lean and grizzled cheeks. She talked in a husky whisper all the way down.
”We've not been in the manner of friends, him being so careful and all of ye, but oh, Miss Felice, it's proud I am that I watched you in your bit of a yard and it's sorry I am that you're going--and it's long the days will be till you come back--and if there's anything that Zeb or I could do for you--”
They were in the hallway now, the Major was waiting and some strange men were carrying the last of the baggage outside to the carriage.
Suddenly Felice put her two arms around Marthy's neck and whispered, whispered very softly and lifted her face away blus.h.i.+ng,
”You can tell Dudley Hamilt I've gone to the House in the Woods--when he comes to ask you--” she said.
The Major was very impressive in his travelling coat, so stern and solemn that Felicia hardly dared to look at him until after they were on the steamer. He was really very gentle with her, he tried his best to make her comfortable, he did not refer at all to the events of the night before as he wrapped a steamer rug about her and helped the whining-voiced stewardess to prop a pillow under the bandaged ankle.
It was a desolate day, gray and overcast. The sh.o.r.e-line was blurred out before Felicia had so much as a fair look at it. The wind blew, raw and cold, but she shook her head when they suggested she let them take her into the cabin. She just lay with closed eyes and cuddled a little black velvet cap, a boy's cap, under her chin and with every chug of the engines her heart echoed,
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