Part 11 (1/2)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
A TETE-A-TETE.
During the next few days the girls could not help noticing a peculiar contradiction in their father's manner towards themselves. He was alternately demonstratively affectionate and unreasonably irritable. He snubbed Norah's performance on the violin, scolded Lettice because she was wearing white dresses instead of her old blue serge, and called attention to flaws in the housekeeping in a manner which sent the iron into Hilary's soul. And then, when a chance meeting occurred on the landing or stairs, he would throw his arms round them and kiss them over and over again with pa.s.sionate tenderness.
”Something is happening, but I haven't the remotest idea what it is,”
said Norah to her sisters; and it added to their curiosity to notice that Miss Carr was openly amused at their father's demeanour, while he was as evidently embarra.s.sed by her quizzical smiles.
Mr Bertrand had decided to say nothing of Miss Carr's invitation until that lady had made her final choice; but when the third day came he could restrain himself no longer, and taking the girls aside he proceeded to inform them of the new life which was before one of their number. The news was received in characteristic fas.h.i.+on. Hilary stood in silence, thinking deeply; Lettice promptly burst into tears, and clung round her father's arm; and Norah blurted out a dozen contradictory speeches.
”How horrid of her! I won't go! I should hate to leave you all. It's very kind. ... The best masters! It would be lovely, of course, but-- Oh, dear! whom will she choose?”
”I couldn't leave home, father. Who would look after the house? It would be impossible for Lettice to do the housekeeping. Miss Carr knows me best. I should love it if it were not for leaving home.”
”I don't want to go! I don't want to leave you. Oh, father, father!
I'd be so homesick! Don't let me go!”
Mr Bertrand stroked Lettice's golden locks, and looked on the point of breaking down himself.
”Whichever Miss Carr chooses will have to go,” he said slowly. ”I have promised as much, and I think it will be for the best. I shall be in town every two or three months, and she will come home for the Christmas and the summer holidays, so that it will not be a desperate matter.
Don't cry, my pet; you are only one of three, remember; it is by no means certain that Miss Carr would have you, even if you begged to go.
Perhaps I should not have said anything about it; but it was on my mind, and I was bound to speak. London is a fascinating place. It is the centre of the world--it _is_ the world; you will find many compensations.”
”I shall see a great deal of Mr Rayner. I'm sure she will choose me.
It's only fair. I'm the eldest, and she knows me best,” thought Hilary to herself.
”I should go to the Royal College of Music, learn from the best masters, and play at the concerts,” thought Norah. ”I wonder if it would stop Edna's lessons! I should feel mean if it did that, and I _do_ enjoy going over every fortnight and having fun at the Manor!”
Lettice sobbed on her father's shoulder, and tried to smother the thought that it would be ”nice” to know grand people, and drive in the park dressed in pretty, fas.h.i.+onable clothes.
Very little more was said on the subject. The girls were shy of revealing their secret thoughts, and Mr Bertrand was already beginning to repent the confidence which had had the effect of damping their high spirits.
”We must get up an excursion of some kind to-morrow, or we shall all be in the blues,” he said to himself, and when tea-time arrived he had all the plans cut and dried.
”A char-a-banc will be at the door at half-past ten to-morrow, good people. We will drive over to Grasmere and lunch at the Rothay. It is convenient for the churchyard and the gingerbread shop, and there is a good garden. We can lounge about in the afternoon, and get back in time for a late dinner. There will be eight of us, and the char-a-banc holds twelve, so we shall have plenty of room.”
”Oh, father!--Rex and Edna! Do let us ask them! There is time to send a letter to-night, and we could pick them up at the cross-roads. Oh, father!”
”Oh, Norah! Certainly, my dear; ask your friends if you wish. I shall be pleased to have them,” said Mr Bertrand laughingly; and Norah rushed off in delight to scribble her note of invitation.
When the char-a-banc came to the door the next morning, Hilary busied herself looking after the storage of cloaks, cus.h.i.+ons, camp-stools, and various little etceteras which would add to the comfort of the excursion. She looked a very attractive little mistress of the ceremonies as she bustled about, with a sailor hat on her head and the nattiest little brown shoes in the world peeping out from beneath the crisp, white, pique skirts. Hilary was one of the fortunate people who seemed to have been born tidy, and to have kept so ever since. The wind which played havoc with Norah's locks never dared to take liberties with her glossy coils; the nails which tore holes in other people's garments politely refrained from touching hers; and she could walk through the muddiest streets and come home without a speck upon boots or skirt.
Mr Rayner leant on his crutches and watched her active movements with the wistful glance which was so often seen upon his face. Hilary knew that for the thousandth time he was chafing at his own inability to help, and made a point of consulting him on several matters by way of proving that there were more ways than one in which he could be of service.
”I don't know. In the front--in the back; put them where you like. Are you going to sit beside me?” he replied hurriedly, and with an undisguised eagerness which brought a flush of pleasure into the girl's cheek.
”Oh, yes, I should like to!”
Hilary stood still in a little glow of exultation. The last few days had been delightful with their experiences of lounging, driving, and boating, but the coach-drive along the lovely roads, side by side with Mr Rayner, able to point out each fresh beauty as it appeared, and to enjoy a virtual _tete-a-tete_ for the whole of the way--that was best of all! And he had chosen her as his companion before Lettice, before Norah, before any one of the party! The thought added largely to her satisfaction.