Part 106 (1/2)
Kate bit her lips in a momentary fit of anger. The house was her house, and not her aunt's. But she remembered that her aunt had been kind to her at Norwich and at Yarmouth, and she allowed this feeling to die away. ”We shall be very glad to see you,” she said. ”We are three women together here, and I'm afraid you will find us rather dull.”
”Oh dear, no,--dull with you! That would be impossible!”
”And how have you left your friend, Mr. Cheesacre?”
”Quite well;--very well, thank you. That is to say, I haven't seen him much lately. He and I did have a bit of a breeze, you know.”
”I can't say that I did know, Captain Bellfield.”
”I thought, perhaps, you had heard. He seemed to think that I was too particular in a certain quarter! Ha--ha--ha--ha! That's only my joke, you know, ladies.”
They then went into the house, and the Captain straggled in after them. Mrs. Greenow was in neither of the two sitting-rooms which they usually occupied. She, too, had been driven somewhat out of the ordinary composure of her manner by the arrival of her lover,--even though she had expected it, and had retired to her room, thinking that she had better see Kate in private before they met in the presence of the Captain. ”I suppose you have seen my aunt since you have been here?” said Kate.
”Oh dear, yes. I saw her, and she suggested that I had better walk out and find you. I did find you, you know, though I didn't walk very far.”
”And have you seen your room?”
”Yes;--yes. She was kind enough to show me my room. Very nice indeed, thank you;--looking out into the front, and all that kind of thing.”
The poor fellow was no doubt thinking how much better was his lot at Vavasor Hall than it had been at Oileymead. ”I shan't stay long, Miss Vavasor,--only just a night or so; but I did want to see your aunt again,--and you, too, upon my word.”
”My aunt is the attraction, Captain Bellfield. We all know that.”
He actually simpered,--simpered like a young girl who is half elated and half ashamed when her lover is thrown in her teeth. He fidgeted with the things on the table, and moved himself about uneasily from one leg to the other. Perhaps he was remembering that though he had contrived to bring himself to Vavasor Hall he had not money enough left to take him back to Norwich. The two girls left him and went to their rooms. ”I will go to my aunt at once,” said Kate, ”and find out what is to be done.”
”I suppose she means to marry him?”
”Oh, yes; she means to marry him, and the sooner the better now. I knew this was coming, but I did so hope it would not be while you were here. It makes me feel so ashamed of myself that you should see it.”
Kate boldly knocked at her aunt's door, and her aunt received her with a conscious smile. ”I was waiting for you to come,” said Mrs.
Greenow.
”Here I am, aunt; and, what is more to the purpose, there is Captain Bellfield in the drawing-room.”
”Stupid man! I told him to take himself away about the place till dinner-time. I've half a mind to send him back to Shap at once;--upon my word I have.”
”Don't do that, aunt; it would be inhospitable.”
”But he is such an oaf. I hope you understand, my dear, that I couldn't help it?”
”But you do mean to--to marry him, aunt; don't you?”
”Well, Kate, I really think I do. Why shouldn't I? It's a lonely sort of life being by myself; and, upon my word, I don't think there's very much harm in him.”
”I am not saying anything against him; only in that case you can't very well turn him out of the house.”
”Could not I, though? I could in a minute; and, if you wish it, you shall see if I can't do it.”
”The rocks and valleys would not allow that, aunt.”
”It's all very well for you to laugh, my dear. If laughing would break my bones I shouldn't be as whole as I am now. I might have had Cheesacre if I liked, who is a substantial man, and could have kept a carriage for me; but it was the rocks and valleys that prevented that;--and perhaps a little feeling that I might do some good to a poor fellow who has n.o.body in the world to look after him.” Mrs.