Part 6 (1/2)
”I hope Mr. Wardour is quite well,” said Lord de la Poer, turning again to Kate.
”Oh yes, quite, thank you;” and then with brightening eyes, she ventured on ”Do you know him?”
”I saw him two or three times,” he answered with increased kindness of manner. ”Will you remember me to him when you write?”
”Very well,” said Kate promptly; ”but he says all those sort of things are nonsense.”
The horror of the two aunts was only kept in check by the good manners that hindered a public scolding; but Lord de la Poer only laughed heartily, and said, ”Indeed! What sort of things, may I ask, Lady Caergwent?”
”Why--love, and regards, and remembrances. Mary used to get letters from her school-fellows, all filled with dearest loves, and we always laughed at her; and Armyn used to say them by heart beforehand,” said Kate.
”I beg to observe,” was the answer, in the grave tone which, however, Kate understood as fun, ”that I did not presume to send my love to Mr. Wardour. May not that make the case different?”
”Yes,” said Kate meditatively; ”only I don't know that your remembrance would be of more use than your love.”
”And are we never to send any messages unless they are of use?” This was a puzzling question, and Kate did not immediately reply.
”None for pleasure--eh?”
”Well, but I don't see what would be the pleasure.”
”What, do you consider it pleasurable to be universally forgotten?”
”n.o.body ever could forget Pa--my Uncle Wardour,” cried Kate, with eager vehemence flas.h.i.+ng in her eyes.
”Certainly not,” said Lord de la Poer, in a voice as if he were much pleased with her; ”he is not a man to be forgotten. It is a privilege to have been brought up by him. But come, Lady Caergwent, since you are so critical, will you be pleased to devise some message for me, that may combine use, pleasure, and my deep respect for him?”
and as she sat beside him at the table, he laid his hand on hers, so that she felt that he really meant what he said.
She sat fixed in deep thought; and her aunts, who had been miserable all through the conversation, began to speak of other things; but in the midst the shrill little voice broke in, ”I know what!” and good- natured Lord de la Poer turned at once, smiling, and saying, ”Well, what?”
”If you would help in the new aisle! You know the church is not big enough; there are so many people come into the district, with the new ironworks, you know; and we have not got half room enough, and can't make more, though we have three services; and we want to build a new aisle, and it will cost 250 pounds, but we have only got 139 pounds 15s. 6d. And if you would but be so kind as to give one sovereign for it--that would be better than remembrances and respects, and all that sort of thing.”
”I rather think it would,” said Lord de la Poer; and though Lady Barbara eagerly exclaimed, ”Oh! do not think of it; the child does not know what she is talking of. Pray excuse her--” he took out his purse, and from it came a crackling smooth five-pound note, which he put into the hand, saying, ”There, my dear, cut that in two, and send the two halves on different days to Mr. Wardour, with my best wishes for his success in his good works. Will that do?”
Kate turned quite red, and only perpetrated a choked sound of her favourite -q. For the whole world she could not have said more: but though she knew perfectly well that anger and wrath were hanging over her, she felt happier than for many a long week.
Presently the aunts rose, and Lady Barbara said to her in the low ceremonious voice that was a sure sign of warning and displeasure, ”You had better come up stairs with us, Katharine, and amuse Lord Ernest in the back drawing-room while his father is engaged with us.”
Kate's heart leapt up at the sound ”amuse.” She popped her precious note into her pocket, bounded up-stairs, and opened the back drawing- room door for her playfellow, as he brought up the rear of the procession.
Lord de la Poer and Lady Barbara spread the table with papers; Lady Jane sat by; the children were behind the heavy red curtains that parted off the second room. There was a great silence at first, then began a little t.i.ttering, then a little chattering, then presently a stifled explosion. Lady Barbara began to betray some restlessness; she really must see what that child was about.
”No, no,” said Lord de la Poer; ”leave them in peace. That poor girl will never thrive unless you let her use her voice and limbs. I shall make her come over and enjoy herself with my flock when we come up en ma.s.se.”
The explosions were less carefully stifled, and there were some sounds of rus.h.i.+ng about, some small shrieks, and then the door shut, and there was a silence again.
By this it may be perceived that Kate and Ernest had become tolerably intimate friends. They had informed each other of what games were their favourites; Kate had told him the Wardour names and ages; and required from him in return those of his brothers and sisters. She had been greatly delighted by learning that Adelaide was no end of a hand at climbing trees; and that whenever she should come and stay at their house, Ernest would teach her to ride. And then they began to consider what play was possible under the present circ.u.mstances-- beginning they hardly knew how, by dodging one another round and round the table, making s.n.a.t.c.hes at one another, gradually a.s.suming the characters of hunter and Red Indian. Only when the hunter had s.n.a.t.c.hed up Aunt Jane's tortoise-sh.e.l.l paper-cutter to stab with, complaining direfully that it was a stupid place, with nothing for a gun, and the Red Indian's crinoline had knocked down two chairs, she recollected the consequences in time to strangle her own war-whoop, and suggested that they should be safer on the stairs; to which Ernest readily responded, adding that there was a great gallery at home all full of pillars and statues, the jolliest place in the world for making a row.
”Oh dear! oh dear! how I hope I shall go there!” cried Kate, swinging between the rails of the landing-place. ”I do want of all things to see a statue.”