Part 12 (2/2)
What made you think of fastening them up there?”
”I have had them like that several times before, but you never notice a thing until its novelty is over, and I am tired to death of seeing it,”
said his wife, with a frown and an impatient curve of the lip, as if she had received a rebuke instead of a compliment.
Peggy stared at her plate, felt Robert shuffle on his chair by her side, and realised that he was as embarra.s.sed and unhappy as herself. The beautiful room with its luxurious appointments seemed to have suddenly become oppressive and cheerless, for in it was the spirit of discontent and discord between those who should have been most in harmony. Esther was shocked, Mellicent frightened, the boys looked awkward and uncomfortable. No one ventured to break the silence, and there was quite a long pause before Lady Darcy spoke again in quick, irritable tones.
”Have you arranged to get away with me on Thursday, as I asked you?”
”My dear, I cannot. I explained before. I am extremely sorry, but I have made appointments which I cannot break. I could take you next week if you would wait.”
”I can't wait. I told you I had to go to the dentist's. Do you wish me to linger on in agony for another week? And I have written to Mrs Bouverie that I will be at her 'At Home' on Sat.u.r.day. My appointments are, at least, as binding as yours. It isn't often that I ask you to take me anywhere, but when it is a matter of health I do think you might show a little consideration.”
Lord Darcy drew his brows together and bit his moustache. Peggy recalled Robert's description of the ”governor looking wretched” when he found himself compelled to refuse a favour, and did not wonder that the lad was ready to deny himself a pleasure rather than see that expression on his father's face. The twinkling light had died out of his eyes, and he looked old and sad and haggard, far more in need of physical remedies than his wife, whose ”agony” had been so well concealed during the last two hours as to give her the appearance of a person in very comfortable health. Rosalind alone looked absolutely unruffled, and lay back in her chair nibbling at her bonbon, as though such scenes were of too frequent occurrence between her parents to be deserving of attention.
”If you have made up your mind to go to-morrow, and cannot go alone, you must take Robert with you, Beatrice, for I cannot leave. It is only for four days, and Mr Asplin will no doubt excuse him, if you write and explain the circ.u.mstances.”
Lord Darcy left the room, and Robert and Peggy exchanged agonised glances. Go away for nearly a week, when before two days were over the calendar must be sent to London, and there still remained real hard work before it was finished! Peggy sat dazed and miserable, seeing the painful effort of the last month brought to naught, Robert's ambition defeated, and her own help of no avail. That one glance had shown the lad's face flushed with emotion; but when his mother spoke to him in fretful tones, bidding him be ready next morning when she should call in the carriage on her way to the station, he answered at once with polite acquiescence--
”Very well, mater, I won't keep you waiting. I shall be ready by half-past ten if you want me.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
Lady Darcy left the young people by themselves after luncheon, and, as was only natural, conversation at once turned on the proposed visit to London. Peggy was too much perturbed to speak, but Mellicent put the very inquiry which she most wished answered, being never troubled with bashfulness in asking questions.
”Has your mother's tooth been hurting her very much, Rosalind?”
”Tooth! what tooth? Oh, I think she did have a little twinge one night; but it's not the dentist whom she is really going to see. That's only an excuse. She really wants to go to some parties,” said Rosalind lightly; whereat her brother scowled at her under heavy brows.
”What business have you to say that? What can you know about it, pray?
If mother says she is in pain, it is not for you to contradict, and make up your own explanations. Leave her to manage her own affairs--”
He spoke rapidly, but Rosalind only shrugged her shoulders, and whispered something in Max's ear, at which he smiled and nodded his head, evidently taking her part against her brother, to Peggy's intense indignation.
No words were exchanged between the partners on the subject of the calendar until they were once more at home; when Robert took advantage of the first quiet opportunity, and came up to Peggy with a face of set determination.
”Mariquita!” he said, ”_I_--_am_--_not_--_going_--_to give in_! If you stick to me, we can still manage to get the calendar off in time. There are twenty more quotations to be found. I'll sit up to-night and fix them off, and go on writing as long as I can keep awake, but I can't take a dozen books up to town with me, so I must leave it to you to finish up. I'll mark the pa.s.sages I choose, write the full address on a piece of paper, and leave everything ready for you to make up the parcel. All you will have to do will be to write the remaining cards, and to see that it is sent off on Friday. Five o'clock will be time enough, but if you can get it off in the morning, so much the better.
You think you can manage as much as that?”
”Oh yes! I'd do anything rather than give up now. It would be too grudging. I am not afraid of a little more work.”
”You have done more than your share already. I am mad about it, but it can't be helped. I couldn't refuse to go with the mater, and I wouldn't if I could. She is really not at all strong, and does not like the life down here. It will do her good to have a few days' change.”
Peggy looked at him steadily. She did not speak, but her eyes grew soft and s.h.i.+ning, and there was something at once so sweet, so kindly, and so gentle in her expression that Rob exclaimed in surprise--
”I say, Peggy, you--you do look pretty! I never saw you look like that before--what have you been doing to yourself?”
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