Part 71 (1/2)
Isn't Angela Bradley handsome? She is a very remarkable girl, or perhaps I ought to say woman. She speaks four or five languages, and plays divinely; then she is a capital critic. It was she who advised her father to publish that very singular book, _The Gorgon's Head_; every publisher in London had refused it. He took it, and has cleared--oh, I'd be afraid to say how much money by it.”
”I hope the writer got a fair share,” said Katherine, smiling.
”Hum! ah, that's another matter; but I dare say Bradley will treat him quite as fairly as any one else. She will have a big fortune one of these days. Her father perfectly adores her.”
”I wish I could write,” said Katherine, with a sigh. ”It must be a charming way to earn money.”
”Why don't you try? You seem to me to have plenty of brains; and I suppose you will have to do something. I was so sorry--” Mrs. Needham was beginning, when dinner was announced, and her sympathetic utterances were cut short.
The repast was admirable, erring perhaps on the side of plenteousness, and well served by two smart young women in black, with pink ribbons in their caps. Nor was there any lack of bright talk a good deal beyond the average. Miss Bradley was an admirable listener, and often by well-put questions or suggestions kept the ball rolling. Dinner was soon over, and coffee was served in the drawing-room.
”Now, Miss Payne, I should like to consult with you,” said Miss Bradley, putting her cup on the mantel-piece, and resuming her seat on the sofa, where she invited Miss Payne by a gesture to sit beside her, ”about the daughter of an old friend of mine, who does not want her to join him in India, as she is rather delicate, and he cannot retire for a couple of years. It is time she left school, and the question is, where shall she go?”
While Miss Bradley thus attacked the subject uppermost in her mind, Mrs.
Needham settled herself in an arm-chair as far as she could from the speakers, and asked Katherine to sit down beside her.
”Let them discuss their business without us,” she said, ”and I want to talk to you. Here, these are some rather interesting photographs. They are all actors or singers on this side; you'll observe the shape of the heads, the contour generally; these are politicians, and have quite a different aspect. Remarkable, isn't it? But I was just saying when we went down to dinner that I was awfully sorry to hear of all your troubles--of course we must not regret that the man is alive; though if he is a cross-grained creature, as he seems to be, life won't be much good to him--and I shall be greatly interested if you care to tell me what your plans are.”
”I really have none. There are several things I could do pretty well. I could teach music and languages, but it is so difficult to find pupils.
Then I am still in great uncertainty as to what my cousin may do.”
”He is a greedy savage,” said Mrs. Needham, emphatically; ”but he will not dare to demand the arrears. He would raise a howl of execration by such conduct. Now, as you have nothing settled, and if Angela Bradley and Miss Payne make it up, you will have to leave where you are. Suppose you come to me?”
”To you? My dear Mrs. Needham, it would be delightful.”
”Would it? It is not a very magnificent appointment, I a.s.sure you. You see, I have so much to do that I really _must_ have help. I had a girl for three or four months. I gave her twenty-five pounds a year, and thought she would be a great comfort, but she made a mess of my room and my papers, and could not write a decent letter; besides, she was discontented, so she left me, and I have been in a horrid muddle for the last fortnight. Now if you like to come to me, while you are looking out for something better, I am sure I shall be charmed, and will do all I can to push you. It's a miserable sort of engagement, but there it is; only I'll want you to come as soon as you can, for there are heaps to do.”
”Indeed I am delighted to be your help, or secretary, or whatever you choose to call me, and as for looking for something better, if I can only save enough to provide for the boys, I would rather work with you for twenty-five pounds a year than any one else for--”
”For five hundred?” put in Mrs. Needham, with an indulgent smile, as she paused.
”No, no. Five hundred a year is not to be lightly rejected,” returned Katherine, laughing. ”But as I greatly doubt that I could ever be worth five hundred a year to any one, I gladly accept twenty-five.”
”Remember, I do not expect you to stay an hour after you find something better. Now do me tell how matters stand with you.”
Katherine therefore unbosomed herself, and among other things told how well and faithfully Rachel Trant had behaved toward her, of the fatherly kindness shown her by her old lawyer, and wound up by declaring that the world could not be so bad a place as it is reckoned, seeing that in her reverse of fortune she had found so much consideration. ”Of course,” she concluded, ”there are heaps of people who, once I drop from the ranks of those who can enjoy and spend, will forget my existence; but I have no right to expect more. They only want playfellows, not friends, and ask no more than they give.”
”Quite true, my young philosopher. Tell me, can you come on Sat.u.r.day--come to stay?”
”I fear not. Besides I have a superst.i.tion about entering on a new abode on Sat.u.r.day. Don't laugh! But I will come to-morrow, if you like, and write and copy for you. I will come each day till Monday next, and so help you to clear up.”
”That is a good child! I wish I could make it worth your while to stay; but we don't know what silver lining is behind the dark clouds of the present.”
Katherine shook her head. Mrs. Needham's suggestion showed her that peace and a relieved conscience was the highest degree of silvery brightness she antic.i.p.ated in the future. One thing alone could restore to her the joyousness of her early days, and that was far away out of her reach.
”Mr. Errington and Mr. Payne,” said one of the smart servants, throwing open the door.
”Ah, yes! Mr. Errington, _of_ course,” exclaimed Mrs. Needham, under her breath. ”I might have expected him. And you too, Mr. Payne?” she added aloud. ”Very glad to see you both.”
As soon as they had paid their respects to the hostess, Errington spoke to Katherine, while Payne remained talking with Mrs. Needham.
”I am glad to see you looking better than when we last spoke together,”