Part 46 (2/2)

”Sometimes she wakes up out of nightmares about it,” said Dowie.

”And she creeps into my room s.h.i.+vering and I take her into my bed and hold her in my arms until she's over the panic. She says the worst of it is that she keeps thinking that there may have been other girls trapped like her--and that they did not get away.”

The d.u.c.h.ess was very thoughtful. She saw the complications in which such a horror would involve a girl's mind.

”If she consorted with other young things and talked nonsense with them and shared their pleasures she would forget it,” she said.

”Ah!” exclaimed Dowie. ”That's it.”

The question in the d.u.c.h.ess' eyes when she lifted them required an answer and she gave it respectfully.

”The thing that happened was only the last touch put to what she'd gradually been finding out as she grew from child to young girl.

The ones she would like to know--she said it in plain words once to Mademoiselle--might not want to know her. I must take the liberty of speaking plain, your grace, or it's no use me speaking at all.

She holds it deep in her mind that she's a sort of young outcast.”

”I must convince her that she is not--.” It was the beginning of what the d.u.c.h.ess had meant to say, but she actually found herself pausing, held for the moment by Dowie's quiet, civil eye.

”Was your grace in your kindness thinking--?” was what the excellent woman said.

”Yes. That I would invite young people to meet her--help them to know each other and to make friends.” And even as she said it she was conscious of being slightly under the influence of Dowie's wise gaze.

”Your grace only knows those young people she would like to know.”

It was a mere simple statement.

”People are not as censorious as they once were.” Her grace's tone was intended to reply to the suggestion lying in the words which had worn the air of statement without comment.

”Some are not, but some are,” Dowie answered. ”There's two worlds in London now, your grace. One is your grace's and one is Mrs.

Gareth-Lawless'. I HAVE heard say there are others between, but I only know those two.”

The d.u.c.h.ess pondered again.

”You are thinking that what Miss Robin said to Mademoiselle Valle might be true--in mine. And perhaps you are not altogether wrong even if you are not altogether right.”

”Until I went to take care of Miss Robin I had only had places in families Mrs. Gareth-Lawless' set didn't touch anywhere. What I'm remembering is that there was a--strictness--shown sometimes even when it seemed a bit harsh. Among the servants the older ones said that is was BECAUSE of the new sets and their fast wicked ways. One of my young ladies once met another young lady about her own age--she was just fifteen--at a charity bazaar and they made friends and liked each other very much. The young lady's mother was one there was a lot of talk about in connection with a person of very high station--the highest, your grace--and everyone knew. The girl was a lovely little creature and beautifully behaved. It was said her mother wanted to push her into the world she couldn't get into herself. The acquaintance was stopped, your grace--it was put a stop to at once. And my poor little young lady quite broke her heart over it, and I heard it was much worse for the other.”

”I will think this over,” the d.u.c.h.ess said. ”It needs thinking over. I wished to talk to you because I have seen that she has fixed little ideas regarding what she thinks is suited to her position as a paid companion and she might not be prepared. I wish you to see that she has a pretty little frock or so which she could wear if she required them.”

”She has two, your grace,” Dowie smiled affectionately as she said it. ”One for evening and one for special afternoon wear in case your grace needed her to attend you for some reason. They are as plain as she dare make them, but when she puts one on she can't help giving it A LOOK.”

”Yes--she would give it all it needed,” her grace said. ”Thank you, Dowie. You may go.”

With her sketch of a respectful curtsey Dowie went towards the door. As she approached it her step became slower; before she reached it she had stopped and there was a remarkable look on her face--a suddenly heroic look. She turned and made several steps backward and paused again which unexpected action caused the d.u.c.h.ess to turn to glance at her. When she glanced her grace recognized the heroic look and waited, with a consciousness of some slight new emotion within herself, for its explanation.

”Your grace,” Dowie began, asking G.o.d himself to give courage if she was doing right and to check her if she was making a mistake, ”When your grace was thinking of the parents of other young ladies and gentlemen--did it come to you to put it to yourself whether you'd be willing--” she caught her breath, but ended quite clearly, respectfully, reasonably. ”Lady Kathryn--Lord Halwyn--”

Lady Kathryn was the d.u.c.h.ess' young granddaughter, Lord Halwyn was her extremely good-looking grandson who was in the army.

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