Part 29 (1/2)

”Oh, have you bad news too?” said Hester. ”Annie seemed to think you had; she said your face was blotchy, and that Nora had been crying. Oh, Molly dear, Molly dear, how selfish I am; I have been absolutely swallowed up in this dark cloud, and can think of no one but myself. I notice now how red your eyes are, and how sad your mouth. Poor, dear Molly, what is it? Is Nell really ill? Was that why you did not come back with us last night?”

”It isn't Nell,” said Molly in a trembling voice; ”it's--Hester--it's what we feared. We had a letter from mother this morning, and it's all over--it's all over, Hetty--the Towers is sold.”

”And my father is going to marry again,” said Hester; ”it seems to me as if the world were turning topsy-turvey. Oh, Molly, what are we both to do?”

”Jane Macalister would say that we are not to think of ourselves,” said Molly with a wan attempt at a smile, ”but somehow I don't feel like following her advice just at present.”

”Nor I either,” replied Hester; ”I never, never in the whole course of my life felt more horrid and wicked, and rebellious, and selfish.”

CHAPTER XX.

THE NEW OWNERS.

It is surprising how soon, at least when we are young, the greater number of us get accustomed to things. The news of the sale of the Towers, and of Sir John Thornton's approaching marriage, had electrified the Lorrimers and the Thorntons on Thursday. Had electrified them to such a degree that even the common observances of life seemed queer and out of place. It seemed wrong to eat when one was hungry; inhuman to smile; and even when one was sleepy, it seemed necessary to go to bed with a sort of apology. Nevertheless, the hungry people had to be fed, smiles had now and then to chase away tears, and in youthful slumber sorrow was for a time forgotten.

By Sat.u.r.day life was going on much as usual in the two households. The Lorrimers were not to leave the Towers for six weeks. There was no immediate necessity, therefore, for the younger members of the household to think about moving the pets. Six weeks seemed something like for ever to them. The anxious consultations of the elders were not shared by them. Mother had come home, and mother kissed them just as tenderly as ever at night, and petted them just as much in the morning, and coddled them just as persistently when there was the least sc.r.a.p of anything the matter. Whenever they went away, mother would go with them, and that, after all, was the main thing. In their secret hearts, they became rather excited about the move, the packing, and the new home.

Boris, it is true, sometimes woke at night with a start and a hot remembrance of the clutch the Squire had given his hand when he stood under the oak tree, and Nell sobbed out piteously once or twice, ”Oh, father's face, oh, father's face;” but father was not with them and mother was, and the sun rose and set as usual, and the fruit ripened in great plenty, and the pets were all well, and it was holiday time, and mother earth was specially tranquilising and kind. By Sat.u.r.day, Boris, Kitty, and Nell were to all appearance just as they were before, and even the elder members of the family behaved, as Jane Macalister expressed it, ”like sensible Christians.”

In the Thornton household, too, the first overwhelming shock of Sir John's approaching marriage had pa.s.sed by. Nan had stormed and raged, and flung her arms round nurse's neck, and sobbed herself at last to sleep on her breast, but Nan's pa.s.sion was over now, and she was even a little curious to see what sort of woman Mrs. Bernard Temple was, and what sort of girl Antonia would be. Hester, whether her heart was heavy or light, was forced to attend to many household cares, and Annie was happy once more, for Mrs. Willis had not yet asked her for the ring.

Mrs. Willis had yielded to Hester's strong entreaties to remain at the Grange until Monday. She was deeply interested in the Lorrimers, and was most anxious to help Molly in any way in her power; she was also desirous of seeing Hetty through the difficult ordeal of her first introduction to her future stepmother; she resolved, therefore, at some personal sacrifice, to prolong her visit at the Grange for a few days.

No events less absorbing would have made her forget the ring. The exciting events of Thursday had, however, put it completely out of her head. On Friday, it is true, she did think of it, but Annie was not present at the time, and she now resolved not to trouble herself to have the ring copied, but to buy another present for her ex-pupil.

Annie knew nothing of this intention, but delay had made her bold, and, as usual, she had great faith in her own good luck.

On Sat.u.r.day morning Sir John contributed vastly to the excitement and interest of the party by a certain piece of news which he read aloud to them from a letter he had just received from Mrs. Bernard Temple.

”My dear Hester,” he said, looking down the length of the table at his daughter, ”did not you once tell me that you had a schoolfellow at Lavender House of the name of Susan Drummond?”

”Sleepy Susy,” exclaimed Hester with a smile. ”I had almost forgotten her, although she managed to worry me a good deal at school. She was my room-mate for the first couple of terms. Oh, dear, oh, dear, shall I ever forget the trouble we used to have to wake her?”

”She left Lavender House a good many years ago; what of her?” exclaimed Mrs. Willis; ”the fact is, I have quite lost sight of her.”

”And so have I,” said Hester; ”frankly, I did not care about remembering her.”

”Well, whether you like it or not, you are likely to hear a good deal more of her now,” said Sir John, ”for Susan's father is the new owner of the Towers, and Mrs. Bernard Temple wants to know if she may bring Susan as well as Antonia to-day, as Susan is naturally most anxious to see her new home. Have we a vacant bedroom, Hester?”

”Oh, yes,” replied Hester, ”but it seems----”

”What, my dear?”

”Nothing, father--only--but----”

”But me no buts,” replied Sir John in a tone of irritation. ”Nothing can be more natural than a young girl's wish to see her future home. I shall telegraph to Mrs. Bernard Temple to let her know that we shall be pleased to give Miss Drummond a hearty welcome.”

Sir John rose from his chair as he spoke, and a moment later left the room.

”Poor Nora,” exclaimed Hester, when the door had closed behind him.