Part 35 (2/2)
”That is good. I don't wish to say anything to Hester Thornton nor to Nora Lorrimer, nor to any of the Lorrimers, nor least of all to Susan Drummond. I think I can manage Susy, for I am up to some of her pretty little vagaries. I can also manage mother, and mother has a good deal of influence in a certain quarter just now. You are a sort of outsider, and yet you are very friendly with everybody, so you can render me very important help; but, of course, you clearly understand that fidelity is my motto, and you know also that your mission will be one of extreme delicacy.”
”I have plenty of tact,” said Annie. ”I most faithfully promise to reveal nothing, and I will do everything in my power for you. I begin to believe in you. I think you are a wonderful girl.”
”Don't say that,” said Antonia, with solemn impressiveness; ”if there is one thing more than another that gives me intense pain, it is praise. I am but the meanest disciple of great Art. I am doing this in the cause of Art. Now, I am not going to tell you what my plan of campaign is, at least, not to-day, but I want you to make certain inquiries for me. I want you to try and discover all you can from Hester with regard to her father's wealth, and all you can from Molly with regard to the Lorrimers' difficulties; and you are somehow or other to get the address in London where Squire Lorrimer is now staying. Have all this information ready for me by to-morrow morning. Now you can return to the others; I am going back to the house.”
CHAPTER XXIV.
A WET SPONGE.
Antonia walked slowly in the direction of the house, trailing her long skirt behind her. She entered by a side door, and went straight up to her own room. The bedroom set apart for Miss Bernard Temple opened into the large and stately bedroom occupied by the future mistress of the Grange. Both rooms were dainty and fresh in the extreme. Mrs. Bernard Temple's maid was now sitting in Antonia's room mending a long rent in that young lady's brown Liberty velveteen evening dress.
”You have made an awfully jagged rent, Miss Antonia,” said the girl.
”Have I?” said Antonia; ”why mend it, then? I never expect to have my clothes mended. Of course, if you are good enough to occupy your time over me, Pinkerton, I am much obliged to you, but I don't expect your services, so clearly understand the position.”
”Lor'!” answered Pinkerton, who had a round, country face and a somewhat brusque manner, ”what a show you'd be, Miss Antonia, if someone didn't make you and mend you.”
Antonia went over to the open window, and, flopping herself down on her knees, leant her two elbows on the window-sill and looked out.
”I wish you'd let me know if Miss Drummond is having forty winks in her room,” she said suddenly. ”She generally does go to her own room about this hour, does she not?”
”I believe so, miss. I'll inquire if she's there now.”
Pinkerton soon returned with the information that Miss Drummond's door was locked, that she could not see her maid anywhere, but that she heard sounds proceeding from within the room which led her to infer that the forty winks were being enjoyed.
”But there's no use in your going to her, Miss Antonia,” said Pinkerton, ”for she won't hear you however hard you knock.”
”I'll see about that,” said Antonia. ”Do you happen to know, Pinkerton, if Miss Drummond's window is open?”
”Sure to be, miss; every window in the house is kept open during this sultry weather.”
”There's no time to be lost,” murmured Antonia; ”I must scale the wall.”
She left her own bedroom in a hurry, and ran downstairs.
”Nan,” she shouted, catching sight of Nan's white frock in the distance, ”come here.”
Nan ran up to her rather unwillingly. Antonia was detestable in her eyes as belonging to the dreadful new stepmother.
”Why do you frown at me like that, child?” said Antonia; ”it isn't pretty.”
”Tell-tale t.i.t,” answered Nan rudely; ”you'll be making up stories of me in the future, won't you?”
”I?” said Antonia, with a careless rise of her brows. ”No; I shan't have time. Now, can you tell me if there's a ladder about?”
”No, I can't,” answered Nan.
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