Part 34 (1/2)
She would start in a rough, short suit, and a pair of thick boots, with a serviceable walking-stick, and would tramp for miles carrying a basket, in which were sweets and medicines. She was wors.h.i.+pped by her people, arrogant, commanding, kindly great lady!
On one of these occasions they had the motor to meet them at the end of the home village, and drove six or seven miles to another in her outlying property.
She was very gracious as they went along.
”What books have you been reading lately, girl? If they are the Chesterfield Letters I think I may tell you that you have profited by them. Your manners generally are greatly improved.”
Katherine reddened with pleasure.
”I have read them over and over again. I have found them more instructive to me than any other book.”
”In my young days they were considered highly immoral and pernicious, by most of the canting Victorian hypocrites--when, of course, everyone of the world knew that Chesterfield's advice on all points was the most sensible and sagacious that could be given--but hypocrisy had risen to a colossal height in the sixties and seventies.”
”I suppose so.”
”Nowadays not one person in ten thousand reads them, more's the pity. If the young men with their great personal beauty--which sport and suitable feeding have produced--could have been brought up to understand the advantage of cultivating 'the graces,' what G.o.dlike creatures they would be!”
Katherine thought of Lord Algy; he must have done so unconsciously, she felt.
”People are so apt to judge such a book upon the letter, not the spirit--naturally one must make allowances for the different customs and habits of the times; but the spirit of the advice adapted to modern requirements would make any man or woman into an eminent person if it was faithfully followed. I recommend it to you strongly, since I believe you are steadily trying to educate yourself, Miss Bush.”
”I am, indeed--I hope I am not overconfident in believing that if one probes the meaning of everything, and can see the faults in oneself, including those of instinct, it is possible to do, by will, what only the evolution of centuries accomplishes by natural process. The Chesterfield Letters have encouraged me in my belief.”
”Of course, it is possible, but people will hardly ever face the truth, and would not dream of examining their own instincts; it would wound their self-love; they would rather be mediocre and blinded to their stupidities, than teach themselves any useful lesson. Your determined effort interests me deeply, child.”
Katherine turned a radiant face of grat.i.tude; this was praise indeed!
”I will do all I can to merit Your Ladys.h.i.+p's goodness to me.”
”No, I am not good--I have no altruistic or humanitarian proclivities--I would not bother with you for five minutes if you were not so intelligent that I have grown to take a kind of pride in you.”
”I can't say how I appreciate Your Ladys.h.i.+p's kindness.”
Lady Garribardine turned and looked at her for a second, and then she said slowly:
”I am going to ask you a question not strictly justifiable--and you need not answer it if you would rather not--but you may have formed some opinion of my integrity in these months, which will perhaps allow you to be frank with me--Did my nephew, Gerard Strobridge, make violent love to you when he spent Christmas with us? It seemed to me at the time, and afterwards, that he grew considerably depressed.”
Katherine felt a twinge of distress.
”Mr. Strobridge showed some interest in me which I felt it wiser to discourage--He was very kind to me though, and agreed to be my friend, and sent me some books.”
For a second, Lady Garribardine felt irritated. Her precious Gerard to have been a suppliant to this dependent in her house!--And then the broad justice of her nature regained its mastery; the girl was worthy of the homage of a king.
”I think he must have been extremely hard hit--I am quite devoted to him, as you know. I rely upon you not to hurt him more than you can help, when he comes back.”
”I never wished to hurt him at all--I did wish to talk to him, though, because he is so clever, so at first I was glad to attract his attention. I know now that that was wrong.”
Lady Garribardine looked at her secretary critically. She was astonished at this frank avowal which she realised not another woman in a million in Katherine's situation would have made.
”You deliberately attracted him then, girl, eh?----” her voice was stern.