Part 7 (1/2)
Poor Kitty had never felt more uncomfortable. Really there were times when the little Mummy was almost unendurable. A lobster was chosen, quite a nice expensive one; Kitty was desired to go to the nearest greengrocer's shop, in order to secure the crispest lettuce and half a pound of tomatoes; the bottle of claret was also bought, and, laden with these spoils, the girl and the elder lady re-entered the tiny cottage.
”Now then, Sukey,” called out Mrs. Aylmer, ”brisk is the word. I have caught the most charming young man you ever heard of, and he is coming to supper with us.”
Sukey stared at her mistress.
”What folly are you up to now, ma'am?” she asked.
”No folly at all, my dear Sukey. Here's six-pence for you; don't say anything about it. Make the salad as only you know how, and trim the lobster. I was considerate, Sukey, and I got things that really will not give you trouble. Kitty, my dear sweet little girl, help me to arrange the table. It will be supper in a bower--quite romantic. The young man will enjoy it; I am certain he will. Dear Flo! what it is to have a mother like me to look after her and see that she does not waste her opportunities.”
”But,” said Kitty, changing colour as she spoke, ”do you really mean----”
”I mean that mum's the word at present,” was Mrs. Aylmer's mysterious remark. ”Help me, Kitty Sharston, like a good girl, and for goodness sake don't make yourself look too pretty to-night. I don't want him to turn his attention to you, I may as well say so frankly.”
Kitty earnestly longed for the moment when she should leave Mrs.
Aylmer's cottage.
The supper was prepared, however; everything was arranged; and then the two ladies stood by the window watching for the return of the truants, as Mrs. Aylmer was now pleased to call Florence and Mr. Trevor.
Presently she saw her daughter coming up the somewhat steep path alone.
”Flo, Flo, child, where is he? is he coming?”
”Oh, no, mother,” said Florence.
”Did you give him my invitation?”
”I told him he was not to accept it,” said Florence. ”Oh, dear me, mother, don't be silly. But, I say, what a nice lobster, and I am so hungry.”
CHAPTER VII.
THE CHAINS BEGIN TO FRET.
Meanwhile Trevor went slowly back to the hotel. He had enjoyed his talk with Florence; he liked her brusque way, she did not flatter him, and she was, he considered, a particularly attractive-looking girl. In Mrs.
Aylmer's society he was made a great deal of and fussed over, and when that happens to a young man he always enjoys the sort of girl who snubs him by way of contrast. He thought Mrs. Aylmer the less one of the most extraordinary women he had ever met; but as he liked Florence, and was in the mood for a bit of an adventure, he would gladly have accepted her mother's invitation to supper if she had not tabooed it.
”You are not to come,” said Florence, looking at him with her wide-open frank dark eyes; ”mother is the soul of hospitality, but we are very poor: we have nothing proper to give you for supper, and I for one would much rather you did not come.”
”I do not in the least mind what I eat,” he said, in a somewhat pleading tone, and he looked full at Florence with his blue eyes.
”Nevertheless, you are not to come; it is only my mother's way: she always goes on like that with strangers. I never allow people to accept her invitations.”
After this there was nothing more to be said, and Florence and Trevor bade each other a very friendly good-bye.
When Trevor reached the ”Crown and Garter” he found that Mrs. Aylmer and Miss Keys were already at dinner. They had both wondered where he was, and Bertha Keys had been a little anxious and a little uneasy. When he came in, the faces of both ladies brightened.
”What makes you so late?” said Mrs. Aylmer, looking up at him.
”I had a bit of an adventure,” he said. He drew his chair to the table.