Part 9 (1/2)

There was a brightness in Ella's eye, and a slight flush in her cheek, as she walked on with her pupils, smiling at each merry conceit, and feeling young herself, in spite of the age of sorrow that had been hers.

For a while she forgot the strange home and the cool treatment she was receiving; the unpleasant attentions, too, of the hopeful son of the house; the meeting in the gallery. The wearisome compliments at the flower-show were set aside; for--perhaps influenced by the bright morning--Ella's cheek grew still more flushed, and in spite of herself she dwelt upon the scene where she pictured two beings addressed by a frank bold horseman; and as his earnest gaze seemed directed once more at her, Ella's heart increased its pulsations, but only to be succeeded by a dull sense of aching misery, as another picture floated before her vision, to the exclusion of the sunny landscape and the glorious spring verdure. The sweet liquid trill of the birds, too, grew dull on her ear; for she seemed once more to see the same earnest gaze fixed upon her face, and then to watch the start of surprise--was it disappointment?--as again Laura Bray's words rang on her ears:

”Miss Bedford, our new governess!”

It was time to cease dreaming, she thought.

Walks must come to an end sooner or later; and a reference to her watch showing Ella Bedford that they would only reach the Elms in time for lunch, they began to retrace their steps, when, to the young girl's horror, she saw that they had been followed by no less a personage than Mr Maximilian Bray, whose first act upon reaching them was to take his place by Ella's side, and send his sisters on in advance.

But that was not achieved without difficulty, Miss Nelly turning round sharply and declining to go.

”I shan't go, Max! You only want to talk sugar to Miss Bedford; and ma says you're ever so much too attentive--so there now!”

Ella's face became like scarlet, and she increased her pace; but a whisper from Max sent Nelly scampering off after her two sisters--now some distance in advance--when he turned to the governess.

”Glad I caught up to you, Miss Bedford--I am, bai Jove! You see, I wanted to have a few words with you.”

”Mr Maximilian Bray will, perhaps, excuse my hurrying on,” said Ella coldly. ”It is nearly lunch-time, and I am obliged to teach punctuality to my pupils.”

”Bai Jove! ya-as, of course!” said Max. ”But I never get a word with you at home, and I wanted to set myself right with you about that station matter.”

”If Mr Bray would be kind enough to forget it, I should be glad,” said Ella quickly.

”Bai Jove! ya-as; but, you see, I can't. You see, it was all a joke so as to introduce myself like, being much struck, you know. Bai Jove, Miss Bedford! I can't tell you how much struck I was with your personal appearance--can't indeed!”

Ella's lip curled with scorn as she slightly bent her head and hurried on.

”Don't walk quite so fast, my dear--Miss Bedford,” he added after a pause, as he saw the start she gave. ”We shall be time enough for lunch, I daresay. Pleasant day, ain't it?”

Ella bent her head again in answer, but still kept on forcing the pace; for the children were two fields ahead, and racing on as quickly as possible.

”Odd, wasn't it, Miss Bedford, that we should have met as we did, and both coming to the same place? Why don't you take my arm? There's n.o.body looking--this time,” he added.

The hot blood again flushed up in Ella's cheek as she darted an indignant glance at her persecutor; but there was something in Max Bray's composition which must have prevented him from reading aright the signs and tokens of annoyance in others; and, besides, he was so lost in admiration of his own graces and position, that when, as he termed it, he _stooped_ to pay attentions to an inferior, every change of countenance was taken to mean modest confusion or delight.

”There, don't hurry so!” he exclaimed, laughing. ”Bai Jove, what a fierce little thing you are! Now, look here: we're quite alone, and I want to talk to you. There, you needn't look round: the children are half-way home, and we shall be quite un.o.bserved. Bai Jove! why, what a prudish little creature you are!”

Ella gave a quick glance round, but only to find that it was just as Max had said. There was a sheep feeding in the field, whose hedges were of the highest; and for aught she could see to the contrary, there was no a.s.sistance within a mile, while Max Bray had caught her hand in his, and was barring the route.

Regularly driven to bay, Ella turned upon him with flaming face, trying at the same moment to s.n.a.t.c.h away her hand, which, however, he held the tighter, crus.h.i.+ng her fingers painfully, though she never winced.

”Mr Bray,” she exclaimed, ”do you wish me to appeal to your father for protection?”

”Of course not!” he drawled. ”But there now--bai Jove! what is the use of your putting on all those fine airs and coy ways? Do you think I'm blind, or don't understand what they mean? Come now, just listen to what I say.”

Before Ella could avoid his grasp, he had thrown one arm round her waist, when he started back as if stung, for a loud mocking laugh came from the stile.

”Ha, ha, ha! I thought so! I knew you wanted to talk sugar to Miss Bedford.”

At the same moment Max and Ella had seen the merry delighted countenance of Nelly, who had crept silently back, but now darted away like a deer.

A cold chill shot through Ella Bedford's breast, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she could force back the angry tears as she saw that her future was completely marred at the Elms--how that she was, as it were, at the mercy of the young girl placed in her charge, unless she forestalled any tattling by complaining herself of the treatment to which she had been subjected.

”There, you needn't mind her!” exclaimed Max, who partly read her thoughts. ”I can keep her saucy little tongue quiet. You need not be afraid.”