Part 17 (2/2)
”Oh, no,” replied Miss Campbell suppressing a smile, ”we are not such a wild country as you think. It is unlawful to carry concealed weapons, and of course one would never think of carrying a pistol in one's belt.”
In the meantime, Billie was saying to Beatrice:
”Aren't you afraid to invite strangers into your house like this? How do you know we are not-well, say a band of thieves? Cousin Helen chief pirate and all of us a.s.sistant pirates?”
Beatrice laughed.
”What a droll idea,” she exclaimed. ”Of course you are not in the least like adventuresses; but then I had another very good reason, because, you see, I had heard all about you.”
”Heard about us?” they cried, astounded.
”Oh, yes, and I recognized you at once, because Uncle Dodo had only described you to me this morning and I knew quite well I could not be mistaken,-a small blue-eyed lady with white hair and four young girls,-and you are to visit Uncle's place in Ireland with Madame Cortinas, the singer, and maybe I shall be there, too. Isn't it beautiful?”
”Is Lord Glenarm really your uncle?” they asked.
”Yes, he is Granny's second son. We think he's wonderful. He does lots of good. Granny says he has made a stir even if he is so poor.”
”Poor” seemed hardly the word to use in connection with the handsome n.o.bleman they had met at the opera, and the young girls exchanged a covert smile.
Mary had drawn her chair into the circle and was listening silently to the conversation. It was all very interesting, very remarkable, like a scene in a play: tea in a beautiful drawing-room with a real d.u.c.h.ess!
But Mary's mind was an inquiring one and she liked to get at the bottom of all puzzling things. Why was it that Beatrice Colchester talked so much about one uncle and never mentioned his brother?
In a pause in the conversation she asked:
”But where is the Duke of Kilkenty?”
Beatrice looked hastily across at her grandmother, who was talking with Miss Campbell. Then she pressed her finger to her lips and shook her head.
”Never ask that question here,” she said in a low voice.
Mary hung her head in great embarra.s.sment. It was quite natural to have inquired about the Duke of Kilkenty. But she had always heard that some English families had mysterious secrets hidden away! It was a relief presently when Miss Campbell rose and gave the signal to depart. It was growing late and somehow a gloom seemed to have settled over the place.
The bright room was filled with shadows and the girls had grown remarkably quiet.
How glad they would be to return to their own home-like, pretty lodgings again, where they could slip into dressing-gowns and the neat little maid would bring their dinner up to their sitting-room!
Having paid their respects to the old n.o.blewoman and invited Beatrice to come to see them, they presently left the gray house and turned their faces toward Westminster Chambers and their own cheerful rooms.
CHAPTER XII.-A MEETING ON LONDON BRIDGE.
There were two reasons why Billie and Nancy went out alone to take a walk one afternoon some ten days after their arrival in London.
The others, worn out from sight-seeing, preferred to stay at home and rest. Miss Campbell had a blister on her heel which made her groan aloud every time she took a step. Mary, who was not as strong as her friends, was quite willing to remain at home and write a letter to her mother.
Elinor, also, had reasons of her own for remaining indoors. She had purchased two books on genealogy and an Almanach de Gotha in which she wished to study Irish families of the n.o.bility; and later she was to drink tea with Maria Cortinas and hear some music.
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