Part 16 (1/2)
”Go and fetch her.”
Evelyn obeyed. She imagined her head was giddy and that her legs were too weak to enable her to walk steadily.
”Jasper, come,” she said in a tremulous voice.
”Poor darling! Poor pet!” muttered Jasper in an injudicious undertone to her afflicted charge.
Lady Frances was now standing up.
”Come here, Jasper,” she said. ”In which wardrobe do you keep Miss Wynford's dresses?”
”In this one, madam.”
”Open it and let me see.”
The maid obeyed. Lady Frances went to the wardrobe and felt amongst skirts of different colors, different materials, and different degrees of respectability. Without exception they were all unsuitable; but presently she chose the least objectionable, an ugly drab frieze, and lifting it herself from its hook, laid it on the bed.
”Is there a bodice for this dress?” she asked of the maid.
”Yes, madam. Miss Evelyn used to wear that on the ranch. She has outgrown it rather.”
”Put it on your young mistress and let me see her.”
”I won't wear that horrid thing!” said Evelyn.
”You will wear what I choose.”
Again Evelyn submitted. The dress was put on. It was not becoming, but was at least quiet in appearance.
”You will wear that to-day,” said her aunt. ”I will myself take you into town this afternoon to get some suitable clothes.-Jasper, I wish Miss Evelyn's present wardrobe to be neatly packed in her trunks.”
”Yes, madam.”
”No, no, Aunt Frances; you cannot mean it,” said Evelyn.
”My dear, I do.-Before you go, Jasper, I have one thing to say. I am sorry, but I cannot help myself. Your late mistress wished you to remain with Miss Wynford. I grieve to say that you are not the kind of person I should wish to have the charge of her. I will myself get a suitable maid to look after the young lady, and you can go this afternoon. I will pay you well. I am sorry for this; it sounds cruel, but it is really cruel to be kind.-Now, Evelyn, what is the matter?”
”Only I hate you! Oh, how I hate you!” said Evelyn. ”I wish mothery were alive that she might fight you! Oh, you are a horrid woman! How I hate you!”
”When you come to yourself, Evelyn, and you are inclined to apologize for your intemperate words, you can come down-stairs, where your belated breakfast awaits you.”
CHAPTER X.-JASPER WAS TO GO.
What will not hunger-real, healthy hunger-effect? Lady Frances, after her last words, swept out of the room; and Jasper, her bosom heaving, her black eyes flas.h.i.+ng angry fire, looked full at her little charge.
What would Evelyn do now? The spoilt child, who could scarcely brook the smallest contradiction, who had declined to get up even to breakfast, to do without Jasper! To allow her friend Jasper to be torn from her arms-Jasper, who had been her mother's dearest companion, who had sworn to that mother that she would not leave Evelyn come what might, that she would protect her against the tyrant aunt and the tyrant uncle, that if necessary she would fight for her with the power which the law bestows!
Oh, what an awful moment had arrived! Jasper was to go. What would Evelyn do now?
Evelyn's first impulse had been all that was satisfactory. Her fury had burst forth in wild, indignant words. But now, when the child and the maid found themselves alone, Jasper waited in expectancy which was almost certainty. Evelyn would not submit to this? She and her charge would leave Castle Wynford together that very day. If they were eventually parted, the law should part them.
Still Evelyn was silent.