Part 18 (2/2)
Evelyn ran down-stairs. She wore a showy, unsuitable hat and a showy, unsuitable jacket. She got quickly into the carriage, and flopped down by the side of the stately Lady Frances.
Lady Frances was a very judicious woman in her way. She reprimanded whenever in her opinion it was necessary to reprimand, but she never nagged. It needed but a glance to show her that Evelyn required to be educated in every form of good-breeding, and that education the good woman fully intended to take in hand without a moment's delay, but she did not intend to find fault moment by moment. She said nothing, therefore, either in praise or blame to the small, awkward, conceited little girl by her side; but she gave orders to stop at Simpson's in the High Street, and the carriage started briskly forward. Wynford Castle was within half a mile of the village which was called after it, and five miles away from a large and very important cathedral town-the cathedral town of Easterly. During the drive Lady Frances chatted in the sort of tone she would use to a small girl, and Evelyn gave short and sulky replies. Finding that her conversation was not interesting to her small guest, the good lady became silent and wrapped up in her own thoughts. Presently they arrived at Simpson's, and there the lady and the child got out and entered the shop. Evelyn was absolutely bewildered by the amount of things which her aunt ordered for her. It is true that she had had, as Jasper expressed it, quite a small trousseau when in Paris; but during her mother's lifetime her dresses had come to her slowly and with long intervals between. Mrs. Wynford had been a showy but by no means a good dresser; she loved the gayest, most bizarre colors, and she delighted in adorning her child with bits of feathers, sc.r.a.ps of shabby lace, beads, and such-like decorations. After her mother's death, when Evelyn, considered herself rich, she and Jasper purchased the same sort of things, only using better materials. Thus the thin silk was exchanged for thick silk, cotton-back satin for the real article, velveteen for velvet, cheap lace for real lace, and the gaily colored beads for gold chains and strings of pearls. Nothing in Evelyn's opinion and nothing in Jasper's opinion could be more exquisitely beautiful than the toilet which Evelyn brought to Castle Wynford; but Lady Frances evidently thought otherwise. She ordered a dark-blue serge, with a jacket to match, to be put in hand immediately for the little girl; she bought a dark-gray dress, ready made, which was to be sent home that same evening. She got a neat black hat to wear with the dress, and a thick black pilot-cloth jacket to cover the small person of the heiress. As to her evening-dresses, she chose them of fine, soft white silk and fine, soft muslin; and then, having added a large store of underclothing, all of the best quality, and one or two pale-pink and pale-blue evening-frocks, all severely plain, she got once more into her carriage, and, accompanied by Evelyn, drove home. On the seat in front of the pair reposed a box which contained a very simple white muslin frock for Evelyn to wear that evening.
”I suppose Jasper will have gone when I get back?” said the little girl to Lady Frances.
”Certainly,” said Lady Frances. ”I ordered her to be out of the house by half-past three; it is now past five o'clock.”
”What am I to do for a maid?”
”My servant Read shall wait on you to-night and every evening and morning until our guests have gone; then Audrey's maid Louisa will attend on you.”
”But I want a maid all to myself.”
”You cannot have one. Louisa will give you what a.s.sistance is necessary.
I presume you do not want to be absolutely dependent; you would like to be able to do things for yourself.”
”In mother's time I did everything for myself, but now it is different.
I am a very, very rich girl now.”
Lady Frances was silent when Evelyn made this remark.
”I am rich, am I not, Aunt Frances?” said the little heiress almost timidly.
”I cannot see where the riches come in, Evelyn. At the present moment you depend on your uncle for every penny that is spent upon you.”
”But I am the heiress!”
”Let the future take care of itself. You are a little girl-small, insignificant, and ignorant. You require to be trained and looked after, and to have your character moulded, and for all these things you depend on the kindness of your relations. The fact is this, Evelyn: at present you have not the slightest idea of your true position. When you find your level I shall have hopes of you-not before.”
Evelyn leant back hopelessly in the carriage and began to sob. After a time she said:
”I wish you would let me keep Jasper.”
Lady Frances was silent.
”Why won't you let me keep Jasper?”
”I do not consider it good for you.”
”But mothery asked you to.”
”It gives me pain, Evelyn, under the circ.u.mstances to refuse your mother's request; but I have consulted your uncle, and we both feel that the steps I have taken are the only ones to take.”
”Who will sleep in my room to-night?”
”Are you such a baby as to need anybody?”
”I never slept alone in my life. I am quite terrified. I suppose your big, ancient house is haunted?”
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