Part 34 (1/2)

”Oh, she is ever so much better this morning,” said Caroline. ”You see, it has been so damp the last few days, and yesterday the wind was very keen.”

”And she always gets cold in the nasty wind, don't you Boodles, my precious?”

The mother hugged the little figure in her arms, then stretched out her hand to Caroline.

”A happy Christmas!” she said, and then in the same breath, ”how well you look, and how nice! And oh, what a wonderful lot of toys! Why, Babsy, Santa Claus must have nearly broken his back bringing all these things.”

With the child nestling in her arms, she leaned back and closed her eyes.

”I've got a most awful headache,” she said wearily. ”We were up till any hour this morning.... Have you some strong smelling-salts, Caroline? Chris Bardolph brought me over here in the motor.” She sniffed the salts, and lay aback with closed eyes for awhile. Then she said, ”I thought the air would do me good, but I feel quite cracked up.

Where is everybody?” she asked the next moment languidly; and she smiled when she heard that the whole party had migrated to church.

”Has he gone?” she asked, and then she answered the question herself; ”but of course. I am sure he must sing hymns most beautifully.”

”I don't think Mr. Haverford went with the others,” Caroline said; ”he said he would take Betty and the maid who has gone with her to ma.s.s.”

”But he is not a Catholic,” Mrs. Lancing observed quickly; ”there is another duty for me! I shall have to try and make a convert of him. Oh dear, my head!... It feels as if it would come in two! Babsy darling, mummy must go down and rest in her own room....”

But Babsy clung to her mother, refusing to be separated, and of course got her way.

Left to herself, Caroline Graniger stood and looked out of the window thoughtfully. A shadow had gathered on her face.

She felt both pained and irritated, and found herself hoping almost eagerly that Mrs. Lancing would not speak of Rupert Haverford to others in that slighting, half-mocking manner.

From where she stood she could see right down almost to the entrance gates, for the trees were leafless, and the window where she stood was set high.

Rupert Haverford was walking up the broad drive briskly, and Betty was dancing beside him.

Caroline studied him attentively for a time, then turned away from the window and laughed.

”How ridiculous I am!” she said to herself; ”why on earth should I mind if she sneers at him or praises him? a.s.suredly it is no affair of mine.”

Of course Betty went straight to her mother's room on entering the house, and after a while Miss Graniger went down to fetch both children.

She found Mrs. Lancing on the sofa with one little daughter crouched up beside her, and the other engaged in softly rubbing her brows.

”I wish I could go to bed,” Camilla said. ”I do hate these kind of family functions. And Agnes loves them.”

There was a fretful tone in her voice.

”Poor mummy,” said Betty, and stooping, she laid her pretty little lips on her mother's face.

Both children were so happy to be with her.

”Sit down and tell me all you have been doing since I saw you,”

commanded Mrs. Lancing. ”How long have you been down here? It seems like a century to me.”

”Have you wanted us very much, sweetie?” asked Betty, and Camilla turned to kiss the dear little face.

”So much--oh, so much!” and then she moved a little impatiently on the couch. ”Some one is knocking,” she said; ”it must be Aunty Brenny. Open the door and bring her in, Betty.”