Part 54 (1/2)

”I will start at once, if it will give you any satisfaction, my dear,”

he said, in his gentle way.

CHAPTER XIX

The children were in the wildest state of excitement at the prospect of seeing ”mother.” They quarrelled when they were having their hair brushed as to the time she would arrive, and what she would come in.

Baby declared Mummy would arrive in a boat, at which Betty scoffed openly.

”A boat doesn't go on the road. She'll come in a motor.”

And Betty was right.

Camilla arrived in the smartest and latest of automobiles; she was exquisitely dressed in white, and caused a flutter in the little toy watering-place, which, with so many of its kind, stud the coast of Normandy. She came not alone. There were two men and another woman with her.

Mrs. Brenton and Caroline and the children were down on the digue when she arrived, and as the children caught sight of their pretty mother and rushed to greet her, Agnes Brenton caught Caroline by the wrist.

”There is no occasion to send for Sammy,” she said; ”Camilla has brought him.”

And when a little mist had cleared away from Caroline's eyes she saw that Mrs. Brenton had made no mistake.

It was Broxbourne himself. He looked sheepish and uncomfortable as he caught Caroline's eyes, and he made no attempt to approach her.

There was never any one so gay as Camilla. The moment she arrived she seemed to radiate the whole place. The little crowded digue concentrated its whole attention on her. She provoked universal admiration.

When the whole party made a move towards the hotel for luncheon, she caught Caroline by the hand.

”I want you, Caroline--I want to ask you something,” she said. She sent the children on ahead; then, when there was no one near, she said, ”Can you give me news of Rupert?”

”No,” said Caroline, ”but I have no doubt Mrs. Brenton can.”

Camilla threw back her long gauze veil.

”Oh dear, how hot it is here!” she said; ”there is absolutely no air.

The place lies in such a hole, but the chicks look splendid.” Then, in her restless way, ”Well, if you know nothing, I must ask Agnes, for we have heard the most extraordinary rumour about him”--she meant Haverford. ”I thought perhaps you could tell me if it was true; I mean about his having gone to America because he has found some relations of Matthew Woolgar, and that he intends to give them all the money.”

Caroline answered almost impatiently.

”I a.s.sure you I know nothing whatever about Mr. Haverford, or what he is doing. How should I?”

”Well, I hope to goodness there is no truth in this report,” said Mrs.

Cuthbert Baynhurst. ”If there is, it is a very bad look-out for all of us.”

Caroline crimsoned.

”Have you not enough already?”

This made Camilla look at her; then she stood still and gave Caroline a little pull.