Part 22 (1/2)
”What a nice idea, and you live together in this dear old house; how delightful!”
Raby's smile grew perceptibly sadder.
”We were not always alone. What is it Longfellow says?
”'There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair.'
But, as you say, we live together, the old bachelor and old maiden brother and sister.”
”Miss Ferrers is not an old maid,” returned Fay, indignantly, on whom Margaret's stately presence had made a deep impression. ”You ought not to speak so of your sister.”
”Do you like the name of unappropriated blessing better, as I heard an unmarried lady called once?” he asked, in an amused voice; ”but, no, that would not be true in Margaret's case, for her brother has appropriated her.”
A gentle smile pa.s.sed over Margaret's face. ”I shall be here as long as you want me, Raby,” and then, as though she would turn the subject, she asked Fay if she read much, and which were her favorite books. But she soon saw her mistake.
”I am afraid I am very stupid,” returned Fay, blus.h.i.+ng a little, ”but I do not care to read very much. Aunt Griselda--she was the aunt with whom I lived until I was married--did not like me to read novels, and heavy books send me to sleep.”
”I dare say you are too busy to read,” interposed Raby rather hastily; ”with such a household as yours to manage, you must be sufficiently employed.”
”Oh, but I have not so much to do after all,” replied Fay, frankly.
”When I married I was terribly afraid that I should never know how to manage properly; the thoughts of accounts especially frightened me, because I knew my sums would not ever come right if I added them up a dozen times.”
”Ladies generally hate accounts.”
”Oh, but I have none to make up,” returned Fay, with a merry Laugh; ”Hugh, I mean my husband, attends to them. If I have bills I just give them to him. And Mrs. Heron manages everything else; if there are any orders she goes to Sir Hugh. He says I am so young to be troubled about things, and that I don't understand how to regulate a large household. We lived in such a tiny cottage, you see, and Aunt Griselda never taught me anything about housekeeping.”
”Yes, I see,” observed Raby rather absently; he was wondering what Margaret would say to all this.
”I never thought things would be quite so easy,” went on Fay, gayly.
”Now if Hugh, I mean my husband, says two or three gentlemen are coming to dinner, I just tell Mrs. Heron so, and she tells Ellerton, and then everything is all right. Even when things go wrong, as they will sometimes, Sir Hugh does all the scolding; he says I am each a little thing that they might only laugh at me; but I tell him I shall never be taller if I live to be an old woman.”
Mr. Ferrers kept his thoughts to himself, but he said kindly, ”I dare say you find plenty of little duties for yourself, Lady Redmond.”
”Oh, yes, I am always busy,” returned Fay, seriously; ”Mrs. Heron says that she is sure that I shall grow thin with so much running about, but unless I am driving or riding, or Erle is talking to me, I do believe I am never still for many minutes at a time. Oh, I do work sometimes, only one can not work alone, and I go to the poultry-yards and the stables. Bonnie Bess always has a feed of corn from my hand once a day, and there are all the animals to visit, and the greenhouses and the hot-houses, for I do like a chat with old Morison; and there is Catharine's dear little baby at the lodge, and the children at the Parkers' cottage; and I like to help Janet feed and clean my birds, because the dear little things know me. Oh, yes, the day is not half long enough for all I have to do,” finished Fay, contentedly.
CHAPTER XVII.
”I AM ONLY WEE WIFIE.”
This would plant sore trouble In that breast now clear, And with meaning shadows Mar that sun-bright face.
See that no earth poison To thy soul come near!
Watch! for like a serpent Glides that heart disgrace.
Ask to be found worthy Of G.o.d's choicest gift, Not by wealth made reckless, Nor by want unkind; Since on thee dependeth That no secret rift Mar the deep life-music Of her guileless mind.
PHILIP STANHOPE.
Raby felt as though he were listening to a child's innocent prattle as Fay chattered on in her light-hearted way. In spite of his deep knowledge of human nature he found himself unaccountably perplexed.