Part 56 (2/2)

And now it all seemed so _tame_. First no costume, then an ordinary wire to ask mother to go up for a day's shopping. They might have come from Surrey instead of America. And two whole days before they wired at all.

Perhaps Mrs. Graham was thinking something of the kind too, for she stood biting her lip, with the colour going and coming in pretty blushes on her cheek, as if she could not make up her mind.

She was just ”mother” to Dorothy, but to other people Mrs. Graham was both pretty and sweet.

”I _must_ go,” she said at length, ”and there is scarcely time to get ready.”

”Oh, _mother_!” cried Dorothy, ”can't I come too?”

Mrs. Graham still seemed to be considering something else, and she merely answered, ”No, dear,” and went quickly upstairs.

Dorothy sank down on the sofa in a terribly injured mood. n.o.body seemed to be thinking of _her_ at all. And before she had got over the first brunt of this discovery her mother was back again ready to go, with her purse-bag and gloves in her hand.

[Sidenote: Left in Charge]

”Dorothy,” she said, arranging her hat before the mirror of the overmantel, ”you may choose any pudding you like, tell cook. Here are the keys”--she paused to throw a small bunch in Dorothy's lap. ”Get out anything they want. And d.i.c.k won't be in till half-past one, tell her.

And Dollie”--there was again that queer little catch in her voice--”it is possible Miss Addis...o...b.. may call this afternoon. I have told Louisa to show her right into the drawing-room without telling her I am out, and come and find you. I want you to be very nice to her, and explain about the Merediths. Tell her I was obliged to go because they only gave me the place of meeting, and I have not their address. I shall be home as soon as possible, between four and five at latest, so do your best to keep her till I come back.”

”Did you say Miss _Addis...o...b.._, mother?” said Dorothy dismally, yet a little comforted by having the keys, and with the thought of choosing the pudding, ”I don't think _she's_ likely to call.”

”I said Miss Addis...o...b..,” Mrs. Graham answered decidedly. ”Do you understand what I wish you to do, Dollie?”

”Yes, mother,” said Dorothy, subdued but mutinous.

Then she ran after her to the hall door.

”Mayn't I ask some one to spend the day, mother?” she called, but Mrs.

Graham was almost at the gate, nearly running to be in time for her train, and did not hear her.

Mrs. Graham came home looking very white and tired. ”Did Miss Addis...o...b.. call?” were the first words she said.

Louisa, who was bringing in the tea, looked meaningly at Dorothy, and went out without speaking.

”Oh, mother!” said Dorothy, ”I am so sorry, I had been in all day, and Helen Jones just asked me to come to the post with her, and when I came back there was a motor at the door, and----”

”She _came_!” exclaimed Mrs. Graham. ”And you did not give her my message! Oh, Dorothy!”

Her tone was almost like a cry of pain. Dorothy was startled. ”She wouldn't wait, mother, and--and of course it _was_ strange she came to-day when she hasn't called for ages and ages! I didn't think she would, or I wouldn't have gone,” she explained.

Mrs. Graham did not argue the point. She lay down on the sofa and closed her eyes. Dorothy longed to ask her about the American cousins, but did not dare. Presently she poured out a cup of tea and brought it to her mother.

”If you take some tea you will feel better, mother,” she said softly.

”If I had asked d.i.c.k to do something for me he would have done it, Dorothy,” said Mrs. Graham bitterly, and without seeming to notice the tea she got up and gathered her things together. ”I have a headache,”

she said. ”I am not coming down again. Father will not be home to-night, so you can tell Louisa there will be no need to lay the cloth for dinner. I don't wish any one to come near me.” And she went out of the room.

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