Part 22 (1/2)
”Lady Linden, sir, and Miss Marjorie Linden!”
They had not met for weeks. Her ladys.h.i.+p had driven over in the large, comfortable carriage. ”Give me a horse or, better still, two horses--things with brains, created by the Almighty, and not a thing that goes piff, piff, piff, and leaves an unG.o.dly smell along the roads, to say nothing of the dust!”
So she had come here behind two fine horses, sleek and overfed.
”h.e.l.lo!” she said.
”h.e.l.lo!” said Hugh, and kissed her, and so the feud between them was ended.
”You are looking,” her ladys.h.i.+p said, ”rotten!”
”I am looking exactly as I feel. How are you, Marjorie?” He held the small hand in his, and looked kindly, as he must ever look, into her pretty round face. Because she was blus.h.i.+ng with the joy of seeing him, and because her eyes were bright as twin stars, he concluded that she was happy, and ascribed her happiness, not unnaturally considering everything, to Tom Arundel.
”As the cat,” said Lady Linden, ”wouldn't go to Mahomed--”
”The mountain, you mean!” Hugh said.
”Oh, I don't know. I knew it was a cat, a mountain or a coffin that one usually a.s.sociates with Mahomed. However, as you didn't come, I came--to see what on earth you were doing, shutting yourself up here in Hurst Dormer.”
”Renovations.”
”They don't agree with you. I expect it's the drains. You're doing something to the drains, aren't you?”
”Yes, I believe--”
”Then go and get a suitcase packed, and come back with us to Cornbridge.”
He would not hear of it at first; but Lady Linden had made up her mind, and she was a masterful woman.
”You'll come?”
”Really, I think I had better--not. You see--”
”I don't see! Marjorie, go out into the garden and smell the flowers.
Keep away from the drains.... You'll come?” she repeated, when the girl had gone out.
”Look here, I know what is in your mind; if I come, it will be on one condition!” Hugh said.
”I know what that condition is. Very well, I agree; we won't mention it.
Come for a week; it will do you good. You're too young to pretend you are a hermit!”
”You'll keep that condition; a certain name is not to be mentioned!”
”I am no longer interested in the--young woman. I shall certainly not mention her name. I think the whole affair--However, it is no business of mine, I never interfere in other people's affairs!” said Lady Linden, who never did anything else.
”All right then, on that condition I'll come, and it is good of you to ask me!”
”Rot!”