Part 11 (1/2)

”'Why, who has been telling you anything?' said she, looking at me through her spectacles.

”'Ah,' replied I, 'that's what I must keep to myself, for I'm under a promise of secrecy.'

”'Mercy on me, it couldn't be--no, that's impossible,' muttered the old woman, as she opened the letter and took out a bank-note, which she crumpled up in her hand. She then commenced reading the letter; I walked a little way from her, and stood between her and the window.

Every now and then she held the letter up to the candle, and when the light was strong upon it, I could read a line from where I stood, for I have been used to her ladys.h.i.+p's writing, as you know. One line I read was, 'remains still at Culverwood Hall;' another was, 'the only person now left in Ess.e.x.' I also saw the words 'secrecy' and 'ignorant' at the bottom of the page. The old woman finished the letter at last, but it took her a good while to get through it.

”'Well,' says she, 'have you anything more to say?'

”'No,' says I; 'you are well paid for your secrecy, Mrs Green.'

”'What do you mean?' said she.

”'Oh, I'm not quite so ignorant as you suppose,' replied I.

”'Ignorant,' said she, confused, 'ignorant of what?'

”'When were you last in Ess.e.x?' said I.

”'When, why? what's that to you, you impudent boy?'

”'Nay, then, I'll put another question to you. How long is it since you were at Culverwood Hall?'

”'Culverwood Hall! What do you know about Culverwood Hall? the boy's mad, I believe; go away, you've done your message; if you don't, I'll tell her ladys.h.i.+p.'

”'Certainly, Mrs Green,' said I. 'I wish you a good-night.'

”I left the room, slamming the door, but not allowing the catch to fall in, so that I held it a little ajar, and then I heard Mrs Green say to the other woman,

”'Somebody's been with that boy; I wonder who it can be? He's put me in such a flurry. Well, these things will out.'

”'Yes, yes, it's like murder,' replied the other; 'not that I know what it's all about, only I see there's a secret--perhaps you'll tell me, Mrs Green?'

”'All I dare tell you is that there is a secret,' replied Mrs Green, 'and the boy has got an inkling of it somehow or another. I must see my lady--no, I had better not,' added she; 'for she is so queer that she'll swear that I've told him. Now there's only one besides myself and her ladys.h.i.+p who knows anything, and I'll swear that he could not have been with the boy, for he's bedridden. I'm all of a puzzle, and that's the truth. What a wind there is; why the boy has left the door open. Boys never shut doors.'

”Mrs Green got up and slammed the door to, and I walked off; and now, Miss Valerie, that's all that I know of the matter; but why I should be sent to a good school and wear pepper and salt, and to be taken away to be made first a page, and now a footman, I can't tell; but you must acknowledge that there is some mystery, after what I have told you.”

”It certainly is strange, Lionel,” replied I, ”but my advice is that you remain patiently till you can find it out, which by leaving Lady R--you are not likely to do.”

”I don't know that, Miss Valerie; let me get down to Culverwood Hall, and I think I would find out something, or my wits were given me to no purpose. But I hear her ladys.h.i.+p coming upstairs: so good-bye, Miss Valerie.”

And Lionel made a hasty retreat.

Lady R--slowly ascended the stairs, and came into the room. Her violence had been exhausted, but she looked sullen and moody, and I could hardly recognise her; for I must do her the justice to say, that I had never before seen her out of temper. She sat down in her chair, and I asked her whether I should bring her her writing materials.

”A pretty state I am in to write,” replied she, leaning her elbows on the table, and pressing her hands to her eyes. ”You don't know what a rage I have been in, and how I have been venting it upon innocent people. I struck that poor boy--shame on me! Alas! I was born with violent pa.s.sions, and they have been my curse through life. I had hoped that years had somewhat subdued them, but they will occasionally master me. What would I not give to have had your placid temper, Valerie! How much unhappiness I should have been spared! How much error should I have avoided! I was going to say, how much crime.”

Lady R--was evidently more talking to herself than to me when she said the last words, and I therefore made no reply. A silence of more than a quarter of an hour followed, which was broken by Lionel coming in, and announcing the carriage of Lady M--.

”That woman is the cause of all this,” said Lady R--; ”I am sure that she is. Pray do not wait, Valerie. Go and see her. I shall be better company when you come back.”

I made no reply, but left the room, and putting on my bonnet, was driven to Lady M--'s. She received me with great cordiality, and so did her daughters, who were in the room; but they were dismissed by their mother, who then said, ”I told you last night, my dear Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf, that I wished you to reside with me. You may say in what capacity, and I acknowledge that I hardly know what answer to give. Not as governess, certainly, for I consider it an odious position, and one that I could not offer you; indeed, my girls do not require teaching, as they have finished their studies; in only one thing you could be of advantage to them in that respect, which is in music and singing. But I wish you to come as their companion, as I am convinced that they will gain much by your so doing. I wish you, therefore, to be considered by others as a visitor at the house, but at the same time I must insist that from the advantages my girls will derive from your a.s.sisting them in music and singing, you will accept the same salary per annum which you have from Lady R--. Do you understand me: I wish you to remain with me, not as a model after the idea of Lady R--, but as a model for my girls to take pattern by. I shall leave it to yourself to act as you please. I am sure my girls like you already, and will like you better.