Part 16 (1/2)
Lady Monroe was right when she said the Athertons would prove true friends; and it soon became one of Salome's greatest pleasures to get a quiet talk with Mrs. Atherton. She possessed the power, rare but beautiful, of influencing others by _herself_, not by her words. She had remarkably quick insight into character; and she had not known the Wiltons long before she had, as it were, mastered the situation, and could enter into the difficulties and trials of each one. She saw that Salome had the hardest task of all, and she felt for her, with her dreamy, imaginative temperament, forced, as it were, to take up with the practical side of daily life, and set herself to help her.
Lady Monroe had postponed the departure to Cannes longer than Dr. Wilton thought right, till the sudden change from a prolonged St. Luke's summer to an early and sunless spell of winter brought on Eva's little short cough, and made her hasten the arrangements for leaving England.
Eva was a spoiled child--or, rather, would have been spoiled, had so sweet and gentle a nature been capable of ”spoiling,” in the common acceptation of the word. Her mother clung to her with the intense love which springs from the thought that all love and care for our heart's dearest ones may not be needed long. Eva had taken a sudden and real liking for Ada Wilton. Her beauty and serenity had a charm for her. She liked to hear her play and watch her white hands on the piano. She liked to talk with her and to hear her voice. And so it had come to pa.s.s that Ada was continually sent for to Lady Monroe's house; and when the time for leaving Roxburgh was definitely arranged, Eva said that nothing would please her so much or help to pa.s.s the winter cheerfully as to have Ada with her.
Lady Monroe herself had her misgivings. ”Ada is so young, and ought to be going on with education and lessons,” she said.
”But she can _have_ lessons, mamma; and think how she will learn to speak French. And there are drawing-masters and music-masters at Cannes.
Oh, _do_ let us take her; she is so fond of me, mamma, and she is so lovely and so ladylike.”
The feverish glow on Eva's face and the excited light in her eyes made her mother hesitate before she refused.
”I will consult Dr. Wilton,” she said, ”and her mother. I hardly know if it would be right to take her away from her mother; and yet it might be a relief in some ways. Still it would be an additional anxiety for me; and you might get tired of her, Eva.”
”Tired of her, mamma! Oh no. Think of the many dull, lonely hours I have to spend, while other girls are playing tennis, and going to picnics, and dancing, and enjoying themselves. I know I have you, darling mother,” Eva said tenderly; ”but if I had a young companion, you would feel more free to leave me.”
”We will see about it, Eva. I must not do anything rashly.”
But Lady Monroe lost no time in consulting Dr. Wilton, who gave the plan unqualified approbation; and then it only remained to get Mrs. Wilton's leave.
Her note with the proposition came one afternoon when the day had been a troubled one--the children naughty, and Salome unable to manage them; Ada still less so; Stevens put out by the inveterate smoking of the chimney in the little boys' room, where she kept a fire and sat at her needle-work, and made the room look like the ghost of her old nursery.
Then Mrs. Wilton had been vainly trying to look over accounts. Her head and eyes ached. The weekly bills when multiplied by fifty-two would amount to far more than her small income. Raymond had asked for a sovereign, and how could she refuse him? Reginald had begged for his football jersey and cap, for which the old Rugby colours were inadmissible. Rain poured without, and a cold wind penetrated through every crack and cranny of the house. In fact, the aspect of life was dark and gloomy; and Mrs. Wilton, fairly exhausted, was just losing herself in a day-dream by the fire when Ada tripped in with Lady Monroe's note.
”I expect I know what it is about, mamma; something very, very delightful for _me_.”
”I can't see to read it till the lamp is brought in,” Mrs. Wilton said.
”Let me get the lamp, mamma--or ring for it--or poke up a blaze,” said Ada.
It was quite unusual for Ada to exert herself like this; and so Salome thought, who was reading to Hans and Carl in a low tone by the window, where the daylight was stronger than by the fire.
Mrs. Wilton yielded to Ada's impatience, and opened the envelope, holding it towards the bright blaze Ada had brought to life, and reading by it the large, clear handwriting.
”You know what is in this note, Ada?” Mrs. Wilton said when she had finished it, and turned back to the first sheet again to a.s.sure herself of the contents.
”I can guess, mother,” Ada said, drawing nearer. ”Do let me go.”
”Go where?” asked Salome, leaving her post by the window and coming towards the fire,--”go where, Ada?”
Mrs. Wilton gave Lady Monroe's note into Salome's hand. She bent down, shading her forehead from the heat by her hand, and read:--
”DEAR MRS. WILTON,--I am writing to ask you a great favour.
Will you lend your dear Ada to me for the winter? Eva has so set her heart on the plan, and has such a real affection for your Ada, that I hope you will consent. I need not say that she will be to me for the time as my own child, and that I am of course answerable for every expense; and I will see that she has advantages in the way of music lessons and any others that may be available at Cannes. My Eva's life will be brightened, and she will feel the privations of her delicate health less with a young companion whom she loves. Do not refuse me this request. I may add that Dr. Wilton encourages me to make it. Our friends.h.i.+p is not a new thing; and when I look at Ada, I see again the Emily Bruce of old times.--With kindest love, I am ever affectionately yours,
”KATHARINE MONROE.”
”Do you wish to go, Ada?” Salome asked.
”Wish? Oh, I shall like it so much! I think it is delightful!”
”To _you_, no doubt,” said Salome; ”but it will put a great deal more on me. The children's lessons, and walking with them, and--But if mother likes it, there is nothing to be said.”