Volume Ii Part 10 (2/2)
”Let us ask Jean,” she said, with a hasty explanation of her position; and Jean, summoned to give her advice, which she dearly loved doing--came upon the scene, the picture of an old Highland servant of the best type, full as much of respect as of self-respect.
”Jean,” said Mrs. Dorriman, ”Mrs. Drayton, Miss Margaret I mean, is anxious about her sister. She has left Torbreck, and we do not know where she has gone. I think you may help us. Do you know of any one she could go to in the South?”
”How is Miss Margaret? I cannot give her that other name yet,” said Jean, addressing herself directly to Sir Albert Gerald.
”She is pretty well,” he answered, absently; he was thinking of the pale face, and trusting that he might trace her sister, and bring a little comfort and happiness to her heart, and that the sad wistful look might be softened and cheered.
”Well, ma'am,” said Jean, turning to Mrs. Dorriman, ”as regards Miss Grace, I am inclined to think they will know where she is at the railway station here.”
”The railway station? Has she been here?”
”No, ma'am, she has not been here, but she directed me to send her boxes there a while ago, and I did so; and it is my belief that once she was well, she's not long been parted from her boxes.”
Sir Albert seized his hat, then he remembered that supposing they had her address, he must still arrange about some one communicating with her.
”If we find her address, what can we do next? I will, of course, take any trouble; but some one had better go, who might be of some use to her.”
Mrs. Dorriman coloured. She had no means of her own, and she was not sure that her brother would furnish any; otherwise, she was quite prepared to go any distance, or do any thing she conceived to be helpful.
Sir Albert saw the hesitation, and he said, anxiously, ”I hope whoever does undertake this errand of charity will allow me to help--in the only way in my power.”
”Sir,” said Jean, ”we will allow you to help if we find help necessary.
Mrs. Dorriman has plenty of everything to fall back upon if she needs it in that way. She does not trail about in velvet, but she has it if she wants it.”
”Hush, Jean,” said her mistress; ”will you go yourself to the railway station and make inquiries, and Sir Albert will wait till you return, at any rate.”
Jean obeyed, and Mrs. Dorriman, turning to the young man, said, with a heightened colour and a little pathetic gesture,
”It may seem strange to you, but, though I have everything I can possibly want given me by my brother, I have no command of money. You are no kin, only a friend, but somehow I do not feel it so hard to be beholden to you as I ought.”
”Thank you for those words,” he said, earnestly; ”you will be doing me a very real service if you will use my money for this. It is the only thing I can do,” he added sadly.
Jean soon returned from the station, wearing a little air of triumph.
”'Deed, and was I no just quite right?” she said; ”Miss Grace sent for her things only yesterday, and I got the man to put the address down on paper for me: these uncanny English names are hard to mind on.”
Mrs. Dorriman and Sir Albert read it together.
”The Limes, Wandsworth.”
”Mr. Drayton's place,” said Mrs. Dorriman; ”how strange! and you are quite sure? he refused to allow her to go there.”
She spoke in a lowered tone but Jean heard the words.
”That would not stop Miss Grace,” she said, with a short laugh; ”if she's minded to do anything she's not easy stopped.”
Mrs. Dorriman thoughtfully pa.s.sed the paper through her hands. How could she put the case before Mr. Sandford so as to win it? Each time she spoke of either Grace or Margaret to him, he lost his temper, and created a scene that made her ill and nervous for days. If it would do good she would brave it, but if it did no good----
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