The Third Miss St Quentin

by Mrs. Molesworth

she said. "Imeant to go into the other room to look for you and Ermine, Madelene,"and here she tried to smile again, but the effort was rather a failure,and her lips quivered a little. "Madelene, are you very astonished tosee me? Had you no idea I--might perhaps come after all? Madelene,don't look at me like that. I didn't think you'd be so vexed."

  For Miss St Quentin's face was growing very stern. She had caught sightof and identified the white tulle frock by this time.

  "I cannot say anything till I understand the whole," she began. "It isyour place to tell me."

  Just then steps were heard approaching. Ella started.

  "It is the man I am dancing with--he went to fetch me an ice," she saidhurriedly. "I don't want him to see me being scolded," and her voicesounded as if she were going to cry.

  Madelene hated scenes, and still more did she hate any exposure tostrangers of family affairs. She instantly drew back.

  "I shall take care that your partner does not see me," she said. "But Ishall look out for you in the tea-room after this dance. Ermine will bethere too."

  There was no time for Ella to reply. Miss St Quentin had no difficultyin concealing herself. She just stepped quietly behind a clump of highand thick-growing plants in the corner, where the light was not strong,and her dress being black, no one would have noticed her unless they hadbeen directly looking for her.

  A moment after, she heard a voice addressing her sister.

  "Here is the ice--at least it is a cup of iced coffee. Will that do aswell, Miss Wyn--?"

  It seemed to Madelene that the new-comer rather slurred over the name;it was the case that he did so, for he had heard it but indistinctly,and Ella, in no hurry to be revealed to her sisters, had not cared toset the mystification right. But--Madelene scarcely noticed what hesaid, in her surprise at recognising Ella's partner as her cousinPhilip! For a moment or two, she could not understand it. Then againshe gradually recollected that it was perfectly possible he did not knowElla--he had never seen her; he had probably been introduced to her bysome one who had no idea who she really was. Madelene had already seenand talked to Philip, who had hastened his return from the north inorder to be present at the Belvoirs' dance. He was to spend the nightwith his present hosts and "surprise" his grandmother by appearing atCheynesacre in the course of the following afternoon, some days soonerthan she was expecting him. For neither he nor his cousins had theslightest, the very slightest, notion that such a move on the old lady'spart as she had executed with Ella in her train was possible.

  "Thank you, thank you very much. Yes of course it will do--much betterthan a regular ice, for I can drink it off in a moment, and I do so wantto lose no more of this lovely waltz," Madelene next heard her sisterreply.

  "She is eager to get out of my way," she thought, "and what wonder? ButI am not going to make a scene, you need not be afraid, Ella. Philipevidently does not know her. It must all be told him afterwards. Howdisgraceful it seems! And just when we wanted her to have made a goodimpression on him--he will be utterly horrified. Oh! I wish I couldsee Ermine."

  The voices had ceased. Ella and her partner had left the conservatory.Madelene made her way to the entrance and then, glancing round to makesure they were not standing about anywhere close at hand, hurriedlycrossed the ball-room to the room where Ermine was to meet her.

  She was already there, eagerly looking out for Madelene, whom she atonce drew into a corner.

  "Madelene," she began, but Miss St Quentin for once was so excited thatshe interrupted her.

  "Ermine," she said, "it _is_ she--Ella. I have seen her and spoken toher. I never in all my life was so--"

  "Wait, Madelene--do let me speak. Of course it is Ella, but it is allright. She came with Aunt Anna. There is nothing to be vexed about.Aunt Anna took it all upon herself. She persuaded papa to let the poorchild come. Really, Maddie," seeing that no change of expressionlighted up her elder sister's face, "I don't understand you some times.I thought you would have been quite delighted. You _did_ want her tocome."

  But Miss St Quentin's equanimity had been too thoroughly disturbed forher to recover it quickly. She was, at the bottom of her heart, moreseriously vexed with herself than with any one else, vexed with her ownhasty and, as she now saw, absurd idea that Ella would have ventured onsuch an escapade as to follow them by herself. And to one of Madelene'stemperament, mortification is peculiarly bitter. For the moment sheyielded to her irritation and allowed herself the questionable relief ofventing it on others.

  "Of course I wanted her to come if the thing had been properly arranged.Papa should have consented when _we_ asked him, or else, it seems tome, kept to his decision. Aunt Anna went to Coombesthorpe, I suppose,and found Ella weeping like a poor little martyr at having been leftalone. And her entreaties and Ella's tears prevailed where mydownrightness failed, it seems," she said cynically.

  Ermine looked at her in surprise.

  "Well, and what if they did?" she said. "You are not going to beginfeeling jealous of Aunt Anna's influence with papa--that would be tooabsurd. And as for Ella's tears--wait at least till we know that sheshed any. But, Maddie--I've seen Aunt Anna, and it is so absurd.Philip and Ella are dancing together--have been, at least, and neitherknows who the other is! Isn't it fun? Aunt Anna has quite entered intothe spirit of it, and she says we are to try to keep it up, and not leteither of them speak to her or to us when the other is by. Ella isengaged for every dance--people are all smitten by her, but aunt isgoing soon, so it won't be difficult."

  "I don't see any point in it," said Madelene, coldly.

  "Don't you! Oh I think it's Capital--the very thing we thought of atthe beginning," and here, though there was no one to catch her words,Ermine dropped her voice,--"if--if they were to take a fancy to eachother, Maddie, it would be such a good thing, such a comfort to papa,too."

  Madelene's face softened.

  "I am afraid Ella is too superficial, if not heartless--" she said,though with reluctance. "For all Philip's careless manner, he hasreally deep feelings. He would be miserable with a frivolous wife."

  "Maddie, you are prejudiced. I don't think you have any right to thinkElla shallow--her deeper feelings may not have been awakened yet, butthat is a different matter," said Ermine. "I think it would bedelightful."

  "It certainly would cut the knot of several difficulties," Madeleneallowed.

  "And they are far more likely to be attracted to each other, meeting asstrangers," said Ermine. "It is as good as a play! Philip isprejudiced against Ella--he fancies she is a worry to us, and she wouldhave found this out at once, she is so quick! Oh, I think it is toolucky that they should have met like this." Ermine looked quite readyin her enthusiasm to clap her hands--Madelene could not resist theinfection. She smiled at her sister.

  "My dear child," she said, "I had no idea you were such a matchmaker.What would Aunt Anna say to it?"

  "Aunt Anna knows what she is about. Don't trouble about _her_," saidErmine. "But we must not be seen whispering together like this. I wantto get hold of Major Frost, to prevent his finding anything out, andspoiling it all."

  Miss St Quentin sat still for a moment or two after her sister had lefther.

  "If I could feel sure that Ella has any real character, real depth," shethought. "It would certainly be very nice--if her future were assuredit might, indirectly, make many things easier. It would surely makepapa less morbid."

  And Madelene sighed a little as for once she allowed her imagination toglance backwards on what might have been had cares and responsibilitiesfallen less prematurely upon her.

  Ella meanwhile, but for her disagreeable interview with her eldestsister, had been enjoying herself to the top of her bent. She had notbeen long of discovering that she was sailing under false colours, asmore than one of her partners, imagining he had heard her namecorrectly, addressed her distinctly as "Miss Wyndham." And she did notset the mistake right. She would enjoy herself for this one evening,she decided, and
Madelene's unpleasant strictures might be reserved tillafterwards.

  "I will keep out of their way," she said to herself, "for if all thesemen knew I was their sister they would begin cross-questioning me, andit would all seem queer. And godmother won't mind if from time to timeI let her know I'm all right. She wants me to have as much dancing as Ican--we shall be leaving so early."

  It all turned out more easy of execution than she could have expected.After her first half-apologetic whisper to Lady Cheynes, at the end ofher dance with Major Frost, of "Godmother, I'm so happy, but need I comeback to you _every_ time? The