by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER X.
THE REASON OF THE VISIT.
On the evening of the next day Mrs. Bertram came home. She looked verytired and worn, but her manner to her children was less stern, and moreloving than usual. Loftus, in especial, she kissed with rare tenderness;and even for one brief moment laid her head on her tall son's broadshoulder, as if she wanted to rest herself there.
On the evening of her mother's return Catherine was particularly brightand cheerful. As a rule, Catherine's will and her mother's were twoopposing elements. Now they were one. This conjunction of two strongwills gave an immense sense of rest and harmony to the wholeestablishment. No one knew particularly why they felt peaceful andsatisfied, but this was the true cause.
After dinner, Mrs. Bertram saw Catherine by herself. She called her intothe big drawing-room; and while Loftus and Mabel accurately measured outa new tennis-court, asked her daughter many and various questions.
"She has really gone away, mother," said Catherine in conclusion. "Iwent to the lodge early this morning, and Tester told me that she got upearly, and took a bit of bread in her pocket; but she would not evenwait for a cup of tea. Tester said she was out of the house by sixo'clock. She washed herself well first, though, and Mrs. Tester saidthat she came out of her bath as fair as a lily, and her hair shininglike red gold. I thought last night, mother," concluded Catherine, "thatJosephine must be a pretty girl. I should like to have seen her thismorning when her hair shone and her face was like a lily."
"You are full of curiosity about this girl, are you not, Catherine?"asked her mother.
"It is true, mother. I conjecture much about her."
"I can never gratify your curiosity, nor set your conjectures right."
"You know about her then, mother?"
"Yes, I know about her."
"Is Josephine an impostor?"
Mrs. Bertram paused.
"She is an impostor," she said then, in a slow, emphatic voice.
"Mother," said her daughter, suddenly. "You look very ill."
"I have gone through a bad time, Kate. I have been worried. My dearchild, be thankful you are not a middle-aged woman with many cares."
"The thing I should be most thankful for at this moment, mother, wouldbe to share in all your worries."
"God forbid, child. Heaven forbid that such a lot should be yours. Now,my dear, we will keep our secret. It is only yours and mine. And--comehere--kiss me--you have acted well, my darling."
The rare caress, the unwonted word of love, went straight to CatherineBertram's deep heart. She put her firm young arm round her mother'sneck, and something like a vow and a prayer went up to God from herfervent soul.
"Come out," said Mrs. Bertram. "The others will wonder what we aredoing. Look as usual, Kitty, and fear nothing. I have been in peril, butfor the present it is over."
When Mrs. Bertram appeared Loftus went up to her at once. She took hisarm, and they paced slowly under the trees. If Mrs. Bertram loved herdaughters, and there is no doubt she had a very real regard for them,Loftus Bertram was as the apple of her eye. She adored this young man,she was blind to his faults, and she saw his virtues through magnifyingglasses.
Loftus could always talk his mother into the best of humors. He was notdevoid of tact, and he knew exactly how to manage her, so as to bringher round to his wishes. Having two ends in view to-night he was morethan usually fascinating. He wanted money to relieve a pressingembarrassment, and he also wished to cultivate his acquaintance withBeatrice Meadowsweet. He was not absolutely in love with Beatrice, buther cool indifference to all his fascinations piqued him. He thought itwould be pleasant to see more of her, delightful to make a conquest ofher. He was not the sort of man to thwart his own inclinations. Beatricehad contrived to make Northbury interesting to him, and he thought hecould easily manage to get leave to visit it soon again.
That evening, therefore, Mrs. Bertram not only found herself arrangingto put her hand to a bill, payable at the end of six months, for herson's benefit, but further, quite complacently agreeing to call the verynext day on Mrs. Meadowsweet, the wife of the ex-shopkeeper.
Hence that visit which had aroused the jealous feelings not only of Mrs.Morris, of Mrs, Butler and Miss Peters, but more or less of the wholesociety of Northbury.
