by L. T. Meade
flung her arms round Marcia's neck.
"My darling," she said, "I do see what you mean. And you are right; youwill train them, you will be, in my absence, a mother to them."
"Not a mother, for I, like them, am young; but I will be to them anelder sister, and I will teach them--not in words, but by precept and bysympathy and by love, what I should like them to learn. They want agreat deal of looking after; and, first of all, they want a completechange in their method of living."
"I am afraid even for them, and for you, I cannot quite ignore my pain,my constant suffering, my weary nights, my long, long, fatiguing days."
"Of course you cannot, and I have said enough for the present. Now, letus have a jolly time. See, I am going to have a particularly nice teafor you this afternoon. I have told Susan to bring it up when it isready. We'll have it on that balcony."
"Oh, but I shall catch cold."
"Indeed you won't. Do you see that shady corner, and how thescent-laden air is pervading the whole place, and the sun will beshining across the other half, and you can see a long way down thegarden? I'll sit near you and read to you when you like, out of such afunny book."
"My taste and yours don't agree with regard to reading," said MrsAldworth, always glad to hail any interruption. "I suppose I havedegenerated; I am certainly not an intellectual woman; I don't pretendthat I am. I like the stories that are in the penny papers. We get twoor three of them, and we always enjoy them. Will you read me one ofthose?"
"No, mother."
"Oh, how cross you are!"
"I am very sorry, mother, but I will read you something just as amusing.Did you ever hear of `The Reminiscences of an Irish R.M.'?"
"No, it sounds very dull."
"Wait till you hear it. It will make you laugh a great deal more thanthe stories in the penny papers."
"They make me cry a great deal. Molly reads rather badly, but yesterdayI found myself weeping in the middle of the night over the woes of thepoor little heroine. I am sure the next number of the paper has comein, and I am so anxious to know if she is really married to the Earl ofDorchester."
"It will be Nesta's turn to-morrow, and she can read to you. Now forthe balcony and a pleasant time." They had a pleasant time, and thehours flew by on wings. Marcia told stories; she laughed, she chatted,and she read a little from "The Reminiscences of an Irish R.M." MrsAldworth laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks.
"Oh, rich! rich!" she exclaimed. "That scene with the dog isinimitable. How funny, how truly funny! But, Marcia, isn't it bad formy nerves to laugh so much?"
"It's the best thing for them in all the world."
"Marcia, you are wonderful!"
"Now for the new fancy work," said Marcia.
She taught the invalid a different sort of stitch from any which she hadbefore learned. She gave her bright-coloured silks, and a piece of artcloth to embroider upon, and soon her stepmother was so fascinated thatshe allowed her young companion to work in silence, often raising hereyes to look across the distant garden.
The girls were spending the afternoon in the garden; but presently theywent out, all three of them gaudily and badly dressed. They walkedthrough the garden, gathered some roses, and then disappeared through alittle wicket gate at the further end.
Marcia felt quite sure that they did this for the purpose of showing herhow they were enjoying themselves, while she was in prison. She smiledto herself.
"Poor little things," she thought. "I wonder how soon I shall win theirhearts."
She had marked out a plan of action for herself. She had practicallysecured Mrs Aldworth--not for long, of course, for Nesta would turn herround the next day, and Molly the day after. It would be a constantrepetition of the battle; but in the end she would win her. The girls,of course, were different. Unselfishness must be born within thembefore they really did what Marcia wanted them to do. Unselfishness,brave hearts, pure spirits, noble ways.
"Two, three months should do it," thought the girl; "then I can go backwith Angela St Just in the autumn; for she is returning to Frankfort, Iknow, just to be with Mrs Silchester, and I can take her back. Oh,little Angela!"
Marcia recalled the soft touch of Angela's blooming cheek; the look inher lovely eyes; the refinement in all her bearing.
Mrs Aldworth indulged in a nap; but now tea appeared and there wasagain bustle and movement, and when Mr Aldworth entered the roompresently, he was so surprised at the improvement in his wife that hescarcely knew her.
"Marcia, you are a magician," he said.
"You must uphold me with regard to the girls," said Marcia.
"Of course, dear, you must uphold her. She has been explaining thingsto me," said the wife. "She says that my children are exceedinglyselfish."
"I have always known that," replied Mr Aldworth, looking at hisdaughter.
Mrs Aldworth began to frown. "I must say I think it is very unkind ofyou to say so; but of course you stick up for Marcia, and you abuse mypoor children. That is always the way. I suppose just because Marcia'smother thought herself a fine county lady and I--my people only incommon trade, that--"
"Oh, hush, Amelia," said her husband.
"Mother--dear mother!" said Marcia.
Mr Aldworth backed out of the room as quickly as he could. He met hisson on the stairs.
"Don't go in," he said. "She's as jealous as ever she can be. Like abear with a sore head. The girls are all out enjoying themselves andMarcia is keeping guard. I must say that she makes an excellent nurse.I believe your mother will be ever so much better in a short time. Shehas her out on the balcony, prettily dressed, surrounded by colouredsilks and all that sort of thing, and Marcia herself is looking like apicture."
"She is very handsome," interrupted Horace. "I'll go in and have apeep. I don't often visit mother."
If there was a person in the whole world whom Mrs Aldworth respected,it was her stepson. She was, of course, a little bit afraid of him; shewas not in the least afraid of her husband. She had led him a sorrysort of life, poor man, since he had brought her home, an exceedinglypretty, self-willed, rather vulgar little bride. Horace and Marcia hada bad time during those early days, but Marcia had a worse time thanHorace, for Horace never submitted, never brooked injustice, and managedbefore she was a year his stepmother to turn that same little stepmotherround his fingers. Marcia, luckily for herself, was sent to school whenshe was old enough, but Horace lived on in the house. He took up hisfather's business and did well in it, and was his father's prop andright hand.
"Horace, dear," exclaimed Marcia, when she saw her brother.
Horace came out through the open window, bending his tall head to do so.
"Upon my word," he said, "this is very pleasant. How nice you look,mother, and how well. Marcia, I congratulate you."
"Horace, she has been reading me such a lecture--your poor old mother.She says that my children are so selfish."
"A most self-evident fact," replied Horace.
"Horace! You too?"
"Come, mother, you must acknowledge it."
"Marcia is going to take them in hand."
"Good girl, capital!" said Horace, giving his sister a glance ofapproval.
"Don't you think we needn't talk of it just now?" said Marcia. "Wedon't see so much of you, Horace. Have you nothing funny to tellmother?"
"I have, I have all kinds of stories. But you look tired, old girl.Run away and rest in the garden for an hour. I'll stay with mother forjust that time."
Marcia gave him a glance of real gratitude. Oh, she was tired. Theinvalid was difficult; the afternoon hours seemed as though they wouldnever end.
When she went back again Horace had soothed his mother into a mostbeatific state of bliss. She told Marcia that she was the best girl inall the world; that she would confide the entire future of her threegirls to dear Marcia, that Marcia should train them, should make themnoble like herself.
"And I'll tell them so: I'll tell that naughty l
ittle Nesta to-morrowafternoon. I'll tell her she must look after me: I'll be firm; I'll putdown my foot," said Mrs Aldworth.
Marcia made no response. Another long hour and a half had to be gotthrough and then the invalid was safe in bed, with all her smallrequirements at hand. She opened her eyes sleepily.
"God bless you, Marcia dear. You are a very good girl, and the joy ofmy life."
CHAPTER SEVEN.
SHIRKING DUTY.
Now Nesta was perhaps the naughtiest of the three Aldworth girls. Shehad been more spoiled than the others, and was naturally of a somewhatbraver and more
