by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER XXIII.
BERTHA'S JOY.
Bertha Keys found herself in a state of pleasurable excitement. She wasin the highest spirits.
Mrs. Aylmer, as she watched her flit about the room, and listened to hergay conversation, and observed her animated face, said to herself: "Amore charming companion could not fall to the lot of any woman. Now whatis the matter, Bertha?" she said. "Your face quite amuses me; you burstout into little ripples of laughter at the smallest provocation. Thatdress is extremely becoming; it is a pleasure to see you. What is it, mydear? Have you heard any specially good news?"
"I have heard this news, and I think we ought both to be very happy,"said Bertha. "Mr. Trevor comes home this evening; he will be with us todinner."
Mrs. Aylmer gave her companion a keen, searching glance.
"Miss Keys," she said slowly.
"Yes," said Bertha, pausing and laying her hand lightly on a littletable near; "do you want me to do anything?"
"Nothing in especial: you are always doing things for me. You are a goodgirl and a valuable secretary to me; you suit me to perfection. Now, mydear, I have no wish to part with you."
"To part with me?" said Bertha. She looked startled and raised hercurious greeny-grey eyes with a new expression in them.
"To part with you, Bertha; but if you set your heart on Mr. MauriceTrevor you and I must part."
"What does this mean? Do you want to insult me?"
"No, my dear, by no means; but girls will be girls. How old are you,Miss Keys?"
"I am seven-and-twenty."
"And Maurice is three-and-twenty," said Mrs. Aylmer. "He is four yearsyour junior; but that in affairs of the heart, I am afraid, does notmatter much. You like him, I can see. My dear Miss Keys, the moment Isee my adopted son paying you the slightest attention you must leavehere. I daresay he never will pay you that kind of attention, andprobably it is all right; but a word to the wise is enough, eh?"
"Quite enough," said Bertha; "you are a little unkind, my dear friend,to speak to me in that tone, and when I was so happy too. Believe me, Ihave not the slightest intention of marrying anyone. I have seen toomuch trouble in married life to care to cast in my lot with the marriedfolks. I shall live with you as your companion as long as you want me.May I not like Mr. Trevor, and be a sort of sister to him?"
"Certainly, only don't be too sisterly or too friendly; do not ask forhis confidence; do not think too much about him. He is a charmingfellow, but he is not intended for you. My heir must marry as I please,and I am already looking out for a wife for him."
"Indeed; how very interesting!"
"There is a young girl I happen to know, who lives not far from here.She is extremely handsome, and will have a great deal of money. I meanto invite her to Aylmer's Court next week. Now you, Miss Keys, can do agreat deal to promote a friendly feeling between the young people; but Iwill tell you more of this to-morrow."
"Thank you," replied Bertha. "I wonder," she continued, "who the girlis."
"That, my dear, I will tell you by-and-by. At present you are to knownothing about it."
The sound of wheels was now heard on the gravel and Bertha randownstairs.
"Poor dear Mrs. Aylmer," she said to herself; "it is easy to blind herafter all. I do not at all know at present whether I want to marryMaurice or not; but, whatever happens, I inherit my dear friend's money,either as his wife, or on my own account: it does not in the leastmatter which. No wonder I am in good spirits! He comes back to-night,and Florence Aylmer has yielded to temptation. I have nothing to fearfrom her now. The second story will go to her by the first post in themorning. I fancy it will be even more fetching than the one which hasalready taken the fancy of the editor of the _Argonaut_."
Trevor had now entered the hall, and Bertha went to meet him.
"How do you do?" she said, in her gayest voice. She was dressed in themost becoming way, and looked wonderfully attractive. Her red-gold hairwas always a striking feature about her; her complexion at night was ofthe palest cream and dazzlingly fair; her eyes looked big, and as sheraised them to Trevor's face they wore a pathetic expression. He wrungher hand heartily, asked for Mrs. Aylmer, said that he would go to hisroom to get ready for dinner, and ran upstairs three steps at a time.
"How nice he looks!" thought the girl; "it would be possible for me tolike him even as much as Mrs. Aylmer fears, but I will not show my handat present. What does this fresh combination mean? I wonder who the girlis who is to be brought to Aylmer's Court on purpose to be wooed byMaurice Trevor."
The dinner-gong sounded, and soon Mrs. Aylmer, Trevor, and Bertha sataround the board. He chatted gaily, telling both the ladies some amusingadventures, and causing Mrs. Aylmer to laugh heartily several times.
"You are a very bad boy to stay away from me so long," she said; "butnow you are not to stir: your work is cut out for you. I mean you totake complete control of the estate. To-morrow you and I will have along conversation on the subject."
"But I am not at all a business man," he answered, frowning slightly andglancing from Bertha to Mrs. Aylmer.
"Never mind; you can learn. You surely ought to know something of whatis to be your own eventually!"
"I thought that your steward and Miss Keys managed everything."
"Miss Keys manages a good deal, perhaps too much," said Mrs. Aylmer,frowning, and glancing in a somewhat suspicious way at her companion. "Imean you to manage your own affairs in the future; but you and I willhave a talk after breakfast to-morrow."
"Yes, I shall be glad to have a talk with you," he answered. He lookedat her gravely.
Bertha wondered what was passing in his mind.
