by L. T. Meade
rectifying the omission."
"Good girl--clever, methodical girl."
"Here is the bag, Mr Gray; I will come to fetch it early to-morrow."
"Oh, you will, will you?"
"Certainly; expect me before eleven o'clock." I bade Mr Graygood-night, and took an omnibus which presently conducted me to theneighbourhood of Paddington Station.
In course of time I got home. My father and George had arrived beforeme. It was quite contrary to the doctrines of our house for a woman toassert her independence in the way I was doing. My conduct in stayingout in this unwarrantable fashion called forth contemptuous glances frommy father, sighs of regret from my gentle mother, and sharp speechesfrom my brother George. I bore all with wonderful patience, and ranup-stairs to take off my things.
As I was arranging my thick hair before the glass, and giving a passingthought to my dear little sister Hetty's curling brown locks, andremembering how deftly she had tried to arrange mine according to modernfashion, a knock came to my door, and George stood outside.
"You don't deserve me to treat you with any confidence. You are themost curious mixture of childishness, folly, and obstinacy that I haveever had the pleasure of meeting," he said in his cold voice; "but,nevertheless, as you were good enough to confide in me last night, andas your communication was of importance, you will be pleased to learnthat I was able to persuade my father not to see Chillingfleet."
"I am delighted," I said, running up to George, and kissing him, verymuch against his will. "How did you manage it, George? Do tell me."
"Dear me, Rosamund, how impulsive you are! What does it matter how Imanaged the thing, provided it was done? I think it due to you to letyou know that I have taken steps to prevent our father ever becomingacquainted with Jack's wickedness; and now let us drop this revoltingsubject at once and for ever."
"I am more than willing," I replied, "provided we do not drop Jack aswell."
"What do you mean? Do you suppose I am going to have anything furtherto say to the fellow?"
"I cannot say whether you are or not, George, but I am. Jack must live;Hetty must be cared for."
"Hetty! How dare you speak to me of that low-born girl?"
"I know nothing about her birth," I retorted. "I only know that she Isa lady at heart; that she is a sweet little thing, and that I love hertenderly."
"I don't want to stand here any longer, Rosamund, to listen to yourchildishness."
"Just as you please, George."
"One word, however, before I go," continued my brother. "You will havethe goodness to give up this gadding into town in future, and willarrange to stay quietly at home with our mother."
"I am sorry I cannot oblige you," I replied. "It will be necessary forme to go back to town early to-morrow, and to continue to do so forseveral days."
"I shall ask my father to forbid you."
"Very well, George; you can please yourself, only I warn you, you hadbetter not."
"What do I care for your warnings?" He slammed the door behind him, andwent down-stairs in the worst possible humour.
I wondered if George had quite made up his mind to give up the girl whomhe loved, and who possessed a little money, and if this was the reasonhe was even crosser than his wont.
This thought helped me to be patient with him; and I went down-stairs tosupper, resolved to show no ill-temper, but to make myself as agreeableas I possibly could.
I had never in my whole life wilfully disobeyed a direct command of myfather's, and I did not want to begin to do so now. I took it upon me,therefore, to make myself agreeable to him. I put his worsted-workslippers before the fire to warm. I pulled forward his favouritearm-chair, and cut the pages of a new magazine and laid it by his side.George was not in the room. My father received these attentions withoutany outward show of thanks; but when I came close to him for a moment,he bent forward and patted my head.
"It's a good thing to have you at home again, Rose," he said.
"Father," I said, suddenly, "I should always like to do what _you_ wish,of course; but I need not obey George, need I?"
"Obey George!" echoed my father. "I should think not, indeed. Thefellow is growing much too hectoring. Obey George! What next, Iwonder?"
"He wants me not to go to town to-morrow," I said; "but if you give meleave, I may, may I not?"
"Of course, child, of course."
"Then I'll tell George that I have your leave. It isn't as if I were alittle girl, is it? I shall always wish to please you and mother."
My father muttered something which might have signified approval or thereverse; but when George came into the room and began, according to myfather's verdict, to hector me once again, he received a sudden andunlooked-for check.
I could not help feeling myself quite double, and even deceitful, when Idiscovered that I had so easily gained my point.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
METHOD IN THIS MADNESS.
I came down-stairs the next morning dressed in my best brown cashmere.I had a neat white frill round my throat, and my hair was dressed withattention. I looked smart for me, and I felt certain that George wouldnotice this fact, and begin to make himself disagreeable. The meal thatmorning was particularly appetising. I myself had seen to this. I hadsupplemented our inefficient maid-of-all-work's efforts. I had boiledthe porridge myself, and took care that it was thick, but not too thick,and that it was smooth in substance and admirably done. I had also madethe toast; and that delicate brown toast, crisp and thin, was certain tomeet with my somewhat fastidious father's approval. The coffee, too,was strong, and the milk which was to add to its flavour was thoroughlywell boiled. While my father drank his fragrant coffee, and munchedthat thin crisp toast, good humour sat upon his brow, his deep-set andsomewhat fierce eyes glanced at me complacently. He made a remark whichI was almost certain he would make--
"It is a good thing to have you back again, Rose. I do not need you totell me, but I am quite certain that we do not owe this breakfast toBridget."
"Yes," suddenly responded George; "it's always well to have a capablewoman in the house. You are staying at home of course to-day,Rosamund--the right place for you too. I am sure, sir, you must agreewith me," continued George, glancing at my father, "when I say thatyoung women have no business to spend their time gadding about."
"Much you know about young women," answered my father. He was about tocontinue, when I suddenly interrupted.
"And I am going to town this morning," I said, in my meekest voice, "andfather knows all about it, and he has given me leave."
"Tut! I am not so sure of that," said my father, with a frown.
"I hope, sir, you will once for all forbid Rose to spend her time inthis thoroughly unprofitable, not to say extravagant and impropermanner," said George, his face turning crimson.
"It is not your place to interfere," said my father.
"And if _you_ give me leave, I may go, may I not, father? You said lastnight I need not obey George."
"Most certainly you need not. George, stop that hectoring."
My father stamped his foot vehemently. George dropped his eyes on tohis plate, and I ate my breakfast feeling that my cause was won.
"Rose," said my mother, when the meal was over, calling me into thedrawing-room as she spoke, "are you really going back to London to-day?"
"I must, mother darling."
"My dear child, your present strange proceedings agitate me a gooddeal."
"Dearest mother! you shall know everything as soon as ever I can tellyou. Perhaps to-night you shall know all."
My mother sighed. "And where is the good of vexing George?" shecontinued.
"George shall not stand between us and--and happiness," I said withvehemence. "Mother, it is impossible for me to explain. I shall, Imust, I _will_ go to London to-day. Mother darling, you won't blame mewhen I tell you everything by and by."
"I never blame you, Rosamund," said my mother; "you are the greatcomfort of my life. Ho
w could I possibly find fault with you, my dear,dear daughter?"
She kissed me as she spoke.
I ran up-stairs for my hat and jacket, and as my father was putting onhis great-coat in the hall, I tripped up to him, equipped for my littleexpedition.
"So you are coming, Rosamund?" he said. "Yes, of course," I replied,"if only to show that George is not to lay down the law to you."
Oh! how double I felt as I said this. I hated myself. I blushed andfidgeted. It is a most uncomfortable sensation to fall a peg or two inyour own estimation. It ruffles the nerves in the most extraordinarymanner.
