I Say No

by Wilkie Collins

  CHAPTER XXXVI. CHANGE OF AIR.

  The inmates of Netherwoods rose early, and went to bed early. When Albanand Mrs. Ellmother arrived at the back door of the house, they found itlocked.

  The only light visible, along the whole length of the building,glimmered through the Venetian blind of the window-entrance toFrancine's sitting-room. Alban proposed to get admission to the house bythat way. In her horror of again encountering Francine, Mrs. Ellmotherpositively refused to follow him when he turned away from the door."They can't be all asleep yet," she said--and rang the bell.

  One person was still out of bed--and that person was the mistress ofthe house. They recognized her voice in the customary question: "Who'sthere?" The door having been opened, good Miss Ladd looked backward andforward between Alban and Mrs. Ellmother, with the bewildered air ofa lady who doubted the evidence of her own eyes. The next moment, hersense of humor overpowered her. She burst out laughing.

  "Close the door, Mr. Morris," she said, "and be so good as to tell mewhat this means. Have you been giving a lesson in drawing by starlight?"

  Mrs. Ellmother moved, so that the light of the lamp in Miss Ladd's handfell on her face. "I am faint and giddy," she said; "let me go to mybed."

  Miss Ladd instantly followed her. "Pray forgive me! I didn't see youwere ill, when I spoke," she gently explained. "What can I do for you?"

  "Thank you kindly, ma'am. I want nothing but peace and quiet. I wish yougood-night."

  Alban followed Miss Ladd to her study, on the front side of thehouse. He had just mentioned the circumstances under which he and Mrs.Ellmother had met, when they were interrupted by a tap at the door.Francine had got back to her room unperceived, by way of the Frenchwindow. She now presented herself, with an elaborate apology, and withthe nearest approach to a penitent expression of which her face wascapable.

  "I am ashamed, Miss Ladd, to intrude on you at this time of night. Myonly excuse is, that I am anxious about Mrs. Ellmother. I heard you justnow in the hall. If she is really ill, I am the unfortunate cause ofit."

  "In what way, Miss de Sor?"

  "I am sorry to say I frightened her--while we were talking in myroom--quite unintentionally. She rushed to the door and ran out. Isupposed she had gone to her bedroom; I had no idea she was in thegrounds."

  In this false statement there was mingled a grain of truth. It wastrue that Francine believed Mrs. Ellmother to have taken refuge in herroom--for she had examined the room. Finding it empty, and failingto discover the fugitive in other parts of the house, she had becomealarmed, and had tried the grounds next--with the formidable resultwhich has been already related. Concealing this circumstance, she hadlied in such a skillfully artless manner that Alban (having no suspicionof what had really happened to sharpen his wits) was as completelydeceived as Miss Ladd. Proceeding to further explanation--andremembering that she was in Alban's presence--Francine was careful tokeep herself within the strict limit of truth. Confessing that she hadfrightened her servant by a description of sorcery, as it was practicedamong the slaves on her father's estate, she only lied again, indeclaring that Mrs. Ellmother had supposed she was in earnest, when shewas guilty of no more serious offense than playing a practical joke.

  In this case, Alban was necessarily in a position to detect thefalsehood. But it was so evidently in Francine's interests to presenther conduct in the most favorable light, that the discovery failed toexcite his suspicion. He waited in silence, while Miss Ladd administereda severe reproof. Francine having left the room, as penitently as shehad entered it (with her handkerchief over her tearless eyes), he wasat liberty, with certain reserves, to return to what had passed betweenMrs. Ellmother and himself.

  "The fright which the poor old woman has suffered," he said, "has ledto one good result. I have found her ready at last to acknowledge thatshe is ill, and inclined to believe that the change to Netherwoods hashad something to do with it. I have advised her to take the course whichyou suggested, by leaving this house. Is it possible to dispense withthe usual delay, when she gives notice to leave Miss de Sor's service?"

  "She need feel no anxiety, poor soul, on that account," Miss Laddreplied. "In any case, I had arranged that a week's notice on eitherside should be enough. As it is, I will speak to Francine myself. Theleast she can do, to express her regret, is to place no difficulties inMrs. Ellmother's way."

  The next day was Sunday.

  Miss Ladd broke through her rule of attending to secular affairs onweek days only; and, after consulting with Mrs. Ellmother, arrangedwith Francine that her servant should be at liberty to leave Netherwoods(health permitting) on the next day. But one difficulty remained. Mrs.Ellmother was in no condition to take the long journey to her birthplacein Cumberland; and her own lodgings in London had been let.

  Under these circumstances, what was the best arrangement that could bemade for her? Miss Ladd wisely and kindly wrote to Emily on the subject,and asked for a speedy reply.

  Later in the day, Alban was sent for to see Mrs. Ellmother. He foundher anxiously waiting to hear what had passed, on the previous night,between Miss Ladd and himself. "Were you careful, sir, to say nothingabout Miss Emily?"

  "I was especially careful; I never alluded to her in any way."

  "Has Miss de Sor spoken to you?"

  "I have not given her the opportunity."

  "She's an obstinate one--she might try."

  "If she does, she shall hear my opinion of her in plain words." The talkbetween them turned next on Alban's discovery of the secret, of whichMrs. Ellmother had believed herself to be the sole depositary since MissLetitia's death. Without alarming her by any needless allusion to DoctorAllday or to Miss Jethro, he answered her inquiries (so far as he washimself concerned) without reserve. Her curiosity once satisfied, sheshowed no disposition to pursue the topic. She pointed to Miss Ladd'scat, fast asleep by the side of an empty saucer.

  "Is it a sin, Mr. Morris, to wish I was Tom? _He_ doesn't troublehimself about his life that is past or his life that is to come. If Icould only empty my saucer and go to sleep, I shouldn't be thinking ofthe number of people in this world, like myself, who would be better outof it than in it. Miss Ladd has got me my liberty tomorrow; and I don'teven know where to go, when I leave this place."

  "Suppose you follow Tom's example?" Alban suggested. "Enjoy to-day (inthat comfortable chair) and let to-morrow take care of itself."

  To-morrow arrived, and justified Alban's system of philosophy. Emilyanswered Miss Ladd's letter, to excellent purpose, by telegraph.

  "I leave London to-day with Cecilia" (the message announced) "forMonksmoor Park, Hants. Will Mrs. Ellmother take care of the cottage inmy absence? I shall be away for a month, at least. All is prepared forher if she consents."

  Mrs. Ellmother gladly accepted this proposal. In the interval of Emily'sabsence, she could easily arrange to return to her own lodgings.With words of sincere gratitude she took leave of Miss Ladd; but nopersuasion would induce her to say good-by to Francine. "Do me one morekindness, ma'am; don't tell Miss de Sor when I go away." Ignorant ofthe provocation which had produced this unforgiving temper of mind, MissLadd gently remonstrated. "Miss de Sor received my reproof in a penitentspirit; she expresses sincere sorrow for having thoughtlessly frightenedyou. Both yesterday and to-day she has made kind inquiries afteryour health. Come! come! don't bear malice--wish her good-by." Mrs.Ellmother's answer was characteristic. "I'll say good-by by telegraph,when I get to London."

  Her last words were addressed to Alban. "If you can find a way of doingit, sir, keep those two apart."

  "Do you mean Emily and Miss de Sor?

  "Yes."

  "What are you afraid of?"

  "I don't know."

  "Is that quite reasonable, Mrs. Ellmother?"

  "I daresay not. I only know that I _am_ afraid."

  The pony chaise took her away. Alban's class was not yet ready for him.He waited on the terrace.

  Innocent alike of all knowledge of the serious reason for fear
whichdid really exist, Mrs. Ellmother and Alban felt, nevertheless, thesame vague distrust of an intimacy between the two girls. Idle, vain,malicious, false--to know that Francine's character presented thesefaults, without any discoverable merits to set against them, was surelyenough to justify a gloomy view of the prospect, if she succeeded inwinning the position of Emily's friend. Alban reasoned it out logicallyin this way--without satisfying himself, and without accounting forthe remembrance that haunted him of Mrs. Ellmother's farewell look. "Acommonplace man would say we are both in a morbid state of mind," hethought; "and sometimes commonplace men turn out to be right."

  He was too deeply preoccupied to notice that he had advanced perilouslynear Francine's window. She suddenly stepped out of her room, and spoketo him.

  "Do you happen to know, Mr. Morris, why Mrs. Ellmother has gone awaywithout bidding me good-by?"

  "She was probably afraid, Miss de Sor, that you might make her thevictim of another joke."

  Francine eyed him steadily. "Have you any particular reason for speakingto me in that way?"

  "I am not aware that I have answered you rudely--if that is what youmean."

  "That is _not_ what I mean. You seem to have taken a dislike to me. Ishould be glad to know why."

  "I dislike cruelty--and you have behaved cruelly to Mrs. Ellmother."

  "Meaning to be cruel?" Francine inquired.

  "You know as well as I do, Miss de Sor, that I can't answer thatquestion."

  Francine looked at him again "Am I to understand that we are enemies?"she asked.

  "You are to understand," he replied, "that a person whom Miss Laddemploys to help her in teaching, cannot always presume to express hissentiments in speaking to the young ladies."

  "If that means anything, Mr. Morris, it means that we are enemies."

  "It means, Miss de Sor, that I am the drawing-master at this school, andthat I am called to my class."

  Francine returned to her room, relieved of the only doubt that hadtroubled her. Plainly no suspicion that she had overheard what passedbetween Mrs. Ellmother and himself existed in Alban's mind. As to theuse to be made of her discovery, she felt no difficulty in deciding towait, and be guided by events. Her curiosity and her self-esteem hadbeen alike gratified--she had got the better of Mrs. Ellmother at last,and with that triumph she was content. While Emily remained her friend,it would be an act of useless cruelty to disclose the terrible truth.There had certainly been a coolness between them at Brighton. ButFrancine--still influenced by the magnetic attraction which drew herto Emily--did not conceal from herself that she had offered theprovocation, and had been therefore the person to blame. "I can set allthat right," she thought, "when we meet at Monksmoor Park." She openedher desk and wrote the shortest and sweetest of letters to Cecilia. "Iam entirely at the disposal of my charming friend, on any convenientday--may I add, my dear, the sooner the better?"