by L. T. Meade
CHAPTER V.
AN INVITATION.
If any girl failed to enjoy herself on the following Saturday atDartford, she had certainly only herself to blame. As a matter of fact,the whole seven, without exception, had a right good time. Even Lucyforgot her jealousies, and even Rosamund forgot her anger. They were somuch interested in Mrs. Brett and her husband, in the things they did,and the things they could tell, and the things they could show, and thewhole manner of their lives, that they forgot themselves.
Now, to forget yourself is the very road to bliss. Many people take along time finding out that most simple secret. When they do find it outand act on it they invariably live a life of great happiness andequanimity, and are a great blessing to other people. Lucy and Rosamundwere far--very far--from such a desirable goal, but for a few hours theydid act upon this simple and noble idea of life, and in consequence werehappy.
But Saturday at the Bretts', with all its bliss, came to an end, and thegirls returned to beautiful Sunnyside and to the life of the new andrather strangely managed school.
Sunday was a long and dreary day, at least in Rosamund's eyes, and butfor an incident which occurred immediately after morning service, shescarcely knew how she could have got through it.
Mr. Merriman had a pew at one end of the church, which had belonged tohis people for generations, and which was not altered when the rest ofthe church was restored. It was large enough now to hold his wife andhimself and the seven girls; but the two teachers were accommodated inanother part of the church. Rosamund found herself during the serviceseated next to Mr. Merriman. It was the first time she had reallyclosely observed him, and she now noticed several peculiarities whichinterested her a good deal. He had a dignified and very noble presence.He was tall, with broad shoulders, had an aquiline nose, very piercingdark eyes, black hair, which he wore somewhat long, and an olive-tintedface.
Lucy did not in the least resemble her father, but took more after hermother, who was round and fat, and proportionately commonplace. Rosamundat first felt no degree of elation when her place was pointed out to hernext to the Professor. But suddenly encountering Lucy's angry eyes, shebegan to take a naughty comfort to herself in her unexpected proximity.She drew a little closer to him on purpose to annoy Lucy; and then, whenshe found that he was short-sighted and could not find his places, shefound them for him, thus adding to poor Lucy's torment; for this hadonce been Lucy's own seat, and she herself had seen to her father'scomforts. From attending on him, Rosamund began to watch him, and thenshe found a good deal of food for meditation. In short, it is to befeared that she did not follow the service as she ought to have done.For the matter of that, neither did Lucy.
The Rectory near Sunnyside was occupied by a clergyman who had severalyoung daughters. These girls were very prepossessing in appearance.Their father was a widower, their mother having died some years ago.There were six girls, and as they trooped up the aisle, two by two, theyattracted Rosamund's attention. They were dressed very simply indifferent shades of green. The two eldest had the darkest tone of color,both in their hats and their quiet little costumes. The two next hadone shade lighter and the two youngest one shade lighter again. Theylooked something like leaves as they went up the church, and they allhad one special characteristic--a great wealth of golden-brown hair,which hung far down their backs. The two eldest girls must have variedin age between fourteen and twelve, the two next between ten and eight,and the little ones between seven and five. They had quiet, neatly cutfeatures, and serene eyes. They walked up the church very sedately, andtook their places in the Rectory pew. Rosamund longed to ask a thousandquestions about them. They were so much more interesting than the girlswho were staying at Sunnyside; they were so fresh, and their dress soout of the common.
A somewhat prim and very neatly dressed governess followed the six girlsup the aisle and took her place at the end of the pew. But Rosamundcould still see from where she sat the heads with the six green hats andthe wealth of fair hair hanging below. She was full of interest, andaltogether her thoughts were occupied first by the Professor and thenwith her neighbors.
By-and-by the rustle of a very rich silk caused her to turn herattention again to the outside world, and she observed a lady of aboutforty-five years of age, richly dressed in deep mourning, with a gooddeal of crape and a widow's bonnet, walking up the church. This ladyentered a pew which she occupied all alone.
Then the choir, the rector, and the curate appeared, and the servicebegan. It began, went on, and finished. Just as it came to a conclusion,Mrs. Merriman, bending towards Rosamund, said, "We will wait, if youplease, until the rest of the congregation have dispersed. I am anxiousto see Mr. Singleton, to ask him a question."
Rosamund wondered who Mr. Singleton was. But she was only too anxiousto see her neighbors leaving the church, and was pleased at the idea ofwaiting.
The congregation filed down the centre aisle one by one, in orderlyfashion, and the six little girls in their green costumes and their fairhair disappeared from view. The elderly governess primly followed, andthen the lady in black silk also left her pew. But as she did so shepaused and said something to the verger, who was in the aisle. Rosamund,whose eyes were fixed on her, noticed that the verger pointed to the pewin which she herself was sitting, and a minute later the lady came tothe door of the pew and said something in a very low voice to Mrs.Merriman.
To Rosamund's amazement, Mrs. Merriman stretched out her hand across thepew and took one of hers.
"My dear, Lady Jane Ashleigh, an old friend of your mother's, wishes tosee you. Will you go very quietly out, talk to her for a minute or twooutside the church, and then wait for us in the porch?"
Rosamund obeyed, filled with the keenest interest. Lady Jane walked onin front, and Rosamund followed. They both entered the porch, whereuponthe widow turned, grasped one of Rosamund's hands, and said, "If it werenot church-time I should long to kiss you. I was a very, very greatfriend of your mother's. She wrote to me two days ago to say that youwere coming to live here. I intended to call yesterday, but wasprevented. I came to church to-day hoping to make your acquaintance.When will you come and see me? Can you come this afternoon?"
"Oh, indeed I can!" said Rosamund. "I remember mother quite well tellingme about you. Your name used to be Lady Jane Stanisford, was it not?"
"Quite right, my dear. Oh, what a look you have of your mother! You mustcome and spend the rest of the day with me. You can come now; you cancome in my carriage."
"Oh! I ought not to, for the others will be waiting for me."
"I will wait with you here. But no; I must hurry home at once. Then comethis afternoon, and bring any one of your school friends that you like.I shall be glad to see you and to talk over old times. Dear Mrs.Merriman, she is a great friend of mine. Give her my love, and a messagethat you are to come and have tea with me, and supper, too. I will sendyou back to Sunnyside in my carriage late this evening. Good-bye for thepresent, dear."
It was a very beaming face that greeted Lucy and the rest of the partywhen, accompanied by Mr. Singleton (the father of the fair-haired girls,and the rector of the parish), they all appeared in the church porch.Lucy went straight up to Rosamund.
"What in the world are you smiling at?" she said. "You look as thoughyou were thinking of something extremely funny; and it makes your facelook so strange, not at all like the face of a person who has just beenin church."
"Will you introduce me, Miss Lucy, to this young lady?" said Mr.Singleton's pleasant voice.
Lucy was obliged to comply. She muttered the introduction in a somewhatsurly tone; but Mr. Singleton was by no means proof against Rosamund'sbright and clever face, her smile, which was now quite charming, and heranimated manner.
"You must come and spend a day with my little girls--that is, when youcan obtain leave," he said.--"Ah, Mrs. Merriman! it will be very unlikeyou to be over strict with your young people. They must all come to theRectory. When is your next half-holiday?"
"You must ask M
iss Archer," said Mrs. Merriman.
Miss Archer replied that Wednesdays and Saturdays would behalf-holidays, and Mr. Singleton clinched the invitation by asking theparty to the Rectory for the following Wednesday.
On their way home Rosamund left Lucy's side, with whom she had beenwalking, and ran up to Mrs. Merriman.
"Lady Jane Ashleigh is a friend of mother's, and she has asked me to goto her after lunch to spend the rest of the day with her. May I go?"
"Not on Sundays, dear. We never allow our young people to pay visits onSundays," said the professor, just turning his head and glancing kindlyat Rosamund.
The smile vanished from her countenance. She colored high withannoyance.
"But I promised her I would go, and she is an old friend of mother's,and please may I go on this occasion?"
"I make a rule which cannot be broken, that no girls accept invitationsfor Sunday. That is the end of the matter."
He turned to speak to his wife, without giving Rosamund any furtherthought. He was feeling ill that day--worse than usual--and he did notnotice the consternation, rage, and also determination which filledRosamund's face. Lucy had not heard her words, but she exclaimed eagerlywhen the girl returned to her place among her school-fellows, "Well,what is it? What did Lady Jane say to you?"
"Oh, nothing--nothing particular."
"But you did seem so eager and pleased. You don't look at all pleasednow."
"She said nothing in particular, really. How nice that field looks, withall that grass growing up so green after the haymaking."
"Oh, don't talk platitudes," said Lucy. She watched Rosamund narrowly.
By-and-by they reached the house. Rosamund went straight up to her ownroom. There such a wave of passion, anger, and revolt swept over herthat she scarcely knew herself.
"I will go. I won't obey. Mother wrote to her about me. She is mother'sfriend. I will slip off and spend the day with her, and take theconsequences, whatever they may be. I cannot stand those girls, and sheis delightful! I win go to her, come what may."
Jane Denton did not understand Rosamund as she brushed her long hair andtidied herself for the early dinner.
