第44章 DRIFTING INTO DANGER (6)

Holding her glasses before her eyes, she began to read, '"My wonted misfortunes appear to have followed me to Ashcombe" - um, um, um; that's not it - "Mr Preston is most kind in sending me fruit and flowers from the Manor-house, according to dear Lord Cumnor's kind injunctions." Oh, here it is! "The vacation begins on the 11th, according to the usual custom of schools in Ashcombe; and I must then try and obtain some change of air and scene, in order to fit myself for the resumption of my duties on the 10th of August."You see, girls, she would be at liberty, if she has not made any other arrangement for spending her holidays.To-day is the 15th.' 'I'll write to her at once, mamma,' Lady Harriet said.'Clare and I are always great friends; I was her confidant in her loves with poor Mr Kirkpatrick, and we've kept up our intimacy ever since.I know of three offers she had besides.' 'I sincerely hope Miss Bowes is not telling her love-affairs to Grace or Lily.Why, Harriet, you could not have been older than Grace when Clare was married!' said Lady Cuxhaven in maternal alarm.'No; but I was well versed in the tender passion, thanks to novels.Now I dare say you don't admit novels into your school-room, Mary; so your daughters wouldn't be able to administer discreet sympathy to their governess in case she was the heroine of a love-affair.' 'My dear Harriet, don't let me hear you talking of love in that way; it is not pretty.Love is a serious thing.' 'My dear mamma, your exhortations are just eighteen years too late.I've talked all the freshness off love, and that's the reason I'm tired of the subject.' This last speech referred to a recent refusal of lady Harriet's, which had displeased Lady Cumnor, and rather annoyed my lord; as they, the parents, could see no objection to the gentleman in question.Lady Cuxhaven did not want to have the subject brought up, so she hastened to say, - 'Do ask the poor little daughter to come with her mother to the Towers;why, she must be seventeen or more; she would really be a companion to you, mamma, if her mother was unable to come,' said Lady Cuxhaven.'I was not ten when Clare married, and I'm nearly nine-and-twenty,' added Lady Harriet.'Don't speak of it, Harriet; at any rate you are but eight-and-twenty now, and you look a great deal younger.There is no need to be always bringing up your age on every possible occasion.' 'There was need of it now, though.I wanted to make out how old Cynthia Kirkpatrick was.I think she can't be far from eighteen.' 'She is at school at Boulogne, I know; and so I don't think she can be as old as that.Clare says something about her in this letter: "Under these circumstances" (the ill-success of her school), "I cannot think myself justified in allowing myself the pleasure of having darling Cynthia at home for the holidays; especially as the period when the vacation in French schools commences differs from that common in England; and it might occasion some confusion in my arrangements if darling Cynthia were to come to Ashcombe, and occupy my time and thoughts so immediately before the commencement of my scholastic duties as the 8th of August, on which day her vacation begins, which is but two days before my holidays end." So, you see, Clare would be quite at liberty to come to me, and I dare say it would be a very nice change for her.' 'And Hollingford is busy seeing after his new laboratory at the Towers, and is constantly backwards and forwards.And Agnes wants to go there for change of air, as soon as she is strong enough after her confinement.And even my own dear insatiable "me" will have had enough of gaiety in two or three weeks, if this hot weather lasts.' 'I think I may be able to come down for a few days too, if you will let me, mamma; and I'll bring Grace, who is looking rather pale and weedy;growing too fast, I am afraid.So I hope you won't be dull.' 'My dear,' said Lady Cumnor, drawing herself up, 'I should be ashamed of feeling dull with my resources; my duties to others and to myself!' So the plan in its present shape was told to Lord Cumnor, who highly approved of it; as he always did of every project of his wife's.Lady Cumnor's character was perhaps a little too ponderous for him in reality, but he was always full of admiration for all her words and deeds, and used to boast of her wisdom, her benevolence, her power and dignity, in her absence, as if by this means he could buttress up his own more feeble nature.'Very good - very good, indeed! Clare to join you at the Towers! Capital!