lessons. She has got someabsurd notion in her head that Ermie and I are wanting to keep herdown."
"She has been spoilt," said the old lady decidedly. "But I am sure shehas a good heart. It is to be hoped," she added, "that Philip and shewon't see much of each other while she has these ideas about you andErmine. He would be so angry that he would take a prejudice to her, andI should regret that."
"So should I," said Madelene. "Perhaps," she went on, after a littlepause, "it will be as well if we just go on quietly by ourselves for alittle. There are no gaieties in prospect at present, so the questionof Ella's `grown-up-ness' need not be discussed, and if she is sensibleand pleases papa about these lessons, he may perhaps relax a littleafter a while. I am not even altogether sorry," she added, "much as weshall miss him, that Philip is to be away. In Ella's present mood itwould have been--a little difficult."
"He will be leaving very soon," said Lady Cheynes, "but I must have himhome by Christmas. You will let the child come over to me now and then,won't you? I will undertake to do no harm, and I may be able to helpyou."
"Of course," said Madelene heartily, "and if she shows her best side toyou as I think she will, you will find her very charming. I think--Ifancy she has a much more cordial feeling to you, aunt, than to us," andMiss St Quentin could not help sighing a little.
"All the better--in one sense, that is to say," replied the old ladybriskly. "If she were prejudiced against me too, it would be a badlook-out I can influence her far more if she fancies me impartial."
"Or partial--to her," suggested Madelene smiling.
"What does Mrs Robertson say to this escapade of Ella's? You haveheard from her?" asked Lady Cheynes.
"Yes, there is a letter to papa this morning. She is very distressedabout it of course, but her principal anxiety seems to be to exonerateElla. She is dreadfully afraid, evidently, of its vexing papa with her,just at the first."
"Just what it has done," said Lady Cheynes; and then they went on totalk of other matters.
At luncheon Ella maintained the same quiet demure tone which amused evenwhile it irritated Madelene. And though Lady Cheynes appeared to takeit quite naturally, and even now and then rather acted the part ofdrawing out the timid little stranger, the twinkle in her bright oldeyes from time to time convinced Miss St Quentin that Ella's godmotherknew what she was about.
"And perhaps of us all," thought Madelene, "she gauges Ella's characterthe most correctly."
The thought in itself was a relief. Madelene no longer felt soperplexed and dispirited. She even could afford to smile, inwardly, atthe sight of Ella's preternaturally resigned expression and meek tone ofvoice when Ermine told her, rather sharply perhaps, to get ready fortheir drive, the pony-carriage being already at the door.
"I beg your pardon," Ella replied. "I did not know, at least notclearly, that you were going to be so kind as to take me a drive."
"I shall shake her well before long," said Ermine, as she stood in thehall with her aunt and sister, waiting for the little delinquent. "Ican stand her temper and impertinence," laughing as she used the word."It's so absurd and comical. But I can't stand her suffering-saint-ism.I really can't."
"For my part I should think it's the more amusing of the two," said LadyCheynes, "but then to be sure I have not yet been favoured with a sightof the little volcano's explosions. When I have done so I'll give youmy opinion."
At that moment Ella made her appearance. She was dressed as on herarrival the day before, and as she bade the girl good-bye, kissing heras she did so, her godmother "took her in" from head to foot.
"I think I have scarcely perhaps estimated the difficulties seriouslyenough," said Lady Cheynes, when she and Madelene were installed in hercarriage. "There is any amount of determination, not to say obstinacy,about that small personage. And she has certainly been spoilt. I seeit more clearly. The style of her dress is far too old, even though onecannot call it showy, but it is a degree too _soigne_, I hardly know howto express it, for a girl of seventeen. I like neatness of course, butthat is quite a different thing."
"I fancy Ella has been allowed to give a great deal of time and thoughtto her appearance," said Madelene. "But after all, there must come astage of that kind, I suppose, in every girl's life."
"Perhaps," said her aunt. "But for my part I prefer it later. I dolove a good honest tom-boy girl of fifteen or so."
"But Ella is seventeen past," said Madelene; "that makes all thedifference."
"Umph," grunted the old lady. "I am quite sure she never was a tom-boy.Just think of Ermine at seventeen."
And Madelene could not help smiling.
"Yes," she agreed. "Ermine was very different, certainly. I rememberhow she cried at having her skirts lengthened, and tried privately toshorten them again. Still we must remember that Ella's life has beenquite different."
"You must make her dress more simply," said Lady Cheynes. "Thosetight-fitting garments without a crease or wrinkle, and perfect gloves,and pointed boots may be all very well in town, though for my part Idon't like _that_ sort of particularity carried too far; it takes offthe thoroughbred look. But in the country it is absurd. Get her abrown holland frock or two, or a homespun with a nice little Norfolkjacket and a belt, and see that the skirts are shorter and that she hassensible boots." Then an amused look stole over the old lady's face.
"What is it, Aunt Anna?" asked Madelene, without, it must be confessed,much amusement in her tone. Indeed she was looking and feelingdecidedly lugubrious, the prospect of such a transformation of Ella'swardrobe was appalling!
"I was only thinking what fun Philip would make of her if he saw hersetting off for a country ramble like a little figure out of the _Revuede la Mode_. That hat of hers, and the little veil, fastened just atthe proper height, or depth, and the parasol, held so daintily, and--"
"Oh, please stop, aunt," said Madelene. "I don't want Philip to makefun of her, I'm sure, but how to transform her, as you calmly propose,_I_ don't see." And poor Miss St Quentin really looked as if she wereready to cry.
Lady Cheynes began to laugh, and her laugh gathered strength and soonbecame a hearty one.
"My dear Maddie," she said, "you have met your match. You, who arenever put out or disturbed in your regal calm by anything or anybody!It is very wicked of me, but I can't help laughing."
Madelene herself by this time could not help joining in it. They wereboth still somewhat hilarious therefore when, at the lodge gates ofCheynesacre they came upon Sir Philip. He threw away his cigar and gotinto the carriage beside them.
"My dear friends," he began. "My very much respected grandmamma, myadmired cousin--I am enchanted, but at the same time, slightly, veryslightly, surprised to see you indulging in such mirth. May I--dare Iventure to inquire its cause?"
Madelene only laughed the more, especially when Lady Cheynes turned uponPhilip. "Don't be so silly, Philip," she said sharply; "why can't yousay plainly, `what are you laughing at'? Not that I am going to tellyou, for I am not."
Philip turned his eyes plaintively on his cousin.
"Nor you? Is it useless to appeal to you?"
"Quite," Madelene replied. "It is a private joke of auntie's and mine.I have come round this way on purpose to see you, Philip, as you wouldnot have found any of us at home to-day. I suppose it will be to saygood-bye, as you are leaving so soon, I hear."
"I am leaving very soon, certainly," he replied. "The day afterto-morrow, probably. But I quite intend to come over to Coombesthorpefirst. I want to say good-bye to Uncle Marcus and Ermine too."
"They are coming here to luncheon to-morrow," said his grandmotherpromptly.
"Oh, indeed," said Sir Philip. "Well then if Maddie will invite me Iwill drive back with them to afternoon tea."
"I shall not be at home," said Madelene.
"Maddie," said Philip reproachfully, "it is mean, it is unkind of you toforce me to avow my real motive. The fact is--I am dying to see thethird Miss St Quentin. Why is
she not with you to-day? You might havesome regard for my feelings."
"She has gone to Waire with Ermine," said Lady Cheynes. "Madelene isarranging about her having lessons from the same masters as the littleHewitts at the rectory. And," she went on, "they are nicely brought-upgirls--they will be pleasant companions for Ella."
"Those gawky Hewitt children!" said Philip, with a complete change oftone.
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