The Little School-Mothers
Page 33
conduct is disgraceful. Go away at once tothe nursery and get your frock changed; what a dreadful mess you arein!"
"Poor little one!" said Malcolm Durrant. "She but did what her sex didbefore her for the Saviour of all the world. Forgive her, madam."
He spoke in a very courteous tone, and, raising his hat, exhibited anoble brow and features which at once puzzled Miss Felicia and causedher heart to beat. "Won't you come indoors, sir?" she said.
"And don't `don't' him, please auntie!" said Violet.
But Miss Felicia, agitated, she knew not why, did not even hear her.She conducted the stranger into the little drawing-room.
"Sit down, sir," she said. "And now, may I ask your name. You have, ofcourse, come to see my brother-in-law on business. I can call him in amoment; but first, would you not like something to drink?"
"Very much, indeed," said the stranger. "The fact is, I was never insuch a thirsty place in the whole course of my life. A cup of tea or--or lemonade or--or--water--in fact, anything except spirits."
"Dear sir, I am glad you are a teetotaller."
"Dear madam, I drink wine in moderation; but that is neither here northere. I should not like it at the present moment. You want to know myname? Malcolm Durrant. Your niece--for surely you are Miss FeliciaJennings--is at present honouring me by residing under my roof."
"So you are the great traveller," said Miss Felicia. She felt herselfturning quite pale. "Sir," she said, in a low reverent tone, "I honouryou. It is a great, great privilege to have you under this roof. Iwill presently tell my brother-in-law and my sister of your arrival. Mypoor sister is a sad invalid; but to see you--I have not the slightestdoubt--she will make an effort to come downstairs."
"And I earnestly beg," said Durrant, "she will do nothing of the kind.My business can be confided to you, madam. You can acquaint your sisterand your brother-in-law with my desires, and they can either accept orrefuse. But first of all--your hospitality was very much to the fore,dear madam, a minute ago; and I am terribly thirsty."
Never did Miss Felicia Jennings in the whole course of her life feelhappier than now. She tripped eagerly from the room, knocking against achair as she did so. In a few minutes, she conveyed in her own fairhands a large glass of cool lemonade to her guest. He drank it off tothe last drop, put down the empty glass, and told Miss Felicia in themost courteous language that she was a good Samaritan.
"Ah! my dear sir," was her reply. "Who would not be a good Samaritan toyou?"
Durrant settled himself comfortably in his easy chair.
"You have a nice little place here," he said, "and a pretty out-look.How many sweet and peaceful homes there are in England!--and those twodear little maids to welcome me on the lawn. I only wish that theybelonged to my party of young people who are at present enjoying life atSunshine Lodge."
"They are too young to leave home at present," said Miss Felicia;"although I doubt not that being in your presence would do them a greatdeal of good. May I ask, my dear sir, how that precious little animal,Bo-peep, is progressing?"
"Bo-peep is, I believe, in admirable health, and so is Robina. You havenot asked yet after the welfare of your niece."
"Robina is a strong child: she never ails anything," replied MissFelicia.
"I am glad to be able to inform you that she remains in her normal,health," answered Durrant. "And now for the purpose of this visit. Ihave, as you know, a little son."
"I have heard of him; a child after your own heart--in fact, yourBenjamin."
"My little son; my only child," said Durrant. "He is young--not yetquite six years old. I do not care to send children of such a tenderage to school. I have many schemes for his future while I, alas! amforced to part from him, and my final desire is to leave him in hispresent home with a trustworthy lady whom I know, and who was my latedear wife's relation--and with one young girl to be his constantcompanion. The girl I particularly wish to be with Ralph during myabsence is, madam, your niece, Robina Starling."
"Indeed!" said Miss Felicia. It was on the tip of her tongue to say,`Don't,' but the word did not come.
"You look surprised," said the traveller.
"Well," said Miss Felicia, "I know you admire Robina, or you would nothave given her that pony in such an extraordinary and munificent way.But surely, she is a little--a little rough--if I may so express it."
"Hers is an upright character: she is upright, honest, truthful. My boycares for her, and she cares for him: he cannot be under betterinfluence. In short, if her father and mother consent, I want to makethem an offer with regard to their child, Robina."
"And what is that offer, Mr Durrant?"
"I want to take her from her present school, making arrangements withMrs Burton, so that Mr Starling may be put to no expense by hertransfer. I want to give her all the possible advantages of a goodeducation. These can partly be supplied by Mrs Temple, who is a verypolished and accomplished lady, and partly by masters and mistresses whovisit Eastbourne weekly from London. Eventually, if she so desires it,I would pay all her expenses at Girton or Newnham."
"It is a great chance for Robina: to be honest with you," continued MissFelicia, "we sent her from home because she was a little noisy, andupset her poor dear mother, who is a sad invalid; but she is a good girlon the whole."
"I find her an excellent girl: I like her very much."
"Well, sir," said Miss Felicia; "I thank you for what you have told me.I will now go and acquaint my brother-in-law with the fact that he isdeeply honoured by your visit to our humble roof."
"Don't put it in that way, I beg of you, madam. Try, please, andremember that when I am at home I may be just an ordinary individual,and in no sense wish to be lionised. You will oblige me by bearing thisfact in mind."
"I will endeavour to do so," said Miss Felicia. She left the room,nodding many times to herself.
"Now he is under our roof--I have looked at him: I have heard his voice.I wonder if he will write his name in my birthday book. I should soprize it. I have not had one real celebrity to write in my book yet.Malcolm Durrant! How that great name would stand out amongst theinferior signatures of the people in our small neighbourhood. Oh, whata chance for Robina! Of course she will go. And her expenses liftedfrom her father's head. He will grab at it. I can't imagine myselfwhat such a great man as Malcolm Durrant finds in the child. Still,these great people are very odd now and then in their preferences. Imust go to wake Edward. Dear, dear! what a lot of sleep that man doesrequire!"
She burst open the green-house door.
"Edward; how you are snoring! Do rouse yourself. Who _do_ you think isin the drawing-room?"
"Dear me, Felicia! How can I tell," replied Edward Starling, rubbinghis eyes and looking at his sister-in-law in a dazed way. "You knowperfectly well that I don't see visitors on Sunday. It is my one day ofrest after a week of toil."
"A week of toil, indeed! Why, you do nothing. But rouse yourself now,if you don't want your child to lose her golden chance in life. Thereis no less a person waiting for you in the drawing-room than the greattraveller, Malcolm Durrant!"
Now the fame of this very great person had penetrated even to EdwardStarling's ears, and he roused himself at the news, fixing his eyes insome amazement on his sister-in-law.
"You must be dreaming," he said. "It is quite impossible that Durrantshould come here."
"But he _has_ come here! It is about Robina; he wants to settle her inlife, to do everything for her. You had best go and clinch the bargain.What he sees in her is more than I can tell. If I had my way, andcould speak honestly to the poor dear man, I would say `Don't' fastenough. But there--these geniuses always take strange fancies--do letme pull your collar down, Edward, and smooth that long lock of yourfront hair. It looks so queer half hanging down your back. Now then,you look better. Go in: make yourself agreeable. I will follow in afew minutes just to see that you don't make a fool of yourself."
Book 2--CHAPTER NINE.
> A DISCOVERY.
Malcolm Durrant might be a great traveller, and doubtless was; but allthe same, Mr Starling felt annoyed at being disturbed in his Sundaynap. Great people did not raise enthusiasm within his breast: hebelieved in them, of course, and would have been quite interested tohear some of the said Malcolm Durrant's adventures, had that gentlemanbeen kind enough to tell them. But on a hot August afternoon, sleep wasmore refreshing than anything else, and he was not in the best ofhumours, when he entered the room where his guest was waiting for him.
Robina--Something was about to happen which would be to