by L. T. Meade
she said. "Do open it quickly.I am so anxious to know what is in it. Perhaps it is about Jack.Perhaps he is worse."
"You poor little thing," I replied. "Why did you not open the envelopeyourself, if you are so upset with nervous terrors? Now let me see whatthis precious yellow envelope contains."
"Well?" said Hetty.
I was reading the telegram to myself. My face showed heightened colourand annoyance.
"Well?" she said again. "_Do_ speak, please, Rose."
"It is nothing about Jack," I said then.
"Nothing at all?"
"Nothing at all; the telegram is from my home, but it is about--aboutanother matter."
This was the other matter--these were the contents of the telegram.
"Lady Ursula Redmayne and Captain Rupert Valentine have just been here,asking to see you. Will call at your lodgings in Putney, to-morrow,before eleven. Lady U. in great distress. Gave your address underpressure."
This long telegram from my mother showed most reckless extravagance. Icould imagine how Lady Ursula had worked upon her feelings.
"But I am not going to give you up, little ring," I said, kissing it.
CHAPTER TEN.
RELATIONS.
I parried Hetty's curious remarks with regard to the telegram, puttingher off at first with vague replies, then speaking decidedly.
"I have had a message from my mother, dear Hetty," I said; "nothing atall about Jack, nothing that will interest you."
"Oh, of course, Rosamund--" Hetty's pale face flushed vividly. She tookup some knitting she was trying to get through, a sock for Jack, ofcourse. I saw her poor little fingers trembling. She was the mostsensitive little creature. A touch, a word, sent her into herself. Shefelt so unsure of her position, so unsure of everything, except that shehad a great hungry wealth of love to give away to those who wouldreceive it of her.
As I saw her making these futile, pathetic little attempts to get onwith her knitting, I felt some of the experiences one might feel if onehad set one's foot on a little wild-flower and crushed it. I watchedher timid, downcast eyes for a moment, then I spoke.
"After all, Hetty," I said, "I should not be in the least surprised ifthe contents of my mother's telegram interested you amazingly. I don'tsee why you shouldn't know. It is a most exciting story. We'll havetea together, and then I'll tell it to you."
Hetty's little face came quickly out of the shadow in which it hadlooked so pathetic. She was all smiles and sunshine once more. Sheeven laughed with glee when I arranged our evening meal. Her impatienceto know the mystery was absolutely childish, but I was determined not tobe cross with her, nor to blame her in any way again.
After we had finished eating, I drew a chair up to her sofa, and beganmy story. I told everything from the beginning--I mean from the time ofmy visit to Cousin Geoffrey. Really, Hetty was a most delightfullistener; she was all sympathy, her interest was absorbing, sheinterrupted the narrative with no questions, but her beautiful eyesspoke volumes for her. They expressed wonder, sorrow, joy. I had quitea pleasant time as I told my little romance. I could not have desired aprettier sight than Hetty's eyes with the soul looking out of them asthey gazed at me.
What a benefit to the possessor those speaking eyes are! In some casesI could imagine them to be the best of all good fairies' gifts, for whatcan they not do? Wheedle, coax, command, subdue. Hetty was not aparticularly brilliant personage in any way. She was a very loving,dear, true little creature, but she was neither clever, nor particularlyheroic. Yet with her eyes she could command a kingdom. Now some peoplespeak of me as clever, and I know I have plenty of presence of mind, butI can do nothing at all with my eyes.
Well, Hetty heard the story, and then she examined the ring, and then wehad a long consultation over Lady Ursula's visit of the morrow.
"Won't you write and tell her not to come?" said Hetty.
"Oh dear, no," I said, "I am not afraid of Lady Ursula Redmayne,--shecan come if she wishes to."
Hetty sighed.
"You are courageous, Rose," she answered. The next morning my brother'swife took upon herself to show great anxiety with regard to my wardrobe.
"I want you to look beautiful," she said. "Don't you think you mightwear your hair not quite--not quite so flat on your forehead?"
I laughed.
"Oh, my dear," I answered, "you are not going to induce me to adopt afringe. That would be quite the last come-down to my pride. I have notgot wavy, fuzzy hair like you, Hetty, and I am not beautiful, so nothingcan make me look it."
"But your face is very beautiful to me," said Hetty, looking at me witha great glow of love beaming over hers. "It is full of strength, and Ithink you have such a sweet expression, Rose, and you look so dignified.Sometimes I think you are grand."
"Oh, hush, hush, you foolish child!" I said.
"Well, but do fasten that little pink bow at your throat, and do puff upyour hair a little, to show your nice forehead. Now isn't that a greatimprovement?"
She made me kneel by her while she tried to manipulate my heavy, thick,straight hair. My private opinion is that I never looked more uncouth,but Hetty was pleased, so where was the use of worrying her?
I heard a carriage stop in the street below, and flew to the window tolook out.
"They arrive," I said, "my foes arrive! Now I go forth to conquer!Farewell, Hetty."
"Oh, I shall be so excited to know what is going to happen!" calledHetty after me.
I blew a kiss to her and ran down-stairs. I had arranged with MrsAshton to give me the use of a private sitting-room for theall-important interview. It was a truly dingy apartment--a back parlourin every sense of that odious-sounding word. It was here I had for thefirst time the pleasure of seeing Lady Ursula Redmayne without anyrose-coloured glamour thrown over her. Unsupported by the backgroundwhich her luxurious boudoir in Grosvenor Street afforded, she lookedwhat she was, a most ordinary young woman.
Ordinary--yes,--I made up my mind on the spot that Lady Ursula was notat all good-looking. But she was something else. She appeared better,far better in my eyes. At that moment she looked what she was, anevery-day, happy, healthy English girl. Yes, a happy girl, and herhappiness took all her little affectations away.
"Oh, here you are, my benefactress?" she said, rushing up and kissingme. "May I introduce Captain Valentine? I don't think I did itproperly yesterday. Now, Rupert, let's sit one at each side of her, andtell her everything, and get her to tell us everything."
I was very much astonished, and I showed my astonishment in my face.
"Would you not rather speak to Miss Lindley alone, Ursula?" said CaptainValentine. "I can go out for a walk, or to--to buy something--I mightreturn in a quarter of an hour."
"No, Rupert, you will sit on that chair, just there, please, andlisten."
Captain Valentine sat down at the imperious bidding of Lady Ursula'svoice. I was sure he must have a sensitive nature, he got red so often.His whole face was scarlet now.
"Now I will begin," said Lady Ursula. She turned towards me. "Youknow, Rosamund, you treated me very badly yesterday--very badly, andvery shabbily, and very cruelly. Oh, my dear, I'm not going to reproachyou now--it all turned out for the best, as the good little books say.Listen, Rosamund, please, to my story. After you left us yesterday, Itold Rupert that I was distracted, that something had happened which Icould not possibly tell him, but that I must instantly go to mydressmaker, and that it would be best for me to go alone. `By nomeans,' answered Rupert, `I will accompany you.' `Oh, don't,' I said.`I am determined,' he replied. So the carriage was ordered, and wedrove to Madame Leroy's together. When I got there, I said, `I shall besome little time engaged.' `Very well,' Rupert answered, `I will waitfor you in the carriage.' `Oh, don't,' I said again. But he shook hishead.
"I saw Madame Leroy, and got your home address from her, Rosamund. Iwanted to follow you home, and I wanted Rupert not to come. He did notmind me; he would come. We took the tra
in, and reached your prettycottage in the country. We were shown into the drawing-room, andpresently your mother came into the room. The moment I saw her I burstout crying. Somehow her face made me feel that I was the most miserablegirl in the world, and that I was just about to lose everything, andthat Rupert never, never had been half so dear to me. Your motherbehaved perfectly to me; she took me out of the room, and said nice,kind, comforting sort of words, and soon I stopped crying, and told herthat I wanted to see you, and she gave me your present address, and saidshe would send you a telegram. She was very sorry for me, but shewasn't curious; she was too much of a lady to be curious, only she wasjust so sweet