Page images
PDF
EPUB

more. Violet was now nearly sixteen, and although too young for gay gatherings, Miss Mordaunt thought it right to seek for her some companions of her own age. In one family this seemed possible.

Mr. Norman, of Coates Park, a fine old place about four miles from Glenmore, was member for the borough. His family consisted of his wife, two daughters and a son, and his brother's widow-a lady whose only son had gone into the navy-lived with him. The eldest Miss Norman was a 'come out" young lady, but Ethel, the younger, was about Violet's own age; and Mrs. Norman, a kind but worldly woman, was much delighted at the prospect of a friendship being formed between the two. Her eldest son was about twenty-one, and reading for the bar.

Violet, whose heart was very constant, felt no inclination to supply Jessie's place; but at the same time it seemed natural to have companions; accordingly, Ethel Norman was pleasantly greeted when she arrived to spend the day.

Ethel was a tall, handsome girl, a showy sort of beauty that was fully developed in her elder

sister Ada, who, being generally dressed in the extreme of fashion, had hitherto caused the younger girl many pangs of envy, making her also feel much contempt for the schoolroom garments of holland or simple serge,-the garments which are so very becoming to pretty figures, if young ladies would only believe it. It was, therefore, with a feeling of pleasure that Ethel found the rich and envied young countess as simply attired as herself, and with much less thought about the matter.

When the first restraint of the acquaintance wore off, it was natural for Violet to speak to Ethel of her first girl-friend, and of the wonder and disappointment it had been to her that so strange an interruption should have occurred to a friendship which she had hoped would have been lasting.

"How very odd!" said Ethel, wondering greatly at the Jessie who could lose such an acquaintance without a struggle; for Ethel thought and spoke in the vein in which she heard her mother and sister discuss such matters. "Surely, if she knew your address all this time she might have written to you."

That is just what puzzles me," answered

Violet thoughtfully; "I sometimes wonder if she could have thought I cared less for her, for last letter to her she never received."

my

"I shouldn't think it was that," said Ethel with an incredulous smile; "but, you know, people are not all so constant as you are; perhaps, while you were away, your friend found some other companion."

"No; I am sure Jessie would not change!" exclaimed Violet, her colour rising. "You do not know her, or you would not say so."

66

"Then I won't say it again!" cried Ethel coaxingly. But, you see, I suppose I have heard a great deal more about the world and what's to be found in it than you have, and I can't believe in things and people as you do."

"I think that is a pity," responded Violet gravely; "I should have no pleasure in knowing people if I could not trust them."

Ethel regarded her for a few seconds as if she was something rare and curious; and then turned towards a window with a feeling of not being so satisfied with herself as usual, and saying to herself, "I wonder what mamma and Ada would say to that!"

[ocr errors]

CHAPTER XIV.

THERE was a mystery hanging over Miss Prissy's whereabouts in London. In the thankfulness he felt at seeing her fussy, energetic figure once more looking after things, Mr. Clayton had not troubled much for a few days; but on offering to escort her home, and being positively refused the privilege, he wonderingly asked her where she was living?

It was plain to Miss Prissy that something must be done to stop further mistakes.

"I'm with Aunt Gregory-there! I suppose you wouldn't walk home with me now?

Mr. Clayton was silent a moment, and then said in a low voice,

[ocr errors]

What brings her to London?"

"That I can't tell you, but her own will was at the bottom of it, as you will readily imagine, for she is as determined as ever."

"And as implacable, I suppose?"

Miss Prissy looked steadily at her brother for a second, and then observed,—

"There are more implacable people than Aunt Gregory in the world; have you softened towards her? Twenty-one years is a good long quarrel ! ”

[ocr errors]

Prissy!" and Mr. Clayton's face flushed, "when I married my Margaret, twenty-one years ago, and on that account-the sin of pleasing myself was told I need never see or speak to my aunt again, what would you have had me do?"

"Oh! I'm not your judge," replied Miss Prissy, rather nervously for her; "but I fancied I had heard of angry words being softened by time, and that it was easier-even a duty, for the younger to make an advance to reconciliation."

After a short silence, Mr. Clayton gave himself a certain pulling together which showed his resolution was taken, and must be announced.

"No; you mean well, Prissy, but it is impossible. Poor as I am, would she not be justified in saying I sought her for her money?" "I remember she gave you your education, paid your college bills, and in her own eccentric

L

1

« EelmineJätka »