Miss Matilda, with rather a sad heart it must be confessed, was in the act of putting on her outdoor things when from the window of her room she saw a pair-horse brougham draw up at the garden-gate, from the box of which a powdered footman presently alighted, and after speaking to someone inside the carriage, opened the gate and entered the tiny demesne2. A few seconds later the cottage resounded3 with a rat-a-tat loud enough to have awakened4 the seven sleepers5. The door was opened by Tamsin, while Miss Matilda ceased her preparations pending6 the explanation of an incident so strange and unusual.
Presently Miss Jane in person burst into the room in what for her was a state of unwonted excitement.
"Lady Pell--here's her card--is desirous of an interview with one, or both of the Misses Thursby on a matter of business, and the footman is waiting at the door for an answer," she exclaimed in a breath. "I never heard her name before--did you, sister? and what can the business be she wants to see us about?"
"That is a question I am no more able to answer than you are," responded Miss Matilda, who was not so readily flustered7 as Miss Jane; "but a few minutes will doubtless serve to enlighten us. Will you send word by the man that both of us are at home and shall be pleased to see her ladyship. I will follow you downstairs in a couple of minutes."
When, three minutes later, Lady Pell entered the little sitting-room8 the sisters saw before them a woman considerably9 taller than either of themselves; thin, but not unusually so, and carrying herself with an uprightness that would have done credit to a grenadier. In age she might be anything between sixty and seventy. She had Roman features of a pronounced type which time had served to accentuate10, so that it was now difficult to realise that she had ever been accounted handsome. There had always been a certain masculine element about her, more seeming, perhaps, than real, which was not lessened11 by a faint suspicion of a moustache which, in certain lights, could be seen to shade her upper lip. She was richly but soberly dressed, as became a person who in her day had filled the distinguished12 position of London's Lady Mayoress.
"My card will have told you who I am," she began, addressing herself smilingly to Miss Matilda, who was wearing the heavy gold chain which marked her as occupying for the time the position of elder sister. "For the present I am staying with my friends at Foljambe Court, and my business here is to see you with reference to Vale View House, which is to let, and which, I am told, is your property. I was directed in the first instance to a house agent's in the town, but I prefer to deal with principals whenever I find it possible to do so."
All this was spoken rapidly in the clear staccato tones of one who was in the habit of making herself heard in whatsoever14 company she might be.
"Will you not be seated?" It was Miss Matilda's soft voice, in marked contrast to Lady Pell's, which preferred the request.
Lady Pell sat down on the nearest chair, while the sisters seated themselves side by side on the sofa opposite her.
"It's not for myself that I'm looking for a house," she resumed, "but for my stepdaughter, Mrs. Loftus, who has been ordered by her physician to exchange the air of London for seven or eight months of the year for that of the country. I had a glimpse of Vale View--there's not much of it can be seen from the road--when I was out driving the other day, and it seemed to me just the kind of place Amelia is in want of. By the way, I have not yet inquired as to the rent--a point," she smilingly added, "which is usually regarded as one of paramount15 importance."
"The rent is one hundred guineas a year," answered Miss Matilda.
"Hum. I fancy that is rather more than Amelia thought of giving. Still, I don't suppose a few guineas more or less would be allowed to stand in her way if the place suited her in other respects. I should like to go thoroughly16 over it, so as to be in a position to send her a full report. I presume there is no objection to my doing so."
"None whatever, Lady Pell. The keys shall be placed at your disposal whenever you please."
"There's no time like the time present. I've nothing to do this afternoon and I'll go at once. By-the-bye, is there anyone that knows the place who can go with me?"
The sisters looked at each other in perplexity.
On the spur of the moment they could not think of anyone. Why, oh why, had she not gone to the house agent and done her business through him!
Lady Pell was looking from one to the other with an amused smile. She had heard a good deal from one of her friends about the twins and their little peculiarities17. "Who is that very pretty girl I saw busy in the garden just now?" she asked.
"That is our niece," responded Miss Jane, speaking for the first time.
"Then perhaps she will condescend18 to act as my cicerone."
The faces of the sisters lighted up.
"You could not have a more efficient one," responded Miss Matilda.
"I have a weakness for young and pretty faces," resumed Lady Pell, "due perhaps to the fact that it is so long since I was young myself and that at no time was I ever otherwise than plain-looking."
Ethel was at once summoned, introduced to Lady Pell, and told what was required of her. In a very short time the two were being driven in the brougham in the direction of Vale View, calling on their way at the house agent's to obtain possession of the keys.
When they got back to Rose Mount, afternoon tea had just been brought in, whereupon Miss Matilda begged of her ladyship to join them, which she frankly19 did. But long before this she and Ethel had become on excellent terms with each other, for, unlike the sisters, who had been rather overawed by their visitor's authoritative20 manner and high-pitched voice, the girl had hardly been ten minutes in Lady Pell's company before, as by a sort of instinct, she seemed to divine the existence of the really fine qualities out of which her character was built up. Lady Pell recognised this and was proportionally gratified, and from that moment she laid herself out to draw Ethel to her by a bond which should prove a source of interest and pleasure to both.
By the time tea was over the sisters had discovered that their first and not altogether flattering estimate of Lady Pell was a quite erroneous one. They too felt drawn21 towards her although in a lesser22 degree, just as Ethel had been. Behind a magisterial23 and somewhat repellent exterior24, which to many people caused her to seem a somewhat formidable personage, lay a transparent25 sincerity26 of purpose and a hatred27 of pretence28 or cant29 of any kind, which had an attraction for, and gradually endeared her to, those of a like disposition30 to her own. Then too, she was a well-informed person, with singularly clear and observant faculties31, who, when she chose, could be very good company, and on the present occasion she did so choose. She had not failed to notice that the sisters had been repelled32, and perhaps somewhat cowed, by her slightly aggressive manner at their opening interview, and she now set herself to reverse the mental verdict which they had evidently passed upon her.
Most people of Lady Pell's position and standing33 in society would have seen in the sisters only a couple of impoverished34 old maids whose good opinion could be of no possible consequence to anybody. But her ladyship had a way of looking at people and things from other than a mere35 surface and conventional point of view. From the first the sisters attracted her, and she made up her mind then and there that she would see more of them. Speaking of them next day to her hostess at Foljambe Court she said: "They are a couple of gems--that is the only word I can think of which conveys my impression of them--and I shall feel proud to be reckoned among the number of their friends."
Lady Pell's first words to Miss Matilda after the return of herself and Ethel from their inspection36 of Vale View, were: "Well, Miss Thursby, your niece and I have done what I call a very fair afternoon's work, and if she is not tired, I must confess that I am. We have been into every nook and corner of the house--upstairs, downstairs, and in my lady's chamber37--and a pretty tramp we found it--that is to say, I did, for I am by no means so active as I once was. Then we extended our survey to the offices and outhouses, the coach-house and stable and, lastly, to the grounds. Now, as I am one of those people who dislike to lock up their opinions, especially when, as in the present instance, the opinion happens to be a favourable38 one, I will at once admit that I am greatly pleased with the house and its surroundings. It seems to me the very place to suit my stepdaughter. I will write her by to-night's post, asking her to run down and look over it for herself, so that you may shortly expect to see me here again."
This was good news for the sisters. The letting of Vale View meant a very desirable addition to their limited means.
Following upon this, as already recounted, came afternoon tea, over which her ladyship kept them all alive by her vivacious39 and somewhat quizzical account of her presentation at court, and of sundry40 other experiences during the term of her late husband's year of office as Lord Mayor.
Her last words to Ethel before going were: "Take notice, my dear, that I shall call for you at three o'clock to-morrow to take you for a drive. You are looking a little bit peaky, and a long country drive will do you good."
"What excellent company her ladyship is!" said Miss Matilda to her sister as they stood and watched the brougham drive away.
"I cannot remember when I laughed so much in so short a time as I have this afternoon."
"And she is so good-natured with it all. Besides, it is quite evident that she is as quick to see and quiz her own little peculiarities as she is those of others."
"I wonder whether she will quiz you and me to her friends, when she gets back to Foljambe Court."
"I think it very likely," responded Miss Matilda drily. "But that she will not do it ill-naturedly we may be sure."
It was the same evening. The sisters had retired41 each to her own chamber, and Miss Jane was in the act of arranging her hair for the night, when Miss Matilda, in dressing-gown and slippers42, appeared suddenly before her.
"Sister," she said, "what a pair of numskulls you and I must be to imagine that our only way of raising the sum of fifty pounds was by obtaining it on the loan of our jewellery and plate!"
"And what other way is there?" demanded Miss Jane with a stare. "A way that would have occurred to anyone but two ignorant women who know nothing about business affairs. We can, I feel sure, and that without the least difficulty, obtain an advance, not merely of fifty pounds, but of several times that amount, if required, on the security of the title-deeds of Vale View (our joint43 freehold property), which are at present in the custody44 of Mr. Linaway."
"Oh, Mattie, how clever of you to have thought of such a thing! And what a relief it will be not to have mamma's jewels go out of our own keeping even for a single day!"
Miss Matilda nodded assent45. "I don't mind confessing now," she said, "that last night I scarcely slept a wink46 for thinking of my coming interview with Mr. Daykin. That I shall sleep soundly to-night I do not doubt."
Lady Pell was as good as her word. She called next afternoon in an open carriage and carried off Ethel for a ten-miles drive. A couple of days later she was at Rose Mount again, this time accompanied by her stepdaughter, Mrs. Loftus. They had called for the keys of Vale View. On their return the sisters had the gratification of being told that Mrs. Loftus had agreed to take the house, and would enter upon its tenancy almost immediately.
If, after the conclusion of the business between them, the sisters imagined that, in all likelihood, they should see no more of Lady Pell, they were mistaken. As long as she should remain at Foljambe Court she evidently intended not to lose sight of them. Seldom did she let more than a couple of days go by without calling at Rose Mount, and at least twice a week she insisted on taking Ethel for an afternoon drive. They all grew to like her more than at one time they would have thought it possible that they should like anyone after so brief an acquaintance.
Meanwhile no further steps were taken in the matter of the loan. Thanks to Lady Pell, Ethel was already looking brighter and better, and when the former confided47 to the sisters that her visit would not terminate till the middle of September, Miss Matilda said to Miss Jane when they were alone: "We shall lose nothing by delaying our holiday till after Lady Pell's departure. A decided48 improvement is already discernible in the dear girl's health; besides which, all the seaside resorts will be much less crowded, and, consequently, far pleasanter during the latter half of September than they are now."
But all these dispositions49 came to naught50 one afternoon when Lady Pell's visit had still about a week to run. She was sitting with the sisters, Ethel being out of the room, when she startled them as they had rarely been startled by saying apropos51 to nothing that had gone before: "My dear friends, if I may be permitted to call you so, I want you to do me a very great favour, which is neither more nor less than to allow me to run off with your niece for a couple of months at the very least."
The sisters gazed at each other in consternation52. Neither of them spoke13: they could not.
"The fact is," resumed Lady Pell, "that my companion, Miss Beilby, whom you have heard me speak of as being away just now on account of her health, instead of recovering, as I had hoped she presently would do, has unfortunately taken a turn for the worse, and goodness only knows when she will be well enough to come back to me. While at Foljambe Court I don't much miss her, but as soon as I leave there I shall want someone to replace her for the time being. Now, that I have taken a great fancy to your niece you must by this time be well aware, and I think that if she were to come to me for a couple of months, or longer if you can spare her, the change could scarcely fail to prove beneficial to her, while, at the same time, you would be conferring on me a great personal favour. On leaving here I purpose going direct to a sunny chateau53 in France, the home of a very dear friend of mine, there to stay for some time. Is it asking too much that you should allow your niece to be my compagnon de voyage?"
As far as the reader is concerned, it will be enough to state that when, about a week later, Lady Pell left Foljambe Court and St. Oswyth's, she took Ethel with her.
Now, it may be here remarked, Lady Pell was first cousin to Sir Gilbert Clare.
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1
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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demesne
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| n.领域，私有土地 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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4
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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6
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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9
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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10
accentuate
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| v.着重，强调 | |
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lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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15
paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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magisterial
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| adj.威风的，有权威的；adv.威严地 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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32
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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35
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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38
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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vivacious
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| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
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40
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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41
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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42
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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43
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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44
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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45
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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46
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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47
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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48
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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49
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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50
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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51
apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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52
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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53
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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