The inmates of Netherwoods rose early,and went to bed early.
When Alban and Mrs.Ellmother arrived at the back door of the house,they found it locked.
The only light visible,along the whole length of the building,glimmered through the Venetian blind of the window-entrance to Francine's sitting-room.Alban proposed to get admission to the house by that way.In her horror of again encountering Francine,Mrs.Ellmother positively refused to follow him when he turned away from the door."They can't be all asleep yet,"she said--and rang the bell.
One person was still out of bed--and that person was the mistress of the house.They recognized her voice in the customary question:"Who's there?"The door having been opened,good Miss Ladd looked backward and forward between Alban and Mrs.
Ellmother,with the bewildered air of a lady who doubted the evidence of her own eyes.The next moment,her sense of humor overpowered her.She burst out laughing.
"Close the door,Mr.Morris,"she said,"and be so good as to tell me what this means.Have you been giving a lesson in drawing by starlight?"Mrs.Ellmother moved,so that the light of the lamp in Miss Ladd's hand fell on her face."I am faint and giddy,"she said;"let me go to my bed."
Miss Ladd instantly followed her."Pray forgive me!I didn't see you were ill,when I spoke,"she gently explained."What can I do for you?""Thank you kindly,ma'am.I want nothing but peace and quiet.Iwish you good-night."
Alban followed Miss Ladd to her study,on the front side of the house.He had just mentioned the circumstances under which he and Mrs.Ellmother had met,when they were interrupted by a tap at the door.Francine had got back to her room unperceived,by way of the French window.She now presented herself,with an elaborate apology,and with the nearest approach to a penitent expression of which her face was capable.
"I am ashamed,Miss Ladd,to intrude on you at this time of night.My only excuse is,that I am anxious about Mrs.Ellmother.
I heard you just now in the hall.If she is really ill,I am the unfortunate cause of it.""In what way,Miss de Sor?"
"I am sorry to say I frightened her--while we were talking in my room--quite unintentionally.She rushed to the door and ran out.
I supposed she had gone to her bedroom;I had no idea she was in the grounds."In this false statement there was mingled a grain of truth.It was true that Francine believed Mrs.Ellmother to have taken refuge in her room--for she had examined the room.Finding it empty,and failing to discover the fugitive in other parts of the house,she had become alarmed,and had tried the grounds next--with the formidable result which has been already related.
Concealing this circumstance,she had lied in such a skillfully artless manner that Alban (having no suspicion of what had really happened to sharpen his wits)was as completely deceived as Miss Ladd.Proceeding to further explanation--and remembering that she was in Alban's presence--Francine was careful to keep herself within the strict limit of truth.Confessing that she had frightened her servant by a deion of sorcery,as it was practiced among the slaves on her father's estate,she only lied again,in declaring that Mrs.Ellmother had supposed she was in earnest,when she was guilty of no more serious offense than playing a practical joke.
In this case,Alban was necessarily in a position to detect the falsehood.But it was so evidently in Francine's interests to present her conduct in the most favorable light,that the discovery failed to excite his suspicion.He waited in silence,while Miss Ladd administered a severe reproof.Francine having left the room,as penitently as she had entered it (with her handkerchief over her tearless eyes),he was at liberty,with certain reserves,to return to what had passed between Mrs.
Ellmother and himself.
"The fright which the poor old woman has suffered,"he said,"has led to one good result.I have found her ready at last to acknowledge that she is ill,and inclined to believe that the change to Netherwoods has had something to do with it.I have advised her to take the course which you suggested,by leaving this house.Is it possible to dispense with the usual delay,when she gives notice to leave Miss de Sor's service?""She need feel no anxiety,poor soul,on that account,"Miss Ladd replied."In any case,I had arranged that a week's notice on either side should be enough.As it is,I will speak to Francine myself.The least she can do,to express her regret,is to place no difficulties in Mrs.Ellmother's way."The next day was Sunday.
Miss Ladd broke through her rule of attending to secular affairs on week days only;and,after consulting with Mrs.Ellmother,arranged with Francine that her servant should be at liberty to leave Netherwoods (health permitting)on the next day.But one difficulty remained.Mrs.Ellmother was in no condition to take the long journey to her birthplace in Cumberland;and her own lodgings in London had been let.
Under these circumstances,what was the best arrangement that could be made for her?Miss Ladd wisely and kindly wrote to Emily on the subject,and asked for a speedy reply.
Later in the day,Alban was sent for to see Mrs.Ellmother.He found her anxiously waiting to hear what had passed,on the previous night,between Miss Ladd and himself."Were you careful,sir,to say nothing about Miss Emily?""I was especially careful;I never alluded to her in any way.""Has Miss de Sor spoken to you?"
"I have not given her the opportunity."
"She's an obstinate one--she might try."