"If she does,she shall hear my opinion of her in plain words."The talk between them turned next on Alban's discovery of the secret,of which Mrs.Ellmother had believed herself to be the sole depositary since Miss Letitia's death.Without alarming her by any needless allusion to Doctor Allday or to Miss Jethro,he answered her inquiries (so far as he was himself concerned)without reserve.Her curiosity once satisfied,she showed no disposition to pursue the topic.She pointed to Miss Ladd's cat,fast asleep by the side of an empty saucer.
"Is it a sin,Mr.Morris,to wish I was Tom?Hedoesn't trouble himself about his life that is past or his life that is to come.
If I could only empty my saucer and go to sleep,I shouldn't be thinking of the number of people in this world,like myself,who would be better out of it than in it.Miss Ladd has got me my liberty tomorrow;and I don't even know where to go,when I leave this place.""Suppose you follow Tom's example?"Alban suggested."Enjoy to-day (in that comfortable chair)and let to-morrow take care of itself."To-morrow arrived,and justified Alban's system of philosophy.
Emily answered Miss Ladd's letter,to excellent purpose,by telegraph.
"I leave London to-day with Cecilia"(the message announced)"for Monksmoor Park,Hants.Will Mrs.Ellmother take care of the cottage in my absence?I shall be away for a month,at least.All is prepared for her if she consents."Mrs.Ellmother gladly accepted this proposal.In the interval of Emily's absence,she could easily arrange to return to her own lodgings.With words of sincere gratitude she took leave of Miss Ladd;but no persuasion would induce her to say good-by to Francine."Do me one more kindness,ma'am;don't tell Miss de Sor when I go away."Ignorant of the provocation which had produced this unforgiving temper of mind,Miss Ladd gently remonstrated.
"Miss de Sor received my reproof in a penitent spirit;she expresses sincere sorrow for having thoughtlessly frightened you.
Both yesterday and to-day she has made kind inquiries after your health.Come!come!don't bear malice--wish her good-by."Mrs.
Ellmother's answer was characteristic."I'll say good-by by telegraph,when I get to London."Her last words were addressed to Alban."If you can find a way of doing it,sir,keep those two apart.""Do you mean Emily and Miss de Sor?
"Yes."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I don't know."
"Is that quite reasonable,Mrs.Ellmother?"
"I daresay not.I only know that I amafraid."The pony chaise took her away.Alban's class was not yet ready for him.He waited on the terrace.
Innocent alike of all knowledge of the serious reason for fear which did really exist,Mrs.Ellmother and Alban felt,nevertheless,the same vague distrust of an intimacy between the two girls.Idle,vain,malicious,false--to know that Francine's character presented these faults,without any discoverable merits to set against them,was surely enough to justify a gloomy view of the prospect,if she succeeded in winning the position of Emily's friend.Alban reasoned it out logically in this way--without satisfying himself,and without accounting for the remembrance that haunted him of Mrs.Ellmother's farewell look.
"A commonplace man would say we are both in a morbid state of mind,"he thought;"and sometimes commonplace men turn out to be right."He was too deeply preoccupied to notice that he had advanced perilously near Francine's window.She suddenly stepped out of her room,and spoke to him.
"Do you happen to know,Mr.Morris,why Mrs.Ellmother has gone away without bidding me good-by?""She was probably afraid,Miss de Sor,that you might make her the victim of another joke."Francine eyed him steadily."Have you any particular reason for speaking to me in that way?""I am not aware that I have answered you rudely--if that is what you mean.""That is notwhat I mean.You seem to have taken a dislike to me.I should be glad to know why.""I dislike cruelty--and you have behaved cruelly to Mrs.
Ellmother "
"Meaning to be cruel?"Francine inquired.
"You know as well as I do,Miss de Sor,that I can't answer that question."Francine looked at him again "Am I to understand that we are enemies?"she asked.
"You are to understand,"he replied,"that a person whom Miss Ladd employs to help her in teaching,cannot always presume to express his sentiments in speaking to the young ladies.""If that means anything,Mr.Morris,it means that we are enemies.""It means,Miss de Sor,that I am the drawing-master at this school,and that I am called to my class."Francine returned to her room,relieved of the only doubt that had troubled her.Plainly no suspicion that she had overheard what passed between Mrs.Ellmother and himself existed in Alban's mind.As to the use to be made of her discovery,she felt no difficulty in deciding to wait,and be guided by events.Her curiosity and her self-esteem had been alike gratified--she had got the better of Mrs.Ellmother at last,and with that triumph she was content.While Emily remained her friend,it would be an act of useless cruelty to disclose the terrible truth.There had certainly been a coolness between them at Brighton.But Francine--still influenced by the magnetic attraction which drew her to Emily--did not conceal from herself that she had offered the provocation,and had been therefore the person to blame."Ican set all that right,"she thought,"when we meet at Monksmoor Park."She opened her desk and wrote the shortest and sweetest of letters to Cecilia."I am entirely at the disposal of my charming friend,on any convenient day--may I add,my dear,the sooner the better?"