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The Time of Roses, a fiction by L. T. Meade |
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Chapter 26. At Aylmer's Court |
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_ CHAPTER XXVI. AT AYLMER'S COURT Aylmer's Court was in the full perfection of its autumn beauty when Sir John Wallis, accompanied by Kitty Sharston and her father, drove up the winding avenue as Mrs. Aylmer's guests. A private omnibus from Aylmer's Court was sent to the railway station to meet them, and their luggage was now piled up high on the roof. Sir John Wallis did not look a day older than when we last saw him in all the glories of his own house, surrounded by the girls whom he had made happy. Kitty was seated beside her father and opposite to her old friend. She looked sweet and bright, with that gentle, high-bred, intelligent expression which she always wore. Kitty's heart was no longer empty or sad. Her beloved father had come back to live with her, she hoped, as long as life lasted. Her old friend, Sir John Wallis, had only recently declared her his heiress; and, although Kitty would never leave her father for anything that mere money could offer, she was glad to feel that he was no longer anxious about her future. As to Kitty, herself, however rich she might be, she would always be simple-hearted and think of wealth in the right spirit; for what it could do to promote the happiness of others, and not merely as a means of increasing her own splendour or silly pleasures. "You have two fathers, you know, Kitty," said Sir John, as they drove up the avenue. "You are bound to be a very circumspect young lady, as you are under such strict surveillance." "You need not suppose for a single moment that I am the least afraid of either of you," was her answer, and she gave her head a little toss which was not in the least saucy, but was very pretty to see. Colonel Sharston smiled and turned to his friend. "How is it that we have accepted this invitation?" he said. "I do not know Mrs. Aylmer. What sort of woman is she?" "Oh, a very estimable person. I have known her for many years. I felt that we could not do less than give her a few days of our company, and Aylmer's Court is a beautiful place." So it truly was--the park undulating away to the edge of the landscape, and acres and acres of forest-land being visible in every direction. There was a lake a little way to the left of the house, on which a small pleasure-boat was now being rowed. In that boat sat a girl dressed in dark blue, with a sailor hat on her head. Kitty bent forward; then she glanced at Sir John Wallis and suddenly squeezed his hand. "Do you know who is rowing on the lake?" she said. "Who, my dear? Why, Kitty, you have turned quite white." "I met her before, but, do you know, I had absolutely forgotten it. She is Mrs. Aylmer's companion, and I believe her right hand." "But who is she, dear? What is the matter? You look quite ill." "Don't you remember Bertha Keys?" "Miss Keys; why, that was the girl who behaved so badly at the time when I offered my scholarship, was it not?" "The very same girl," said Kitty. "And what do you want me to do regarding her, Kitty?" "I do not know. I don't want to do her any injury. Don't be surprised when you meet her, that is all, and--" "Kitty, your heart is a great deal too tender. You ought not to belong to this evil world at all," said Sir John, while her father looked at Kitty and asked for an explanation. "Another time, father. All Sir John has to do is to treat Miss Keys as if he had never met her before." "Well, I daresay I can manage more than that for your sake, Kitty; and now, here we are at the house." Mrs. Aylmer and her adopted son, Maurice Trevor, were standing on the steps to meet their guests. The moment she saw Trevor, Kitty smiled and took an eager step forward to meet him. He held out his hand. "This is a real pleasure," she said. "I had forgotten all about your being here. Do you remember Dawlish?" "Of course I do," he answered. "I do not easily forget pleasant occasions." Mrs. Aylmer now turned to Kitty, took her hand in hers, and, turning her gently round, looked into her face. It was a good face, eyes of the sweetest grey, delicate colouring, an intelligent forehead, lips true and pure and honest. Mrs. Aylmer scarcely knew why she sighed, and why a wish rose up in her heart that she had never felt before: that Maurice, the boy she truly loved, should really like and marry this girl. Just for the moment she forgot all about Kitty's future circumstances; she welcomed her for herself. "Would you like to go for a walk before dinner?" said Trevor. "Miss Keys is rowing on the lake; we will go to meet her." "I should be delighted. May I go, father?" said Kitty. "Certainly, my love." "Then will you two gentlemen come into the house?" said Mrs. Aylmer. She nodded to Trevor, who walked off immediately with Kitty. As soon as they got out of ear-shot, Kitty faced her companion. "I never knew that I should meet you here. I am so glad. I heard from Florence a few days ago; she said you were so good and kind to her when you were in London. I must thank you now in her name." "I should like to be kind to her, but in reality I was able to do only very little for her," said Trevor. "Does she write often to you? How is she getting on?" "She seems to me to be getting on in the most wonderful way. She has quite a considerable amount of literary work to do. Two of her stories have already been accepted, and she is asked to do a third, and I have no doubt that other work also will fall in her way. She will now be able to support herself comfortably. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to me." Trevor smiled. "She is wonderfully clever and interesting," he said. "I am glad she is your friend. She has talked to me about you and----" Just at that moment Bertha Keys, having moored her little boat came to meet them. She came straight up to Kitty and spoke in a defiant voice, and as if she were talking to a perfect stranger. "How do you do?" she said. "I suppose I must introduce myself. My name is Miss Keys. I am Mrs. Aylmer's companion. I shall be pleased to do everything I can to promote your comfort while at Aylmer's Court. Have you been here long?" "Only a few moments," answered Kitty, taking her cue, "and Mr. Trevor has most kindly offered to show me round the place. I am so tired of sitting still that it is delightful to move about again." "Then I won't keep you. Dinner is at half-past seven, and the dressing-gong sounds at seven. Mrs. Aylmer's maid will help you to dress, Miss Sharston--that is, unless you have brought your own." "Oh, I don't keep a maid," said Kitty merrily; "I hate maids, and in any case I am not rich enough to afford one." Miss Keys raised her brows in a somewhat supercilious way. _ |
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