tenderness were the only means to be employed.
As I moved about the cool, dark room, where no uneasy
lights and shadows fretted her weakened eyes, I could
not help remembering the comfortless glare and the
hot, pungent scents that Miss Darrell had left behind
her. Most likely she had rustled over the matting
in her silk gown, and her hard, metallic voice had
rasped the invalid’s nerves. Doubtless there
was hope for her now in her brother’s skilful
treatment, and when I told Max so he went away a little
comforted.
WHITEFOOT IS SADDLED
After the first day or so the strangeness and novelty
of my position wore off, and I settled down to my
work in the sick-room.
Chatty waited upon us very nicely; but Miss Darrell
never came near us. Once a day a formal message
was brought by Chatty asking after the invalid.
I used to think this somewhat unnecessary, as Mr. Hamilton
could report his sister’s progress at breakfast-time.
When I encountered Miss Darrell on my way to the garden
I always accosted her with marked civility; her manner
would be a little repelling in return, and she would
answer me very coldly. In spite of her outward
politeness, I think she was a little afraid of me at
that time. I always felt that a concealed sneer
lay under her words. She made it clearly understood
that she considered that I had forced myself into the
house for my own purposes. Under these conditions
I thought it better to avoid these encounters as much
as possible.
I saw Uncle Max two or three times. He had timed
his visits purposely that he might join me in my stroll
in the garden. We had made the arrangement to
meet in this way daily. Max’s society and
sympathy would have been a refreshment to me, but
we were obliged to discontinue the practice.
Max never appeared without Miss Darrell following a
few minutes afterwards. She would come out of
the house, brisk and smiling, in grande toilette,—to
take a turn in the shrubberies, as she said.
Max would look at me and very soon take his leave.
At last he told me dejectedly that we might as well
give it up, as Miss Darrell was determined that he
should not speak to me alone: so after that I
contrived to send him daily notes by Chatty, who was
always delighted to do an errand in the village.
‘I can’t think what makes Miss Darrell
so curious, ma’am,’ the girl once said
to me. ’She asks me every day if I have
been down to the vicarage. She did it while master
was by the other afternoon, and he told her quite
sharply that it was no affair of hers.’
‘Never mind that, Chatty.’
‘Oh, but I am afraid she means mischief, ma’am,’
persisted Chatty, who had a great dislike to Miss
Darrell, which she showed by being somewhat pert to
her, ’for she said in such a queer tone to master,
“There, I told you so: now you will believe
me,” and master looked as though he were not
pleased.’
