“It might not be necessary, my lord. Good
morning;” and her courteous bow was an absolute
dismissal.
But when Alison came home she found her more depressed
than she had allowed herself to be for years, and
on asking what was the matter was answered—
“Pride and perverseness, Ailie!” then,
in reply to the eager exclamation, “I believe
he was justified in all he said. But, Ailie,
I have preached to Colin more than I had a right to
do about forgiving his brother. I did not know
how provoking he can be. I did not think it was
still in me to fly out as I did!”
“He had no business to come here interfering
and tormenting you,” said Alison, hotly.
“I dare say he thought he had! But one
could not think of that when it came to threatening
me with his giving no help to Colin if—
There was no resisting telling him how little we cared!”
“You have not offended him so that he will keep
Colin away!”
“The more he tried, the more Colin would come!
No, I am not sorry for having offended him.
I don’t mind him; but Ailie, how little one
knows! All the angry and bitter feelings that
I thought burnt out for ever when I lay waiting for
death, are stirred up as hotly as they were long ago.
The old self is here as strong as ever! Ailie,
don’t tell Colin about this; but to-morrow is
a saint’s day, and would you see Mr. Touchett,
and try to arrange for me to go to the early service?
I think then I might better be helped to conquer
this.”
“But, Ermine, how can you? Eight o’clock,
you know.”
“Yes, dearest, it will give you a great deal
of trouble, but you never mind that, you know; and
I am so much stronger than I used to be, that you
need not fear. Besides, I want help so much!
And it is the day Colin goes away!”
Alison obeyed, as she always obeyed her sister; and
Lord Keith, taking his constitutional turn before
breakfast on the esplanade, was met by what he so
little expected to encounter that he had not time
to get out of the way—a Bath chair with
Alison walking on one side, his brother on the other.
He bowed coldly, but Ermine held out her hand, and
he was obliged to come near.
“I am glad to have met you,” she said.
“I am glad to see you out so early,” he
answered, confused.
“This is an exception,” she said, smiling
and really looking beautiful. “Good-bye,
I have thought over what passed yesterday, and I believe
we are more agreed than perhaps I gave you reason to
think.”
There was a queenly air of dignified exchange of pardon
in her manner of giving her hand and bending her head
as she again said “Good-bye,” and signed
to her driver to move on.
Lord Keith could only say “Good-bye;”
then, looking after her, muttered, “After all,
that is a remarkable woman.”
WOMAN’S MISSION DISCOVERED.
