"Then I must not even tell her that she won't be required to croquet,

and that I'll guard her from all civil speeches."

"No, for indeed, Bessie, on your own account and Lord Keith's, you

should hardly spend a long afternoon from home."

"Here's the war in the enemy's quarters! As to fatigue, dawdling about

Mrs. Huntsford's garden, is much the same as dawdling about my own, and

makes me far more entertaining."

"I cannot help thinking, Bessie, that Lord Keith is more ill than you

suppose. I am sure he is in constant pain."

"So I fear," said Bessie, gravely; "but what can be done? He will see no

one but his old surgeon in Edinburgh."

"Then take him there."

"Take him? You must know what it is to be in the hands of a clever woman

before you make such a proposal."

"You are a cleverer woman than my wife in bringing about what you really

wish."

"Just consider, Alick, our own house is uninhabitable, and this one on

our hands--my aunt coming to me in a month's time. You don't ask me to

do what is reasonable."

"I cannot tell, Bessie. You can be the only judge of what is regard of

the right kind for your husband's health or for yourself; and see, there

is Mrs. Huntsford actually arrived, and talking to my uncle."

"One moment, Alick: I am not going to insult myself so far as to suppose

that poor Charlie Carleton's being at home has anything to do with your

desire to deport me, but I want you to know that he did not come home

till after we were settled here."

"I do not wish to enter into details, Bessie," and he crossed the lawn

towards the window where Mr. Clare and Rachel had just received Mrs.

Huntsford, a goodnatured joyous-looking lady, a favourite with every

one. Her invitation was dexterously given to meet a few friends at

luncheon, and in the garden, where the guests would be free to come and

go; there might perhaps be a little dancing later, she had secured some

good music which would, she knew, attract Mr. Clare, and she hoped he

would bring Captain and Mrs. Keith. She knew Mrs. Keith had not been

well, but she promised her a quiet room to rest in, and she wanted

to show her a view of the Devon coast done by a notable artist in

water-colours. Rachel readily accepted--in fact, this quiet month had

been so full of restoration that she had almost forgotten her morbid

shrinking from visitors; and Bessie infused into her praise and

congratulations a hint that a refusal would have been much against

Alick's reputation, so that she resolved to keep up to the mark, even

though he took care that she should know that she might yet retract.




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