Mortomley's Estate, Vol. III (of 3)

f a mother. She had longed for Dolly to be different, desired to see her grasp life with a firmer hand, and learn the lessons taught by experience as something

Gerace's daughter to comport herself along the way as though she were but one o

ught to see the iniquity of her own light-heartedness; and Mrs. Werner, who frequently found the hours and the days pass heavily enough in the ponderous atmosph

e ideal Dolly she had always regarded as possible if not probable; but the frivolous, light-hearted, smiling Dolly she

ght sight of the former Dolly, she would

ht have laughed till the welkin rang, and Mrs. Werner would not have marvelled how she could be so silly; she might have ridiculed all the decorous people

has borne so patiently; I, who must have compelled any man, sick or well, to bear the burden with me, who could never forgive any man weak enough or wicked enough

st thing on Christmas morning, Mrs. Werner despa

dispensed with at Salisbury House, you will go away from town for a short time. I am quite certain your husband

fond

ur

nor

messenger while she wrot

night concerning your Christmas present, so I need say no more on t

an do so, and remain away as long as possible-if it rested with me, for

ys y

ll

quite exhausted, and the consequence is that he does not feel nearly so well this mor

and others in that small house at Clapton. Miss Gerace had sent up a hamper filled with farm-house pr

Rupert was invited to eat turkeys and mince pies. But he preferred for reasons of his own holding high festival with his uncle and aunt

t under Rupert's eyes by a process so gradual that i

her smile, once so bright and sunny, had something of a wintry gleam about it, but these changes were but the natural consequence of what she had gone

as she talked and laughed while nibbling like a squirrel as

n his, while she solemnly touched his wine-glass with her own, and hoped in a tone, which was

her husband to over-exert himself, but she was pleased with Ruper

at other woman should occupy the humble position of a man's sister, and Dolly, much as she loved her husband, did feel gratified

by the dozen, but then th

ruined, did not, could not realize the length and breadth, and height and depth of

she felt the better pleased w

ply of game to be left at Eglantine Cottage; and she was glad Rupert should see there seemed no lack of anything in their temporary home, small though i

bbed joyfully in accord with the air her mind was singing-"Why, one hundred pounds

agine; already she had formed her plans for the future, and Rupert, looking at

ith only five pounds between them and beggary, unless she had got mor

ing sleep now become habitual, and which the doctor told Dolly to encour

Of course Dean would lend me that amount, but then I do not care to ask a favour from him. Talking a

rankly. "You do not want

within a few d

ine enough for me to go to town, and I shall not want it again at pre

ly said aloud, "Thank you, Dolly, very much. He who gives q

was changing into evening, and who sent up a mysterious message to Mrs.

ll; "but he charged me not to mention his name before Mr. Rupert. He says if you

tanding in front of a bright fire, his hands crossed behin

e the liberty, but I leave to-morrow, and I felt I could

this made no difference in the cordiality of her reception-sober or not sober, and she had seen him in both states, she knew Lang could speak to the purpose. That unhappy glass too much

r, and then she would have drawn down the bli

ked; but whether his observation had a special or

"that much," for he lit the gas and drew down the

" he said, "but I believe it i

ted the proffered civility, Mr. Lang seati

th that harking back, without a previous link to a firs

culiarity of her class, she was able to appear utterly indiffer

wledge is what people want now-a-days; but, bless you, I know what they'll do-they'll pick my brains

ever woman who personally relieves those who make their living by labour, when they are sick or distress

ckguard Swanland would have liked

account when you return to England," said Mrs. M

rets from a lady like you) I will put the wife into a business. That there new Act is a jolly good thing for such as us; and then, if you have no call for

ne. Lang," and rising in her earnestness she went on, "ar

eplied rising likewise. "And y

ed imperatively, "Sit down. If you are g

ked, feeling he needed something perfectly to steady his sens

ng to a cupboard which held Susan's treasures, pro

sugar?"

aid Mr. Lang, and he drank h

him finish with a gra

ow in the same boat, Lang,

asked me," he answered eager

end no longer at Salisbury House,"

be done anywhere," s

usband a second time. If I ever find those formul?, or if I am ever able to extract them from Mr. Mortomley's memory, I shall keep them to myself. Do you understand? If you li

ot expected; but aided, perhaps, by the c

e you faithful, I am sure you won't leave my name out when your books are balanced. Loo

ful to remember Mr. Swanland when he took his business from him, was unable to take his trade secrets as well, and I will put it in the power of no person to use Mr. Mortomley's processes without his knowledge and permission. So now, as I s

for which the Mortomleys had long been famous, but he was not prepared for the frank assurance that Mrs. Mortomley intended to leave him out in the cold for ever. He intended to be utterly true to the Mortomleys; but, at the same time, he desired naturally t

should all at once develop such an amount of business capacity as to understand precisely which wa

iously. She was determined not to yield a point; and yet if Lang decided to have nothing to do with those still unopened

If I do my best to work up a business for Mr. Mortomley,

true," agreed

ve any tangible

the sentence for you-unless we take you so far into o

it in that way," remarked Lang, who nat

ntrol over it. I must put the most utter confidence in your honesty, your skill, and your industry. The only trust I withhold is that which is not mine to give, which belongs entirely to my husband; but this much I will say, Lang,-if hereafter, when Mr. Mortomley's health is re-esta

d do that

ainly," sh

d giving me yo

Lang took it in his as he might have taken a fragile piece of china,

, ma'am," he remarked, when, this ceremony c

ay it then?" aske

may just observe that I hope you won't th

e has done with business for ever. He woul

he did

ert in any business in which I had any interest. I am certain he would do his best to

of Mr. Rupert going into business with Mr. Brett. They do say there Mr. Rupert knows all Mr. Mortom

t for a minute;

ing of the business when w

my oath he did not,"

ould he have learned

lf, ma'am. If he found anyth

husband was always most

to pump Mr. Mortomley

low, her husband had thrust a piece of paper over to Rupert, saying, "There is something out of which money might be made, though I shall ne

ert out of the question a

be, if Mr. Rupert is to get the information

two, but he shall catch no more. If he and Mr. Brett go into

u sure,

any one. I do not mean to say Mr. Rupert may not have got some information, but I do say he would re

as to give you my opinion about Mr. Rupert, I think, fine young gentleman

ere is no necessity for you to express any opinion concerning him. He will have nothing

no offenc

t business, and we are wasting time in speaking of ext

er you

ertain work to

pare before we can begin in earnest, and I shall set a man I can depend on to do all that, and have everything rea

e now," she answered. "I can

you think of g

cheap enough. I shall look for the house f

ter," he said. "Good water

forget," wa

you can find

om time to time I may be able to obtai

s hangs in the colour trade. If you could only have got hold o

ever wrote out any,

y. "No memory, let it be good as mig

ve gone up to Salisbury House with the rest of my husband'

cept about accountants' work, he has those in his employ w

and's office ever waded through the mass of papers Meadows sent up to town? Why

y never kept his secrets among the office papers.

should have liked to look over the papers after Me

p, by the time we are ready, Mr. Mortomley will be able to help

consolatory reflection,

he observed; "and if I am, I'll call to know how th

he answered; and

ep, Mrs. Mortomley, when she went upstairs, opened the

lost in reverie, and that Rupert was copying the fo

t, Rupert?" she asked, sta

and answered, "Making a sketch

fill them in," she suggested, lifting the paper as she sp

eplied with imperturbable composure. "A woman's imagi

ormula and placed it carefully beside Mrs. Werner's