第42章 LADY MOTTISFONT(6)

'But,my dear Philippa,how can you argue thus about a child,and that child our Dorothy?'

'Not OURS,'said his wife,pointing to the cot.'Ours is here.'

'What,then,Philippa,'he said,surprised,'you won't have her back,after nearly dying of grief at the loss of her?'

'I cannot argue,dear Ashley.I should prefer not to have the responsibility of Dorothy again.Her place is filled now.'

Her husband sighed,and went out of the chamber.There had been a previous arrangement that Dorothy should be brought to the house on a visit that day,but instead of taking her up to his wife,he did not inform Lady Mottisfont of the child's presence.He entertained her himself as well as he could,and accompanied her into the park,where they had a ramble together.Presently he sat down on the root of an elm and took her upon his knee.

'Between this husband and this baby,little Dorothy,you who had two homes are left out in the cold,'he said.

'Can't I go to London with my pretty mamma?'said Dorothy,perceiving from his manner that there was a hitch somewhere.

'I am afraid not,my child.She only took you to live with her because she was lonely,you know.'

'Then can't I stay at Deansleigh Park with my other mamma and you?'

'I am afraid that cannot be done either,'said he sadly.'We have a baby in the house now.'He closed the reply by stooping down and kissing her,there being a tear in his eye.

'Then nobody wants me!'said Dorothy pathetically.

'Oh yes,somebody wants you,'he assured her.'Where would you like to live besides?'

Dorothy's experiences being rather limited,she mentioned the only other place in the world that she was acquainted with,the cottage of the villager who had taken care of her before Lady Mottisfont had removed her to the Manor House.

'Yes;that's where you'll be best off and most independent,'he answered.'And I'll come to see you,my dear girl,and bring you pretty things;and perhaps you'll be just as happy there.'

Nevertheless,when the change came,and Dorothy was handed over to the kind cottage-woman,the poor child missed the luxurious roominess of Fernell Hall and Deansleigh;and for a long time her little feet,which had been accustomed to carpets and oak floors,suffered from the cold of the stone flags on which it was now her lot to live and to play;while chilblains came upon her fingers with washing at the pump.But thicker shoes with nails in them somewhat remedied the cold feet,and her complaints and tears on this and other scores diminished to silence as she became inured anew to the hardships of the farm-cottage,and she grew up robust if not handsome.She was never altogether lost sight of by Sir Ashley,though she was deprived of the systematic education which had been devised and begun for her by Lady Mottisfont,as well as by her other mamma,the enthusiastic Countess.The latter soon had other Dorothys to think of,who occupied her time and affection as fully as Lady Mottisfont's were occupied by her precious boy.In the course of time the doubly-desired and doubly-rejected Dorothy married,I believe,a respectable road-contractor--the same,if Imistake not,who repaired and improved the old highway running from Wintoncester south-westerly through the New Forest--and in the heart of this worthy man of business the poor girl found the nest which had been denied her by her own flesh and blood of higher degree.

Several of the listeners wished to hear another story from the sentimental member after this,but he said that he could recall nothing else at the moment,and that it seemed to him as if his friend on the other side of the fireplace had something to say from the look of his face.

The member alluded to was a respectable churchwarden,with a sly chink to one eyelid--possibly the result of an accident--and a regular attendant at the Club meetings.He replied that his looks had been mainly caused by his interest in the two ladies of the last story,apparently women of strong motherly instincts,even though they were not genuinely staunch in their tenderness.The tale had brought to his mind an instance of a firmer affection of that sort on the paternal side,in a nature otherwise culpable.As for telling the story,his manner was much against him,he feared;but he would do his best,if they wished.

Here the President interposed with a suggestion that as it was getting late in the afternoon it would be as well to adjourn to their respective inns and lodgings for dinner,after which those who cared to do so could return and resume these curious domestic traditions for the remainder of the evening,which might otherwise prove irksome enough.The curator had told him that the room was at their service.The churchwarden,who was beginning to feel hungry himself,readily acquiesced,and the Club separated for an hour and a half.Then the faithful ones began to drop in again--among whom were not the President;neither came the rural dean,nor the two curates,though the Colonel,and the man of family,cigars in mouth,were good enough to return,having found their hotel dreary.The museum had no regular means of illumination,and a solitary candle,less powerful than the rays of the fire,was placed on the table;also bottles and glasses,provided by some thoughtful member.The chink-eyed churchwarden,now thoroughly primed,proceeded to relate in his own terms what was in substance as follows,while many of his listeners smoked.