Ayala's Angel [279]
the guise of a bridesmaid. She would also, now, act as a bridesmaid to Gertrude -- her future position as Mrs Colonel Stubbs giving her, as was supposed, sufficient dignity for that honourable employment. But Captain Batsby, not so very long ago, had appeared among the suitors for Ayala's hand; and therefore, as he said to Gertrude, he felt a little shamefaced about it. "What does that signify?" said Gertrude. "If you say nothing to her about it, I'll be bound she'll say nothing to you." And so it was on the day of the wedding. Ayala did not say a word to Captain Batsby, nor did Captain Batsby say very much to Ayala.
On the day before his marriage Captain Batsby paid a fourth visit to Lombard Street in obedience to directions from Sir Thomas. "There, my boy," said he, "though you and Gertrude did take a little journey on the sly to a place which we will not mention, you shan't take her altogether emptyhanded." Then he explained certain arrangements which he had made for endowing Gertrude with an allowance, which under the circumstances the bridegroom could not but feel to be liberal. It must be added, that, considering the shortness of time allowed for getting them together, the amount of wedding presents bestowed was considered by Gertrude to be satisfactory. As Lucy's were exhibited at the same time the show was not altogether mean. "No doubt I had twice as much as the two put together," said Mrs Traffick to Ayala up in her bedroom, "but then of course Lord Boardotrade's rank would make people give."
CHAPTER 63 AYALA AGAIN IN LONDON
After that last walk in Gobblegoose Wood, after Lady Tringle's unnecessary journey to Stalham on the Friday, and the last day's hunting with Sir Harry's hounds -- which took place on the Saturday -- Ayala again became anxious to go home. Her anxiety was in its nature very different from that which had prompted her to leave Stalham on an appointed day lest she should seem to be waiting for the coming of Colonel Stubbs. "No; I don't want to run away from him any more," she said to Lady Albury. "I want to be with him always, and I hope he won't run away from me. But I've got to be somewhere where I can think about it all for a little time."
"Can't you think about it here?"
"No -- one can never think about a thing where it has all taken place. I must be up in my own little room in Kingsbury Crescent, and must have Aunt Margaret's work around me -- so that I may realise what is going to come. Not but what I mean to do a great deal of work always."
"Mend his stockings?"
"Yes -- if he wears stockings. I know he doesn't. He always wears socks. He told me so. Whatever he has, I'll mend -- or make if he wants me. I can bake and I can brew;And I can make an Irish stew;wash a shirt and iron it too."
Then, as she sang her little song, she clapped her hands together. "Where did you get all your poetry?"
"He taught me that. We are not going to be fine people -- except sometimes when we may be invited to Stalham. But I must go on Thursday, Lady Albury. I came for a week, and I have been here ever since the middle of February. It seems years since the old woman told me I was perverse, and he said that she was right." "Think how much you have done since that time."
"Yes, indeed. I very nearly destroyed myself -- didn't I?"
"Not very nearly."
"I thought I had. It was only when you showed me his letter on that Sunday morning that I began to have any hopes. I wonder what Mr Greene preached about that morning. I didn't hear a word. I kept on repeating what he said in the postscript."
"Was there a postscript?"
"Of course there was. Don't you remember?"
"No, indeed; not I."
"The letter would have been nothing without the postscript. He said that Croppy was to come back for me. I knew he wouldn't say that unless he meant to be good to me. And yet I wasn't quite sure of it. I know it now; don't I? But I must go, Lady Albury. I ought to let Aunt Margaret know all about it." Then it was settled that she should go on the Thursday -- and on the Thursday she
On the day before his marriage Captain Batsby paid a fourth visit to Lombard Street in obedience to directions from Sir Thomas. "There, my boy," said he, "though you and Gertrude did take a little journey on the sly to a place which we will not mention, you shan't take her altogether emptyhanded." Then he explained certain arrangements which he had made for endowing Gertrude with an allowance, which under the circumstances the bridegroom could not but feel to be liberal. It must be added, that, considering the shortness of time allowed for getting them together, the amount of wedding presents bestowed was considered by Gertrude to be satisfactory. As Lucy's were exhibited at the same time the show was not altogether mean. "No doubt I had twice as much as the two put together," said Mrs Traffick to Ayala up in her bedroom, "but then of course Lord Boardotrade's rank would make people give."
CHAPTER 63 AYALA AGAIN IN LONDON
After that last walk in Gobblegoose Wood, after Lady Tringle's unnecessary journey to Stalham on the Friday, and the last day's hunting with Sir Harry's hounds -- which took place on the Saturday -- Ayala again became anxious to go home. Her anxiety was in its nature very different from that which had prompted her to leave Stalham on an appointed day lest she should seem to be waiting for the coming of Colonel Stubbs. "No; I don't want to run away from him any more," she said to Lady Albury. "I want to be with him always, and I hope he won't run away from me. But I've got to be somewhere where I can think about it all for a little time."
"Can't you think about it here?"
"No -- one can never think about a thing where it has all taken place. I must be up in my own little room in Kingsbury Crescent, and must have Aunt Margaret's work around me -- so that I may realise what is going to come. Not but what I mean to do a great deal of work always."
"Mend his stockings?"
"Yes -- if he wears stockings. I know he doesn't. He always wears socks. He told me so. Whatever he has, I'll mend -- or make if he wants me. I can bake and I can brew;And I can make an Irish stew;wash a shirt and iron it too."
Then, as she sang her little song, she clapped her hands together. "Where did you get all your poetry?"
"He taught me that. We are not going to be fine people -- except sometimes when we may be invited to Stalham. But I must go on Thursday, Lady Albury. I came for a week, and I have been here ever since the middle of February. It seems years since the old woman told me I was perverse, and he said that she was right." "Think how much you have done since that time."
"Yes, indeed. I very nearly destroyed myself -- didn't I?"
"Not very nearly."
"I thought I had. It was only when you showed me his letter on that Sunday morning that I began to have any hopes. I wonder what Mr Greene preached about that morning. I didn't hear a word. I kept on repeating what he said in the postscript."
"Was there a postscript?"
"Of course there was. Don't you remember?"
"No, indeed; not I."
"The letter would have been nothing without the postscript. He said that Croppy was to come back for me. I knew he wouldn't say that unless he meant to be good to me. And yet I wasn't quite sure of it. I know it now; don't I? But I must go, Lady Albury. I ought to let Aunt Margaret know all about it." Then it was settled that she should go on the Thursday -- and on the Thursday she