The Clever Woman of the Family [116]
asked after Lovedy Kelland in her new home, she replied like one in a dream, then gathered herself up and answered to the point, but feeling the restraint intolerable, soon rose to take leave. "So soon?" said Ermine; "I have not seen you for a long time." "I--I was afraid of being in the way," said Rachel, the first time probably that such a fear had ever suggested itself to her, and blushing as Ermine did not blush. "We are sure to be alone after twilight," said Ermine, "if that is not too late for you, but I know you are much occupied now." Somehow that invalid in her chair had the dignity of a queen appointing her levee, and Rachel followed the impulse of thanking and promising, but then quickly made her escape to her own thoughts. "Her whole soul is in that asylum," said Ermine, smiling as she went. "I should like to hear that it is going on satisfactorily, but she does not seem to have time even to talk." "The most wonderful consummation of all," observed Bessie. "No," said Ermine, "the previous talk was not chatter, but real effervescence from the unsatisfied craving for something to do." "And has she anything to do now?" said Bessie. "That is exactly what I want to know. It would be a great pity if all this real self-devotion were thrown away." "It cannot be thrown away," said Alick. "Not on herself," said Ermine, "but one would not see it misdirected, both for the waste of good energy and the bitter disappointment." "Well," said Bessie, "I can't bear people to be so dreadfully in earnest!" "You are accountable for the introduction, are not you?" said Ermine. "I'm quite willing! I think a good downfall plump would be the most wholesome thing that could happen to her; and besides, I never told her to take the man for her almoner and counsellor! I may have pointed to the gulf, but I never bade Curtia leap into it." "I wish there were any one to make inquiries about this person," said Ermine; "but when Colonel Keith came it was too late. I hoped she might consult him, but she has been so much absorbed that she really has never come in his way." "She would never consult any one," said Bessie. "I am not sure of that," replied Ermine. "I think that her real simplicity is what makes her appear so opinionated. I verily believe that there is a great capability of humility at the bottom." "Of the gulf," laughed Bessie; but her brother said, "Quite true. She has always been told she is the clever woman of the family, and what can she do but accept the position?" "Exactly," said Ermine; "every one has given way to her, and, of course, she walks over their bodies, but there is something so noble about her that I cannot but believe that she will one day shake herself clear of her little absurdities." "That is contrary to the usual destiny of strong-minded women," said Bessie. "She is not a strong-minded woman, she only has been made to believe herself one," said Ermine, warmly. With this last encounter, Bessie and her brother took leave, and the last at once exclaimed, in sentimental tones, "Generous rivals! I never saw so good a comedy in all my days! To disclose the fatal truth, and then bring the rival fair ones face to face!" "If that were your belief, Bessie, the demon of teasing has fuller possession of you than I knew." "Ah! I forgot," exclaimed Bessie, "it is tender ground with you likewise. Alas! Alick, sisterly affection cannot blind me to the fact of that unrequited admiration for your honourable rival." "What, from the strong-minded Curtia?" "Ah! but have we not just heard that this is not the genuine article, only a country-made imitation? No wonder it was not proof against an honourable colonel in a brown beard." "So much the better; only unluckily there has been a marked avoidance of him." "Yes; the Colonel was sacrificed with all other trivial incidents at the shrine of the F. U. L. E.--E. E., I mean. And only think of finding out that one has been sacrificing empty air after all--and to empty air!" "Better than to sacrifice everything to oneself," said