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Sarah, however, had slowly but surely struggled out of the ugliness of her childhood; and John Crewys, regarding her critically in the lamplight, decided she would develop, one of these days, into a very handsome young woman; in spite of an ungainly stoop, a wide mouth that pouted rather too much, and a nose that inclined saucily upwards.
"I am afraid," said Miss Crewys, considerately lowering her voice as the butler and footman crossed the hall to the outer vestibule, "that dear Mary is more than a little remiss in civility to her neighbours." "My dear admiral never permitted me to postpone returning a call for more than a week. Royalty, he always said, the same day; ordinary people within a week," said Lady Belstone.
"To be sure," said John, "unless you are going to be so unkind as to make a man only ten years your senior feel elderly." Miss Crewys interposed with a simple statement. "In my day, the age of a lady was never referred to in polite conversation. Least of all by herself. I never allude to mine." "You are unmarried, Georgina," said Lady Belstone, unexpectedly turning upon her ally.
"But I have often noticed that people will trust any chance stranger with the property they leave behind, rather than those they know best." "Isabella," said Miss Crewys, "blame not the dead, and especially on a moonlight night. It makes my blood run cold."
"And besides, as you say, my dear Mary, you could not very well live by yourself at the Dower House." "Since Mary has been so kind as to mention it, there would be many advantages in our accompanying her there, in case Sarah should succeed in her artful aims," said Miss Crewys. "It would be near Peter, and yet not too near, and we could keep an eye on her."
Who ever heard of him or his family, I should like to know, outside this ridiculous place? His name is spelt wrong! Of course I have heard of Crewys, K.C. Everybody has heard of him. That has nothing to do with it. Yes, I know the young man did well in South Africa. All our young men did well in South Africa. Pray, is Sarah to marry them all?
The warmth of her impulsive welcome did not, of course, escape the keen eyes of the sisters-in-law, which, in such matters as these, were quite undimmed by age. "Why didn't somebody pour out tea?" said Lady Mary. "We know your rights, Mary," said Miss Crewys.
For John, with a slight bow of apology, and his grave air of authority, had quietly taken the letter from the canon's undecided fingers, and walked away with it into the library. "How very oddly our cousin John behaves!" said Lady Belstone, indignantly. "Almost snatching the letter from your hand." "Depend upon it, Mary inspired his action," said Miss Crewys, angrily.
She had kept her eyes shut with all her might for a long time, but necessity was forcing them open. Perhaps her association with John Crewys made it easier to see Peter as he was, and not as she had wished him to be.
"A walk through Barracombe woods means simply a climb, Mary," said Lady Belstone; "and you are not strong." "I am perfectly robust, Isabella. Do allow me at least the use of my limbs," said Lady Mary, impatiently. "No woman, certainly no lady, can be called robust," said Miss Crewys, severely. The sudden clanging of a bell changed the conversation. "Visitors. How tiresome!" said Lady Mary.
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