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Poor girl, she looked sad and ill in these days, and grew irritable and unreasonable amid the preparations of Mrs Roxbury, in a way that shocked and alarmed that excellent and energetic lady. She considered it a very equivocal proof of Lilias' love to her father, that she should be so averse to the carrying out of his express wishes.
"Pick a bunch of early violets if you can find them, lay them on her study table, talk about flowers and nature for a little while, then ask if we may have a quiet little party in our bedroom to-morrow afternoon, with cakes at our own expense." "Quiet?" queried Lilias. "Well, of course you couldn't call it rowdy, could you? We'll send you to do the asking.
"Looks better, does he? I wonder how he could have looked before? Such a whitefaced creature I have seldom seen. He reminds me of the laddie that died at Pentlands, of a decline, a month since. I doubt he isn't long for this world." "Whisht!" again interrupted Ellen, "you don't know what you are saying, I think." "Archie is much better," said Lilias, eagerly.
"You are ill!" exclaimed Lilias, eagerly offering him the water she held in her hand. He drank a little, and, giving back the glass, thanked her and went away. But before he had gone far he turned again, and, coming to Lilias, said in a low, hoarse voice: "Child, I see the look of heaven's peace on your face. Your wish must bring good to one like me. Bid me God-speed."
"But you don't know Everard as I do!" protested Lilias. She could not take Mr. Bowden's view of the case. Everard had left the Chase in such deep anger and resentment that the chances of a speedy change in his outlook seemed remote. Lilias longed to write to him, but knew of no address to which it was possible to post a letter.
And, starting his engine, he was off before they had time to reply. "What does he mean?" asked Lilias, watching the retreating bicycle. "Uncle Tristram has been dead for thirteen years! We never seem to have heard anything about him!" "What was that photo we saw on the study table?" queried Dulcie.
It was some time before Archie was able to go so far, and Lilias had stayed at home with him. At length, one fine, clear Sabbath in the end of September, Mrs Blair yielded to their entreaties to be permitted to go with her; and early in the morning they set out.
'Surely, was the answer, 'it is grievous to see that dear child cut off; and her patient mother left desolate yet how much more grievous it would be to see that spotless innocence defiled. 'If it was to fall on any one, said Lilias, 'I should be thankful that it is on one so fit to die. The church bell began to ring, and they quickened their steps in silence.
But, Lilias, are you quite sure you don't believe in any of the good old stories the 'goody' stories I would call them if I were a man of the amiable girl who went abroad in the old pelisse, and who was wedded to the enthusiastic baronet?
"But you have been working for me. You have helped me greatly since you came here." "Yes, a little, perhaps," said Lilias, thoughtfully. "But that's not what I mean. Are you not very poor now, Aunt Janet?" "Well, I cannot say that I am very rich," said her aunt, smiling. "But I'm not so poor but that I can shelter my brother's orphan bairns for a while at least."
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