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But, after all, there was no time to be bored that winter. The grim struggle to hang on demanded all our energy. When I had first visited the McClure Press, I had looked distastefully at Myrtle's ink-stained hands and face, and at the black apron stiff with ink which she wore at her work.
Then came Lady Myrtle's reply, short, cold, and decisive. 'I deny it, she said. Colonel Mildmay did not speak. The old lady glanced at him. His eyes were fixed on the table beside which he was seated; he tapped it lightly with a paper-cutter which he held in his hand. And after a moment's waiting she spoke again. 'I know what you refer to, she said. 'It would be nonsense to pretend I do not.
'See this is what dear Lady Myrtle has given me; isn't it splendid? The 'it' was a small and evidently valuable watch. The back was enamelled and set with diamonds, in the form of a 'J. It was somewhat old-fashioned, enough to enhance its beauty and uncommonness, and Frances gazed at it in breathless admiration. 'It was Lady Myrtle's own, explained Jacinth.
I daresay you felt uncomfortable because, as Aunt Alison said, there have been such disagreeables in Lady Myrtle's family, and these Harpers may be some relations of hers. But couldn't you have managed not to mention them? Frances looked quite as distressed as Jacinth could have expected or more so. 'I'm sure I didn't mean to speak of them, she said. Her meekness disarmed Jacinth.
They could not help Myrtle's going if they tried. She had always maintained that, if they had only once broke her will when she was little, they would have kept the upper hand of her; but her will never was broke. They came pretty near it once, but the child would n't give in. Miss Cynthia went to the door with Mr. Bradshaw, and the conversation immediately became short and informal.
You may wonder at me, you may sometimes doubt me; but until you say you distrust me, when any trouble comes near you, you will find me there. Now, my dear child, you ought to know that the Rev. Joseph Bellamy Stoker has the reputation of being too fond of prosecuting religious inquiries with young and handsome women." Myrtle's eyes fell, a new suspicion seemed to have suggested itself.
And after luncheon Jacinth came and sat beside her in her favourite position, a low stool beside Lady Myrtle's chair, whence she could rest one elbow on her friend's knee and look up into her kind old face with the strangely familiar dark eyes, which were dearer to Robin Redbreast's owner than even the girl herself suspected. 'I want to talk to you, dear Lady Myrtle, she began.
They had drawn nearer to the other two by this time, and Phebe overheard the last words. 'If you please, Miss Jacinth, that is Lady Myrtle's family. Her father was Lord Elvedon, two or three back, and the Lord Elvedon now is a nephew or a cousin's son to her, though they never come near the place; it's been let ever since I can remember. 'I wonder if she was brought up at Elvedon, said Frances.
From the many approaches, letters and meetings, some few relationships resulted, ending as others had ended. Was he not changed, then? Not much no. Only hardened intellectually and emotionally tempered for life and work. There were scenes, too, violent ones, tears, separations, renouncements, cold meetings with little Angela always to one side in Myrtle's care as a stay and consolation.
Still it would not do to begin speculating on what might happen in the far future when Jacinth felt shocked when she realised that, in picturing herself as Lady Myrtle's possible heir, she was anticipating the old lady's death; yet she certainly could not 'fit in' the idea of their all living together at Robin Redbreast with its present châtelaine. And she laughed at her own absurdity.
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