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If it was fancy, why should the fancy have arisen? Ghastly pale her face certainly looked, as the blaze played upon it. A few minutes, and one of the servants came in, handing a note to Decima. "Bring lights," said Decima, in a low tone. The lights were brought; and then Decima's agitation was apparent. Her hands shook as she broke the seal of the letter.
He quitted the house, and Lady Verner proceeded upstairs to Decima's room that pretty room, with its blue panels and hangings, where Lionel used to be when he was growing convalescent. Decima and Lucy were in it now. "I wish you to go out with me to make a call," she said to them. "Both of us, mamma?" inquired Decima. "Both," repeated Lady Verner.
Several weeks had elapsed since the commencement of his illness, and he was so far recovered as to be removed by day to a sitting-room on a level with his chamber a wondrously pretty sitting-room over Lady Verner's drawing-room, but not so large as that, and called "Miss Decima's room."
He asks whether there is any answer." Lionel opened the note, and read as follows: "MY DEAR LIONEL, I am obliged to be a beggar again. My expenses seem to outrun my means in a most extraordinary sort of way. Sometimes I think it must be Decima's fault, and tell her she does not properly look after the household.
Decima's pale cheek turned to a burning red. She was afraid to ask questions. "Oh, mamma! it cannot be!" was all she uttered. "It is, Decima. I told Lionel that he could not love her, who had been the wife of another man; and he did not refute it. I told him she must have drawn him into it; and that he left unanswered. He replied that she would be his wife, and must be honoured as such.
I hope it is not a third cold coming on, or Jan will grumble that I take them on purpose as he did the last lime." She caught the eyes of Lionel riveted on her with a strangely perplexed expression. It did not tend to subdue the excitement of her cheeks. Another moment, and Decima's cheeks appeared to have caught the infection.
"Well, then, you just wring out a long strip of rag in cold water, and put it round your neck, letting the ends rest on the chest," said Jan. "A double piece, from two to three inches broad. It must be covered outside with thin waterproof skin to keep the wet in; you know what I mean; Decima's got some; oil-skin's too thick.
Dr. West was Lady Verner's medical adviser; but a feeling in Decima's heart at the moment prevented her summoning him. Jan arrived, on the run; the servant had told him she was not sure but her lady was dying. Lady Verner had revived then; was better; and was re-entering upon the grievance which had so affected her.
She forgot that Lucy was a stranger; she forgot the request of Lionel for silence; and, upon Decima's asking what was amiss, she told all that Lionel loved Sibylla West, and meant to marry her. Decima was too shocked to speak. Lucy turned and looked at Lionel, a pleasant smile shining in her eyes. "She is very pretty; very, very pretty; I never saw any one prettier."
The walls were panelled in medallions, white and delicate blue, the curtains were of blue satin and lace, the furniture blue. In each medallion hung an exquisite painting in water colours, framed Decima's doing. Lady Verner was one who liked at times to be alone, and then Decima would sit in this room, and feel more at home than in any room in the house.
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