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Updated: May 25, 2025
"I was afraid I should be late," he went on, looking at his watch, "but the roads are good. How far do you call it from Elmfield?" "All of five miles," said Mrs. Starling. "Yes; and one hill to cross. Well! I came pretty well. The long June afternoon favoured me." "Mr. Hardenburgh used to drive a buggy," remarked Miss Barry. "Yes. Is that one of the things you would like me to do as he did?"
She had been pondering all the time of the drive home, as well as much of the time spent at Elmfield; she believed she had come to a conclusion; and yet she delayed her purpose. It was clear, she said to herself, that Diana did not care for Lieut. Knowlton; at least not much; her fancy might have been stirred. But what is a girl's fancy? Nothing worth considering.
She stood looking at it, doubtful, suspicious, uneasy; then turned into the dairy for fear Diana might surprise her, while she opened Mrs. Reverdy's note. She had a vague idea that both epistles might relate to the same subject. But this one was innocent enough, at least. Hiding the large letter in her bosom, she came back and gave the invitation to Diana, whose foot she had heard. "At Elmfield!
Starling wished for which she was not likely to have, the presence of one of the Elmfield family on the occasion. She would have liked some one of them to be there, in order that sure news of the whole might go to Evan and beyond possibility of doubt; for a lurking fear of his sudden appearing some time had long hidden in Mrs. Starling's mind. I do not know what she feared in such a case.
Reverdy and her family at Elmfield, who could guarantee that Evan would not get a furlough and come there too? Mrs. Reverdy's words seemed to have some ultimate design, which they had not indeed declared; they had the air of somewhat different from mere aimless rattle or mischievous gossip. Suppose Evan were to come? What then?
Miss Collins, indeed, had a very undefined sense of the beautiful; yet she vaguely knew that nobody else in Pleasant Valley looked so or carried herself so; no other woman's dress adorned her so, or was so set off by the wearer; although Diana's present attire was a very simply-made print gown, not even the stylish ladies of Elmfield produced an equal effect with their French dresses.
She watched the spoonfuls of broth in attentive silence. "What's new, Diana? there allays is sun'thin'." "Nothing new. Only" said Diana, correcting herself, "the Knowltons are coming back to Elmfield. Mrs. Reverdy is come." "Be the hull o' them comin'?" "I believe so." "What for?" "I don't know. To enjoy the summer, I suppose." "That's their sort," said the old woman slowly. "Jest to get pleasure.
Diana looked out, and saw with a pang of various feelings what waggon it was. "Ain't that the Elmfield folks?" "I think so." "I know so. I thought Mrs. Reverdy and the rest had run away from the cold." "Didn't you know Miss Masters had been sick?" "How should I know it?" "I heard so. I didn't know but you had heard it." "I can't hear things without somebody tells me.
"You know, mother, there are a great many nice people in the world. I can't have all of 'em." "Who were you with all the forenoon?" Mrs. Starling asked suddenly. "You went off and left me with the people from Elmfield. I was taking care of them." "I saw you come out of the field with them. What a popinjay that Masters girl is, to be sure! and Mrs. what's her name? the other, is not much better.
For these ladies there was some attempt at elaborate and dainty cookery, signified by sweetbreads and a puffed omelette; and Mrs. Reverdy presided over a coffee-pot that was the wonder of the Elmfield household, and even a little matter of pride to the old squire himself; though he covered it with laughing at her mimic fires and doubtful steam engines.
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