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It was determined that the secret should be strictly kept; it was the one point on which Lady Martindale was anxious, being thereto prompted by her aunt. Theodora declared she had no one to tell, and Mr. Fotheringham only desired to inform his uncle and aunt, Sir Antony and Lady Fotheringham. He was now going to pay them a visit before settling in his lodgings in London.
Fotheringham rules the house, and has tried to prejudice my uncle against me. On the marriage, there were fresh arrangements; my uncle was to alter his will, and it was on that occasion that Sir Antony sent for me to keep up the balance, and save him from her influence. Mrs. Martindale was right about her. What a mischief-maker she is! My delay gave great offence.
Fotheringham for trying to domineer, but finding much amusement in making out the grounds of his objection to Mrs. Finch, and taking pleasure in bringing, by her inquiries, a glow of confusion and distress on Violet's cheeks. Next she began to blame her for having visited such an imprudent person; and when Lady Martindale ventured to suggest something about her not knowing, and Mrs.
Ferrier's a splendid chap!" Diana warmly agreed. "Perhaps you know," pursued the chatterbox, "that this place is all hers Lady Lucy's. She can leave it and her money exactly as she pleases. It is to be hoped she won't leave much of it to Mrs. Fotheringham. Isn't that a woman! Ah! you don't know her yet. Hullo! there's Marsham after me." For Marsham was beckoning from the hall.
The train had pulled out, and after passing the city limits, was flying through the suburbs at full speed. Fotheringham, seated in front of his safe, with his way bills on his lap, was checking them off as Bronson called off each item of freight in the car.
Iris could not answer this question, but she stuck to her point, and said in a low voice: "I should like her to see her sister and come back." Mrs Fotheringham looked more and more puzzled, and her frown grew deeper.
It was that cold late summer, and her funeral was in the middle of a hail-storm, horridly chilly. 'Where was she buried? 'At Brogden. Old Mr. Fotheringham was buried there, and she was brought there. I came home for it. What a day it was the hailstones standing on the grass, and I shall never forget poor John's look all shivering and shrunk up together. He shivered at the bare remembrance.
Ferrier was to be there ex-Home Secretary, and now leader of the Opposition and old Lady Niton. Diana retailed what gossip she knew of this rather famous personage, whom three-fourths of the world found insolent and the rest witty. "They say, anyway, that she can snub Mrs. Fotheringham," said Diana, laughing. "You met them abroad?" "Only Mr. Marsham and Lady Lucy.
'You know Lady Fotheringham was fond of Jane Gardner, and he might have taken her upon her word. 'As if Percy would see with any old woman's eyes, when once he came in contact with her! No, I see but one explanation. It must have been I who lowered his estimate of woman. Well I might do so, when I treated like a toy the happiness he had confided to me.
We were a great deal together. I never was so happy as with them; and as I was a frail subject at the best, and Arthur was not born till I was nine years old, I was too great a treasure to be contradicted. The parsonage was the great balance to the home spoiling; Mr. and Mrs. Fotheringham were most kind and judicious; and Helen's character could not but tell on all around. 'Was she grave?
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