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Updated: May 8, 2025
But there must be no going round to the back premises, no prying into corners, no trespassing where I have written up, 'No road." Ruth smiled, and there was a gleam in her eyes which Charles well knew heralded a retort, when suddenly through the half-open door a silken rustle came, and Lady Hope-Acton slowly entered the room, as if about to pass through it on her way to the hall.
The mixed impiety and indelicacy of her nephew's remark caused a sudden twitch to the High Church embroidery in Lady Mary's hand; but she went on a moment later in her usual tone: "And Lady Hope-Acton. Is she in stronger health?" "I believe she was fairly well; not robust, you know, but, like other fond mothers with daughters out, 'faint yet pursuing."
I do not hesitate to say that her complexion is all that her fancy paints it." "You are so fond of joking, Charles, that I don't know when you are serious. And you saw a good deal of her?" "Of course I did. I leaned on the railings in the Row, and watched her riding with Lord Hope-Acton, whose personal appearance you feel such an interest in.
Already the morning, though breakfast was hardly over, seemed to have dragged itself out to days in length. A sense of constraint between two people who understand and amuse each other is very galling. Ruth had felt it so. All the previous evening Charles had hardly spoken to her, and had talked mainly to Lady Hope-Acton, who was somewhat depressed, and another elder lady.
A man who pleases easily and is hard to please soon gets a bad name among mothers. I don't think Lady Hope-Acton thought very kindly of him, as she sped up to Scotland in the night mail. Perhaps he was not so much to blame as she thought.
But, as Lady Hope-Acton sailed into the room, he felt that, however conducive to study, it was not the attitude in which he would at that moment have chosen to be found. Ruth felt the same. It had seemed so natural a moment before, it was so hideously suggestive now. Perhaps Lady Hope-Acton would pass on through the other door, so widely, so invitingly open.
I think, if I have been to blame, it has not been in so heartless a manner as you supposed; and it appears to me Lady Hope-Acton should not have come. This is my explanation. You can add the rest for yourself. Have I said enough to soften your harsh judgment of yesterday?" Ruth could not speak. The trees were behaving in the most curious manner, were whirling round, were swaying up and down.
"No," said Lady Grace, with a little sob; "and," with a sudden burst of tears "oh, mamma, I don't think he ever will." Oh, to have coughed, to have sneezed, to have choked a moment earlier! Anything would have been better than this. "Run up-stairs this moment, then, and change your habit and bathe your eyes," said Lady Hope-Acton, sharply. "You need not come down till dinner-time.
Ruth felt that it was now or never for a warning cough; but, as she glanced at Charles kneeling beside her, she could not give it. Surely they would pass out in another second. The thought of the two pairs of eyes which would be raised, and the expression in them was intolerable. "Grace," said Lady Hope-Acton, with dreadful distinctness, advancing to meet her daughter, "has he spoken?"
Evelyn laid down her work, and went across the lawn, and round the corner of the house, in the direction of the shrubbery, from which the voice of her lord and master "rose in snatches," as he plunged in and out among the laurels. "And how is Lord Hope-Acton?" continued Lady Mary, with an air of elaborate unconcern. "I used to know him in old days as one of the best waltzers in London.
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