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"Tell him, please," said Maryllia, still addressing Bainton, "that he is to meet the agent as arranged at the appointed place to-morrow morning; but that he is not to take any ropes or axes or any men with him. He is simply to say that by Miss Vancourt's orders the trees are not to be touched." These words Bainton dutifully bellowed into Spruce's semi-closed organs of hearing.
In his heart he had set Maryllia Vancourt as second to none save his own master, John Walden, her beauty and grace, her firm action with regard to the rescue of the 'Five Sisters, and her quick dismissal of Oliver Leach, had all inspired him with the most unbounded admiration and respect, and he felt that he now had a double interest in life, the 'Passon' and the 'lady of the Manor. But he found very little opportunity to talk about his new and cherished theme of Miss Vancourt and Miss Vancourt's many attractions to Walden, for John always 'shut him up' on the subject with quite a curt and peremptory decision whenever be so much as mentioned her name.
Everybody in the place, or nearly everybody, had something to do for Miss Vancourt, or else for one or other of Miss Vancourt's guests. Everything went 'up to the Manor or came 'down from the Manor' the village tradespeople were all catering for the Manor and Mr.
Whereat, his stock of eloquence being exhausted, he whipped up his steed to a gallop and departed in haste for the 'Mother Huff, full of eagerness to relate the news of Miss Vancourt's arrival, further embellished by the fact that he had himself driven her up from the station, 'all unbeknown like.
Roxmouth, reluctantly yielding to the earnest persuasions of Longford, walked with him into the village of St. Rest, and made enquiries at the post-office as to whether Miss Vancourt's sudden departure was known there, or whether any instructions had been left as to the forwarding of her letters. But the postmistress, Mrs.
Buggins!" responded the tailor cheerfully, as he turned out into the cool sweet dimness of the hawthorn-hedged lane in which the 'Mother Huff' stood "I make bold to say that church or no church, Miss Vancourt's bein' at her own 'ouse 'ull be a gain an' a blessing to the village."
This last remark was addressed to a half-drunken man who pushed past him roughly without apology, almost jostling him off the foot-path. It was Oliver Leach, who hearing himself spoken to, glanced round sullenly with a muttered oath, and stumbled on. "That is Miss Vancourt's dismissed agent," said Adderley, pausing a moment to watch his uncertain progress up the road.
"Well, I suppose Miss Vancourt's letters will he forwarded on somewhere!" said Eoxmouth, unguardedly. Miss Fosby's back stiffened instantly. "Really, my lord, I know nothing about that," she said, primly "Nor should I even make it my business to enquire."
Keeley, who waited at her door for him to come out, and who thanked him profusely for coming to 'hearten up the boy, he went on his usual round through the village, uncomfortably conscious that perhaps his first impressions respecting Miss Vancourt's home-coming were correct, and that it might have been better for the peace and happiness of all the simple inhabitants of St.
Miss Vancourt's correspondents were generally very numerous, but on this occasion there was only one letter for her, one, neatly addressed, with a small finely engraved crest on the flap of the envelope. Maryllia surveyed that envelope and crest with disfavour, she had seen too many of the same kind.
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