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After six months he was quite restored to health, and he went back to Oxford to devote himself to his college work. Twice afterwards he had gone to Rome on short visits to see the Risboroughs. Then had come the crash of Lady Risborough's sudden death followed by that of her husband.
She was born with the wish to please, which, as every one knows, makes three parts of the art of pleasing. Meanwhile Sorell, who was at all times a very popular man, in great request, accepted many more invitations than usual in order to see as much as he could of this triumphal progress of Lady Risborough's daughter. Oxford society was then much more limited than now, and he and she met often.
Professors, tutors young and old, undergraduates and heads of houses, had crowded round the mother and the long-legged, distinguished-looking child, who clung so closely to her side; and if only she could have given Oxford a few more days, the whole place would have been at Ella Risborough's feet. "So intelligent too!" said the enthusiastic "so learned even!"
It was to be hoped there was nothing in that! How Ella Risborough would have detested the type! But there was much that was not her mother in the daughter. He vowed to himself that he would do his small best to watch over Ella Risborough's child. There was little or no conversation in the four-wheeler that bore the Hooper party home. Mrs.
I wonder what on earth she'll do with all her money. Father says she may spend it, if she wants to. He's trustee, but Uncle Risborough's letter to him said she was to have the income if she wished now. Only she's not to touch the capital till she's twenty-five." "It's a good lot, isn't it?" said Nora, walking about. "I wonder how many people in Oxford have two thousand a year? A girl too.
And as for Lady Risborough's answer "I don't care twopence about the Duchess, Hugh! and I haven't seen Ewen for six years," it had been merely humbug, for she had obediently followed her husband, all the same. Recollections of this kind went trickling through Mrs. Hooper's mind, roused by Ewen's angry defence of his sister.
Ella Risborough's sympathetic charm had replaced it, but with suggestions of hidden conflict and suffering, of which Lady Risborough's bright sweetness had known nothing. It was borne in upon him that, since her arrival in Oxford, Constance had gone through a great deal, and gone through it alone. For after all what had his efforts amounted to?
And Lady Risborough had chattered and smiled her way through the Master's lonely house he had only just been appointed head of his college and was then unmarried leaving a deep impression. "I must make friends with her," he thought, following Ella Risborough's daughter with his eyes. "There are some gaps to fill up." He meant in the circle of his girl protégées.
Alice annoyed me she doesn't like me, you see and I took a mean revenge. Well, now you understand how I miss mamma!" She held out her hand to him impulsively, and he enclosed it warmly in his; asking her, rather incoherently, to forgive his impertinence. Was it to be Ella Risborough's legacy to him this futile yearning to help to watch over her orphaned child?
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