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And there is Italy," she said, as though the one word conveyed every vision of earthly beauty which mortal could desire to behold as, indeed, it does. And again she added, "But I don't know what my sisters-in-law would say. It would be against all the traditions." "Surely Lady Belstone, at least, must be less absurdly narrow-minded," said John, almost impatiently.
"Think what, dear child?" said Lady Mary, bewildered. Sarah looked round at the two old ladies. The head of Miss Crewys was inclined towards the crochet she held in her lap. She slumbered peacefully. Lady Belstone was absently gazing into the heart of the great fire. The heat did not appear to cause her inconvenience. She was nodding. "They will hear nothing," said Lady Mary, softly.
He welcomed thankfully the timely interruption of an opening door and the entrance of Canon Birch and the doctor. At the same moment, from the archway which supported the great oak staircase, the butler entered, carrying lights. "Is her ladyship not yet returned from her walk, Ash?" asked Lady Belstone, with affected surprise.
You have never tried being mistress of your own house, Georgina, but I can assure you it has its advantages; and I found them out as a married woman." "A married woman has her husband to look after her," said Miss Crewys. "It is very different for a widow." "You are for ever throwing my widowhood in my teeth, Georgina," said Lady Belstone, plaintively. "It is not my fault that I am a widow.
"If she does not succeed, somebody else will," said Lady Belstone, sensibly; "and, at least, we know her faults, and can put Peter on his guard against them." A host of petty and wretched recollections poured into Lady Mary's mind as she listened to these words. Poor Timothy; poor little hunted, scolded, despairing bride; poor married life of futile reproaches and foolish quarrelling.
"It does not look like it, canon," said Lady Belstone, sorrowfully. She waved her handkerchief towards the panelled walls. "She has removed the family portraits to the lumber-room."
"I am bound to say that Miss Crewys looks exactly the same as when I first knew her." "Of course, a spinster escapes the wear and tear of matrimony," said Miss Crewys, glaring at her widowed relative. "H'm, h'm!" said Dr. Blundell. "By-the-by, have you inspected the old picture gallery, Mr. Crewys?" "Not yet," said John. Lady Belstone shot a glance of speechless indignation at her sister.
"At seventeen I was still in the nursery, playing with my dolls," said Lady Belstone. "Oh, Lady Belstone!" said an odd, deep, protesting voice. John looked with amused interest at the speaker. The unlucky Sarah had taken a low chair beside her hostess, and was holding one of the soft white hands in her plump gloved fingers.
"Do give me your arm to the drawing-room, canon," said Lady Belstone, rightly judging that the canon would reveal the whole contents of Peter's letter to her more easily in private. "The shock has made me feel quite faint. You, too, Georgina, are looking pale." "It is not the shock, but the draught, which is affecting me, Isabella, Sir Timothy thoughtlessly keeping the door open so long.
"My dear Mary!" said Sir Timothy. "But I know it can't be anybody pleasant, Timothy," said his wife, with rather a mischievous twinkle, "for I owe calls to all the nice people, and it's only the dull ones who come over and over again." "You owe calls, Mary!" said Lady Belstone, in horrified tones.
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