She looked at him anxiously.He had completely failed to hide from her the uneasy state of his mind:a man less capable of concealment of feeling never lived."You are anxious,and out of spirits,"she said gently."Is it my fault?""Your fault?oh,don't think that!I have my dull days and my bright days--and just now my barometer is down at dull."His voice faltered,in spite of his efforts to control it;he gave up the struggle,and took his hat to go."Do you remember,Emily,what I once said to you in the garden at the school?I still believe there is a time of fulfillment to come in our lives."He suddenly checked himself,as if there had been something more in his mind to which he hesitated to give expression--and held out his hand to bid her good-by.
"My memory of what you said in the garden is better than yours,"she reminded him."You said 'Happen what may in the interval,Itrust the future.'Do you feel the same trust still?"He sighed--drew her to him gently--and kissed her on the forehead.Was that his own reply?She was not calm enough to ask him the question:it remained in her thoughts for some time after he had gone.
On the same day Emily was at Brighton.
Francine happened to be alone in the drawing-room.Her first proceeding,when Emily was shown in,was to stop the servant.
"Have you taken my letter to the post?"
"Yes,miss."
"It doesn't matter."She dismissed the servant by a gesture,and burst into such effusive hospitality that she actually insisted on kissing Emily."Do you know what I have been doing?"she said.
"I have been writing to Cecilia--directing to the care of her father,at the House of Commons.I stupidly forgot that you would be able to give me the right address in Switzerland.You don't object,I hope,to my making myself agreeable to our dear,beautiful,greedy girl?It is of such importance to me to surround myself with influential friends--and,of course,I have given her your love.Don't look disgusted!Come,and see your room.--Oh,never mind Miss Ladd.You will see her when she wakes.
Ill?Is that sort of old woman ever ill?She's only taking her nap after bathing.Bathing in the sea,at her age!How she must frighten the fishes!"Having seen her own bed-chamber,Emily was next introduced to the room occupied by Francine.
One object that she noticed in it caused her some little surprise--not unmingled with disgust.She discovered on the toilet-table a coarsely caricatured portrait of Mrs.Ellmother.
It was a sketch in pencil--wretchedly drawn;but spitefully successful as a likeness."I didn't know you were an artist,"Emily remarked,with an ironical emphasis on the last word.
Francine laughed scornfully--crumpled the drawing up in her hand--and threw it into the waste-paper basket.
"You satirical creature!"she burst out gayly."If you had lived a dull life at St.Domingo,you would have taken to spoiling paper too.I might really have turned out an artist,if I had been clever and industrious like you.As it was,I learned a little drawing--and got tired of it.I tried modeling in wax--and got tired of it.Who do you think was my teacher?One of our slaves.""A slave!"Emily exclaimed.
"Yes--a mulatto,if you wish me to be particular;the daughter of an English father and a negro mother.In her young time (at least she said so herself)she was quite a beauty,in her particular style.Her master's favorite;he educated her himself.Besides drawing and painting,and modeling in wax,she could sing and play--all the accomplishments thrown away on a slave!When her owner died,my uncle bought her at the sale of the property."A word of natural compassion escaped Emily--to Francine's surprise.
