The Inglises Part 24

"You must stay at home to-night, Letty," said Jem.

"May I, mamma? I am to be sent for later; but may I not send a message that Miss Bethia has come, and that you cannot spare me?"

"But I can spare you all the better that Miss Bethia is here," said her mother, smiling.

"Yes, I know mamma; but I want to stay so much."

"You would not think it polite in her to go away to-night? Now, would you? Aunt Bethia," said Jem.

"Politeness ain't the only thing to think of," said Miss Bethia.

"Violet is not quite at our disposal just now," said Mrs Inglis; "and I am afraid you will be missed up there, dear, by the children. They have had the fever, too, poor little things, and their sister is away, and they hardly know this aunt yet, and Violet has charge of them. They are fond of Violet."

"Oh, yes! they are all fond of Violet up there; but so are we," said Jem. "Let her stay, mamma."

"And how do you like earning your living?" asked Miss Bethia.

Violet laughed.

"Oh, I like it. When did you come, Miss Bethia? You are not looking very well."

"I haven't been well--had a sharp turn of rheumatism. I had some business, and I came yesterday."

"And how are all the Gourlay people? And you live in our house now.

How strange it must seem! And what a shame that your old place is spoiled!"

"I thought so at the time, but it might have been worse."

And then Violet had a great many questions to ask, and listened with many exclamations of wonder and pleasure to all that she heard; and Miss Bethia, pleased with the interest she displayed, made no pause till Ned called out that young Mr Oswald was driving Davie over the bridge, and that now Violet would have to go.

"Mamma," said Violet, "I have not told you why I came yet. Mr Oswald sent me, and I cannot tell it all at once. Let me stay till after tea, and Jem can take me home."

"All right," said Jem. "I have no objections, if n.o.body else has none."

There was a little pleasant confusion after Mr Philip and David came in, two or three speaking at once, and all eager to be heard, and then Mr Philip was introduced to the visitor. There was no mistaking the look she bent upon him. It was searching and critical, admiring, but not altogether approving.

"You have never been out Gourlay way?" said she.

"No, I never have, as yet."

"He did not know what nice people the Gourlay people are, or he would have been," said Jem.

"I expect so," said Miss Bethia. "It ain't too late to go yet."

"Thank you, Miss Barnes. I shall be happy to accept your kind invitation," said Philip.

In the meantime, Violet had been telling her mother of Mr Oswald's proposal. It was a matter of too great importance to be dismissed with a single word of refusal, as Violet would have liked, and time must be taken to consider it.

"Violet is not going with you, Mr Philip," said Jessie. "She is going to stay and take tea with Miss Bethia."

"I am sorry you should have had the trouble of coming round this way for nothing, Mr Philip," said Mrs Inglis. "We want Violet a little while to-night. Miss Barnes does not know how soon she may go, and Violet thinks she can be spared to-night, perhaps."

"Of course, she can be spared. And it was no trouble, but a pleasure, to come round. Shall I come back again?"

"Pray, do not. Jem will go with me. I shall like the walk."

"All right!" said Jem. "I consider myself responsible for her. She will be up there at the proper time."

"All right!" said Philip cheerfully. "Aunt Mary, you might ask me to have tea too."

"You haven't had your dinner yet," said Jessie.

"And you could not keep your horse standing so long," said Ned.

"And, besides, I am not to be invited," said Philip, laughing.

They all watched him and his fine horse as they went over the bridge and along the street. Then Violet said:

"Now, mamma, you are to sit down and I am to get tea. I can do all quite well."

And, so tying on an ap.r.o.n over her dress, she made herself very busy for the next half-hour, pa.s.sing in and out, pausing to listen or put in her word now and then, sometimes claiming help from Jem or Davie in some household matter to which she put her hand. At last, with an air of pride and pleasure that Miss Bethia thought pretty to see, she called them to tea.

"You have got to be quite a house-keeper," said Miss Bethia, as they sat down to the table.

"Hasn't she?" said Jem and Davie in a breath.

"I mean to be, at any rate," said Violet, nodding and laughing gaily.

"I like it a great deal better than teaching children, only, you know, it doesn't pay quite so well."

"I guess it will, in the long run," said Miss Barnes.

"I am going to be house-keeper for the next two months. Sarah and Charlotte are to have no lessons for that time, and Betsey can take care of them in the country quite as well as I--better, indeed. Mamma needs me at home. Don't you think so, Davie? I can find enough to do at home; can't I?"

"But, as you say, it wouldn't pay so well."

"In one way, perhaps, it wouldn't, but in another way it would. But mamma doesn't say anything," added Violet, disconsolately.

"We must sleep upon it, mamma thinks," said Jem.

"We need not be in haste to decide upon it for a day or two," said Mrs Inglis.

"I am afraid we must, mamma. The sooner the better, Mr Oswald says; and that is why I came to-day."

"I wish you would come and keep house for me. I am getting tired of it," said Miss Bethia.

"I should like it well--with mamma and the children."

"Of course, that is understood," said Miss Bethia. "And you could take these others with you, couldn't you? And what their father would pay for them would help your house-keeping."