You are very good to me, Henry; but you dont quite understand me. I was wondering whether my feeling for your brother could really pass away. I have destroyed the last visible things that remind me of him. In this world I shall see him no more. But is the tie that once bound us, completely broken? What do you think, Henry? I can hardly believe it.
The old nurse appeared again at the door, announcing another visitor.
Im sorry to disturb you, my dear. But here is Mrs. Ferrari. She wants to know when she may say a few words to you.
Agnes turned to Henry, before she replied.
You remember Emily Bidwell, my favourite pupil years ago at the village school, and afterwards my maid? She left me, to marry an Italian courier, named Ferrari.
Henry rose.
I will be glad to see Emily at any other time, he said. But I will go now. My mind is disturbed, Agnes. I will cross the Channel[15] tonight. A few weeks change will help me, I hope.
He took her hand.
Is there anything in the world that I can do for you? he asked very earnestly.
She thanked him, and tried to release her hand.
God bless you, Agnes! he said.
Her face flushed again. He lifted her hand to his lips, kissed it fervently, and left the room. The nurse hobbled after him.
Dont be sad, Master Henry, whispered the old woman. Try her again, when you come back!
Agnes tried to compose herself. She paused before a little water-colour drawing[16] on the wall, which had belonged to her mother. It was her own portrait when she was a child.
The couriers wife entered a little meek melancholy woman, with white eyelashes, and watery eyes. Agnes shook hands with her kindly.
Well, Emily, what can I do for you?
The couriers wife made a rather strange answer:
Im afraid to tell you, Miss.
Sit down, and let me hear. How does your husband behave to you?
Emilys light grey eyes looked more watery than ever. She shook her head and sighed resignedly. I have no positive complaint to make against him, Miss. But Im afraid he doesnt care about me; and he seems to take no interest in his home I may almost say hes tired of his home. It will be better for both of us, Miss, if he travels for a while. Not to mention the money.
She put her handkerchief to her eyes, and sighed again.
I dont quite understand, said Agnes. I thought your husband had an engagement to take some ladies to Switzerland and Italy?
Oh, Miss, one of the ladies fell ill and the others wont go without her. They paid him a months salary as compensation. But the loss is serious.
I am sorry to hear it, Emily. Let us hope he will soon have another chance.
Miss, you see, there are so many couriers at the moment just now. If someone privately recommends-
She stopped.
Agnes understood her directly.
You want my recommendation, she rejoined.
Emily blushed.
It will be such a chance for my husband, she answered confusedly. A letter, inquiring for a good courier (a six months engagement, Miss!) came to the office this morning. The secretary will recommend another man. If my husband could only send his testimonials with just a word in your name, Miss A private recommendation, you know.
She stopped again, and sighed again, and looked down at the carpet.
Agnes began to be rather weary of the mysterious tone of her visitor.
If you want my interest with any friend of mine, she said, why cant you tell me the name?
The couriers wife began to cry.
Im ashamed to tell you, Miss.
For the first time, Agnes spoke sharply.
Nonsense, Emily! Tell me the name directly or drop the subject whichever you like best.
Emily made a last desperate effort. She wrung her handkerchief hard in her lap and said,
Lord Montbarry!
Agnes rose and looked at her.
You have disappointed me, she said very quietly. You know that it is impossible for me to communicate with Lord Montbarry. I always supposed you had some delicacy of feeling. I am sorry to find that I am mistaken.
Emily walked to the door.
I beg your pardon, Miss. I am not quite so bad as you think. But I beg your pardon.
She opened the door. Agnes called her back. There was something in the womans apology that appealed to her.
Come, she said. Let me not misunderstand you. What is it that you expected me to do?
Emily was wise enough to answer this time quickly.
My husband will send his testimonials, Miss, to Lord Montbarry in Scotland. I only wanted you to let him say in his letter that you have known his wife since she was a child, and that you feel some little interest in his welfare on that account. I dont ask it now, Miss. I was wrong.
It seems only a small favour to ask, Agnes said. But I am not sure that I allow my name to be mentioned in your husbands letter. Let me hear again exactly what he wishes to say.
Emily repeated the words. Agnes wrote:
I venture to state that Miss Agnes Lockwood has known my wife from her childhood, and she feels some little interest in my welfare on that account.
Then Agnes handed the written paper to Emily.
Your husband must copy it exactly, she stipulated. On that condition, I grant your request.
Emily was thankful. Then she vanished.
Two days later, the post brought a few grateful lines from Emily. Her husband got the place. Ferrari was engaged, for six months certain, as Lord Montbarrys courier.
The Second Part
Chapter V
After only one week in Scotland, my lord and my lady returned unexpectedly to London. For a week more, the newly-married couple remained in London, in the strictest retirement. On one day in that week the nurse met Lord Montbarry himself. The good womans report described him, with malicious pleasure, as wretchedly ill.
His cheeks are hollow, my dear, and his beard is grey. I hope the dentist hurt him!
On the third day the newspapers announced the departure of Lord and Lady Montbarry for Paris, on their way to Italy.
Mrs. Ferrari informed Agnes that her husbands temper was improved. One other servant accompanied the travelers Lady Montbarrys maid, a silent, unsociable woman. Her ladyships brother, Baron Rivar, was already on the Continent. He will meet his sister and her husband in Rome.
One by one the dull weeks succeeded each other in the life of Agnes. She was seeing her friends, reading and drawing. But her wound was too deep to forget. And an old friend and school companion who saw her during a brief visit to London, was inexpressibly distressed by the change that she detected in Agnes. This lady was Mrs. Westwick, the wife of that brother of Lord Montbarry, who was described in the Peerage as presumptive heir to the title. Mr. Westwick was then in America. Mrs. Westwick invited Agnes to her home in Ireland.
Come and stay with me while my husband is away. My three little girls will make you their playfellow, and the only stranger you will meet is the governess. Pack up your things, and I will call for you[17] tomorrow on my way to the train.
Agnes thankfully accepted the invitation. For three happy months she lived under the roof of her friend. The girls cried at her departure; the youngest of them wanted to go back with Agnes to London. Half in jest, she said to her old friend,
If your governess leaves you, keep the place open for me.
Mrs. Westwick laughed. The children took it seriously, and promised to let Agnes know.
When Miss Lockwood returned to London, the old nurse told her,
Mrs. Ferrari, my dear, came here, in a dreadful state of mind. She was inquiring when you would be back. Her husband has left Lord Montbarry, without a word of warning and nobody knows what has become of him.
Agnes felt alarmed as well as surprised. She at once sent a message to Mrs. Ferrari, to say that she had returned.
In an hour more the couriers wife appeared, in a state of agitation. After hearing from her husband from Paris, Rome, and Venice, Emily had twice written to him afterwards and had received no reply. She went to the office in Golden Square. The post of the morning brought a letter to the secretary from a courier in Venice. It contained startling news of Ferrari.