'Does your mother know him?'
'Oh, yes! there's no secret about it. Mother rather likes him. Of course he behaves himself when he's at the house. I've a good mind to ask him to call here so that you could see him. Yes, I should like you to see him. You wouldn't mind?'
'Not if you really wish it, Louise. ButI can't help thinking you exaggerate his faults.'
'Not a bit. He's a regular brute when he gets angry.'
'My dear,' Emmeline interposed softly, 'that isn't quite a ladylike expression.'
'No, it isn't. Thank you, Mrs. Mumford. I meant to say he is horridvery disagreeable. Then there's something else I want to tell you about. Cissy Higginsthat's Mr. Higgins's daughter, you knowis half engaged to a man called Bowlingan awful idiot'
'I don't think I would use that word, dear.'
'Thank you, Mrs. Mumford. I mean to say he's a regular silly. But he's in a very good positiona partner in Jannaway Brothers of Woolwich, though he isn't thirty yet. Well, now, what do you think? Mr. Bowling doesn't seem to know his own mind, and just lately he's been paying so much attention to me that Cissy has got quite frantic about it. This was really and truly the reason why I left home.'
'I see,' murmured the listener, with a look of genuine interest.
'Yes. They wanted to get me out of the way. There wasn't the slightest fear that I should try to cut Cissy Higgins out; but it was getting very awkward for her, I admit. Now that's the kind of thing that doesn't go on among nice people, isn't it?'
'But what do you mean, Louise, when you say that Miss Higgins and Mr.Mr. Bowling are half engaged?'
'Oh, I mean she has refused him once, just for form's sake; but he knows very well she means to have him. People of your kind don't do that sort of thing, do they?'
'I hardly know,' Emmeline replied, colouring a little at certain private reminiscences. 'And am I to understand that you wouldn't on any account listen to Mr. Bowling?'
Louise laughed.
'Oh, there's no knowing what I might do to spite Cissy. We hate each other, of course. But I can't fancy myself marrying him, He has a long nose, and talks through it. And he says "think you" for "thank you," and he singsoh, to hear him sing! I can't bear the man.'
The matter of this conversation Emmeline reported to her husband at night, and they agreed in the hope that neither Mr. Cobb nor Mr. Bowling would make an appearance at "Runnymede." Mumford opined that these individuals were "cads." Small wonder, he said, that the girl wished to enter a new social sphere. His wife, on the other hand, had a suspicion that Miss Derrick would not be content to see the last of Mr. Cobb. He, the electrical engineer, or whatever he was, could hardly be such a ruffian as the girl depicted. His words, 'You have neither heart nor brains,' seemed to indicate anything but a coarse mind.
'But what a bad-tempered lot they are!' Mumford observed. 'I suppose people of that sort quarrel and abuse each other merely to pass the time. They seem to be just one degree above the roughs who come to blows and get into the police court. You must really do your best to get the girl out of it; I'm sure she is worthy of better things.'
'She isin one way,' answered his wife judicially. 'But her education stopped too soon. I doubt if it's possible to change her very much. AndI really should like, after all, to see Mr. Cobb.'
Mumford broke into a laugh.
'There you go! The eternal feminine. You'll have her married in six months.'
'Don't be vulgar, Clarence. And we've talked enough of Louise for the present.'
Miss Derrick's presentiment that a letter from Mr. Cobb would soon reach her was justified the next day; it arrived in the afternoon, readdressed from Tulse Hill. Emmeline observed the eagerness with which this epistle was pounced upon and carried off for private perusal. She saw, too, that in half-an-hour's time Louise left the housedoubtless to post a reply. But, to her surprise, not a word of the matter escaped Miss Derrick during the whole evening.
In her school-days, Louise had learned to "play the piano," but, caring little or nothing for music, she had hardly touched a key for several years. Now the idea possessed her that she must resume her practising, and to-day she had spent hours at the piano, with painful effect upon Mrs. Mumford's nerves. After dinner she offered to play to Mumford, and he, good-natured fellow, stood by her to turn over the leaves. Emmeline, with fancy work in her hands, watched the two. She was not one of the most foolish of her sex, but it relieved her when Clarence moved away.
The next morning Louise was an hour late for breakfast. She came down when Mumford had left the house, and Emmeline saw with surprise that she was dressed for going out.
'Just a cup of coffee, please. I've no appetite this morning, and I want to catch a train for Victoria as soon as possible.'
'When will you be back?'
'Oh, I don't quite know. To tea, I think.'
The girl had all at once grown reticent, and her lips showed the less amiable possibilities of their contour.
CHAPTER III
At dinner-time she had not returned. It being Saturday, Mumford was back early in the afternoon, and Miss Derrick's absence caused no grief. Emmeline could play with baby in the garden, whilst her husband smoked his pipe and looked on in the old comfortable way. They already felt that domestic life was not quite the same with a stranger to share it. Doubtless they would get used to the new restraints; but Miss Derrick must not expect them to disorganise their mealtimes on her account. Promptly at half-past seven they sat down to dine, and had just risen from the table, when Louise appeared.