The afternoon hours crept by slowly, rain still falling in a ceaseless drench, George and Leo still absent.
Walking out, even for five minutes, was not to be thought of, Dulcibel being a person who caught cold easily. But being also a little person of restless tendencies, accustomed to a good deal of small change and excitement in everyday life, and not at all given to reading or needlework, she found it by no means easy to get through such a day. A year earlier she would have risked a wet ramble unhesitatingly, and probably would have laid herself up for a month, without much of after regret. Illness itself supplies a certain measure of satisfying excitement to some natures. But Dulcibel the wife, might not venture to do what Dulcibel the spinster could have done. The fear of her husband’s disapprobation was stronger than wilfulness.
So she staid indoors, and dipped listlessly into several books, and talked about nothing in particular with divers persons, and made several vain attempts upon Joan, and tried a few stitches of knitting now and then. And at length she took to standing at the window, gazing out forlornly upon the wet and dripping scene.
Presently she found Mr. Meredith at her side. He was a man in early middle life, pleasant-faced, and kind-mannered. Dulcibel involuntarily turned to him for sympathy.
“I can’t think why my husband does not come back,” she said.
“He will soon appear now, no doubt. Mr. Rutherford is not one to care much about weather, I should suppose.”
“If not, I suppose I may care for him,” said Dulcibel rather tartly.
“Just so. Quite right that you should,” said Mr. Meredith with intent to soothe. “No doubt, the inquiries about yonder little maid have taken longer than he expected.” Mr. Meredith glanced at Joan, coiled up still in her corner.
“I never saw such an unsociable child in my life,” said Dulcibel. “One can do nothing with her.”
“It requires patience. But the shyness will break down in time,” said Mr. Meredith, cheerfully. “That is to say, it would do so, if any delay occurred in finding her belongings.”