"It always seems that you must have had so much. But I want to say one word. I think the girls will behave well, and not give trouble;—still, if any difficulty should arise, there is always Lady Denham. You could not do harm by appealing to her. And pray write freely to Nellie. She never makes mischief."
"Thank you very much," I said, and his warm hand-shake was a surprise. Generally he is so undemonstrative.
It is well that these few words passed between us, for certainly I should not have thought of Lady Denham in the event of any difficulty. My impulse would rather have been to appeal to Mrs. Hepburn. But evidently such an idea never occurred to Eustace: and of course the Denhams are much older friends.
"We shall send you news as soon as possible," Eustace said, while tucking the wrapper well in round Elfie and me. "Don't fret, dear;" and he kissed her cold cheek.
I was struck with his unusual freedom and almost cheerfulness of manner. I fancy it arose from a certain gratification in finding himself for once necessary to his father, and useful to all of us.
"Don't fret," he repeated. "Nellie was right to send for me: but you see, she did not mention my father, and she would have been pretty sure to do that, if there were any real cause for anxiety. Don't you think so?"
Elfie tried to smile, and to say, "Yes."
[CHAPTER XX.]
AND A YORKSHIRE DALE.
THE SAME—continued.