CHAPTER IV
Chelsea Buns
VIOLET seemed afraid (and yet why should she be?) to come near me, after Mark’s Communication; and, as my dear Mother could ill spare me, I kept close House. We now felt the Blessing of having a discreet and godly Minister for our Inmate; for Master Blower read and prayed much with my Mother, and comforted her greatly by his Discoursings. I likewise derived Benefit from the good Seed he scattered, which fell, as it were, into Ground much softened by heavy Rain.
When I was able and inclined to step across to Violet, I found only Master Armytage in the Shop; who said to me with some Shortness, “You will find my Daughters within,—I wish your Father would find Something more profitable for your Cousin to do, than to be always in our Parlour, a-hindering of Business.”
I knew Mark was not there just then, at any Rate, having left him at Home; and, stepping into Master Armytage’s Back-room, I only found there a pale, gentle-looking Girl, with large, brown Eyes, diligently putting Shop-marks to a Box of new Ribbons. I knew her for Kitty, though her return Home was News to me; and, having not much to say to a Stranger, I asked her how she liked the Bridge. She said, “Not at all; I have been used to look upon Trees and Fields, and miss the Green; the Noises make my Head ache, and my Mother keeps me so close to my Work, that I pine for fresh Air.” I said, “Sure there is enough of it blowing through that open Window from the River!”
“Do you call it fresh?” said she, rather contemptuously. “I do not, I can tell you! Instead of being scented with Cows’ Breath and new-mown Hay, it comes from Tan-yards and Butchers’ Shops.”
When Violet came in, she blushed very red, but we only spoke of indifferent Subjects: and, strange as it was of two such close Intimates, we never, from that Time forward, had any closer Communication. Perhaps it was her Fault, perhaps it was mine: or perhaps, no Fault of either, but a just and becoming Sense of what was best for two modest Girls in our new Relation. For, though it needed not to be supposed that she knew Anything of what was passing in my Mind, I am persuaded that she did.