Chapter Nineteen
Aunt Mary’s Return
Joshua was at the station to meet his mistress, and Lucinda, full to the brim with curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.
Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity which was sufficiently overpowering to counteract the effect of her bonnet’s being somewhat awry. She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness that was indescribable, and her glance glided completely over Lucinda and faded away in the open country on the further side of her.
Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy stock and stormy glances neither bent nor broke her spirit.
“I’m glad to see you come back looking so well,” she screamed, when Aunt Mary was in and they were off.
Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner that appeared a trifle indignant, and riveted her gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.
“I thought it was more like heaven myself,” she said coldly. “Not that your opinion matters any to me, Lucinda.”
Then she leaned forward and poked the driver.
“Joshua!” she said.
Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her poke and her tone.