“Is she the mother of the young man at Backsworth?”
“Yes,” said Eleonora, in rather a different tone. “Perhaps she goes rather far; and he has flown into the opposite extreme, though they say he is improving, and has given up the turf, and all that sort of thing.”
“Was he at home? I heard he was on leave.”
“He was said to be at home, but I hardly ever saw him. He was always out with his own friends when I was there.”
“I should not suppose Lady Susan’s pursuits were much in his line. Is not one of the daughters a Sister?”
“Yes, at St. Faith’s. She was my great friend. The younger ones are nice girls, but have not much in them. Camilla is going to have them down for the bazaar.”
“What, do they patronize bazaars?”
“Everything that is doing they patronize. I have known them be everywhere, from the Drawing-room to a Guild-meeting in a back slum, and all with equal appetite. That is one reason why I fear I shall not see much of your mother; they are never tired, and I shall never get out alone. The house is to be full of people, and we are to be very gay.”
She spoke with a tone that betrayed how little pleasure she expected, though it strove to be uncomplaining; and Julius, who had learnt something of poor Frank’s state of jealous misery, heartily wished the Strangeways family further, regarding the intimacy as a manœuvre of Lady Tyrrell’s, and doubting how far all Eleonora’s evident struggles would keep her out of the net; and though while talking to her he had not the slightest doubt of her sincerity, he had not long set her down at the lodge before he remembered that she was a Vivian.
Meantime Rosamond, carrying some medicament to old Betty Reynolds, found the whole clan in excitement at the appearance of Joe in all his buttons, looking quite as honest and innocent, though a good deal more civilized, than when he was first discovered among the swine.