There was a moment’s silence; then the exclamation, “Just look there!”
One of the hats was nodding on the box in a perilous manner.
“It is only James,” said Lady Tyrrell; “as long as it is not the coachman, it matters the less. There’s no danger.”
“You will not keep him, though!”
“I don’t know. He is much the best looking and handiest of the men; and your page, Master Joshua, is no great acquisition yet.”
“I wish you would not call him mine; I wish you would send him back to his grandmother. I can’t bear his being among those men.”
“Very complimentary to my household! They are not a bit worse than the company he came from! You don’t believe in rural simplicity, eh?”
“I believe that taking that boy from his home makes us responsible.”
“And do I hinder you from catechizing him to your heart’s content? or sending him to the school of design?”
Again Eleonora was silent. Perhaps the balancing of the footman’s head occupied her mind. At any rate, no more was said till the sisters had reached their home. Then, at the last moment, when there was no time left for a reply, Eleonora cleared and steadied her voice, and said, “Camilla, understand two things for truth’s sake. First, I mean what I say. Nothing shall ever induce me to marry a man who bets. Next, I never have forgotten Frank Charnock for one moment. If I have been cold and distant to him, it is because I will not draw him near me to be cruelly scorned and disappointed!”