He had returned to London, after being absent for many years from England, hoping to find his sister, but had failed to do so. He had lived to regret, with keen self-reproach, the severity with which he had treated her. He regretted it more than ever, as little Coral's face brought to mind one and another tender memory of his childhood.
Coral and Beryl were astonished to learn that their friend Mr. Gilbank had put them into his picture. Of course they were eager to see the painting, and Mr. Hollys, after some coaxing, agreed to take them to the Academy at an early hour the next morning.
The children were very pleased with David Gilbank's work. Their childish vanity was gratified by his exact representation of them as they had appeared last summer, even to the very sun-bonnets, which they had thought so ugly when Lucy had insisted on their wearing them for the sake of their complexions. Beryl was delighted too with the excellence of Lion's portrait.
"Now, papa, you will take us to see Mr. Gilbank, will you not?" Beryl exclaimed.
"Certainly I will; it is a promise, you know," he replied. "I will try to manage it to-morrow."
"I hope Mrs. Campbell won't want to go with us," said Beryl.
"Why not?" asked her father in surprise. "I thought you were so very fond of Mrs. Campbell."
"I am not so very fond of her now," said Beryl, with an odd emphasis on the very.
In truth, Beryl's feelings towards that lady had so changed that, instead of being fond of her, she was beginning to dislike her. She watched Mrs. Campbell's words and ways with a child's keen observation, and found much to criticise in her confidences with Coral. Moreover, something scarce definable in the words and looks of those about her made Beryl fear that Mrs. Campbell would exercise a disturbing influence on her childish future. This fear took definite form on the evening following their visit to the Academy.
Beryl, who complained of a headache, had been sent to bed rather earlier than usual by Mrs. Campbell. She was not in the best temper at this, despite the honeyed words with which that lady had dismissed her. As she approached the nursery, she found that Lucy was enjoying a gossip with Mrs. Campbell's maid. Ere she entered, Beryl's quick ears caught the words uttered by Lucy:—