Now she knew better what “trouble” meant; and to part with Tito forever seemed like cutting her own heart in two.
“Steenie, my granddaughter! Do not forget that there are others present to whom an exhibition of domestic misunderstanding must be most disagreeable. You may take the basket of sea-shells into the dining-room, if you like, and show them to Beatrice.”
“I don’t care about sea-shells, ma’am,” responded Beatrice, with what she considered great politeness.
“An’—an’—please ’xcuse me!” said Steenie, tremulously, and ran out of the house, stableward, faster than even her fleet feet had ever sped before.
Mrs. Courtenay rose, “I think, Judge, that it is really time we should go. I have another call to make, and it is growing late. I hope, dear madam, that you are satisfied with Steenie’s progress under Miss Allen. She tells me that the little thing is very bright at her studies.”
“Thank you; fully satisfied. Yes, I think, I am sure that our little girl has intelligence; only her instruction has heretofore been so deficient,—in every way. I trust you will pardon her rudeness, and expect better things of her by-and-by. She has been a trifle spoiled, I fear. However, I believe that she will make rapid advancement after she is once well started. And pray do not think, Judge, that because I found your ‘riding-school’ too big a venture for a child not yet eleven to undertake, that I do not estimate your own unselfish motive most highly. It simply—could not be.” Madam Calthorp’s smile as she said this was very bright and very proud.
“That’s it! It’s the miserable Calthorp pride that is at the bottom of it!” muttered the Judge, as he rode away. “The father had more sense; he saw no objection to our idea any more than I do, or any other sensible person could. It is an original scheme, of course; but where would the world be if it were not for original people now and then? The child has a talent—a genius—in a unique line. Well, then, why not develop it,—same as music, art, or any other great gift? And she’d be perfectly safe,—I’d see to that; they must have known it.”
“Doubtless they did; and I know something else.”
“What’s that?”—a trifle shortly. It does not improve the temper of most people to have their generosity declined, and the Judge was no exception to the rule.
“That you will buy Tito, if he must be sold, and keep him at Rookwood for his own little mistress.”