Thomas, the cat, purred so loudly as I withdrew, that I think he was glad to be rid of me.
Adolphe alone was against the verdict of the household, and I think believed that I would have preferred to remain.
“I’m sure I thought you was quite sattled, miss,” he said, as he saw me off; and he blubbered like a baby. His transplanted perennials were “sattled” by copious floods of water. Perhaps he hoped that tears would settle me!
CHAPTER XI.
MATILDA’S NEWS—OUR GOVERNESS—MAJOR BULLER TURNED TUTOR—ELEANOR ARKWRIGHT.
The grief I felt at leaving The Vine was greatly forgotten in the warm welcome which awaited me on my return to Riflebury.
In a household where gossip is a principal amusement, the return of any member from a visit is a matter for general congratulation till the new budget is exhausted. Indeed, I plead guilty to a liking to be the first to skim the news when Eleanor or one of the boys comes back from a visit, at the present time.
Matilda withdrew me from Aunt Theresa as soon as she could.
“I am so glad to get you back, Margery dear,” said she. “And now you must tell me all your news, and I’ll tell you all mine. And to begin with—what do you think?—we’ve got a governess, and you and I are to have the little room at the head of the stairs all to ourselves.”