“No, we can’t make up our minds. We want to find a place that is exquisitely pretty—yet not too far from London, so that we may run up to town occasionally and see about our furnishing. Sir Henry offered us Rainham, but as it is both ugly and inconvenient I unhesitatingly refused. I don’t want to spend my honeymoon in a place pervaded by prize pigeons.”
“What do you think of the neighbourhood of the Thames, Pamela?” asked Mildred thoughtfully. “Are you fond of boating?”
“Fond! I adore it. I could live all my life upon the river.”
“Really! I have been thinking that if you and Mr. Stuart would like to spend your honeymoon at The Hook it is just the kind of place to suit you. The house is bright and pretty, and the gardens are exquisite.”
Pamela’s face kindled with pleasure.
“But, dear aunt, you would never think—” she began.
“The place is at your service, my dear girl. It will be a pleasure for me to prepare everything for you. I cannot tell you how dearly I love that house, or how full of memories it is for me. The lease of my father’s house in Parchment Street was sold after his death, and I only kept a few special things out of the furniture, but at The Hook nothing has been altered since I was a child.”
Pamela accepted the offer with rapture, and wrote an eight-page letter to her lover upon the subject, although he was coming to Brighton next day, and was to dine in Lewes Crescent. Mildred was pleased at being able to give so much pleasure to her husband’s niece. It may be also that she snatched at an excuse for revisiting a spot she fondly loved.
She offered to take Pamela with her, to explore the house and gardens, and discuss any small arrangements for the bride’s comfort, but against this Miss Ransome protested.
“I want everything to be new to us,” she said, “all untrodden ground, a delicious surprise. I am sure the place is lovely; and I want to know no more about it than I know of fairyland. I haven’t the faintest notion what a Hook can be in connection with the Thames. It may be a mountain or a glacier, for anything I know to the contrary; but I am assured it is delightful. Please let me know nothing more, dearest aunt, till I go there with Malcolm. It is adorable of you to hit upon such a splendid idea. And it will look very well in the society papers,” added Pamela, waxing business-like. “‘Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Stuart!’ (O, how queer that sounds!) ‘are to spend their honeymoon at The Hook, the riverside residence of the bride’s aunt.’ I wonder whether they will say ‘the well-known residence’?” mused Pamela.