I suppose I looked sad, for Will Dudley crossed over the room to talk to me.
“Aren’t you well?” he asked, and his eyes looked so anxious and worried that it quite comforted me.
“I have rather a headache,” I began, without thinking of what I was saying, and then, (somehow I never can help telling him exactly how I feel), I stopped, and contradicted myself flat. “I’m perfectly well, but I think I’m jealous. I have been the only child for so long, and now my poor little nose is out of joint, and I don’t like it a bit. It aches.”
I thought he would sympathise and protest that I could never be superseded, in his opinion at least, but he just sighed, and said slowly—
“Yes, she is very lovely! It must be a great responsibility to have a face as beautiful as hers, with all the influence over others that is its accompaniment!” and looked straight across the room to where Vere stood beneath the shaded lamp.
She was not looking in our direction; but, as if she felt his gaze without seeing it, she turned her head slowly round and raised her eyes to his, and so they stood while you could have counted ten, staring, staring, straight into each other’s eyes, and I saw the colour fade gradually out of Vere’s face as though she were frightened by what she saw. That is the way people fall in love! I’ve read about it in books. They sort of recognise each other when they meet, even if they are perfect strangers, and Lorna says it is the soul recognising its mate. But I know well enough that Vere would never satisfy Will Dudley, and, besides, there is Rachel—poor patient Rachel, who trusts him so faithfully. I looked up quickly to see if he had turned pale also. He was rather white, but there was a curious little smile about the corners of his lips which quietened my fears. I should not have liked that smile if I had been Vere. There was something contemptuous in it despite its admiration, and a sort of defiance, too, as if he were quite, quite sure of himself and secure from all temptation; but then they do begin like that sometimes, and the siren weaves on them her spells, and they succumb. I wonder how it will end with Vere and Will Dudley!
Chapter Seven.
It is rather jolly having a house full of people; and father and mother and Vere are so clever at entertaining. There is never any fuss nor effort, and people are allowed to go their own way, but there is always something to do if they choose to do it. I must say that, for grown-up people, these visitors are very frivolous, and play about together as if they were children. Mr Nash began showing me tricks with pennies after breakfast the first morning, and I was so interested learning how to do them that it was half-past ten before I thought of joining father at the stables. It was too late then, and I wasn’t altogether sorry, for it was livelier going about with these new people, and it wasn’t my fault, for I should have gone if I’d remembered. I was extra nice to father at lunch to make up, and he didn’t seem a bit vexed, so I needn’t trouble another day. Really, I think it is my duty to help Vere all I can. She questioned me about Will Dudley the first time we were alone. I knew she would, and decided to tell her of his engagement. I had been told not to speak of it generally; but to my own sister it was different, and I had a feeling that she ought to know.