It had been arranged that Tom should go and fetch his sister on Friday, but by the first post on Friday morning Miss Merivale got a letter from Rose, saying that Pauline would return with her that afternoon, and that there was no need for Tom to come to London. It was at Pauline’s instigation Rose had written the letter. Those few charmed days in the little flat had made Rose more passionately desirous than ever to get away from Woodcote, and Pauline had suggested that she should go home with Rose and beg her aunt to allow her to pay a longer visit a little later in the year.
“May is the best month of the year in London, Rose. You shall spend May with me. The flat will have to be given up then, if I cannot get anyone to share it with me. Lady Desborough only took it till the end of April. But we will have a lovely May together. I am sure your aunt will not refuse to let you come.”
“I couldn’t possibly stay away for a month,” Rose said firmly, but with the air of a martyr. “Aunt Lucy looked heartbroken when I asked for a week this time. She has got to depend on me for everything.”
“Just so. But if you were away she would do things for herself, and it would be a thousand times better for her. She won’t have missed you this time as much as you fear, Rosie. And won’t you think of me a little bit? Just think how lonely I shall be!”
“Oh, I know. And I want to come again,” Rose said piteously. “I might get away for a week in May. If you spoke to Aunt Lucy”—
“Trust it to me entirely, dear. I know exactly what to say. And I feel sure your aunt will let you be free when she understands how much you want it. For a week or so, I mean,” she added hastily, as she saw Rose’s anxious look. “I mustn’t ask for more, I suppose.”
“It wouldn’t be a bit of good to ask,” sighed Rose. “If Aunt Lucy said I might stay longer, she would look so miserable about it I should not like to take her at her word. But I might be spared for a week, I should think. That will be something to look forward to.”
They reached Woodcote early in the afternoon, and Pauline was soon furnished with an opportunity to plead Rose’s cause with Miss Merivale. Tom had bought a new pony which he wanted Rose to see, and they went away to the stables, leaving their aunt and Pauline alone. Pauline had laughingly refused to accompany them.
“I am going to tell Miss Merivale what Mrs. Metcalfe said about your music, Rose,” she said. “It would make you vain if you were to hear it.”
“Who is Mrs. Metcalfe?” asked Tom, when they got outside. “Is she a great authority, Rose?”