Thereby Hangs a Tale Part 76

"I have heard so often of your beauty, goodness, and your many acts of kindness, that I have been tempted to ask you to come once and see me before I pa.s.s away. I would say _pray_ come, but I think your gentle heart will listen to my simple appeal. Come to me, and say good-bye.

"Netta Lane."

Here followed the address.

"It's some poor creature in great distress, my dear, who has heard of us. We'll go this afternoon, and take her something."

"Would you go, mamma?" faltered Tiny, whose heart told her whom the letter was from.

"Certainly, my dear. I shouldn't rest to-night if I'd left such an appeal as that unanswered, let alone enjoy our At Home; though there isn't much enjoyment to be got out of those affairs, with everybody drinking tea on the stairs, and ten times as many people as we've room for."

"Then you would go, mamma?"

"Certainly, darling. It's an awkward time for her to send, but we'll go; and oh, my darling, pray, pray try and look bright. You make me wretched."

"I do--I will try, mamma!" exclaimed Tiny, suppressing a sob. "But tell me, is Captain Vanleigh going to be here to-night?"

"I--I was obliged to send him an invitation, my darling," said Lady Rea, pitifully. "Your papa stood at my side while I wrote it. If--if--he-- Mr Trevor had stood firm to you, they should have cut me in pieces before I'd have done it; but as it is, what can I do?"

Tiny made no reply; and directly after luncheon the carriage came round, and, being left at the corner of the narrow street, Lady Rea and her daughter made their way on foot to the house of Mrs Jenkles.

Mrs Lane met them, and said it was her daughter's wish to see Miss Rea alone, if she would condescend to go up and see her; and a minute after, with a mist floating before her eyes, and a singing in her ears, Tiny stood near Netta's couch, as the poor girl lay, with clasped fingers, gazing up at the graceful, fas.h.i.+onably-dressed girl.

Tiny maintained a haughty silence for a few minutes. This was the girl for whom she had been forsaken. She felt sure of it. How could it be otherwise? But the letter said that she was dying. Fin had told her of Pratt's a.s.surances; and, as the mist cleared away, so melted the hauteur, for she could not look upon the soft, sweet face before her with anger; and if he loved her, should not she do the same? The two girls gazed in each other's eyes for a few moments, and then, with a smile, Netta held out one hand.

"Thank you for coming," she said. "I have wanted to see you for months, and I was afraid I should not live long enough. Do you know why?"

"No--I cannot tell," said Tiny, in a choking voice; for she, too, could see for herself the truth of what had been said.

"I wanted to see the beautiful girl that he loves--her of whom he has so often talked--and to tell you that you have misjudged him, if you think as your sister thinks in the letter she sent."

"Letter?" exclaimed Tiny.

"Yes, this," said the girl, producing one from her bosom. "Oh, Miss Rea, how can you slight his n.o.ble love? If you only knew! You both misjudge him. Look at me, dear. I am here now; perhaps to-morrow, or the next day, I shall be gone. But I do not think I could have died without seeing you face to face, and telling you that he has been true, and n.o.ble, and faithful to you. You might not have believed me if I had been different; but now, ready to go away, you know mine are true words, when I tell you Richard Lloyd has been to me as a brother."

"Oh, I believe, I believe!" sobbed Tiny, sinking on her knees beside the couch. "But it is too late--too late!"

"No, no," whispered Netta, "it is not too late. Make him happy. Send to him to come to you. He is too proud and poor to come himself. But I know his story: how he lost all through being so honourable and good.

Tiny--you see I know your name; why, he has described you to me so often that I should have known _you_--send for him, and bless him. You could not love such a one as he too well."

"Too late!" sobbed Tiny. "It is too late."

She started up, and turned as if to go; but only to push her hair back from her forehead, lean over Netta's couch and kiss her, as a pair of thin, weak arms closed round her neck. Then, tearing herself away, she hurried from the house with Lady Rea, who vainly questioned her as to the cause of her agitation.

"I asked the woman, who is very ladylike, my dear, but she said her daughter would explain; so I waited till you came down; and now," said the little ruffled dame, "you do nothing but cry."

"Don't ask me now, mamma, dear," sobbed Tiny, covering her face with her hands. "Another time I'll tell you all."

"Very well, my darling," said Lady Rea, resignedly. "But, pray, try now and look brighter. Papa will be terribly put out if he finds you so; for he said you told him yesterday you would do as he wished about Captain Vanleigh, and Aunt Matty has been quite affectionate to me ever since."

"Mamma, dear, do you think it will make you happier?"

"I don't know, my dear," said Lady Rea. "I blame myself sometimes for not being more determined; but I'm obliged to own that Captain Vanleigh has been very patient, and he must care for you."

Tiny shuddered again, and her sobs became so violent that Lady Rea drew up the carriage window, for a few minutes being quite alarmed. At length, though, the poor girl grew calm, and seemed to make an effort over herself as they neared home, just as Fin crossed the road from the square garden, looking as innocent as if she had not had half an hour's talk with Frank Pratt.

Volume 3, Chapter XV.

AT HOME.

"And what do you mean to do, Tiny?" said Fin, as she stood by her sister's side, dressed for the evening. "Papa told me about it, and nearly boxed my ears because I said it was a shame; and he ended by saying if I did not follow your example, and listen to Sir Felix, he would keep me on bread and water; and then I laughed out loud, and he left the room in a fury. How could you be so weak?"

"I don't know," faltered Tiny, "only that I was very miserable.

Constant dropping will wear a stone."

"Then the stone must be very soft. Withdraw your promise," cried Fin.

"Do as I do. I'll be as obedient a child as I can, but I will not be married against my will."

"Please, Miss, somebody's downstairs already," said their maid, entering the room. "And Edward says Sir Hampton's in a towering pa.s.sion because there was no one but him in the drawing-room."

"Isn't mamma there?" cried Fin.

"No, Miss, her ladys.h.i.+p was dressed, and going down; but her primrose satin came undone--give way at the hooks and eyes--and she had to go back to change it."

"Tell Edward to say we'll be down in a moment," said Fin.

Hurrying the girl out of the room, she turned to Tiny, who stood looking pale and stunned.

"It wasn't true, Fin!" she said, pitifully, as her face began to work.

"He wasn't deceitful. I saw her to-day."

"Saw whom?" exclaimed Fin, in wonder.

"That poor girl. She sent for me--she is dying; and oh, Fin, darling, I feel as if my heart would break!"

She sank sobbing on her sister's shoulder, sadly disarranging poor Fin's dress; but that was forgotten as, with eager haste, the little maiden tried hard to soothe and comfort her.

"If ma won't fight for you, Tiny, I will," she cried, impetuously. "I declare its too bad. I don't half know what you are talking about; but Frank--I mean Mr Pratt, always sticks up for his friend. Ugh! I wish I'd been near when that wicked Mrs Lloyd changed the babies, I'd have knocked her head off."

At this moment there was a knock at the bedroom door.

"Coming--coming--coming--coming!" said Fin, in a crescendo,

Then running to the door, she opened it once more to the maid.

"Please, Miss--"

"Bother--bother--bother!" cried Fin. "Don't you see Miss Rea's poorly?

Go and say we'll be down soon."