Mabel's Mistake Part 45

"'I don't believe you have heard a syllable Mr. Harrington has said. His mother wants us to go out driving with her toward sunset.'

"'So Mrs. Harrington told me this morning.'

"'But you did not mention it.'

"'No, because she spoke before she knew of her husband's journey, and I thought she might not feel inclined to go out.'

"'I am sure I shall be delighted,' Lucy said. 'Do you mean to take the other seat, Mr. Harrington?'

"'If you permit.'

"'Oh, my! I'm sure it's not for me to say! But I know your mother never half enjoys herself unless you are present, and really, one feels so much safer driving when there's a gentleman along. One never knows what these dreadful Spanish coachmen may do.'

"'I believe ours is very trusty,' James replied. 'Please don't hint your fears to my mother, or she would not drive again while she is here.'

"'Oh, of course not! Any way, I did not mean anything--I always speak without thought! Mamma says my head is no better than a feather. Isn't that cruel of her, Mr. Harrington?'

"'You can console yourself by being certain that she does not mean it.'

"'Oh, I don't know! Mamma has a great admiration for dignified, stately creatures, like our dear Miss Crawford. She says I will be nothing but a spoiled little kitten all my days.'

"James looked so impatient of all this nonsense, that I was amused in spite of myself. I went away to his mother's room, and left him to free himself from Miss Eaton the best way he could."

CHAPTER LI.

CONTINUED MISUNDERSTANDING.

"Mrs. Harrington was lying on her sofa when I entered. She looked up and smiled cheerfully, but I could see that she had been crying.

"'I sent for you, dear, because James wanted to go out for a while,' she said. 'Some way I don't just like being left alone--you don't mind sitting with me?'

"'You know I like it, Mrs. Harrington.'

"'You're a dear, good girl, Mabel! I never can be grateful enough to you for all your kindness and patience with me.'

"I kissed her forehead but did not answer.

"'Toward evening we'll go out to drive,' she said, 'and take that little Lucy with us.'

"'Yes; Mr. Harrington gave her your invitation. Shall I go on with our book now?'

"'Oh yes, do; I am wonderfully interested in it.'

"I had left the novel in the _salon_, and went back to get it. As I opened the door, James was pacing up and down the room, and the face he turned toward me was pale and troubled.

"'I came for my book,' I said, and began searching for it among the volumes on the table.

"'Can I help you?'

"'Thanks--no--here it is.'

"How different it all was from the days--so far off and faded they seemed now--when we had conversed like friends, with neither restraints or concealment between us!

"Now he was reserved--distant, and I could feel that my manner was absolutely cold and haughty. I had reached the door when he came hurriedly toward me, saying--

"'Miss Crawford!'

"I stopped.

"'What is it, Mr. Harrington?'

"I knew my voice sounded icy--he looked at me, and the odd, troubled look came over his face again.

"'I only wished to ask if you were going to my mother,' he said in a hesitating, embarra.s.sed way, very unusual with him.

"It was not true; he had meant to speak of something entirely different.

I have wondered since if my frigid manner and lack of sympathy prevented him. Yet what could he have said--there was no possibility of his bringing even the slightest allusion to his trouble before me.

"'Certainly I am,' I said.

"'I have to go out,' he continued; 'I will be back by the time you wish to drive.'

"'Very well; but I a.s.sure you as far as I am concerned, I have no fear that the coachman cannot manage the horses without difficulty.'

"He colored slightly--offended, I suppose, by my tone and my indifference.

"'My mother desired me to accompany her,' he said, coldly, 'so I shall be obliged to force myself upon your society.'

"'Are you not too modest in your estimate of yourself?' I asked with a laugh, that even to my own ears, sounded so harsh and mocking, that I scarcely recognized it as my own.

"He gave me another of those quick, strange glances. It was too late to attempt to soften my judgments or opinions now, by looks or words. While hating myself for the thoughts that tormented me, I could neither return to my old faith or believe in the evil that disturbed it.

"'I fear I hardly appreciate satire,' he said, gravely.

"'No!' returned I, laughingly. 'You must cultivate a taste for it--read the old English humorists.'

"'Certainly Miss Crawford seems to have been studying the art lately with great diligence, if one may judge from the results.'

"'That is a somewhat doubtful compliment, still I must take it for granted that you meant it to be one,' said I. 'But I cannot wait to listen--Mrs. Harrington is wondering what I am about, I dare say.'

"'And we are not friends any longer? 'he asked with a sudden change of manner, extending his hand as he spoke.

"'The best of friends, certainly,' I answered, 'only I have not time just now to talk about the matter.'