Iris entered the farm-house; leaving Fanny Mere, after what the doctor
had said on the subject of visitors, to wait for her in the carriage.
After an absence of barely ten minutes Miss Henley returned; personally
changed, not at all to her own advantage, by the introduction of a
novelty in her dress. She had gone into the farmhouse, wearing a
handsome mantle of sealskin. When she came out again, the mantle had
vanished, and there appeared in its place a common cloak of
drab-coloured cloth. Noticing the expression of blank amazement in the
maid's face, Iris burst out laughing.
"How do you think I look in my new cloak?" she asked.
Fanny saw nothing to laugh at in the sacrifice of a sealskin mantle. "I
must not presume, Miss, to give an opinion," she said gravely.
"At any rate," Iris continued, "you must be more than mortal if my
change of costume doesn't excite your curiosity. I found Rhoda Bennet
in the garden, exposed to the cold wind in this ugly flimsy thing.
After what the doctor had told me, it was high time to assert my
authority. I insisted on changing cloaks with Rhoda. She made an
attempt, poor dear, to resist; but she knows me of old--and I had my
way. I am sorry you have been prevented from seeing her; you shall not
miss the opportunity when she is well again. Do you admire a fine view?
Very well; we will vary the drive on our return. Go back," she said to
the coachman, "by Highgate and Hampstead."
Fanny's eyes rested on the shabby cloak with a well-founded distrust of
it as a protection against the autumn weather. She ventured to suggest
that her mistress might feel the loss (in an open carriage) of the warm
mantle which she had left on Rhoda's shoulders.
Iris made light of the doubt expressed by her maid. But by the time
they had passed Highgate, and had approached the beginning of the
straight road which crosses the high ridge of Hampstead Heath, she was
obliged to acknowledge that she did indeed feel the cold. "You ought to
be a good walker," she said, looking at her maid's firm well-knit
figure. "Exercise is all I want to warm me. What do you say to going
home on foot?" Fanny was ready and willing to accompany her mistress.
The carriage was dismissed, and they set forth on their walk.
As they passed the inn called "The Spaniards," two women who were
standing at the garden gate stared at Iris, and smiled. A few paces
further on, they were met by an errand-boy. He too looked at the young
lady, and put his hand derisively to his head, with a shrill whistle
expressive of malicious enjoyment. "I appear to amuse these people,"
Iris said. "What do they see in me?"