More briefly Mr. Mauleverer explained that Mary had fallen while playing
on the stairs; and with this superficial inspection he must needs
content himself, though on making inquiry at the principal shops, he
convinced himself that neither Mr. Mauleverer nor the F. U. E. E. were
as well known at St. Norbert's as at Avonmouth. He told Rachel of his
expedition, and his interest in her work gratified her, though she would
have preferred being his cicerone. She assured him that he must have
been very much pleased, especially with the matron.
"She is a handsome woman, and reminds me strongly of a face I saw in
India."
"There are some classes of beauty and character that have a remarkable
sameness of feature," began Rachel.
"Don't push that theory, for your matron's likeness was a very handsome
Sepoy havildar whom we took at Lucknow, a capital soldier before the
mutiny, and then an ineffable ruffian."
"The mutiny was an infectious frenzy; so that you establish nothing
against that cast of countenance."
Never, indeed, was there more occasion for perseverance in Rachel's
championship. Hitherto Mrs. Kelland had been nailed to her pillow by the
exigencies of Lady Keith's outfit, and she and her minions had toiled
unremittingly, without a thought beyond their bobbins, but as soon as
the postponed orders were in train, and the cash for the wedding veil
and flounces had been transmitted, the good woman treated herself and
her daughters to a holiday at St. Norbert's, without intimating her
intention to her patronesses; and the consequence was a formal complaint
of her ungrateful and violent language to Mrs. Rawlins on being refused
admission to the asylum without authority from Mr. Mauleverer or Miss
Curtis.
Rachel, much displeased, went down charged with reproof and
representation, but failed to produce the desired effect upon the aunt.
"It was not right," Mrs. Kelland reiterated, "that the poor lone orphan
should not see her that was as good as a mother, when she had no one
else to look to. They that kept her from her didn't do it for no good
end."
"But, Mrs. Kelland, rules are rules."
"Don't tell me of no rules, Miss Rachel, as would cut a poor child off
from her friends as her mother gave her to on her death-bed. 'Sally,'
says she, 'I know you will do a mother's part by that poor little maid;'
and so I did till I was over persuaded to let her go to that there
place."
"Indeed you have nothing to regret there, Mrs. Kelland; you know, that
with the kindest intentions, you could not make the child happy."
"And why was that, ma'am, but because her mother was a poor creature
from town, that had never broke her to her work. I never had the trouble
with a girl of my own I had with her. 'It's all for your good, Lovedy,'
I says to her, and poor child, maybe she wishes herself back again."