"Then I must not even tell her that she won't be required to croquet,
and that I'll guard her from all civil speeches."
"No, for indeed, Bessie, on your own account and Lord Keith's, you
should hardly spend a long afternoon from home."
"Here's the war in the enemy's quarters! As to fatigue, dawdling about
Mrs. Huntsford's garden, is much the same as dawdling about my own, and
makes me far more entertaining."
"I cannot help thinking, Bessie, that Lord Keith is more ill than you
suppose. I am sure he is in constant pain."
"So I fear," said Bessie, gravely; "but what can be done? He will see no
one but his old surgeon in Edinburgh."
"Then take him there."
"Take him? You must know what it is to be in the hands of a clever woman
before you make such a proposal."
"You are a cleverer woman than my wife in bringing about what you really
wish."
"Just consider, Alick, our own house is uninhabitable, and this one on
our hands--my aunt coming to me in a month's time. You don't ask me to
do what is reasonable."
"I cannot tell, Bessie. You can be the only judge of what is regard of
the right kind for your husband's health or for yourself; and see, there
is Mrs. Huntsford actually arrived, and talking to my uncle."
"One moment, Alick: I am not going to insult myself so far as to suppose
that poor Charlie Carleton's being at home has anything to do with your
desire to deport me, but I want you to know that he did not come home
till after we were settled here."
"I do not wish to enter into details, Bessie," and he crossed the lawn
towards the window where Mr. Clare and Rachel had just received Mrs.
Huntsford, a goodnatured joyous-looking lady, a favourite with every
one. Her invitation was dexterously given to meet a few friends at
luncheon, and in the garden, where the guests would be free to come and
go; there might perhaps be a little dancing later, she had secured some
good music which would, she knew, attract Mr. Clare, and she hoped he
would bring Captain and Mrs. Keith. She knew Mrs. Keith had not been
well, but she promised her a quiet room to rest in, and she wanted
to show her a view of the Devon coast done by a notable artist in
water-colours. Rachel readily accepted--in fact, this quiet month had
been so full of restoration that she had almost forgotten her morbid
shrinking from visitors; and Bessie infused into her praise and
congratulations a hint that a refusal would have been much against
Alick's reputation, so that she resolved to keep up to the mark, even
though he took care that she should know that she might yet retract.