"Have you not sufficient guarantee in the very fact of her husband's
confidence?"
"I don't know. A simple-hearted old soldier always means a very foolish
old man."
"Witness the Newcomes," said Ermine, who, besides her usual amusement
in tracing Rachel's dicta to their source, could only keep in her
indignation by laughing.
"General observation," said Rachel, not to be turned from her purpose.
"I am not foolishly suspicious, but it is not pleasant to see great
influence and intimacy without some knowledge of the person exercising
it."
"I think," said Ermine, bringing herself with difficulty to answer
quietly, "that you can hardly understand the terms they are on without
having seen how much a staff officer becomes one of the family."
"I suppose much must be allowed for the frivolity and narrowness of
a military set in a colony. Imagine my one attempt at rational
conversation last night. Asking his views on female emigration,
absolutely he had none at all; he and Fanny only went off upon a
nursemaid married to a sergeant!"
"Perhaps the bearings of the question would hardly suit mixed company."
"To be sure there was a conceited young officer there; for as ill luck
will have it, my uncle's old regiment is quartered at Avoncester, and
I suppose they will all be coming after Fanny. It is well they are no
nearer, and as this colonel says he is going to Belfast in a day or two,
there will not be much provocation to them to come here. Now this great
event of the Major's coming is over, we will try to put Fanny upon a
definite system, and I look to you and your sister as a great assistance
to me, in counteracting the follies and nonsenses that her situation
naturally exposes her to. I have been writing a little sketch of the
dangers of indecision, that I thought of sending to the 'Traveller.' It
would strike Fanny to see there what I so often tell her; but I can't
get an answer about my paper on 'Curatocult,' as you made me call it."
"Did I!"
"You said the other word was of two languages. I can't think why they
don't insert it; but in the meantime I will bring down my 'Human Reeds,'
and show them to you. I have only an hour's work on them; so I'll come
to-morrow afternoon."
"I think Colonel Keith talked of calling again--thank you," suggested
Ermine in despair.
"Ah, yes, one does not want to be liable to interruptions in the most
interesting part. When he is gone to Belfast--"
"Yes, when he is gone to Belfast!" repeated Ermine, with an irresistible
gleam of mirth about her lips and eyes, and at that moment Alison made
her appearance. The looks of the sisters met, and read one another so
far as to know that the meeting was over, and for the rest they endured,
while Rachel remained, little imagining the trial her presence had been
to Alison's burning heart--sick anxiety and doubt. How could it be well?
Let him be loveable, let him be constant, that only rendered Ermine's
condition the more pitiable, and the shining glance of her eyes was
almost more than Alison could bear. So happy as the sisters had been
together, so absolutely united, it did seem hard to disturb that calm
life with hopes and agitations that must needs be futile; and Alison,
whose whole life and soul were in her sister, could not without a pang
see that sister's heart belonging to another, and not for hopeful joy,
but pain and grief. The yearning of jealousy was sternly reproved and
forced down, and told that Ermine had long been Colin Keith's, that the
perpetrator of the evil had the least right of any one to murmur
that her own monopoly of her sister was interfered with; that she was
selfish, unkind, envious; that she had only to hate herself and pray
for strength to bear the punishment, without alloying Ermine's happiness
while it lasted. How it could be so bright Alison knew not, but so it
was she recognised by every tone of the voice, by every smile on the
lip, by even the upright vigour with which Ermine sat in her chair and
undertook Rachel's tasks of needlework.