Lucy and Mrs. Jasher were having a confidential conversation in the
small pink drawing-room. True to her promise, Miss Kendal had come to
readjust matters between the fiery little Professor and the widow. But
it was not an easy task, as Mrs. Jasher was righteously indignant at the
rash words used to her.
"As if I knew anything about the matter," she repeated again and again
in angry tones. "Why, my dear, he as good as told me I had murdered--"
Lucy did not let her finish.
"There! there!" she said, speaking as she would have done to a fretful
child, "you know what my father is."
"It seems to me that I am just beginning to learn," said the widow
bitterly, "and knowing how ready he is to believe ill of me, I think it
is better we should part for ever."
"But you'll never be Lady Braddock."
"Even if I married him, I am not sure that I should be, since I learn
that his brother is singularly healthy and comes of a long-lived family.
And it will not be pleasant to live with your father when he has such a
temper."
"That was only because he was excited. Think of your salon, and of the
position you wish to hold in, London."
"Ah, well," said Mrs. Jasher, visibly softening, "there is something to
be said there. After all, one can never find a man who is perfection.
And a very amiable man is usually a fool. One can't expect a rose to
be without thorns. But really, my dear," she surveyed Lucy with mild
surprise, "you appear to be very anxious that I should marry your
father."
"I want to see my father made comfortable before I marry Archie,"
said the girl with a blush. "Of course my father is quite a child in
household affairs and needs everything done for him. Archie--I am glad
to say--is now in a position to marry me in the spring. I want you to be
married about the same time, and then you can live in Gartley, and--"
"No, my dear," said Mrs. Jasher firmly, "if I marry your father, he
wishes us to go at once to Egypt in search of this tomb."
"I know that he wants you to help with the money left to you by your
late brother. But surely you will not go up the Nile yourself?"
"No, certainly not," said the widow promptly. "I shall remain in Cairo
while the Professor goes on his excursion into Ethiopia. I know that
Cairo is a very charming place, and that I shall be able to enjoy myself
there."
"Then you have decided to forgive my father for his rash words?"
"I must," sighed Mrs. Jasher. "I am so tired of being an unprotected
widow without a recognized position in the world. Even with my brother's
money,--not that it is so very much--I shall still be looked upon
askance if I go into society. But as Mrs. Braddock, or Lady Braddock,
no one will dare to say a word against me. Yes, my dear, if your father
comes and, asks my pardon he shall have it. We women are so weak," ended
the widow virtuously, as if she was not making a virtue of necessity.