Go away? said Violet, in an extinguished voice.
Yes; it is the very thing for you. I shall stay here, and go backwards and forwards. Well, what is it now?
She was starting up, as the opening of the door let out another scream. There he is still! Let me go to him for one minute.
Folly! said Arthur, impatiently. Theres no peace day or night. I wont stand it any longer. You are half dead already. I will not have it go on. Lie down; go to sleep directly, and dont trouble your head about anything more till morning.
Like a good child, though choking with tears, she obeyed the first mandate; and presently was rather comforted by his listening at the foot of the stairs, and reporting that the boy seemed to be quiet at last. The rest of the order it was not in her power to obey; she was too much fatigued to sleep soundly, or to understand clearly. Most of the night was spent in broken dreams of being separated from her child and her husband, and wakening to the knowledge that something was going to happen.
At last came sounder slumbers; and she awoke with an aching head, but to clearer perceptions. And when Arthur, before going down to breakfast, asked what she wished him to say to John, she answered: It is very kind of himbut you never meant me to go without you?
I shall take you there, and run down pretty often; and John has been used to coddling himself all his life, so of course he will know how to take care of you.
How kind he is, but I dontshe broke off, and looked at the little pinched face and shrivelled arms of the tiny creature, which she pressed more closely to her; then, with a hesitating voice, Only, if it would do baby good!
Of course it would. He cant be well while things go on at this rate. Only ask Harding.
I wonder whether Mr. Martindale knew it was what Mr. Harding recommended! But you would be by yourself.
As if I had not taken care of myself for three-and-twenty years without your help!
And all your party will be in town, so that you will not miss me.
I shall be with you very often. Shall I tell John you accept?
Tell him it is very kind, and I am so much obliged to him, said Violet, unable to speak otherwise than disconsolately.
Accordingly the brothers agreed that Arthur should bring her to Ventnor on Saturday, if, as John expected, he could be prepared to receive her; placing much confidence in Browns savoir faire, though Brown was beyond measure amazed at such a disarrangement of his masters methodical habits; and Arthur himself gave a commiserating shake of the head as he observed that there was no accounting for tastes, but if John chose to shut himself up in a lodging with the most squallingest babby in creation, he was not the man to gainsay him; and further reflected, that if a man must be a younger son, John was a model elder brother.
Poor Violet! Her half-recovered state must be an excuse for her dire consternation on hearing it was definitively settled that she was to be carried off to Ventnor in four days time! How arrange for Arthur? Where find a nursemaid? What would become of the baby so far from Mr. Harding? The Isle of Wight seemed the ends of the earthout of England! Helpless and overpowered, she was in despair; it came to Arthurs asking, in displeasure, what she wantedwhether she meant to go or not. She thought of her drooping infant, and said at once she would go.
Well, then, whats all this about?
Then came tears, and Arthur went away, declaring she did not know herself what she would be at. He had really borne patiently with much plaintiveness, and she knew it. She accused herself of ingratitude and unreasonableness, and went into a fresh agony on that score; but soon a tap at the door warned her to strive for composure. It was Sarah, and Violet felt sure that the dreaded moment was come of her giving warning; but it was only a message. If you please, maam, theres a young person wants to see you.
Come as a nursery maid? said Violet, springing up in her nervous agitated way. Do you think she will do?
I dont think nothing of her, said Sarah, emphatically. Dont you go and be in a way, maam; theres no hurry.
Yes, but there is, Sarah. Baby and I are to go next Saturday to the Isle of Wight, and I cant take old nurse. I must have some one.
You wont get nobody by hurrying, said Sarah.
But whats to be done, Sarah? I cant bear giving the dear baby to a stranger, but I cant help it.
As for that, said Sarah, gloomily, I dont see but I could look after Master John as well as any that is like to offer for the present.
You! Oh, that would be nice! But I thought you did not like children?
I dont, but I dont mind while he is too little to make a racket, and worrit one out of ones life. It is only for the present, till you can suit yourself, maamjust that you may not be lost going into foreign parts with a stranger.
Sarah had been nursing the baby every leisure moment, and had, during the worst part of Violets illness, had more to do with him than the regular nurse. This was happily settled, and all at which Violet still demurred was how the house and its master should be provided for in their absence; to which Sarah replied, Mary would do well enough for he; and before Violet knew to which she must suppose the pronoun referred, there was a new-comer, Lady Elizabeth, telling her that Arthur had just been to beg her to come to her, saying he feared he had hurried her and taken her by surprise.
Under such kind soothing Violets rational mind returned. She ceased to attempt to put herself into a vehement state of preparation, and began to take so cheerful a view of affairs that she met Arthur again in excellent spirits.
Emma Brandon pitied her for being left alone with Mr. Martindale, but this was no subject of dread to her, and she confessed that she was relieved to escape the meeting with the rest of the family. The chief regret was, that the two friends would miss the constant intercourse with which they had flattered themselvesthe only thing that made London endurable to poor Emma. She amused Violet with her lamentations over her gaieties, and her piteous accounts of the tedium of parties and balls; whereas Violet declared that she liked them very much.
It was pleasant to walk about with Arthur and hear his droll remarks, and she liked seeing people look nice and well dressed.
Ah! you are better off. You are not obliged to dance, and you are safe, too. Now, whenever any one asks to be introduced to me I am sure he wants the Priory, and feel bound to guard it.
And so you dont like any one, and find it stupid?
So I do, of course, and I hope I always shall. But oh! Violet, I have not told you that I saw that lady again this morning at the early service. She had still her white dress on, I am sure it is for Whitsuntide; and her face is so strikingso full of thought and earnestness, just like what one would suppose a novice. I shall take her for my romance, and try to guess at her history.
To console you for your godson going away?
Ah! it wont do that! But it will be something to think of, and I will report to you if I make out any more about her. And mind you give me a full account of the godson.
Arthur wished the journey well over; he had often felt a sort of superior pity for travellers with a baby in company, and did not relish the prospect; but things turned out well; he found an acquaintance, and travelled with him in a different carriage, and little Johnnie, lulled by the country air, slept so much that Violet had leisure to enjoy the burst into country scenery, and be refreshed by the glowing beauty of the green meadows, the budding woods, and the brilliant feathery broom blossoms that gilded the embankments. At Winchester Arthur came to her window, and asked if she remembered last year.