I dont think they eat people there now.
Its bad enough if they dont! And you know those aunts begin pretty well, while they are in fear of the father, but then they get worse.
There was Ada Morton, said Maude, in a tone of conviction, and Anna Ross.
Oh yes, and another book, Rose Turquand. It was a grown-up book, that I read oncelong ago, said Dolores, who had in her mothers time been allowed a pretty free range of book-box.
And theres Under the Shield, but that was a boy.
There are lots and lots, said Dolores. They are ever so much worse than the stepmothers! Not that there is any fear of that! she added quickly.
But isnt this Aunt Lilias nice? Its a pretty name. Which is she? You have one aunt a Lady Something, havent you?
Yes, it is this one, Lady Merrifield. Her husband is a general, Sir Jasper Merrifield, and he is gone out to command in some place in India; but she cannot stand the climate, and is living at home at a place called Silverfold, with a whole lot of children. I think two are gone out with their father, but there are a great many more.
Dont you know them at all?
No, and dont want to! I think my aunts were unkind to mother!
Oh! exclaimed Maude.
I am sure of it. They were horrid, stuck-up, fine ladies, and looked down on her, though she was ever so much nicer, and cleverer, and more intellectual than they; and she looked down on them.
Are you sure? asked Maude, to whom it was as good as a story.
Yes, indeed. She was civil, of course, because they were fathers sisters, but I know she couldnt bear them. If any of them came to London, there was a calling, but all very stupid, and a dining at Lord Rotherwoods; but she never would, except once, when I can hardly remember, go to stay at their slow places in the country. Ive heard father try to persuade her when they didnt think I understood. You know we always went abroad, or to the sea or something, except last year, when we were at Beechcroft. That wasnt so bad, for there were lots of books, and Uncle Reginald was there, and he is jolly.
Cant you get Mr. Mohun to send you there?
No, I dont think they would have me, for every body there is grown up, and father seems to have a wish for me to be with this Aunt Lilias, because she has a schoolroom.
I wonder he should wish it, if she was unkind to Mrs. Mohun.
Well, she was out of the way most of the time. They have lived at Malta and Gibraltar, and Belfast, and all sorts of places, so they will all have regular garrison frivolous manner, and think of nothing but officers and balls. I know she was a beauty, and wants to be one still.
Maude, whose father was a professor, looked quite appalled and said
You will be the one to infuse better things. She felt quite proud of the word.
Perhaps, returned Dolores; they always do that in time, but not till theyve been awfully bullied. All the cousins are jealous, and the aunt spites them because they are nicer and prettier than her own.
Yes, said Maude, but then theres always some tremendously nice boy-cousin, or uncle, or something, that makes up for it all. Will Sir Jasper Merrifields eldest son be a Sir?
Oh no; hes not a baronet, but a G.C.B., Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, that is. Besides, I dont care for love, and titles, and all that nonsense, though father is first cousin to Lord Rotherwood.
And you never saw any of them?
Yes, Aunt Lilias was at the Charing Cross Hotel with Uncle Jasper and the two eldest daughters, Alethea and Phyllis, and some more of them, just before they sailed; and father took me there on Sunday to luncheon; but there were so many people, and such a talk, and such a bustle, that I hardly knew which was which. Aunt Jane and Aunt Ada were a talking that it made my head turn round; but I saw how affected Aunt Lilias is, and I knew that whenever they looked at me they said poor child, and I always hate any one who does that! All I was afraid of then was that father would let Aunt Jane and Aunt Ada come and live with us; but this is ever so much worse.
You have such a lot of aunts and uncles! said Maude, and I have not got anything but one old uncle.
Uncles are all very well, said Dolores, said Maude. There are the two Miss Mohuns
Oh, thats beginning at the wrong end. Aunt Ada is the youngest of them all, and she thinks she is a young lady still, and wears little curls on her forehead, and a tennis pinafore, and makes her waist just like a wasp. She and Aunt Jane live together at Rockquay, because she has bad healthat least she has whenever she likes; and Aunt Jane does all sorts of charities and worries, and sets everybody to rights, said Dolly, in a very grown-up voice, speaking partly from her own observation, and partly repeating what she had caught from her elders.
Oh yes, I know her, said Maude. She asked me questions about all I did, and she did bother mamma so about a maid she recommended that we are never going to take another from her.
Aunt Phyllis comes between them, I believe; but she has married a sailor captain and gone to settle in New Zealand, and I have not seen her since I was a very little girl. Then theres Aunt Emily, who is a very great swell indeed. Her husband was a canon, Lord Henry Grey; but he is dead, and she lives at Brighton, a regular fat, comfortable down-pillow of a woman, who isnt bad to lunch with, only she sends one out to the Parade with her maid, as if one was a baby. Mother used to laugh at her. And I think there was an older one who went to India and died long ago.
I have seen your two uncles. Theres Major Mohun. Oh! he is fun!
Yes, dear old Uncle Regie! I wish he was not in Ireland. He will be so sorry to miss seeing father off, but he cant get leave. And there was a clergyman who is dead, and father grieved for very much. I think he did something to make them all nicer to mother, for it was just after that we went to stay at Beechcroft with Uncle William. You know him, and how mother used to call him the very model of a country squire; and I like his wife, Aunt Alethea. Only it is very pokey and slow down there, and they are always after flannel petticoats and soup kitchens, and all the old fads that are exploded. I should get awfully tired of it before a year was out, only I should not be teased with strange children, and there would be no one to be jealous of me.
Cant you get your father to change and send you there?
Not a chance. You see Aunt Lilias had offered, and they havent, and I must go on with my education. I hope, though I shall have no advantages, I shall still be able to go up for the Cambridge examination, if Aunt Lilias has not prejudices, as I dare say she has, since of course none of her own will be able to try.
Youll come up to us for the examination, Dolly dear, and we shall do it together, and that will be nice!
If they will let me; but I dont expect to be allowed to do anything that I wish. Only perhaps father may be come home by that time.
Is it three years?
Yes. It is a terrible time, isnt it? However, when Im seventeen perhaps he will talk to me, and I can really keep house.
And then youll come back here?
Do you know, MaudielistenIve another uncle, belonging to mother.
Oh, Dolly! I thought she had no one!
He told me he was my Uncle Alfred once when he met me in the park with Fraulein, and gave me a note for mother. He is called Mr. Flinders.