But lady’s Ann’s perturbation did not last. She said to herself that she was a fool to imagine such an absurdity. She remembered to have heard, though at the time it had held no interest for her, that the bookbinder had relatives in the neighbourhood. Such a likeness might meet her at any turn—the kind of thing was a constant occurrence about estates of this sort. It improved the breed of the lower orders, and was no business of hers. A child had certainly been lost, with a claim to the succession, but was she therefore to be appalled at every resemblance to her husband that happened to turn up? As to that particular child, she would not believe that he was alive! He could not be! That, after so many years, she, an earl’s daughter, would have to give way to a woman lower than a peasant, was preposterous!

Lady Ann was capable of a good deal in some directions, for she came of as low a breed as her husband, with more cunning, and less open defiance in it. There was not much she would have blenched at, with society on her side, and a good chance of foiling a low-born woman who threatened her hopes for her son. It might be wrong, but it would be for the sake of right! Ought not imposture to be frustrated, however legalized?

Her conjectures might be entirely without basis, but for the present, unnecessary as she was determined to think it, she yet resolved to do all that was left her to do—she would watch. And while she watched, she would take care that the young man was subjected to no annoyance. She did not want his angry face to suggest to anyone else, as it already had herself, the question of his origin.

Thus Richard heard nothing more of his threatened expulsion from Mortgrange.

23. Barbara’s Duty

— Twenty-Three —

Barbara’s Duty

That same afternoon Barbara appeared before the front windows of the house, perched upon her huge yet gracious Miss Brown. Usually Arthur was on the lookout for her, but today he was more upset than usual with her for keeping back the encouragement he imagined he deserved.