Beechcroft at Rockstone | Page 5

borne off to display the coming glories of their deep fur to Aunt Jane.
Her choice fell upon the Sofy, as much because of the convenience of
the name as because of the preternatural wisdom of expression
imparted by the sweep of the black lines on the gray visage. Mr.
Pollock's landlady was to be the happy possessor of Artaxerxes, and the
turbulent portion of the Household was disposed of to bear him thither,
and to beg Miss Hacket to give Buff and Ring the run of her cage,
whence they had originally come, also to deliver various messages and
notes.
By the time they returned, Colonel Mohun was met in the hall by his
sister. 'Oh, Reggie, it is too good in you!' were the words that came
with her fervent kiss. 'Remember how many years I have been seasoned
to being "cockit up on a baggage waggon." Ought not such an old
soldier as I to be able to take care of myself?'
'And what would your husband say to you when you got there? And

should not I catch it from William? Well, are you packing up the
youthful family for Beechcroft, except that at Rotherwood they are
shrieking for Mysie?'
'I know how good William and Alethea would be. This child,' pointing
to Primrose, who had been hanging on her all day in silence, 'is to go to
them; but as I can't send Miss Vincent, educational advantages, as the
advertisements say, lie on the side of Rockstone; so Jenny here
undertakes to be troubled with the rabble.'
'But Mysie? Rotherwood met me at the station and begged me to obtain
her from you. They really wish it.'
'He does, I have no doubt.'
'So does Madame la Marquise. They have been anxious about little
Phyllis all the summer. She was languid and off her feed in London,
and did not pick up at home as they expected. My belief is that it is too
much governess and too little play, and that a fortnight here would set
her up again. Rotherwood himself thinks so, and Victoria has some
such inkling. At any rate, they are urgent to have Mysie with the child,
as the next best thing.'
'Poor dear little Fly!' ejaculated Lady Merrifield; 'but I am afraid Mysie
was not very happy there last year.'
'And what would be the effect of all the overdoing?' said Miss Mohun.
'Mysie is tougher than that sprite, and I suppose there is some
relaxation,' said Lady Merrifield.
'Yes; the doctors have frightened them sufficiently for the present.
'I suppose Mysie is a prescription, poor child,' said her aunt, in a tone
that evoked from her brother---
'Jealous, Jenny?'
'Well, Jane,' said Lady Merrifield, 'you know how thankful I am to you

and Ada, but I am inclined to let it depend on the letters I get
to-morrow, and the way Victoria takes it. If it is really an earnest wish
on that dear little Fly's account, I could not withstand old Rotherwood,
and though Mysie might be less happy than she would be with you, I
do not think any harm will be done. Everything there is sound and
conscientious, and if she picks up a little polish, it won't hurt her.'
'Shall you give her the choice?'
'I see no good in rending the poor child's mind between two affections,
especially as there will be a very short time to decide in, for I shall
certainly not send her if Victoria's is a mere duty letter.'
'You are quite right there, Lily,' said the Colonel. 'The less choice the
greater comfort.'
'Well done, sir soldier,' said his sister Jane. 'I say quite right too; only,
for my own sake, I wish it had been Valetta.'
'So no doubt does she,' said the mother; 'but unluckily it isn't. And,
indeed, I don't think I wish it. Val is safer with you. As Gillian
expressed it the other day, "Val does right when she likes it; Mysie
does right when she knows it."'
'You have the compliment after all, Jane,' said the Colonel. 'Lily trusts
you with the child she doesn't trust!'
There was no doubt the next morning, for Lady Rotherwood wrote an
earnest, affectionate letter, begging for Mysie, who, she said, had won
such golden opinions in her former visit that it would be a real benefit
to Phyllis, as much morally as physically, to have her companionship.
It was the tenderest letter that either of the sisters had ever seen from
the judicious and excellent Marchioness, full of warm sympathy for
Lady Merrifield's anxiety for her husband, and betraying much
solicitude for her little girl.
'It has done her good,' said Jane Mohun. 'I did not think she had such a
soft spot.'

'Poor Victoria,' said Lady Merrifield,