Dynevor Terrace, vol 1 | Page 7

rare Indian porcelain were not unworthy of it. The furniture
was the same mixture of the ordinary and the choice, either worn and
shabby, or such as would suit a virtuoso, but the whole arranged with
taste and care that made the effect bright, pleasant, and comfortable.
Lord Ormersfield stood on the hearth-rug waiting. His face was that of
one who had learnt to wait, more considerate than acute, and bearing
the stamp both of toil and suffering, as if grief had taken away all
mobility of expression, and left a stern, thoughtful steadfastness.
Presently a lady entered the room. Her hair was white as snow, and she
could not have seen less than seventy-seven years; but beauty was not
gone from her features--smiles were still on her lips, brightness in her
clear hazel eyes, buoyancy in her tread, and alertness and dignity in her
tall, slender, unbent figure. There was nothing so remarkable about her
as the elasticity as well as sweetness of her whole look and bearing, as
if, while she had something to love, nothing could be capable of
crushing her.
'You here!' she exclaimed, holding out her hand to her guest. 'You are
come to breakfast.'
'Thank you; I wished to see you without interrupting your day's work.
Have you many scholars at present?'
'Only seven, and three go into school at Easter. Jem and Clara, wish me
to undertake no more, but I should sorely miss the little fellows. I wish
they may do me as much credit as Sydney Calcott. He wrote himself to
tell me of his success.'
'I am glad to hear it. He is a very promising young man.'
'I tell him I shall come to honour, as the old dame who taught him to
spell. My scholars may make a Dr. Busby of me in history.'
'I am afraid your preferment will depend chiefly on James and young
Calcott.'
'Nay, Louis tells me that he is going to read wonderfully hard; and if he
chooses, he can do more than even Sydney Calcott.'
'If!' said the Earl.
Jane here entered with another cup and plate, and Lord Ormersfield sat
down to the breakfast-table. After some minutes' pause he said, 'Have
you heard from Peru?'
'Not by this mail. Have you?'
'Yes, I have. Mary is coming home.'

'Mary!' she cried, almost springing up--'Mary Ponsonby? This is good
news--unless,' as she watched his grave face, 'it is her health that brings
her.'
'It is. She has consulted the surgeon of the Libra, a very able man, who
tells her that there is absolute need of good advice and a colder climate;
and Ponsonby has consented to let her and her daughter come home in
the Libra. I expect them in February.'
'My poor Mary! But she will get better away from him. I trust he is not
coming!'
'Not he,' said Lord Ormersfield.
'Dear, dear Mary! I had scarcely dared to hope to see her again,' cried
the old lady, with tears in her eyes. 'I hope she will be allowed to be
with us, not kept in London with his sister. London does her no good.'
'The very purport of my visit,' said Lord Ormersfield, 'was to ask
whether you could do me the favour to set aside your scholars, and
enable me to receive Mrs. Ponsonby at home.'
'Thank you--oh, thank you. There is nothing I should like better, but I
must consider--'
'Clara would find a companion in the younger Mary in the holidays,
and if James would make Fitzjocelyn his charge, it would complete the
obligation. It would be by far the best arrangement for Mary's comfort,
and it would be the greatest satisfaction to me to see her with you at
Ormersfield.'
'I believe it would indeed,' said the old lady, more touched than the
outward manner of the Earl seemed to warrant. 'I would--you know I
would do my very best that you and Mary should be comfortable
together'--and her voice trembled--'but you see I cannot promise all at
once. I must see about these little boys. I must talk to Jem. In short, you
must not be disappointed'--and she put her hands before her face, trying
to laugh, but almost overcome.
'Nay, I did not mean to press you,' said Lord Ormersfield, gently; 'but I
thought, since James has had the fellowship and Clara has been at
school, that you wished to give up your pupils.'
'So I do,' said the lady, but still not yielding absolutely.
'For the rest, I am very anxious that James should accept Fitzjocelyn as
his pupil. I have always considered their friendship as the best hope,
and other plans have had so little success, that--'

'I'm not going to hear Louis abused!' she exclaimed, gaily.
'Yes,' said Lord Ormersfield, with