The Honorable Miss | Page 9

Ingram?"
"Only a mother and a daughter, my dear madam. Poor Meadowsweet
left us six years ago. He was one of my churchwardens, a capital fellow,
so thoroughgoing and reliable. A sound churchman, too. In short,
everything that one could desire. He died rather suddenly, and I was
afraid Mrs. Meadowsweet would leave Northbury, but Bee did not wish
it. Bee has a will of her own, and I fancy she's attached to us all."
"I am very glad that you can give us such a pleasant account of these
parishioners of yours, dear Mr. Ingram," responded Mrs. Bertram. "The
fact is, I am in a difficult position here. No, the girls won't overhear us;
they are busy at their embroidery in that distant corner. Well, perhaps,
to make sure. Kate," Mrs. Bertram raised her voice, "I know the Rector
is going to give us the pleasure of his company to tea. Mr. Ingram, I
shall not allow you to say no. Kate, will you and Mabel go into the
garden, and bring in a leaf of fresh strawberries. Now, Mr. Ingram I
want you to see our strawberries, and to taste them. The gardener tells
us that the Manor strawberries are celebrated. Run, dears, don't be
long."
The girls stepped out through the open French window, interlaced their
arms round one another and disappeared.
"They are good girls," said the mother, "but Kate has a will of her own.
Mr. Ingram, you will allow me to take you into my confidence. I am
often puzzled to know how to act towards Catherine. She is a good girl,
but I can't lead her. She is only seventeen, only just seventeen. Surely
that is too young an age to walk quite without leading strings."
Mr. Ingram was an old bachelor, but he was one of those mellow,
gentle, affectionate men who make the most delightful companions,
whose sympathy is always ready, and tact always to the fore. Mr.
Ingram was full of both sympathy and tact, but he had also a little
gentle vanity to be tickled, and when a handsome woman, still young,
appealed to him with pathos in her eyes and voice, he laid himself,

metaphorically, at her feet.
"My dear madam," he responded, "it is most gratifying to me to feel
that I can be of the least use to you. Command me at all times, I beg.
As to Miss Catherine, who can guide her better than her excellent
mother? I don't know much about you, Mrs. Bertram, but I feel--forgive
me, I am a man of intuition--I feel that you are one to look up to. Miss
Catherine is a fortunate girl. You are right. She is far too young to walk
alone. Seventeen, did you say--pooh--a mere child, a baby. An
immature creature, ignorant, innocent, fresh, but undeveloped; just the
age, Mrs. Bertram, when she needs the aid and counsel of a mother like
you."
Mrs. Bertram's dark eyes glowed with pleasure.
"I am glad you agree with me," she said. "The fact is, Mr. Ingram, we
have come to the Manor to retrench a little, to economize, to live in
retirement. By-and-bye, I shall take Catherine and Mabel to London.
As a mother, I have duties to perform to them. These, when the time
comes, shall not be neglected. Mr. Ingram, I must be very frank, I
_don't_ want to know the good folk of Northbury."
Mr. Ingram started at this very plain speaking. He had lived for thirty
years with the Northbury people. They had not vulgarized him; their
troubles and their pleasures alike were his. His heart and soul, his life
and strength were given up to them. He did not feel himself any the less
a gentleman because those whom he served were, many of them, lowly
born. He started, therefore, both inwardly and outwardly at Mrs.
Bertram's plain speech, and instantly, for he was a man of very nice
penetration, saw that the arrival of this lady, this brilliant sun of society,
in the little world of Northbury, would not add to the smoothness of his
lot.
Before he could get in a word, however, Mrs. Bertram quickly
continued:
"And Catherine is determined to make a friend of Beatrice
Meadowsweet."
"She is quite right, Mrs. Bertram. I introduced Miss Catherine to
Beatrice yesterday. They will make delightful companions; they are
about the same age--I can vouch for the life and spirit possessed by my
friend Bee, and if I mistake not Miss Catherine will be her worthy
companion."

Mrs. Bertram laughed.
"I wish I could tell you what an imp of mischief Kate is," she said. "She
is the most daring creature that ever drew the breath of life. Dear Mr.
Ingram, forgive me for even doubting you for a moment. I