第86章 The New Relations (1)

For all men live and judge amiss Whose talents jump not just with his.Hudibras Comfortable moles, whom what they do Teaches the limit of the just and true.

(And for such doing they require not eyes).Matthew Arnold One bright afternoon about a week after this, Erica found herself actually in the train, and on her way to Greyshot.At first she had disliked the idea, but her father had evidently wished her to accept the invitation, and a hope of uniting again the two families would have stimulated her to a much more formidable undertaking than a visit of a few weeks to perfect strangers.She knew nothing of the proposal made to her father; her own letter had been most kind, and after all, though she did not like the actual leaving home, she could not but look forward to a rest and change after the long summer months in town.Moreover, Aunt Jean had just returned, after a brief holiday, and the home atmosphere for the last two or three days had been very trying; she felt as if a change would make her better able to bear the small daily frets and annoyances, and not unnaturally looked forward to the delicious rest of unity.AChristian home ought to be delightful; she had never stayed in one, and had a high ideal.

It was about six o'clock by the time she reached her journey's end, and, waiting for her on the platform, she had no difficulty in recognizing her aunt, a taller and fairer edition of Mrs.Craigie, who received her with a kind, nervous diffident greeting, and seemed very anxious indeed about her luggage, which was speedily brought to light by the footman, and safely conveyed to the carriage.Erica, used to complete independence, felt as if she were being transformed into a sort of grown-up baby, as she was relieved of her bag and umbrella and guided down the steps, and assisted into the open landau, and carefully tucked in with a carriage rug.

"I hope you are not overtired with the journey?" inquired her aunt with an air of the kindest and most anxious solicitude.

Accustomed to a really hard life in London, Erica almost laughed at the idea of being overtired by such a short journey.

"Oh, I have enjoyed it, thank you," she replied."What a lovely line it is!""Is it?" said her aunt, a little surprised."I didn't know it was considered specially pretty, and I myself am never able to look much at the scenery in traveling; it always gives me a headache.""What a pity!" said Erica."It is such a treat, I think.In fact, it is the only way in which I have seen what people call scenery.

I never stayed in the country in my life.""My dear, is it possible," exclaimed Mrs.Fane-Smith, in a horrified voice."Yet you do not look pale.Do you mean that you have spent your whole life in town?""I was at Paris for two years," said Erica; "and twice I have spent a little time at the sea-side; and, years and years ago, father was once taken ill at Southampton, and we went to him there that was almost like the country I mean, one could get country walks.It was delightful; there was a splendid avenue, you know, and oh, such a common! It was in the spring time.I shall never forget the yellow gorse and the hawthorns, and such beautiful velvety grass."Her enthusiasm pleased her aunt; moreover, it was a great relief to find the unknown niece well-bred and companionable, and not overburdened with shyness.Already Mrs.Fane-Smith loved her, and felt that the invitation, which she had given really from a strong sense of duty, was likely to give her pleasure instead of discomfort.All the way home, while Erica admired the Greyshot streets, and asked questions about the various buildings, Mrs.

Fane-Smith was rejoicing that so fair a "brand," as she mentally expressed it, had been "plucked from the burning," and resolving that she would adopt her as a second daughter, and, if possible, induce her to take their name and drop the notorious "Raeburn."The relief was great, for on the way to the station, Mrs.Fane-Smith had been revolving the unpleasant thought in her mind that "really there was no knowing, Erica might be 'anything' since her mother was a 'nobody.'"At last they drew up before a large house in the most fashionable of the Greyshot squares, the windows and balconies of which were gay with flowers.

"We shall find Rose at home, I expect," said Mrs.Fane-Smith, leading Erica across a marble-paved hall, and even as she spoke a merry voice came from the staircase, and down ran a fair-haired girl, with a charmingly eager and naive manner.

Erica had guessed what she must be from the quaint and kindly meant letter which she had sent her years before, and though five years in society had somewhat artificialized Rose, she still retained much of her childishness and impetuous honesty.She slipped her arm into her cousin's, and took her off to her room at once.

"I am so glad you have come!" she exclaimed."I have been longing to see you for years and years.Mamma has been talking so much about your cleverness and my stupidity that just at the last I felt quite in a fright lest you should be too dreadfully 'blue.' Ilooked out of the drawing room window for you, and if you had been very forbidding I should have received you in state in the drawing room, but you were so charmingly pretty that I was obliged to rush down headlong to meet you."Erica laughed and blushed, not being used to such broad compliments.In the meantime, they had traversed several flights of stairs, and Rose, opening a door, showed her into a spacious bedroom, most luxuriously fitted up.

"This great big room for me!" exclaimed Erica.