Bath Tangle

me to be quiet, or you and me will fall out, which would not suit your book! Ever since Emma got herself engaged to this Marquis, she’s looked downright seedy, and she’s been no more her merry self —”

“My dear Mama, I have told you a score of times that London, and all the gaieties she enjoyed, were too much for her!”

“Then there is no need for you to feel any further anxiety about her health,” said Rotherham. “We are not going to live in London.”

This pronouncement, uttered as it was in a curt, matter-of-fact voice, surprised Emily into uplifting her voice: “Not going to live in London?” she repeated.

“No.”

“Dear child, Lord Rotherham means that you will mostly be at Delford, or at Claycross!” interposed Lady Laleham. “Naturally, you will be in London for a few months during the spring!”

“I mean nothing of the sort,” said Rotherham, without heat, but with finality. “I am closing Rotherham House.”

“Closing Rotherham House?” exclaimed Lady Laleham, as though she could not believe her ears. “But—but why?”

He shrugged. “I dislike living in town, and abominate ton parties.”

Emily’s eyes darkened in dismay. “N-no parties at all?” she asked.

He glanced down at her. “We shall entertain at Delford, of course.”

“Oh, no!” she said involuntarily. “I—I couldn’t!” She flushed, and added pleadingly: “I would rather live in London! At least, some part of the year! Delford is so very big, and—and—I don’t like it!”

“I am afraid, since it is my home, you will have to overcome your dislike of it.”

“Of course she will!” said Lady Laleham. “But surely you cannot mean to keep her there throughout the year!”

“Why not?”

“I’ll soon tell you why not!” interrupted Mrs Floore, who had been listening in gathering wrath. “If Delford is the place where poor little Emma had to walk half a mile from her bedroom to the dining-room, it isn’t the kind of house that’ll suit her at all! Besides, from what she tells me, it’s stuck right out in the country, and she’s had enough of that kind of thing at Cherrifield Place! What’s she going to do with herself all day long?”

“She will find plenty to do, I imagine. She will have first to learn what is expected of Lady Rotherham, which is likely to keep her pretty fully occupied for some months. She will hunt, of course—”

“Hunt?” cried Emily. “Oh, no, please! I never do so!”

“You will,” he said.

“J-jump over those dreadful fences you showed me?” Emily said, horror in her voice. “I couldn’t!”

“We shall see!”

“Well, if ever I heard anything to equal it!” gasped Mrs Floore. “First, she’s to learn a lot of lessons, and next she’s to be made to break her neck!”

“Oh, she won’t break her neck!” said Rotherham. “A few tumbles won’t hurt her! I shall have some fairly easy jumps put up, and school her over them.”

“No!” almost shrieked Emily. “I won’t, I won’t!”

“No more you shall, lovey!” hotly declared Mrs Floore.

“It will be as well, Emily, if you realize that when you are Lady Rotherham I shall expect obedience from you. I warn you, it will not do if you say “I won’t” to me.”

Mr Goring, who had been seated rather in the background, got up, and said in his level tone: “We’ve heard a great deal of what you expect, and what you like, my lord, but we haven’t yet heard you ask Miss Laleham what she would like!”

“She’ll learn to like what I like—if she’s wise! I did not choose a bride out of the schoolroom, sir, to have her setting up her will against mine!”

Mr Goring’s jaw was becoming momentarily more aggressive. “It seems to me. Lord Rotherham, that what you want is a slave, not a wife!”

Mrs Floore, unable to contain herself another instant, said forcefully: “And he’s not getting a slave in my Emma! Why, the man’s a downright monster! A fine husband you caught for Emma, Sukey! I wonder you aren’t ashamed to look me in the face! If I didn’t say to Lady Serena that it wouldn’t matter to you if a man was cross- eyed, and had one foot in the grave! Not so long as he was a Duke, which is all you care for! And this Choctaw Indian here isn’t even a Duke!”

There was the faintest tremor at the corners of Rotherham’s mouth, but it went unnoticed. Lady Laleham said: “I cannot believe that Lord Rotherham means all he says! I am sure he means to make Emily very happy!”

“Certainly,” said Rotherham, bored. “She has only to adapt herself to my wishes, and I see no reason why she should not be perfectly happy.”

Suddenly Emily sprang up, and fled to her grandmother’s chair. “I can’t, I can’t! I don’t care if I am ruined! I can’t! Oh, Grandmama, don’t let Mama make me!”

“Emily!” There was a red spot on each of Lady Laleham’s cheeks. “How dare you say such a thing? As though I should dream—”

“You keep your distance, Sukey!” commanded Mrs Floore.

Mr Goring, stepping up to Rotherham, his chin now well out-thrust, said: “Perhaps your lordship will do me the favour of stepping outside for a few minutes!”

“No, you fool!” said Rotherham, very softly.

“Emily, think what you are doing!” Lady Laleham was saying urgently. “You’ll never get a husband, if you play the jilt! Particularly after your folly today! The whole world will think it was you who were jilted! You’ll have to stay at home, for I shan’t take you to town again, and you’ll end your days an old maid—”

“You’re wrong, ma’am!” said Mr Goring. “There’s time and to spare before she need think of being married, but you needn’t fear she won’t get another offer, because I can tell you that she will!”

“You can lay your life she will!” said Mrs Floore. “Now, don’t you cry, my pretty, because your ma isn’t going to make you do anything!”

“What shall I do?” sobbed Emily. “I don’t w-want to go home in d-disgrace, and I don’t w-want to have n-no reputation!”

“Emma, would you like to stay with your old grandma? Now, think, lovey! It ain’t very lively, living here, and nothing but the Assemblies, and the Sydney Gardens, and if it’s the ton parties you want, I can’t give them to you, because if I was to take you to London I couldn’t chaperon you, my pet, because there’s no getting round it, I’m not a fine lady, and I never will be! Myself, I think you’d be a deal happier if you was to forget all these Marquises and things, but it’s for you to say.”

“Live with you always?” Emily cried, lifting a flushed, tear-stained face from Mrs Floore’s lap. “Oh, Grandmama!”

“Bless you, my precious!” said Mrs Floore, giving her a smacking kiss.

“Have you taken leave of your senses?” demanded Lady Laleham. “I’ll have you know Emily is my daughter, Mama!”

“And I’ll have you know, Sukey, that if I have one more word out of you, you can pay your own bills from now on, and so can Sir Walter!”

There was a pregnant silence. Mrs Floore patted Emily’s shoulder. “You dry your eyes, love, and give the Marquis back his ring!”

“When you see your sisters all married before you, I hope you will remember this day, Emily!” said Lady Laleham. “For my part, I wash my hands of you!”

“And a very good thing too,” commented Mrs Floore. “Go on, love! The sooner we’re rid of this Marquis of yours the sooner we can have our dinner, which I’m sure we all need!”

The door shut with a slam behind Lady Laleham. Emily shyly held out the ring to Rotherham. “If you please—I