Even Francine could insist no longer: Mrs. Ellmother's reserve had beaten her—for that day at least. 'Go into the hall,' she said, 'and see if there are any letters for me in the rack.'
There was a letter bearing the Swiss postmark. Simple Cecilia was flattered and delighted by the charming manner in which Francine had written to her. She looked forward with impatience to the time when their present acquaintance might ripen into friendship. Would 'Dear Miss de Sor' waive all ceremony, and consent to be a guest (later in the autumn) at her father's house? Circumstances connected with her sister's health would delay their return to England for a little while. By the end of the month she hoped to be at home again, and to hear if Francine was disengaged. Her address, in England, was Monksmoor Park, Hants.
Having read the letter, Francine drew a moral from it: 'There is great use in a fool, when one knows how to manage her.'
Having little appetite for her breakfast, she tried the experiment of a walk on the terrace. Alban Morris was right; the air at Netherwoods, in the summer time,
Her next proceeding was to open her writing-desk, and look into the old account-book once more. While it lay open on her lap, she recalled what had passed that morning, between Mrs. Ellmother and herself.
The old woman had been born and bred in the North, on an open moor. She had been removed to the keen air of Canada when she left her birthplace. She had been in service after that, on the breezy eastward coast of Kent. Would the change to the climate of Netherwoods produce any effect on Mrs. Ellmother? At her age, and with her seasoned constitution, would she feel it as those school-girls had felt it—especially that one among them, who lived in the bracing air of the North, the air of Yorkshire?
Weary of solitary thinking on one subject, Francine returned to the terrace with a vague idea of finding something to amuse her—that is to say, something she could turn into ridicule—if she joined the girls.
The next morning, Mrs. Ellmother answered her mistress's bell without delay. 'You have slept better, this time?' Francine said.
'No, miss. When I did get to sleep I was troubled by dreams. Another bad night—and no mistake!'
'I suspect your mind is not quite at ease,' Francine suggested.
'Why do you suspect that, if you please?'
'You talked, when I met you at Miss Emily's, of wanting to get away from your own thoughts. Has the change to this place helped you?'
'It hasn't helped me as I expected. Some people's thoughts stick fast.'
'Remorseful thoughts?' Francine inquired.
Mrs. Ellmother held up her forefinger, and shook it with a gesture of reproof. 'I thought we agreed, miss, that there was to be no pumping.'
The business of the toilet proceeded in silence.
A week passed. During an interval in the labors of the school, Miss Ladd knocked at the door of Francine's room.
'I want to speak to you, my dear, about Mrs. Ellmother. Have you noticed that she doesn't seem to be in good health?'
'She looks rather pale, Miss Ladd.'
'It's more serious than that, Francine. The servants tell me that she has hardly any appetite. She herself acknowledges that she sleeps badly. I noticed her yesterday evening in the garden, under the schoolroom window. One of the girls dropped a dictionary. She started at that slight noise, as if it terrified her. Her nerves are seriously out of order. Can you prevail upon her to see the doctor?'
Francine hesitated—and made an excuse. 'I think she would be much more likely, Miss Ladd, to listen to you. Do you mind speaking to her?'
'Certainly not!'
Mrs. Ellmother was immediately sent for. 'What is your pleasure, miss?' she said to Francine.
Miss Ladd interposed. 'It is I who wish to speak to you, Mrs. Ellmother. For some days past, I have been sorry to see you looking ill.'
'I never was ill in my life, ma'am.'
Miss Ladd gently persisted. 'I hear that you have lost your appetite.'
'I never was a great eater, ma'am.'
It was evidently useless to risk any further allusion to Mrs. Ellmother's symptoms. Miss Ladd tried another method of persuasion. 'I daresay I may be mistaken,' she said; 'but I do really feel anxious about you. To set my mind at rest, will you see the doctor?'
'The doctor! Do you think I'm going to begin taking physic, at my time of life? Lord, ma'am! you amuse me—you do indeed!' She burst into a sudden fit of laughter; the hysterical laughter which is on the verge of tears. With a desperate effort, she controlled herself. 'Please, don't make a fool of me again,' she said—and left the room.
'What do you think now?' Miss Ladd asked.
Francine appeared to be still on her guard.
'I don't know what to think,' she said evasively.
Miss Ladd looked at her in silent surprise, and withdrew.
Left by herself, Francine sat with her elbows on the table and her face in her hands, absorbed in thought. After a long interval, she opened her desk—and hesitated. She took a sheet of note-paper—and paused, as if still in
