'Phyl,' said he, 'did Esther ever give you sweet things out of the storeroom?'
'Once, papa, when she had been putting out some currant jam, she offered me what had been left in the spoon.'
'Did you take it?'
'No, papa, for Eleanor used to say it was a bad trick to lick out spoons.'
'Did you ever know that she took tea and sugar from the storeroom, for her mother?'
'Took home tea and sugar to her mother! She could not have done it, papa. It would be stealing!'
Esther, who was next called for, cried a great deal, and begged for pardon, pleading again and again that-
'It was mother,' an answer which made her young mistresses again sigh over the remembrance of Rachel's disregarded advice. Her fate was left for consideration and consultation with Mr. Devereux, for Mr. Mohun, seeing himself to blame for having allowed her to be placed in a situation of so much trial, and thinking that there was much that was good about her, did not like to send her to her home, where she was likely to learn nothing but what was bad.
CHAPTER XXIV: LOVE'S LABOUR LOST
'And well, with ready hand and heart,
Each task of toilsome duty taking,
Did one dear inmate take her part,
The last asleep, the earliest waking.'
In the course of the afternoon Lord Rotherwood and Florence called, to see Eleanor, inquire after Ada, and make the final arrangements for going to a morning concert at Raynham the next day. Lady Rotherwood was afraid of the fatigue, and Florence therefore wished to accompany her cousins, who, as Eleanor meant to stay at home, were to be under Mrs. Weston's protection. Lady Florence and her brother, therefore, agreed to ride home by Broomhill, and mention the plan to Mrs. Weston, and took their leave, appointing Adam's shop as the place of rendezvous.
Next morning Emily, Lilias, and Jane happened to be together in the drawing-room, when Mr. Mohun and Claude came in, the former saying to Lily, 'Here is the mason's account for the gravestone which you wished to have put up to Agnes Eden; it comes to two pounds. You undertook half the expense, and as Claude is going to Raynham, he will pay for it if you will give him your sovereign.'
'I will,' said Lily, 'but first I must ask Emily to pay me for the London commissions.'
Emily repented not having had a private conference with Lily.
'So you have not settled your accounts,' said Mr. Mohun. 'I hope Lily has not ruined you, Emily.'
'I thought her a mirror of prudence,' said Claude.
'Well, Emily, is the sovereign forthcoming? I am going directly, for Frank has something to do at Raynham, and William is going to try his gray in the phaeton.'
'I am afraid you will think me very silly,' said Emily, after some deliberation, 'but I hope Lily will not be very angry when I confess that seven shillings is the sum total of my property.'
'Oh, Emily,' cried Lily, in dismay, 'what has become of your five pounds?'
'I gave them as a subscription for a clergyman's widow in distress,' said Emily; 'it was the impulse of a moment, I could not help it, and, dear Lily, I hope it will not inconvenience you.'
'If papa will be kind enough to wait for this pound till Michaelmas,' said Lily.
'I would wait willingly,' said Mr. Mohun, 'but I will not see you cheated. How much does she owe you?'
'The commissions came to six pounds three,' said Lily, looking down.
'But, Lily,' said Jane, 'you forget the old debt.'
'Never mind,' whispered Lily; but Mr. Mohun asked what Jane had said, and Claude repeated her speech, upon which he inquired, 'What old debt?'
'Papa,' said Emily, in her most candid tone, 'I do not know what I should have done but for Lily's kindness. Really, I cannot get on with my present allowance; being the eldest, so many expenses come upon me.'
'Then am I to understand,' replied Mr. Mohun, 'that your foolish vanity has led you to encroach on your sister's kindness, and to borrow of her what you had no reasonable hope of repaying? Again, Lily, what does she owe you?'
Emily felt the difference between the sharp, curious eyes with which Jane regarded her, and the sorrowful downcast looks of Lily, who replied, 'The old debt is four pounds, but that does not signify.'
'Well,' resumed her father, 'I cannot blame you for your good-nature, though an older person might have acted otherwise. You must have managed wonderfully well, to look always so well dressed with only half your proper income. Here is the amount of the debt. Is it right? And, Lily, one thing more; I wish to thank you for what you have done towards keeping this house in order. You have worked hard, and endured much, and from all I can gather, you have prevented much mischief. Much has unfairly been thrown upon you, and you have well and steadily done your duty. For you, Emily, I have more to say to you, but I shall not enter on it at present, for it is late. You had better get ready, or you will keep the others waiting.'
'I do not think I can go,' sighed Emily.
'You are wanted,' said Mr. Mohun. 'I do not think your aunt would like Florence to go without you.'
Lily had trembled as much under her father's praise as Emily under his blame. She did not feel as if his commendation was merited, and longed to tell him of her faults and follies, but this was no fit time, and she hastened to prepare for her expedition, her spirits scarcely in time for a party of pleasure. Jane talked about the 30th, and asked questions about London, all the way to Raynham, and both Emily and Lily were glad to join in her chatter, in hopes of relieving their own embarrassment.
On arriving at the place of meeting they found Lady Florence watching for them.
'I am glad you are come,' said she, 'Rotherwood will always set out either too soon or too late, and this time it was too soon, so here we have been full a quarter of an hour, but he does not care. There he is, quite engrossed with his book.'
Lord Rotherwood was standing by the counter, reading so intently that he did not see his cousins' arrival. When they entered he just looked up, shook hands, asked after Ada, and went on reading. Lily began looking for some books for the school, which she had long wished for, and was now able to purchase; Emily sat down in a melancholy, abstracted mood, and Florence and Jane stood together talking.
'You know you are all to come early,' said the former, 'I do not know how we should manage without you. Rotherwood insists on having everything the same day-poor people first, and gentry and farmers altogether. Mamma does not like it, and I expect we shall be dreadfully tired; but he says he will not have the honest poor men put out for the fashionables; and you know we are all to dance with everybody. But Jenny, who is this crossing the street? Look, you have an eye for oddities.'
'Miss Fitchett, the subscription-hunter,' said Jane.
'She is actually coming to hunt us. I believe I have my purse. Oh! Emily is to be the first victim.'
Miss Fitchett advanced to Emily, and saying that she believed she had the honour to address Miss Mohun, began to tell her that her friend having been prematurely informed of her small efforts, had with a noble spirit of independence begged that the subscription might not be continued, and that what had already been given might be returned, and she rejoiced in this opportunity of making the explanation. But Miss Fitchett could not bear to relinquish the five-pound note, and added, that perhaps Miss Mohun might not object to apply her subscription to some other object, the Dorcas Society for instance.
'Thank you, I have no interest in the Dorcas Society,' said Emily; a reply which brought upon her a full account of all its aims and objects; and as still her polite looks spoke nothing of assent, Miss Fitchett went on with a string of other societies, speaking the louder and the more eagerly in the hope of attracting the attention of the young marquis and his sister. Emily was easily overwhelmed with words, and not thinking it lady-like to claim her money, yet feeling that none of these societies were fit objects for it, she stood confused and irresolute, unwilling either to consent or refuse. Jane, perceiving her difficulty, turned to Lord Rotherwood, and rousing him from his book, explained Emily's distress in a few words, and sent him to her rescue. He stepped forward just as Miss Fitchett, taking silence for consent, was proceeding to thank Emily; 'I think you misunderstand Miss Mohun,' said he. 'Since her subscription is not needed by the person for whom it was intended, she would be glad to have it restored. She does not wish to encourage any unauthorised societies.'