we two-第59章

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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。'　　I　looked　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。

〃It　isn't　at　all　ghostly；〃　said　Rose；　reassuringly。　　〃Will　you　be　afraid　if　you　have　a　night　light？〃

Erica　laughed　at　the　idea　of　being　afraid；　she　was　merely　amused　to　think　of　herself　established　in　such　a　palatial　bedroom；　such　a　contrast　to　the　little　book…lined　room　at　home。　　There　was　a　dainty　little　book　case　here；　however；　with　some　beautifully　bound　books；　and　in　another　minute　she　was　delightedly　scanning　their　titles；　and；　with　a　joyous　exclamation；　had　caught　up　Browning's　〃Christmas…eve　and　Easter…day；〃　when　a　sound　of　dismay　from　her　cousin　made　her　laughingly　put　it　down　again。

〃Oh；　dear　me！〃　said　Rose；　in　a　despairing　voice；　〃I　am　afraid；　after　all；　you　are　dreadfully　blue。　　Fancy　snatching　up　a　Browning　like　that！〃

Erica　began　to　unlock　her　trunk。

〃Do　you　want　your　things　out？〃　said　Rose。　〃I'll　ring　for　Gemma；　she'll　unpack　for　you。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　said　Erica；　〃I　would　much　rather　do　it　myself。〃

〃But　it　is　nearly　dinner　time；　we　are　dining　early　this　evening；　and　you　will　want　Gemma　to　help　you　to　dress。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Erica；　laughing；　〃I　never　had　a　maid　in　my　life。〃

〃How　funny；〃　said　Rose；　〃I　shouldn't　know　what　to　do　without　one。　　Gemma　does　everything　for　me；　at　least　everything　that　Elspeth　will　let　her。〃

〃Is　she　Italian？〃　asked　Erica。

〃Oh；　no；　her　name　is　really　Jemima；　but　that　was　quite　too　dreadfully　ugly；　you　know；　and　she　is　such　a　pretty　girl。〃

She　chattered　on　while　Erica　unpacked　and　put　on　her　white　serge；　then　they　went　down　to　the　drawing　room　where　Erica　was　introduced　to　her　host；　a　small　elderly　man；　who　looked　as　if　the　Indian　sun　had　partially　frizzled　him。　　He　received　her　kindly；　but　with　a　sort　of　ceremonious　stiffness　which　made　her　feel　less　perfectly　at　her　east　than　before；　and　after　the　usual　remarks　about　the　length　of　the　journey；　and　the　beauty　of　the　weather；　he　relapsed　into　silence；　surveying　every　one　from　his　arm　chair　as　though　he　were　passing　mental　judgments　on　every　foolish　or　trifling　remark　uttered。　　In　reality；　he　was　taking　in　every　particular　about　Erica。　　He　looked　at　her　broad　forehead；　overshadowed　by　the　thick　smooth　waves　of　short　auburn　hair；　observed　her　golden…brown　eyes　which　were　just　now　as　clear　as　amber；　noted　the　creamy　whiteness　and　delicate　coloring　of　her　complexion；　which　indeed　defied　criticism　even　the　criticism　of　such　a　critical　man　as　Mr。　Fane…Smith。　　The　nose　was　perhaps　a　trifle　too　long；　the　chin　too　prominent；　for　ideal　beauty；　but　greater　regularity　of　feature　could　but　have　rendered　less　quaint；　less　powerful；　and　less　attractive　the　strangely　winsome　face。　　It　was　only　the　mouth　which　he　did　not　feel　satisfied　with　it　added　character　to　the　face；　but　he　somehow　felt　that　it　betokened　a　nature　not　easily　led；　not　so　gentle　and　pliable　as　he　could　have　wished。　　It　shut　so　very　firmly　and　the　under　lip　was　a　little　thinner　and　straighter　than　the　other　and　receded　a　little　from　it；　giving　the　impression　that　Erica　had　borne　much　suffering；　and　had　exercised　great　self…restraint。

Mrs。　Fane…Smith　saw　in　her　a　sort　of　miniature　and　feminine　edition　of　the　Luke　Raeburn　whom　she　remembered　eight…and…twenty　years　before　in　their　Scottish　home。　　When　Rose　had　gone　into　the　back　drawing　room　to　fetch　her　crewels；　she　drew　Erica　toward　her；　and　kissing　her　again；　said　in　a　low；　almost　frightened　voice：

〃You　are　very　like　what　your　father　was。〃

But　just　at　that　moment　Mr。　Fane…Smith　asked　some　sudden　question；　and　his　wife；　starting　and　　coloring；　as　though　she　had　been　detected　in　wrong…doing；　hurriedly　and　nervously　devoted　herself　to　what　seemed　to　Erica　a　distractingly　round…about　answer。　　By　the　time　it　was　fairly　ended；　dinner　was　announced；　and　the　strangeness　of　the　atmosphere　of　this　new　home　struck　more　and　more　upon　Erica　and　chilled　her　a　little。　　The　massive　grandeur　of　the　old　oak　furniture；　the　huge　oil　paintings；　which　she　wanted　really　to　study；　the　great　silver　candelabra；　even　the　two　footmen　and　the　solemn　old　butler　seemed　to　oppress　her。　　The　luxury　was　almost　burdensome。　　It　was　a　treat　indeed　to　see　and　use　beautiful　glass　and　china；　and　pleasant　to　have　beautiful　fruit　and　flowers　to　look　at；　but　Erica　was　a　bohemian　and　hated　stiff　ceremony　Her　heart　failed　her　when　she　thought　of　sitting　down　night　after　night　to　such　an　interminable　meal。　　Worse　still；　she　had　taken　a　dislike　to　her　host。　　Her　likes　and　dislikes　were　always　characterized　by　Highland　intensity；　and　something　in　her　aunt's　husband　seemed　to　rub　her　the　wrong　way。　　Mr。　Fane…Smith　was　a　retired　Indian　judge；　a　man　much　respected　in　the　religious　wor