The Time of Roses

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  AT AYLMER'S COURT.

  Aylmer's Court was in the full perfection of its autumn beauty when SirJohn Wallis, accompanied by Kitty Sharston and her father, drove up thewinding avenue as Mrs. Aylmer's guests. A private omnibus from Aylmer'sCourt was sent to the railway station to meet them, and their luggagewas now piled up high on the roof.

  Sir John Wallis did not look a day older than when we last saw him inall the glories of his own house, surrounded by the girls whom he hadmade happy.

  Kitty was seated beside her father and opposite to her old friend. Shelooked sweet and bright, with that gentle, high-bred, intelligentexpression which she always wore. Kitty's heart was no longer empty orsad. Her beloved father had come back to live with her, she hoped, aslong as life lasted. Her old friend, Sir John Wallis, had only recentlydeclared her his heiress; and, although Kitty would never leave herfather for anything that mere money could offer, she was glad to feelthat he was no longer anxious about her future.

  As to Kitty, herself, however rich she might be, she would always besimple-hearted and think of wealth in the right spirit; for what itcould do to promote the happiness of others, and not merely as a meansof increasing her own splendour or silly pleasures.

  "You have two fathers, you know, Kitty," said Sir John, as they drove upthe avenue. "You are bound to be a very circumspect young lady, as youare under such strict surveillance."

  "You need not suppose for a single moment that I am the least afraid ofeither of you," was her answer, and she gave her head a little tosswhich was not in the least saucy, but was very pretty to see.

  Colonel Sharston smiled and turned to his friend.

  "How is it that we have accepted this invitation?" he said. "I do notknow Mrs. Aylmer. What sort of woman is she?"

  "Oh, a very estimable person. I have known her for many years. I feltthat we could not do less than give her a few days of our company, andAylmer's Court is a beautiful place."

  So it truly was--the park undulating away to the edge of the landscape,and acres and acres of forest-land being visible in every direction.There was a lake a little way to the left of the house, on which a smallpleasure-boat was now being rowed. In that boat sat a girl dressed indark blue, with a sailor hat on her head. Kitty bent forward; then sheglanced at Sir John Wallis and suddenly squeezed his hand.

  "Do you know who is rowing on the lake?" she said.

  "Who, my dear? Why, Kitty, you have turned quite white."

  "I met her before, but, do you know, I had absolutely forgotten it. Sheis Mrs. Aylmer's companion, and I believe her right hand."

  "But who is she, dear? What is the matter? You look quite ill."

  "Don't you remember Bertha Keys?"

  "Miss Keys; why, that was the girl who behaved so badly at the time whenI offered my scholarship, was it not?"

  "The very same girl," said Kitty.

  "And what do you want me to do regarding her, Kitty?"

  "I do not know. I don't want to do her any injury. Don't be surprisedwhen you meet her, that is all, and--"

  "Kitty, your heart is a great deal too tender. You ought not to belongto this evil world at all," said Sir John, while her father looked atKitty and asked for an explanation.

  "Another time, father. All Sir John has to do is to treat Miss Keys asif he had never met her before."

  "Well, I daresay I can manage more than that for your sake, Kitty; andnow, here we are at the house."

  Mrs. Aylmer and her adopted son, Maurice Trevor, were standing on thesteps to meet their guests. The moment she saw Trevor, Kitty smiled andtook an eager step forward to meet him. He held out his hand.

  "This is a real pleasure," she said. "I had forgotten all about yourbeing here. Do you remember Dawlish?"

  "Of course I do," he answered. "I do not easily forget pleasantoccasions."

  Mrs. Aylmer now turned to Kitty, took her hand in hers, and, turning hergently round, looked into her face. It was a good face, eyes of thesweetest grey, delicate colouring, an intelligent forehead, lips trueand pure and honest. Mrs. Aylmer scarcely knew why she sighed, and whya wish rose up in her heart that she had never felt before: thatMaurice, the boy she truly loved, should really like and marry thisgirl. Just for the moment she forgot all about Kitty's futurecircumstances; she welcomed her for herself.

  "Would you like to go for a walk before dinner?" said Trevor. "Miss Keysis rowing on the lake; we will go to meet her."

  "I should be delighted. May I go, father?" said Kitty.

  "Certainly, my love."

  "Then will you two gentlemen come into the house?" said Mrs. Aylmer. Shenodded to Trevor, who walked off immediately with Kitty. As soon as theygot out of ear-shot, Kitty faced her companion.

  "I never knew that I should meet you here. I am so glad. I heard fromFlorence a few days ago; she said you were so good and kind to her whenyou were in London. I must thank you now in her name."

  "I should like to be kind to her, but in reality I was able to do onlyvery little for her," said Trevor. "Does she write often to you? How isshe getting on?"

  "She seems to me to be getting on in the most wonderful way. She hasquite a considerable amount of literary work to do. Two of her storieshave already been accepted, and she is asked to do a third, and I haveno doubt that other work also will fall in her way. She will now be ableto support herself comfortably. I cannot tell you what a relief it is tome."

  Trevor smiled.

  "She is wonderfully clever and interesting," he said. "I am glad she isyour friend. She has talked to me about you and----"

  Just at that moment Bertha Keys, having moored her little boat came tomeet them.

  She came straight up to Kitty and spoke in a defiant voice, and as ifshe were talking to a perfect stranger.

  "How do you do?" she said. "I suppose I must introduce myself. My nameis Miss Keys. I am Mrs. Aylmer's companion. I shall be pleased to doeverything I can to promote your comfort while at Aylmer's Court. Haveyou been here long?"

  "Only a few moments," answered Kitty, taking her cue, "and Mr. Trevorhas most kindly offered to show me round the place. I am so tired ofsitting still that it is delightful to move about again."

  "Then I won't keep you. Dinner is at half-past seven, and thedressing-gong sounds at seven. Mrs. Aylmer's maid will help you todress, Miss Sharston--that is, unless you have brought your own."

  "Oh, I don't keep a maid," said Kitty merrily; "I hate maids, and in anycase I am not rich enough to afford one."

  Miss Keys raised her brows in a somewhat supercilious way.