It May Be True, Vol. 2 (of 3). Henry Wood

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СКАЧАТЬ that stood in her way. She only wished, with a sigh, she was the chosen one, instead of Miss Neville—and then—what a dance she would lead the two!

      "What is the matter with your wrist?" asked she, as Amy of necessity stretched out the left hand for the flower.

      "I have sprained it."

      Anne never asked the why or wherefore,—which might have surprised Amy had she thought at all about it; knowing, as she did, her inquisitiveness,—but examined it at once.

      "Yes, it is a bad sprain, and how swollen the fingers are! and how funny it looks," said she laughing. "Why you might as well be afflicted with gout. How it burns! I should be quite frightened if it was mine."

      "I am not in the least so," replied Amy. "I am going to bathe it in cold water presently. I think that will do it good."

      "How can you possibly know what will do it good; you ought to have old Dr. Bernard to see it."

      "Oh, no!" exclaimed Amy hastily, "there is not the slightest necessity for any such thing. I cannot bear the idea of it; pray do not think of it for one moment, I would rather not see him."

      "Well, it is horrid, the idea of having a medical man, and knowing that for the time being, you are bound to follow wherever he leads; I hate it too. But old Dr. Bernard is so mild and meek, so fatherly-looking, with his grey hair or hairs—he has only got about twenty round his shining bald pate—so different to our young doctor at home, who comes blustering in, cracking his okes; and then sends medicine enough to kill the whole household. Of course Isabella knows about your arm?"

      "No, not a word, and I hope she will not."

      "Hope no such thing, please, as I shall tell her of it the very first opportunity I have."

      "Pray do not, Miss Bennet. It will be quite well to-morrow."

      "It will not be well for days; and as for not telling Mrs. Linchmore, I always do what I say, and if you were to talk until Doomsday you would not reason me out of it. Only think if it were to bring on fever; you might get seriously ill and die, imagine what a mischance, obliged to have a funeral and all kinds of horrors; and then, how do you suppose us poor visitors would feel. I am sure we are dull enough as it is; at least, I am; so in compassion to our poor nerves, you must see that dear old Dr. Bernard. It is no use whatever fighting against your destiny," and without waiting for a reply Anne went away, thinking she had managed admirably well, seeing she had carried her point, without in the least compromising Charles.

      She looked into the morning-room on her way down: there was no one there but Alfred Strickland having a quiet nap to while away the time before dinner, and Mr. Hall; the latter with his legs as usual, tucked away out of sight, a book in his hand; but fortunately for Anne his face turned away from its pages, towards the fire; so she crept softly away without disturbing either.

      In the hall, to her astonishment, she met Charles, impatiently awaiting her, cloaked and booted for his cold ride.

      "Well, what success?" asked he.

      "How ridiculous!" exclaimed Anne angrily. "There is such a thing as being too punctual. If I am to do as you wish, I will not be hurried; I am a woman as well as Miss Neville, and look for as much consideration. Besides, I said half an hour, and half an hour I will have;" and without waiting for a reply she passed on into the drawing-room, while Charles, throwing off his great coat, followed.

      But he was doomed to be terribly tried, for there sat Mrs. Linchmore, the object of Anne's search, deep in the mysteries of a game of chess with Mr. Vavasour.

      Anne sat down and took up a book. "It will never do for me to disturb them," said she, quietly, rather enjoying the joke of Charles' discomfiture, now visibly expressed on his face.

      A muttered exclamation of impatience, which sounded very much like an oath, passed his lips.

      Anne slightly winced at this. She thought the case getting desperate.

      Why should Charles be in such a tremendous hurry?

      It was not a case of life and death. She really thought, considering she was doing him a favour, he might have a chat, and make the time pass pleasantly and agreeably, instead of letting her see how entirely his heart was wrapped up in another girl. Only that her word was passed, from which Anne never deviated, she would have thrown up the office she had undertaken, and have nothing more to do with it.

      Time passed on, not as it generally does, with swift fleet wings; but even to Anne, who did not care how it went, heavily and slowly, very much in the same way as the game of chess was progressing. Charles evinced his impatience by crossing his legs, uncrossing them, taking up a book and tossing over the pages; for not one word did he read or desire to; and finally, as the small French clock on the mantel-piece chimed six, he threw down the book and exclaimed impatiently—

      "When the devil will that game be over?" Then catching Anne's astonished look, he laughed aloud, and said, "You do not often see me out of temper, cousin?"

      "True, but then I never recollect having seen it tried."

      "Or tried so severely as it is now."

      "Men have no patience, see how quietly I take it."

      "You! you have no interest in the matter."

      "Have I not? And pray may I ask do you suppose it is very pleasant for me to be sitting here doing nothing. There are Alfred and Mr. Hall, both in the morning room, alone, waiting to be talked to, and I might have them all to myself, for the next half hour, and certainly all the time I have been wasting on you and your affairs. Have a little more gratitude Sir, or you may get some one else to manage for you."

      "You are a good girl, Anne, but a shocking flirt."

      "Oh yes! abuse me as much as you like, it will do you good, and perhaps make you in a better temper; as I said before, men have no patience. As long as things go smoothly and quietly they are all right; but when things happen contrary or not exactly as they wish, they get into a rage, and do not know how to bear it like us poor women, who are taught it every hour of our lives."

      "I never remember to have heard such a piece of moral wisdom from your lips before Anne."

      They were here, much to the intense delight of Charles, interrupted by the voices of the chess players.

      "That was a very pretty checkmate," said Robert Vavasour, "so totally unexpected and unperceived."

      "Who has beaten?" asked Anne, going towards them, as Charles went out of the room, leaving her to do as best she could for him.

      "Mr. Vavasour," replied Mrs. Linchmore, "he always does."

      "Not always; you won two games of me last evening."

      "Or rather you allowed me to; but I do not mind being beaten sometimes, it is tiresome never to win."

      While the chess-men were being put away, Anne considered how she should begin her story, which, now it had come to the point, seemed more difficult than she had imagined. At length a bright idea struck her.

      "I hate chess," she said, "and cannot think what pleasure there can be in poring over such a dull game. I would a thousand times rather play the children's Race game; there is something exciting in that, but poor Miss Neville is too ill to play now."

      "Ill!" exclaimed Mrs. Linchmore. "Miss Neville ill?" while one of the chess-men slipped СКАЧАТЬ