Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/439

Rh "And if I refuse to do so, your father will insist on knowing the reason, and you made me promise you, that I would not tell him about you and Mr. Vasher."

"And you must not," I say, starting up, and sitting down again. "Tell the whole world, but never tell him!"

"Very well," says mother, sighing; "then you must put up with the chance of meeting her; and remember, Nell, that you lay a heavy burden upon me, not only of deceit towards your father, but great unpleasantness as regards myself. It is something, indeed, that I should have to take the hand of a woman who has done you such horrible injury!"

"She won't come here, mother dear," I say, kneeling down by her side; "and you need only leave cards."

"It is such a pity," goes on mother, "that your father liked the Vashers always: if he were quarrelling with them, as he does with everybody else, there would be no trouble. I am afraid you will have to meet him," she says, stroking my hair gently; then she adds wistfully—"Is it so very hard to you, dear? It should not be by now."

Mother does not understand quite. My story seems a very long while ago to her.

"Don't be afraid, mother: if we do meet face to face, I dare say I shall know how to behave."

"Supper is waiting!" says Dolly, entering hurriedly; and we go downstairs with much haste and more fear.

The governor's visit to New Zealand has not altered him in any way, neither have the added years made any perceptible change in his appearance. To-night he is in an amiable mood, and there are no desperate pauses and pregnant hiatuses in the conversation. How easy it is to amuse a man when he pulls with you, not against you!

"So Vasher has come back he says to mother, when he has