Page:Lesbia Newman - Dalton - 1889.djvu/55

 ‘Yes, it was silly of me to be nervous about nothing; but anyhow I feel myself all right; now that you are with me.’ And Mrs Newman clasped her daughter in her arms even more affectionately than usual.

‘I’ll tell you what, mamma, this is quite strange. When I go out on my bicycle—which is risky, all riders know—you have none of these anxious fits; and now you have one when I simply go out to lunch, driven by my uncle with a steady old pony! Though it’s true, he did make one little breach of good-manners to day. The fact is, I don’t believe my safety has anything to do with it. What ails you is that you lead too dull a life, and therefore feel depressed and ready to fancy anything. I do wish you wouldn’t stay at home so much. You know Uncle Spines is always urging you to accept invitations and go about with us wherever we go—why don’t you do it? The fact of our not agreeing in opinion on certain social subjects, is no reason for our being so much apart. It’s unnatural, and there’s no good reason for it. [sic]’

‘I know, darling, your uncle is kindness itself where my personal wants are concerned. But—well, perhaps you are right; at all events, I will consider what you say, and try to act on it more than I have done.’

‘That’s right, dearest mother, I do hope you will, for my sake as well as your own. But still,’ she resumed, after a few moments’ silence, ‘I don’t feel quite satisfied in my mind; I wish you would tell me exactly all you have been doing since we left this morning. Something unusual must have taken place to make you feel so much upset on this particular day. I feel convinced there is a reason for it; so don’t put me off by saying you feel all right. You have been all wrong, and I want to know why.’

‘What have you done with your prize, your precious pup, my darling?’ asked Mrs Newman, attempting to change the subject.