Page:The Climber (Benson).djvu/208

198 after me and rubs me, I shall have to give her something handsome, and all you set against that is Jane's fare to Brayton and back, but two stations away. The cab's the same, whether I take her or not. And if I want tea in the morning, or have to ring my bell, it will be better that Jane should answer it. Having a maid will make me seem more like the rest of them, too. One doesn't want to be peculiar."

Elizabeth did not answer for a moment, for "Empress" was rapidly coming out, a thing that she had not done since August. There was a moment's check; then there was another space, and the thing was done. It was no time for sarcasm or fault-finding.

"It's out," she said. "Last time was the last night but three at Littlehampton. Yes, Cathie, I see no objection. I think it is a sensible plan; it will do Jane good, too, if she feels up to it."

"Then that's settled," said Aunt Cathie quickly, for fear Elizabeth might see objections. "And it's most thrilling that your patience has come out. I well remember the last time."

Elizabeth gathered up the cards.

"I feel better," she said. "I shall get a good night's rest, I hope."

With morning storm and stress really began for Cathie. She acquainted Jane with her destiny at breakfast, and told her that while they were at Brayton she would be Jane no longer, but Arbuthnot, and that she must be very careful, in case she saw Miss Lucia, to say "My lady" instead. It was settled also that Cathie should begin calling Jane by her surname at once, so that it might not seem strange to either of them when the thing had to be done in earnest. Otherwise Cathie was sure that she would stammer, or that Jane would not recognize that she was being spoken to. And Arbuthnot she was when the urn came in.

Then there was the tremendous question of dresses. Without further ado, Cathie sent Arbuthnot to the paper-shop at the corner of the road, where residential Brixham became mercantile, to get current copies of all the ladies' papers, up to a maximum of four, that she could find there. An hour's studious perusal of these gave her sufficient information as to what people were wearing now, and an entire turn out of her wardrobe followed. Walking-dresses, she was glad to see on the authority of Ladies' Dress, were very simple this autumn, and cut much on the lines of what was known as the "old speckledy." But the old