Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/243

244 "Not domestic—political," said Miss Antrobus gently. "But I have some other business to see to first. I shan't settle down to my economic studies very seriously just yet. I'm working for the Help for Heroes Society."

"You did hospital work through the war, Mrs. Rochester said," Jane put in. "I do think it must have been splendid. We couldn't do anything; we were at school."

"Yes—I was in France three years," said Miss Antrobus, and immediately turned from Jane to speak again to Miss Lucas.

"I'm not going to like her," said Jane, when Miss Antrobus had followed her luggage into retirement. "I think I am," said Lucilla. "She was jolly decent to me."

"Well, so were the others, And now there's only Mr. Tombs."

"I shan't wait for him," said Lucilla. "He can come when he likes. He can see the precious aunt in the evening; that's enough for him. I'm going to be myself till dinner and go round the garden with the Thorntons and help you to introduce Mr. Dix and Mr. Rochester to them, and tell them Aunt Harriet is resting and will be in the drawing-room after dinner. It isn't four yet. I'm not going to stay like this for four or five hours, so don't you think it!"

The Thorntons were really very nice. Mrs. Thornton was young and very well dressed and very gay and friendly. The male Thorntons seemed to become instantly at home with Dix and Rochester, and the party had tea by the fountain, as much at ease as though they had known each other for years. The men had, of course, all been in the army, and that is a bond that makes itself felt at once. Miss Antrobus talked little, mostly to Mr. Dix, and when she spoke to Lucilla it was to ask whether they were not to have the pleasure of seeing Miss Lucas at tea.

"No," said Lucilla unblushingly. "My aunt is not very strong. She rests a good deal. She cannot stand much society."