Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/274

Rh said Lucilla, pale and determined—"about there not being any aunt really."

"Yes," said Jane, "but I meant to tell you because it was really entirely my fault. My cousin didn't want to do it. She hated doing it. She only did it to please me—to get me out of a hole."

"Your cousin dressed up to please you, and impersonated an aunt—an aunt who does not exist?"

"Yes, I did," Lucilla affirmed. "I used to feel such a pig when you were so nice to me, but I didn't know how to get out of going on with it. I do hope you'll forgive us for playing such a trick on you."

"But why?" said Miss Antrobus. "Why?"

"Because," said Jane—"no, Lucy, it's no good, and I can't help it if it does offend people. This was why, Miss Antrobus. Mrs. Rochester came here being superior and patronising—wanting to see our chaperone. She almost said you wouldn't come here unless there was some old lady. So I thought, 'If Mrs. Rochester wants old ladies I daresay we can supply them.' I was in an awful rage. And I said there was an aunt—Aunt Harriet—just to shut Mrs. Rochester up—and then, of course, there had to be one. And I'm very sorry if you're annoyed about it, but really I can't see that it's done anyone any harm, and if Mrs. Rochester hadn't come here interfering and hinting that we weren't capable of looking after our own affairs it would never have happened."

Miss Antrobus had sat down. Now she bent her head over the flower-table.

"Did Mrs. Rochester say anything about me? Anything special? Cards on the table!" she said sharply, seeing that Lucilla hesitated. But Jane did not hesitate. "Yes, she did," she answered, "when she thought she'd got an aunt to say them to. She said that you and Mr. Rochester were secretly engaged, and begged the aunt to give you opportunities of sweethearting and to warn us off. So now you know!"