age,asIdaresayyouknow.IsupposethatthechildwillbeeducatedinItaly.Possiblyhisgrandmothermaybedoingsomething,butIhavenotheardofit.Idonotexpectthatshewillhavehimover.Shedisapprovesofthefather.Itisaltogetherapainfulbusinessforher.”
ShewascarefulonlytoscoldIrmafordisobedience—thateighthdeadlysin,soconvenienttoparentsandguardians.Harrietwouldhaveplungedintoneedlessexplanationsandabuse.Thechildwasashamed,andtalkedaboutthebabyless.Theendoftheschoolyearwasathand,andshehopedtogetanotherprize.Butshealsohadputherhandtothewheel.
ItwasseveraldaysbeforetheysawMissAbbott.Mrs.Herritonhadnotcomeacrosshermuchsincethekissofreconciliation,norPhilipsincethejourneytoLondon.Shehad,indeed,beenratheradisappointmenttohim.Hercreditabledisplayoforiginalityhadneverbeenrepeated:hefearedshewasslippingback.NowshecameabouttheCottageHospital—herlifewasdevotedtodullactsofcharity—andthoughshegotmoneyoutofhimandoutofhismother,shestillsattightinherchair,lookinggraverandmorewoodenthanever.
“Idaresayyouhaveheard,”saidMrs.Herriton,wellknowingwhatthematterwas.
“Yes,Ihave.Icametoaskyouhaveanystepsbeentaken?”
Philipwasastonished.Thequestionwasimpertinentintheextreme.HehadaregardforMissAbbott,andregrettedthatshehadbeenguiltyofit.
“Aboutthebaby?”askedMrs.Herritonpleasantly.
“Yes.”
“AsfarasIknow,nosteps.Mrs.Theobaldmayhavedecidedonsomething,butIhavenotheardofit.”
“Iwasmeaning,hadyoudecidedonanything?”
“Thechildisnorelationofours,”saidPhilip.“Itisthereforescarcelyforustointerfere.”
Hismotherglancedathimnervously.“PoorLiliawasalmostadaughtertomeonce.IknowwhatMissAbbottmeans.Butnowthingshavealtered.AnyinitiativewouldnaturallycomefromMrs.Theobald.”
“ButdoesnotMrs.Theobaldalwaystakeanyinitiativefromyou?”askedMissAbbott.
Mrs.Herritoncouldnothelpcolouring.“Isometimeshavegivenheradviceinthepast.Ishouldnotpresumetodosonow.”
“Thenisnothingtobedoneforthechildatall?”
“Itisextraordinarilygoodofyoutotakethisunexpectedinterest,”saidPhilip.
“Thechildcameintotheworldthroughmynegligence,”repliedMissAbbott.“ItisnaturalIshouldtakeaninterestinit.”
“MydearCaroline,”saidMrs.Herriton,“youmustnotbroodoverthething.Letbygonesbebygones.Thechildshouldworryyouevenlessthanitworriesus.Weneverevenmentionit.Itbelongstoanotherworld.”
MissAbbottgotupwithoutreplyingandturnedtogo.HerextremegravitymadeMrs.Herritonuneasy.“Ofcourse,”sheadded,“ifMrs.Theobalddecidesonanyplanthatseemsatallpracticable—ImustsayIdon’tseeanysuch—IshallaskifImayjoinherinit,forIrma’ssake,andshareinanypossibleexpenses.”
“Pleasewouldyouletmeknowifshedecidesonanything.Ishouldliketojoinaswell.”
“Mydear,howyouthrowaboutyourmoney!Wewouldneverallowit.”
“Andifshedecidesonnothing,pleasealsoletmeknow.Letmeknowinanycase.”
Mrs.Herritonmadeapointofkissingher.
“Istheyoungpersonmad?”burstoutPhilipassoonasshehaddeparted.“NeverinmylifehaveIseensuchcolossalimpertinence.Sheoughttobewellsmacked,andsentbacktoSunday-school.”
Hismothersaidnothing.
“Butdon’tyousee—sheispracticallythreateningus?Youcan’tputheroffwithMrs.Theobaldsheknowsaswellaswedothatsheisanonentity.Ifwedon’tdoanythingshe’sgoingtoraiseascandal—thatwenegl