“You would not have thought of doing either.”
“Thank you so much. I believe that is only just.”
“I do not mind belonging to the multitude,” said Miss Burke.
“It is a brave lie. And of course you do not belong to it.”
“Do you have wine for luncheon when you have guests?”
“Yes, dear, I know I belong to it. There is some in the cellar, kept for these occasions. And we use the napkins that are not mended. As they are not fine linen, there is no harm in that.”
“Who mended the others?” said Miss Burke.
“You did, dear. I mean, you could not help not being here.”
“I shall not have time for mending. Did the last housekeeper have it?”
“I think she said she made it, dear.”
“It is not a thing I can make.”
“Plautus, will you mend the napkins?” said Emma, leaning forward. “Forgive me; it is because I cannot meet your eyes. I was afraid I might read your thought.”
“I cannot imagine you mending.”
“I am so glad. So I might have read it.”
“When the napkins want mending, we must discard them.”
“I knew you would never be at a loss. Can we hint to Mrs. Hume that we do that? Would it exalt Hester in her eyes?”
“No, I hardly think she would admire it.”
“So she does not belong to the multitude. Had we better use the mended napkins?”
“No, they are too much mended. The housekeeper must have made a lot of time.”
“Well, she did not keep any for herself. She told us so, when she left.”
“Yes, the maid has talked about her.”
“How do you know, when of course you do not listen? But you need not be troubled. You shall keep all the time you make.”
“I can make many other things better.”
“That is as well, because you may have to make them. We shall be five at the table. Mrs. Hume is bringing her son.”
“You did not tell me that.”
“No, I thought it would give you too much trouble.”
“But I had to know in the end.”
“That was it. I wanted to spare you the knowledge. So I did as long as I could.”
“The son is an odd man. He walked with me to the station. I think he is one of those men who respect womanhood.”
“That may seem odd to us, when we know about it. Of course women respect it, but they are the gallant sex. And they are women themselves, and women take personal views of things. But perhaps that is gallant. I think it is.”
“And do men respect manhood?” said Miss Burke.
“I think they are known not to be able to. It must be a man’s simplicity. I am sure women would respect it; indeed I think they do. They seem to respect both. It really is gallant.”
“Will the wine do for the son?”
“Yes, if he is as odd as you say.”
“But suppose he is not? I know nothing about him, except that he is attached to his mother.”
“There is no need to know him any better. That is enough in these days. Well, Plautus, do you want to see the odd man when he comes?”
Plautus gave no sign of the wish, when the occasion came. He cast a glance at the guests, stayed it for a second on Hester, and walked away.
“Oh, how glad he is to see me! His feelings are too deep for him to show them. So he assumes a veil of indifference.”
Plautus looked over his shoulder at the sound of the familiar voice.
“I perceive the indifference,” said Rosebery, smiling. “What I question, is whether it is a veil.”
“This is a very pleasant house,” said Miranda. “It is larger than I had imagined it.”
“Mother, it must mean much to Miss Wolsey to return to it. I doubt if we realise what the occasion is to her.”
“I have only been away from it for three weeks,” said Hester.
“And long weeks they must have been to you.”
“No, they have passed rather quickly.”
“Miss Wolsey, it is both kind and courageous to say so.”
“How long have you lived in the house, Miss Greatheart?” said Miranda.
“We took it fifteen years ago.”
“Miss Greatheart,” said Rosebery, “we can hardly estimate what the break-up must have been.”
“How do you do?” said Miranda, as Miss Burke was presented. “I think I have seen you before. Oh, you came to see me about the place as my companion! What a coincidence to find you here!”
“Mother, it is indeed a coincidence. Your possible companion and your actual one under one roof!”
“What work do you do here?” said Miranda, not taking her eyes from Miss Burke.
“The housekeeping and cooking. I think the companionship is on the other side.”
“So you changed your mind about what you were willing to do?”
“Well, I decided to take the place in this house.”
“Did you tell Miss Wolsey about me?” said Miranda, transferring her eyes to Hester, as if such information would be more properly sought from her. “Did you hear of me from Miss Burke?”
“She had written to you on the day Miss Burke came to us,” said Emma.
“And you let things take their course, Miss Burke,” said Miranda. “That was kind and fair of you, and did more than one of us a service.”
“Miss Burke, it was indeed kind of you,” said Rosebery, in a low tone deep with recollection.
“I must go and see about the luncheon,” said Miss Burke. “It will soon be ready.”
“Has it been looking after itself?” said Miranda, her question carrying others.
“No, the maid has been watching it,” said Emma. “But Miss Burke feels herself responsible.”
“You are very comfortable here,” said Miranda, with a faint undertone of surprise.
“Mother, the fact is self-evident.”
“That is what I implied, my son.”
“Ah, Plautus, you have come to speak to me,” said Hester. “Do you know there is another cat where I have been?”
Plautus did know, and acted on the knowledge by putting his nose near her skirt and walking away.
“He is taking his revenge for my desertion. How animals use their reason! They prove it all the time.”
Plautus proved it by taking in the group at luncheon, passing his owners and taking his stand by the guests, with his eyes hovering between them.
“No, Plautus, you should not ask to be fed,” said Emma.
Plautus understood the injunction and deliberately disregarded it.
“Am I allowed to?” said Rosebery, holding a morsel between his finger and thumb.
Plautus rose on his hind legs, took the morsel and sank back, his eyes not losing their alertness.
“Oh, Plautus, you are not as disciplined as Tabbikin,” said Hester. “You are allowed to be a human being.”
“I am fond of tabby cats,” said Emma to Miranda. “They remind me of little tigers.”
“My cat is not a tabby. The servants named it. I don’t remember what it is.”
“A tortoiseshell,” said Hester.
“Yes, I think its fur is really rather like tortoiseshell.”
“The difference between the two households stands exposed,” said Rosebery.
“You are a very good cook, Miss Burke,” said Miranda. “That is a thing you did not tell me.”
“No,” said Miss Burke, who had purposely not done so. “I was to come to you as a companion.”
“You are wise to use your talents. To cook well is a great one.”
“It is not uncommon, and it has to be used three times a day.”
“So you dine at night?” said Miranda, as if the words escaped her.
“Mother, you are showing curiosity.”
“I am naturally interested in Miss Wolsey’s background.”
“Mother,” said Rosebery, lowering his voice, “it is hers no longer.”