“It has been unavoidable, but no one can pretend that Jenny has been leading a normal life. A neglected education must have serious consequences in after years. She needs discipline, companionship, and a regular course of study. I do not think there can be any possible disagreement on these points. In fact, what she now needs is to go to school.”
It was what Craig had said-it was what she herself believed. But coming from Lydia Crewe it struck like a blow. Before she could find the right words the dominant voice was saying,
“I have therefore been instituting some enquiries. Miss Simmington’s school at Brinton appears to me to be just what is required. It is neither too small nor too large, the air is bracing, and the pupils are equipped to earn their own living. Lady Westerham gives me a very good account of the school and of Miss Simmington. She was left with a cousin’s children on her hands and has very kindly made herself responsible for their education, as I am prepared to do for Jenny’s.”
The deep-set eyes were fixed on Rosamond’s face. They demanded gratitude. They compelled it. Rosamond did the best she could.
“It’s very good of you, Aunt Lydia -”
The “but” which should have followed was never spoken. Miss Crewe had the word again.
“I am glad you should admit it. Young people are only too inclined to take everything for granted. I am prepared to pay Jenny’s fees, and to supply the outfit which the school requires. In return I shall expect you to continue your present duties here, and since you will no longer have Jenny to care for, I shall expect those duties to be carried out rather more efficiently than they have been. I am sure you will agree that the sooner Jenny takes advantage of this arrangement the better. In the circumstances, Miss Simmington has agreed to receive her immediately. She tells me that the outfit can be supplied locally.”
Rosamond was on her feet.
“Aunt Lydia, you don’t mean-you can’t mean that you have made all these arrangements without telling us!”
She met a formidable glance.
“You are taking a very strange tone, Rosamond. I have been put to considerable trouble, and I am prepared to undertake very considerable expense. I do not wish to remind you that you and Jenny are quite without resources of your own, but I feel obliged to do so. I have made these perfectly proper and suitable arrangements, and I expect you to fall in with them.”
Rosamond’s hands gripped one another.
“I know-Jenny will have-to go to school. I have been thinking about it-myself. I thought perhaps-next term-I thought perhaps I could get a post-near her-”
Miss Crewe said harshly,
“You have no qualifications for a post in a school. Your place is here where you can make some return, however inadequate, for what I am prepared to do for you.” She lifted some papers and held them out. “Here is a prospectus of the school, and the last letter which I have received from Miss Simmington. You will see that she suggests your bringing Jenny down on Friday.”
Rosamond made no attempt to take the papers.
“Oh, no-no!”
Miss Crewe said sharply,
“Please control yourself! I am prepared to make some allowance for the fact that this seems to have come as a surprise to you, though after the specialist’s last report you should have been prepared. You have, in fact, admitted as much.”
Rosamond spoke with an effort.
“I know-she ought to go to school. But it’s too soon. I must have time-to get her used to the idea. No one-no one would say it would be right to rush her like this. It would upset her- dreadfully.”
Lydia Crewe gave an impatient sigh.
“Really, Rosamond, you will have to watch your tendency to hysteria. If you take this attitude with Jenny, she will naturally be upset. I expect you to dwell on the advantages I shall be giving her and the companionship she will have. This agitation is entirely out of place. Please sit down and control yourself. If you go near Jenny in your present frame of mind, she will certainly set herself against the plan. Now I want to ask you quite seriously whether you think that Jenny’s present way of life should be prolonged.”
Rosamond sat down again. She mustn’t let Lydia Crewe shake her. The thing was unreasonable, and she must oppose it in a reasonable manner. She said,
“No, of course not. She must go to school, but not at a moment’s notice like this. And before she goes anywhere I should want to go down and see the head mistress, and the school, and the other girls. Jenny would feel quite differently about the whole thing if I could come back and tell her all about it.”
Miss Crewe had been looking down at her rings. The colours moved under the light of the chandelier. There was a large square ruby jostled by a great half-hoop of diamonds. There was a sapphire which had been given to her great-grandmother by the Regent, and the emerald which had been brought back from the Indies by a Crewe who had sailed with Drake. She looked up now, her eyes colder than the jewels, and said in a new voice-quieter-slower-bleak,
“So you are to call the tune? And take your time about it? Do you really know of no reason why time is just the one thing that neither you nor Jenny can be allowed to have?”
Rosamond felt cold at her heart.
“What do you mean?”
“You either know what I mean, or you are even stupider than I have thought you. Are you really ignorant of the fact that Jenny has been getting out of the house at night?”
The colour rushed into Rosamond’s face, only to drain away again and leave her blanched.
Miss Crewe gave a short hard laugh.
“I see you do know. May I ask how long it has been going on?”
“Aunt Lydia, I didn’t know. Someone told me-yesterday- that she had been seen-”
“Who told you?”
“Craig Lester.”
“And who told him?”
“He saw her-himself.”
“In the middle of the night?”
“He had gone for a walk-he couldn’t sleep-”
“Where did he see her?”
Question and answer had come so fast that there had been no time to think. It wasn’t thought that checked her now, it was the instinct to protect, to cover up, to make as little of Jenny’s escapade as she could. She said,
“She was coming into the drive.”
“And what was Mr. Lester doing there?”
“He was passing by, but when he saw Jenny he followed her until he saw her go into the house again.”
Lydia Crewe said grimly,
“By the side door. I believe that is how she comes and goes. She was lucky not to find it locked against her. If I find it open again, that is what I shall do. Well, now that you have admitted this propensity, will you maintain that it can be allowed to continue? Do you think it is safe or suitable to have Jenny wandering heaven knows where in the middle of the night? You are not very sensible or very experienced, but I suppose you read the papers. You must have some idea of what might happen to a girl wandering about alone. She wasn’t walking in her sleep, I suppose?”
Rosamond shook her head.
“Craig said not.”
“Where had she been?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did she have to say for herself?”
“I haven’t asked her anything-yet. It-it was a shock. I wanted time.”
Miss Crewe looked at her with something like a smile.
“Oh, yes, of course-you must have plenty of time. And now that you have had it, are you still going to tell me that there is any to lose? This is Wednesday. If I could have had my way, I would have packed Jenny off today. As it is, you will lock her into her room the next two nights, and you will travel down to Brinton with her by the nine-thirty from Melbury on Friday morning.”
Rosamond got up. She felt the pressure of a formidable will and she had nothing to set against it. It was Jenny herself who had plucked the weapon of reason out of her hand. Lydia Crewe had only to tell her story and everyone who heard it would say that she was doing the right thing. As she took a step towards the door, the harsh voice pursued her.