Betty Leicester's Christmas Page 4
IV
Betty and her father had taken a long journey from London. They had beennearly all day in the train, after a breakfast by candle-light; and itwas quite dark, except for the light of the full moon in a misty sky, asthey drove up the long avenue at Danesly. Pagot was in great spirits;she was to go everywhere with Betty now, being used to the care of youngladies, and more being expected of this young lady than in the past.Pagot had been at Danesly before with the Duncans, and had many friendsin the household.
Mr. Leicester was walking across the fields by a path he well knew fromthe little station, with a friend and fellow guest whom they had met atDurham. This path was much shorter than the road, so that papa was sureof reaching the house first; but Betty felt a little lonely, beingtired, and shy of meeting a great bright houseful of people quite byherself, in case papa should loiter. But suddenly the carriage stopped,and the footman jumped down and opened the door. "My lady is walkingdown to meet you, miss," he said; "she's just ahead of us, coming downthe avenue." And Betty flew like a pigeon to meet her dear friend. Thecarriage drove on and left them together under the great trees, walkingalong together over the beautiful tracery of shadows. Suddenly Lady Maryfelt the warmth of Betty's love for her and her speechless happiness asshe had not felt it before, and she stopped, looking so tall andcharming, and put her two arms round Betty, and hugged her to her heart.
"My dear little girl!" she said for the second time; and then theywalked on, and still Betty could not say anything for sheer joy. "NowI'm going to tell you something quite in confidence," said the hostessof the great house, which showed its dim towers and scattered lightsbeyond the leafless trees. "I had been wishing to have you come to me,but I should not have thought this the best time for a visit; later on,when the days will be longer, I shall be able to have much more time tomyself. But an American friend of mine, Mr. Banfield, who is a friend ofyour papa's, I believe, wrote to ask if he might bring his youngdaughter, whom he had taken from school in New York for a holiday. Itseemed a difficult problem for the first moment," and Lady Mary gave afunny little laugh. "I did not know quite what to do with her just now,as I should with a grown person. And then I remembered that I might askyou to help me, Betty dear. You know that the Duncans always go for aChristmas visit to their grandmother in Devon."
"I was so glad to come," said Betty warmly; "it was nicer than anythingelse."
"I WAS SO GLAD TO COME"]
"I am a little afraid of young American girls, you understand," saidLady Mary gayly; and then, taking a solemn tone: "Yes, you needn'tlaugh, Miss Betty! But you know all about what they like, don't you? andso I am sure we can make a bit of pleasure together, and we'll befellow hostesses, won't we? We must find some time every day for alittle talking over of things quite by ourselves. I've put you next yourfather's rooms, and to-morrow Miss Banfield will be near by, and you'reto dine in my little morning-room to-night. I'm so glad good old Pagotis with you; she knows the house perfectly well. I hope you will soonfeel at home. Why, this is almost like having a girl of my very own,"said Lady Mary wistfully, as they began to go up the great steps andinto the hall, where the butler and other splendid personages of thehousehold stood waiting. Lady Mary was a tall, slender figure in black,with a beautiful head; and she carried herself with great spirit andgrace. She had wrapped some black lace about her head and shoulders, andheld it gathered with one hand at her throat.
"I must fly to the drawing-room now, and then go to dress for dinner; sogood-night, darling," said this dear lady, whom Betty had always longedto be nearer to and to know better. "To-morrow you must tell me allabout your summer in New England," she said, looking over her shoulderas she went one way and Betty another, with Pagot and a footman whocarried the small luggage from the carriage. How good and kind she hadbeen to come to meet a young stranger who might feel lonely, and as ifthere were no place for her in the great strange house in the firstminute of her arrival. And Betty Leicester quite longed to see MissBanfield and to help her to a thousand pleasures at once for Lady Mary'ssake.