"Mother was ill a long time," said Rotha, uncertain how to render obedience to this command.
"Yes, I know. When did you come to New York?"
"It is--two years now."
"Two years!" Mrs. Busby started up in her chair a little, and a faint colour rose in her cheeks; then it faded and her lips took a hard set.
"Ill all that time?"
"No. She was not ill for the first year."
"Say, "No _ma"am_," my dear. That is the proper way. Do you know what induced her to move to New York, Rotha?"
"Yes, ma"am," said Rotha colouring.
"May I know?"
"Didn"t you know we were very poor?" said Rotha in a lower voice.
"How was _that_ the reason?"
"We couldn"t--I mean--she couldn"t, get work at Medwayville."
"Get work!" Mrs. Busby was silent. Perhaps that was an unfruitful, and would prove an unrefreshing, field of inquiry. She would leave it unexplored for the present. She paused a little.
"So since then you have been living in New York?"
"Yes."
A longer pause followed. Mrs. Busby looked at the fire and raised one eyebrow.
"Under whose care have you been living, my dear, since you lost your mother"s?"
Rotha hesitated. Great soreness of heart combined now with another feeling to make her words difficult. She did not at all want to answer.
Nevertheless the girl"s temper was to be frank, and she saw no way of evasion here.
"I have had n.o.body but Mr. Digby," she said.
"Mr. Digby! Mr. Southwode, you mean? That is his name, my dear; don"t speak of him as "Mr. Digby.""
Rotha"s mouth opened, and closed. She was forming herself with all her might on Mr. Digby"s model; and besides that, she was trying to obey his injunctions about pleasant behaviour.
"Where have you lived all this time?" a little shorter than the former questions had been put.
"Since we came to New York?"
"No, no; since you have been under this gentleman"s care? Where have you been?"
"In a pleasant place near the river. I do not know the name of the street."
"Who took care of you there, Rotha?"
Rotha lifted her eyes. "Mr. Digby--Mr. Southwode."
"Mr. Southwode! Did he live there himself?"
"Yes, at that time; not always."
"Near the river, and in New York?" said Mrs. Busby, mystified.
"I did not say in New York. It was out of the city."
"I was out of town," said Mrs. Busby musingly. "I wish I had come home earlier, that I might have received you at once. But I am glad I have got you now, my dear. Now you will have the pleasure of going to school with Antoinette. You will like that, won"t you?"
"I do not know, ma"am. I think so."
"Why you want to learn, don"t you? You don"t want to be ignorant; and the only way is to go to school and study hard. Have you ever been to school at all?"
"No, ma"am."
"You will have a great deal to do. And the very first thing for me to do is to see to your wardrobe, that you may begin at once. Your box has come; I found it down stairs when I came in, and I had it taken right up to your room. Have you the key?"
"Yes, ma"am."
"Then go up, my dear, immediately; and bring down all your best dresses.
Then I can see what is to be done."
As Rotha went out, enter Antoinette.
"O mamma, here you are! I"m glad, I"m sure. I don"t want that young lady on _my_ hands any more."
"How do you like her, Antoinette?"
"Mamma, did you ever see such a figure? You won"t let her go down stairs till she is decently dressed, will you? I should be ashamed for even Lesbia to see her."
"Lesbia has got to see her and make the best of it."
"O but servants always make the worst of it. And company--she _couldn"t_ be seen by company, mamma. Why she looks as if she had come out of the year one. To have such a creature supposed to belong to us!"
"Mr. Southwode brought her?"
"Yes, mamma; and you should have seen the parting. I declare, it was rather striking! He kissed her, mamma, fancy! a real smacking kiss; and Rotha coloured up as if she was delighted. Did you ever hear anything like it?"
"She has done with him now," said Mrs. Busby drily.
"How"ll you manage, mamma, if he comes and asks for her?"
"Get your things off, Antoinette, and make yourself ready for dinner. Ah, here comes Rotha."
Rotha"s arms were full of muslin and lawn dresses, which she deposited on the table. Antoinette forgot or disregarded the order she had received and came to take part in the inspection. With a face of curiosity and business at once, Mrs. Busby unfolded, examined, refolded, one after another.