"_P.S_.--I enclose a copy of the clauses of the will most likely to interest you. I am sorry to say my ward is in very bad--I might say seriously bad--health. He has a const.i.tutional complaint, which, I greatly fear, will make this winter a most anxious time to us all."
After this, Captain Oliphant soothed himself down with a cigarette, and spent a little time in admiring contemplation of an excellent portrait of Mrs Ingleton on the wall. Finally, he went cheerfully to bed.
CHAPTER SIX.
A CASE OF EVICTION.
A week pa.s.sed and Mr Armstrong did not return. By the end of that time Miss Rosalind Oliphant, for better or worse, had settled down into her new quarters, and made herself as much at home as a fair Bohemian can do anywhere. She still resented the fate which brought her to Maxfield at all, and annoyed her father constantly by casting their dependence on the hospitality of the place in his teeth.
"I wish you had some business, father," said she, "so that we could pay our way. I don"t suppose my pictures will ever sell, but every penny I earn shall go to Roger. Couldn"t we go and live in the lodge, somewhere where we can--"
"Rosalind," said her father, "you vex me by talking like a child. After the education I have tried to provide for you, I had a right to hope you would at least regulate your tongue by a little common-sense. Do you not know that I have given up my profession, everything, in order to come to do my duty here?"
"I wish you hadn"t," said the girl doggedly; "it would have been so easy to decline the trust and remain independent. It"s awful to think we"ve nothing to live on but what we get out of Roger"s money."
"Foolish girl," said her father with a forced laugh, "you are a delightful specimen of a woman"s incapacity to understand the very rudiments of business. Why, you absurd child, old Roger Ingleton"s will bequeathed me 300 a year for acting as the boy"s guardian."
"Yes, for two years. And Roger would have been all that richer if you"d declined. I"m sure his mother and Mr Armstrong are plenty to look after him. I"d have liked you so much better, dear father, if you"d stayed in the army."
"I"m afraid, my poor girl, it is useless to argue with you. When you do get a wrong idea into your head, nothing will induce you to part with it, even if it involves an injustice to your poor father."
"Father," said she, "you know it is because I love you and--"
"Enough," said he rather sternly. "I know you mean well."
And he went.
At the door, however, he returned and said--
"By the way, Rosalind, I must mention one matter; not for discussion, but as my express wish. You named Mr Armstrong just now. I desire that you hold no communication with him. I have reason for knowing he is not a desirable person at all."
"If so, you had better take us away from here," said Rosalind, flushing.
"You"ve no right to let us stay."
"Silence, miss, and bear in mind what I tell you. Do you understand?"
Rosalind had taken up her brush and was painting furiously at her picture.
Captain Oliphant having waited a minute for an answer and getting none, stalked out of the room a model of parental anguish. As for Miss Rosalind, she painted away for a quarter of an hour, and then said to herself--
"Is he?"
With which profound inquiry she laid down her brush and went to visit her invalid cousin.
Roger was up, though still coughing, and ensconced in his study.
"How jolly of you to come!" said he.
"I came because I"d nothing else to do," said she, "I"m not jolly at all."
"Why, what"s the row?"
"Can"t you guess? Don"t you know that I owe you already for a week"s board and lodgings and haven"t earned sixpence to pay you."
"I shall put you in the county court," said Roger solemnly.
"It"s no joke to me," said she.
"I know it isn"t, and I wish to goodness I could help you out. By the way, though," added he, jumping up from his chair, "I"ve got it."
"Don"t," said she; "you"ll only start the cough. What have you got? An idea?"
"Yes. Rosalind, do you know I"m going to get some painting-lessons?"
"Where? Oh, I wish I could afford some too. Is there any one near here who teaches?"
"Yes. Some one who"s just starting. A rather jolly girl, only she has an awful temper; and I"m afraid, when she sees what a poor hand I make, she"ll have no patience with me."
Rosalind looked at him steadily, and then smiled.
"How nice of you! May I really try? I"ll teach you all I know."
"Will you promise to be nice, and never to fly out at me?"
"No, I"ll promise nothing of the sort. But if you learn well, I"ll be very proud."
"And your terms?"
She looked at him again.
"Would a shilling an hour be an awful lot?"
"No. It"s very moderate. I accept the terms. I"ll begin to-day."
This satisfactory bargain being concluded. Miss Rosalind inquired how her new pupil"s cold was.
"Nearly all right. I"m glad to have got rid of it before Armstrong comes back."
"When will that be?"
"I don"t know. He hasn"t written a line. I hope he"ll come soon."
"Are you awfully fond of him!" asked Rosalind.
"Rather," replied the boy.
"That"s exactly what he said when I asked him if he was fond of you."