To renounce Dorothy in the bustle of Bath was a different thing from living without her in this quiet home.One evening Sir Ashley missed his wife from the supper-table;her manner had been so pensive and woeful of late that he immediately became alarmed.He said nothing,but looked about outside the house narrowly,and discerned her form in the park,where recently she had been accustomed to walk alone.In its lower levels there was a pool fed by a trickling brook,and he reached this spot in time to hear a splash.Running forward,he dimly perceived her light gown floating in the water.To pull her out was the work of a few instants,and bearing her indoors to her room,he undressed her,nobody in the house knowing of the incident but himself.She had not been immersed long enough to lose her senses,and soon recovered.She owned that she had done it because the Contessa had taken away her child,as she persisted in calling Dorothy.Her husband spoke sternly to her,and impressed upon her the weakness of giving way thus,when all that had happened was for the best.She took his reproof meekly,and admitted her fault.
After that she became more resigned,but he often caught her in tears over some doll,shoe,or ribbon of Dorothy's,and decided to take her to the North of England for change of air and scene.This was not without its beneficial effect,corporeally no less than mentally,as later events showed,but she still evinced a preternatural sharpness of ear at the most casual mention of the child.When they reached home,the Countess and Dorothy were still absent from the neighbouring Fernell Hall,but in a month or two they returned,and a little later Sir Ashley Mottisfont came into his wife's room full of news.
'Well--would you think it,Philippa!After being so desperate,too,about getting Dorothy to be with her!'
'Ah--what?'
'Our neighbour,the Countess,is going to be married again!It is to somebody she has met in London.'
Lady Mottisfont was much surprised;she had never dreamt of such an event.The conflict for the possession of Dorothy's person had obscured the possibility of it;yet what more likely,the Countess being still under thirty,and so good-looking?
'What is of still more interest to us,or to you,'continued her husband,'is a kind offer she has made.She is willing that you should have Dorothy back again.Seeing what a grief the loss of her has been to you,she will try to do without her.'
'It is not for that;it is not to oblige me,'said Lady Mottisfont quickly.'One can see well enough what it is for!'
'Well,never mind;beggars mustn't be choosers.The reason or motive is nothing to us,so that you obtain your desire.'
'I am not a beggar any longer,'said Lady Mottisfont,with proud mystery.
'What do you mean by that?'
Lady Mottisfont hesitated.However,it was only too plain that she did not now jump at a restitution of one for whom some months before she had been breaking her heart.
The explanation of this change of mood became apparent some little time farther on.Lady Mottisfont,after five years of wedded life,was expecting to become a mother,and the aspect of many things was greatly altered in her view.Among the more important changes was that of no longer feeling Dorothy to be absolutely indispensable to her existence.
Meanwhile,in view of her coming marriage,the Countess decided to abandon the remainder of her term at Fernell Hall,and return to her pretty little house in town.But she could not do this quite so quickly as she had expected,and half a year or more elapsed before she finally quitted the neighbourhood,the interval being passed in alternations between the country and London.Prior to her last departure she had an interview with Sir Ashley Mottisfont,and it occurred three days after his wife had presented him with a son and heir.
'I wanted to speak to you,'said the Countess,looking him luminously in the face,'about the dear foundling I have adopted temporarily,and thought to have adopted permanently.But my marriage makes it too risky!'
'I thought it might be that,'he answered,regarding her steadfastly back again,and observing two tears come slowly into her eyes as she heard her own voice describe Dorothy in those words.
'Don't criticize me,'she said hastily;and recovering herself,went on.'If Lady Mottisfont could take her back again,as I suggested,it would be better for me,and certainly no worse for Dorothy.To every one but ourselves she is but a child I have taken a fancy to,and Lady Mottisfont coveted her so much,and was very reluctant to let her go ...I am sure she will adopt her again?'she added anxiously.
'I will sound her afresh,'said the baronet.'You leave Dorothy behind for the present?'
'Yes;although I go away,I do not give up the house for another month.'
He did not speak to his wife about the proposal till some few days after,when Lady Mottisfont had nearly recovered,and news of the Countess's marriage in London had just reached them.He had no sooner mentioned Dorothy's name than Lady Mottisfont showed symptoms of disquietude.
'I have not acquired any dislike of Dorothy,'she said,'but I feel that there is one nearer to me now.Dorothy chose the alternative of going to the Countess,you must remember,when I put it to her as between the Countess and myself.'
