family misfortunes—if they can get anybody to listen to them. What does the one say that we have now, Harriet?”
Harriet, who was standing at the window, laughed and there was the same sneering tone in its sound that was so disagreable in the vulgar mother.
“She says that her aunt—Oh, mamma! here are visitors,” broke off the young lady. “The most beautiful carriage has driven up to the door!”
Mrs. Lorton—forgetting her dignity—hastened to the window, Jane rose: it was not a pleasant atmosphere to remain in.
“You can then really not tell me anything as to Miss Beauchamp’s movements?” she asked again of Mrs. Lorton; for, somehow, a doubt was upon her whether the lady could not have said more had she chosen.
“Now you have had my answer,” said Mrs. Lorton. “And I think it the height of impertinence in Miss Beauchamp to send people here to my house about any concerns of hers.”
Jane dropped a stately curtsy; her only leave-taking; and was turning to the door when it was thrown open by the footman.
“The Lady Jane Chesney’s carriage.”
Mrs. Lorton was in a flutter of expectation. Could any Lady Jane Chesney be vouchsafing a call on her? Where was the Lady Jane? Was she coming up? The man was showing her unwelcome visitor down stairs; but his mistress called to him so sharply that Jane had to make her way out of the house alone.
“Has any visitor come in?”
“No, ma'am.”
“No!” repeated Mrs. Lorton. “What did you mean then? Whose carriage is that? You came and announced Lady somebody.”
“I announced the carriage, ma'am, for the lady who was here,” returned the man, wondering at the misapprehension. The footman said he had called for his lady, Lady Jane Chesney.”
Mrs. Lorton gave a great gasp. She Lady Jane Chesney! She flew to the window just in time to catch a glimpse of Jane’s black skirts as she took her seat in the carriage. She saw the earl’s coronet on it; she saw the servant step nimbly up behind and lay his gold cane slant-wise. Mrs. Lorton had made a horrible mistake!
“Oh, Harriet! what can we do?” she exclaimed, in a faint voice.
“Mamma, I thought, I did indeed, that she looked like a lady! Lady Jane Chesney! What will she think of us?”
Mrs. Lorton was unable to say what, and sat down in an agony. Her life, of late years, had been spent in striving to get into “society.” And she had for once had a real live earl’s daughter in her drawing-room, and had insulted her!
“How could poor Clarice have stayed in that family for a day?” thought Jane.
CHAPTER XXVI.AN OMINOUS SHADOW.
Lady Jane was next driven to the other address, Mrs. West’s. The lady was at home, and Jane found her a very different person from Mrs. Lorton: a kind, cordial, chatty little woman, without pretence or form; a lady too. Mr. West was engaged in some City business, and neither he nor his wife aspired to be greater and grander than they were entitled to be.
“Miss Beauchamp came to us from the Lortons,” she said, when Jane had explained her business. “We liked her very much, and were sorry to lose her, but———”
“I beg your pardon,” interrupted Jane. “Can you tell me why Miss Beauchamp left her situation at the Lortons?”
“Yes,” answered Mrs. West, with a merry laugh. “She had scarcely entered their house when that vulgar son of theirs—and indeed I am not in the habit of backbiting, but he is vulgar—began to push his admiration upon her. She bore with it for some time, repelling him as she best could; but it grew unbearable, and Miss Beauchamp felt compelled to appeal to Mrs. Lorton. Mrs. Lorton did not behave well in it. She took her son’s part, and wished to lay the blame on Miss Beauchamp; Miss Beauchamp was naturally indignant at this, and insisted on quitting the house on the self-same day. Mrs. Lorton then came round, tried to soothe Miss Beauchamp, and offered her an increase of salary if she would remain.”
“But she did not?”
“Certainly not. Miss Beauchamp came to me, telling me what had occurred, and I was only too glad to engage her at once as governess to my children. We had a little acquaintance with the Lortons, and I had seen Miss Beauchamp several times, and liked her. She came into this house straight from the Lortons when she quitted them, and very pleased we were to secure her.”
A different account, this, from the one given by Mrs. Lorton; but Jane had felt certain the other was not strictly in accordance with truth.
“How long did Miss Beauchamp remain with you?” she inquired.
“But a short time. She had been with us about six months, when she told me she must give warning to leave. I was so surprised; so sorry.”
