u, go with you," answered Mr Roberts hastily, waving Pandora
away. "No need any further--time presseth, and I have business to see
to."
Mrs Collenwood smiled silently as she motioned to Pandora to pass out.
Mr Roberts could scarcely have confessed more plainly that the priest
had set him to a catechising of which he was but too thankful to be rid.
"Poor Tom!" she said to herself.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
CHECK!
Pandora would have spoken as soon as they left the dining-room, but she
was stopped by a motion of her aunt's hand. Mrs Collenwood took her
into her own bedroom, shut and barred the door, glanced inside a hanging
closet to see that no one was secreted there, and seating herself on the
cushioned seat which ran round the inside of the bay window, signed to
her niece to take a seat beside her.
"Now, Dorrie, speak thy desire."
"Aunt Frances, I am surprised with wonder! Pray you, what ail I, that I
must quit home thus suddenly? I feel right well, and knew not there was
aught ado with mine health."
Pandora's voice betrayed a little alarm. It certainly was a startling
thing for a girl who felt and believed herself in excellent health, to
hear suddenly that unless she had instant change of air, serious
consequences might be expected to ensue.
Mrs Collenwood smiled--an affectionate, almost compassionate smile--as
she patted Pandora's shoulder.
"Take thine heart to thee, Dorrie. Thou art not sick, and if I can have
thee away in sufficient time, God allowing, thou shalt not be. But I
fear, if thou tarry, thou mayest have an attack of a certain pestilence
that is rife in Kent at this season."
"Pestilence, Aunt Frances! I never heard of no such going about. But
if so, why I alone? There be Father, and True, and Aunt Grena--should
they not go likewise?"
"No fear for Gertrude," answered Mrs Collenwood, almost sadly. "And
not much, methinks, for thy father. I am lesser sure of thine Aunt
Grena: but I have not yet been able to prevail with her to accompany
us."
"But what name hath this pestilence, under your good leave, Aunt
Frances?"
"It is called, Dorrie--persecution."
The colour rose slowly in Pandora's cheeks, until her whole face was
suffused.
"Methinks I take you now, Aunt," she said. "But, if I may have liberty
to ask at you, wherefore think you Father and True to be safer than Aunt
Grena and I?"
"Because they would yield, Dorrie. I misdoubt any charge brought
against Ge
|