nerves are easily overset.”
“The sweetest sensitivity! I realise, Miss Godric, that this must seem very sudden to you. Indeed, I am myself amazed. To tell the truth, I was wont always to scoff at tales of love at first sight. Now I know better.”
“I hate to disillusion you, but Allie is quite used to falling in love at first sight. I have lost count of the number of times she has done so.”
“I do understand, ma’am. She is very young. You must not think that I intend to rush her into a decision. I shall not approach her again upon the subject of matrimony until you and she are both satisfied that our mutual affection will endure.”
“I will be open with you, Mr. Collingwood. You see us in straitened circumstances, but Alice comes of excellent parentage and may look higher than a country clergyman for a husband. I hope you will not think me high in the instep. I promised my stepmother that she should have her season in London and a chance at making a creditable match. You look surprised. You have not had enough conversation with Alice even to know that I am her half sister, or that she is to spend next spring in town with her aunt, Lady Bardry.”
“You are right,” acknowledged the young vicar humbly. “I know nothing of your family save that you are kind and charitable. My thoughts should be on Grace and her child, and I have succumbed to the first real temptation I have ever met.”
“Pray do not judge yourself harshly, sir. Alice’s appearance has turned many heads, and I’ve no doubt yours will not be the last. I expect the spell will vanish as soon as you return to the West Country with little John.”
“I do not think so. I cannot believe it! You will not forbid me to see her?”
“No, indeed! I have no right to resort to such strict measures, and besides, it would be the surest way to confirm you as a romantic hero in Alice’s eyes. She is addicted to romantic novels, you know. No, you may see her when you will, and I shall rely on time to do its work. You do not think I have any personal prejudice against you, I hope,” added Hester pleadingly. “I must do my duty to my stepmother. She was so very good to me, and Jamie is still over-young for such tasks. I find these interviews excessively painful.”
Mr. Collingwood found himself pitying where he had thought to be worthy of pity. It dawned on him that Hester herself was over-young to be taking on such responsibilities, and the admiration and gratitude he had felt toward her on account of her care for his sister returned redoubled.
“Your attention to duty is highly praiseworthy,” he said gravely, if somewhat ponderously, and taking both the hands that were stretched toward him in an entreaty for understanding, he raised one to his lips just as Robbie burst into the drawing room.
“Hester, may I take my rabbit into the parlour? Mr. Fairfax wants to see it, and Jamie said you would not like it.”
“Robbie, I’ve told you a hundred times to knock before you enter. You may fetch the rabbit from the kitchen, but be very gentle with it and take it back in twenty minutes without fail. Mr. Collingwood, I expect you will want to see the baby. I believe Alice is with him now.”
Throwing her a look of gratitude, the young vicar left, and Hester made for the kitchen, where Susan was immersed in preparations for luncheon. Robbie went off in triumph to the back parlour.
“Hester says I can, so there,” he informed Jamie, and added, “Mr. Collingwood was kissing her.”
“What!” Jamie and Geoff both jumped to their feet. “Is she very distressed?” asked Jamie anxiously.
“No, she just said, ‘Robbie, I’ve told you a hundred times to knock before you enter.’ That makes a hundred and one, but she always says it, so I don’t think she is keeping count properly. I’m going to get my rabbit.”
Jamie and Geoff glanced at each other with mingled exasperation and dismay, and then turned as one to Mr. Fairfax, who was looking
“The sweetest sensitivity! I realise, Miss Godric, that this must seem very sudden to you. Indeed, I am myself amazed. To tell the truth, I was wont always to scoff at tales of love at first sight. Now I know better.”
“I hate to disillusion you, but Allie is quite used to falling in love at first sight. I have lost count of the number of times she has done so.”
“I do understand, ma’am. She is very young. You must not think that I intend to rush her into a decision. I shall not approach her again upon the subject of matrimony until you and she are both satisfied that our mutual affection will endure.”
“I will be open with you, Mr. Collingwood. You see us in straitened circumstances, but Alice comes of excellent parentage and may look higher than a country clergyman for a husband. I hope you will not think me high in the instep. I promised my stepmother that she should have her season in London and a chance at making a creditable match. You look surprised. You have not had enough conversation with Alice even to know that I am her half sister, or that she is to spend next spring in town with her aunt, Lady Bardry.”
“You are right,” acknowledged the young vicar humbly. “I know nothing of your family save that you are kind and charitable. My thoughts should be on Grace and her child, and I have succumbed to the first real temptation I have ever met.”
“Pray do not judge yourself harshly, sir. Alice’s appearance has turned many heads, and I’ve no doubt yours will not be the last. I expect the spell will vanish as soon as you return to the West Country with little John.”
“I do not think so. I cannot believe it! You will not forbid me to see her?”
“No, indeed! I have no right to resort to such strict measures, and besides, it would be the surest way to confirm you as a romantic hero in Alice’s eyes. She is addicted to romantic novels, you know. No, you may see her when you will, and I shall rely on time to do its work. You do not think I have any personal prejudice against you, I hope,” added Hester pleadingly. “I must do my duty to my stepmother. She was so very good to me, and Jamie is still over-young for such tasks. I find these interviews excessively painful.”
Mr. Collingwood found himself pitying where he had thought to be worthy of pity. It dawned on him that Hester herself was over-young to be taking on such responsibilities, and the admiration and gratitude he had felt toward her on account of her care for his sister returned redoubled.
“Your attention to duty is highly praiseworthy,” he said gravely, if somewhat ponderously, and taking both the hands that were stretched toward him in an entreaty for understanding, he raised one to his lips just as Robbie burst into the drawing room.
“Hester, may I take my rabbit into the parlour? Mr. Fairfax wants to see it, and Jamie said you would not like it.”
“Robbie, I’ve told you a hundred times to knock before you enter. You may fetch the rabbit from the kitchen, but be very gentle with it and take it back in twenty minutes without fail. Mr. Collingwood, I expect you will want to see the baby. I believe Alice is with him now.”
Throwing her a look of gratitude, the young vicar left, and Hester made for the kitchen, where Susan was immersed in preparations for luncheon. Robbie went off in triumph to the back parlour.
“Hester says I can, so there,” he informed Jamie, and added, “Mr. Collingwood was kissing her.”
“What!” Jamie and Geoff both jumped to their feet. “Is she very distressed?” asked Jamie anxiously.
“No, she just said, ‘Robbie, I’ve told you a hundred times to knock before you enter.’ That makes a hundred and one, but she always says it, so I don’t think she is keeping count properly. I’m going to get my rabbit.”
Jamie and Geoff glanced at each other with mingled exasperation and dismay, and then turned as one to Mr. Fairfax, who was looking
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