"Awful!" said Alaric.
"Terrible!" agreed Mrs. Chichester.
"Dreadful!" nodded Ethel.
"It's our unlucky day, mater!" added Alaric. "One thing is
absolutely necessary," Mrs. Chichester went on to say, "she must be
kept away from every one for the present."
"I should say so!" cried Alaric energetically. Suddenly he
ejaculated: "Good Lord! Jerry! HE mustn't see her. He'd laugh his
head off at the idea of my having a relation like her. He'll
probably run in to lunch."
"Then she must remain in her room until he's gone," said Mrs.
Chichester, determinedly. "I'll go into town now and order some
things for her and see about tutors. She must be taught and at
once."
"Why put up with this annoyance at all?" asked Ethel, for the first
time showing any real interest.
Mrs. Chichester put her arm around Ethel and a gentle look came into
her eyes as she said:
"One thousand pounds a year--that is the reason--and rather than you
or Alaric should have to make any sacrifice, dear, or have any
discomfort, I would put up with worse than that."
Ethel thought a moment before she replied reflectively:
"Yes, I suppose you would. I wouldn't," and she went up the stairs.
When she was little more than half way up Alaric, who had been
watching her nervously, called to her:
"Where are you off to, Ethel?"
She looked down at him and a glow, all unsuspected, came into her
eyes and a line of colour ran through her cheeks, and there was an
unusual tremor in her voice, as she replied:
"To try to make up my mind, if I can, about something.
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