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House much before ten. On a certain morning two or three days after the conversation just recorded it was past ten when he brought two letters to the door, one for Mrs. Trevelyan, and one for Mrs. Stanbury. The ladies had finished their breakfast, and were seated together at an open window. As was usual, the letters were given into Priscilla’s hands, and the newspaper which accompanied them into those of Mrs. Trevelyan, its undoubted owner. When her letter was handed to her, she looked at the address closely and then walked away with it into her own room.
“I think it’s from Louis,” said Nora, as soon as the door was closed. “If so, he is telling her to come back.”
“Mamma, this is for you,” said Priscilla. “It is from Aunt Stanbury. I know her handwriting.”
“From your aunt? What can she be writing about? There is something wrong with Dorothy.” Mrs. Stanbury held the letter but did not open it. “You had better read it, my dear. If she is ill, pray let her come home.”
But the letter spoke of nothing amiss as regarded Dorothy, and did not indeed even mention Dorothy’s name. Luckily Priscilla read the letter in silence, for it was an angry letter. “What is it, Priscilla? Why don’t you tell me? Is anything wrong?” said Mrs. Stanbury.
“Nothing is wrong, mamma,—except that my aunt is a silly woman.”
“Goodness me! what is it?”
“It is a family matter,” said Nora smiling, “and I will go.”
“What can it be?” demanded Mrs. Stanbury again as soon as Nora had left the room.
“You shall hear what it can be. I will read it you,” said Priscilla. “It seems to me that of all the women that ever lived my Aunt Stanbury is the most prejudiced, the most unjust, and the most given to evil thinking of her neighbours. This is what she has thought fit to write to you, mamma.” Then Priscilla read her aunt’s letter, which was as follows:—
The Close, Exeter, July 31, 186—.
Dear Sister Stanbury,
I am informed that the lady who is living with you because she could not continue to live under the same roof with her lawful husband, has received a visit at your house from a gentleman who was named as her lover before she left her own. I am given to understand that it was because of this gentleman’s visits to her in London, and because she would not give up seeing him, that her husband would not live with her any longer.
“But the man has never been here at all,” said Mrs. Stanbury, in dismay.
“Of course he has not been here. But let me go on.”
I have got nothing to do with your visitors, [continued the letter] and I should not interfere but for the credit of the family. There ought to be somebody to explain to you that much of the abominable disgrace of the whole proceeding will rest upon you, if you permit such goings on in your house. I suppose it is your house. At any rate you are regarded as the mistress of the establishment, and it is for you to tell the lady that she must go elsewhere. I do hope that you have done so, or at least that you will do so now. It is intolerable that the widow of my brother,—a clergyman,—should harbour a lady who is separated from her husband and who receives visits from a gentleman who is reputed to be her lover. I wonder much that your eldest daughter should countenance such a proceeding.
Yours truly,
Jemima Stanbury.
Mrs. Stanbury, when the letter had been read to her, held up both her hands in despair. “Dear, dear,” she exclaimed. “Oh, dear!”
“She had such pleasure in writing it,” said Priscilla, “that one ought hardly to begrudge it her.” The blackest spot in the character of Priscilla Stanbury was her hatred for her aunt in Exeter. She knew that her aunt had high qualities, and yet she hated her aunt. She was well aware that her aunt was regarded as a shining light by very many good people in the county, and yet she hated her aunt. She could not but acknowledge that her aunt had been generous to her brother, and was now very generous to her sister, and yet she hated her aunt. It was now a triumph to her that her aunt had fallen into so terrible a quagmire, and she was by no means disposed to let the sinning old woman easily out of it.
“It is as pretty a specimen,” she said, “as I ever knew of malice and eavesdropping combined.”
“Don’t use such hard words, my dear.”
“Look at her words to us,” said Priscilla. “What business has she to talk to you about the credit of the family and abominable disgrace? You have held your head up in poverty, while she has been rolling in money.”
“She has been very good to Hugh,—and now to Dorothy.”
“If I were Dorothy I would have none of her goodness. She likes some one to trample on,—some one of the name to patronise. She shan’t trample on you and me, mamma.”
Then there was a discussion as to what should be done; or rather a discourse in which Priscilla explained what she thought fit to do. Nothing, she decided, should be said to Mrs. Trevelyan on the subject; but an answer should be sent to Aunt Stanbury. Priscilla herself would write this answer, and herself would sign it. There was some difference of opinion on this point, as Mrs. Stanbury thought that if she might be allowed to put her name to it, even though Priscilla should write it, the wording of it would be made, in some degree, mild,—to suit her own character. But her daughter was imperative, and she gave way.
“It shall be mild enough in words,” said Priscilla, “and very short.”
Then she wrote her letter as follows:—
Nuncombe Putney, August 1, 186—.
Dear Aunt Stanbury,
You have found a mare’s nest. The gentleman you speak of has never been here at all, and the people who bring you news have probably hoaxed you. I don’t think that mamma has ever disgraced the family, and you can have no reason for thinking that she ever will. You should, at any rate, be sure of what you are saying before you make such cruel accusations.
Yours truly,
Priscilla Stanbury.
P.S.—Another gentleman did call here,—not to see Mrs. Trevelyan; but I suppose mamma’s house need not be closed against all visitors.
Poor Dorothy had passed evil hours from the moment in which her aunt had so far certified herself as to Colonel Osborne’s visit to Nuncombe as to make her feel it to be incumbent on her to interfere. After much consideration Miss Stanbury had told her niece the dreadful news, and had told also what she intended to do. Dorothy, who was in truth horrified at the iniquity of the fact which was related, and who never dreamed of doubting the truth of her aunt’s information, hardly knew how to interpose. “I am sure mamma won’t let there be anything wrong,” she had said.
“And you don’t call this wrong?” said Miss Stanbury, in a tone of indignation.
“But perhaps mamma will tell them to go.”
“I hope she will. I hope she has. But he was allowed to be there for hours. And now three days have passed and there is no sign of anything being done. He came and went and may come again when he pleases.” Still Dorothy pleaded. “I shall do my duty,” said Miss Stanbury.
“I am quite sure mamma will do nothing wrong,” said Dorothy. But the letter was written and sent, and the answer to the letter reached the house in the Close in due time.
When Miss Stanbury had read and re-read the very short reply which her niece had written, she became at first pale with dismay, and then red with renewed vigour and obstinacy. She had made herself, as she thought, quite certain of her facts before she had acted on her information. There was some equivocation, some most unworthy deceit in Priscilla’s letter. Or could it be possible that she herself had been mistaken? Another gentleman had been there;—not, however, with the object of seeing Mrs. Trevelyan! So said Priscilla. But she had made herself sure that the man in question