The guests began to arrive; and Sophia was among them.
Her two faithful patients, Sir John and Mr Skirton, noticed that she was serious and silent. Mr Skirton asked if she had visited Otto that day. No; she had not thought it necessary, and he had not sent to say that he wanted her. Mrs Crossmichael, waiting her opportunity, got into conversation with Sophia, in a quiet part of the grounds. Salome waylaid her sister, when the interview was over: 'What have you found out?' Mrs Crossmichael whispered back, 'Pillico was not born yesterday. She has some reason for being discontented with Otto -- that's all I can discover so far. Hush! don't turn round too suddenly. Do you see that cat?'
The 'cat' was Sir John's daughter. She had just met Miss Pillico on the lawn, and had only been noticed by a formal bow. Sour Bess looked after the lady-doctor with an expression of devilish malice which was not lost on Mrs Crossmichael. 'An enemy to Sophia!' she whispered to her sister. 'Ah, Miss Dowager, it's a long time since we have seen each other. You're looking remarkably well. Have you, too, been consulting Miss Pillico?' She took Bess's arm in the friendliest manner, and walked away with her to the farther end of the garden.
IX
'Well Lois!'
'Don't come near me, or you will spoil everything! One word. Did that man make you another offer when you were at Windsor?'
'Yes.'
'And you refused him again?'
'Certainly!'
'And you still think Otto is worth having?'
'I can't live without him!'
'Otto is yours.'
'Half an hour afterwards, Mr Fitzmark received a letter, marked Private: 'After such conduct as yours no young lady, in my sister's position, could condescend to explain herself. I think it right, however, to inform you -- merely to remove a false impression from your mind -- that the gentleman who has excited your jealousy (and no wonder, for he is in every way your superior) has made her a proposal of marriage, and has, to my sincere regret, been refused. It is needless to add that you will not be received, if you venture to call again at my father's house. -- L. C.'
The despatch of this letter was followed by a bolder experiment still.
When the garden-party had come to an end, and the guests were at home again, Miss Pillico received Mrs Crossmichael's visiting card -- with a line on it in pencil: 'I should be glad to say two words, if quite convenient.' Mrs Crossmichael had produced a favourable impression in the garden -- the interview was immediately granted.
'You are naturally surprised to see me again, after I have already had the pleasure of meeting you. Events have happened -- no! I had better not trouble you with the events, except on condition. The condition is, that you will kindly reply to a question which I must ask first.' So Salome's sister opened fire on the enemy. The enemy only bowed.
'A lady possessed of your personal advantages, who follows your profession,' Mrs Crossmichael proceeded, 'excites admiration (especially among the men) for other qualities besides her medical ability --'
'I don't desire such admiration,' Miss Pillico interposed; 'and I never notice it.'
'Not even in the case of one of your most ardent admirers -- Mr Otto Fitzmark?'
'Certainly not!'
'Allow me to beg your pardon, Miss Pillico, for an intrusion which has, now, no excuse. I came here -- without Mr Fitzmark's knowledge -- to make a very painful communication (so far as our family is concerned), in which, as I foolishly imagined, a duty -- a friendly duty -- might be involved towards yourself. Pray accept my excuses. Good evening.'
'Stop, Mrs Crossmichael! Did you say duty was involved?'
'I did, Miss Pillico.'
'An act of duty is too serious to be trifled with. Will it help you if we suppose that I have noticed the feeling of admiration to which you refer?'
'Thank you -- it will help very much.'
'Pray go on.'
'I trust to your honour, Miss Pillico, to keep what I am about to say, a profound secret. Before Mr Fitzmark had the honour of becoming acquainted with you, his attentions to my sister were a subject of general remark among our friends. He called this morning in a state of indescribable confusion and distress, to inform her that his sentiments had undergone a change; the attractions of some other lady, as I strongly suspect, being answerable for this result. I have merely to add (speaking from my own experience) that he is an exceedingly shy man. He is also -- according to his own account of it -- subject to some extraordinary delusion, which persuades him that he can never marry. My own idea is, that this is a mere excuse; a stupid falsehood invented to palliate his conduct to my sister. As I think, she is well out of it. I have no opinion of Mr Fitzmark; and I should consider it my duty,' Mrs Crossmichael proceeded, with an expression of undisguised malignity -- 'my bounden duty to warn any lady, in whom I was interested, against encouraging the addresses of such a false and fickle man. If you ask how you are interested in hearing this, I can only own that, like other foolish women, I act on impulse, and often regret it too late.