Black, White and Gray | Page 6

so it really doesn't matter much yet."
The Broadbents' square white house now came in sight. It had a trim garden, a tennis ground, and a summer-house, and was completely screened from the farm-buildings by a gloomy row of fir-trees. The children did not as a rule care to pay visits to Mrs Broadbent, for there were no animals or interesting things about; but to-day Maisie asked leave to go in, for she had the kittens on her mind, and felt she must not lose a chance.
Mrs Broadbent was a thin little widow, who wore smart caps, and had a general air of fashion about her person. She was sharp and clever, well up to the business of managing her large farm, and familiar with every detail of it. Unfortunately she considered this a thing to be ashamed of, and, much to Miss Chester's annoyance, always pretended ignorance which did not exist. What she was proud of, and thrust foremost in her conversation, were the accomplishments of two highly-educated daughters, who painted on china, and played the violin, and on this subject she received no encouragement from Aunt Katharine.
"I shouldn't have thought of disturbing you so early, Mrs Broadbent," she said briskly, when they were seated in the smart little drawing-room, "but I've come on business. I want to know if you've a setting of Minorca fowls to dispose of. I've a fancy to rear some."
Mrs Broadbent simpered a little and put her head on one side.
"I've no doubt we can oblige you, Miss Chester," she said. "I'll speak to my poultry-man about it, and let you know."
"How many Minorcas have you?" asked Miss Chester.
"Oh, I really couldn't tell you, Miss Chester," replied Mrs Broadbent with a little laugh. "I never thought of inquiring."
"Not know how many of each sort of fowls you have!" exclaimed Aunt Katharine. "Why, if I had a farm, I'd know every one of them by sight, and how many eggs they each laid. I suppose, though," she added, "you leave that to your daughters. They must be a great help to you."
Mrs Broadbent bridled:
"Emmeline and Lilian are far too much engaged," she said, "with their studies and their artistic work. Emmeline's quite devoted herself to art. I've given her a large room at the top of the house for a studio."
"Indeed," said Miss Chester coldly. "And what does she do in it?"
"Just now she's painting some lovely plaques," said Mrs Broadbent, "and Lilian's quite taken to the new poker-work."
"What is that?" asked her visitor.
"You haven't seen it, Miss Chester? Well, it is quite new, and as I was saying the other day, in these remote parts we don't see anything, do we? But Lilian's been staying in London, and she learned it there. She did that frame."
It seemed that poker-work was intended to have the effect of carving, which was produced by burning patterns on wood with a red-hot instrument.
"Well, if you ask my candid opinion," said Aunt Katharine, rising to look at the frame, "I should like it much better plain; but it's a harmless amusement, if wasting time is ever harmless.--Come Maisie, Dennis will be quite tired of waiting.--You'll let me know about the eggs, Mrs Broadbent, and their price. I shall be much obliged if you can spare me a setting."
In another moment Aunt Katharine would have swept out of the room, with her usual activity, but after waiting so long for a pause in the conversation, Maisie could not give up her purpose.
"Do you want a cat, please?" she said, standing in front of Mrs Broadbent--"that is, a nice little kitten. One of our cat Madam's."
But Mrs Broadbent was quite certain that she did not want a cat, and said so with some sharpness, for she was never pleased at Miss Chester's outspoken opinions, though she was used to them. She had too many cats about the place now. She supposed as long as there were mice there must be cats, but to her mind there was not much to choose between them.
"I don't really suppose it would have been a good home," said Maisie, when she was tucked in again beside Dennis; "Mrs Broadbent doesn't like cats, and she looked quite cross when I asked her, but I think that was because Aunt Katharine didn't like Lilian's poker-work frame."
Haughton Park, towards which Jack and Jill were now quickly making their way, was about four miles from Fieldside, and just outside the little town of Upwell. It was a large house, standing in a park of some extent, and was built in what was called the Italian style, with terraces in front of it, and stone balustrades, and urns and vases wherever they could be put. Inside, the rooms were very large and lofty, and there was a great hall with marble