Esther | Page 4

out, almost before
she reached us. "Miss Majoribanks has sent me to look for you; your
uncle is with her in the drawing-room."
"Uncle Geoffrey? Oh, my dear Uncle Geoff!" I exclaimed, joyfully.
"Do you really mean it, Belle?"
"Yes, Dr. Cameron is in the drawing-room," repeated Belle. But I never
noticed how grave her voice was. She commenced whispering to Jessie
almost before I was a yard away, and I thought I heard an exclamation
in Jessie's voice; but I only said to myself, "Oh, my dear Uncle Geoff!"
in a tone of suppressed ecstasy, and I looked round on the croquet
players as I threaded the lawn with a sense of pity that not one of them
possessed an uncle like mine.
Miss Majoribanks was seated in state, in her well-preserved black satin
gown, with her black gloves reposing in her lap, looking rather like a
feminine mute; but on this occasion I took no notice of her. I actually
forgot my courtesy, and I am afraid I made one of my awkward rushes,
for Miss Majoribanks groaned slightly, though afterward she turned it

into a cough.
"Why, Esther, you are almost a woman now," said my uncle, putting
me in front of him, and laying his heavy hand on my shoulder. "Bless
me, how the child has grown, and how unlike she is to Carrie!"
"I was seventeen yesterday," I answered, pouting a little, for I
understood the reference to Carrie; and was I not the ugly duckling?
--but I would not keep up the sore feeling a minute, I was so pleased to
see him.
No one would call Uncle Geoffrey handsome--oh, dear, no! his features
were too rugged for that; but he had a droll, clever face, and a pair of
honest eyes, and his gray hair was so closely cropped that it looked like
a silver cap. He was a little restless and fidgety in his movements, too,
and had ways that appeared singular to strangers, but I always regarded
his habits respectfully. Clever men, I thought, were often eccentric; and
I was quite angry with my mother when she used to say, "Geoff was an
old bachelor, and he wanted a wife to polish him; I should like to see
any woman dare to marry Uncle Geoff."
"Seventeen, sweet seventeen! Eh, Esther?" but he still held my hand
and looked at me thoughtfully. It was then I first noticed how grave he
looked.
"Have you come from Combe Manor, Uncle Geoff, and are they all
quite well at home?" I asked, rather anxiously, for he seemed decidedly
nervous.
"Well, no," he returned, rather slowly; "I am sorry to spoil your holiday,
child, but I have come by your mother's express desire to fetch you
home. Frank--your father, I mean--is not well, and they will be glad of
your help and--bless me"--Uncle Geoff's favorite exclamation--"how
pale the girl looks!"
"You are keeping something from me--he is very ill--I know he is very
ill!" I exclaimed, passionately. "Oh, uncle, do speak out! he is --" but I
could not finish my sentence, only Uncle Geoffrey understood.

"No, no, it is not so bad as that," putting his arm round me, for I was
trembling and shaking all over; "he is very ill--I dare not deny that
there is much ground for fear; but Esther, we ought to lose no time in
getting away from here. Will you swallow this glass of wine, like a
good, brave child, and then pack up your things as soon as possible?"
There was no resisting Uncle Geoffrey's coaxing voice; all his patients
did what he told them, so I drank the wine, and tried to hurry from the
room, only my knees felt so weak.
"Miss Martin will assist you," whispered Miss Majoribanks, as I passed
her; and, sure enough, as I entered the dormitory, there was Belle
emptying my drawers, with Jessie helping her. Even in my bewildered
state of wretchedness I wondered why Miss Majoribanks thought it
necessary for me to take all my things. Was I bidding good-by to
Redmayne House?
Belle looked very kindly at me as she folded my dresses, but Jessie
came up to me with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Esther!" she whispered,
"how strange to think we were talking as we were, and now the
opportunity has come?" and though her speech was a little vague, I
understood it; she meant the time for me to display my greatness of
mind--ah, me! my greatness of mind--where was it? I was of no use at
all; the girls did it all between them, while I sat on the edge of my little
bed and watched them. They were as quick as possible, and yet it
seemed hours before the box was locked, and Belle