Miss Merivales Mistake | Page 6

in Melbourne and started with
his little daughter for a distant settlement. He never reached the
settlement, and all Miss Merivale's efforts to trace him proved fruitless.
She at last accepted the belief of the lawyers that he had lost his way,
and, like so many other hapless wanderers, had perished in the bush.
When Tom had become dear as a son to her, fears would sometimes
rise that his claim to Woodcote might one day be disputed; but as the
quiet years went on these fears ceased to present themselves, and when
Pauline mentioned Rhoda Sampson the name had gone through her like
a knife. She tried--she had been trying ever since--to tell herself that it
was impossible it could be James Sampson's child, but the terror had
laid fast hold of her, and she could not shake it off. It was as James
Sampson's child she had always thought of her niece. Her heart had
refused to give her the place Lydia's little girl had a right to claim. She
could not think of her as Lydia's.

Tom had not noticed his aunt's agitation at the mention of her sister's
name. He went on speaking of his visit to Broadhurst.
"They want you to spend a day or two there next week, Rosie. Mr.
Powell has asked Laura to sing at the concert, and she wants to practise
with you."
Rose's pretty face clouded over. "But I am going to stay with Pauline
next week. And I wish people wouldn't ask Laura to sing in public. She
can't sing."
"It's a pleasure to listen to her, though," returned Tom sturdily. "We
aren't all as critical as you, Rosie; and our Parish Room isn't the Albert
Hall. You had much better go to Broadhurst than to Chelsea. Miss
Smythe and Miss Desborough live in two cupboards up among the
clouds, don't they?"
"It isn't quite as bad as that, my dear," broke in Miss Merivale, as she
saw Rose's vexed expression. "I promised that Rose should stay with
them for a day or two. I thought that if you went up to Joachim's
concert you might leave Rose behind, and fetch her next day."
"But, Aunt Lucy, Pauline said a week!" exclaimed Rose in dismay.
"We could do nothing in a day. And we want to do so much. Time
always flies so fast in London. One lives there."
"We only vegetate here, eh, Rosie?" said Tom in a tone of
good-humoured banter. "Was Wordsworth a vegetable too? He lived in
the country, you know."
But Rose refused to answer this. "Aunt Lucy, I may stay longer than a
day, may I not?"
"Yes, dear, of course. Don't mind Tom's teasing. I must go up to town
again to-morrow, I find, and I will call at Cadogan Mansions and see
Miss Smythe for you. And I can get your seeds, Tom."
Both Rose and Tom stared in surprise at this. "Aunt Lucy, you will tire

yourself out if you go off shopping again to-morrow," exclaimed Tom.
"Can't I go for you?"
"No; I must go, my dear. I shall go by train, I think. You shall drive me
to the station, and I can take a hansom at Victoria. No, you must not
come with me, Tom. I want to see Mr. Thomson."
"You won't be able to find your way to Lincoln's Inn by yourself," said
Tom teasingly. "We can't let her go alone, can we, Rose?"
"Don't be such foolish children," returned Miss Merivale, getting up
from the table. "I have a matter of business to talk over with Mr.
Thomson, Tom. And I would rather go alone, please."
She spoke with such unwonted decision Tom could say no more. But
he was both hurt and surprised. Miss Merivale was accustomed to ask
his opinion on every business matter. He practically managed the estate
for her. It seemed very strange to him that she should be so bent on
going to see Mr. Thomson alone. He felt as if he must have proved
himself in some way unworthy of her confidence.
Miss Merivale saw that he was hurt, though he tried his best to hide it.
But it was impossible for her to explain. She had determined to be
silent till she had seen Rhoda Sampson and found out who she was.
Rose was as much surprised as Tom at her aunt's determination to go
alone to London next day. She talked of it to Tom in the drawing-room
when Miss Merivale had gone up to her room.
"You don't think it is about her will, do you?" she said, in a hushed
tone.
Tom gave her a look of strong disgust. "I don't think anything about it.
But she isn't fit to go by herself. Get her to