Frederica and her Guardians Part 27

"After ten, or even seven years with the good fathers, they shall choose for themselves."

"And if Mr Vane should return? It is not impossible."

"It _is_ impossible. Mr Vane is dead."

"Dead!" repeated Madame. Even she was shocked at the tidings, or the suddenness of the announcement.

"I have known it for a week. Cyprien does not know it yet, but all must know it soon."

"And have you come to tell these girls?"

"No. They will probably have letters to-night,--the steamer has arrived, I see,--and then no time must be lost. They must not have a chance to talk over their affairs with all the world, who will come to condole with them."

"And will you not see them?"

"You forget. They decline to see me," said the priest laughing. "I hope to find them in better humour another time."

Madame did not laugh.

"It is not impossible that all your plans for them may be frustrated after all," said she.

"For the moment, it is not impossible. But I shall never, while I live, give up the hope of making them and their wealth of use to the Church, and when I die others will take up the work. There is nothing impossible. They, or their children, or their children's children--and their wealth must be ours."

"There is only G.o.d Himself stronger than you and the Church, and these children believe Him to be on their side."

"They are but children," said the priest, but he frowned darkly at her words, as he turned to go away.

Madame sat still, looking after him in silence, Mr Jerome's tidings had moved her more than she would have thought possible. She sat lost in painful thoughts till Miss Agnace came in. She felt that she could not yet meet the questioning eyes of these orphan girls.

"I am going out," said she, rising hastily. "If any one calls, the young ladies are not to be seen."

She went out immediately and Miss Agnace did not follow her to say to her what she had come to say.

"It will keep. Perhaps she need not be told," said she to herself.

It seemed that Miss Agnace had not been needed in the garden, or rather the need for her was past, before she had been sent out. She met the girls returning to the house. They were very quiet but there was some restrained excitement in their manners, as she remembered afterwards.

They went to their own room, where she had supposed they both remained till she went to tell them that luncheon was served. But only Selina was there. Frederica had gone to see their sister Caroline, she told Miss Agnace.

"But my dear, should she not have asked permission, or at least have said that she was going, or have taken the carriage. It is not well that a young lady should go out alone, and she is not strong."

"Of whom should she ask permission?" said Selina coldly.

And so Miss Agnace had gone to let Madame know, as Madame expected her to let her know everything that went on in the house. But she had not waited to hear, and Frederica had been allowed to have her own way.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Madame Precoe's care in sending Sister Agnace into the garden because of old Dixen, had been more needed than she supposed, but it came too late to be of use. The old man had been busy near one of the walks as they entered, and he had answered their greeting very briefly. But as he stooped again he said hurriedly,--

"She thinks I am blind, but I can see her and the priest at the window looking out. Go round to the other side behind the hedge, young ladies dear, for I have something to tell you."

He worked on for a little while after they had disappeared. He worked his way along the walk till he was out of sight of the windows, then coming close to them he said in a whisper, as though he feared to be overheard,--

"I have seen the little lads. Mrs Hearn told me something that made me think they were at the school with her boys. I never let on that it was not all right, and I watched afterwards, and saw them walking with the rest. But they do not always walk, and they are well watched."

"I knew it was Charlie's voice," said Selina.

"Oh! Lena! Oh! Dixen! What shall we do?" said Frederica, clasping her hands.

"Fred love! G.o.d will take care of them." But Selina herself grew pale.

"And is it true that Miss Tessie was sent away to the convent without a word to you two?" went on Dixen. "I'm sore feared that something must have happened to the master, or they would never have dared to do that."

"But it cannot be that, Dixen. For the boys must have been there a long time. They were never sent back, I suppose," said Frederica.

"And we have heard nothing from papa for a fortnight," said Selina.

"It does not look well," said Dixen. "But, children dear, you are not to fret. The boys are safe enough. No harm can come to them. We are living in the Queen's dominions, thank G.o.d, and evil things can only be done in secret. And, Miss Fred dear, you should go to Mrs Brandon, and tell her about Miss Tessie and the little lads. And somebody that is wise in the law should be told. I would have gone myself, but n.o.body would heed such a story from the like of me. I am sore feared that no good is meant to you all. And the priests are everywhere, and have the means of making men do their will, that we know nothing of. Only here they must keep things quieter than in some places. But don't let them smuggle you all off without a word. They will tell you it is your souls they would save, but it is your grandfather's money they want as well.

And here is that soft-spoken nun coming to hear what I may be saying.

Be sure you go to your sister this very day."

In his increasing excitement the old man used some words that are not put down, and he went muttering to himself away.

"Here is Miss Agnace," said Frederica.

"We must be very quiet, and let her see nothing. Let us walk round the other way to the house," said Selina.

"And I will go to Caroline. Anything is better than to sit still and think about it," said Frederica excitedly.

They walked very quietly into the house, and went to their room.

"I will go at once, as Dixen said," and Frederica's preparations were soon made.

The room where Madame and the priest were sitting looked back upon the garden, so she got away without being seen. She had gone but a few steps, when she heard Dixen's voice behind her.

"You are but weakly yet, Miss Frederica," said he, when she waited for him, "and I will come with you. Just you go on without heeding me. I will keep in sight. Can you walk all the way, think you?"

Frederica was doubtful about it. She was excited, and trembling, hot and cold by turns. She was not very hopeful as to any help she could get from her sister. She was ill, and her husband was cautious, and not easily moved, and above all averse to interfere in matters where his right to do so was not acknowledged.

"And he will say it is Mr St. Cyr that is doing all this--and it is not impossible," said Frederica, with a new pang of terror. "But I don't think he would deceive us. I will go to the school myself. I will take them by surprise, and they will not have time to hide them as they must have done before, and I will take them away."

It was not a very wise idea. Dixen shook his head, but Frederica persisted, and the old man followed her up the street. But before they had gone far they heard the hum of many voices, and the long line of boys came in sight. Frederica turned into a doorway, and waited till they pa.s.sed, scanning each face eagerly. They were for the most part bigger boys than her brothers. She looked in vain for the face of either of them, and stood gazing blankly after the long line as it pa.s.sed down the street. The gate stood open, and she went and looked in. The side door stood open also.

"Dixen," said she hurriedly, "I am going in. They cannot do me any harm, and I may see Charlie, or little Hubert."

But this seemed a dreadful thing to Dixen.

"Miss Frederica, I cannot think it would be well to go. No one knows what might happen," said he in distress.