I am afraid it is not
in tune, on account of the rain we have had, and that I have not opened
it myself during the Baroness’s absence, and indeed it is never used,
except to teach Bobby his music lessons on, but it may amuse you in
default of anything else.”

“O! I daresay I shall find something to amuse myself with,” replied
Harriet rather sullenly, “I have my own instrument with me, and my
books, thank you! But is no one likely to call this afternoon, do you
think?”

“This afternoon,” echoed Miss Wynward, “are you expecting any of your
own friends to see you?”

“O! no! I have no friends in England,--none at least that know I have
returned from Heyst. But the Baroness told me--she said the Red House
was always full of guests--Prince Adalbert and Prince Loris, and a lot
of others--do you think they may come to-day to see her?”

“O! not in September,” replied her companion, “it is not the season
now, Miss Brandt, and all the fashionable people are out of town, at
the foreign watering-places, or shooting in the country. Her ladyship
could never have intended you to understand that the people you have
mentioned would come here at any time except between May and July! They
_do_ come here then--sometimes--but not I expect, as _you_ think--not
as friends, I mean!”

“Not as _friends_! What as, then?” demanded Harriet. “Well!” returned Miss Wynward, dubiously, “many of them have business
with her ladyship, and they come to see her upon it! I generally
conduct them to her presence, and leave them alone with her, but that
is all I see of them! They have never come here to a party, or dinner,
to my knowledge!”

“How very extraordinary!” cried Harriet. “What do they come for then?”

“The Baroness must tell you that!” replied the other, gravely, “I am
not in her confidence, and if I were, I should not feel justified in
revealing it.”

This conversation drove Harriet to her room to indite a letter to
Captain Pullen. If she were to be deprived of the society of dukes
and princes, she would at least secure the company of one person
who could make the time pass pleasantly to her. As she wrote to him,
rapidly, unadvisedly, passionately, her head burned and her heart was
fluttering. She felt as if she had been deceived--cheated--decoyed
to the Red House under false pretences, and she was in as much of a
rage as her indolent nature would permit her to be. The revelations of
Miss Wynward had sunk down into her very soul. No parties, no dinners,
with princes handing her into the dining-room and whispering soft
nothings into her ears all the time! Why had Madame Gobelli so often
promised to console her for the loss of Captain Pullen by this very
means, and it was a dream, a chimera, they only came to the Red House
on business--business, horrid unromantic word--and were shut up with
the Baroness. _What_ business, she wondered! Could it be about boots
and shoes, and if so, why did they not go to the shop, which surely
was the proper place from which to procure them! The idea that she had
been deceived in this particular, made her write far more warmly and
pleadingly perhaps, than she would otherwise have done. A bird in the
hand was worth two in the bush--Harriet was not conversant with the
proverb, but she fully endorsed the sentiment. When her letter was
written and addressed to the Camp at Aldershot, and she had walked out
with Bobby to post it in the pillar box, she felt happier and less
resentful. At all events she was her own mistress and could leave the
Red House when she chose, and take up her abode elsewhere. A hot sun
had dried the garden paths and grass, and she spent the rest of the
afternoon wandering about the unshaven lawn with Bobby, and lingering
on the rotten wooden benches under the trees, with the boy’s arm round
her waist, and his head drooping on her shoulder. Bobby was blissfully happy, and she was content. If we cannot get
caviare, it is wise to content ourselves with cod’s roe. They spent
hours together that afternoon, until the dusk had fallen and the hour
of dining had drawn nigh. They talked of Heyst and the pleasures they
had left behind them, and Harriet was astonished to hear how manly were
some of Bobby’s ideas and sentiments, when out of sight of his Mamma. At last, the strident tones of the Baroness’s voice were heard echoing
through the grounds. Harriet and Bobby leaped to their feet in a moment. “’Ere, ’Arriet! Bobby! where are you? You’re a nice son and daughter to
’ide away from me, when I’ve been toiling for your benefit all the day.”

She came towards them as she spoke, and when Harriet saw how fatigued
she looked, she almost forgave her for leaving her in the lurch as she
had done. “I suppose you thought we were both dead, didn’t you?” she continued. “Well, we are, almost. Never ’ad such a day’s work in my life! Found
everything wrong, of course! You can’t turn your back for five minutes
but these confounded workmen play old ’Arry with your business! I sent
off ten fellows before I’d been in the factory ten minutes, and fined
as many girls, and ’ave been running all over London since to replace
’em. It’s ’ard work, I can tell you!”

She plumped down upon the rotten seat, nearly bringing it to the
ground, as she spoke, and burst out laughing. “You should ’ave seen one man, you would ’ave died of laughing! ‘Get
out,’ I said to ’im, ‘not another day’s work do you do ’ere!’ ‘Get out
of the factory where I’ve worked for twenty years?’ ’e said, ‘Well,
then, I shan’t, not for you! If the governor ’ad said so, it might be
a different thing, but a woman ’as no right to come interfering in
business as she knows nothing about!’ ‘That’s the way the wind lies,’
I replied, ‘and you want a man to turn you out! We’ll soon see if a
woman can’t do it!’ and I took my stick and laid it on his back till
he holload again. He was out of the place before you could say Jack
Robinson! ‘’Ow will that do?’ I said to the others, ‘who else wants a
taste of my stick before ’e’ll go!’ But they all cleared out before I
’ad done speaking! I laughed till I was ill! But come along, children! It’s time for dinner!” As they returned to the house, she accosted
Harriet,

“I ’ope you’ve amused yourself to-day! You’ll ’ave to look after
yourself whenever I’m at the factory! But a ’andsome gal like you won’t
want long for amusement. We’ll ’ave plenty of company ’ere, soon! Miss
Wynward,” she continued, as they entered the dining-room, “Mr. Milliken
is coming to-morrow! See that ’is room is ready for ’im!”

“Very good, my lady!” replied Miss Wynward, but Harriet fancied she did
not like the idea of Mr. Milliken staying with them. The dinner proceeded merrily. It was more sumptuous than the day
before, consisting of several courses, and the champagne flowed freely. Harriet, sitting at her ease and thoroughly enjoying the repast,
thought that it atoned for all the previous inconvenience. But a
strange incident occurred before the meal was over.