"Breakfast-room, ma'am," said the hard footman.

"Very good; you need not wait," said Mrs Brandon; and the next moment they were alone, when, with pleading eyes, Ella held out the card.

"Indeed, indeed, ma'am, I could not help this," she whispered. "I hoped that my retreat would not have been known."

"My dear child," said Mrs Brandon kindly, "I do not blame you;" and she also rose and pa.s.sed her arm round Ella's waist. "But you would like to see him?"

"No, no, _no_!" cried Ella hastily. "I must not--I would rather not--it cannot be! I hoped to have been left here in peace, and free from persecution. I cannot see him; I must never see him again."

"You wish, then, that Mr Charles Vining should be told that you decline to see him, and you beg he will not call again?" said Mrs Brandon softly, as she drew the fair girl nearer to her.

"I would not willingly hurt him," said Ella hoa.r.s.ely; "but I have told you all, and what else can I do? It can never be!"

"My child," said Mrs Brandon tenderly, "I don't know how it is, but you seem to have even in this short time made yourself occupy the place of a daughter. You are quite right, and this gay gallant must be checked and kept in his place. We cannot have hawks here to flutter our dovecot. I will go and see him--that is, if it is indeed your honest wish and desire that he should see you no more."

"Yes, yes, it is indeed!" said Ella, with a sob that tore its way from her breast. "I can never see him more."

Mrs Brandon made a movement to leave the room, but Ella clung to her.

"Do you repent of what you have said?" Mrs Brandon quietly asked.

"No, no!" said Ella half hysterically: "but--it is very kind of you to see him--but--but you will speak gently to him--you will not be harsh or cruel; for he is good and n.o.ble, and true-hearted and manly, and I believe he feels all this deeply."

Mrs Brandon smiled incredulously, but there was pity in her words as she bent over Ella, and tried to calm her.

"Is it really then like that, my poor, weak, gentle little dove?" she whispered. "Has he then made so firm a footing in this poor soft yielding heart? But you are quite right; you must not see him, and the soreness will soon wear off. You do not know the ways of the world, and of these gay, insidious, smooth-tongued gallants, born with the idea that every pretty face beneath them in station, forsooth, is to minister to their pleasure. I see--I see; and I don't blame you for believing all he said."

"But I think you mistake his character," said Ella pleadingly.

"Perhaps so," said Mrs Brandon, smiling; "but will you leave your welfare in my hands, Ella?"

It was the first time Mrs Brandon had called her by her Christian name, and the young girl looked up with, a sad sweet smile.

"I am very young, very helpless, and quite alone in the world," she said softly; "and I have met here with kindness such as I have not before known since _they_ died. I was so happy, so hopeful, so trustful that happier days were coming; and, indeed. I wish to be grateful."

Mrs Brandon kissed her again, and made a movement once more to leave; but Ella made a clutch at her hand.

"Shall I stay?" said Mrs Brandon softly. "Will you see him yourself?"

Ella was silent for a moment, for there was a great, a wild struggle in her breast; but she conquered, and drawing herself up, she stood, pale and cast-down of eye, with one hand resting on a chair-back.

"Do I understand you, Miss Bedford?" said Mrs Brandon.

"Yes, yes," said Ella, in a calm sad voice. "I must never see him again."

Mrs Brandon moved towards the door, and laid her hand upon the lock, making it rattle loudly as she turned to gaze at Ella; but the latter never moved; and as the door closed, Mrs Brandon's last glance showed her Ella pale and motionless as a statue.

"Now for this lordly gallant!" muttered Mrs Brandon, as she stood for a moment in the gaunt hall; "now for this sportive disturber of young hearts! If I had my will," she exclaimed, her handsome matronly features flushing up, "I'd have them all banished--I would!"

Then, with a firm step, and her head drawn back, she crossed the hall, threw open the door, and entered the room where Charley Vining was impatiently walking up and down.

Volume 2, Chapter VIII.

MRS BRANDON'S RECEPTIONS: FIRST VISITOR.

Charley Vining started as, instead of Ella Bedford, he was confronted by a tall, handsome, middle-aged lady, who bowed stiffly, and motioned him to a seat, taking one herself at the same time.

"I have the pleasure of addressing--?" said Charley inquiringly.

"Mrs Brandon," was the reply.

"And Miss Bedford is not ill, I trust?" said Charley anxiously.

"Miss Bedford has requested me, as her particular friend, to meet you, and answer any questions upon her behalf."

"But she will see me, will she not?" said Charley earnestly. "Her leaving us was so sudden--I was taken so by surprise. You say, madam, that you are her friend?"

Mrs Brandon bowed, and Charley wiped the dew from his forehead.

"May I then plead for one interview, however short?"

Mrs Brandon frowned, and then rising, she stood with one hand resting upon the table.

"Young man," she said firmly--and Charley started as she looked down almost fiercely upon him, "you are the son of Sir Philip Vining, I believe?"

"I am," said Charley, slightly surprised.

"A worthy old country squire, whose name is known for miles round in connection with kindly deeds."

"My father," said Charley proudly, "is, in every sense of the word, a gentleman."

"Then why is not his son?" said Mrs Brandon fiercely.

"Me? Why am not I?" said Charley, in a puzzled voice.

"Yes, sir, you!" exclaimed Mrs Brandon angrily. "Why should not the only son be as the father?"

"Because," said Charley proudly, once more, "it does not befall that there should be two such men for many generations."

"It seems so," said Mrs Brandon bitterly; "but the son might learn something from the father's acts."

"Good heavens, madam! what does this mean? What have I done that you should speak to me thus?" cried Charley earnestly.

"What have you done!" exclaimed Mrs Brandon, standing before him with flashing eyes. "You pitiful coward! you base scoundrel! how dare you come before me with your insidious, plausible, professing ways--before me, a mother--the wife of an English gentleman, who would have had you turned out of the house! Silence, sir!" she exclaimed, as Charley rose, now pale, now flashed, and looked her in the face. "You shall hear me out before you quit this room. I say, how dare you come before me here, and parade your interest, and the trouble you are in because _she_ has left the Elms? Do you think I do not know the ways of the world--of the modern English gentleman? You pitiful libertine! If I were a man, my indignation is so hot against you, that I should even so far forget myself as to strike you. Could you find no pleasanter pastime than to insinuate your bold handsome face into the thoughts of that sweet simple-minded country girl--a poor clergyman's daughter--a pure-hearted lady--to be to her as a blight--to be her curse--to win a heart of so faithful and true a nature, that once it has beaten to the command of love, it would never beat for another? I can find no words for the scorn, the utter contempt, with which you inspire me. But there, I will say no more, lest I forget myself in my hot pa.s.sion; but I tell you this, she has been here but a few hours, and yet, few as they are, they have been long enough to show me that she is a pearl beyond price--a gem that your libertine fingers would sully. She has won from me a mother's love, I may say; and wisely trusting to me, she bids me tell you that she will see you no more!"

"She bade you tell me this?" said Charley hoa.r.s.ely; "and have you poisoned her ears against me thus?"

"Poisoned her ears!" exclaimed Mrs Brandon, forgetting her _role_ in her excitement, "poor, innocent, weak child! She believes you to be perfection, and but a few minutes since was imploring me to be gentle with the gay Lothario who has so basely deluded her, though she had the good sense and wisdom to seek another home. What--what!" cried Mrs Brandon, "are you so hardened that you dare smile to my face with your nefarious triumph?"