'
He said no more, for the drawing-room door was moving to and fro, as
if uneasy on the hinges, and as he made a step towards it, it
disclosed a lady with black eyes and pinched features, whom he
presented as 'Miss Meadows.'
'Well, now--I think--since more efficient--since I leave Mrs. Kendal
to better--only pray tell her--my love and my mother's--if I could
have been of any use--or shall I remain?--could I be of any service,
Edmund?--I would not intrude when--but in the house--if I could be of
any further use.'
'Of none, thank you,' said Mr. Kendal, 'unless you would be kind
enough to take home the girls.'
'Oh, papa!' cried Lucy, I've got the keys. You wont be able to get
on at all without me. Sophy may go, but I could not be spared.'
'Let it be as you will,' said Mr. Kendal; 'I only desire quiet, and
that you should not inconvenience Mrs. Ferrars.'
'You will help me, will you not!' said Winifred, smiling, though she
did not augur well from this opening scene. 'May I go soon to
Albinia?'
'Presently, I hope,' said Mr. Kendal, with an uneasy glance towards
Miss Meadows, 'she has seen no one as yet, and she is so determined
that you cannot come till after Christmas, that she does not expect
you.'
Miss Meadows began one of her tangled skeins of words, the most
tangible of which was excitement; and Mr. Kendal, knowing by long
experience that the only chance of a conclusion was to let her run
herself down, held his tongue, and she finally departed.
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