'
'I might retort by talking of moles and bats! Did you never hear of
the London clergyman whose silver cream-jug, full of cream too, was
abstracted by the penitent Sunday school boy whom he was exhorting over
his breakfast-table?'
'I don't believe London curates have silver jugs or cream either!'
'A relic of past wealth, like St. Gregory's one silver dish, and
perhaps it was milk. Well, to descend to particulars. It was done
with a meaning glance, as Dolores was helping her on with her cloud,
and was instantly disposed of in the pocket.'
'I wonder what I ought to do about it,' sighed Lady Merrifield, 'If I
had seen it myself I should have no doubts. Oh! if Jasper were but
here! And yet it is hardly a thing to worry him about. It is most
likely to be quite innocent.'
'Well, then you can speak of the appearance of secrecy as bad manners.
You will have her all to yourself as you go home.'
But when the aunts came downstairs, Dolores was not there. On being
called, she sent a voice down, over the balusters, that she was not
going.
Aunt Jane shrugged her shoulders. There was barely time to reach the
train, so that it was impossible to do anything at the moment; but in
the Merrifield family bad manners and disrespect were never passed
over, Sir Jasper having made his wife very particular in that respect;
and as soon as she came home in the twilight, she looked into the
school-room, but Dolores was not there, and then into the drawing-room,
where she was found learning her lessons by firelight.
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