Just as the plans were settled, Constance came
forward, saying, 'Lady Merrifield, may I have dear Dolores to spend the
day with me? We neithe of us wish to join your kind party to
Rockstone, and we should so enjoy being together.'
'I had much rather stay,' added Dolores.
'Very well,' said Lady Merrifield, reflecting that her sisters would be
grateful for the diminution of the party, and that it would be easier
to keep the peace without Dolores.
The defection was hailed with joy by her cousins, though they were
struck dumb at her extraordinary taste in not liking shopping.
Jasper did look rather small when his mother assured him in private he
might have trusted her to see that he was not to be incommoded with
Gillian's girls, and he only observed, in excuse for his murmurs, that
it made a man mad to see his sisters always off after some charity fad
or other.
"'Always' being a few hours once a week," she said.
'Just when one wants her.'
'Look here, my boy,' she said, 'you don't want your sisters to be
selfish, useless, fine ladies--never doing any one any good. If they
take up good works, they can't drop them entirely to wait on you.
Gillian does give up a great deal, and it would be kinder to forbear a
little, and not treat all she does as an injury to yourself.'
'I only meant to get a rise out of her.'
'You are quite welcome to do that, provided it is done in good nature.
Gill is quite sound stuff enough to be laughed at! But, I say, my
Japs, I should prefer your letting Dolores alone; she has not learned
to be laughed at yet, and has not come even to the stage for being
taught to bear it.
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