As to the mistress of the house, at any rate, there was no need for
caution. The clocks of the house had barely followed the church clock in
striking the half-hour when the workmen on the ground floor saw Lady
Kitty come down-stairs and go through the drawing-room window into the
garden. There she gave her opinion on the preparations, pushing on
afterwards into the park, where she astounded the various contractors
and their workmen by her appearance at such an hour, and by the vigor
and decision of her orders. Finally she left the park behind, just as
its broad, scorched surfaces began everywhere to shake off the mist, and
entered one of the bordering woods.
She had a basket on her arm, and, when she had found for herself a mossy
seat amid the roots of a great oak, she unpacked it. It contained a mass
of written pages, some fresh scribbling-paper, ink and pens, and a small
portfolio. When they were all lying on the moss beside her, Kitty turned
over the sheets with a loving hand, reading here and there.
"It is good!" she said to herself. "I vow it is!"
Dipping her pen in the ink, she began upon corrections. The sun filtered
through the thick leafage overhead, touching her white dress, her small
shoes, and the masses of her hair.
Pages:
374
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