Anonymous: A Stately English Mansion

Letitia's footsteps were then heard departing, as well they might have been in arriving, save that the two curious participants in the study had been too distracted to notice such.

It was Ethel who first broke the brief, ensuing silence.

'Ma-ma-ma said… ' she began in a disbelieving squeak that might have emanated from a doll.

Such opportunities as then presented themselves to Easton were not, however, taken advantage of. The circumstances were too fraught, he decided and-knowing Letitia-she would give him little more than twenty minutes at the most. With Bella such would suffice. At the first insertion of his yearning knob into Ethel's undoubtedly tight nest, she would be likely to squeal.

'Your Mama believes us to be talking', Easton said hastily.

'Oh!' ejaculated Ethel in a shortness of tone that betokened her annoyance, not to say some strains of disbelief, the which Easton was not slow to miss.

'But Mama said… Oh, I am going to say goodbye to Miss Martin', uttered Ethel pertly. Such being her annoyance at the denouement, she jumped up and made her exit to the mingling disappointment and relief of Easton who was beginning to feel even more strongly that Ethel deserved better than she had so far received.

This mood remained upon him when minutes later he rejoined Letitia and spoke airily of having lectured their daughter.

'How good you are, Easton dear! However did you put it to her?' she asked with unconscious irony.

'I said to her in ail effect that such occurrences are frequent between those who have a great fondness for one another'.

'Good', said Letitia, though she felt that in Ethel's case he might at least have said 'married'. Any further thoughts she may have uttered were, however, interrupted by the somewhat scampering entry of the very one who was die subject of their sketchy, if careful, conversation.

'Oh, Mama, Papa, Miss Martin is to open an academy for young ladies-that is why she is leaving. May I attend? May I please?”

'She said aught else to you, dear?' Letitia asked, not gazing at her daughter as she spoke.

'Oh no, Mama, save to say that she has already an Assistant Mistress who is a young lady of most proper standing and whose guardian vouches for her well'.

'Ah', ejaculated Easton whose speed of thoughts was often no greater than his wife's but simply went in a different direction.

'I do not think it will be necessary, Ethel', her Mama said, this producing a petulant 'Oh!' from the young Miss that caused Easton to cast his net even more deeply into his cogitations.

'Hmmmm-I will ask her about the matter', he declared.

'There is no need, Easton!' Letitia objected.

'To reassure myself, you understand', he responded glibly and departed from the room even while his wife waved feebly in remonstrance and pursed her lips primly at Ethel.

Upon his entry into Miss Martin's room, that lady was already critically adjusting a new hat-and one indeed that Easton had benignly bought her-for she wished to look at her very best on her return to the Colonel's house. Annette was well settled, Miss Martin had been musing. At first, on the previous night of their secretive return from viewing that which they had seen in Edwina's house, the Colonel had been minded to take his stepdaughter straight to bed. That, however, was not the way that young ladies were trained in their first week, Miss Martin had decided, and so had sent the young woman off to her own slumbers, thereafter advising the Colonel as to his proper procedures.

Consequently-and having in mind that the continued presence of Miss Martin was very necessary-the Colonel also retired on his own, but was up early the next morning in his nightgown while Annette was still drowsy. The girl's cunny would be sufficiently moist after sleep, Miss Martin had said, for him to engage himself immediately and with a minimum of preliminaries. Upon his asking why there should be none, the lady had replied crisply that she desired Annette to be trained properly.

'Ah, yes, as we did in India', the Colonel had said.

'As to that, you must tell me all about it sometime, Colonel. For the nonce she is to learn to receive without remonstrance or fretting on her part, and I will give you the reason therefor. There may be gentlemen with pretty young daughters who, upon finding that the Assistant Mistress of the establishment is all that they desire in others, will be the more encouraged to have their offspring attend… for your pleasure and mine'.

“The more I listen to you, Madam, the more delighted I become', exclaimed her listener, 'But as to Annette… '

'Oh, you will still keep her for yourself. She will only be put to occasional such exercising', Miss Martin opined comfortably. Pleased that Annette had comported herself well that morning-only gasping and wriggling for a brief period while the Colonel was again taking the measure of her cunny but otherwise proving suitably quiescent-Miss Martin now turned to regard Easton's entry with the calmest of looks.

'You are bettered, then', he began uncertainly.

'Indeed so. Ethel has told you? I would much like her to attend, you know'.

“There are-er-uncertainties as to that, my dear'.

'From Letitia? She has been MOST rude, you know, and quite unfair. Johnson is not to be believed and yet the falsity of his witness is to be put before my own honesty. No- you have no need to apologise, Easton', said Miss Martin who almost persuaded him thereby that she was speaking the truth.-'As to Ethel, she will be well educated, and in such respects as you would wish, I am sure. Have I not done my very best so far?'

'Why, yes. I-er… '

'It is simply that I have not had time-with so much ELSE to do-to advance her. I do promise you that you will not be dissatisfied. Mayhap in time she could become an Assistant Mistress, like dear Miss Sutherland', Miss Martin said, uttering a sigh as if she were speaking of an angel, though constantly changing her name.

'Well, as to that… One must see, yes, one must see', Easton uttered uncertainly, at which she turned her back on him and fussed with her hair.

'Such pupils as I shall take, Easton, will be young, sweet and-one might say-malleable, in the cause of education. Upon visiting Ethel there, as I trust you would, I would have no objections to your closeting yourself with one or the other for a suitable period in that you might ascertain for yourself the state of their advancement. An examination of sorts, as might be said. You would have no objection to filling such a role? I shall not otherwise have any school inspectors… or, er, pupil inspectors'.

This said, and with a smile such as she might have put about in the company of any other visitor, Miss Martin turned to him and appeared as if regarding her undoubtedly fetching self in the mirrors of his eyes.

'Well, Easton?' she asked, fully conscious that he had not failed to receive the inner meaning of her words.

'Possibilities-possibilities, yes. As to Ethel that is, yes', responded Easton who found himself in a trice a shuttlecock again between Miss Martin and his wife.

'Then you had best speak to your dear wife, had you not-provided that she does not lend too willing an ear to any more mendacious gossip from servants? Oh my goodness, what is the time? I shall be late!'

'I shall see you again?' asked Easton with a tinge of anxiety at having lost a valuable ally.

“That is up to you, Easton. I trust you shall, with dear Ethel, perhaps?'

And so saying, Miss Martin swept by him, brushing her skirts against his legs and permitting him to inhale a perfume that brought many happy memories back.

Anonymous

A Stately English Mansion

'I have never heard the like! After what that woman has done… ' Letitia began when Easton offered his careful if elaborated account concerning the departed Miss Martin's new scholastic establishment.