Lady Betty Across the Water

								

they would bring you to me. Of course, I should have to be nice to
them, by way of showing my appreciation of any trouble you had given;
but a dinner, and a Saturday to Monday at most, would be quite enough."
So it was all arranged, even to the details of my home-coming, and the
price to be paid for returning me, like a parcel, to my owner! Suddenly
I remembered the words I had overheard at the window of the den. "The
question is, what is to be done with Betty?"
Mother had evidently been so anxious to have the question answered,
that she had at once taken measures to settle it. But why should
anything be done with me? Nothing ever had been, so far, except when I
was sent last autumn to stop with my aunt; and she was so much annoyed
because my cousin Loveland came home unexpectedly, that after that I
could do nothing to please her, and was packed back to Battlemead
Towers in disgrace, I never could understand for what crime.
"How did Mrs. Ess--I mean, Mrs. Stuyvesant-Knox happen to ask for a
visit from me?" I ventured to wriggle out, like a worm who isn't sure
whether it had better turn or not. I was certain that for some reason
of her own, Mother had suggested the idea, if only hypnotically; but
she seemed almost too frank as she answered, and it was frightening not
even to be snubbed.
"I told you to-day that she had taken a fancy to you, my dear. Of
course, she could not hope to secure Victoria, even if she preferred
her, for Victoria has important engagements which will carry her
through the season, and afterwards to Cowes and up to Scotland for the
shooting at Dorloch Castle. But you are still almost a child; and
children do not have engagements. Nevertheless, you are Lady Betty
Bulkeley, the Duke of Stanforth's sister, and as such, though in
yourself you are an unimportant little person, it's not impossible that
as a member of your family, these Americans may think you worth
cultivating. One hears that they worship titles."
"I'm sure they can't worship them as much as some people in our own
country, who haven't got them, do," I cried, defending Americans for
Miss Woodburn's sake. "Vic says----"
"Never mind what Victoria says," returned Mother. "The less you think
on these subjects, the better, my dear Betty. I merely hinted at a
possible and partial incentive to these people's friendship for you, so
that you need not feel it incumbent to be oppressively grateful, you
know. I should wish you to keep your dignity among foreigners, even
though you would, of course, look upon Mrs. Stuyvesant-Knox as, in a
way, your guardian. Now I must call Thompson, and have her put me into
my dinner dress, as there is no more time to waste. When Mrs.
Stuyvesant-Knox speaks of your visit, you will know what to say."
I mumbled something vaguely dutiful, and began to dress as quickly as I
could; but the more I thought of it, the more I felt that I hadn't been