Bath Tangle Read Online Free PDF Page A

that is kind: Serena is fully conscious of it, but she knows it would not do. If you please, Papa, I believe it to be my duty to take care of Serena!’
    ‘ You take care of her !’ he ejaculated, laughing. ‘I wish I may see it!’
    She coloured, but said: ‘Indeed, it is she who has taken care of me, but I am her mother-in-law, and the most proper person to act as her chaperon, sir.’
    He considered this, and yielded a reluctant assent. ‘It might be thought so indeed, but at your age – I don’t know what your Mama will say to it! Besides, the young lady, with that fortune at her back, will very soon be snapped up, temper and all!’
    ‘She has too strong a mind to be taken-in. I don’t fancy she will be married for a little while yet, Papa.’
    ‘Very true! Nothing of that nature can be contemplated for a year at least. You will keep strict mourning, of course. Your Mama was inclined to think that you should return to Hartland for that period, for however much you may be known as the Dowager Countess, my dear, it cannot be denied that you are by far too young to live alone. We had some notion that when you put off your mourning, and will no doubt be thinking of setting up an establishment of your own, you might take one of your sisters to live with you. But that is to look some way ahead, and I don’t mean to dictate to you! There is something to be said for this scheme of yours, after all. You have been used to be the mistress of a great house, my dear, and you would not like to be living at Hartland again, in the old way. No, I am much disposed to think that you have hit upon the very thing to make all straight! That is, if you believe that you can be comfortable with Lady Serena?’
    ‘Oh, yes! So very comfortable!’
    ‘Well, I should never have thought it! I only hope she may not get into a scrape. You will be blamed for it, if she does! Her character is unsteady: that was plain when she made herself the talk of the town by jilting Rotherham! You were still in the schoolroom, but I well remember what an uproar it caused! I believe the wedding-cards had actually been sent out!’
    ‘It was very bad, but, indeed, Papa, I honour her for her resolution in drawing back before it was too late! Dear Lord Spenborough wished the match to take place, but nothing, I am persuaded, could have been more ineligible! He liked Rotherham because he is such a great sportsman, and such a splendid rider to hounds, and he could never be brought to see that he would be a dreadfully harsh and disagreeable husband! He would have made Serena so unhappy! He is the most hateful man, and takes a delight in vexing her! You must have heard the way he speaks to her – the things he doesn’t scruple to say!’
    ‘Ay! And I heard her too! A very improper style she uses towards him! Let me tell you, Fanny, that there is something very displeasing in that bold manner of hers! She expresses herself with a freedom I would not tolerate in one of my daughters.’
    ‘She has known him since she was a child – has never stood upon ceremony with him! If she is sometimes betrayed into unbecoming warmth, it is his fault, for so unkindly provoking her! And as for temper, I am sure he has a worse one than hers could ever be!’
    ‘Well, it’s plain you have a fondness for her, my dear,’ he said indulgently. ‘For my part, I would not be in Rotherham’s shoes at this moment for something! He may think himself fortunate if he comes off without a scratched face, I daresay!’
    But when he joined her in the Little Drawing-room, Rotherham found Serena quite composed. He said, as he closed the door: ‘What now? Am I here to be entreated, or abused?’
    She bit her lip, but said: ‘You would not be moved by either, I suppose.’
    ‘Not in the least, but I am quite at your disposal if you wish to continue quarrelling with me.’
    ‘I am determined not to do so.’
    He smiled. ‘ That resolution will be broken soon enough! What do you want,