Lydia Trent by Abigail Blanchart Page B

her for her key,
having missed a bracelet from my dressing-table, only a trumpery
thing, but I have missed things before. However, the bracelet is
found, so it is of no moment.”

    “ Then
may I tell Bessie she is no longer suspected, and that she may stay?”

    “ Oh,
tell her anything you like. I suppose it would be tiresome to find a
new housemaid – only you had better tell her to curb her tongue in
my presence. I am mistress in this house, and I will not tolerate
insolence.”

    Lydia
softened this message down for Bessie's consumption, and begged her
to remain. The housemaid at first stuck fast to her determination of
leaving the house at once, but when Lydia dwelt on how sad Adeline
and herself would be to part with her, she tearfully consented to
have the manservant take her box upstairs, and resume her duties,
with many blessings on the two young ladies, and direful imprecations
against those who 'were a mite too quick to judge'.

    Lydia
found herself quite exhausted by this drama, and shortly rang for
tea. To her surprise, the tray was brought by Maisy.

    “ Mistress
is having tea in her room this evening, Miss, and there was something
I wanted to show you.”

    The
girl proffered a grubby, creased piece of paper, somewhat singed at
the edges.

    “ I
know I didn't ought to have took it, but I found it behind the grate
in the parlour a few weeks back, and I thought I made out Miss
Adeline's name, so I picked it up, curious like. I didn't think
anyone would mind, it being rubbish, as someone meant to burn. Only I
didn't read it, for I can't read handwriting very well just yet, and
it preyed on my mind that if it was something concerning Miss
Adeline, I ought to give it to her. And so I'm giving it to you.”

    “ Thank-you
Maisy, it is probably just a note from one of the neighbours or
something. But you did the right thing, I'm sure, though if it was
meant to be thrown away, perhaps you should have poked it in the
kitchen fire. But nevertheless, I'll see what it is before we
decide!” and she good-humouredly held out her hand for the paper.

    She
waited until Maisy had set down the tea things and curtsied herself
out of the room, before looking over the paper in her hand, fully
expecting it to be an invitation or a laundry-list.

    It
proved to be a letter, in a strange hand, and Lydia was completely
unprepared for the astonishment it's contents gave her.

    It
was dated simply 'London, May 17 th , 18--' and had neither
signature nor direction, save for initials.

    'E,'
it read,

    'Well
I expect you never thought I'd turn up again like a bad penny, but
here I am, just returned from Australia. Don't be alarmed, I went
there of my own free will, not her Majesty's, having heard great
things of that continent with regard to seeking one's fortune.

    It's
a hard life out there, and a lonesome one, and by and by I got to
thinking of a few things I did as I oughtn't to have, and a few
things I ought to have done different, and a few things I ought to
have done that I didn't. In short, my dear, I fell to thinking of you
and the girls.

    I
know things have gone too far wrong between us for us to be
reconciled, that was obvious when you left me all them years ago. I
don't say you ought to have stayed, I was never what you might call a
good husband. But I would like to see my girls, and perhaps make some
amends for my neglect all these years. I hear Adeline is still with
you, and I wonder if you know anything of Catherine. I can't seem to
trace her or her husband – I hope he made a better one than I. It
is Catherine I most want to see, feeling it is to her I have most
amends to make, poor girl. I have been down to the place where they
lived when I left ten years ago, but nobody seems to have seen hide
nor hair of them for many a year. If you know anything of her, I beg
you will tell me where I might find her. Perhaps I might come down
and see you, if the appearance of a rough customer like me won't lose
you your