This
was not without its beneficial effect, corporeally no less than
mentally, as later events showed, but she still evinced a
preternatural sharpness of ear at the most casual mention of the
child. When they reached home, the Countess and Dorothy were still
absent from the neighbouring Fernell Hall, but in a month or two
they returned, and a little later Sir Ashley Mottisfont came into
his wife's room full of news.
'Well--would you think it, Philippa! After being so desperate, too,
about getting Dorothy to be with her!'
'Ah--what?'
'Our neighbour, the Countess, is going to be married again! It is
to somebody she has met in London.'
Lady Mottisfont was much surprised; she had never dreamt of such an
event. The conflict for the possession of Dorothy's person had
obscured the possibility of it; yet what more likely, the Countess
being still under thirty, and so good-looking?
'What is of still more interest to us, or to you,' continued her
husband, 'is a kind offer she has made. She is willing that you
should have Dorothy back again. Seeing what a grief the loss of her
has been to you, she will try to do without her.'
'It is not for that; it is not to oblige me,' said Lady Mottisfont
quickly. 'One can see well enough what it is for!'
'Well, never mind; beggars mustn't be choosers. The reason or
motive is nothing to us, so that you obtain your desire.'
'I am not a beggar any longer,' said Lady Mottisfont, with proud
mystery.
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